The study describes current utilization of National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) graduate training support of institutions, departments, and individuals; it also assesses the impact of possible or actual changes in funding mechanisms. Statistical data show that NIH average contributions vary from 8 to 28% of the total budget of supported departments in medical schools and 3 to 22% of those in graduate schools. Half of all departments in medical schools and 60% in graduate schools have experienced losses in training support since 1968-69. Over a third of all medical school departments and 42% of all graduate departments were notified of reductions for 1971-72; short-term and long-term consequences were identified. The great majority of department heads felt funds had improved the quality of research and training programs. Deans agreed that the training grants and fellowships have also had a major positive impact in many of their school's respective performance. This report also enumerates the influence of NIH and NIMH training support in career choice and patterns of support for biomedical training. (Author)