MBRS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND STUDENT ENRICHMENT INITIATIVES 

NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 25, July 26, 1996

 

P.T. 34



Keywords:

  Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl 

  Biomedical Research Training 

 

National Institute of General Medical Sciences

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments on proposed changes

in the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) program design.

 

The mission of the MBRS Branch of the Division of Minority

Opportunities in Research (MORE), National Institute of General

Medical Sciences (NIGMS) is to increase the number of

underrepresented minority scientists who are engaged in biomedical

research.  To this end, the MBRS Branch awards grants to educational

institutions with substantial enrollments of underrepresented

minority students to support research by faculty members, strengthen

the institution's biomedical research capabilities, and engage

students in biomedical research.  In order to motivate and prepare

underrepresented minority students for careers in biomedical research

and help them to become more competitive for conducting research, the

MBRS Branch also supports student development and enrichment

activities.

 

In carrying out the mission of the MBRS Program, overlapping

objectives of (1) enhancing research development and (2) improving

student development at minority serving institutions have been

maintained using the minority biomedical research support (S06) and

minority biomedical research support grant program for undergraduate

colleges (S14) mechanisms.  The MBRS Branch recognizes the diversity

of institutions and wants to provide them with the opportunity to

submit applications most suited to their special needs.  Towards this

end, NIGMS is considering two new programs with announcements to be

published in the fall of 1996 and an initial application receipt date

early in the summer of 1997. The programs would focus on (1) Research

and Development Activities, and (2) Student Enrichment and

Development Activities.  The proposed scope of each of the two

programs is detailed below.  The eligibility requirements would be

the same for both.

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

Applications would be accepted from:  (1) public or private non-

profit institutions, two year colleges, four year colleges, and

universities offering undergraduate, graduate, or health-professional

degrees with a 50 percent or more enrollment of students from ethnic

minority groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences,

including mathematics; and (2) public or private nonprofit two year

colleges, four-year colleges, universities or other institutions

offering undergraduate, graduate or health-professional degrees in

which a significant proportion (but not necessarily 50 percent) of

their student enrollment is derived from underrepresented minorities,

provided the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

determines that said institution has a demonstrated commitment to the

special encouragement of, and assistance to, ethnic minority faculty,

students, and investigators.  Nationally, individuals who have been

found to be underrepresented in biomedical research include, but are

not limited to, US citizens who are African American, Hispanic

American, Native American, and natives of the US Pacific Islands.

 

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

 

An objective of the MBRS Program is to improve the research

competitiveness of faculty at institutions with significant minority

enrollment.  This objective is being accomplished by awarding

institutional grants with promising research projects, i.e., the

traditional S06 grant.  Future applications would contain, in

addition to the specific subproject applications for individual

research projects, (1) plans for the improvement of the research

competitiveness of each project and the research competitiveness of

the institution as a whole and (2) plans for the evaluation of

success in achieving these goals.  Thus, improvement and assessment

plans would be important criteria in the review of the applications.

 

Mechanism of Support

 

Awards under this program announcement would use the MBRS research

(S06) mechanism. The responsibility for planning, direction,

execution, data acquisition, and institutional evaluation activities

of the proposed project would lie solely with the applicant

institution.  The maximum grant period would not exceed five years,

with the opportunity for competing renewal at the end of that period.

Allowable costs, as determined by applicable cost principles, would

be evaluated by an initial review group based on the justification

provided by the applicant.  It is anticipated that the announcement

would have provisions for small grants for research development as

well as for larger grants that would be stepping stones to

competitive research funding where applicable.

 

STUDENT ENRICHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

 

An objective of the MBRS Program is to improve student development at

institutions with significant minority enrollment.  The MBRS Program

currently uses both S06 and S14 mechanisms for this objective.  To

facilitate the progress of underrepresented minority students toward

careers in biomedical research, the MBRS Branch is considering a new

initiative.  The purpose of this new initiative would be:  (1) to

provide opportunities for students to participate in biomedical

research; and (2) to encourage the development of new and innovative

programs to improve the academic preparedness and competitiveness of

students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

 

Because institutions vary in size and mission, each institution would

have the opportunity to develop its own set of goals and objectives.

Institutions would also have the opportunity to describe how meeting

their institutional goals and objectives would fulfill the mission of

the MBRS program.

 

Undergraduate institutions would explain how their particular MBRS

programs would significantly strengthen their capabilities for

increasing the number of students in the biomedical sciences.

Graduate institutions would describe how their MBRS programs would

significantly strengthen their capacity to provide student access to

thesis research opportunities across disciplinary and departmental

lines.

 

Institutions would define the nature and extent of their

underrepresented minority student participation in the biomedical

sciences.  If the institution has a history of MBRS support, the

institution would describe the uniqueness, coherence, and success of

this program in both sending competitively trained students on to

graduate programs that lead to the Ph.D. degree and in their

successful completion of these studies.  The previous history of MBRS

support could be used as a baseline for future evaluation of the

success in meeting the goals and specific objectives of the

application.

 

Mechanism of Support

 

Awards under this program announcement would use the institutional

education project (R25) mechanism.  The responsibility for planning,

direction, execution, data acquisition, and the institutional

evaluation activities of the proposed project would lie solely with

the applicant institution.  The maximum grant period would not exceed

five years, with the opportunity for competing renewal at the end of

that period. Allowable costs, as determined by applicable cost

principles, would be evaluated by an initial review group based on

the justification provided by the applicant.  This program would

replace the student development and enrichment categories of the

traditional MBRS program (S06) and the undergraduate colleges MBRS

program (S14).  Competing applications for the S14 program would no

longer be accepted.  Funds for student development activities would

no longer be allowable on competing applications for the S06 program,

which would continue to have a research development emphasis.

 

INQUIRIES

 

Written, telephone, and email inquiries concerning these proposed

program announcements are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any

issues or questions from potential applicants is welcomed.  Direct

inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

 

Dr. Ernest Marquez

Minority Opportunities in Research Division

National Institute of General Medical Sciences

45 Center Drive, Room 2AS.25S, MSC 6200

Bethesda, MD  20892-6200

Telephone:  (301) 594-3900

FAX:  (301) 480-2753

Email:  [email protected]

 

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

 

Ms. Antoinette Holland

Grants Management Officer

National Institute of General Medical Sciences

45 Center Drive, Room 2AN.50B, MSC 6200

Bethesda, MD  20892-6200

Telephone:  (301) 594-5132

FAX:  (301) 480-3423

Email:  [email protected]

 

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