NIH Institutional Training Program Requirements Update

NIH Institutional Training Program Requirements Update

Effective January 25, 2025, NIH has updated its Institutional Training Program requirements. According to the NIH Notice NOT-OD-24-084 and NOT-OD-24-086, one of the significant updates includes a mandate for faculty involved in training programs to undergo formal mentor training and periodic refreshers. This requirement is intended to ensure that mentors utilize evidence-informed practices that support the development of all trainees, including those from underrepresented backgrounds in the biomedical sciences. Faculty participating in NIH-funded training programs will need to:

  • Complete formal mentor training sessions* covering essential topics such as aligning expectations, fostering independence, and promoting equity and inclusion.
    • *Note: The Mentoring Excellence faculty training series provided by the Division of Graduate Education meets these standards. To inquire about a training session, please contact Jenny Lee at jlee@grad.ucla.edu.
  • Demonstrate ongoing competency in mentoring through periodic refresher courses and assessments of mentorship effectiveness.
  • Implement mechanisms for monitoring mentoring relationships and ensuring the removal of faculty who do not meet acceptable mentorship standards.

These updates are designed to strengthen mentorship practices within NIH-supported training programs and foster a more inclusive and effective biomedical research community.

For detailed information on these requirements and how they affect your NIH Institutional Training Program application, please visit the NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications Updates page.