Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 26 033

The NIGMS Institutional Biomedical Undergraduate Research Training (BURT) Program (T34) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity designed to improve the quality and reach of biomedical research training for undergraduates at eligible U.S. institutions. The program focuses on strengthening the overall training environment and mentoring structure so that more students not only finish their bachelor degrees in biomedical or biomedically related majors, but also successfully move into and complete research-intensive graduate or dual-degree programs, especially the Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. pathways. At its core, BURT is meant to help build a stronger, better prepared biomedical research workforce by supporting training programs that use evidence-informed practices rather than informal or ad hoc research experiences.

A key feature of this opportunity is that it targets institutions with relatively lower levels of NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) funding. To be eligible, applicant organizations must enroll undergraduate students and must have received NIH RPG funding averaging less than $50 million per year in total costs (including direct plus F and A/indirect costs) over the most recent three federal fiscal years used for the application cycle. NIH RPG funding levels can be checked through NIH RePORTER, and the specific fiscal years used depend on when the application is submitted (for example, FY2026 submissions would be evaluated using FY2023 to FY2025 data). This eligibility design is intended to broaden access to NIH-supported undergraduate research training and to distribute training opportunities across a wider range of institutions, not just those with the largest research portfolios.

BURT applications are accepted under two program structures. The first is a Single Site track, which supports trainees at one baccalaureate degree-granting institution. The second is a Community College Partnerships track, which supports strong collaborations between at least one community college (an associate degree-granting institution) and at least one bachelor degree-granting institution. The partnership approach is meant to create clear, supportive training and transition pathways for community college students, combining early-stage development and advising with access to research training environments that may be more available at four-year institutions. Regardless of track, every application must involve a baccalaureate degree-granting organization, since the program is ultimately focused on bachelor-level completion and the transition into research-focused advanced training.

The funded training programs are expected to combine multiple elements that together prepare undergraduates for biomedical research careers and advanced study. That typically includes structured educational components (didactic training), hands-on research experiences in active research settings, and intentional career development and mentoring activities. The expectation is that these components work together as a coherent training approach, not as separate, loosely connected activities, and that they are grounded in approaches that have evidence behind them or are otherwise well-justified as effective for undergraduate training and mentoring.

There are also important application and organizational requirements. The application must be submitted by the eligible organization and must be tied to a unique entity identifier (UEI) and a unique NIH eRA Institutional Profile File (IPF) number. For institutions with multiple campuses, a campus can only be considered separately for eligibility if it has its own UEI and its own NIH eRA IPF number. If multiple campuses share a single UEI or IPF, eligibility is evaluated collectively across those campuses. In addition, the sponsoring organization is expected to clearly assure both eligibility and institutional commitment to the proposed program, with that support documented through the required letters of support and other materials described in the full notice of funding opportunity.

This opportunity is strictly limited to domestic applicants. Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. Eligible applicant types include a range of U.S.-based entities such as public and private institutions of higher education, certain nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not higher education institutions), and eligible Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is health (CFDA 93.859), and the opportunity is listed as PAR-26-033 with an original closing date of 2028-09-25.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIGMS Institutional Biomedical Undergraduate Research Training (BURT) Program (T34)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2025-12-29.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-09-25.
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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.
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FAQs: NIGMS Institutional Biomedical Undergraduate Research Training (BURT) Program (T34)

What is the BURT (T34) Program?

The NIGMS Institutional Biomedical Undergraduate Research Training (BURT) Program (T34) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity designed to improve the quality and reach of biomedical research training for undergraduate students at eligible U.S. institutions. It emphasizes strengthening the training environment and mentoring structure using evidence-informed practices rather than informal or ad hoc research experiences.

What is the main goal of this program?

The program aims to help more undergraduate students complete bachelor degrees in biomedical or biomedically related majors and successfully transition into and complete research-intensive graduate or dual-degree programs, especially Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. pathways. The broader purpose is to build a stronger, better-prepared biomedical research workforce.

Which NIH institute sponsors BURT?

The program is sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the funding mechanism and activity type?

The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is health. The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.859.

What is the opportunity number and closing date?

The opportunity is listed as PAR-26-033, with an original closing date of 2028-09-25.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are domestic (U.S.-based) organizations that enroll undergraduate students and meet the NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) funding threshold described in the opportunity. Eligible applicant types include public and private institutions of higher education, certain nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not higher education institutions), and eligible Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

No. The opportunity is strictly limited to domestic applicants. Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations are not eligible to apply.

Are foreign components allowed if the applicant is a U.S. organization?

No. Foreign components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible under this opportunity.

What types of institutions does BURT target?

BURT targets institutions with relatively lower levels of NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) funding, with the intent of broadening access to NIH-supported undergraduate research training and distributing training opportunities beyond only the largest research-funded institutions.

What is the NIH RPG funding limit for eligibility?

To be eligible, the applicant organization must have received NIH RPG funding averaging less than $50 million per year in total costs (direct costs plus F and A/indirect costs) over the most recent three federal fiscal years used for the application cycle.

How is the 3-year NIH RPG funding period determined?

The specific fiscal years used depend on when the application is submitted. For example, FY2026 submissions would be evaluated using FY2023 to FY2025 data.

How can an institution check its NIH RPG funding level?

NIH RPG funding levels can be checked through NIH RePORTER.

Does an applicant have to enroll undergraduate students to be eligible?

Yes. Eligibility includes the requirement that the applicant organization enroll undergraduate students.

What program structures (tracks) are available?

Applications are accepted under two program structures: (1) a Single Site track and (2) a Community College Partnerships track.

What is the Single Site track?

The Single Site track supports trainees at one baccalaureate degree-granting institution.

What is the Community College Partnerships track?

The Community College Partnerships track supports strong collaborations between at least one community college (associate degree-granting institution) and at least one bachelor degree-granting institution, creating training and transition pathways for community college students.

Does every application need to include a bachelor degree-granting institution?

Yes. Regardless of track, every application must involve a baccalaureate degree-granting organization because the program is focused on bachelor-level completion and transition into research-focused advanced training.

What is the purpose of the community college partnership approach?

The partnership approach is intended to create clear and supportive pathways for community college students by combining early-stage development and advising with access to research training environments that may be more available at four-year institutions.

What are the expected components of a funded BURT training program?

Funded programs are expected to combine multiple coordinated elements, typically including structured educational components (didactic training), hands-on research experiences in active research settings, and intentional career development and mentoring activities.

Does NIH expect these program components to be integrated?

Yes. The expectation is that the components function together as a coherent training approach rather than separate, loosely connected activities.

What does "evidence-informed practices" mean in this context?

In this opportunity, the program is intended to support training models grounded in approaches that have evidence behind them or are otherwise well-justified as effective for undergraduate training and mentoring, rather than relying on informal or ad hoc experiences.

What student outcomes is the program trying to improve?

The program is intended to support outcomes including completion of bachelor degrees in biomedical or biomedically related majors and successful entry into (and completion of) research-intensive graduate or dual-degree programs, especially Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. pathways.

What organizational identifiers are required to submit an application?

The application must be submitted by the eligible organization and must be tied to a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a unique NIH eRA Institutional Profile File (IPF) number.

How does eligibility work for institutions with multiple campuses?

A campus can be considered separately for eligibility only if it has its own UEI and its own NIH eRA IPF number. If multiple campuses share a single UEI or IPF, eligibility is evaluated collectively across those campuses.

What does the sponsoring organization need to provide regarding eligibility and support?

The sponsoring organization is expected to clearly assure both eligibility and institutional commitment to the proposed program, with support documented through required letters of support and other materials described in the full notice of funding opportunity.

Is BURT focused on undergraduate research training broadly, or specifically biomedical research training?

It is specifically focused on biomedical research training for undergraduates, including students in biomedical or biomedically related majors, with the longer-term goal of preparing students for research-intensive graduate and dual-degree programs.

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