ADVANCE Predoctoral T32 Training Program to Promote Diversity in Health Disparities Research, Preventive Interventions, and Methodology (T32, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA OD 23 018

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OD 23 018

The ADVANCE Predoctoral T32 Training Program to Promote Diversity in Health Disparities Research, Preventive Interventions, and Methodology (T32, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH-funded institutional training opportunity designed to build a strong pipeline of diverse predoctoral researchers focused on disease prevention and health equity. Led by the NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) with participation from multiple NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices, the program supports structured, cohort-based training through the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) T32 mechanism. The central aim is to prepare PhD-level trainees to become prevention scientists who can rigorously study and address health disparities and advance health equity, with an emphasis on practical, multi-level approaches to prevention and the methods needed to evaluate them.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its integrated training focus across three connected areas. First, programs must provide substantive training in health disparities and health equity research, meaning trainees should learn how social, structural, environmental, and policy factors shape differences in health outcomes across populations, and how to conceptualize and measure inequities. Second, the training must cover the development and implementation of multi-level preventive interventions. This points to prevention strategies that operate across more than one level of influence, for example combining individual behavior change with changes in clinics, schools, workplaces, communities, or policy environments. Third, the program must build strong methodological expertise in the design and analysis of studies used to evaluate these multi-level interventions. In practice, this often includes training in complex study designs, implementation and evaluation approaches, and advanced analytic methods appropriate for nested, clustered, longitudinal, or real-world data commonly encountered in prevention and disparities research.

The program is explicitly intended to promote diversity among the predoctoral scholars it trains, including individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in prevention-relevant fields, consistent with NIH-wide interests in diversity. In other words, the training grant is not only about the science topics, but also about expanding who is trained and supported to lead in these areas over the long term. Institutions applying are expected to demonstrate how their recruitment, mentoring, and training environment will support trainees from diverse backgrounds and help them succeed in rigorous research careers centered on prevention and equity.

This funding opportunity uses the NIH training grant mechanism rather than a traditional research project grant. That means the application is submitted by an eligible organization (such as a university, research institute, or other qualified entity) to support a training program, not by an individual student for an individual fellowship. The expectation is that the institution will design a coherent curriculum and mentorship structure, assemble an appropriate training faculty, and create clear training activities and milestones for predoctoral trainees. As a T32, it typically supports training-related costs for appointed trainees, and the provided listing includes an award ceiling of $300,000, indicating an upper bound on annual direct costs for the program under this announcement.

The announcement is categorized as a discretionary grant in the broad activity areas of education and health, reflecting its purpose as workforce and capacity development in prevention science. It is associated with multiple CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers, indicating participation from several NIH components. The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number RFA-OD-23-018, and the original closing date listed is October 31, 2023, which is important for applicants reviewing this as a time-specific solicitation.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when otherwise eligible); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The opportunity also highlights additional eligible applicant types that align with the diversity and equity mission, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply under this announcement, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In practical terms, the applicant organization must be U.S.-based and the supported training program must be anchored in eligible domestic organizational components.

Finally, the “Clinical Trial Not Allowed” designation is a key compliance point. It signals that the training program and supported trainee activities under this FOA cannot propose or conduct NIH-defined clinical trials as part of the application’s planned research training experiences. Trainees may still receive strong training in prevention research, intervention development, and evaluation methods, but the work supported under this specific announcement must stay within NIH’s non-clinical-trial boundaries as defined for this funding mechanism and solicitation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ADVANCE Predoctoral T32 Training Program to Promote Diversity in Health Disparities Research, Preventive Interventions, and Methodology (T32, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-07-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-10-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA OD 23 018

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