and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Participating Organization(s) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Special Note: Applicants are cautioned that not all NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) participate in this program, and that consultation with relevant IC staff prior to submission of an application is strongly encouraged. The participating ICs have different emphases and program requirements for this program. Therefore, a prospective applicant is urged to consult the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts to determine whether the planned research and training falls within the mission of one of the participating NIH ICs. |
|
Funding Opportunity Title |
NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00) |
Activity Code |
|
Announcement Type |
Reissue of PA-10-063 |
Related Notices |
|
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number |
PA-11-197 |
Companion FOA |
None |
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) |
93.113, 93.213, 93.389, 93.172, 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.271, 93.855, 93.856, 93.173, 93.121, 93.847, 93.279, 93.859, 93.281, 93.361, 93.853, 93.879, 93.867, 93.866, 93.846, 93.865, 93.286, 93.398, 93.351 |
FOA Purpose |
The primary purpose of the Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented NIH-supported independent investigators. The program is designed to facilitate a timely transition from a mentored postdoctoral research position to a stable independent research position with independent NIH or other independent research support at an earlier stage than is currently the norm. Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact the relevant NIH staff for IC-specific programmatic and budgetary information: Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts. |
Posted Date |
April 8, 2011 |
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) |
May 12, 2011 |
Letter of Intent Due Date |
Not Applicable |
Application Due Date(s) |
Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. |
AIDS Application Due Date(s) |
Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. |
Scientific Merit Review |
Standard dates apply |
Advisory Council Review |
Standard dates apply |
Earliest Start Date(s) |
Standard dates apply |
Expiration Date |
(Now Expiring January 14, 2014 per issuance of PA-14-042) , Originally September 8, 2014 |
Due Dates for E.O. 12372 |
Not Applicable |
Required Application Instructions
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide, especially Supplemental Instructions to the SF424 (R&R) for Preparing an Individual Research Career Development Award (CDA) Application ( K Series) except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not be accepted for review.
Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission
Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information
The overall goal of the NIH Research Career Development program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists are available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. More information about Career programs may be found at the NIH Extramural Training Mechanisms website.
The objective of the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) initiative is to assist postdoctoral investigators in transitioning to a stable independent research position with NIH or other independent research funding. One of the most challenging transitions in any research career is the transition from postdoctoral trainee to independent scientist. Reports from the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science (Bridges to Independence: Fostering the Independence of New Investigators in Biomedical Research, and Advancing the Nation’s Health Needs: NIH Research Training Programs) have highlighted the need for enhanced efforts to foster the transition of postdoctoral scientists from mentored environments to independence.
NIH believes that the creativity and innovation of new independent investigators in their early career stages play an integral role in addressing our Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. However, the average age of first-time (new) Program Director/Principal Investigators (PD/PI) obtaining R01 research funding from the NIH has risen to 42 years for Ph.D. degree holders and 44 years for M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. degree holders. The intent of the K99/R00 program is to help alleviate this trend and to assist new investigators in transitioning to stable independent research positions at an earlier age and with an enhanced probability of success in obtaining independent NIH or other independent research support.
In addition to this initiative, NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) support a variety of other mentored career development programs designed to foster the transition of new investigators to research independence, which may be more suitable for particular candidates. Information describing all NIH Career Development Award programs can be found at the K Kiosk - Information about NIH Career Development Awards.
Nature of the career/research transition opportunity
The K99/R00 award will provide up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases. The initial mentored phase will provide support for up to 2 years for the most promising and exceptionally talented new investigators who have no more than 5 years of postdoctoral research training experience at the time of initial application or subsequent resubmission(s) and do not already have a full-time tenure track assistant professor position (or equivalent). This initial phase of mentored support will allow the candidate time to obtain additional training, complete research, publish results, and bridge to an independent research position. The candidate must propose a research project that will be pursued during the K99 phase and transition into an independent project during the R00 phase of the award. The candidate and mentor(s) together will be responsible for all aspects of the mentored (K99 phase) career development and research program. An individual may submit an application from an extramural or intramural sponsoring institution/organization that has a rich and extensive research program in the area of interest as well as the faculty, facilities and resources to support the proposed research endeavor. The individual must select an appropriate mentor with a track record of funded research related to the selected research topic and experience as a supervisor and mentor. The sponsoring institution must ensure that the candidate has the protected time needed to conduct the proposed research.
Following the mentored phase, the individual may request up to 3 years of support to conduct research as an independent scientist at an extramural sponsoring institution/organization to which the individual has been recruited, been offered and has accepted a tenure-track full-time assistant professor position (or equivalent). This support is to allow the individual to continue to work toward establishing his/her own independent research program and prepare an application for regular research grant support (R01). Support for the independent phase, however, is not automatic and is contingent upon being accepted by an appropriate extramural institution and the successful NIH programmatic review of the individual’s mentored phase of the award.
Special Note: Applicants are cautioned that not all NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) participate in this program, and that consultation with relevant IC staff prior to submission of an application is strongly encouraged. The participating ICs have different emphases and program requirements for this program. Therefore, a prospective applicant is urged to consult the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts to determine whether the planned research and training falls within the mission of one of the participating NIH ICs.
Funding Instrument |
Grant |
New The OER Glossary and the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. |
|
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards |
The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations, and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. |
Award Budget |
Award budgets are composed of salary and other program-related expenses, as described below. |
Award Project Period |
The total project period may not exceed 5 years. |
Allowable Costs: Mentored Phase (K99) |
The total cost per year for the initial mentored phase (K99) generally should not exceed $90,000 at either an NIH intramural or an extramural sponsoring institution site, but may be higher in the case of individuals with exceptional salary needs. Salary and fringe benefits may be requested up to the level provided by other Mentored Career Awards offered by the awarding Institute or Center. Research support costs will generally be provided up to $20,000 for a 12 month budget period. Some ICs may offer higher research support costs. Candidates are strongly encouraged to consult the following table for IC-specific programmatic and budgetary information (see Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts). Candidates (intramural or extramural) are required to commit a minimum of 75% of full-time professional effort (i.e. minimum of 9 person-months) to the pursuit of their career development and research experience during the mentored phase. This experience may also include activities such as completing research publications and searching for an independent research position. Candidates may engage in teaching and/or clinical duties as part of the remaining 25% of the candidate’s full-time professional effort not covered by this award, as long as such duties do not interfere with or detract from the proposed career development program. Intramural: Mentored candidates in the NIH intramural program will be supported by intramural funds provided by the NIH Institute/Center intramural laboratory in which they are conducting their research. Budget details for the mentored phase will be negotiated with the sponsoring intramural laboratory Institute/Center and salary will be consistent with that offered new scientists in similar positions. Extramural: Mentored candidates in an extramural sponsoring institution/organization will be supported by NIH extramural funds. Salary must be consistent with the established salary structure at the institution from its own funds to other staff members of equivalent qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. Fringe benefits should be requested based on the sponsoring institution’s rate. Research expenses may include (a) tuition and fees related to career development; (b) supplies, equipment and technical personnel; c) travel to research meetings or training; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time. The extramural sponsoring institution may supplement the NIH salary contribution up to a level that is consistent with the institution's salary scale. However, supplementation may not be from Federal funds unless specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such funds are derived. In no case may additional PHS funds beyond those provided in the K99 award be used for salary supplementation. Under expanded authorities, however, institutions may rebudget funds within the total costs awarded to cover salaries consistent with the institution's salary scale. Institutional supplementation of salary must not require extra duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose of this award. The total salary paid from NIH funds, however, may not exceed the legislatively mandated salary cap. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm. For information regarding NIH policy on determining full-time professional effort for career awards see NOT-OD-04-056. The requested salary must be consistent both with the established salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other staff members with equivalent qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. If full-time, 12-month salaries are not currently paid to comparable staff members, the salary proposed must be related appropriately to the existing salary structure. Confirmation of salary is required prior to the issuance of an award. Fringe benefits based on the sponsoring institution’s rate and the percent of effort are provided in addition to the salary. Salary for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistance, etc., is not allowed. |
Allowable Costs: Independent Phase (R00) |
The total cost for the independent investigator phase (R00) may not exceed $249,000 per year. This amount includes salary, fringe benefits, research support allowance and applicable indirect costs. Indirect costs will be reimbursed at the extramural sponsoring institution’s indirect cost rate. Indirect costs requested by consortium participants are included in the total cost limitation. The salary requested should be based on the person-months effort to be devoted to the R00 project, as is the case for other research grant awards. The candidate is required to devote a total of 75% of their full-time, 12 month professional effort to research (i.e., a full-time 9 person-months). See eligibility below. However, it may not be feasible to support this entire effort through the R00 project alone. Recipients of the R00 phase awards may devote effort to other research projects and may reduce effort on the R00 award if they receive additional independent research support. Please note that a reduction of time devoted to a project by 25% or more from the level in an approved application will require NIH prior approval as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. |
Indirect Costs |
For the extramural K99 phase, Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. For the R00 phase, indirect costs will be reimbursed at the extramural sponsoring institution’s indirect cost rate. |
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.
Higher Education Institutions:
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
For profit Organizations
Governments
Other
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply. Foreign (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not allowed.
The sponsoring institution may be private (profit or nonprofit) or public, including the NIH Intramural Programs and other Federal laboratories.
The applicant institution will be the mentored phase K99 institution. All institution/organization types listed above are eligible for both the mentored and independent phase, with one exception: eligible agencies of the Federal government, such as the NIH intramural program, are eligible only for the mentored phase.
Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.
All Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.
All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least four (4) weeks prior to the application due date.
Any candidate with the skills, knowledge, and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director/Principal
Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her mentor and organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented
racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always
encouraged to apply for NIH support. Multiple Principal Investigators are not
allowed.
By the time of award, the individual must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status), or for non-U.S. citizen/permanent residents, requirements are described below.
For non-U.S. citizen/permanent residents, the applicant U.S.
institution for each phase of the application (K99 or R00) is responsible for
determining and documenting in the application that the applicant
investigator’s visa will allow him or her to remain in this country long enough
to (a) transition to an independent research career in the U.S. during the
proposed mentored (K99) phase and/or (b) be productive on the research project
in the U.S. for the duration of the proposed independent research (R00) phase.
Candidates must have a clinical or research doctorate (including Ph.D.,
M.D., D.O., D.C., N.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M., Sc.D., D.N.S., Pharm.D. or equivalent
doctoral degrees) and have no more than 5 years of postdoctoral research
training at the time of application (resubmissions must also comply with this
requirement). Clinicians (including those with M.D., D.D.S, D.V.M. and other
licensed health professionals) in a clinical faculty position that denotes
independence in clinical responsibilities but not in research may also be
eligible for the K99/R00 award.
Ph.D. (or equivalent
research doctorate degree) candidates in positions other than postdoctoral
fellow positions: It is recognized that some institutions
appoint postdoctoral fellows in positions with other titles although they are
still in non-independent training positions. Candidates in such positions are
encouraged to obtain confirmation of their eligibility before they begin to
prepare their applications. It is incumbent upon the candidate to provide
evidence that the position he/she is in complies with the intent of this
eligibility requirement.
Evidence for non-independence may include:
Conversely, evidence for independence, and therefore lack of eligibility, includes:
Clinicians (including
those with M.D., D.D.S, D.V.M. and other licensed professionals) in positions
not designated as postdoctoral positions: Following clinical
training or fellowship training periods, clinicians often obtain a clinical
faculty position that denotes independence in clinical responsibilities but not
in research. A clinical faculty member who does not hold an independent
research faculty position may be eligible for the K99/R00 award, and should
contact a Program Director at the relevant NIH Institute for guidance.
Clinicians in such positions are encouraged to obtain confirmation of their
eligibility before they begin to prepare their applications. Such individuals
may also wish to consider other career awards available for junior faculty
development.
Individuals are NOT eligible if they:
This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.
NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the
same as one already reviewed. An individual may not have two or more competing
NIH career development applications pending review concurrently. Resubmission applications may be submitted, according to the NIH Policy on Resubmission
Applications from the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Candidates may submit research project grant (RPG)
applications concurrently with the K application. However, any concurrent RPG
application may not duplicate the provisions of the career award application. K
award recipients are encouraged to obtain funding from NIH or other Federal
sources either as a PD/PI on a competing research grant award or cooperative
agreement, or as project leader on a competing multi-project award as described
in NOT-OD-08-065.
At the time of award, the candidate must have a full-time appointment at the academic institution that is the applicant institution. Candidates who have VA appointments may not consider part of the VA effort toward satisfying the full time requirement at the applicant institution. Candidates with VA appointments should contact the staff person in the relevant IC prior to preparing an application to discuss their eligibility. Under certain circumstances, an awardee may submit a written request to the awarding component requesting a reduction in minimum required percent effort, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Details on this policy are provided in NOT-OD-09-036.
Before submitting the application, the candidate must
identify a mentor who will supervise the proposed career development and
research experience. The mentor should be an active investigator in the area of
the proposed research and be committed both to the career development of the
candidate and to the direct supervision of the candidate’s research. The mentor
must document the availability of sufficient research support and facilities
for high-quality research. Candidates are encouraged to identify more than one
mentor, i.e., a mentoring team, if this is deemed advantageous for providing
expert advice in all aspects of the research career development program. The
mentor, or a member of the mentoring team, should have a successful track
record of mentoring. In such cases, one individual must be identified as the
principal mentor who will coordinate the candidate’s research. The candidate
must work with the mentor(s) in preparing the application.
The mentor(s) should describe the career development plan for the candidate
(coordinated with the candidate’s research strategy). The mentor and any co-mentors
are also expected to provide an assessment of the candidate’s qualifications
and potential for a research career. The research environment and the
availability and quality of needed research facilities and research resources
(e.g., equipment, laboratory space, computer time, available research support,
etc.) must also be described. The description should include items such as
classes, seminars, and opportunities for interaction with other groups and
scientists. Training in career skills, e.g. grant-writing and making effective
presentations, is strongly encouraged.
Institutional Environment
The applicant institution must have a strong, well-established record of research and career development activities and faculty qualified to serve as mentors in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. The institution must demonstrate a commitment to the development of the candidate as a productive, independent investigator and be willing to allow the protected time needed by the candidate. The candidate, mentor (s), and institution must describe a research career development program that will maximize the use of this environment, including available facilities and resources.
For candidates for K99/R00 awards who are non-U.S. citizens with temporary U.S. visas, the sponsoring institution must include information about their visa status, and an assurance that their visas will allow them to remain in the United States long enough to (a) transition to an independent research career in the U.S. during the proposed mentored (K99) phase and (b) be productive on the research project in the U.S. for the duration of the proposed independent research (R00) phase.
Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not be accepted for review.
The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, mandatory and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the general application package are required for submission of an application for a career development award. Follow the instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) to determine which components are required.
All page limitations described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Project Summary/Abstract (Component of the Other Project Information Component)
This attachment must be uploaded via the Other Project Information Component, and must include a description of your current research and the research you propose to continue in the independent phase.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Candidate’s Background (Component of Candidate Information)
Career Goals and Objectives (Component of Candidate Information)
Career Development/Training Activities During Award Period (Component of Candidate Information)
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Statements by Mentor, Co-mentor(s), Consultants, Contributors (Component of Statements of Support)
Description of Institutional Environment (Component of Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate)
Institutional Commitment to the Candidate’s Research Career Development (Component of Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate)
Research Strategy (Component of Research Plan)
Appendix
Do not use the appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Candidates must carefully follow the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, including the time period for when letters of reference will be accepted Applications lacking the required reference letters will not be reviewed (see: NOT-OD-11-036). Please note that the specified format must be used. This is a separate process from submitting an application electronically. Reference letters are submitted directly through the eRA Commons Referee Information link and not through Grants.gov.
Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit in
advance of the deadline to ensure they have time to make any application corrections
that might be necessary for successful submission.
Organizations must submit applications via Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants
across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission
process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants
administration.
Applicants are
responsible for viewing their application in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate
and successful submission.
Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are
provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost
principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy
Statement.
Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy
Statement.
Applications must be submitted electronically following the
instructions described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Applicants must complete all required registrations before the
application due date. Section III. Eligibility
Information contains information about registration.
For assistance with your electronic application or for
more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying
Electronically.
Important reminders:
All PD/PIs must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of
the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF 424(R&R) Application
Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI
Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an
electronic application to NIH.
The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the
application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA
Commons and for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional
information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
See more
tips for avoiding common errors.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.
Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.
Only the review criteria described below will be considered
in the review process. As part of the NIH mission,
all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral
research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer
review system.
Reviewers should provide their assessment of the likelihood for the candidate to maintain a strong research program, taking into consideration the criteria below in determining the overall impact/priority score.
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.
Candidate
Career Development Plan/Career Goals & Objectives
Research Plan
Mentor(s), Co-Mentor(s), Consultant(s), Collaborator(s)
Environment & Institutional Commitment to the Candidate
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.
Protections for Human Subjects
For research that involves human subjects but does
not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR
Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human
subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation
according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2)
adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and
others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety
monitoring for clinical trials.
For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or
more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the
committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human
subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For
additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to
the Human
Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children
When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.
Vertebrate Animals
The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.
Biohazards
Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
Resubmissions
For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Revisions
For Revisions, the committee will consider the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application that was not recommended for approval by the committee, then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are clearly evident.
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Taking into account the circumstances of the candidate, including level of experience, the reviewers will address the following questions: Does the plan satisfactorily address the format of instruction, e.g., lectures, coursework, and/or real-time discussion groups? Do plans include a sufficiently broad selection of subject matter, such as conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects and animal use, laboratory safety? Do the plans adequately describe the role of the sponsor/mentor or other faculty involvement in the candidate’s instruction? Does the plan meet the minimum requirements for RCR, i.e., eight contact hours of instruction every four years? Plans and past record will be rated as acceptable or unacceptable, and the summary statement will provide the consensus of the review committee.
Select Agent Research
Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).
Resource Sharing Plans
Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).
Budget and Period of Support
Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical
merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), in accordance with NIH peer
review policy and procedures, using the stated review
criteria. . Review assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:
Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the appropriate national Advisory Council or Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
After the peer review of the application is completed, the
PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique)
via the eRA
Commons.
Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH
will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided
to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by
the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via
email to the grantee’s business official.
Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection
of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any
costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These
costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.
Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS,
CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award
Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.
There will not be a formal Notice of Award (NoA) associated
with the K99 phase of the award conducted in the NIH intramural program. The
awarding Institute will transmit to the successful candidate an approval letter
which will include the terms and conditions of the NIH intramural K99 award,
as well as expectations for the transition to the R00 phase of the award.
All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More specifically for K awards, see Section 12, Research Career Development ( K ) Awardees: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2010/nihgps_ch12.htm#_Toc271265177. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.
Activating the Independent Phase of the Pathway to Independence Award (R00)
See also: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/QsandAs.htm#transDetails
Transition from the mentored phase to the independent phase
is intended to be continuous in time and, except in unusual circumstances, the
awarding NIH Institute/Center will not extend the K99 phase beyond the 2-year
limit. To activate the independent phase of the grant, individuals must have
been offered and accepted a tenure-track, full-time assistant professor
position (or equivalent) at an eligible institution with appropriate
infrastructure to support the proposed research program and a history of
external research funding. Applicants are free to apply for independent phase
positions within the NIH intramural research program (IRP). However, should the
individual accept such a position in the IRP, the independent phase of the
award will not be activated. This is because NIH intramural scientists are
supported directly by NIH intramural funds and are not eligible for NIH
extramural grant awards. Such outcomes are consistent with the goals of the
K99/R00 award initiative.
The application for the R00 phase of the award must be submitted no later than
2 months prior to the proposed activation date of the R00 award by the R00
phase grantee organization. However, to avoid potential problems in activation,
applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their NIH program official as
soon as plans to assume an independent position develop, and not later than 6
months prior to the termination of the K99 phase of the award, to discuss plans
for transition to, and the application for, the R00 phase.
The independent phase institution will submit an application on behalf of the candidate for the R00 award using the PHS398 Application. The R00 application must include:
In addition, a letter from the R00 Department or Division Chairman describing the R00 institution’s commitment to the candidate and plans for his/her career development should be submitted (see below), as well as a final evaluation statement by the K99 phase mentor, if not already provided.
These materials should be sent directly to the awarding
Institute or Center (IC). Details are available at the NIH New
Investigator Program website. The original application plus one copy
(preferably in a PDF format) are to be mailed to the Financial or Grants
Management contact person of the awarding NIH Institute or Center listed in the
Notice of Grant Award. The R00 application will be evaluated by extramural
program staff of the awarding component for completeness and responsiveness to
the program.
An institutional commitment agreement will be required at the time of
activation of the independent phase of the award. This agreement should satisfy
the criteria described in the Career Development Award Section 7 of the SF424 Application Guide. In addition to space, facilities, resources, and other support
needed to conduct the proposed research, the sponsoring institution must
provide protected research time (minimum of 9 person-months (75% of the
candidate’s full-time professional effort) at least for the duration of the R00
award. The start-up package and other institutional support must be described
and should be comparable to that given to other faculty recently hired into
tenure-track or equivalent positions. Institutions must provide a startup and
salary package equivalent to that provided to a newly hired faculty member who
does not have a grant; R00 funds may not be used to offset the typical startup
package or to offset the usual institutional commitment to provide salary for
tenure-track (or equivalent) assistant professors who are hired without grant
support. The R00 sponsoring institution should describe the candidate s
academic appointment, bearing in mind that it must be tenure-track assistant
professor (or equivalent), and confirm that the appointment is not contingent
on the transfer of the award to the institution. The R00 phase institution must
foster and support the awardee’s ability to apply for and secure independent
research grant (R01) support.
The R00 award requires that a minimum of 9 person-months (75% of the
candidate’s full-time professional effort) be devoted to research activities.
Consequently, teaching, clinical duties and other non-research activities
should be minimal during the R00 award period. NIH staff may review start-up
packages and other commitments between the institution and candidate prior to
activating the independent phase of the award. It is suggested that the
applicant and/or the hiring institution discuss the institutional commitment
with the relevant NIH institute program official prior to submission of the R00
application. NIH will not activate the independent phase if the institutional
commitment is deemed inadequate. Applicants who are approved to transition will
receive a Notice of Grant Award reflecting the new R00 grant mechanism, the
dollar amount, and the new recipient organization (if applicable).
The K99/R00 award is intended to facilitate successful transition to
independence. Consequently, a requirement for activation of the R00 phase is
successful completion of this transition. Applicants are encouraged (but not
required) to apply for independent positions at departments and institutions
different from where they conducted their mentored research. It is important
for all applicants, but especially so for applicants who intend to stay at the
mentored phase institution for the independent phase, to provide a plan by
which they will separate from their mentor and advance to independence. Awardees
are also encouraged to include a plan and timeline for submitting an
independent research grant application in a research area relevant to the
mission of an NIH awarding component.
Candidates who are not approved to transition will receive written notification
from the awarding component communicating the rationale for the disapproval. This
letter typically will be sent within 60 days of receipt of the R00 application.
Although the financial plans of the NIH Institute or Center provide support for
this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon
the availability of funds.
If transition from the K99 phase at an extramural institution to the R00 phase occurs at the originally scheduled end date of the K99 award, then no specific steps to terminate the K99 award are necessary. If the transition occurs prior to the scheduled end date, then a revised Notice of Award will be issued to terminate the K99 phase award. Carry-over of unspent funds from a partially completed year in the K99 phase into the R00 phase may be permitted.
In carrying out its stewardship of human resource-related programs, the NIH may request information essential to an assessment of the effectiveness of this program. Accordingly, recipients are hereby notified that they may be contacted after the completion of this award for periodic updates on various aspects of their employment history, publications, support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program.
When multiple years are
involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report
(PHS 2590) annually and financial
statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Additional Instructions for Preparing Continuation
Career Development Award (CDA) Progress Reports, must be followed. For the K99 phase, the Mentor’s Report must include an annual evaluation statement of the
candidate’s progress.
A final progress report, invention statement, and Financial Status Report are required when an award is relinquished when a recipient changes institutions or when an award is terminated.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.
We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity
and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
Special Note: Applicants are cautioned that not all NIH Institutes and
Centers (ICs) participate in this program, and that consultation with relevant
IC staff prior to submission of an application is strongly encouraged. The
participating ICs have different emphases and program requirements for this
program. Therefore, a prospective applicant is urged to consult the Table
of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts to determine whether the planned research and training falls within the mission
of one of the participating NIH ICs.
Grants.gov
Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission, downloading or navigating forms)
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726
Email: [email protected]
GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and
process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: [email protected]
eRA Commons Help Desk(Questions regarding eRA Commons
registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: [email protected]
Table
of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts
Examine your eRA Commons account for review assignment and contact information (information appears two weeks after the submission due date).
Table
of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts
Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
|
| ||||||
|
|
|
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
|
|||
|
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health® |
||||||