Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) | PA 20 251

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 251

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 20-251), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellowship program designed to strengthen and diversify the future health-related research workforce. Its central goal is to support promising predoctoral students from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research workforce, by funding high-quality, mentored research training during their doctoral studies. In practical terms, the fellowship is meant to help a graduate student build the skills, track record, and professional development foundation needed to move toward a long-term career as an independent research scientist.

This opportunity emphasizes individualized, mentored training rather than stand-alone project funding. Applicants are expected to work closely with an experienced faculty sponsor (and, when appropriate, co-sponsors) who will provide structured guidance, research oversight, and career development support. The student must propose a well-defined research project in a scientific, health-related area that aligns with the mission of one or more participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The project and training plan are expected to be tightly linked: the research should not only answer a meaningful scientific question, but also serve as the vehicle through which the fellow gains discipline-specific expertise, methodological competence, and broader professional skills (for example, experimental design, responsible conduct of research, data analysis, scientific communication, and career planning). The NIH frames success for this fellowship in terms of whether the proposed training experience clearly increases the candidate’s potential to become a productive, independent scientist.

A key boundary in the program rules is how clinical trials are handled. Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement, candidates are not allowed to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. However, the program does allow a fellow to gain research experience in a clinical trial that is led by the sponsor or co-sponsor. This distinction matters because the fellowship is intended to support training under mentorship, rather than placing full clinical-trial leadership responsibility on a predoctoral trainee.

The NIH lists this as a discretionary grant mechanism and categorizes it under multiple activity areas, including education and health. While the fellowship is ultimately awarded to support the trainee’s development, applications are submitted through eligible applicant organizations. Eligible applicant types include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations that are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other eligible entities. In addition, the announcement highlights eligibility for several institution types that often play important roles in training scientists from underrepresented backgrounds, including 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). The FOA also notes that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and eligible federal agencies may apply, reflecting broad institutional eligibility as long as the proposed training environment and mentorship meet NIH standards.

Administratively, the opportunity is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referenced under Assistance Listings) that correspond to the various NIH Institutes and Centers participating in NRSA activities. The source data you provided lists an original closing date of October 28, 2020 and a creation date of July 6, 2020; applicants typically need to verify current receipt dates and any updates or reissues of the FOA on NIH and Grants.gov postings, since NIH fellowship opportunities often operate on standard recurring submission cycles.

Overall, the Parent F31-Diversity is best understood as a competitive NIH predoctoral fellowship that combines a defined research project with a deliberate, mentor-driven training plan, specifically aimed at improving representation and inclusion in the health research enterprise. It supports students who show strong promise and who can demonstrate that the fellowship-funded training period will measurably accelerate their development toward a research-intensive career, while working within NIH rules that keep clinical-trial leadership responsibilities with the sponsor rather than the predoctoral fellow.

• 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 2020-07-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-28. (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 20 251

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