NIH Bridges Program

The Extramural Associates Program promotes the entry and participation of women’s colleges and institutions with significant minority student enrollment in biomedical and behavioral research, primarily through the EARDA grant program. The program provides training for academic research administrators, also called Extramural Associates, to develop broad skills in research administration, including but not limited to, enhancing their knowledge of research, research training, and research infrastructure funding opportunities at NIH and related agencies; developing skills in the fundamentals of preparing research grant applications, contract proposals, training grant and fellowship applications; and on effectively guiding students toward careers in science and research.