Only graduate medical education residency or fellowship programs recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) may be included in the proposed program. For Dental Society postgraduate programs, only dental specialties approved by the Council on Dental Education and Licensure of the American Dental Association may be included in the proposed program. For veterinary specialties only specialties recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) may be included in the proposed program.

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities and resources that can contribute to the planned program.

Institutions with existing Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (e.g., T32) or other Federally funded training programs may apply for this research in residency program provided that the proposed research experiences are distinct from those training programs receiving federal support. Institutions with existing institutional research training, research education or career development programs for clinician-investigators must describe how the proposed program complements and may benefit from these programs.

The Institutional PD/PI(s) should be an established clinician-investigator in a relevant scientific area and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI(s) must have a regular, full-time appointment (i.e., not adjunct, part-time, or emeritus) at the applicant institution. This person should hold a health professional degree (eg MD, DVM, DDS or equivalents), have an appointment in a clinical department related to at least one of the residency programs proposed for participation, have clearly demonstrated education/mentoring experience and have a strong recent history of NIH funding. Exceptional individuals without a clinical doctorate and with demonstrated leadership and mentoring experience in clinical departments may also serve as PD/PI. If the sponsoring institution is a hospital affiliated with a medical or dental school, the PD/PI must have an appointment in both the medical/dental school and at the sponsoring institution.

The Institutional PD/PI(s) will design and provide oversight for the entire program. The PD/PI must identify the residency directors, departmental chairs, and research deans, and describe their roles and responsibilities for the program. The PD/PI is expected to describe how research preceptors are selected and reviewed, and the timing and types of meetings with Resident-Investigators and preceptors to ensure that each participant receives the skills and knowledge he/she requires to achieve the goals of the program. The PD/PI is expected to monitor and assess the program annually, and submit all documents and reports as required.