Limited Competition: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 21, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for academic medical centers and research institutions participating in the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program network. Applicants must have institutional capacity to conduct clinical and translational research training. The grant supports training programs for both predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers in clinical and translational science. This is a limited competition—only eligible CTSA-affiliated institutions can apply.
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Key dates
- Jul 20, 2026 Applications open
- Jan 25, 2027 Application deadline in 187 days
- Dec 15, 2027 Award announced
- Dec 15, 2027 Project start
Program description
The purpose of the Congressionally mandated Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program is to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into treatments, diagnostics, and health interventions that improve patient and public health by funding and coordinating a national network of academic medical centers that provide the infrastructure, expertise, training, and collaboration needed to move discoveries from the laboratory into clinical practice and community health. The purpose of the reissuance of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support institutional programs that prepare predoctoral and postdoctoral research training in clinical and translational science.
Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 2 CFR Part 200.
This is a Forecast for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Eligibility Section for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (Research Training Plan)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (NIH Form Page 5)
- Institutional Commitment Letter
- Letters of Support from Mentors/Faculty
- Facilities and Resources Documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Division of Clinical Innovation, NCATS
- 📧 CTSATrainingNOFOsQuestions@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.350 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$139,753,636
-
$118,592,298
-
$118,098,707
-
$112,138,469
-
$102,903,347
-
$102,422,256
-
$100,095,982
-
$99,978,264
-
$98,955,036
-
$97,784,066
Top States by Funding
- CA 13 awards $652.0M
- NY 11 awards $506.1M
- MA 6 awards $321.4M
- NC 5 awards $313.7M
- OH 5 awards $162.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.350). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $595,597,945 | |
| 2025 | $626,227,752 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only eligible institutions within the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program network can apply. Contact your institution's research office to confirm CTSA affiliation.
What does the award fund?
The grant supports institutional research training programs for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees in clinical and translational science. Funds pay for trainee stipends, training activities, and program infrastructure.
Is there a deadline?
The deadline is January 25, 2027. This is a fixed deadline, not a rolling submission.
Can rejected applicants reapply?
The grant description does not specify reapplication policy. Check the full NOFO for details on how to address prior feedback.
How competitive is this funding?
Very competitive. NIH uses peer review, and only meritorious applications receive funding. Success requires strong institutional commitment and demonstrated research training capacity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your institution is eligible before investing effort. Only CTSA-affiliated academic medical centers can compete in this limited competition.
- Focus your narrative on trainee outcomes: prior graduates, current career placements, and training program innovation.
- Demonstrate institutional support with letters from department heads and research leadership committing resources and mentorship.
- Align your training curriculum with the CTSA Program's emphasis on accelerating discovery-to-practice translation.
- Budget realistically for trainee living stipends, which are a major grant expense. Review current NIH postdoctoral stipend tables.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak justification for the number of trainees requested. Vague or generic descriptions of training curriculum without connection to clinical translation. Insufficient evidence of institutional commitment and faculty mentorship capacity.
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