Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) | PA 21 052

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 21 052

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, commonly referred to as the Parent F31-Diversity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-21-052), is an NIH fellowship program designed to strengthen and diversify the future health-related research workforce. Its central goal is to provide targeted support to promising predoctoral students from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from groups that are underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. The fellowship is built around the idea that early, high-quality research training and close mentorship can meaningfully expand career opportunities and help fellows develop into productive, independent scientists whose work aligns with public health priorities.

This opportunity funds a structured, mentored research training experience rather than a typical research grant. Applicants are expected to propose a well-defined research project in a health-related scientific area that fits within the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The emphasis is not only on completing a research project, but also on building the applicant's long-term research capability through intentional training activities, professional development, and sustained mentorship from an experienced faculty sponsor (and sometimes a co-sponsor). A strong application typically demonstrates that the training environment and mentoring team are well suited to the applicant's needs and that the fellowship period will clearly increase the fellow's potential to become an independent investigator.

A key restriction is related to clinical trials. Under this FOA, the candidate cannot propose to lead an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. However, the program does allow the fellow to gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by the sponsor or co-sponsor. In practice, this means applicants can still obtain valuable exposure to clinical research infrastructure, trial-related methods, recruitment processes, data management, or analysis, as long as leadership responsibility for the trial does not sit with the fellow.

The NIH lists this as a discretionary grant program under the broader activity category that includes education and health, reflecting its training-first purpose. The opportunity is associated with multiple NIH CFDA numbers (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, and many others), which signals participation across multiple NIH Institutes and Centers rather than a single narrowly defined institute-specific program. Because institute missions vary, applicants generally need to align their proposed research topic and training plan with the priorities of the institute they intend to apply to, including selecting the correct institute and ensuring the proposal fits the scientific scope that institute supports.

Eligibility is broad at the organizational level and includes many types of institutions and entities that may serve as the applicant organization or training site. Examples named include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, independent school districts, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other organizations. The announcement also specifically highlights a wide range of institution types that are often closely tied to diversity-focused training pathways, 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). It also notes faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), and U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants, underscoring the program's flexibility in where training can occur, provided NIH requirements are met.

In short, the Parent F31-Diversity is a predoctoral fellowship mechanism meant to invest in researchers early, pairing them with strong mentors and supportive research environments while they carry out a clearly scoped project and a personalized training plan. The program prioritizes growth toward independence, rigorous mentored research training, and expanding participation in the research workforce among individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, while setting clear boundaries around the fellow not serving as the lead of an independent clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity)" 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, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.351, 93.361, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-10-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

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