Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions training early-career researchers to become leaders in women's health research. Eligible applicants are U.S. academic institutions, medical schools, and research centers that hold NIH institutional training awards. Applicants must develop structured mentoring programs with experienced faculty advisors. The program supports protected research time, professional development, and mentoring for scholars, typically at postdoctoral or junior faculty level, with preference for diversity in research topics and participant backgrounds.
This grant is for institutions training early-career researchers to become leaders in women's health research. Eligible applicants are U.S. academic institutions, medical schools, and research centers that hold NIH institutional training awards. Applicants must develop structured mentoring programs with experienced faculty advisors. The program supports protected research time, professional development, and mentoring for scholars, typically at postdoctoral or junior faculty level, with preference for diversity in research topics and participant backgrounds.
Program description
The NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) and participating NIH Institutes and Centers invite institutional career development award applications for Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Career Development Programs, hereafter termed “Programs”. Programs will support mentored research career development of junior faculty members, known as BIRCWH Scholars, who have recently completed clinical training or postdoctoral fellowships, and who will be engaged in interdisciplinary basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and/or health services research relevant to the health of women and, where appropriate, the use of both sexes to better understand the influence of sex as a biological variable on health and disease.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) allows appointment of Scholars (K12) proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial; or proposing a separate ancillary clinical trial; or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, as part of their research and career development.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- HBCU
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for institutions training early-career researchers to become leaders in women's health research. Eligible applicants are U.S. academic institutions, medical schools, and research centers that hold NIH institutional training awards. Applicants must develop structured mentoring programs with experienced faculty advisors. The program supports protected research time, professional development, and mentoring for scholars, typically at postdoctoral or junior faculty level, with preference for diversity in research topics and participant backgrounds.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (Research Strategy)
- Mentoring Plan and Mentor CVs
- Institutional Commitment Letter
- Budget and Justification
- NIH Biographical Sketches (mentors and key staff)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.855 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$438,527,853
-
$246,626,852
-
$204,359,786
-
$201,437,825
-
$200,221,259
-
$185,816,804
-
$180,737,624
-
$136,265,880
-
$116,817,868
-
$99,478,296
Top States by Funding
- CA 10 awards $812.7M
- WA 3 awards $684.0M
- MA 6 awards $602.8M
- NC 3 awards $446.4M
- NY 7 awards $375.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.855). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $4,073,812,529 | |
| 2025 | $4,378,235,639 | |
| 2026 est. | $4,299,426,996 |
FAQ
Who can apply for BIRCWH?
Institutions with existing NIH research infrastructure and mentoring capacity can apply. Your organization must have resources to support scholar salary, research, and mentoring activities.
What research areas does BIRCWH support?
The program supports women's health research across all scientific disciplines. This includes basic science, clinical research, epidemiology, and behavioral research related to women's health.
Is there a clinical trial component?
This funding opportunity has a clinical trial optional designation. You can include clinical trial research as part of your scholar's project, but it is not required.
What is the typical award size and duration?
BIRCWH awards typically support multiple scholars for 5 years. Individual scholar support includes stipend, research funds, and institutional overhead.
How competitive is this grant?
BIRCWH is very competitive, particularly from strong research institutions. Successful applications demonstrate strong mentoring infrastructure and scholar recruitment strategies.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Recruit and highlight strong, diverse mentors with active research and grant funding history. Show evidence of their commitment to scholar development.
- Design a clear career development plan for scholars with specific milestones, including research productivity and independent funding goals.
- Demonstrate institutional commitment through dedicated space, salary support, and administrative resources for the program.
- Use preliminary data from similar training programs to show your institution's track record of producing successful researchers.
- Address diversity and inclusion explicitly in scholar recruitment, mentoring strategies, and program evaluation methods.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak or unfocused mentor commitment; mentors lack active research programs or don't demonstrate genuine engagement. Unclear career pathways for scholars with vague milestones or no evidence of transition to independence. Insufficient institutional resources or unclear budget justification for program infrastructure.
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