Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant (NRSA)

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant is a federally funded program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NRSA program is designed to build research capacity within the field of primary care by training postdoctoral health professionals in biomedical, behavioral, and health services research. HRSA’s participation in this broader National Institutes of Health (NIH)-backed initiative reflects a strategic commitment to fortifying the primary care research workforce in response to the growing and evolving health care needs of the U.S. population. This funding opportunity supports domestic public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that previously received NRSA support between 2011 and 2025 through sections 736, 739, or 747 of the Public Health Service Act. These grants aim to enhance institutional capacity by providing structured postdoctoral research training environments. The ultimate goal is to develop future leaders in primary care research who will contribute to improved health outcomes through evidence-based policy, practice, and innovation. The program is projected to fund approximately 12 awards in Fiscal Year 2026, with a total estimated funding pool of $5.98 million. Individual awards are expected to range between $134,653 and $500,000. Funds may be used to support structured training programs, including stipends, tuition, fees, and other training-related expenses. Specific guidance on allowable and unallowable expenses will be detailed in the forthcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which has not yet been posted. Matching or cost-sharing is not required under this program. However, strong institutional commitment and infrastructure to support postdoctoral research training is likely to be an important consideration in proposal evaluations. Given the program’s research focus, proposals should clearly articulate mentorship frameworks, curriculum design, recruitment plans, and strategies for tracking research outcomes. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on the estimated due date of April 17, 2026. The forecasted posting date for the full NOFO is February 17, 2026. Selected grantees will be notified by July 1, 2026, which also serves as the estimated project start date. The program is forecasted to recur annually. As such, prospective applicants should monitor HRSA's site or Grants.gov for updates and verify current deadlines. For further information, the grantor contact is Svetlana Cicale, who can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 301.443.7271. As this opportunity is in forecast stage, no official PDF or full NOFO is available at this time. Eligible applicants are advised to begin early planning and assess institutional readiness to respond promptly upon official release.