and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Department of Health and Human Services
Participating Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov/)
Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke (NINDS), http://www.ninds.nih.gov
Title: NINDS Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research
Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows in MD-PhD programs (F31)
Announcement Type
New
Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:
Program Announcement (PA) Number: PAR-10-091
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF 424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF 424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide for use by NIH and AHRQ applicants.
APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE SUBMTTED IN PAPER FORMAT.
This FOA must be read in conjunction with the individual fellowship application guidelines included with this announcement in Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called Grants.gov/Apply).
A registration process is necessary before submission, and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four (4) weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.853
Key Dates
Release Date: January 22, 2010
Opening Date: March 8, 2010 (Earliest date an application may be submitted
to Grants.gov)
NOTE: On-time submission requires that applications be successfully
submitted to Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant
institution/organization).
Letter of Intent Receipt Date(s): Not Applicable
Application Due Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
AIDS Application Due Date(s): Standard dates apply,
please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS
Peer Review Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Council Review Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Expiration Date: New Date January 8, 2011 (per issuance of NOT-OD-11-018), Original Date:
January 8, 2013
Due Dates
for E.O. 12372
Not applicable
Additional Overview Content
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Training 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. Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Sending an Application Electronically 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
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
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 Training Objectives
The objective of NIH-supported Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards programs is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists are available in adequate numbers and in appropriate research areas to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs.
The purpose of this predoctoral fellowship (F31) award is to provide support for promising doctoral candidates who will be performing dissertation research and receive training in scientific health-related fields relevant to the mission of NINDS. This NINDS Kirschstein-NRSA for Individual Predoctoral Fellows will provide up to five years of support for research training which leads to the PhD or equivalent research degree, for applicants who are enrolled in a dual degree program that will confer both a medical (MD or equivalent) and a research (PhD or equivalent) degree.
Applicants for this Kirschstein-NRSA F31 award must propose a dissertation research project and a training program that fall within the research and training mission of NINDS. The proposed predoctoral research training should be designed to enhance the fellow's understanding of the tools and concepts of neuroscience and to develop skills necessary for a productive, independent research career. The training should provide the applicant with the opportunity to interact with members of the scientific community at appropriate scientific meetings and workshops (including NIH-sponsored meetings, where available). The application should document the need for the proposed research training and the expected value of the proposed fellowship experience as it relates to the individual’s goals for a career as an independent researcher. It is expected that the research training and goals will complement, and take advantage of, training obtained from the pursuit of the medical degree.
Prospective fellowship applicants are strongly encouraged to contact an appropriate NINDS program director to determine whether the planned research and training fall within the NINDS mission.
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations for policies related to this announcement.
1. Mechanism of Support
This funding opportunity will use the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA individual predoctoral fellowship award mechanism (F31). As a Fellowship Applicant, the individual, together with his/her sponsor and institution, are jointly responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed research training program.
2. Funds Available
Although the financial plans of NINDS provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications, the program priorities of NINDS, and the availability of funds.
Allowable Costs
Support will be provided for applicants while participating full time in a research degree program. Support will not be provided for Medical School costs or for effort expended towards obtaining a medical degree.
Stipends: Kirschstein-NRSA F31 awards provide stipends to predoctoral fellows as a subsistence allowance to help defray living expenses during the research training experience. The awards are not provided as a condition of employment with either the Federal government or the sponsoring institution. NINDS will adjust awards on the anniversary date of the fellowship award to ensure consistency with the stipend schedule in effect at that time. No departure from the published Kirschstein-NRSA stipend schedule may be negotiated between the institution and the fellow. For the current stipend levels, see NOT-OD-10-047.
For fellows sponsored by domestic non-federal institutions, the stipend will be paid through the sponsoring institution. For fellows sponsored by Federal or foreign institutions, the monthly stipend payment will be deposited in the fellow's U.S. bank account or paid directly to the fellow by U.S. Department of Treasury check.
Tuition and Fees: The NIH will contribute to the combined cost of tuition and fees at the rate in place at the time of award. Currently, the NIH will provide an amount per individual fellow equal to 60% of the actual tuition amount requested by the applicant institution, up to $16,000 per year, for individuals enrolled in a doctoral degree program. Tuition, for the purposes of this policy, means the combined costs of tuition and fees. For additional information, see: NOT-OD-06-093.
Institutional Allowance: Predoctoral fellows sponsored by nonfederal or nonprofit institutions (domestic or foreign) will receive an institutional allowance to help defray fellowship expenses such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel to scientific meetings. Self-only health insurance (available to fellows without families) or family health insurance is an allowable cost for fellows at the sponsoring institution only if such self or family health insurance is applied consistently to all persons in a similar training status regardless of the source of support. Institutional Allowance is intended to directly benefit the fellow, and is not for support of administrative costs or mentor salary or expenses. This allowance is not available until the fellow officially activates the award. If an individual fellow is enrolled or engaged in training for less than six months of the award year, only one-half of that year's allowance may be charged to the grant. The Notice of Award will be revised and the balance must be returned to the NIH.
NIH provides an institutional allowance to fellows sponsored by Federal laboratories or for-profit institutions for expenses associated with health insurance, travel to scientific meetings and books. For fellows at for-profit institutions, the institutional allowance will be paid to the institution for disbursement to the fellow. Funds for fellows at Federal laboratories will be disbursed from the NINDS.
Funds are not available to cover the costs of travel between the fellow’s place of residence and a training institution. However, in an individual case of extreme hardship, a one-way travel allowance may be authorized by the sponsoring institution. Such travel must be paid from the institutional allowance.
The Institutional Allowance is adjusted from time-to-time. Prospective applicants are advised to check for the current institutional Allowance in the most recent documentation related to Kirschstein-NRSA stipends at http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm.
Other Training Costs: As part of this award, additional funds may be requested. In all cases, the additional funds requested must be reasonable in relationship to the total dollars awarded under the fellowship and must be directly related to the approved research training experience. Such additional funds shall be provided only in exceptional circumstances that are fully justified and explained by the sponsoring institution in the application.
Indirect Costs: These costs also known as Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs, are not allowed for fellowship awards.
Supplementation of Stipends, Compensation, and Other Income: The sponsoring institution is allowed to provide funds to the fellow in addition to the stipends paid by the NIH in accordance with its own formally established policies governing stipend support. These policies must be consistently applied to all individuals in a similar status, regardless of the source of funds. Such additional amounts may either be in the form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or in the form of compensation, provided the conditions described below are met. Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation or the services provided for compensation interfere with, detract from, or prolong the fellow's approved Kirschstein-NRSA training program. See also: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part10.htm#_Toc54600200.
Stipend Supplementation: Supplementation or additional support to offset the cost of living may be provided by the sponsoring institution. Supplementation does not require additional effort from the fellow. DHHS funds may not be used for supplementation under any circumstances. Additionally, no funds from other Federal agencies may be used for supplementation unless specifically authorized by the NIH and the other Federal agency.
Compensation: The sponsoring institution may provide additional funds to a fellow in the form of compensation (as salary and/or tuition remission) for services such as teaching or serving as a research assistant. A fellow may receive compensation for services as a research assistant or in some other position on a Federal research grant, including a DHHS research grant. However, compensated services should occur on a limited, part-time basis apart from the normal full-time research training activities. In addition, compensation may not be paid from a research grant supporting the fellow's research training experience.
Educational Loans or G.I. Bill: An individual may make use of Federal educational loan funds and assistance under the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act (G.I. Bill). Such funds are not considered supplementation or compensation.
NIH Grants Policy: 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.
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
The following organizations/institutions are eligible to apply:
The sponsoring institution must have adequate faculty and facilities available to provide a suitable research environment for a high-quality research training experience. The research training should occur in a research-intensive environment that has appropriate human and technical resources and is demonstrably committed to research training in the particular program proposed by the applicant.
Foreign training. The sponsoring institution must be domestic. However, an individual may request support for a limited period of training at a foreign site (see above). In such cases, applicants are required to provide detailed justification for the foreign training, including the reasons why the facilities, the sponsor, or other aspects of the proposed experience are more appropriate than training in a domestic setting. The justification will be evaluated in terms of the scientific advantages of the foreign training as compared to the training available domestically. Foreign training will be considered for funding only when opportunities and the scientific advantages are clear.
1.B. Eligible Individuals
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research training is invited to work with his/her sponsor and institution to develop an application for support. Individuals must be enrolled in both a medical (MD or equivalent) and research (PhD or equivalent) degree granting program to be eligible for this award. Individuals who will have an MD degree prior to enrolling in a PhD program, who wish to apply for support for research training that includes a PhD degree, should respond to the program announcement, NINDS Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32) (PA-09-210). Two other funding opportunities, the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (F31) (PA-09-208) and to the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (PA-09-209), are available to support applicants who are enrolled in programs that will confer research (PhD or equivalent) doctoral degrees only.
Support will be provided for all years of full time training leading to the research degree (up to a total of 5 years), so applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applicants may apply during medical school training for activation of this award at the start of research training. Applicants must show evidence of high academic performance, substantial interest in a research area of high priority to NINDS, and a training program appropriate to the mission of NINDS. Applicants are also encouraged to participate in a research area that provides an opportunity to take advantage of their duel degree training.
Citizenship: By the time of award, the individual applicant 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). Non-citizen nationals are generally persons born in outlying possessions of the United States (i.e., American Samoa and Swains Island). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Individuals may apply for the Kirschstein-NRSA F31 in advance of admission to the United States as a Permanent Resident recognizing that no award will be made until legal verification of Permanent Resident status is provided.
Degree Requirements: A fellowship applicant must have a baccalaureate degree and be currently enrolled in a combined MD/PhD program, or other combined professional/clinical and research doctoral (e.g., DO/PhD) in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences at an accredited domestic institution. This Kirschstein-NRSA F31 may not be used to support studies leading to the MD, DO, or other clinical, health-professional training (e.g., DC, DMD, DNP, DO, DPM, DVM, ND, OD, AuD). Neither may these awards be used to support the clinical years of residency training.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
This program does not require cost sharing as defined in the current NIH Grants Policy Statement.
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Number of Applications: An individual may not have two or more competing NIH fellowship applications pending review concurrently.
Resubmission(s): Applicants may submit a resubmission application, which must include an introduction that addresses the previous peer review critique (Summary Statement). All new applications (i.e., never submitted) will be permitted only a single amendment (A1). See new NIH policy on resubmission (amended) applications (NOT-OD-09-003, NOT-OD-09-016). Applications that originated as a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellows (F30) prior to January 25, 2009 will be permitted a total of two amendments (A1 and A2), including those that were submitted under the F30 FOA and this F31 FOA. For these grandfathered applications, NIH expects that any A2 will be submitted no later than January 7, 2011, and NIH will not accept A2 applications after that date (for this F31 mechanism, the final submission deadline for an A2 application is December 8, 2010).
Renewals: Awards generally are not renewable and are not transferable from one PD/PI to another. Fellowship awardees requiring further research training should contact the NIH awarding component to see if they may submit a renewal application.
Duration of Support: Individuals may typically receive up to 5 years of aggregate Kirschstein-NRSA support at the predoctoral level, including any combination of support from an institutional training grant (e.g., T32 or T90) and an individual fellowship award (F31). The minimum duration of an F31 award from NINDS is 12 months from the time of award activation. It is not possible to have concurrent Kirschstein-NRSA support from two different sources (e.g., F31 and T32). Applicants must consider any prior Kirschstein-NRSA predoctoral research training in determining the duration of fellowship support requested. Accurate information regarding previous Kirschstein-NRSA support must be included in the application and will be considered at the time of award.
Training beyond the 5-year aggregate limit may be possible under rare and exceptional circumstances, but a waiver from the NIH awarding component is required. Individuals seeking additional Kirschstein-NRSA support beyond the fifth year are strongly advised to consult with NINDS Director of Training and Career Development before submitting a justification. Any waiver will require a detailed justification of the need for additional research training and an explanation of the exceptional circumstances. A waiver request should be made to the NINDS Director of Training and Career Development at least six months prior to the termination date of the fellowship award. A request for a waiver cannot be made prior to the issuance of the initial award.
Fellowship awardees are required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, normally defined as 40 hours per week, or as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies. Formal activities associated with medical school training may not be considered part of this research training. Support for subsequent years of the fellowship award beyond the first budget period is based upon evidence of satisfactory progress in the predoctoral research training program which is determined by the NIH Program staff review of information documented in the progress report.
Sponsor: Before submitting a fellowship application, the applicant must identify an individual who will serve as the applicant’s sponsor (also called mentor or supervisor) who will supervise the training and research experience. The sponsor should be an active investigator in the proposed area of research, and be committed both to the research training of the applicant and to the direct supervision of the applicant’s research. The sponsor must document the availability of sufficient research support and facilities for high-quality research training of the applicant at the institution. The sponsor, or a member of the mentoring team, should have a successful track record of mentoring predoctoral students. Applicants 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 and training program. In addition to at least one mentor having a significant track record in mentoring predoctoral students, at least one mentor should be identified who can provide expert guidance in combining a research and clinical career. Each identified mentor should provide a letter describing his/her participation in the applicant’s training. When there is more than one mentor, one individual must be identified as the principal sponsor who will oversee and coordinate the applicant’s research training program. The applicant should work with his/her sponsor(s) in preparing the application. The qualifications of, the track record in research and training of, and the training plan put forth by, the mentor(s), are considered of paramount importance in judging fellowship applications.
Sponsoring Institution: Before submitting a fellowship application, the applicant must also identify a sponsoring institution. The sponsoring institution must have appropriate faculty and facilities available on site to provide a suitable environment for performing high-quality research training and be demonstrably committed to research training in the particular program proposed by the applicant.
Foreign Training: Applicants requesting foreign research training are required to provide detailed justification for the foreign training, including the reasons why the facilities, the sponsor, or other aspects of the proposed experience are more appropriate than training in a domestic setting. The justification is evaluated in terms of the scientific advantages of the foreign training as compared to the training available domestically. Foreign training will be considered for funding only when the scientific advantages are clear.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
To
download a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application
Guide for completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for this FOA, use the Apply for
Grant Electronically button in this FOA or link to http://www.grants.gov/Apply/ and follow the
directions provided on that Web site.
Registration:
Appropriate registrations with Grants.gov and eRA Commons must be completed on or before the due date in order to successfully submit an application. Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered with both Grants.gov and the Commons. All registrations must be complete by the submission deadline for the application to be considered on-time (see 3.C.1 for more information about on-time submission).
A one-time registration is required for institutions/organizations at both:
PDs/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the NIH eRA Commons.
Several additional separate actions are required before an applicant can submit an electronic application, as follows:
1) Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Registered
2) Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons
3) Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the NIH eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.
Both the PD(s)/PI(s) and AOR/SO need separate accounts in the NIH eRA Commons since both are authorized to view the application image.
Note: The registration process is not sequential. Applicants should begin the registration processes for both Grants.gov and eRA Commons as soon as their organization has obtained a DUNS number. Only one DUNS number is required and the same DUNS number must be referenced when completing Grants.gov registration, eRA Commons registration and the SF424 (R&R) forms.
NOTE: Fellowship Applicants who are submitting an Individual Fellowship application with a different sponsoring organization should refer to NIH Notice Number: NOT-OD-07-003 Guidance to Applicant Organizations about Registering Research Fellows in the eRA Commons for guidance; see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not-od-07-003.html. Additional instructional information is in the SF-424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide for NIH and AHRQ applicants, 2.2 Registration Process.
1. Request Application Information
Fellowship Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R)
application forms and the SF424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply.
Note: Only
the forms package directly attached to a specific FOA can be used. You will not
be able to use any other SF424 (R&R) forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from
another FOA), although some of the "Attachment" files may be useable
for more than one FOA.
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
Prepare all applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply. Note the PHS Supplemental Form Pages that must be included in the application.
The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to NIH. Some fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components, although not marked as mandatory, are required by NIH (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PI’s assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide. For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
The SF424 (R&R) application has several components. Some components are required, others are optional. The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/APPLY includes all applicable components, required and optional. In addition to these components, NIH and AHRQ Fellowship applicants must also complete supplemental components listed as PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form in the table below: A completed application in response to this FOA includes the data in the following components:
Required
Components:
SF424 (R&R) (Cover component)
Research & Related Project/Performance
Site Locations
Research & Related Other Project
Information
Research & Related Senior/Key Person
Profile(s)
PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form
Optional Component:
PHS398 Cover Letter
Specific instructions related to each of the components are included in the Individual Fellowship Application Guide located at Grants.gov/APPLY.
3.
Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV for details.
3.A. Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
Opening Date: March 8, 2009 (Earliest date an application may be submitted
to Grants.gov)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date(s): Not Applicable.
Application Due Date(s): Standard dates
apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
AIDS Application Due Date(s): Standard dates apply,
please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS
Peer Review Date(s): Standard dates apply,
please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Council Review Date(s): Standard dates apply,
please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
A letter of intent is not required for the funding opportunity.
3.B. Submitting an Application Electronically to the NIH3.C.
Application Processing
3.C.1
Submitting On-Time
Applications may be submitted on or after the opening date and must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the application due date(s). (See Section IV.3.A. for all dates.) If an application is not submitted by the due date(s) and time, the application may be delayed in the review process or not reviewed. All applications must meet the following criteria to be considered on-time :
Please visit http://era.nih.gov/electronicReceipt/app_help.htm for detailed information on what to do if Grants.gov or eRA system issues threaten your ability to submit on time.
Submission to Grants.gov is not the last step applicants must follow their application through to the eRA Commons to check for errors and warnings and view their assembled application!
3.C.2 Two Day Window to Correct eRA Identified Errors/Warnings
IMPORTANT NOTE! NIH has eliminated the error correction window for due dates of January 25, 2011 and beyond. As of January 25, all corrections must be complete by the due date for an application to be considered on-time. See NOT-OD-10-123.
Once an application package has been successfully submitted through Grants.gov, NIH provides applicants a two day error correction window to correct any eRA identified errors or warnings before a final assembled application is created in the eRA Commons. The standard error correction window is two (2) business days, beginning the day after the submission deadline and excluding weekends and standard federal holidays. All errors must be corrected to successfully complete the submission process. Warnings will not prevent the application from completing the submission process.
Please note that the following caveats apply:
3.C.3 Viewing an Application in the eRA Commons
Once any eRA identified errors have been addressed and the assembled application has been created in the eRA Commons, the PD/PI and the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) have two weekdays (Monday Friday, excluding Federal holidays) to view the assembled application before it automatically moves forward to NIH for further processing.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.gov and the Commons. The submitting AOR/SO receives the Grants.gov acknowledgments. The AOR/SO and the PI receive Commons acknowledgments. Information related to the assignment of an application to a Scientific Review Group is also in the Commons.
Note: Since email can be unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to check periodically on their application status in the Commons.
The NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA 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. However, the NIH will accept a resubmission application, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the critique from the previous review.
4. Intergovernmental Review
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 (see also Section VI).
These awards are also subject to the NRSA Policies. For more information see: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part10.htm
Citizenship: Fellowship Applicants must meet the citizenship/residency requirements as described in the Eligibility section of this announcement (see Section III) at the time of award.
Concurrent Awards: A Kirschstein-NRSA fellowship may not be held concurrently with another federally sponsored fellowship or similar Federal award that provides a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of this award.
Tax Liability: Internal Revenue Code Section 117 applies to the tax treatment of all scholarships and fellowships. The Tax Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-514, impacts on the tax liability of all individuals supported under the NRSA program. Under that section, non-degree candidates are required to report as gross income all stipends and any monies paid on their behalf for course tuition and fees required for attendance. Degree candidates may exclude from gross income (for tax purposes) any amount used for tuition and related expenses such as fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at a qualified educational organization.
The IRS and Treasury Department released regulations in January 2005 (Revenue Procedure 2005-11) clarifying the student exception to the FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes for students employed by a school, college, or university where the student is pursuing a course of study. Our understanding is that these final regulations do not apply to or impact Kirschstein-NRSA programs or awards. An NRSA stipend is provided by the NIH as a subsistence allowance for Kirschstein-NRSA fellows and trainees to help defray living expenses during the research training experience. NRSA recipients are not considered employees of the Federal government or the grantee institution for purposes of the award. Note that the NIH takes no position on the status of a particular taxpayer, nor does it have the authority to dispense tax advice. The interpretation and implementation of the tax laws are the domain of the IRS. Individuals should consult their local IRS office about the applicability of the tax laws to their situation and for information on their tax obligations.
Future Year Support: Funds for continuation beyond the initial year are determined by the progress described in the continuation application (PHS 416-9), the timely submission of all required forms, and the availability of funds.
Service Payback: Recipients of Kirschstein-NRSA predoctoral support do not incur service payback.
6. Other Submission Requirements
Prospective fellowship applicants are strongly encouraged to contact an appropriate NINDS program director (NINDS program directors and their interests) to determine whether the planned research and training fall within the NINDS mission. Applications may be returned without review, or if reviewed, will have a very low priority for funding, if they are deemed to have research and/or training components that do not fall within the NINDS research and training mission.
PD/PI Credential (e.g., Agency Login)
The NIH requires the PD/PI to fill in his/her Commons User ID in the PROFILE Project Director/Principal Investigator section, Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component.
Organizational DUNS
The applicant organization must include its DUNS number in its Organization Profile in the eRA Commons. This DUNS number must match the DUNS number provided at CCR registration with Grants.gov. For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
Cover Letter
Fellowship Applicants are required to include a cover letter with the application. The cover letter must contain the same list of referees (including name, departmental affiliation, and institution) that is included in the Other Project Information Component Item 12, Other Attachments.
PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form
All application instructions outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide are to be followed (see: http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm), incorporating "Just-in-Time" information concepts, and taking into consideration the following additional instructions (Note that only selected items are emphasized below):
Introduction: Required for a resubmission or revision application. This section is limited to 1 page.
Specific Aims: The Fellowship Applicant must describe concisely the Specific Aims, broad, long-term objectives and the goal of the proposed research to test a stated hypothesis. This section is limited to 1 page.
Research Strategy: This section, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts, is limited to 6 pages. See Table of Page Limits. This section should address the Significance of the proposed studies, including the background leading to the present application; and the Approach (including preliminary studies, if any) to provide experimental support of the proposed hypothesis.
Fellowship Applicants must describe a tailored research training plan, including a description of the research strategy (preferably hypothesis-driven) well-suited to the stage of his/her career development to date. Describe the skills and techniques that the candidate will learn during the award period, and discuss the relationship of the proposed research training to the applicant s career goals. The applicant’s plan should be coordinated with the sponsor’s plan (see below), and should include substantive detail that adds to the information about time allocations requested. The applicant must describe the background leading to the proposed research, the significance of the research, the research approach (design and methods) for achieving the Specific Aims (see above), the rationale, and expected/alternative outcomes of the proposed studies. It is beneficial to include pertinent preliminary data obtained by the applicant in the current or prior laboratory.
If the sponsoring institution is a foreign institution, information must be provided describing how the institution and sponsor offer clear scientific advantages for research training not currently available in the United States.
Resource Sharing Plan(s): NIH considers the sharing of unique research resources developed through NIH-sponsored research an important means to enhance the value and further the advancement of the research. When resources have been developed with NIH funds and the associated research findings published or provided to NIH, it is important that they be made readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community. If the final data/resources are not amenable to sharing, this must be explained in the Resource Sharing section of the application (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_faqs.htm).
(a) Data Sharing Plan: Not Applicable.
(b) Sharing Model Organisms: Regardless of the amount requested, all applications in which the development of model organisms is anticipated are expected to include a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organisms and related resources, or state appropriate reasons why such sharing is restricted or not possible (see Sharing Model Organisms Policy, and NIH Guide NOT-OD-04-042.
For many individual fellowships, it is anticipated that plans of this nature would have already been reported to the NIH by the sponsor in his/her research application. When this has occurred, indicate so in this section and include the appropriate grant number. However, if the development of a new model organism is anticipated, applicants will include a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organism research resources or will state appropriate reasons why such sharing is restricted or not possible. For additional information on this policy, see Sharing Model Organisms Policy. If model organisms are not part of the planned research training plan, omit this section. This description is not included in the Research Training Plan page limits.
(c) Genome Wide Association Studies: Not Applicable.
Respective Contributions: The Fellowship Applicant and his/her sponsor/mentor should describe how they have collaborated to develop the current research training proposal. This section is limited to 1 page.
Selection of Sponsor and Institution: The Fellowship Applicant should discuss how he/she arrived at selecting the sponsor(s) and the institution. This section is limited to 1 page.
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Applications must include a plan to obtain instruction in the responsible conduct of research. This section should document prior instruction in responsible conduct of research during the applicants current career stage (including the date of last occurrence) and propose plans to receive instruction in responsible conduct of research. Such plans must address five instructional components, format, subject matter, faculty participation, duration of instruction, and frequency of instruction, as outlined and explained in NOT-OD-10-019. The plan may include career stage-appropriate, individualized instruction or independent scholarly activities that will enhance the applicants understanding of ethical issues related to their specific research activities and the societal impact of that research. The role of the sponsor/mentor in responsible conduct of research instruction must be described. Applications lacking a plan for instruction in responsible conduct of research will be considered incomplete and may be delayed in the review process. The background, rationale and more detail about instruction in the responsible conduct of research can be found in NOT-OD-10-019.
Goals for Fellowship Training and Career: The Fellowship Applicant should provide details of his/her overall career goals for training, and explain how the proposed research will enable the attainment of these goals. This section is limited to 1 page.
Activities Planned Under This Award: The Fellowship Applicant should provide a detailed description of all planned activities under the proposed research training plan, such as coursework, seminars, scientific conferences, opportunities for interaction with other groups and scientists, and any special or unique training opportunities for the applicant that are available in the training environment. Give a year-by-year accounting including an estimate the percentage of time to be devoted to each activity. This section is limited to 1 page.
Doctoral Dissertation and Other Research Experience: The Fellowship Applicant should provide a summary of his/her research experience to date and discuss how the proposed research training plan will add to this experience. Advanced graduate students must include a narrative of their doctoral dissertation (may be preliminary) and any other prior research experience. All graduate students should include any applicable research experience. Please note that while the instructions direct Predoctoral Fellows to omit this section, the information is required of advanced graduate students who have successfully completed their comprehensive examinations or the equivalent by the time of award and will be performing dissertation research. All graduate students should include any research experience, if applicable. This section is limited to 2 pages.
Citizenship: Applicants who have applied for and have not yet been granted admission as a permanent resident should check the Permanent Resident of U.S. Pending block. A notarized statement documenting legal admission for permanent residence must be submitted prior to the issuance of an award. Individuals admitted to the United States as Permanent Residents will be required to submit notarized evidence of legal admission prior to the award.
Appendix Materials: Applicants must follow the specific instructions on Appendix materials as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide (See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm). Do not use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitations. An application that does not comply with the required page limitations may be delayed in the review process.
Other Project Information Component Other Attachments
Important Note: The following attachments must be included for Fellowship applications. Submit using the Other Attachments section of the Other Project Information Component. There is no page limitation for these components.
Sponsor(s): The sponsor(s), who will directly supervise the applicant’s research, should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research and meet the eligibility requirements in Section III. The sponsor and any co-sponsors must describe in detail his/her commitment to, and proposed role in, guiding the individual applicant during the research training experience. The sponsor should describe the research training plan for the applicant (coordinated with the applicant’s own research training plan; see below). The sponsor and any co-sponsors are also expected to provide an assessment of the applicant’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.) to the applicant 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 presentation skills are strongly encouraged. The sponsor(s) should also provide a detailed description of his/her/their track record in training, which should include, to the extent known, information about subsequent positions and research activities of former trainees.
Training Potential: The application must include statements that address the planned value of the proposed fellowship experience and research training program, and how these relate to the applicant’s needs in preparation for a career as an independent researcher. Applicants should provide evidence of their potential for a productive and successful research career based upon the quality of their previous research training, academic record and other applicable experiences.
Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training: The application should describe the quality and appropriateness of the training environment for the applicant’s development including the strength of the institutional commitment to fostering the fellow’s training. Describe the quality and availability of facilities and resources (e.g. equipment, laboratory space, computer time, subject populations) for the proposed training.
Advisory Committee: It is recommended that applicants put together an advisory committee composed of at least three well-qualified individuals other than the sponsor(s). The role of this committee may include not only oversight of the research training progress but also to provide advice on balancing and achieving a successful medical and research career. Details of the role and frequency of contact of the committee with the applicant should be included, and letters should be provided by each committee member agreeing to the proposed arrangement.
Additional Educational Information Required: Applicants must also provide:
Letters of Reference
Electronic submission of reference letters is a separate process from submitting an application electronically. Reference letters are submitted directly through the eRA Commons and do not use Grants.gov. Therefore, candidates must follow the Supplemental Instructions in the SF424 R&R Individual Fellowship Application Guide for specific instructions (Part 5.4). Letters of reference are an important component of the application for fellowship support. Applicants for this fellowship must arrange to have at least three (but no more than five) letters of reference submitted on their behalf to the eRA Commons Web site at https://public.era.nih.gov/commons/public/reference/submitReferenceLetter.do?mode=new. The letters should be from well-established scientists (referees) addressing the qualities of the applicant fellow as well as his/her potential to develop research skills needed in preparation for a productive research career in scientific areas related to the mission of one of the participating Institutes. These letters should be from individuals not directly involved in the application, but who are familiar with the candidate’s qualifications, training, and interests, including advisory committee members (if applicable). Resubmission applications will require new letters of reference.
Letters of reference may be submitted any time after the FOA opens and no later than 5 business days after the application due date.
Applications that are missing the required letters of reference may be delayed in the review process or not accepted.
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
2. Review and Selection Process
Review Process
Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by Scientific Review Group convened by NINDS in accordance with the NIH peer review procedures (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/peer/) using the review criteria stated below.
Applications receive two sequential levels of review. The first level is an assessment of the merit of the research training by a Scientific Review Group (SRG), composed primarily of non-government scientists selected for their competence in research and research training in a scientific area related to the application. After the SRG meeting, the Scientific Review Official (SRO), a designated Federal official who coordinates the review of applications for the SRG, prepares a written summary of the review. Staff within NINDS provides a second level of review.
As part of the initial merit review, applications:
The purpose of the predoctoral fellowship (F31) program is to train future generations of outstanding scientists who are committed to research careers in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes. In their written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following criteria in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research training will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of this goal. The Scientific Review Group will use information in the letters of reference in consideration of the review criteria. Note that an application does not need to be strong in all categories to merit a high overall impact/priority score. The overall impact/priority score will reflect the overall evaluation of the entire application. Note also that relevance to an Institute’s mission priorities is not evaluated as part of the peer review process but by Institute program staff. This programmatic evaluation may influence funding decisions independent of the peer review evaluation.
Overall Impact/Merit
Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood that the fellowship will enhance the candidate’s potential for, and commitment to, a productive independent scientific research career in a health-related field, in consideration of the scored and additional review criteria.
Remember that the F programs are training awards and not research awards. Major considerations in the review are the candidate's potential for a productive career, the candidate's need for the proposed training, and the degree to which the research training proposal, the sponsor, and the environment will satisfy those needs.
Scored Review Criteria
Reviewers will consider each of the five review criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical 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.
Fellowship Applicant:
Sponsor(s), Collaborator(s), and Consultant(s):
Research Training Plan:
Training Potential:
Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training:
Additional Review Criteria
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider the following additional items in the determination of scientific and technical merit, 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, SRGs 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.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children. When human subjects are involved in the proposed clinical research, the SRG will also evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children in clinical research.
Vertebrate Animals. As part of the peer review process, the SRG 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, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/VASchecklist.pdf.
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.
Resubmission Applications. When reviewing a Resubmission application (formerly called an amended application), 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.
Renewal Applications. When reviewing a Renewal application (formerly called a competing continuation application), the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.
Additional Review Considerations
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will address 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: Reviewers will evaluate plans for instruction in responsible conduct of research as well as the past record of instruction in responsible conduct of research, where applicable. Reviewers will specifically address the five Instructional Components (Format, Subject Matter, Faculty Participation, Duration of Instruction, and Frequency of Instruction) as detailed in NOT-OD-10-019. The review of this consideration will be guided by the principles set forth in NOT-OD-10-019. Plans and past record will be rated as ACCEPTABLE or UNACCEPTABLE. Applications with unacceptable plans will not be funded until the applicant provides an acceptable, revised plan.
Applications from Foreign Organizations. Reviewers will assess whether the research training presents special opportunities and clearly described scientific advantages for the applicant, through the use of talent (e.g. mentor), resources, populations (if applicable), or training environment that are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. talent and/or resources.
Select Agents 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 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm); 2) Sharing Model Organisms (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-042.html); and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-088.html).
Budget and Period of Support. Reviewers will assess the appropriateness of the requested period of support in relation to the proposed fellowship training.
Selection Process
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Not applicable.
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
After the peer review of the application is completed, the Fellowship Applicant will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons. Refer to the eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide for additional information regarding registration in the eRA Commons. Direct questions regarding Commons registration to the eRA Commons Help Desk at: commons@od.nih.gov or by telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free).
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH may request just-in-time information from the applicant. Applicants are advised to submit just-in-time information only when requested by the awarding component. Guidance for submitting this information will be provided at the time of the request. Alternatively, this information may be submitted using the Just-In-Time feature of the eRA Commons found in the Status section. For information on the Commons see: https://commons.era.nih.gov/ commons/index.jsp.
A request for just-in-time information should not be interpreted as indicating that an award will be issued.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the sponsoring organization. This notification signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document. The NoA will be sent electronically to the designated institutional business official listed on the face page of the application or may be retrieved by the institution and the Fellowship Applicant through the eRA Commons. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document indicating that an award has been made.
Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. A fellow has up to six months from the issue date on the NoA to activate the award
Activation: No funds may be disbursed until the fellow has started training under the award, and an Activation Notice (PHS 416-5) has been submitted to the NIH. A fellow has up to six months from the issue date on the award notice to activate the award. Under unusual circumstances, an NIH Institute may grant an extension of the activation period upon receipt of a specific request from the fellow, countersigned by the sponsor and an institutional official.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All NIH grants and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the notice of award. 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_Part14.htm) and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions of Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm).
Fellowships must be administered in accordance with the current NRSA section of the Grants Policy Statement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm) and any terms and conditions specified on the Notice of Award.
Leave Policies: In general, fellows may receive stipends during the normal periods of vacation and holidays observed by individuals in comparable training positions at the sponsoring institution. For the purpose of these awards, however, the period between the spring and fall semesters is considered to be an active time of research and research training and is not considered to be a vacation or holiday. Fellows may receive stipends for up to 15 calendar days of sick leave per year. Sick leave may be used for medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. Fellows may also receive stipends for up to 60 calendar days of parental leave per year for the adoption or the birth of a child when those in comparable training positions at the grantee institution have access to the same paid leave for this purpose and the use of parental leave is approved by the program director (see NOT-OD-08-064).
A period of terminal leave is not permitted, and payment may not be made from fellowship funds for leave not taken. Fellows requiring periods of time away from their research training experience longer than specified here must seek approval from the NIH awarding component for an unpaid leave of absence.
Part-Time Training: Whereas Kirschstein-NRSA awardees are required to pursue research training full time, normally defined as 40 hours per week, or as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies, under pressing personal circumstances, a fellow may submit a written request to the awarding component to permit less than full-time training. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. They must be approved by the awarding NIH Institute or Center in advance for each budget period. The nature of the circumstances requiring the part-time training might include medical conditions, disability, or pressing personal or family situations such as child or elder care. Permission for part-time training will not be approved to accommodate other sources of funding, job opportunities, clinical practice, clinical training, or for other responsibilities associated with the fellow's position at the institution. In each case, the fellow must submit a written request, countersigned by the sponsor and an appropriate institutional business official, which includes documentation supporting the need for part-time training. The written request also must include an estimate of the expected duration of the period of part-time training, an assurance that the fellow intends to return to full-time training when that becomes possible, and an assurance that the trainee intends to complete the proposed research training program. In no case will it be permissible for the fellow to be engaged in Kirschstein-NRSA supported research training for less than 50 percent effort. Individuals who must reduce their commitment to less than 50 percent effort must take a leave-of-absence from Kirschstein-NRSA fellowship support. The fellowship notice of award will be reissued and the stipend will be pro-rated during the period of any approved part-time training.
Certification Requirements: Individuals admitted to the United States as Permanent Residents must submit notarized evidence of legal admission prior to the award.
Service Payback: Recipients of Kirschstein-NRSA F31 awards do not incur service payback.
Inventions: Fellowships made primarily for educational purposes are exempted from the PHS invention requirements. Kirschstein-NRSA F31 awards will not contain any provision giving PHS rights to inventions made by the fellow.
Publication and Sharing of Research Results: NIH supports the practical application and sharing of outcomes of funded research. Therefore, fellows should make the results and accomplishments of their Kirschstein-NRSA fellowship activities available to the research community and to the public at large. The grantee organization should assist fellows in these activities, including the further development of discoveries and inventions for furthering research and benefiting the public. No restrictions should be placed on the publication of results in a timely manner.
Fellows are encouraged to submit reports of their findings for publication to the journal of their choice. Responsibility for direction of the project should not be ascribed to the NIH. However, NIH support must be acknowledged by a footnote in language similar to the following: This investigation was support by the National Institutes of Health under Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (number). In addition, federal funding must be acknowledged as provided in Public Policy Requirements and Objectives-Availability of Information-Acknowledgment of Federal Funding.
Copyrights: Except as otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the award, the recipient is free to arrange for copyright without approval when publications, data, or other copyrightable works are developed in the course of work under a PHS grant-supported project or activity. Any such copyrighted or copyrightable works shall be subject to a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to the Government to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use them, and to authorize others to do so for Federal Government purposes.
Forms may be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.
Activation Notice: The fellowship award recipient has up to six months from the issue date on the Notice of Award to activate the award using the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Activation Notice (PHS 416-5). Under unusual circumstances, an NIH Institute may grant an extension of the activation period upon receipt of a specific request from the fellow. Such a request must be countersigned by the sponsor and an authorized institutional official.
Payback Agreement: Recipients of Kirschstein-NRSA F31 awards do not incur service payback.
Application for Continued Support: The fellow will be required to submit the form PHS 416-9, Continuation of an Individual National Research Service Award, annually (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/416-9/phs416-9.htm) as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The report is due two months before the beginning date of the next budget period and must include information describing the current year's progress as well as the research and training plans for the coming year. Note that the instructions request a listing of all courses and publications completed during the past year.
Termination Notice: When support ends, the fellow must submit a Termination Notice (PHS 416-7) to the NIH within 30 days following termination.
Each participating NIH Institute has a unique scientific purview and different program goals and initiatives that evolve over time. Prior to preparing an application, it is important that applicants consult the Director of Training and Career Development for details of research areas supported by NINDS, as well as to obtain current information about specific program priorities and policies. We encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
1. Scientific/Research Contact:
Stephen Korn, Ph.D.
Director of Training and Career Development
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 2186
Bethesda, MD 20892-9535
Rockville, MD 20852 (for Express/Courier Service)
Telephone: (301) 496-4188
Fax: (301) 480-1080
E-mail: korns@ninds.nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contact:
Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3201
Bethesda, MD 20892-9529
Telephone: (301) 496-9223
Fax: (301) 402-0182
E-mail: nindsreview.nih.gov@mail.nih.gov
3. Financial or Grants Management
Contact:
Ms. Tijuanna DeCoster, MPA
Grants Management Officer
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3258
Bethesda, MD 20892-9529
Telephone: (301) 496-9531
Fax: (301) 402-0219
Email: Tijuanna.DeCoster@ninds.nih.gov
Section VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Vertebrate
Animals:
Recipients of PHS support for activities
involving live, vertebrate animals must comply with PHS Policy on Humane Care
and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf) as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm), and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm) as applicable.
Human
Subjects Protection:
Federal regulations (45 CFR 46) require that
applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with
reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against
these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others,
and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Data and
Safety Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety monitoring is required for all
types of clinical trials, including physiologic toxicity and dose-finding
studies (Phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II); efficacy, effectiveness and
comparative trials (Phase III). Monitoring should be commensurate with risk.
The establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for
multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risks to
the participants ( NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing Research
Data:
Investigators submitting an NIH application
seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to
include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing). Investigators
should seek guidance from their institutions, on issues related to
institutional policies and local institutional review board (IRB) rules, as
well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy
Rule.
Policy for
Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS):
NIH is interested in advancing genome-wide
association studies (GWAS) to identify common genetic factors that influence
health and disease through a centralized GWAS data repository. For the purposes
of this policy, a genome-wide association study is defined as any study of
genetic variation across the entire human genome that is designed to identify
genetic associations with observable traits (such as blood pressure or weight),
or the presence or absence of a disease or condition. All applications,
regardless of the amount requested, proposing a genome-wide association study
are expected to provide a plan for submission of GWAS data to the
NIH-designated GWAS data repository, or provide an appropriate explanation why
submission to the repository is not possible. Data repository management
(submission and access) is governed by the Policy for Sharing of Data Obtained
in NIH Supported or Conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies, NIH Guide NOT-OD-07-088. For
additional information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/gwas/
Sharing of
Model Organisms:
NIH is committed to support efforts that
encourage sharing of important research resources including the sharing of
model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm). At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and
contractors to elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with
Federal funding pursuant to the Bayh-Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Beginning October 1, 2004, all investigators submitting an NIH application or
contract proposal are expected to include in the application/proposal a
description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model
organism research resources generated using NIH funding or state why such
sharing is restricted or not possible. This will permit other researchers to
benefit from the resources developed with public funding. The inclusion of a
model organism sharing plan is not subject to a cost threshold in any year and
is expected to be included in all applications where the development of model
organisms is anticipated.
Access to Research Data through the Freedom of
Information Act:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Circular A-110 has been revised to provide access to research data through the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are: (1)
first produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal
funds; and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of
an action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be
accessed through FOIA. It is important for applicants to understand the basic
scope of this amendment. NIH has provided guidance at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm. Applicants may wish to place data collected under this funding
opportunity in a public archive, which can provide protections for the data and
manage the distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the
application should include a description of the archiving plan in the study
design and include information about this in the budget justification section
of the application. In addition, applicants should think about how to structure
informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures given the
potential for wider use of data collected under this award.
Inclusion of
Women, Minorities and Children:
It is the policy of the NIH that women and
members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be included in all
NIH-supported clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling
justification is provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with
respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This
policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public
Law 103-43). All investigators proposing clinical research should read the
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm. The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of
clinical research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the
new OMB standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III
clinical trials consistent with the SF424 (R&R) application; and updated
roles and responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The
policy continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that:
a) all applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of
plans to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b)
investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses,
as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
Inclusion of
Children as Participants in Clinical Research:
The NIH maintains a policy that children
(i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all clinical
research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and
ethical reasons not to include them. All investigators proposing research
involving human subjects should read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines"
on the inclusion of children as participants in research involving human
subjects (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm).
Required
Education on the Protection of Human Subject Participants:
NIH policy requires education on the
protection of human subject participants for each
person identified as Senior/key Personnel involved in the design or conduct of
research involving human subjects. The policy
is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-054.html.
Human
Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC):
Criteria for Federal funding of research on
hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-116.html. Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov/). It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide in the project
description and elsewhere in the application as appropriate, the official NIH
identifier(s) for the hESC line(s) to be used in the proposed research.
NIH Public
Access Policy Requirement:
In accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy, investigators
funded by the NIH must submit or have submitted for them to the National
Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central (see http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/), an electronic version of their final,
peer-reviewed manuscripts upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly
available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication. The NIH Public Access Policy is available at (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-033.html). For more information, see the Public Access
webpage at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/.
Standards for
Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of
Individually Identifiable Health Information", the "Privacy
Rule", on August 14, 2002. The Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that
governs the protection of individually identifiable health information, and is
administered and enforced by the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions about applicability and
implementation of the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her
institution. The OCR website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides
information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set
of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the
impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and
research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
URLs in NIH
Grant Applications or Appendices:
All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within
specified page limitations. For publications listed in the appendix and/or
Progress report, Internet addresses (URLs) or PubMed Central (PMC) submission
identification numbers must be used for publicly accessible on-line journal
articles. Publicly accessible on-line journal articles or PMC
articles/manuscripts accepted for publication that are directly relevant to the
project may be included only as URLs or PMC submission
identification numbers accompanying the full reference in either the
Bibliography & References Cited section, the Progress Report Publication
List section, or the Biographical Sketch section of the NIH grant application.
A URL or PMC submission identification number citation may be repeated in each
of these sections as appropriate. There is no limit to the number of URLs or
PMC submission identification numbers that can be cited.
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 FOA 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. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 487
of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 288) and under Federal
Regulations 42 CFR 66. 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.
Loan
Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages applications for educational loan repayment from qualified
health professionals who have made a commitment to pursue a research career
involving clinical, pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health
disparities related areas. The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts
to recruit and retain the next generation of researchers by providing the means
for developing a research career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt.
Note that an NIH grant is not required for eligibility and concurrent career
award and LRP applications are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP
award may overlap providing the LRP recipient with the required commitment of
time and effort, as LRP awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at
least 20 hours per week based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research.
For further information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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