The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will hold the virtual kickoff for the NeT32 Webinar Series on September 16, 2026. The series is aimed at providing training and networking for trainees appointed to the NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases’ (DLD) T32 programs. Webinars will include presentations and panels from a selection of National Institutes of Health (NIH) staff members and extramural researchers, including former T32 trainees and T32 directors. Additionally, each webinar will include a breakout component to facilitate networking opportunities for T32 trainees. Topics for the webinars will cover a variety of areas that may be of interest to the trainees, such as funding opportunities (including Small Business Innovation Research funding opportunities), grant writing, NIH-funded resources and consortia, mentorship, clinical research, data science, novel alternative research models, practicing elevator pitches, and more. 

Kickoff Webinar Description

The goal of this kickoff webinar is to introduce trainees to the series, provide resources to help with the transition from the T to an individual training or career development award, and provide an opportunity to network with peers. The first hour of the session will consist of an overview of NIH and the grant submission process, information on how to interact with NIH, tips for applying for F and K awards, and a Q&A session. After that, there will be a breakout session. In the breakout rooms, trainees will get the opportunity to network, discuss what they’ve learned at the webinar, and bring up more questions. They will then return to the main room to share what their groups discussed, and a panel of NIH staff members can provide further guidance and answer more questions.

Objectives:  

• Create a permanent and long-lasting webinar series to provide training and networking opportunities for T32 trainees.
• Provide opportunities for trainees to interact and learn from NIH staff members and senior investigators in the field.
• Provide opportunities for trainees to meet peers who are at different stages of training and have similar research interests and complementary expertise.
• Facilitate trainee transition from institutional to individual funding through education about NIH resources, funding opportunities, and tools.

Event Details:

📅 Date: September 16, 2026
💻 Virtual Workshop: A link to join the virtual workshop will be sent closer to the date of the workshop. Registration for this workshop is free but required to attend.

Contact:

For questions or to request reasonable accommodations to participate in this event, please email Jessica Freer at jessica.mitchell@nih.gov.