Expired PAR-06-470: Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (K12)

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)

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EXPIRED

Part I Overview Information

Department of Health and Human Services

Participating Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov/)

Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (http://www.nigms.nih.gov/)

Title: Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (K12)

Announcement Type
This is a reissue of PAR-02-152, which was released August, 22, 2002.

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

July 15, 2011 - This PAR has been reissued as PAR-11-255.
February 18, 2011 - See Notice NOT-GM-11-104 NIGMS MORE SI Awardees: Required Use of xTrain Commons Module for Appointments and Terminations (R25, K12).
October 27, 2010 - See Notice NOT-GM-10-110 Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity for the Reissue of the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) (K-12).
May 16, 2008 - See Notice (NOT-OD-08-069) Due to the upcoming receipt dates for several FOAs using these mechanisms, their expiration dates are being extended.

Looking ahead: As part of the Department of Health and Human Services' implementation of e-Government, during FY 2006 the NIH will gradually transition each research grant mechanism to electronic submission through Grants.gov and the use of the SF 424 Research and Related (R&R) forms. Therefore, once the transition is made for a specific grant mechanism, investigators and institutions will be required to submit applications electronically using Grants.gov. For more information and an initial timeline, see http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/. NIH will announce each grant mechanism change in the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html). Specific funding opportunity announcements will also clearly indicate if Grants.gov submission and the use of the SF424 (R&R) is required. Investigators should consult the NIH Forms and Applications Web site (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm) for the most current information when preparing a grant application.

Program Announcement (PA) Number: PAR-06-470

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.859

Key Dates
Release Date: June 16, 2006
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): Not Required
Application Receipt Date(s): September 22, 2006, 2007, 2008
Peer Review Date(s): February-March 2007, 2008, 2009
Council Review Date(s): May, 2007, 2008, 2009
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): July 1, 2007, 2008, 2009
Additional Information To Be Available Date (Url Activation Date): Not Applicable
Expiration Date: September 23, 2008 - (New Expiration Date January 8, 2010 per NOT-OD-08-069)

Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable

Additional Overview Content

Executive Summary

The Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) Division of NIGMS re-announces the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) Initiative, which seeks to combine mentored postdoctoral research at a research-intensive institution with an opportunity for candidates to develop teaching skills through mentored assignments at a Minority Serving Institution.
Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.
This funding opportunity will use the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (K12) award mechanism.
Eligible organizations include partnerships that include domestic universities, college, or other institutions with a significant proportion of underrepresented minority student enrollment. The applicant institution must be the primary site for the institutional program. See Section III.1.A. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Eligible applicants include any individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed program.
The K12 program may not be transferred to another institution.
See Section IV.1 for application materials.
Telecommunications for the hearing impaired is available at: TTY 301-451-5936

Table of Contents

Part I Overview Information

Part II Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives

Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available

Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria

Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt and Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Sending an Application to the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements

Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources

Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting

Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)

Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations

Part II - Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Research Objectives

The IRACDA program will support postdoctoral candidates in their research at research intensive-institutions and in teaching assignments at minority serving institutions (MSIs). It is expected that this initiative will provide an important new resource to motivate the next generation of scientists at MSIs.

Underrepresented minorities constitute a small fraction of the postdoctoral fellows in the life sciences and an even smaller fraction of the principal investigators of NIH research grants. In addition, the number of underrepresented minority applicants for research grants and training positions is very low. In the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, NIH was encouraged to increase the number of underrepresented minorities participating in biomedical and behavioral research. In response to the Act, NIGMS seeks innovative ways to enhance the training of students at MSIs. This mission is important because there are declining numbers of underrepresented minority group members entering graduate school and even fewer who choose careers in biomedical science. The reasons for this are numerous and complex. Exposure to research-oriented courses is desirable to motivate minority students to consider research careers. While teaching is, in general, a strength of MSIs, it is a challenge to enrich the curriculum with the most contemporary research topics and laboratory experiences that faculty who are actively engaged in research have to offer. Many MSIs, in part because of their small size, are limited in the number of advanced courses in the biomedical sciences that they are able to offer. Furthermore, if faculty turnover is low, students may have less access to faculty who are steeped in their respective research areas.

A separate but contemporary problem is that many new scientists find that the traditional postdoctoral research experience does not give them the best preparation for entering an academic environment in which teaching and other problem-solving skills are essential. This program establishes an opportunity for universities and other eligible institutions that are involved in cutting edge biomedical research and training to design research career development programs that include and build upon a teaching experience at an MSI.

The primary objective of the research career development program is to prepare qualified individuals for careers that significantly impact the nation's research agenda. Within the framework of the program's overall commitment to excellence and projected need for investigators in particular areas of research, attention must be given to recruiting postdoctoral candidates from minority groups underrepresented nationally in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. For the purposes of this program announcement, underrepresented minorities are individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the applicant institution to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research. Historically, individuals who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research include, but are not limited to, U.S. citizens who are Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Native Americans (including Alaska Natives) and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands. However, the IRACDA program is not intended to be limited to underrepresented minorities.

The objectives of this initiative are:

To enhance research-oriented teaching at MSIs
To increase or enhance the research and other skills needed in developing scientists to conduct high quality research in an academic environment
To promote links between research-intensive institutions and MSIs that can lead to further collaborations in research and teaching
To increase the number of well-qualified underrepresented minority students from the partner MSIs entering competitive careers in biomedical research

The traditional postdoctoral research experience must fall within the scope of the NIGMS mission as detailed in the publication, "Divisions and Grant Award Mechanisms," available from the NIGMS Public Information

Office (301-496-7301); additional information can be found on the NIGMS home page at http://www.nih.gov/nigms/. In brief, NIGMS supports research in: (a) cell biology and molecular biophysics, including basic studies of the structure and function of cells, cellular components, and the biological macromolecules that make up these components; (b) fundamental mechanisms of inheritance and development that typically utilize non-human model systems; (c) basic studies in pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry, and bio-related chemistry; (d) basic studies in anesthesiology; (e) basic studies in biotechnology, including biocatalysis and metabolic engineering; (f) bioengineering, including instrumentation development and refinement and development of bioanalytical methods and biomaterials; and (g) bioinformatics; (h)trauma, burn, injury, perioperative injury and wound healing.

See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations, for policies related to this announcement.

Section II. Award Information

1. Mechanism(s) of Support

This funding opportunity will use the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (K12) award mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. In addition, you will be responsible for evaluating the program s success in achieving its goals, and for tracking the career outcomes of program participants. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this program announcement may not exceed five years and is renewable.

This PA uses just-in-time concepts.

2. Funds Available

Although no specific funds are set aside for this Program Announcement, it is anticipated that one or two new awards may be made annually at an average cost of $500,000 in their first year.

Because the nature and scope of the proposed program will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the IC(s) provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Facilities and administrative costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

1.A. Eligible Institutions

You may submit an application if your organization has any of the following characteristics:

For-profit organizations
Non-profit organizations
Public or private universities

Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

An application must be submitted on behalf of a consortium of domestic, private or public, educational institutions. The applicant institution must be the primary site of the postdoctoral research experience. An institution may not submit more than one application. A consortium must include one or more partners that are MSIs as defined by one or both of the following guidelines:

A public or private nonprofit university, two-year or four-year college, or other institution offering undergraduate, graduate, or health-professional degrees, with a traditionally high (more than 50 percent) underrepresented minority student enrollment
A public or private nonprofit university, two-year or four-year college, or other institution offering undergraduate, graduate, or health-professional degrees with a student enrollment, a significant proportion of which (but not necessarily more than fifty percent) 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, underrepresented minority faculty, students, and investigators; or an Indian tribe that has a recognized governing body and that performs substantial governmental functions, or an Alaska Regional Corporation (ARC), as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)

1.B. Eligible Individuals

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution 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. The Program Director should have experience in managing career development programs and success in preparing investigators for independent research careers. Additionally, they should have experience working with a minority serving institution.

Institutions with an IRACDA may recruit and select candidates directly into their programs rather than submitting a separate application on behalf of each prospective candidate. The candidates need not be identified at the time the application is submitted. Candidates appointed under this program award must be U.S. citizens or non-citizen nationals, or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551) or some other verification of legal status as a permanent resident. Non-citizen nationals, although not U.S. citizens, owe permanent allegiance to the U.S. They are generally born in lands which are not states but are under U.S. sovereignty, jurisdiction, or administration. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.

Postdoctoral candidates must have received, as of the beginning date of the appointment to the program, a Ph.D., M.D., or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to, the following: D.D.S., D.M.D., D.O., D.V.M., O.D., D.P.M., Sc.D., Eng.D., Dr. P.H., D.N.Sc., D. Pharm., D.S.W., and Psy.D. Documentation by an authorized official of the degree-granting institution certifying all degree requirements have been met prior to the beginning date of their appointment is acceptable.

Candidates must be committed to research and have the potential to develop as independent researchers.

When selected to the K12 program, candidates will be considered to be IRACDA scholars .

Research Mentors must have active, supported research and a record of training postdoctoral researchers. Teaching mentors from the MSI partner must have a strong record of teaching using contemporary pedagogy.

Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects will compete with applications for new awards.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required.

The most current Grants Policy Statement can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/nihgps_Part2.htm#matching_or_cost_sharing

3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria

This initiative encourages innovative solutions to the problems of attracting and training postdoctoral candidates in both research and academic skills, and also of increasing opportunities for students at MSIs. Applicant institutions therefore have wide latitude in the design of the program. However, career development activities, which should last two to three years, must include the following components:

1) A research experience typical of other competitive postdoctoral opportunities. The research mentor will sponsor and oversee the proposed research development program and will ensure that the candidate receives the proper experience for a future research career. The mentor is expected to be a collaborator on the candidate's research project. However, the candidate may conduct collaborative research with other experienced researchers, subject to approval of the mentor.

2) A mentored teaching experience, the practicum of which will take place at a MSI. Approximately 25% of the effort must be spent on this activity, the timing of which may be flexible over the duration of the award. The activity must emphasize modern pedagogy. The teaching mentor will sponsor and oversee the proposed academic development program and will ensure that the candidate receives the proper experience for the future academic career.

3) Other mentored and/or didactic experiences to improve problem solving or management skills deemed important for an individual to prosper in an academic research environment.

4) Flexibility in program design may include flexibility in scheduling. For example, a plan might involve large blocks of time devoted to research separated by a large block of time devoted to teaching (e.g., research for one year, teach for one year, research for one year). Alternatively, for institutions in close proximity, the teaching may represent a 25% effort throughout the award.

5) Combining research and teaching in a single career development program offers certain challenges. Designing a program that moves a postdoctoral candidate between partners of a consortium offers other challenges. A strong application will evidence a solid working relationship among partners of the consortium and will include plans that anticipate and mitigate the challenges. It should involve all partners in the planning and execution of the elements of the career development program.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Information

The PHS 398 application instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. Applicants must use the currently approved version of the PHS 398. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Applications must be prepared using the most current PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms. Applications must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com/us/. The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form.

The title and number of this funding opportunity must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be checked.

Applicants should describe their proposed program in detail. They should explain how the program will meet their institutional and consortium goals, define specific measurable objectives and explain how meeting these goals will fulfill the objectives of this program announcement.

The applicant should address the following issues:

(1) Provide information establishing the commitment of the applicant institution and the consortium partners, the program director, and the faculty mentors to provide developmental experiences that lead to independence in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research and teaching.

(2) Describe the immediate and long-term objectives of the program, explaining how the program and the IRACDA will contribute to their attainment.

(3) Describe the career development plans for prospective candidates. Considering the program goals and the likely goals of prospective candidates, describe a plan to provide the necessary basic science background and research experiences considering the expected range of prior research training in the applicant pool.

(4) Describe the plan for enhancing teaching and management skills of the potential scholars.

(5) Describe the pool of potential scholars including information about the types of prior clinical and research training. Describe how the appointments will be made to the IRACDA. Describe the composition of the selection committee and the criteria to be used for selection. Describe plans to recruit candidates from racial or ethnic groups that are currently underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral sciences.

(6) Describe to the extent possible the types of research experiences available to the scholars. The research experiences may include either basic or clinical science approaches to biomedical or behavioral problems.

(7) Describe the types of activities, courses or workshops that will be used to enhance academic skills. Describe the range of teaching opportunities and how teaching duties will be assigned.

(8) Applications must include plans for instruction in the responsible conduct of research, including the rationale, subject matter, appropriateness, format, frequency and duration of instruction; and the amount and nature of faculty participation. Applications without such plans will be considered incomplete and will be returned to the applicant without review. Although the NIH does not establish specific curricula or formal requirements, all programs are encouraged to consider instruction in the following areas: conflict of interest, responsible authorship, policies for handling misconduct, policies regarding the use of human and animal subjects, and data management. Applicants must follow the application instructions found on page 49 of the PHS-398 application package and refer to the NIH web site (http://www.nih.gov/sigs/bioethics/researchethics.html) for additional guidance.

(9) Describe the plan and criteria to be used for program evaluation.

Evaluation is central to activities supported by the MORE Division. Therefore, the entire career development award must be evaluated in terms of goals and specific measurable outcomes as explicitly stated in the application. Outcomes should include, but are not limited to, progress of the candidates toward a productive research career, publications (compared to peers), documented enhancement of academic skills, and importantly, a measurable value for the MSI. Examples of a measurable value might include, but are not limited to: an increase in the revised or upgraded lecture or laboratory courses at the MSI; an increased awareness and use of teaching tools such as intranet or internet-based tools; an increase in the number or diversity of research-oriented courses in the MSI curriculum; an increase in the number of MSI students who have research experiences at the research institution; and/or an increase in the number of collaborations between faculty at the MSI and the research institution. Annual progress reports and renewal applications must include a report on the program's ongoing evaluation.

3. Submission Dates and Times

See Section IV.3.A for details.

3.A. Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): Not Required
Application Receipt Date(s): September 22, 2006, 2007, 2008
Peer Review Date(s): February/March 2007,2008, 2009
Council Review Date(s): May 2007, 2008, 2009
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): July 1, 2007, 2008, 2009

3.A.1. Letter of Intent

A letter of intent is not required for the funding opportunity.

3.B. Sending an Application to the NIH

Applications must be prepared using the research grant application forms found in the PHS 398 instructions for preparing a research grant application. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and five signed photocopies in one package to:

Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 (U.S. Postal Service Express or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS service)

Personal deliveries of applications are no longer permitted (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-040.html).

3.C. Application Processing

Applications must be received on or before the application receipt/submission date(s) described above (Section IV.3.A.). If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review.

Upon receipt applications will be evaluated for completeness by CSR. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The NIH will not accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial merit review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of a substantial revision of an application already reviewed, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the previous critique.

Information on the status of an application should be checked by the Principal Investigator in the eRA Commons at: https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/.

4. Intergovernmental Review

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

5. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

Scholars: The budget request may include salary/wages and fringe benefits to support full-time effort of the IRACDA scholars. The total salary requested for each scholar must be based on a full-time, 12-month staff appointment. It must be consistent both with the established salary structure at the applicant institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other staff members of 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 appropriately related to the existing salary structure. Salaries and fringe benefits for planned effort less than full time must be pro-rated accordingly in the application.

Research Development Support: Grant funds may be used to support the following expenses: (a) salary as above; (b) tuition and fees related to career development; (c) modest research expenses, such as supplies; (d) travel to one training or scientific meeting per year plus travel to the annual IRACDA meeting; and (e) statistical services including personnel and computer time.

Academic Development Support: Funds may be used to support mentoring activities in academic skills development and teaching practicum at the MSI. That is, release time may be granted for teaching mentors at the MSI. Funds may be requested for supplies and small equipment necessary for course development at the MSI.

Program Administration: Funds may be used for program administration and for evaluation of the overall program. Up to 10% of the program director's time and up to 50% of a program assistant may be supported if specifically and strongly justified and distinctly associated with the K12 program. Funds should be requested to support travel of all of the postdocs and program staff involved in the K12 program to an annual IRACDA program meeting.

Facilities and administrative costs will be reimbursed at 8% of the modified total direct costs.

Grant funds may not be expended on the following: (a) salary/compensation for the research mentors; (b) direct support of the mentors' laboratories; (c) compensation of administrative personnel normally paid from institutional overhead charges; (d) administrative activities such as public relations; (e) travel of the Principal Investigator, Program Director or mentors to scientific meetings (other than the annual IRACDA program meeting) ; or (f) costs of clinical care, alterations and renovations.

Pre-Award Costs are allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award if such costs: are necessary to conduct the project, and would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award.

The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project. See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.

6. Other Submission Requirements

Specific Instructions for Applications Requesting $500,000 (direct costs) or More per Year.

Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year must carry out the following steps:

1) Contact the IC program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the application, i.e., as you are developing plans for the study;

2) Obtain agreement from the IC staff that the IC will accept your application for consideration for award; and,

3) Include a cover letter with the application that identifies the staff member and IC who agreed to accept assignment of the application.

This policy applies to all investigator-initiated new (type 1), competing continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended or revised version of these grant application types. Additional information on this policy is available in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, October 19, 2001 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-004.html.

Plan for Sharing Research Data

Not applicable

Sharing Research Resources

Not applicable

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria (Update: Enhanced review criteria have been issued for the evaluation of research applications received for potential FY2010 funding and thereafter - see NOT-OD-09-025).

Applications submitted in response to a PA will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. The factors described in the following section will be considered in making funding decisions.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate review group convened by NIGMS in accordance with the review criteria stated below.

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score.
Receive a written critique
Receive a second level of review by the National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council.

The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review
Availability of funds
Relevance of program priorities

Applications are evaluated for merit by NIH initial review groups based on the following criteria:

(1) Program Director

The program director's experience in managing career development programs and success in preparing investigators for independent research careers.

(2) Scholars

Availability of high quality potential scholars;
Plan for recruiting and selecting candidates (including minorities and women);
Plan to identify candidates with a commitment to research and the potential to develop as independent researchers.

(3) Research Career Development Plan

Likelihood that the career development plan will contribute substantially to the scientific development of the scholars;
Appropriateness of the content, the phasing, and the proposed duration of the career development plan for achieving scientific and academic independence for the prospective scholars; and objectives, design, and direction of the research career development program;
Usefulness of the plans for enhancing the academic skills as described in the career development plan.

(4) Academic Skills Development Plan

Technical merit of the mentored teaching experience, including design and methodology for enhancing skills;
Relevance of the proposed activities to the career objectives of the potential candidate;

(5) Mentors

Appropriateness of the research faculty mentors' qualifications in the scientific area of this application;
Appropriateness of the teaching faculty mentors' qualifications;
Quality and extent of the mentors' proposed role in providing guidance and advice to candidates;
Previous experience of the mentors in fostering the development of academic researchers.

(6) Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

adequacy of plans for providing formal and informal instruction in the bioethics, scientific integrity, and the responsible conduct of research.

(7) Environment

Applicant institution's commitment to the scientific development of the candidate and assurances that the institution intends that the candidate to be an integral part of its research program;
Adequacy of research facilities and training opportunities;
Quality of the environments for scientific and professional development;
Applicant institution's commitment to the appropriate weighing of research and teaching responsibilities of the candidates;
Evidence of a functional consortium, with commitment and involvement in planning on the part of all partners, to foster career development and skills necessary for success in the biomedical sciences;
Evidence of institutional commitment, and strength of the efforts of the partner institutions, to foster the professional development of underrepresented minorities.

2.A. Additional Review Criteria:

Not applicable.

2.B. Additional Review Considerations

Responsible Conduct of Research

Appropriateness and adequacy of training in the responsible conduct of research

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Reviewer evaluation of the training in the responsible conduct of research will be described in an administrative note in the summary statement. Regardless of the priority score, applications with unacceptable plans will not be considered for funding until the applicant provides a revised, acceptable plan. NIGMS staff will judge the acceptability of the revised plan.

Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the budget.

2.C. Sharing Research Data

Not applicable

2.D. Sharing Research Resources

Not applicable

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

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 NIH eRA Commons.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm).

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all administrative and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email notification from the awarding component to the grantee business official (designated in item 12 on the Application Face Page). If a grantee is not email enabled, a hard copy of the NoA will be mailed to the business official.

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. See also Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm) and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm).

The following related administrative policies apply generally to NIH Research Career Award ( K ) programs:

A. Evaluation

In carrying out its stewardship of human resource-related programs, the NIH may begin requesting 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.

B. Other Income

Awardees may retain royalties and fees for activities such as scholarly writing, service on advisory groups, honoraria from other institutions for lectures or seminars, fees resulting from clinical practice, professional consultation or other comparable activities, provided these activities remain incidental, are not required by the research and research-related activities of this award, and provided that the retention of such pay is consistent with the policies and practices of the grantee institution.

All other income and fees, not included in the preceding paragraph as retainable, may not be retained by the career award recipient. Such fees must be assigned to the grantee institution for disposition by any of the following methods:

The funds may be expended by the grantee institution in accordance with the NIH policy on supplementation of career award salaries and to provide fringe benefits in proportion to such supplementation. Such salary supplementation and fringe benefit payments must be within the established policies of the grantee institution.
The funds may be used for health-related research purposes.
The funds may be paid to miscellaneous receipts of the U.S. Treasury. Checks should be made payable to the Department of Health and Human Services, NIH and forwarded to the Director, Office of Financial Management, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892. Checks must identify the relevant award account and reason for the payment.

Usually, funds budgeted in an NIH supported research or research training grant for the salaries or fringe benefits of individuals, but freed as a result of a career award, may not be rebudgeted. The awarding component will give consideration to approval for the use of released funds only under unusual circumstances. Any proposed retention of funds released as a result of a career award must receive prior written approval of the NIGMS.

C. Special Leave

Leave of a K12 scholar to another institution, including a foreign laboratory, may be permitted if the proposed experience is directly related to the purpose of the award. Only local institutional approval is required if such leave does not exceed 3 months. For longer periods, prior written approval of NIGMS is required. Details on the process for submission of prior approval requests can be found in the NIHGPS (rev. 12/03), Requests for Prior Approval, at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600130).

To obtain prior approval, the award recipient must submit a letter to NIGMS describing the plan, countersigned by his/her mentor and the appropriate institutional official. A copy of a letter or other evidence from the institution where the leave is to be taken must be submitted to assure that satisfactory arrangements have been made. Support from the career award will continue during such leave.

Leave without award support may not exceed 12 months. Such leave requires the prior written approval of the NIGMS and will be granted only in unusual situations.

Support from other sources is permissible during the period of leave without award support. Such leave does not reduce the total number of months of program support for which an individual is eligible.

Under unusual and pressing circumstances, a K12 scholar may submit a written request to the awarding component requesting a reduction in professional effort below 75 percent. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis during the award period. In no case will it be permissible to work at less than 50 percent effort. The nature of the circumstances requiring reduced effort might include medical conditions, disability, or pressing personal or family situations such as child or elder care. Permission to reduce the level of effort will not be approved to accommodate job opportunities, clinical practice, or clinical training. In each situation, the grantee institution must submit documentation supporting the need for reduced effort along with assurance of a continuing commitment to the scientific development of the awardee. In addition, the appointee must submit assurance of his/her intention to return to 100 percent effort as soon as possible. During the period of reduced effort, the salary and other costs supported by the award will be reduced accordingly.

D. Change of Institution

The IRACDA (K12) cannot be transferred from one institution to another.

E. Change of PI

If the PI moves to another institution or resigns from the position, support of the award may be continued with NIGMS prior approval provided:

The current PI or the awardee institution has submitted a written request for change of PI, countersigned by the appropriate institutional business official, to the NIGMS Grants Administration Branch with a copy to the NIGMS Program Director describing the reasons for the change, the biosketch of the proposed new PI including a complete listing of active research grant support.
The information in the request establishes that the specific aims of the original peer reviewed K12 Program to be conducted under the direction of the new PI will remain unchanged; and that the new PI has the appropriate research and administrative expertise to lead the program.
The request is submitted far enough in advance of the requested effective date to allow the necessary time for review.

F. Changes in Research or Career Development Program

Awards are made to a specific institution for a specific program under the guidance of a particular PI. Changes in any of these parameters require prior approval by the NIGMS. A scientific rationale must be provided for any proposed changes in the aims of the original peer reviewed program. The new program will be evaluated by NIGMS staff to ensure that the program remains within the scope of the original peer reviewed research program. If the new program does not satisfy this requirement, support could be withheld or the award could be suspended or terminated.

G. Termination

When a grantee institution plans to terminate an award, the NIGMS must be notified in writing at the earliest possible time so that appropriate instructions can be given for termination. The NIGMS may discontinue an award upon determination that the purpose or terms of the award are not being fulfilled.

3. Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, Form 2590 annually (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm) and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Special Reporting Requirements

An Annual Progress Report for the grant is required. This report should provide information about changes in the Program, results of ongoing evaluation, and a description of the research and career progress of each scholar. It should include courses taught by scholars at the partner MSIs. These Annual Reports will be closely monitored by NIGMS staff to ensure that the grant is achieving the goals of the K12 initiative.

A final progress report, invention statement, and Financial Status Report are required upon either completion of an award or relinquishment of an award.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management issues:

1. Scientific/Research Contacts:

Clifton Poodry, Ph.D.
Division of Minority Opportunities in Research
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 2AS.37 MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301) 594-3900
FAX: (301) 480-2753
Email: poodryc@nigms.nih.gov

2. Peer Review Contacts:

Helen R. Sunshine, Ph.D.
Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 3An.12F, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301) 594-2881
FAX: (301) 480-8506
Email: sunshinh@nigms.nih.gov

3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:

Ms. Antoinette Holland
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: hollanda@nigms.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Required Federal Citations

URLs in NIH Grant Applications or Appendices:
All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.

Healthy People 2010:
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This PA is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.

Authority and Regulations:
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. 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 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and discourage the use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

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