UF Genetics Institute Awarded Prestigious NIH Training Grant to Support Doctoral Education in Biomedical Science

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has awarded the University of Florida a five-year $2.98 million grant to support graduate students engaged in cutting-edge research at the interface of genetics, genomics, and molecular pharmacology.

The grant to the UF Genetics Institute (UFGI) will provide $639,540 per year to support 12 predoctoral trainees, covering stipends, tuition, travel, training-related expenses, and childcare support.

“Based on the strength and innovation of the proposed training program, the NIH doubled the number of training positions and overall grant size from the original application,” said Thomas P. Burris, director of the Genetics Institute.

The Genetics Training Program is a collaborative effort between the UFGI’s Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program and the College of Medicine’s Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences.

“The expansion underscores the NIH’s strong confidence in the UF Genetics Training Program’s design, leadership, and potential to produce high-impact biomedical researchers.” – Thomas P. Burris

“This partnership combines the strengths of both programs to provide exceptional doctoral training in genetics and genomics,” Burris said. “It draws on existing academic structures, a broad faculty base, and UF’s advanced artificial intelligence infrastructure to enhance trainee development.”

Key elements of the program include a flexible curriculum, core coursework in genetics and genomics, monthly research-in-progress seminars, training in scientific communication and research rigor, and participation in the annual UF Genetics Symposium. The program also features a comprehensive evaluation framework to track success through retention, research productivity, and career outcomes.

Over the five-year period, the Genetics Training Program is expected to train dozens of Ph.D. candidates for impactful careers in academia, industry and government.

“Trainees will benefit from interdisciplinary mentorship, a rigorous curriculum, and immersive laboratory experiences designed to prepare them to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in biomedical science,” said Burris, who created a similar program at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

The Genetics Institute brings together over 240 faculty from 50 departments and 10 colleges across the university to advance genetics and genomics research, education and training. Collectively, UFGI faculty secure more than $80 million in annual research funding, supporting a wide range of basic, translational, and computational projects. This robust funding environment fosters a rich ecosystem for graduate training and interdisciplinary collaboration.