The goal of the Bridges to the Doctorate Research Training Program is to promote broad participation in the biomedical research workforce by strengthening research training environments and expanding the pool of well-trained masters students who transition to and complete biomedical Ph.Ds.Specifically, this funding announcement provides support to eligible, domestic organizations to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed approaches to biomedical graduate training and mentoring to support the development of a biomedical research workforce that will benefit from the full range of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds needed to advance discovery. NIGMS expects organizations to engage in outreach and recruitment activities to encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to participate in the program. The proposed research training programs will incorporate didactic, research, and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.This program requires strong partnerships between at least two postsecondary educational organizations: one that supports training at the masters degree level (Masters-Training Organization), and a separate organization that supports biomedical Ph.D. training (Ph.D.-Training Organization). Eligible organizations for these partnerships include:Masters Training Organization: An organization where the highest biomedically-related research degree offered is a masters degree, OR An organization that is a Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) or a Tribally Controlled Colleges and University (TCCU), including those that offer biomedical Ph.Ds.Ph.D.-Training Organization: An organization that grants its own biomedical Ph.Ds.
