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Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Purpose

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is seeking input on NICHD’s strategic recommendations for the future of extramural research training and career development. NICHD welcomes potential approaches and innovations that may be implemented to support early career researchers and trainees. Review of this entire Request for Information (RFI) is encouraged to ensure a comprehensive response and to have a full understanding of how responses will be used.

Background

NICHD has a long and successful history of supporting mentorship, training, and career development. This investment has contributed to the creation of a cadre of researchers leading scientific discovery to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. NICHD’s extramural community is committed to the training and development of the 21^st century research workforce. As the needs of this community and the opportunities for careers continue to evolve, it is crucial that NICHD’s support evolves as well. Part of NICHD’s work in this area is accomplished through a series of funding mechanisms including F30, F31, F32, K01, K08, K12, K23, K25, K99/R00, T32, R25, and the NIH Loan Repayment Program. NICHD also supports supplements including the T32 Diversity Supplement Program for pre- and postdoctoral candidates.

As part of overall scientific stewardship, NICHD periodically examines various programs for unmet opportunities and select areas of improvement. In 2016, NICHD completed an evaluation of the extramural career development and training programs. In response, several changes were made, including reducing the support for institutional awards and supporting more individual awards. Since then, NICHD has developed a Strategic Plan (2020) and has affirmed its commitment to addressing extramural workforce diversity through Theme 2 of the STrategies to enRich Inclusion and achieVe Equity (STRIVE) Initiative.

In January 2023, the NICHD Extramural Training & Career Development Working Group (WG), composed of NICHD extramural leadership and staff, was charged with helping NICHD identify changes to its training programs to prepare the future research workforce and to address NICHD’s mission. The WG acknowledges concurrent efforts to address training and early career development, including a recent report released by NIH’s Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) Working Group on Re-envisioning NIH-Supported Postdoctoral Training.

NICHD is particularly interested in feedback on a set of recommendations developed by the Extramural Training and Career Development Working Group for the future of NICHD training and career development programs to maximize alignment with the Strategic Plan and NICHD priorities, including a focus on addressing scientific workforce diversity.

Information Requested

NICHD is interested in soliciting comments and opinions in response to the training and career development recommendations shared by the Extramural Training and Career Development Working Group during the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development (NACHHD) Council meeting on January 22, 2024: https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=53880. The recommendations are as follows:

1. Rethink How We Talk About Outcomes
2. Reinvigorate Institutional Training and Career Development Programs (T32 and K12)
3. Create Community Amongst Trainees
4. Use Training and Career Development to Diversify NICHD’s Reach
5. Reinvigorate the Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs)
6. Use Training Programs to Support Strategic Research Priorities

Upon reviewing the recommendations above and/or the videocast discussion starting at 1:41:36 through 2:39:15, please follow the directions below to submit a response.

How to Submit a Response

All responses must be submitted electronically as follows:

• Reply on or before April 15, 2024.
• Place "NOT-HD-24-011” in the subject line of the email response
• Email responses to:NICHDTCDRFI@mail.nih.gov
• If applicable, specify which recommendation or action item you are responding to

Responses to this RFI Notice are voluntary and may be submitted anonymously. Submitted information will not be considered confidential. Please do not include any proprietary, classified, confidential or sensitive information in your responses. Responses are welcome from associations and professional organizations as well as individual stakeholders. The responses will be reviewed by NIH staff.

This RFI is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the National Institutes of Health, or NICHD. The information submitted will be analyzed and may be shared internally, appear in reports, or be reflected in future solicitations, as appropriate and at the Government’s discretion. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information provided and will not provide feedback to respondents.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Joseph Gindhart, Ph.D. 
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 
Email: NICHDTCDRFI@mail.nih.gov