Funding of Research Training and Career Development

NIMH is committed to research training that prepares junior and early-to-midcareer scientists to conduct innovative multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research in areas of program relevance that will advance the mission of the Institute. To accomplish its goal of training future generations of mental health researchers, NIMH has long been a leader among the NIH Institutes in supporting National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional (T32) and individual predoctoral (F30, F31) and postdoctoral (F32) doctoral training programs and Research Career Development programs (K-awards). In fiscal year (FY) 2009, NIMH spent 8.0% of its total extramural research budget on training and career development programs (roughly $97M). Thus, while it is important to strike a strategic balance between building the pipeline of potential new investigators and maintaining a viable pay line to support research projects, the NIMH continues to invest significant funds to train investigators in areas highly relevant to the Institute's mission.

• Individual Fellowships (F30, F31, F32)

  NIMH funded roughly 32% of the individual fellowship applications submitted in FY2009. It is estimated that a similar success rate will exist in the current fiscal year. The Institute’s commitment to  increasing the cadre of physician-scientists conducting research relevant to the mission of the NIMH may be reflected in the success rate for F30 (MD/PhD) applications.

• Institutional Training Grants (T32)

  In FY2009, 48% of the eligible institutional training grant applications were funded. It is anticipated that the success rate for T32 applications will be similar in the current fiscal year. Where feasible, the number of positions awarded to individual T32s may be reduced from the number recommended by the review panel to stretch the available training positions among a larger number of meritoriousT32s.

• Mentored Career Development Awards (K99, K01, K08, K23)

  Overall, roughly 38% of the mentored career development award applications were funded in FY2009. Assuming that the number of these applications submitted does not change significantly in the current fiscal year, we estimate a similar success rate in FY2010. 

Historical information on success rates for individual research training and career development programs may be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/training/outcomes.htm .  NIH RePORT  also provides a variety of data including information on spending, success rates, and searchable public databases.

Prospective applicants for NRSA institutional training grants, NRSA individual fellowships, and career development awards are strongly encouraged to contact Program Officers with specific scientific and training expertise in order to obtain advice on program priorities, the relevance of proposed research to the mission of the NIMH and our Strategic Plan, and other issues such as eligibility for a particular mechanism (e.g., F31 predoctoral fellowships or K01 mentored career development awards).