Limited Competition: Tribal Undergraduate and Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Tribal Entities committed to developing undergraduate and graduate research training programs. Eligible organizations must serve students pursuing biomedical research degrees at institutions across the U.S. and territories. The program supports phased awards for developing mentoring activities and leadership experiences in research.
Eligible applicants are Tribal governments and Tribal-controlled institutions. Students must be seeking baccalaureate or doctoral degrees in biomedical fields. This is a limited competition with merit-based peer review.
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Key dates
- Sep 14, 2026 Applications open
- Jan 25, 2028 Application deadline in 463 days
- Dec 1, 2028 Award announced
- Dec 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
The Tribal Undergraduate and Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program supports eligible Tribal Entities to develop a pool of students who:
- Have the skills required to conduct Tribal health research
- Complete their degrees in a biomedical field, and
- Transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce.
NIGMS will provide support for a phased award to eligible Tribal Entities to develop and implement effective training and mentoring activities for research-oriented individuals earning baccalaureate or doctoral degrees in biomedical research fields at institutions across the United States and its territories.
This is a Forecast for a Limited Competition that will invite applications from eligible organizations to apply. Please see the Eligibility Section for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the applications will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious applications will be considered.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Organizational Capacity Statement
- Research Training Program Description
- Letter(s) of Support from Partner Institutions
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel
Program contact
- 👤 NIGMS TURTLE Program
- 📧 NIGMSTurtle@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
-
$77,061,081
-
$65,300,599
-
$64,096,874
-
$62,932,780
-
$59,464,779
-
$58,957,560
-
$57,271,194
-
$56,978,109
-
$56,938,161
-
$56,890,714
Top States by Funding
- OK 6 awards $211.9M
- NY 6 awards $193.6M
- DE 5 awards $192.3M
- CA 6 awards $186.3M
- ME 5 awards $169.8M
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 can apply for the TURTLE Program?
Tribal Entities and Tribal-controlled institutions can apply. Eligible organizations must commit to developing research training for undergraduate and graduate students.
What students does this program support?
Students pursuing baccalaureate or doctoral degrees in biomedical research fields. They can attend institutions anywhere in the U.S. and its territories.
What activities does the grant fund?
Training programs, mentoring activities, and leadership experiences. The program develops students' research skills and prepares them for biomedical research careers.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. This is a limited competition with peer-reviewed applications. Only meritorious applications receive funding.
What is the funding structure?
NIH provides phased awards as grants or cooperative agreements. Specific award amounts are determined through the peer-review process.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly describe your institution's capacity to mentor and train Tribal students in biomedical research. Highlight existing research infrastructure and faculty expertise.
- Show how your program will support degree completion and transition students into research careers. Include specific mentoring and leadership activities.
- Demonstrate strong partnerships with universities where your students earn degrees. Letters of support strengthen applications.
- Address how the program will build a sustainable pipeline of Tribal researchers. Explain retention and career-tracking strategies.
- Connect your research focus to health disparities or priorities relevant to Tribal communities. Show cultural competency in program design.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Unclear description of how training activities develop research skills and career readiness. Weak institutional commitment or insufficient faculty expertise in biomedical research mentoring. Failure to demonstrate how the program specifically serves Tribal students.
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