Active, changing in 2027 Checked November 7, 2026
- Mechanism
- T32 institutional NRSA (PAR-23-228 through 2026; Parent T32 PA-25-168 from January 25, 2027)
- Who it serves
- PhD students in basic biomedical sciences
- Today
- From the January 25, 2027 due date, applications go to the Parent T32 and must fit one of eight program areas.
Short answer
Starting with the January 25, 2027 due date, NIGMS predoctoral basic biomedical T32 applications go through the Parent T32 (PA-25-168) instead of PAR-23-228, and must align with one of eight program areas. Institutions may hold one award per area, and current awards continue to the end of their project periods.
What is an NIGMS predoctoral T32?
A predoctoral T32 is an institutional training grant that pays stipends, tuition and training costs for a set number of PhD students, while the program provides structured training in research, rigor, career development and professional skills. The institution, not the student, applies. Students are appointed to slots, usually in the first years of the PhD, and must meet NRSA citizenship rules.
What is changing in 2027?
NIGMS announced the changes on July 29, 2026:
- New home for applications. From the January 25, 2027 due date, competing applications move from the NIGMS-specific announcement (PAR-23-228) to the Parent T32 (PA-25-168).
- Eight program areas instead of twelve. Awards can span any combination of disciplines inside an area.
- One award per area per institution, as before. Institutions with several current awards keep them to the end of their project periods, then realign.
| Program area | Notable rule |
|---|---|
| Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology | |
| Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology | |
| Biochemistry and Chemical Biology | |
| Quantitative and Computational Biomedical Sciences | |
| Biophysics, Bioengineering, and Technology Development | |
| Biomedical Behavioral Sciences Interface | |
| Pathways for Basic Science-Industry Translation | Every program must include a required two- or three-month internship at a biotechnology firm |
| Expanding Basic Research Training and Development | Must be grounded in basic biomedical disciplines; institutions may not hold an NIGMS predoctoral basic biomedical T32 in any other area at the time of award |
The last area is worth a close read if your institution has never held an NIGMS T32: it appears designed for institutions entering the program, since holding another NIGMS predoctoral T32 rules it out.
How did the T32 get here?
At the 2017 directors' meeting NIGMS previewed a new predoctoral announcement built around scientific rigor and reproducibility, career and skills development, and inclusive training environments. Those expectations shaped applications for the next several years. Programs that built strong rigor curricula, individual development plans and outcome tracking will find most of that work carries over.
Timing
NIGMS funds predoctoral T32s once a year, with awards starting July 1, and recommends applying a year to eighteen months before a current award ends. Standard due dates are January 25, May 25 and September 25. Use the timeline builder to back-plan data tables and letters.
Questions people ask
What are the eight new NIGMS predoctoral program areas?
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology; Biochemistry and Chemical Biology; Quantitative and Computational Biomedical Sciences; Biophysics, Bioengineering and Technology Development; Biomedical Behavioral Sciences Interface; Pathways for Basic Science-Industry Translation; and Expanding Basic Research Training and Development.
Our institution has two T32s in areas that now merge. What happens?
Both awards continue through their current project periods. When you apply again, you need to realign so the institution holds no more than one award per program area.
When do NIGMS predoctoral T32 awards start?
NIGMS funds predoctoral T32s once a year with a July 1 start, and recommends that institutions with an existing award apply a year to a year and a half before it ends.
Sources
This profile is an independent summary, not an official NIH or NIGMS description. Eligibility and deadlines are set by the current funding opportunity; read it before you apply.