Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant (NRSA) - HRSA-26-035

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announces a federal grant opportunity for the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Workforce. The program supports training of postdoctoral researchers in biomedical, behavioral, and health services research related to primary care. The application deadline is May 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. HRSA plans to issue expected award notices by July 1, 2026, with a project start date of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031 (five-year funding period). Expected total available funding for FY2026 is $9,566,800 to support approximately 20 grants with individual award ranges of $134,653 to $500,000 per year. Application types include competing continuations and new awards. Eligible applicants are domestic public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that previously received funding under Sections 736, 739, or 747 of the Public Health Service Act between 2011 and 2025, as specified in Appendix A.

Applicants must register with SAM.gov (to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier) and Grants.gov prior to submission. The 60-page application includes a project narrative addressing mentorship philosophy, research training objectives, program goals, performance management, and sustainability plans; detailed budget narratives supporting postdoctoral fellow stipends (with mandatory 2% annual increases), tuition support up to $16,000 per fellow annually, training-related expenses, and institutional costs up to $12,400 per fellow per year. Required attachments include organizational charts, letters of agreement, staffing plans, curriculum vitae, relevant publications, postdoctoral fellow tracking data, and other supporting documents. Merit review evaluates applications on six criteria: Need (15 points), Response (35 points), Performance Reporting and Evaluation (10 points), Impact (20 points), Resources and Capabilities (10 points), and Support Requested (10 points). Post-award requirements include compliance with 2 CFR Part 200, indirect cost limitations of 8% for training awards, quarterly and annual reporting, and alignment with HRSA's mission prioritizing primary care research in underserved populations.