The goal of the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program is to provide structured activities to prepare a diverse cohort of research-oriented students to transfer from associate degree-granting institutions to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions and complete a baccalaureate degree in disciplines related to the biomedical sciences.. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) provides support to eligible, domestic institutions to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed approaches to biomedical training and mentoring that will keep pace with the rapid evolution of the research enterprise. NIGMS expects that the proposed research training programs will incorporate didactic, research, mentoring, and career development elements. This program requires strong partnerships between at least two post-secondary educational institutions offering science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees. At least one partner must be an institution that offers the associate degree as the highest STEM degree and the other partner(s) must offer baccalaureate degrees in biomedically relevant STEM fields. Upon completion of the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training program, trainees are expected to be well positioned to pursue research-oriented biomedical higher degree programs or enter careers in the biomedical research workforce.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) does not allow appointed Trainees to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow them to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.
Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH IPF number) is allowed. Interested applicants from within Duke should contact fundopps@duke.edu as early as possible.
Application Deadline: September 26, 2022; September 25, 2023; September 25, 2024
PAR-22-125 Expiration Date September 26, 2024
The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.
Eligible Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Programs must consist of a partnership/consortium composed of at least two institutions: an institution that offers the associate degree as the terminal degree in STEM fields (associate degree-granting institution), and a distinct institution granting baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields (baccalaureate degree-granting institution). An institution where the associate degree is the highest degree offered in STEM fields but offers a baccalaureate degree in unrelated disciplines is eligible to participate in a Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program. The program seeks to promote and enhance partnerships between institutions. Accordingly, institutions offering both associate and baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields may not form partnerships within their own institution even if the students transition to another department, school, or college.
The associate degree-granting institution(s) must have a sufficient pool of training grant-eligible students in STEM programs. The baccalaureate degree-granting partner institution(s) must have the resources and structures in place to support the Bridges trainees to facilitate baccalaureate degree completion in a timely manner.
An eligible institution may participate in more than one Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program if multiple partnerships are strongly justified.
An institution is not allowed to serve as the applicant institution on more than one Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program.
The applicant and partner institution(s) must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program should be detailed in the Institutional Support Letter in the Letters of Support attachment. Additionally, a signed letter is required from a Provost or similar official with institution-wide responsibility verifying the eligibility of the applicant and partner institutions at the time of application submission according to the eligibility criteria indicated above. See the application instructions for the required “Letters of Support” instructions in Section IV.
As described in the instructions for the Training Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) in Section IV.2 below, applicants to the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program must designate a PD/PI from each participating institution (applicant and each partner institution(s)) with the PD/PI of the applicant institution listed as the contact PD/PI. The contact PD/PI is expected to have a full-time appointment at the applicant institution unless extremely well-justified. If the full-time status of the contact PD/PI changes after the award, the institution must obtain prior program approval to appoint a new PD/PI or request a deviation from the full-time rule. Applications that do not designate the PDs/PIs accordingly will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed. At least one of the PDs/PIs should be an established investigator in the biomedical sciences and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. Additional PD(s)/PI(s), including individuals with experience in the science of education, relevant social science disciplines, program evaluation, mentoring, and university administration may be included to achieve the training goals. Any of the PDs/PIs at the applicant institution may serve as the contact PD/PI.
The PDs/PIs will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees to the approved research training program, and for the overall direction, management, administration, and evaluation of the program. The PDs/PIs will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required. The PDs/PIs have responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the program and are responsible for appointing members of the Advisory Committee (when applicable) and using their recommendations to determine the appropriate allotment of funds.