International Bioethics Research Training Program (D43 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 716

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 716

The International Bioethics Research Training Program (D43 Clinical Trial Optional), Funding Opportunity Number PAR 18 716, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to strengthen bioethics capacity in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Led through the NIH Fogarty International Center (FIC), the program focuses on building a durable, self-sustaining community of bioethics scholars based at research-intensive LMIC institutions. The central idea is to move beyond short-term training and instead help LMIC institutions develop a critical mass of people who can generate original scholarship in bioethics and also serve as leaders shaping how health research is conducted, reviewed, and governed in their settings.

At its core, the opportunity supports institutional training programs that are collaborative between LMIC institutions and U.S. partners. These programs are expected to combine structured coursework or other didactic learning with strong mentorship and hands-on research training. The intent is to prepare trainees at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels to conduct rigorous empirical bioethics research (for example, studies examining how consent processes work in practice, how communities understand research risks and benefits, or how research oversight systems function) as well as conceptual or normative ethics scholarship (for example, analyzing ethical frameworks for data sharing, benefit sharing, or fair participant selection). The research focus is not generic; it is specifically aimed at difficult, locally relevant issues that arise in health research and research policy in LMIC contexts, where health systems, regulatory environments, cultural considerations, and resource constraints can raise distinctive ethical challenges.

A defining feature of this program is its emphasis on leadership and institutional impact. Trainees are not only expected to become competent researchers but also to be positioned for roles where they can influence practice and policy. That includes leadership within LMIC research institutions (such as ethics committees/IRBs, research offices, and academic departments), advisory roles for governments and national regulatory bodies, and contributions to international research organizations that operate in or collaborate with LMIC partners. In practical terms, the funded training programs are meant to produce graduates who can teach bioethics, mentor the next generation, publish independent scholarship, participate in guideline development, and strengthen ethical oversight of research in their home institutions and countries.

The award mechanism is a grant under the NIH D43 activity code, which is commonly used for international research training programs. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that the program can include clinical trial-related training components if appropriate, but it is not necessarily required. The funding activity category is Health, and the listing references CFDA numbers 93.172 and 93.989, aligning it with NIH and Fogarty-related assistance programs. According to the source details provided, the award ceiling is $230,000, and the original closing date listed is 2018-05-17, with a creation date of 2018-03-21.

Eligibility is broad across higher education and certain mission-driven institutions, reflecting NIH's interest in building robust partnerships. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, along with other eligible entities. The opportunity explicitly notes additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This range of eligible institutions supports the program's collaborative model and recognizes that strong bioethics training partnerships may involve diverse types of U.S. and international institutions with relevant expertise and commitments.

Overall, this funding opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building investment: it aims to help LMIC institutions develop the people, mentorship structures, and scholarly output needed to sustain high-quality bioethics research and research ethics leadership over the long term, with LMIC priorities and real-world health research challenges as the primary focus.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Bioethics Research Training Program (D43 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172, 93.989.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-05-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $230,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 18 716

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