NCCIH Research Blog

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) offers several training and career development opportunities described on our Training Opportunities webpage. However, trainees and principal investigators alike often overlook opportunities to apply for funding to support trainees on funded grants. NCCIH participates in three different Administrative Supplement programs that support trainees interested in working with investigators who have NCCIH funded research.

Administrative Supplements for Complementary Health Practitioner Research Experience (PA-19-031)

• Supports complementary health practitioners (e.g., licensed acupuncturists, massage therapists, music therapists, chiropractic doctors, naturopathic doctors, or osteopathic physicians) in an intensive, supervised research experience that will lead to a better understanding of, and practical experience in, complementary and integrative health research
• One-year award, with option to renew for a second year
• Budget up to $100,000 direct costs and must reflect needs of the proposed supplement

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (PA-18-906)

• Supports research experiences for individuals from diverse backgrounds throughout the continuum from high school to the faculty level
• One-year award, with option to renew for a second year
• Budget limited to no more than the amount of the current parent award and must reflect needs of proposed supplement (typically ≤ $100,000 direct costs)

Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (PA-18-592)

• Supports full-time or part-time research experiences for individuals with high potential to re-enter an active research career after an interruption for family responsibilities, incapacitating illness or injury, or other qualifying circumstances
• One-year award, with option to renew for a second year
• Budget should reflect salary and fringe benefits in accordance with salary structure of the grantee institution, consistent with the level of effort, with up to an additional $10,000 for supplies, travel, and publication costs relevant to proposed research

NCCIH reviews applications for these administrative supplements twice a year, beginning on April 1 and October 1, and will notify applicants about funding in May and December, respectively. The primary investigator of the parent grant submits the application, which should include a summary of the parent award, a biographical sketch of the proposed candidate and a detailed plan for research and training experiences within the scope of the parent award. Funding determinations are based on eligibility, the fit of the proposed research experience within the scope of the parent grant and NCCIH priorities, the likelihood that the proposed experience will promote a research career, and the availability of funds.

We encourage NCCIH grantees to apply to one of these opportunities! Trainees who are interested in pursuing one of them can use the NIH RePORTer Tool to search for active NCCIH awards, topics of interest, and contact information for principal investigators. For more information, read the funding opportunity announcements above, or email me at lanay.mudd@nih.gov.