Slots: Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH IPF number) is allowed. A single consolidated application from several institutions within the same Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (MSA, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-regulatory-affairs/statistical-programs-standards) is strongly encouraged and preferred. A MSA consists of the county or counties (or equivalent entities) associated with at least one urbanized area of at least 50,000 population, plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/about/glossary.html). To assist applicants in determining the boundaries of MSAs, please utilize the delineation files resource at the U.S. Census website (https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/demo/metro-micro/delineation-files.html) or contact the NIDDK program staff listed below.
Deadlines
Internal Deadline: TBA
LOI: 30 days prior.
External Deadline: September 26, 2025
Award Information
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Anticipated Award Amount: The total costs of the Administrative Core, Professional Development Core, and Networking Core (U2C) should not exceed 70% of the total cost of the NRSA Training Core (TL1). In other words, the total costs of the U2C divided by the total costs of the TL1 should not exceed 0.70.
Who May Serve as PI:
The PD/PI should be an active investigator in the scientific area relevant to the mission of NIDDK/KUH and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees to the approved research training program, and for the overall direction, management, administration, and evaluation of the program. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required.
The NIDDK encourages multiple PDs/PIs, particularly when each brings a unique perspective and skill set that will enhance the training program. At least one of the multiple PDs/PIs should be an investigator with an active research program in basic, translational, or clinical science aligned with the mission of KUH, capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. Additional PDs/PIs, including individuals with experience in areas such as science education, program evaluation, mentoring, and career development and advancement for early-career scientists, may be included to achieve the training goals.
In keeping with the effort to enhance the involvement of individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives in training, and in providing role models that bring diversity to a training environment, it is strongly encouraged that institutions include women and/or individuals from diverse backgrounds when forming the leadership team of the program.
Link to Award: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-248.html
Process for Limited Submissions
PIs must submit their application as a Limited Submission through the Research Initiatives and Infrastructure (RII) Application Portal: https://rii.usc.edu/oor-portal/. Use the template provided here: RII Limited Submission Applicant Template
Materials to submit include:
- (1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (1” margins; single-spaced; standard font type, e.g. Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
- (2) CV – (5 pages maximum)
Note: The portal requires information about the PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#, Gender, and Ethnicity. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.
Purpose
The Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (KUH) of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) aims to reshape and refocus its Institutional Training Award (T32) program. Compared to the traditional NIDDK/KUH NRSA T32 programs, the program supported by this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will have fewer, larger Institutional Network Awards (U2C-TL1). These U2C-TL1 awards will be designed to cultivate a highly integrated cohort of people and resources to propel KUH training and research. The U2C cooperative component will coordinate and provide administrative support for the Institutional Network Award activities, while the TL1 training component will allow the institution to recruit and fund at least 5 highly competitive pre- and/or post-doctoral trainees across K-, U-, and H-mission focused research. With coordinated support from an Administrative Core, each U2C-TL1 Award is expected to:
- Enhance Career Preparation (U2C Professional Development Core). Promote interdisciplinary approaches to prepare trainees for the next step in their scientific careers by exposing them to diverse and innovative technologies and critical research resources. Develop tailored and structured educational experiences, including specific training in professional development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and mentorship.
- Increase Networking and Outreach (U2C Networking Core). Coordinate a vibrant and dynamic cohort of K, U, and H trainees, including those supported directly by the TL1 component of this award and those institutional trainees already supported by other NIH training mechanisms, such as Fellowships (Fs), Career Development Awards (Ks), Short-term Training Grants (T35s), and Education Program Grants (R25s). Support a robust mentoring environment, including active peer-to-peer and alumni networks.
- Recruit and Train Interdisciplinary Researchers (TL1 Training Core). Fund highly talented trainees from demographically and scientifically diverse backgrounds via the TL1 component of this award.
Successful programs will provide an environment that will optimize the ability of trainees to conduct rigorous, ethical research to generate new knowledge, apply interdisciplinary approaches to research questions, and utilize principles of team-science to further their leadership and problem-solving skills. Programs should also support the development of a peer-to-peer network and provide ample career development resources for the community of K, U, and H trainees within the institution. Trainees who complete training under this program are expected to experience a strong, individually tailored, research foundation that permits them to communicate effectively through scientific presentations, compete for additional research support and be prepared to successfully navigate the next steps in a research or scientific career. Resources provided through the U2C activities are expected to accelerate the achievement of these milestones and enhance the establishment of a training community at the awardee institutions.
To foster a true community of trainees, applicant organizations may submit only one Institutional Network Award application. A single, consolidated application from several institutions within the same metropolitan area, that include multiple departments with a different research focus are strongly encouraged. Programs should be inclusive of all trainees across the entire KUH research mission. In other words, trainees may be engaged in benign kidney, urologic, or hematologic research within a single program. Institutional Network Awards applications that engage trainees across all three K-, U-, and H- disciplines are encouraged. While equal representation across these disciplines is not required, NIDDK encourages applicants to leverage available resources — to the extent possible — to maximize the training opportunities across K-, U- AND H- research. This may be accomplished by partnering with other departments within a given institution or by partnering with other institutions in the Metropolitan Statistical Area (if feasible). Multi-institutional applications are not required, but they are encouraged if partnership enhances the training environment and experience.
Over time, it is expected that each Institutional Network Award will actively participate in a nationwide program — formed by the collection of individual KUH U2C-TL1 awards — to train a cohort of researchers capable of achieving the scientific breakthroughs necessary to improve the care of people with kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases
Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.