Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 23 261
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-23-261, is an NIH fellowship designed to support predoctoral students pursuing dual-doctoral training who are based at institutions that do not have an NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training program. In practical terms, it is meant to help level the playing field for MD/PhD and similar dual-degree students whose schools do not already have NIH institutional training infrastructure for this type of pathway. The overarching goal is to strengthen the pipeline of physician-scientists and other clinician-scientists by funding a period of integrated research and clinical training that is tightly aligned with a student’s long-term career development.
This F30 mechanism specifically targets students who are already matriculated in a formal dual-doctoral degree program, most commonly MD/PhD, but it also explicitly includes other combined clinical and research doctoral tracks such as DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, and DVM/PhD. The fellowship is oriented toward candidates who intend to build careers as physician/clinician-scientists, meaning professionals who are trained to move between clinical environments and research settings and who can translate scientific discovery into improved health outcomes. A central expectation is that the fellowship experience will measurably increase the fellow’s likelihood of becoming a productive, independent investigator over time, not simply provide short-term dissertation support.
Applicants are expected to propose two tightly connected elements: (1) an integrated research and clinical training plan, and (2) a dissertation research project. The training plan should show how the candidate will intentionally combine rigorous research preparation with clinical development in a way that makes sense for a dual-degree timeline. The dissertation project must fall within scientific, health-related fields that match the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, which effectively means the research should clearly fit within NIH’s broad biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research priorities, while still being tailored to the specific NIH Institute or Center that would ultimately consider the application. The emphasis is not only on the science, but also on how the proposed mentorship, training activities, and clinical experiences will collectively build the candidate’s skills, research independence, and professional trajectory.
A key boundary in this NOFO concerns clinical trials. This opportunity is intended for candidates whose proposed work does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. However, it does allow applicants to gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor and the fellow is not the person responsible for directing it as an independent trial leader. In other words, applicants can be involved in clinical trial-related research and training, but the fellowship should not be structured around the fellow initiating and leading a clinical trial as the primary driver of the award.
In terms of who can apply as an organization, the eligibility list is broad and reflects NIH’s standard range of eligible applicant organizations across government, higher education, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including counties, cities or townships, special districts), independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities. The NOFO also explicitly calls out categories of institutions and organizations that are often highlighted to encourage broad participation, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
There are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. At the same time, NIH policy does allow certain foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning discrete parts of the proposed project may occur outside the U.S. if they meet NIH’s definition and justification requirements, even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic and the overall application must comply with NIH’s rules on foreign components.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant mechanism under an education and training-oriented activity category, offered by the National Institutes of Health. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referred to under assistance listing numbers) spanning numerous NIH Institutes and Centers, reflecting that different NIH components may participate depending on the scientific topic and fit. The opportunity record lists an original closing date of 2025-09-07, and it does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided listing, which is common for NIH fellowship announcements where budgets are typically driven by standard NRSA fellowship allowances and the volume of meritorious applications and available institute funds.
Overall, this Parent F30 is best understood as an individual, mentored fellowship for dual-degree predoctoral students at schools without NIH-funded institutional dual-degree training programs, requiring a strong dissertation project and a clearly integrated plan for research and clinical training, with a focus on preparing the fellow to become an independent clinician-scientist while avoiding proposals in which the fellow would lead an independent clinical trial.Apply for PA 23 261
- 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, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 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 2023-09-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Parent F30 fellowship described in PA-23-261?
The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship (Parent F30) in funding opportunity number PA-23-261 is an NIH individual, mentored fellowship that supports predoctoral students pursuing formal dual-doctoral training (clinical doctorate plus research doctorate). It is specifically aimed at students based at institutions that do not have an NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training program, with the broader goal of strengthening the physician-scientist and clinician-scientist pipeline through integrated research and clinical training.
What is the main purpose of this fellowship?
The central purpose is to support a period of integrated, mentored research and clinical training that is closely aligned with a student’s long-term career development as a physician-scientist or clinician-scientist. The expectation is that the fellowship experience will increase the fellow’s likelihood of becoming a productive, independent investigator over time, not merely provide short-term dissertation funding.
Who is this F30 mechanism intended to support?
This F30 targets predoctoral students who are already matriculated in a formal dual-doctoral degree program. It is commonly used by MD/PhD students, and it also explicitly includes other combined clinical and research doctoral tracks such as DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, and DVM/PhD.
What does "institutions without NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs" mean in practical terms?
In practical terms, it refers to schools that do not already have NIH-funded institutional training infrastructure specifically for predoctoral dual-degree training pathways. The opportunity is designed to help level the playing field for eligible dual-degree students at such institutions by providing an individual fellowship mechanism.
Is this fellowship only for MD/PhD students?
No. While MD/PhD is the most common dual-degree pathway associated with F30s, this opportunity explicitly includes additional dual clinical and research doctoral training tracks such as DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, and DVM/PhD.
What kinds of careers is this fellowship trying to support?
The fellowship is oriented toward candidates who intend to build careers as physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists. These are professionals trained to work across clinical and research settings and to translate scientific discovery into improved health outcomes.
What must an applicant propose in the application?
Applicants are expected to propose two tightly connected elements: (1) an integrated research and clinical training plan, and (2) a dissertation research project. The application should show how mentorship, training activities, and clinical experiences collectively build the candidate’s skills, research independence, and long-term trajectory.
What is meant by an "integrated research and clinical training plan"?
It means a training plan that intentionally combines rigorous research preparation with clinical development in a way that fits a dual-degree timeline. The plan should demonstrate how the research and clinical components are coordinated and aligned with the candidate’s career development as a clinician-scientist.
What are the expectations for the dissertation research project?
The dissertation research project must fall within scientific, health-related fields that align with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. In practice, this means the project should fit within NIH’s broad biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research priorities while also being appropriate for the specific NIH Institute or Center that would consider the application.
Does the opportunity emphasize training, the research project, or both?
Both. The opportunity emphasizes not only the scientific merits of the dissertation project, but also the overall training and mentoring environment and how the proposed training activities and clinical experiences build the candidate’s capabilities, research independence, and long-term career development.
Are clinical trials allowed under this Parent F30?
There is a key restriction: the opportunity is intended for candidates whose proposed work does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial.
Can a fellow participate in a clinical trial without leading it?
Yes. Applicants may gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor and the fellow is not responsible for directing it as an independent trial leader. Clinical trial-related research and training can be included, but the fellowship should not be built around the fellow initiating and leading a clinical trial.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
The eligibility list is broad and reflects NIH’s standard range of eligible applicant organizations across higher education, government, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. Examples include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities.
Are specific institution types encouraged or explicitly included in the eligibility language?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls out categories often highlighted to encourage broad participation, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Is any foreign involvement allowed at all?
NIH policy may allow certain foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means discrete parts of the proposed project may occur outside the U.S. if they meet NIH’s definition and justification requirements, even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic and the application must comply with NIH rules regarding foreign components.
What agency offers this opportunity, and what type of support is it?
This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is described as a discretionary grant mechanism under an education and training-oriented activity category and is structured as an individual, mentored fellowship for eligible dual-degree predoctoral students.
Does this opportunity correspond to specific NIH Institutes and Centers?
Yes. The opportunity is associated with multiple assistance listing (formerly CFDA) numbers spanning numerous NIH Institutes and Centers. Which NIH component participates depends on scientific topic and fit with an Institute or Center mission.
What is the funding opportunity number for this Parent F30?
The funding opportunity number is PA-23-261.
What is the listed closing date for this opportunity?
The opportunity record lists an original closing date of 2025-09-07.
Is an award ceiling or expected number of awards provided in the listing?
No. The provided listing does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. This is common for NIH fellowship announcements, where budgets are typically driven by standard NRSA fellowship allowances and by the number of meritorious applications and available Institute funds.
How should applicants think about the overall "fit" of their application?
Based on the opportunity description, strong fit involves: being a matriculated dual-doctoral predoctoral student at an institution without an NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training program; proposing a dissertation project aligned with NIH health-related research missions; and presenting a clearly integrated plan that connects research training, clinical training, mentorship, and career development toward becoming an independent clinician-scientist, while avoiding a proposal centered on leading an independent clinical trial.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 23 261) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) Apply for PA 23 271 Funding Number: PA 23 271 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 141 Funding Number: PA 24 141 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 185 Funding Number: PA 24 185 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 184 Funding Number: PA 24 184 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 190 Funding Number: PA 24 190 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 191 Funding Number: PA 24 191 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 175 Funding Number: PA 24 175 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 176 Funding Number: PA 24 176 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 182 Funding Number: PA 24 182 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 193 Funding Number: PA 24 193 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 194 Funding Number: PA 24 194 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 131 Funding Number: PAR 24 131 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 152 Funding Number: PAR 24 152 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $375,000 |
| PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 247 Funding Number: PA 24 247 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 245 Funding Number: PA 24 245 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH and CDC for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 246 Funding Number: PA 24 246 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Change of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 24 254 Funding Number: PA 24 254 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Research Software Engineer (RSE) Award (R50 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 24 011 Funding Number: RFA OD 24 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Building Sustainable Software Tools for Open Science (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 24 010 Funding Number: RFA OD 24 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 24 226 Funding Number: PAR 24 226 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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