Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) | PA 25 425

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 25 425

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30), funding opportunity number PA-25-425, is an NIH fellowship designed to support predoctoral students who are pursuing a dual-doctoral degree and planning careers as physician- or clinician-scientists. It specifically targets candidates who are enrolled in combined programs such as MD/PhD or other clinician-researcher pathways (for example DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, or DVM/PhD) at institutions that do not have NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs. The overall goal is to strengthen the kind of integrated training these students need to successfully bridge rigorous research development with clinical education, so they are better prepared to become productive, independent investigators whose work is closely tied to human health.

At the center of this opportunity is the expectation that the applicant will propose a cohesive, integrated training plan that intentionally connects clinical and research experiences rather than treating them as separate tracks. Applicants are expected to lay out both (1) a dissertation research project in a health-related scientific area that aligns with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, and (2) a training plan that builds the skills, mentorship, and professional trajectory required for a long-term clinician-scientist career. The fellowship is meant to be more than just financial support for a project; it is intended to clearly add value to the candidate's development by sharpening research abilities, deepening scientific independence, and reinforcing the applicant's capacity to translate clinical insight into impactful research questions.

This NOFO is also explicit about the kind of clinical trial involvement that is and is not allowed. It is meant for applicants whose proposed research does not include leading an independent clinical trial, conducting a clinical trial feasibility study, or running an ancillary clinical trial as the primary driver of the application. However, it does allow the fellow to gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor, meaning the candidate can participate in clinically oriented research settings without taking on the role of the person directing the trial. This distinction matters for applicants who want clinical research exposure but need to keep the fellowship application aligned with NIH's rules for this particular F30 parent announcement.

In terms of who can apply as the applicant organization, eligibility is broad across U.S.-based entities and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and a range of nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including small businesses), as well as eligible agencies of the federal government. At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement: non-U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. That said, foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, which generally means certain parts of the work or collaborations may occur outside the U.S. if they meet NIH policy requirements and are well-justified scientifically.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary grant mechanism under a fellowship-style NRSA program. It is associated with a wide set of CFDA numbers across NIH, reflecting that many NIH Institutes and Centers may participate depending on the scientific topic and alignment with their missions. The posted original closing date is May 7, 2028, and the record indicates the opportunity was created on June 12, 2025. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided source details, which is common for NIH fellowship announcements where the number of funded applications can vary by institute priorities, budget conditions, and the strength of the applicant pool.

In practical terms, this fellowship is best understood as a pathway-building award for dual-degree trainees who need strong, structured support to develop into clinician-scientists. A competitive application will typically make a clear case that the proposed research is important and feasible for a predoctoral fellow, that the training plan is thoughtfully integrated with the dual-degree structure, that mentorship and the institutional environment are strong, and that the fellowship will materially accelerate the candidate's progression toward independence in a health-related research career.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.310, 93.361, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-06-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-05-07.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PA 25 425

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: