Postdoctoral Training in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA HD 21 014

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 21 014

The Postdoctoral Training in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) opportunity, RFA HD 21 014, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutional training grant announcement designed to help organizations build and run structured postdoctoral training programs focused on pediatric clinical pharmacology research. The central goal is workforce development: preparing clinician-scientists and other advanced trainees to become future leaders who can design, conduct, and lead rigorous pediatric pharmacology research independently. Rather than funding a single research project, this T32 mechanism supports a training environment and curriculum that give participants sustained mentored experience in the scientific methods and day-to-day conduct of both basic and clinical research as it relates to medication use in children.

A key emphasis of the FOA is comprehensive research training that moves trainees toward independence. Programs are expected to provide both didactic and hands-on components that strengthen a trainee's ability to ask important pediatric therapeutics questions, choose appropriate study designs, apply sound analytical approaches, and work within the ethical and regulatory realities of research involving children. While the notice highlights training in the methods and conduct of basic and clinical research, it is framed specifically around pediatric clinical pharmacology, which commonly includes areas such as developmental pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics across pediatric age groups, dosing and formulation considerations, drug safety and adverse event evaluation, pharmacogenomics as it relates to pediatrics, and the translation of mechanistic insights into better therapeutic decision-making for infants, children, and adolescents.

This particular announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the training grant itself is not intended to support independent clinical trial activity under the grant as a primary funded component. In practice, programs supported by this FOA typically focus on training experiences, research skills development, and mentored research projects that are consistent with NIH policy for training mechanisms and do not constitute running clinical trials as defined by NIH. Applicants generally need to design the program so that trainee research and experiences remain within the allowable scope for a T32 that does not permit clinical trials under the award.

Eligibility is broad for U.S.-based applicant organizations and can include many types of institutions and entities capable of hosting a robust postdoctoral research training program. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, when specified in the listing); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The announcement also explicitly calls out several categories of institutions as "other eligible applicants," including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, regional organizations, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly restricts foreign involvement at the applicant and component level: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to participate as components under the application.

From an administrative and classification standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant under the Health, Income Security and Social Services activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.865. The issuing agency is NIH, and the opportunity record indicates an original closing date of June 30, 2020, with a creation date of March 12, 2020. The source listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text and NIH institute guidance for budgetary caps, allowable costs, trainee slots, stipend levels, and other financial and programmatic details that usually accompany T32 training grants.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at strengthening the national pipeline of highly skilled pediatric clinical pharmacology researchers by funding institutions that can deliver a formal postdoctoral training structure, strong mentorship, and a research-rich environment. The intended outcome is a cohort of trainees who leave the program with the credentials, experience, and scientific foundation needed to compete successfully for independent funding and to lead research that improves the safe and effective use of medications in pediatric populations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Postdoctoral Training in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-12.
• 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: 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.

Apply for RFA HD 21 014

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: