Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions of higher education, particularly those with strong research and medical training capabilities. The Medical Scientist Training Program supports institutions that offer dual-degree programs combining the Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) with a PhD in a research discipline. Applicants must be accredited medical schools or health professions schools affiliated with research universities. The program is available nationwide and supports the development of physician-scientists who will pursue careers as independent researchers and clinicians. Applicants typically must demonstrate institutional commitment, robust research infrastructure, and ability to recruit and train high-caliber medical students interested in biomedical research.
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Key dates
- Feb 10, 2026 Applications open
- May 25, 2027 Application deadline in 312 days
- Apr 1, 2028 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
The overall goal of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program is to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs.
In alignment with the goal of the NRSA program, the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) supports the development of well-trained clinician-scientist leaders to address the nation’s biomedical research needs. MSTP will support eligible, domestic organizations to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed approaches to dual-degree training and mentoring that will keep pace with the rapid evolution of the biomedical research enterprise and lead to the completion of both a clinical degree (for example, M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S., Pharm.D., etc.) and a research doctorate degree (Ph.D.). MSTP incorporates didactic, research, mentoring, and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 (R&R) Supplemental Cover Sheet
- Project Narrative/Program Description
- Budget and budget justification (SF-424 R&R)
- Institutional commitment letters (from medical school dean and research administration)
- Curriculum vitae of program director(s)
- Detailed description of trainee selection criteria and recruitment plan
- Evidence of research infrastructure and core facilities
- Letters of support from potential mentors/research advisors
- Institutional policies on dual-degree programs
- Data on prior MSTP trainee outcomes (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 NIGMS MSTP T32
- 📧 nigmsmstpt32@nigms.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.859 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$59,464,779
-
$57,271,194
-
$56,019,458
-
$54,912,096
-
$53,329,877
-
$52,858,544
-
$52,347,059
-
$52,026,661
-
$50,897,104
-
$49,349,731
Top States by Funding
- ME 4 awards $143.3M
- MS 4 awards $135.1M
- NY 5 awards $131.6M
- CA 5 awards $129.3M
- RI 4 awards $126.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.859). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,085,929,426 | |
| 2025 | $3,092,472,727 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,093,422,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the MSTP grant?
Accredited medical schools and health professions schools that can offer MD/DO-PhD dual degree programs are eligible. Applicants typically must have established research infrastructure and institutional commitment to physician-scientist training.
When is the application deadline?
The NIH typically releases MSTP notices of funding opportunity annually. The application opening date is February 10, 2026. Applicants should consult Grants.gov or the NIH website for the specific submission deadline for this funding cycle.
What activities and programs does MSTP support?
MSTP supports institutional training programs that integrate medical education with doctoral research training. Funds support trainee stipends, research tuition, advisor support, and program administration to develop physician-scientists.
How competitive is this grant?
MSTP is highly competitive. Only institutions with strong research track records, quality medical curricula, and demonstrated success training physician-scientists are typically funded.
What is the typical funding range?
MSTP grants typically support multiple trainees per institution with awards generally ranging from $150,000 to $300,000+ annually depending on trainee numbers and research needs, though amounts vary by institution.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize institutional commitment: Demonstrate strong support from leadership, medical school administration, and the institution's research enterprise. Include letters of commitment and evidence of institutional funding.
- Highlight recruitment and selection: Show a robust pipeline for identifying top medical student candidates interested in research and a competitive selection process that yields strong applicants.
- Document research infrastructure: Provide evidence of mentoring capacity, research labs, core facilities, and interdisciplinary research opportunities that will support trainee research projects.
- Detail training curriculum: Clearly articulate how the dual-degree program integrates medical education with research training, mentoring, and professional development to create successful physician-scientists.
- Show track record: If applicable, present data on graduate employment, career outcomes, publications, and research funding secured by alumni to demonstrate the program's effectiveness in training independent scientists.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because institutions underestimate the required research infrastructure or overstate their capacity to mentor multiple trainees simultaneously. Weak institutional commitment—demonstrated by insufficient dedicated funding, administrative support, or research opportunities—is frequently cited as a reason for rejection. Additionally, applications that lack clear evidence of rigorous trainee selection processes or do not demonstrate how the program will develop trainees into independent research scientists are less competitive.
Similar grants
- OPEN Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) (T32) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Medical Student Education Program (MSE) — Health Resources and Services Administration
- OPEN National Institute of General Medical Sciences Predoctoral Basic Biomedical Sciences Research Training Program (T32) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health