Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) | PA 19 187

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 19 187

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) is an NIH fellowship program designed to support experienced scientists who want to deliberately reshape their research careers. The core purpose is training: it funds a structured, mentored research experience that helps an established investigator either make a major shift in scientific direction or significantly broaden their expertise by gaining new research capabilities. The fellowship is meant to strengthen the applicant as an independent investigator in an area that aligns with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, which typically means the proposed training and research should clearly connect to NIH-relevant biomedical, behavioral, or health-related fields.

A key boundary in this announcement is how clinical trials are handled. Applicants are not allowed to propose leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial under this FOA. However, the program does allow the fellow to gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor, meaning the applicant can be trained in clinical trial-related research activities without being the person responsible for directing the trial itself. In practical terms, this positions the F33 as a mechanism for skill-building and career retooling rather than as a vehicle to launch a new applicant-led trial.

The opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a discretionary grant program, and it falls under the broad activity category areas of education, environment, and health. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.121, 93.233, 93.273, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.866), reflecting the fact that multiple NIH Institutes and Centers may participate and support fellowships aligned with their respective missions. The funding opportunity number is PA-19-187, and the opportunity was created on February 21, 2019. The source data lists an original closing date of June 30, 2020, which suggests this particular posting had a defined submission window at that time; applicants typically need to verify current NIH submission cycles and active notices for the most up-to-date deadlines and policies.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. institutions and organizations that can serve as the applicant organization or host environment for the fellowship, such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, along with an "other" category that can capture additional eligible entities depending on NIH policy. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants and institution types that NIH wants to ensure are included, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible agencies of the federal government, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth signals that NIH is open to hosting arrangements across a wide range of settings, including international organizations, as long as the training plan and research environment are strong and appropriate for the applicant's goals.

Overall, the F33 is best understood as a senior-level, individualized fellowship focused on retraining and professional growth through a mentored research experience. It is aimed at people who already have substantial research experience but need time, guidance, and a high-quality environment to pivot into a new area, add sophisticated methods, or otherwise expand their capabilities in ways that will meaningfully change or strengthen their long-term independent research trajectory in NIH-relevant fields.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.233, 93.273, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-02-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-06-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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 PA 19 187

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