Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) | PA 21 047

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 21 047

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33), Funding Opportunity Number PA 21 047, is an NIH discretionary grant mechanism that supports advanced, individualized research training for experienced scientists. The core purpose is career development through a significant shift or expansion in scientific expertise. NIH uses this fellowship to help established investigators make a major change in research direction, retool into a new area, or gain new capabilities that strengthen their long-term independence in a field aligned with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. In practice, the fellowship is meant to fund a structured, mentored training experience that clearly explains what new skills, approaches, or knowledge the applicant will acquire and how that training will enable a new trajectory or a broader, more competitive research program afterward.

A key feature of this specific FOA is its clinical trial scope. It is intended for applicants whose proposed fellowship research and training plan does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. At the same time, it does allow an applicant to gain research experience in a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor, meaning the fellow is not in the role of directing the trial. This distinction matters because NIH separates FOAs based on whether the applicant will be the person responsible for initiating and leading a clinical trial; this F33 parent announcement is positioned for projects that are non-trial-leading while still permitting meaningful exposure to clinical trial environments when appropriate.

The opportunity is categorized as a grant under the broader activity area of Education, Environment, and Health, reflecting its emphasis on research training and career development rather than a standard research project award alone. Multiple NIH CFDA program numbers are associated with it (93.113, 93.121, 93.233, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.859, 93.866), which signals that various NIH Institutes and Centers may participate and fund applications depending on scientific alignment. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types that may serve as applicant or sponsoring institutions, spanning government, academia, nonprofit, and private-sector entities. Eligible applicants listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The FOA also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether they have 501(c)(3) status or not (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories), and both for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also included. In addition, the FOA explicitly calls out other eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects NIH’s intent to support senior-level training across many institutional settings, provided the proposed training environment and mentorship are strong and the research area fits NIH priorities.

Overall, the F33 NRSA senior fellowship is best understood as an NIH-supported, mentored retraining or skills-expansion period for established scientists who want to pivot or broaden their research expertise. Competitive applications typically emphasize a clear rationale for the career change or expansion, a well-justified training plan that fills specific gaps, and a research experience that is feasible within the fellowship period and aligned with NIH mission areas, while staying within the FOA’s boundaries on not leading a clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33)" 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, 93.233, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.859, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-10-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-23. (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 PA 21 047

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