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.Apply for PA 21 047
- 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.
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FAQs: Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) - PA 21 047
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33), Funding Opportunity Number PA 21 047, offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is an NIH discretionary grant mechanism designed to support advanced, individualized research training for experienced scientists.
What is the main purpose of the F33 NRSA Senior Fellowship?
The core purpose is career development through a significant shift or expansion in scientific expertise. The fellowship supports a structured, mentored training experience that helps established investigators retool into a new area, make a major change in research direction, or gain new capabilities that strengthen long-term independence in a field aligned with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Who is this fellowship intended for?
It is intended for experienced scientists seeking advanced, individualized research training. The emphasis is on senior-level career development where the applicant is aiming for a substantial pivot, retraining effort, or meaningful skills expansion rather than simply continuing an existing trajectory without major change.
What kind of "career development" does NIH expect in an F33 application?
NIH expects a clear rationale for why the applicant needs a major change or expansion in expertise, plus a mentored training plan explaining what new skills, approaches, or knowledge will be acquired. The application should also explain how this training enables a new research direction or a broader, more competitive program afterward.
Is this opportunity mainly a research grant or a training/career development award?
It is primarily a research training and career development fellowship. While it includes a research experience, the distinguishing feature is the structured, mentored training plan and the focus on expanding or shifting the applicant's capabilities.
Does this FOA allow clinical trials?
This FOA 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.
Can a fellow gain experience in a clinical trial under this F33 FOA?
Yes. The FOA allows an applicant to gain research experience in a clinical trial environment as long as the trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor. In other words, the fellow may participate and learn, but should not be in the role of directing or leading the trial.
What does "not leading a clinical trial" mean in practical terms for this FOA?
It means the fellowship project should not position the fellow as the person responsible for initiating and leading an independent clinical trial, a feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. The FOA is structured for projects where the fellow is not the trial leader, even if the fellow is involved in a trial led by someone else (the sponsor or co-sponsor).
Why does NIH make the clinical trial distinction for this announcement?
NIH separates funding opportunity announcements based on whether the applicant will be responsible for initiating and leading a clinical trial. This Parent F33 announcement is positioned for projects that are non-trial-leading, while still permitting appropriate clinical trial exposure when relevant.
What types of activities are supported by this award?
The award supports a mentored, structured training experience focused on acquiring new skills, approaches, or knowledge. It is designed to enable a meaningful new trajectory or expanded research program aligned with NIH mission areas.
What activity area is associated with this opportunity?
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.
Which agency sponsors this fellowship?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Do multiple NIH Institutes and Centers participate?
Yes. Multiple NIH CFDA program numbers are associated with this FOA (93.113, 93.121, 93.233, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.859, 93.866). This indicates that various NIH Institutes and Centers may participate and fund applications depending on scientific alignment with their missions.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The FOA lists these CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.233, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.859, and 93.866.
Who can serve as an eligible applicant or sponsoring institution?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and the private sector, including U.S. and non-U.S. entities, as long as the proposed training environment and mentorship are strong and the research aligns with NIH priorities.
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are eligible.
Are Native American tribal governments or organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
Are housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether they have 501(c)(3) status or not (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are federal government agencies eligible?
Yes. Eligible federal government agencies are listed as eligible applicants.
Are regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations are included in the list of eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included as eligible.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, described as foreign organizations.
What makes an application competitive based on the provided description?
Competitive applications typically emphasize (1) a clear rationale for the career change or expansion, (2) a well-justified, structured training plan that fills specific gaps in expertise, and (3) a feasible research experience aligned with NIH mission areas, while staying within the FOA boundaries regarding not leading a clinical trial.
What should the training plan clearly explain?
It should clearly explain what new skills, approaches, or knowledge the applicant will acquire and how that training will enable a new research trajectory or a broader, more competitive research program afterward.
Does the research area need to align with NIH priorities?
Yes. The fellowship is meant to support training and research experiences that align with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Is this fellowship meant to support a major pivot or can it support incremental growth?
Based on the stated purpose, it is meant to support a significant shift or expansion in scientific expertise, such as a major change in research direction or retooling into a new area, rather than incremental growth alone.
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