SHORT-TERM RESEARCH TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 17, May 6, 1994 PA NUMBER: PAR-94-064 P.T. 44, FF Keywords: Biomedical Research Training ENVIRONMENT National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Application Receipt Dates: July 15, 1994 and May 10 each subsequent year. PURPOSE The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) announces a program to support short-term biomedical research training experiences for minority undergraduate students in areas related to defining and understanding the action of environmental agents on human health. The purpose of the award is to encourage institutions with a significant environmental health sciences research and training program to provide opportunities for underrepresented minority students who have expressed an interest in a career in biomedical research. The intent is to interest highly motivated and qualified minorities at the undergraduate level in developing both their interests and scientific capacity to pursue a professional career in biomedical research relevant to the environmental health sciences. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This Program Announcement, Short-Term Research Training for Minority Students, is related to the priority area of environmental health. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Awards under this program will be made to domestic institutions or organizations, including minority institutions, engaged in health related research in areas of environmental health sciences. These grants will support full-time, short-term research training experiences of one to three months duration for underrepresented minority undergraduate students. Trainees appointed to the program need not be from the grantee institution, but may include a number of minority students from other institutions, schools, colleges or universities. Trainees may be appointed for up to three separate short-term training periods. However, in no circumstance may a training period exceed three months in any year. The grantee institution will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees. In order to facilitate the training of minority students, the NIEHS has determined that this research training could be facilitated as a part of an ongoing research training program. Therefore, applications from existing NIEHS Institutional Training Grant (T32) programs are strongly encouraged. Also, only institutions with a significant, peer-reviewed NIEHS research grant are eligible to apply. For the purpose of this program, underrepresented minority students are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research. Awards will be limited to United States citizens or to individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of an Alien Registration Receipt Card) at the time of application. In awarding grants, the NIEHS will give priority to programs involving Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander or other ethnic or racial group members who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research nationally. Trainees should have successfully completed at least one undergraduate year at an accredited school or university prior to participating in the program. In addition, the student should be interested in a career in biomedical research in environmental health sciences. These grants are intended to introduce, foster, and develop the interest and capability of students in environmental health sciences research that would not otherwise be available through their regular course of studies. This program is intended to increase the number of qualified minorities for professional careers in environmental health sciences research by increasing the number of qualified applicants for graduate training programs. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The mechanism of support is the institutional National Research Service Award for Short-Term Training of Students (T35). Institutions may request up to five years of support for short-term training programs for at least three and not more than six trainees per year. As indicated above, applications from existing NIEHS T32 awardees are strongly encouraged. The stipend level for trainees is $834 per month. Stipends may be supplemented from non-Federal funds. Training-related expenses up to $250 per month, per trainee, may be requested. In addition, up to $500 per trainee may be requested to cover domestic travel to and from the training site, and up to $400 per month, per trainee may be requested to cover the cost of housing and subsistence at the training site. Trainee tuition and fees, where necessary to the research training, must be covered by the training-related expenses. Indirect costs will be awarded based on eight percent of total direct costs, exclusive of tuition and fees. Supplementation of stipends when provided must not require an obligation from the fellow. Under no circumstances may Federal grant funds be used for supplementation unless specifically authorized under the terms of the program from which the funds are derived. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES In the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, the NIH was encouraged to increase the number of underrepresented minorities participating in biomedical and behavioral research. However, an analysis of the NIEHS training pool revealed that less than five percent of these individuals were underrepresented minorities. Less than one percent of the principal investigators of NIEHS research grants are underrepresented minorities. In addition, the number of underrepresented minority applicants for research grants and training positions was very low. This program will establish a mechanism for universities and other eligible institutions that are involved in environmental health sciences research and training to identify and train qualified underrepresented minorities earlier in their academic careers. The intent of this program announcement is to significantly improve the number and quality of students interested in research careers in environmental health sciences. The Short-Term Research Training for Minority Students Program is designed to offer short-term training grant awards in environmental health sciences research to eligible institutions to enable qualified undergraduate students to become better prepared for a career in environmental health sciences research. It is expected to attract students in the developmental stages, to increase their awareness of environmental health sciences research, to improve their scientific skills and to acquaint them with career opportunities in research. It is expected that this program will increase in a direct and measurable way, the number and success of underrepresented minority students attracted to NIEHS training grants . APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available in the offices of sponsored research at most academic and research institutions and from the Grants Information Office, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood Building, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone (301) 710-0267. Additional information and guidelines for the program are available from the NIEHS, and can be obtained by contacting Dr. Michael Galvin at the address listed under INQUIRIES. Except for the first year, which has a receipt date of July 10, there will be a single receipt date of May 10, each year. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant. To identify the application as a response to this program announcement, check "YES" in Item 2a on the face page of the application and enter the program announcement title, "SHORT-TERM RESEARCH TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS," and program announcement number, PAR-94-064. A signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and five signed photocopies of the application must be sent to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. Applications that do not meet the guidelines, including applications without a significant, peer-reviewed NIEHS research grant base, will be returned without review. Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by the Environmental Health Sciences Review Committee in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures for training grants. Factors that will be used in the review to evaluate applications are: o evidence of an organized program for training students in environmental health sciences topics. o the availability of opportunities for students to participate in a research environment. o access to an appropriate student population. o institutional facilities and commitment such as housing, tutors, faculty time or other substantive commitments by the institution. o criteria for selecting students. Following the initial review of scientific and training merit, the applications will receive a second-level review by the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other training applications recommended for further consideration that have been assigned to the NIEHS. The following will be considered in making funding decisions. o Quality of the proposed training program, as determined by initial review. o Commitment of the institution to the program. o Availability of funds. o Program balance among the training areas supported by the NIEHS. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Dr. Michael Galvin, Jr. Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, MD 3-02 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-7825 FAX: (919) 541-2843 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Jacqueline M. Russell Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, Building 2 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-7628 FAX: (919) 541-2860 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 93.894, Resource and Manpower Development in the Environmental Health Sciences. Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 43 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
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