International Bioethics Research Training Program (D43) | PAR 16 454

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 454

The International Bioethics Research Training Program (D43) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-16-454) designed to build long-term bioethics research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The program is rooted in the idea that LMIC research institutions need a sustainable, locally based community of experts who can do rigorous bioethics scholarship and also guide real-world decisions in health research systems. The central aim is to develop a critical mass of LMIC bioethics scholars who can conduct original empirical studies (for example, field-based research on informed consent, community engagement, privacy, or fairness in participant selection) as well as conceptual or normative work (such as ethical analysis of policy, governance, and oversight structures). Beyond producing scholarship, the program explicitly emphasizes leadership: trainees should be prepared to serve as research ethics leaders within their institutions, advise governments, and contribute to international research organizations working in LMIC settings.

The opportunity supports collaborative institutional training programs that link LMIC institutions with U.S. partners. These collaborations are expected to provide structured doctoral and postdoctoral research training in bioethics, blending coursework or other didactic teaching with mentored research and practical training experiences. In plain terms, the funded programs should not only teach ethics, but also train participants to become independent contributors to the bioethics evidence base and to translate that expertise into stronger research governance and policy in their home settings. The focus on mentored research signals that trainees are expected to produce substantive research outputs under experienced guidance, building skills needed to sustain an academic or policy-oriented career in bioethics after the grant period ends.

This is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism under the health funding activity category, with CFDA numbers 93.172 and 93.989. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible organizations. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types, including 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), and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). The involvement of foreign organizations aligns with the program goal of strengthening LMIC-based institutional capacity and supporting training that is relevant to local research priorities, regulations, cultural contexts, and health system needs.

Key administrative details in the source record include an original closing date of March 21, 2018, and an award ceiling listed as $230,000. The opportunity was created on September 29, 2016. While the record does not spell out the exact number of expected awards, the overall structure indicates support for institutional programs that can train multiple individuals over time, rather than isolated one-off scholarships. In practice, a competitive proposal under this type of initiative would typically demonstrate a well-integrated training plan, strong mentorship arrangements, meaningful LMIC-U.S. partnership roles, and a clear pathway for trainees to move into positions where they can shape research ethics practice and policy in LMIC research-intensive environments.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Bioethics Research Training Program (D43)" 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 2016-09-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-03-21. (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 16 454

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