In 2021, NIH introduced a new initiative to provide childcare support to recipients of National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowships. Then, in 2022, NIH expanded the program to include NRSA trainees as well. Each NRSA fellow or trainee is eligible to receive $2,500 per budget period toward expenses for childcare provided by a licensed childcare provider. For households where both parents are NRSA fellows or trainees, each parent is eligible to receive $2,500 per budget period.
Dr. Michael Lauer, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, recently highlighted how NIH has matched its good intentions with funding commitments. In the blog post Increased Use of the Childcare Cost Support Policy by National Research Service Award (NRSA) Fellows in FY 2023, he notes:
- The percentage of fellows that received childcare cost support rose from 5.6 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2021 to 8.4 percent in FY 2023.
- The total number of childcare awards rose from 231 in FY 2021 to 331 in FY 2023.
- The total childcare support awarded rose from $577,083 in FY 2021 to $820,000 in FY 2023.
He adds that childcare support was approved for nearly every researcher awarded an NRSA fellowship who requested support.
If you are an NRSA fellow eligible for childcare supplements, check out Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Availability of Administrative Supplements for Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellows. You can use the notice of funding opportunity Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp, Clinical Trial Optional) to submit your application.
For NRSA training awards, NIH provides funds for childcare costs to institutions based on the number of trainee slots awarded. No additional action is needed at the time of application to request these funds. If you are an NRSA trainee, work with your institution to make arrangements as explained in Announcement of Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Awards.
Refer to Family-Friendly Initiatives and Childcare Costs—Frequently Asked Questions for additional instruction.