The goal of these administrative supplements is to expand support to the Short Term Research Experience Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) program to high school students in 9th and 10th grade through increased research and outreach opportunities. NIDDK's STEP-UP program is focused on enhancing participation of students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research on a national basis, including individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities.

Background

This supplement seeks to facilitate education and research experience of students in the 9th and 10th grades from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research and scientific outreach. For over two decades the STEP-UP program has worked to establish pathways and opportunities for both high school and undergraduate students to pursue opportunities in biomedical research. This supplement provides the opportunity for currently funded coordinating centers to utilize their networks and outreach components to extend research opportunities to younger participants. Extending opportunities outside of the classroom through scientific outreach and research experiences is positively correlated with individuals progressing through the biomedical research workforce pipeline.

NIDDK’s STEP-UP supplement program will provide support for early intervention strategies that actively engage underrepresented students at the 9th and 10th grade level. The supplement will provide funds for applicants to pilot holistic approaches that have measurable quantitative and qualitative short-term impacts in student retention through research. Interventions to be considered may include but are not limited to opportunities for research projects in collaboration with local teachers, hands-on based learning and short-term mentored research projects for students; workshop programs focused on research-based learning. While matriculation through the academic levels are requisite milestones for students' progress, other predictors of success in terms of interest and retention in research will also be considered.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following opportunity or its subsequent reissued equivalent.

• PA-18-591 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-18-591 must be followed, with the following additions:

• Application Due Date(s) July 1, 2020 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-DK-20-022” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.
• Requests may be for one year of support only.
• The Research Strategy section of the application is limited to 6 pages.
• Only existing awardees of STEP-UP program are eligible to apply.

• Administrative supplement applications to PA-18-591 must use the application form package with the Competition ID that contains “FORMS-F-ADMINSUPP”. In addition, the process for Streamlined Submissions using the eRA Commons cannot be used for this initiative.

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the program contact at the Institute supporting the parent award that a request has been submitted in response to this FOA in order to facilitate efficient processing of the request.

Budget: To be eligible, the parent award must be able to receive funds at the time of the award. The administrative supplement budget request is limited to 1 year.

Supplement budget requests cannot exceed $50,000/year direct costs, and applicable F&A (indirect) cost can also be requested. Budgets may not exceed the total direct costs of the current parent award. Requests must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. Categorical budgets are permitted. Awards are subject to availability of funds.

Administrative Review Process

NIDDK will conduct administrative reviews of applications submitted and will support the most meritorious applications submitted for consideration, pending availability of funds.

Criteria:

1. Is the work/activities proposed within the scope of the parent award?
2. Has the progress of the award in outreach of students been adequate?
3. Will the administrative supplement increase or preserve the likelihood of research opportunities for students?
4. Are there measures of outreach and impact of the proposed approaches?