Letters of Support

• Check the FOA to determine whether any additional program-specific letters of support are required
• Most training grant applications require an institutional letter of support per PAR-19-102 & NOT-GM-19-017.
• Institutional Support Letter – (not to exceed 10 pages). A signed letter on institutional letterhead from a President, Provost, Dean or key institutional leader that describes the activities and resources provided by the institution that will ensure the success of the planned training program and its trainees.  Organizational Support Letter Template Request Form
• Institutional commitment to the following areas should be described in the letter:
  • Developing and promoting a culture in which the highest standards of scientific rigor, reproducibility and responsible conduct are advanced.
  • Ensuring sufficient resources and support will be available to the training faculty and trainees, for example, to permit early stage faculty to participate in training and trainees to continue in training if their mentors experience a hiatus in research funding. 
  • Supporting core facilities and technology resources and describing how they can be used to enhance training.
  • Providing adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources to the planned program.
  • Supporting the PDs/PIs and other key staff associated with the planned training program; ensuring faculty have protected time available to devote to mentoring, training and research; considering activities integral to excellent training (such as teaching and mentorship) in tenure and promotion decisions.
  • Promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels of the research training environment (trainees, staff, faculty, and leadership); ensuring the research facilities and laboratory practices promote the safety of trainees; ensuring the research facilities are accessible to trainees with disabilities; ensuring a positive, supportive and inclusive research and training environment for individuals from all backgrounds.
  • Ensuring that proper policies, procedures, and oversight are in place to prevent discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices and to appropriately respond to allegations of such discriminatory practices, including providing any required notifications to NIH (NOT-OD-19-056) or OCR (e.g., see NOT-OD-15-152).
  • Providing the types and levels of support necessary for trainees to successfully complete the research training program. 
  • Supporting evaluation of the training program and procedures for responding to evaluation findings. 
• Combine all Letters of Support into a single PDF file, with the institutional 10 page letter first.