Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5/T32) | PAR 24 235

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 235

The Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5/T32), Funding Opportunity Number PAR-24-235, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) training initiative administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It is designed to help build a stronger, sustained pipeline of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) scientists who are prepared to conduct high-quality research focused on AI/AN health and health disparities. At its core, the program supports Tribal-led efforts to identify promising trainees and provide them with structured, culturally grounded training experiences that move them toward completing Ph.D. degrees in biomedical research fields and transitioning into long-term careers in the biomedical research workforce.

A key feature of TURTLE is that it uses a phased award structure that supports both program development and program implementation. The UE5 phase supports eligible Tribal Entities in planning, building, and refining an effective training and mentoring program, including the partnerships, curriculum elements, research exposure, and support systems needed to prepare trainees for doctoral study. The T32 phase then supports the actual implementation of those training and mentoring activities. This structure is meant to help ensure that programs are not only well-designed on paper, but also feasible, well-supported, and capable of producing measurable outcomes for trainees across undergraduate-to-graduate transitions.

The program emphasizes more than just technical lab skills. TURTLE is meant to cultivate researchers who can conduct AI/AN health research in a way that is culturally appropriate, ethically responsible, and scientifically rigorous. That includes preparing trainees to navigate community-engaged research contexts, respect Tribal sovereignty and research governance practices, and apply best practices in research ethics and responsible conduct of research. The intent is to develop professionals who are competent in the operational realities of research (such as study design, data management, compliance, and collaboration) and who also have the professional skills needed to succeed in graduate training environments and beyond (such as scientific communication, leadership, and career development).

Eligibility is centered on Tribal communities and Tribal-serving institutions and organizations. The primary eligible applicants include federally recognized AI/AN Tribes, tribal colleges and universities, Tribal health programs, and other Tribal organizations. The opportunity also notes additional eligible applicant types such as Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), with applicants expected to follow the funding announcement for the full eligibility details. While a variety of U.S.-based institutions can be eligible (including public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education, as well as Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations), the funding is not open to non-U.S. entities. Foreign institutions cannot apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed.

From a grants mechanics standpoint, TURTLE is a discretionary funding opportunity and uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means NIH staff will have substantial involvement in helping guide or coordinate aspects of the program compared with a standard grant. The activity sits within the NIH health category and is associated with CFDA number 93.859. The opportunity was created on September 3, 2024, and lists an original closing date of January 25, 2027, indicating a multi-year window in which eligible applicants can prepare and submit applications according to the NOFO schedule and NIH submission cycles.

Overall, TURTLE is best understood as a capacity-building and workforce development program led by eligible Tribal Entities, aimed at expanding the number of AI/AN researchers with doctoral-level biomedical research training. It is specifically structured to strengthen mentoring, research training experiences, and leadership development so that trainees are prepared to pursue and complete Ph.D. programs at institutions across the United States and territories, and to bring that expertise back into the broader biomedical research ecosystem with a clear focus on AI/AN health priorities and disparities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5/T32)" 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 2024-09-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-25.
• 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), Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 24 235

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