This notice has expired. Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices.

EXPIRED

Part I Overview Information

Department of Health and Human Services

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

Components of Participating Organizations
NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research (http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM/NIH), (http://www.nccam.nih.gov)
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR/NIH), (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov)
National Eye Institute (NEI/NIH), (http://www.nei.nih.gov)
National Institute on Aging (NIA/NIH), (http://www.nia.nih.gov)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA/NIH), (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov)
National Institute on Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB/NIH), (http://www.nibib.nih.gov)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD/NIH), (http://www.nichd.nih.gov)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD/NIH), (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov)
National Institute on Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR/NIH), (http://www.nidcr.nih.gov)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA/NIH), (http://www.nida.nih.gov)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS/NIH), (http://www.niehs.nih.gov)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS/NIH), (http://www.nigms.nih.gov)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH/NIH), (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS/NIH), (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR/NIH), (http://ninr.nih.gov/ninr)

Title: Training in Neuroimaging: Integrating First Principles and Applications (T90/R90)

Announcement Type

This is a reissue of RFA-DA-06-011.

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

Request for Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-DA-11-006

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 SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED IN PAPER FORMAT.

This FOA must be read in conjunction with the 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)
93.213, 93.389, 93.867, 93.866, 93.273, 93.286, 93.865, 93.173, 93.121, 93.279, 93.142, 93.859, 93.242, 93.853, 93.361

Key Dates
Release/Posted Date: October 1, 2010
Opening Date: December 13, 2010 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): December 13, 2010
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).
Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): January 13, 2011
Peer Review Date(s): February/March 2011
Council Review Date(s): May 2011
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): July 2011
Additional Information To Be Available Date (Activation Date): Not Applicable
Expiration/Closing Date: January 14, 2011

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Additional Overview Content

Executive Summary

Table of Contents

Part I Overview Information

Part II Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Training Objectives

Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism 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. Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Submitting 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
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Resource Sharing Plan(s)
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 Contacts
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

General Information

Research training and education programs are designed to allow the Training Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) to select the trainees and develop a curriculum of study and research experiences necessary to provide high quality research training. The grant offsets the cost of stipends, tuition and fees, and training related expenses including health insurance for the appointed trainees in accordance with the approved NIH support levels (see Section II, Allowable Costs).

Background

Diseases of the nervous system pose a significant public health and economic challenge, affecting nearly one in three Americans at some point in their life, with a cost exceeding $500 billion per year. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blueprint for Neuroscience Research (http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/) is a collaborative and coordinated effort across 16 Institutes and Centers that supports research on the nervous system to accelerate the pace of discovery in neuroscience research. The ultimate goal of the Neuroscience Blueprint is to translate this new understanding into clinical interventions that will reduce the public health burden of nervous system disorders, help to promote mental health, and maintain a healthy nervous system across the lifespan. Over the past decade, driven by the emerging science, the NIH Institutes and Centers with an interest in neuroscience have increasingly joined forces through initiatives and through working groups on specific disorders. By pooling resources and expertise, the Neuroscience Blueprint can take advantage of economies of scale, confront challenges too large for any single Institute or Center, and develop research tools and infrastructure that will serve the entire neuroscience community.

Neuroimaging has revolutionized our ability to understand how the brain functions, providing more types of information about the intact, functioning brain from molecules to behavior and in both healthy and diseased states. Imaging technologies available to researchers continue to advance as do their sensitivity and their sophistication. Imaging technologies have considerable potential for increasing our understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system. Exploiting this potential requires scientists trained in the different underpinnings of this approach, including physics, chemistry, mathematical, computational and statistical sciences, as well as neurobiology and clinical neuroscience. Truly interdisciplinary training programs in neuroscience imaging are needed to enable the neuroscience community to accelerate the pace of fundamental discoveries and to translate these discoveries into clinical interventions that will reduce the burden of nervous system disorders.

Program Objectives

The goals of NIH supported research training and research education programs are to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in adequate numbers and in appropriate scientific areas to address the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs.

This funding opportunity will enable the development of novel, interdisciplinary training programs that integrate comprehensive training in basic neuroscience, the physical and biological bases of neuroimaging, the technologies of in vivo neuroimaging, and the application of these technologies to understanding questions in neuroscience across the life span. The goal of these training programs is to train the next generation of neuroimaging researchers who understand the underlying principles and the technologies of neuroimaging as well as their application to experimental questions in neuroscience. To realize this goal, it is imperative to recruit and expose students early in their careers to the ways in which their interests can be applied to questions in neuroscience through the mathematical, physical, and chemical principles of neuroscience imaging. Training programs are required to interface trainees from the quantitative, engineering, and physical/chemical sciences with trainees from biomedical/biological disciplines.

Training programs developed in response to this funding opportunity must combine both an institutional pre-doctoral training program and a research education program. The integrated training programs in neuroimaging that are developed in response to this funding opportunity are expected to stimulate interactions among training faculty from multiple disciplines and departments. These training programs are also expected to foster the development of an integrated curriculum in neuroimaging at the applicant institution.

The pre-doctoral institutional training program component will provide:

Each training program must also develop and offer short-term research education opportunities for scientists at all stages of the career continuum who are interested in neuroimaging. The neuroscience community has embraced imaging as an important tool in its technological toolbox. A major training gap exists, however, in that neuroimaging relies heavily on persons with extensive training in the physical, mathematical, computational, and/or engineering sciences, who rarely have a background in neuroscience. Conversely, neuroscientists may lack the background to appreciate underlying methodological issues and limitations of various imaging modalities. There is thus a clear need for short-term research education/training opportunities for scientists at all stages of the career continuum who are interested in incorporating neuroscience imaging in their research program. As part of the integrated, interdisciplinary training program, this funding opportunity will enable the development of summer short courses or summer workshops in various aspects of neuroimaging that will educate scientists at varying stages of the career continuum. The focus of these courses/workshops would depend on the strengths of neuroimaging at the home institution. For example, summer programs could target the recruitment and training of investigators and students in the physical, mathematical, computational and engineering sciences to give them background and knowledge in the fundamentals of neuroscience so they may become active participants in the design and execution of neuroimaging experiments. Another example would be summer programs that target undergraduate students potentially interested in pursuing graduate training in neuroimaging. Short courses to teach the fundamentals of the imaging technologies, to introduce a new technology, or to promote advances in data interpretation and analysis could enhance the knowledge of current neuroimaging researchers across the career continuum. This FOA allows for research education opportunities at the following levels of career development: undergraduate student, medical/graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, medical resident, and/or independent scientist. Participants need not be enrolled at, or employed by, the applicant institution.

Applicants will submit a single, unified grant application. If selected for funding, two separate awards will be issued. One will support a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award institutional pre-doctoral training program as a T90 award, and the other will support a research education program (short-term research education component and non-NRSA eligible pre-doctoral students) as an R90 award.

Pre-doctoral Research Training Program (T90/R90) [required]

The pre-doctoral research training component must include an institutional pre-doctoral program for full-time research training to support up to six (6) graduate students enrolled in a relevant doctoral degree program. The pre-doctoral research training component must include NRSA eligible trainees (T90 component) and may also include non-NRSA eligible pre-doctoral students (R90 component) (see Section III for eligibility). A maximum of two (2) non-NRSA eligible pre-doctoral students may be appointed in any year of the training program.

Trainees must have the opportunity to carry out supervised research training in neuroimaging. The primary objective of this program must be to develop the students research skills and knowledge in preparation for a research career in neuroimaging. Trainees must commit full-time effort, normally defined as 40 hours per week, to the program and its related research activities.

Short-term Research Education Component (R90) [required]

A short-term research education component would develop and implement a summer/short course in one or more aspects of neuroimaging and/or in the application of imaging to experimental neurobiology. Such short-term research education programs could be offered to a broad audience (undergraduate and pre-doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty), with enrollment not limited to the grantee institution, or they could target a specific cadre of scientists. Courses should be designed with the goal of maximizing the exposure of participants with backgrounds in the physical, mathematical, computational and engineering sciences to neuroscience research questions and methodology, and conversely the exposure of participants with backgrounds in neuroscience to the physical and chemical principles and technology underlying neuroimaging.

Special Program Objectives and Considerations: Within the framework of the NIH’s longstanding commitment to excellence and projected need for investigators in particular areas of research, attention must be given to recruiting trainees from racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (see Section IV).

Another consideration relates to the duration of training and the transition of trainees to individual support mechanisms. The Training PD/PI should limit appointments to individuals who are committed to a career in research. The PD/PI should also encourage and provide training in the skills necessary for trainees to apply for subsequent support through individual fellowships, mentored career development award (K) programs, independent research project grants, or other non-NIH support.

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

Section II. Award Information

1. Mechanism of Support

This initiative takes advantage of two distinct grant mechanisms: research training and research education. Research Training refers to the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA predoctoral component and utilizes the T90 mechanism. Research Education refers to non-NRSA components (the required short-term research education opportunities, and the optional non-NRSA predoctoral student support) and utilizes the R90 mechanism. These are administrative distinctions only; they are not conceptually distinct components. All predoctoral participants will be referred to as students, or student participants except in sections that apply only to NRSA trainees. Individuals enrolled in the short-term research education component will be referred to as participants. For more detail on NRSA and non-NRSA eligibility, please see Section III. Eligibility Information. Applicants will submit a single, unified T90 grant application for the Interdisciplinary Research Training Program, and if selected for funding, two separate awards will be issued: a T90 (Research Training award) and an R90 (Research Education award), based on distinct research training and education, and related funding authorities. Awards may be made for periods up to 5 years and are not renewable.

The PD/PI(s) will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed research training program.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) uses the non-modular budget format for the T90 component. A detailed categorical budget for the "Initial Budget Period" and the "Entire Proposed Period of Support" is to be submitted with the application, following the Instructions for preparing an NRSA institutional research training application described in Section IV, including the PHS 398 Training Budget pages, the PHS 398 Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form (when applicable) and the PHS Research Training Program Plan. Detailed instructions for completion of the application and Research Training related forms are in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for NIH and Other PHS Agencies, Section 8.

This FOA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the non-modular budget format. A detailed categorical budget for the "Initial Budget Period" and the "Entire Proposed Period of Support" is to be submitted with the application, following the Instructions for preparing an NRSA institutional research training application described in Section IV, including the PHS 398 Training Budget pages, the PHS 398 Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form (when applicable) and the PHS Research Training Program Plan. The application must also include the Research & Related Budget form pages for the research education component, as described in Section 4.7 of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for NIH and Other PHS Agencies. Detailed instructions for completion of the application and Research Training related forms are in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for NIH and Other PHS Agencies, Section 8.

2. Funds Available

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

Grantees are expected to be familiar with and comply with applicable cost policies and the NRSA Guidelines (NIH Grants Policy Statement - Institutional Research Training Grants). Funds may be used only for those expenses that are directly related to and necessary for the research training not otherwise available and must be expended in conformance with OMB Cost Principles, the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and the NRSA regulations, policies, guidelines, and conditions set forth in this document.

2.A. Allowable Costs

Allowable costs must be consistent with NIH policy and be reasonable, allocable, well documented and fully justified for the program proposed in the application. Grant funds may not be used to supplant funds otherwise available at the applicant institution.

Allowable costs differ for the different components of programs submitted in response this funding opportunity as described in the paragraphs below:

Short-Term Research Education Program (R90)

Up to $100,000 per year may be requested for development and implementation of the short-term research education program , including funds to defray the cost of attendance and enrollment of course participants from outside the grantee institution (see below) and planned dissemination costs. It is expected that the grantee organization will contribute in-kind costs associated with these programs, such as classroom or laboratory space; the applicant must identify and describe such planned contributions in the application.

1. Personnel

These requested expenses must be itemized in Sections A and B, as appropriate, of the Research & Related Budget. Individuals participating in the design and implementation of the research education program may request salary and fringe benefits appropriate for the person months devoted to the program. Salaries requested may not exceed the levels commensurate with the institution's policy for similar positions and may not exceed the congressionally mandated cap. (If mentoring interactions and other activities with students/participants are considered a regular part of an individual's academic duties, then any costs associated with the mentoring and other interactions with students/participants are not allowable costs from grant funds). Limited administrative and clerical salary costs associated distinctly with the program that are not normally provided by the applicant organization may be direct charges to the grant only when specifically identified and justified. All personnel costs (including the Program Director, faculty leadership team and administrative and clerical costs) associated with directing, coordinating, and administering the program should not exceed 10% of the total direct cost per year of the overall Short-term Education Program budget.

2. Other Program-Related Expenses

These expenses must be itemized, as appropriate, in Sections C. (Equipment), D. (Travel), and F. (Other Direct Costs) of the Research & Related Budget. Consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel for key persons, and other program-related expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed research education program and must not duplicate items generally available for educational programs at the applicant institution.

3. Participant Costs

Participant costs must be itemized in Section E. (Participant/Trainee Support Costs) of the Research & Related Budget. Amounts for all participants must conform to the established, consistently applied salary and wage policies of the institution and reflect the percentage of person months (effort) devoted to the program. Because this is an educational program, non-US citizens may participate in this program. However, unless strongly justified on the basis of exceptional relevance to the objectives of this Program, the research education program component should be used primarily for the education of US citizens and permanent residents. Participants in the short-term education program may receive a subsistence allowance, including partial costs of meals and lodging unless such costs are furnished as part of the registration fee. Participants may also receive funds to defray partial tuition, other education-related, and travel expenses. Expenses for foreign travel must be exceptionally well justified. Funds will not be provided for fringe benefits or health insurance for participants in any research education program. Individuals supported by NIH training and career development mechanisms (K, T, or F awards) may receive, and indeed are encouraged to receive, educational experiences supported by the program, as participants, but may not receive salary or stipend supplementation from this program.

4. Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs

A facilities and administrative allowance (indirect cost allowance) based on 8 percent of total modified direct costs may be requested. F&A costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct costs limitation (see NOT-OD-05-004).

Pre-doctoral Research Training Program

A. NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (T90)

All regulations and policies governing NRSA awards must be followed. Detailed information regarding NRSA policies and procedures can be found in the NIH Grants Policy Statement at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

The NRSA component will support research training experiences for up to six full-time pre-doctoral trainees per year if no non-NRSA trainees are proposed, and at least four full-time pre-doctoral trainees if non-NRSA students are proposed. Only NRSA pre-doctoral trainee positions may be requested and supported as part of the T90 component (see Section III Eligibility). Trainees will normally be selected by the Program Director for 12-month appointment periods with support for additional years based on satisfactory progress and the continued availability of funds.

Allowable costs for each pre-doctoral trainee for a 12-month appointment period include:

1. Stipend: Stipends are provided as a subsistence allowance for trainees to help defray living expenses during the research training experience and are based on a 12-month appointment period. The stipend is not provided as a condition of employment with either the Federal Government or the grantee institution nor is it to be considered a payment for services performed. Stipends will be based on the annual NIH stipend levels at the time of award. Stipends may be adjusted only at the time of appointment or reappointment and may not be changed in the middle of an appointment period. For appointments of less than a full year, the stipend will be based on a monthly or daily pro-ration of the annual amount. No departure from the established stipend schedule may be negotiated by the institution with the trainee. For the most recent stipend levels see the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) website.

2. Tuition and Fees

Applicants should request full needs for tuition and fees. The appropriate formula will be applied by offsetting the combined costs of requested tuition and fees at the rate in place at the time of the award. The rate currently provides 60% of the level requested by the applicant institution, up to $16,000 per year per predoctoral trainee. If the program supports formally combined dual-degree training, the amount provided per trainee will be 60% of the level requested up to $21,000 per year. For postdoctoral trainees, an amount equal to 60% of the level requested by the applicant institution, up to $4,500 per year, will be provided. If the program supports postdoctoral individuals in formal degree-granting training, the amount provided per trainee enrolled in a degree-granting program will be 60% of the level requested up to $16,000 per year. Costs associated with this category are allowable only if they are required as part of the approved research training program and are applied consistently to all persons in a similar research training status at the institution regardless of the source of support. Tuition at the postdoctoral level is limited to that required for specific courses in support of the approved training program which should be identified in the application. For the most recent tuition and fees levels see the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) website.

3. Trainee Travel

Trainee travel to attend scientific meetings and workshops that the institution determines to be necessary for the individual’s research training experience is an allowable trainee expense. This FOA will allow up to $750 annually for travel to meetings and workshops for each pre-doctoral trainee.

4. Training Related Expenses, including Health Insurance (TRE)

The applicant institution may request the NIH standard NRSA Training Related Expenses (FY 2010: $4,200 annually for each predoctoral trainee and $7,850 annually for each postdoctoral trainee) to help defray other research training expenses, such as health insurance (self-only or family, as applicable), staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and faculty/staff travel directly related to the research training program. Health insurance is an allowable expense that may be charged to the Training Related Expenses budget category but only to the extent that the same health insurance fees are charged to non-Federally-supported students and postdoctoral individuals. Funds are provided as a lump sum on the basis of the predetermined amount per predoctoral and postdoctoral trainee approved for support. For the most recent training related expenses levels see the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) website.

Under exceptional circumstances, which can include accommodating the disabilities of a trainee, it is possible to request training related expenses above the standard level. Requests for additional costs must be explained in detail and justified in the application. Consultation with NIH program staff in advance of such requests is strongly advised (see Section VII).

5. Facilities and Administrative Costs

A facilities and administrative allowance (indirect cost allowance) based on a maximum of 8 percent of total modified direct costs (this excludes amounts for tuition, fees, health insurance, and equipment) may be requested. See NRSA Policy Guidelines on the NIH Web site at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part11.htm

6. Stipend Supplementation, Compensation, and Other Income

The grantee institution is allowed to provide funds to an individual in addition to the stipends paid by the NIH. Such additional amounts either may be in the form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or in the form of compensation, such as salary or tuition remission for services such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant, 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 trainee's approved NRSA training program.

Supplementation: Grantees may supplement stipends from non-Federal funds provided the supplementation is without obligation to the trainee. An organization can determine what amount of stipend supplementation, if any, will be provided according to its own formally established policies governing stipend support. These policies must be consistently applied to all individuals in a similar training status regardless of the source of funds. Federal funds may not be used for stipend supplementation unless specifically authorized under the terms of the program from which funds are derived. An individual may use Federal educational loan funds or VA benefits when permitted by those programs. Under no circumstances may PHS funds be used for supplementation.

Compensation: Funds characterized as compensation may be paid to trainees only when there is an employer-employee relationship, the payments are for services rendered, and the situation otherwise meets all of the conditions and policies in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Additionally, compensation must be in accordance with organizational policies consistently applied to both federally and non-federally supported activities and must be supported by acceptable accounting records that reflect the employer-employee relationship. An institution may provide additional funds to a trainee in the form of compensation (as salary and/or tuition remission) for services performed outside of the responsibilities of the full-time NRSA-supported training such as teaching or serving as a research assistant. A trainee 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 that supports the same research that is part of the trainee ’s planned training experience as approved in the institutional training grant application. The Training PD/PI must approve all instances of employment on research grants to verify that the circumstances will not detract from or prolong the approved training program.

A full description of the NIH policy regarding NRSA supplementation and compensation can be found in the NIH Grants Policy Statement at: NIH Grants Policy Statement - Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards.

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.

B. Non-NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (R90)

Allowable costs for this component should be entered on the R90 budget pages of the application. This component will support research training experiences for up to two full-time non-NRSA pre-doctoral students per year. See Section III Eligibility to determine eligible pre-doctoral trainees who may be included in this component. Non-NRSA pre-doctoral students may be compensated following the NIH policy of Graduate Student Compensation. The amount provided for compensation includes salaries or wages, fringe benefits and tuition remission. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-017.html for further guidance about compensation of graduate students on research grants.

Overlap with Existing Research Training and Research Education Programs: The overlap of the proposed research training and research education components with existing programs at the applicant institution will be assessed. This assessment will be described in an administrative note in the summary statement for making funding decisions.

A facilities and administrative allowance (indirect cost allowance) based on 8 percent of total modified direct costs may be requested. F&A costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct costs limitation (see NOT-OD-05-004).

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

1.A. Eligible Institutions

The following organizations/institutions are eligible to apply:

Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization or as a consortium organization.

A single institution may lack strengths in all areas needed to mount an integrated research training and research education program. This funding opportunity allows the participation of multiple sites. When multiple sites are involved, the applicant institution must be the primary site, and the application must include a resource format page for each site as described in the PHS 398 application.

An eligible institution (e.g. a university) may submit only a single application in response to this funding opportunity. For the purposes of this FOA, components of a large or multi-component organization that are sufficiently independent to constitute, in effect, separate organizations are considered separate institutions. For example, the multiple campuses of the University of California system are considered separate institutions. However, the medical school, engineering school, or dental school, etc., of a university, even if on different campuses, constitute a single institution. Multiple applications from different divisions, faculties, schools, centers, etc. at the same institution will not be reviewed.

The applicant institution must have strong research and graduate training programs in the neurosciences. If applicant institutions with a currently active pre-doctoral institutional training grant (T32 or T90) in neuroimaging, an active research education grant (R25) that supports a short course or workshop in neuroimaging, and/or a neuroimaging center (U54) with an educational component apply in response to this funding opportunity, then the new application is expected to expand significantly and substantively upon the current program(s). The applicant is expected to describe the relationship between the current award and the present application and to address any actual or perceived overlap between the active award(s) and the present application. A strong rationale must be presented for significant overlap.

1.B. Eligible Individuals

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the PD/PI is invited to work with his/her institution to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH program support. Multiple PD/PI’s are not permitted for this FOA.

The Program Director will be responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed interdisciplinary research training and research education program. This individual should be an established researcher with acknowledged accomplishments in neuroimaging research and in neuroscience training, and should be capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed integrated program. The Program Director will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees to the institutional training program component and for the selection of participants in the research education program component.

A faculty leadership team may facilitate the development of the proposed integrated research training and education program and help increase involvement of faculty with diverse expertise in this effort. The members of the faculty team are together likely to provide the breadth of expertise and leadership needed to develop and implement the proposed integrated program. For example, the leadership team might consist of a basic neuroscientist, a physical or chemical scientist, and a radiologist who each contribute their respective expertise to the proposed interdisciplinary program in neuroimaging. Each member of the faculty leadership team must be willing to commit a minimum of 5% of their full-time professional effort to the development and implementation of the program for the entire period of the award. Personnel costs for the faculty leadership team, including the Program Director, are limited to 10% of the annual total direct costs of the integrated program.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required.

3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria

Applications must follow the supplementary instructions provided in Section IV.6.

Responsiveness Criteria

An applicant institution may only submit one application in response to this funding opportunity. Multiple applications from different divisions, faculties, schools, centers, etc. at the same institution will not be reviewed.

To be considered responsive to this FOA, applications from institutions with currently active training program (T32, T90, U54) or research education program (R25) in neuroimaging, or with a significant neuroimaging component, must address any real or apparent overlap with existing programs.

Applications proposing only an institutional pre-doctoral training program or only a research education program will not be reviewed. Because this funding opportunity only supports pre-doctoral trainees and students as part of the institutional training program, applications requesting support for both pre-doctoral and postdoctoral trainees in the institutional training program component will be deemed unresponsive and will not be reviewed. Postdoctoral trainees are, however, eligible for short-term research education programs as part of the R90 award.

Applications lacking a dissemination plan, an evaluation plan, plans for an external advisory committee, or a description of institutional commitment to the program will not be reviewed.

Short-Term Research Education Program (R90)

Individuals at all stages of the career continuum (undergraduate student, medical/graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, medical resident, and/or independent scientist) may participate in the research education component of the integrated program. Because this is an educational program, non-US citizens may also participate in this program. However, unless strongly justified on the basis of exceptional relevance to the objectives of the Program, the research education program component should be used primarily for the education of US citizens. Such justification would, for example, apply to the non-NRSA students appointed to the institution’s pre-doctoral program component.

Pre-doctoral Research Training Program (T90/R90)

Students appointed to the pre-doctoral training program must have the opportunity to carry out supervised research in neuroimaging. The primary training objective should be to develop students research skills and knowledge in preparation for a research career in neuroimaging. Trainees must be able to commit full-time effort to the program and its related research activities.

This funding opportunity will permit the appointment of a total of 6 pre-doctoral students, including both NRSA-eligible trainees and non-NRSA eligible pre-doctoral students. However, due to funding authority limitations, non-NRSA eligible students are included as part of the Research Education component, not subject to the NRSA policies. In any year of the institutional training program, a maximum of two non-NRSA eligible students may be appointed.

Students are appointed for full-time, 12-month continuous periods. No students may be appointed for less than nine months during the initial period of appointment except with prior approval of the NIH program staff. All trainees are required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, normally defined as 40 hours per week.

NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (T90)

At the time of appointment to the training program, individuals selected to participate in the training program must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence and have in their possession an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551) or other legal verification of admission for permanent residence. Non-citizen nationals are persons born in lands that are not States but are under U.S. sovereignty, jurisdiction, or administration (e.g., American Samoa). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible for NRSA support. In addition, trainees must be able to commit full-time effort in the program at the time of appointment.

Pre-doctoral trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree by the beginning date of their NRSA appointment, and must be training at a post-baccalaureate level and enrolled in a program leading to a Ph.D. in a research doctoral degree program, or a combined clinical degree and Ph.D., such as M.D./Ph.D. NRSA traineeships are not provided for study leading to a M.D., D.O., D.D.S., or other similar professional clinical degree, or master's clinical degree. Students enrolled in health-professional programs that are not part of a formal, combined program, and who wish to postpone their professional studies to gain research experience, may also be appointed to the institutional training program.

Individuals currently supported by other Federal funds are not eligible for concurrent trainee support from this program.

An individual trainee may receive no more than five years of NRSA support in the aggregate at the pre-doctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants (T32s) and individual fellowship awards (Fs) . Exceptions to this limitation require a waiver from the director of the funding Institute based on a review of the justification provided by the awardee, and must be submitted for prior written approval.

Additional information may be obtained in the NRSA Guidelines at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part10.htm#_Toc54600187.

Non-NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (R90)

Individuals selected as non-NRSA pre-doctoral students in this component should satisfy all of the conditions for NRSA trainees, except for those pertaining to citizenship.

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:

The PD/PI should work with his/her institution/organization to make sure he/she is 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/PI 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.

1. Request Application Information

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and the SF424 (R&R) 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: [email protected].

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 for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm).

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. 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 (Expanded)
PHS 398 Training Budget Pages
PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement
PHS398 Checklist
SF424 (R&R) Detailed Budget (R90 Component)

Optional Components:
PHS398 Cover Letter
Training Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form (when applicable)
RR Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form (when applicable)

3. Submission Dates and Times

See Section IV.3A for details.

3.A. Submission, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
Opening Date: December 13, 2010 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov).
Letter of Intent Receipt Date(s): December 13, 2010
Application Due Date(s): January 13, 2011
Peer Review Date(s): February/March 2011
Council Review Date(s): May 2011
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): July 2011

3.A.1. Letter of Intent

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed in Section IV.3.A.

The letter of intent should be sent to: [email protected].

Applicants are encouraged to send the letter of intent by email to the email address above but as an alternative the letter may also be sent to:
Director - DA-11-006

Office of Extramural Affairs
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
6001 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4243
Bethesda, MD 20892-8401
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)

3.B. Submitting an Application Electronically to the NIH

To submit an application in response to this FOA, applicants should access this FOA via http://www.grants.gov/Apply and follow steps 1-4. Note: Applications must only be submitted electronically. PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

3.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 to 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 CSR and for responsiveness by the IC. Incomplete and/or nonresponsive 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 periodically check 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.

5. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can be found at Grants Policy and Guidance.

If applicant institutions with a currently active pre-doctoral institutional training grant (T32 or T90) in neuroimaging other than one funded from the prior RFA DA06-011, an active research education grant (R25) that supports a short course or workshop in neuroimaging, and/or a neuroimaging center (U54) with an educational component apply in response to this funding opportunity, then the new application is expected to expand significantly and substantively upon the current program(s). The applicant is expected to describe the relationship between the current award and the present application and to address any actual or perceived overlap between the active award(s) and the present application. A strong rationale must be presented for significant overlap.

Short-Term Research Education Program (R90)

Pre-award costs are allowable only for the R90 program components. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award if such costs: 1) are necessary to conduct the project, and 2) would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award.

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

Pre-doctoral Research Training Program (T90)

Pre-award costs are not allowable.

Number of Training Slots: There can be up to 6 supported students per year with no more than 2 non-NRSA students supported in a given year.

NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (T90)

The policies of the National Research Service Award (NRSA) apply to this program. Awards are contingent upon availability of funds. Furthermore, the duration of the award and the number of awarded training positions may be less than the levels recommended by the peer review group, based on programmatic and budgetary considerations. Funds for continuation support beyond the initial year are determined by the success of the integrated training program as described in the annual progress report, the timely submission of required forms, and the availability of funds.

T90/R90 Rebudgeting: Funds awarded for the T90 and R90 award must be kept separate; therefore, rebudgeting between the T90 and R90 award is not allowable during a single award year. Future year funding for both the T90 and R90 award may be adjusted, up or down, based upon the submitted Grant Progress Report budget pages. Future year funding adjustments will only be made within the approved total cost commitments for each year of the T90 and R90 awards and will not exceed the combined total costs for these awards.

Concurrent Awards: An NRSA traineeship may not be held concurrently with another federally sponsored fellowship, traineeship, or similar Federal award that provides a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of the NRSA.

Taxability of Stipends: Internal Revenue Code Section 117 applies to the tax treatment of all scholarships and fellowships. The Tax Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-154, impacts on the tax liability of all individuals supported under the NRSA program. Under that section, non-degree candidates are now 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. We must note that 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.

Non-NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (R90)

This component will support up to two full-time non-NRSA pre-doctoral students in any year of the pre-doctoral program. Non-NRSA pre-doctoral students may be compensated, comparable to their experience, not exceeding the NRSA stipend level. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-017.html for further guidance about compensation of graduate students on research grants.

6. Other Submission Requirements

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.

6.A. Special Program Requirements

Applicants to this FOA must follow the PHS398 Research Training Program Plan component instructions as outlined in the SF424 Application Guide, Section 8, Supplemental Instructions for the Institutional NRSA Application instructions. All applications must include both a T90 (NRSA research training) component and an R90 (short term education course component with optional non-NRSA pre-doctoral student support).

SF424 Components

The SF424 components of the applications should follow the SF424 instructions Sections 8.1-8.6.

IN ADDITION to the general SF424 instructions, following information should be provided:

Research and Related (R&R) Other Project Information Component

Item 7. Project Summary/Abstract: (Do not exceed 1 page): The first sentence should state the R90 and T90 components being requested. Provide an abstract of the entire application, including the long-term goals and objectives of the program, key elements of the program plan. Include the rationale and design of the program, the planned duration and projected number of trainees and participants in the components being requested.

Item 12. Other Attachments:

Advisory Committee: An external advisory committee is required. It will be useful as the research education and research training program is developed, implemented, and refined during the project period and will have a reporting function. Applicants should describe the expertise of persons who will be recruited for the External Advisory Committee and give details about when it will meet and the content of meetings, but should not name its anticipated members.

Resource Sharing Plan(s): Not Applicable.

Budget Component

The following information should be provided IN ADDITION to that specified in the PHS398 instructions.

Submission Requirements Applicable to All Components Proposed in the Application

Page limitations of the Research Training Program Plan component must be followed as outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, Section 8.7, incorporating Just in Time information concepts.

* Items 2-5 of the Research Training Plan Component may not exceed 25 pages collectively (see Section 8.7 in the SF424 Application Guide). These sections are: 2 (Background); 3 (Program Plan); 4 (Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity); and 5 (Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research).

The following information should be provided IN ADDITION to that specified in the PHS398 instructions.

Item 2. Background : The first paragraph should describe which R90 and T90 components of this FOA are included in the application. Provide the rationale for the proposed program, relevant background history, and the need for the program proposed. Indicate how the proposed program will foster the research careers of selected individuals. Summarize the activities of the major participating unit(s) and department(s) represented in the proposed program. Include the names and roles of participating faculty members planned to contribute to the program.

Item 3. Program Plan : Include the following sections: Program Administration, Program Faculty, Proposed Training Program, Program Evaluation, Candidates, and Institutional Environment and Commitment to the Program.

Item 4. Diversity Recruitment and Retention Plan:

NOTE: This description applies to both the NRSA Predoctoral Training Component (T90) AND the Non-NRSA Education Component (R90).

The NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences workforce. The NIH expects efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups; to improve the quality of the educational and training environment; to balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; to improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nation’s capacity to address and eliminate health disparities.

Accordingly, the NIH continues to encourage institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations and thus to increase the participation of individuals currently underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences such as: individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds that have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in health-related research. Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will increase diversity on a national or institutional basis. The NIH is particularly interested in encouraging the recruitment and retention of the following classes of candidates:

A. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see data at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: African Americans, Hispanic Americas, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and natives of the US Pacific Islands. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be convincingly demonstrated to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in this program.

B. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

C. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who are defined as:

1. Individuals who come from a family with an annual income below established low-income thresholds. These thresholds are based on family size; published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census; adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index; and adjusted by the Secretary for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary periodically publishes these income levels at HHS - Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement. For individuals from low income backgrounds, the institution must be able to demonstrate that such participants have qualified for Federal disadvantaged assistance or they have received any of the following student loans: Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL), Loans for Disadvantaged Student Program, or they have received scholarships from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Scholarship for Individuals with Exceptional Financial Need.

2. Individuals who come from a social, cultural, or educational environment such as that found in certain rural or inner-city environments that have demonstrably and recently directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.

Recruitment and retention plans related to a disadvantaged background (C1 and C2) are most applicable to high school and perhaps to undergraduate candidates, but would be more difficult to justify for individuals beyond that level of academic achievement. Under extraordinary circumstances the PHS may, at its discretion, consider an individual beyond the undergraduate level to be from a disadvantaged background. Such decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, based on appropriate documentation.

New applications must include a description of plans to enhance recruitment of a diverse trainee pool and may wish to include data in support of past accomplishments. Renewal applications and non-competing applications must include a detailed account of experiences in recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups during the previous funding period. Information must be included on successful and unsuccessful recruitment strategies including aggregate information on the distribution of:

For those trainees who were enrolled in the training program, the report should include information about the duration of research training and whether those trainees finished their training in good standing. Additional information is available at the Frequently Asked Questions on the Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity (Diversity FAQs).

Applications lacking a Diversity Recruitment and Retention Plan will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Item 5. Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research : Every trainee supported by this training grant must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research consistent with their educational level (i.e. undergraduate or predoctoral). All applications must include a plan to provide such instruction. The plan must address five components: format; subject matter; faculty participation; duration of instruction; and frequency of instruction as detailed in NOT-OD-10-019. Renewal (Type 2) applications must, in addition, describe changes in formal instruction over the past project period and plans for the future that address any weaknesses in the current instruction plan. All training faculty who served as course directors, speakers, lecturers, and/or discussion leaders during the past project period must be named in the application. 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.

Applications lacking a plan for instruction in the responsible conduct of research will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Item 6. Progress Report : For renewal applications only, provide brief summaries of the overall program that has been successful in preparing trainees for careers in research in computational neuroscience, commensurate with their level of involvement in the program. Include information on the career outcomes of all trainees who have entered your program over the course of the award. Include measures of success consistent with the nature and duration of the training period, and additional information helpful in evaluating the impact of your program.

Item 10. Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan : More than one PD/PI (i.e., multiple PDs/PIs), may be designated on the application only if the application is from a consortium of more than one grantee institution. Only one PD/PI from each institution will be allowed. If multiple PD/PIs are proposed, explain in the Program Plan your rationale for how this will facilitate program administration.

Item 13. Data Tables : In this single attachment, applications should include the data requested in the Data Table Instructions (SF424 using the instructions for submission of Data Tables 1-12). The information in the data tables will be used by reviewers during peer review and NIH staff in reaching funding decisions. Applicants should bookmark the first page of each table by its table number (Table1, Table 2, etc.). These applicant-defined bookmarks will be added to the system-generated bookmarks contained in the application image in eRA Commons to assist in navigating through the different tables.

NOTE: It is no longer required for applicants to provide pre-enrollment data for individuals with disabilities or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds on Data Tables 7A and 7B (see: NOT-OD-09-135).

NOTE: Renewal applications: Reporting of information on completion rate and time to degree for graduate students in doctoral degree programs that have been supported by NIH training awards must be documented in the Program Statistics section of Table 12A (see NOT-OD-09-141). Information must include:

Item 14. Letters of Support : Provide the sponsoring institution’s letter of commitment and support (see Section III.3.)

Submission Requirements for Specific Components of the Application for PHS398 Items 2-5

Short-Term Research Education Program Component (R90)

The short-term research education program should be designed to take advantage of the strengths in neuroimaging at the applicant institution and may include faculty from other institutions. However, this program should be designed so that it is available to persons not enrolled in or employed by the applicant institution. While the proposed research education program may complement other, ongoing research training and education occurring at the applicant institution, the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those research training and research education programs currently receiving federal support.

Short programs may be designed to draw participants from across the career continuum, but they could be more narrowly focused, e.g. for graduate students in chemistry and physics so as to encourage their interest in neuroimaging as a potential research career. Programs should be designed to maximize the exposure of participants with backgrounds in neuroscience to computational principles, and/or the exposure of participants with backgrounds in the physical, mathematical, computational or engineering sciences to neuroscience research questions and methodology.

The duration of short-term research education programs may range from two weeks to a full summer and must be appropriately justified.

Recruitment Plan: Applicants must describe a recruitment plan that includes a scheme for recruiting participants for the short programs from both outside and inside the sponsoring institutions, as appropriate for the focus of the course proposed. Include plans for recruiting women and individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

Dissemination Plan: A specific plan must be provided to disseminate nationally any materials developed under the auspices of the research education program, e.g., Web postings, presentations at scientific meetings, workshops, etc.

Evaluation Plan: The program evaluation plan should include measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the short program(s).

Pre-doctoral Research Training Program (T90/R90)

NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (T90)

Non-NRSA Institutional Pre-doctoral Training Component (R90)

The primary goal of this funding opportunity is to foster the development and implementation of novel, interdisciplinary training programs that integrate comprehensive training in basic neuroscience, the physical and biological bases of neuroimaging, the technologies of in vivo neuroimaging, and the application of these technologies to understanding questions in neuroscience across the life span. Training programs are required to interface trainees from the quantitative, engineering, and physical/chemical sciences with trainees from biomedical/biological disciplines. Students are expected to participate in a formal, integrated, multi-year curriculum that combines basic neurobiology with the principles and technologies of neuroscience imaging. For example, the first two years of the training program may provide broad training that integrates education and research experiences in the breadth of technologies and applications of different neuroimaging approaches and modalities and the underlying neurobiology. The next two years of the training program could be envisioned to focus on a specific theme in neuroscience imaging that is a self-identified strength of the applicant institution (e.g., fMRI or radioligand development). The product of these pre-doctoral training programs would be researchers who understand the underlying principles and the technologies of neuroimaging as well as their application to experimental questions in neuroscience.

In addition to didactics, the institutional training program is expected to include:

Research Training Record: The Program Director and proposed preceptors, as a training faculty, should be able to demonstrate success in research training as documented by the success of former trainees in seeking further career development and in establishing productive scientific careers. Past training success may be documented by providing evidence of further career advancement of former trainees (e.g. receipt of fellowships, career awards, further training appointments, and similar accomplishments) and/or evidence of a productive scientific career (e.g. success in competing for research grants, receipt of special honors or awards, a record of publications and presentations, receipt of patents, promotion to scientific positions, and/or other accepted measures of advancement in a scientific research career).

Preceptors: Students must be supervised by mentors with successful track records as mentors and researchers. Formal co-mentoring by faculty with complementary expertise may be appropriate. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroimaging, preceptors in the pre-doctoral training program are likely to span the breadth of departments and disciplines that are involved in neuroimaging. Preceptors should be active, funded investigators in an appropriate research area.

Students: Students from the quantitative, engineering, and physical/chemical sciences will interface with students from biomedical/behavioral disciplines in these training programs. It is expected that the applicant pool will include graduate students from multiple disciplines, including but not restricted to physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biology, psychology, and neuroscience. Institutions should address how the applicant pool for the proposed program is distinct from, or relates to, that for existing federal and non-federal training grants.

The number of student positions requested must be justified in terms of the available pool of NRSA-eligible and non-NRSA eligible students, the training faculty, the training track record of the preceptors, and the design of the training program. The number of students recommended by the study section is considered the ceiling and may be decreased by NIH program staff based on availability of funds and the track record for filling positions as assessed by annual progress reports and statements of appointment.

Trainee Appointments: All students are required to pursue their research training full time, defined as 40 hours per week. Appointments are normally made in 12-month increments, and no trainee may be appointed for less than 9 months during the initial period of appointment, except with prior approval of NIDA on behalf of the Neuroscience Blueprint.

No individual trainee may receive more than five years of aggregate NRSA support at the pre-doctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training and individual fellowship awards. A five-year restriction also applies to funding via the R90 mechanism for non-NRSA eligible pre-doctoral students. Any exception to the maximum period of support requires a waiver from NIDA based on a review of the written justification from the individual trainee, and endorsed by the Program Director, and the sponsoring grantee institution. Trainees seeking additional support are strongly advised to consult with the NIH.

Trainees supported under this funding opportunity are not considered to be in an employer-employee relationship with NIH or the institution at which they are pursuing research training.

Recruitment and Retention Plan: Applicants must submit a recruitment plan that includes a scheme for recruiting trainees from both outside and inside their sponsoring institutions. The application should describe any recruitment and outreach plan to increase the depth and diversity of the applicant pool including those underrepresented in the current scientific research workforce in neuroimaging. The application should also describe mechanisms to retain trainees in the institutional training program.

6.B. Data Tables

Applications should include the data requested in the SF424 using the instructions for submission of Data Tables 1-12 (See Data Table Instructions). The information in the data tables will be used by reviewers in determining scores during peer review, and also by NIH staff in reaching funding decisions.

Please follow the instructions carefully for completing the Data Tables. All information requested in these Data Tables is required and will be considered in the review of the application and will be a significant component of the funding decisions for this program.

Previous or current NIH T32 grantee institutions applying for an institutional training program through this T90/R90 FOA must complete all Data Tables, including Tables 11 and 12. The Data Tables must include all trainees supported over the last 10 years, who must be tracked to their current positions, including any subsequent institutional and/or independent grant support. If a previous trainee s current location is not known, the trainee should still be included in the appropriate table(s), and the table should specify Current Position Unknown.

Note: It is no longer required for applicants to provide pre-enrollment data for individuals with disabilities or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds on Tables 7a and 7b (see: NOT-OD-09-135).

Note: Renewal applications: Reporting of information on completion rate and time to degree for graduate students in doctoral degree programs that have been supported by NIH training awards must be documented in the Program Statistics section of Table 12A (see NOT-OD-09-141). Information must include:

Note: See SF424, Section 8.7. Research Training Program Plan Components, Item 13, Data Tables.

6.C. Appendix Materials

Applicants must follow the specific instructions on Appendix materials as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm). A summary listing all of the items included in the appendix is required, and should be the first PDF file. Applications that do not follow the appendix requirements may be delayed in the review process. All appendix material must be submitted as PDF attachments.

Research publications of trainees and mentors are not normally included as part of the Training Grant applications, but are allowed. Other types of publications reflecting on the activities of the program as a whole may also be included. When publications are allowed, appendix materials should be limited to those which are not publicly available, such as:

Do not include unpublished theses or abstracts/manuscripts submitted, but not yet accepted, for publication.

Publications that are publicly accessible must not be included in the appendix. For such publications, the URL or PMC submission identification numbers along with the full reference should be included as appropriate in the Bibliography and References Cited/Progress Report Publication List section of the Research Plan, and/or in the Biographical Sketch.

Some materials other than publications that are unique to training grant applications (but not typically included in research grant applications) may be included as appendices. The appendix may be used to provide samples of materials that are referred to in the body of the application, but are too cumbersome to include in the Training Program Plan without disrupting the narrative flow. Examples include:

i. Additional tables not requested in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide instructions designate these by letter, rather than number, to avoid confusion with the numbered required tables;

ii. Syllabi for key courses, core courses and electives, including courses in Responsible Conduct of Research, Survival Skills for Research, etc.;

iii. Retreat, seminar series, and other program activity agendas, rosters, and schedules;

iv. Examples of forms used to document trainee progress and monitoring by the program;

v. Examples of materials used in recruitment and particularly recruitment and retention to enhance diversity of the student pool.;

vi. Lists of meetings attended by students and their presentations;

vii. Student biosketches; and

viii. Letters of support, collaboration, and commitment of institutional resources.

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.

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 and responsive to the FOA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and in accordance with NIH peer review procedures (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/peer/), using the review criteria stated below.

The mission of the NIH is to support science in pursuit of knowledge about the biology and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. As part of this mission, applications submitted to the NIH for grants or cooperative agreements to support biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the integrated research training and research education program to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the activities involved, in consideration of the following five scored review criteria, and additional review criteria as applicable for the proposed program and with respect to the priorities of the Neuroscience Blueprint in meeting the goal of increasing the number of interdisciplinary scientists engaged in neuroimaging.

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. In addition to the above review criteria, the following criteria will be applied to applications in the determination of scientific merit and the impact/priority score.

Grant applications should be characterized by innovation, scholarship, and responsiveness to the priorities of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research in meeting the goal of increasing the number of interdisciplinary scientists in neuroimaging. The reviewers will be asked to provide an overall assessment of the training program as an integrated effort in neuroimaging research education and training as well as to evaluate the individual components of the integrated program.

Training Program and Environment:

Training Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD/PIs):

Preceptors/Mentors:

Trainees:

Training Record:

All Program Components

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.

Evaluation Plan: Is the evaluation plan adequate to determine the effectiveness of the integrated program in achieving its objectives?

External Advisory Committee: Are plans for the proposed advisory committee adequate and appropriate to ensure proper monitoring of the research education and research training program components? Are there means in place to modify the research education or research training components based on recommendations from the advisory committee?

Protections for Human Subjects. Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children. Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Vertebrate Animals. Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Biohazards. Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

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.

Diversity Recruitment and Retention Plan (applicable only to the NRSA research training component): Peer reviewers will separately evaluate the recruitment and retention plan to enhance diversity after the overall score has been determined. Reviewers will examine the strategies to be used in the recruitment and retention of individuals from underrepresented groups. The review panel’s evaluation will be included in an administrative note in the summary statement.

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Taking into account the specific characteristics of the training program, level of trainee experience, and the particular circumstances of the trainees, the reviewers will address the following questions. Does the plan satisfactorily address the format of instruction, e.g. lectures, coursework and/or real-time discussion groups? Do plans include a sufficiently broad selection of subject matter, such as conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects and animal use, laboratory safety? Do the plans adequately describe how faculty will participate in the instruction? Does the plan meet the minimum requirements for RCR, i.e., eight contact hours of instruction every four years? If this is a renewal, is there a report describing past instruction in the five components described above? Plans and past record will be rated as acceptable or unacceptable, and the summary statement will provide the consensus rating of the review committee. Applications rated unacceptable will not be funded until the applicant provides an acceptable, revised plan.

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).

Budget and Period Support. Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

Selection Process

The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Anticipated award date: August, 2011.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all administrative and programmatic issues have been resolved, the Notice of Award will be generated via email notification from the awarding component to the grantee business official.

Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See Also Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities

The NRSA Predoctoral Training Component (T90) must be administered in accordance with the current NRSA section of the NIH Grants Policy Statement at NIH Grants Policy Statement - Institutional Research Training Grants. Other components of the integrated Training in Computational Neuroscience are expected to adhere to these policies to the extent they are applicable.

Leave Policies: In general, trainees 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. Trainees may receive stipends for up to 15 calendar days of sick leave per year. Sick leave may be used for the medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. Trainees 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 this level of paid leave for this purpose and the use of parental leave is approved by the Training PD/PI (see NOT-OD-08-064). A period of terminal leave is not permitted, and payment may not be made from traineeship funds for leave not taken. Trainees 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. Trainees supported by academic institutions should refer to the NIH Institutional NRSA training grant guidelines at: NIH Grants Policy Statement for further guidance regarding vacations and requested leave.

Carryover of unobligated balances: The carryover of funds from one budget period to the next requires prior written approval of NIDA (on behalf of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research). When required, such requests must include compelling justification including the status of trainee appointments to the program.

Termination of award: NIH may terminate a T90/R90 grant before its normal expiration date if it determines that the grantee has materially failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the award or to carry out the purpose for which the award was made. If an award is terminated for cause, NIH will notify the grantee organization in writing of this determination, the reasons for the determination, the effective date, and the right to appeal the decision. NIH also may terminate an award at the request of the grantee.

An organization that wants to terminate a T90/R90 grant before the scheduled termination date must notify the NIH awarding office immediately. In such cases, NIH will issue a revised NGA to specify the changed period of support and to show prorated trainee stipends, depending on the amount of time spent in training.

Change of Institution: Neither the integrated training program nor any component of the program may be transferred from one institution to another.

Change of Program Director: If change of the Program Director is necessary, support of the award is not automatic but may be continued with prior written approval by NIDA, on behalf of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, provided:

The current program director or the grantee institution has submitted a written request for the change, countersigned by the appropriate institutional business official, to the program contact listed on the NoA describing the reasons for the change. The Biographical Sketch of the proposed Program Director, including a complete listing of active research grant support, must be provided. The information in the request must establish that the specific aims of the original peer-reviewed program will remain unchanged under the direction of the new Program Director and that the new Program Director has the appropriate research and administrative expertise to lead the training program.

This request must be submitted sufficiently in advance of the requested effective date to allow the necessary time for review.

Change of Program: Awards are made to a specific institution for specific program objectives under the guidance and leadership of a particular Program Director. A change in any of these parameters requires prior approval by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Training Project Team. A rationale must be provided for any proposed changes in the aims of the original, peer-reviewed program. Programmatic changes will be evaluated to ensure that the program remains within the scope of the original, peer-reviewed application. If the new program does not satisfy this requirement, the award will be terminated.

Part-time Training: A Program Director may submit a written request to the awarding component to change a trainee appointment to less than full-time. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the awarding Institute in advance for each budget period. The nature of the circumstances requiring 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 trainee’s position at the institution. In each case, the Program Director must submit a written request countersigned by the trainee and an appropriate institutional business official that 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 trainee intends to return to full-time training when that becomes possible, and an assurance that the trainee intends to complete the research training program. In no case will it be permissible for the trainee to be engaged in research training under this award for less than 50% effort. Individuals who must reduce their commitment to less than 50% effort must take a leave-of-absence from their support by the research training program awarded under this FOA. The stipend will be pro-rated in the grant award during the period of any approved part-time training.

Service Payback Provisions (applicable only to the NRSA research training component): As specified in the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, Kirschstein-NRSA recipients incur a service payback obligation for the first 12 months of postdoctoral support. Additionally, the Act specifies that the second year of postdoctoral Kirschstein-NRSA training will serve to pay back a postdoctoral service payback obligation. Accordingly, the following guidelines apply:

Postdoctoral trainees in the first 12 months of postdoctoral Kirschstein-NRSA support must sign the Payback Agreement Form (PHS 6031) before initiating an appointment. Postdoctoral trainees in their first 12 months of support will incur a period of service payback obligation equal to the period of support.

Postdoctoral trainees in the 13th and subsequent months of NRSA postdoctoral support are not required to sign the payment agreement form and will not incur a service payback obligation for this period of support. In addition, the 13th and subsequent months of postdoctoral Kirschstein-NRSA support are considered acceptable payback service for prior postdoctoral support. For example, postdoctoral trainees who continue under that award for two years have fulfilled the obligation incurred during the first 12 months of support by the end of the second year.

Service payback obligations can also be paid back after termination of Kirschstein-NRSA support by conducting health-related research or teaching averaging at least 20 hours per week of a full work year. Payback service may be conducted in an academic, governmental, commercial, or nonacademic environment in the United States or in a foreign country. Examples of acceptable payback service include research associateships/assistantships, postdoctoral research fellowships, and college or high school science teaching positions. Examples of unacceptable payback service include clinical practice and administrative responsibilities not directly related to scientific research. Recipients with service obligations must begin to provide acceptable payback service on a continuous basis within two years of termination of Kirschstein-NRSA support. The period for undertaking payback service may be delayed for such reasons as temporary disability, completion of residency requirements, or completion of the requirements for a graduate degree. Requests for an extension must be made in writing to the NIH specifying the need for additional time and the length of the required extension.

Recipients of Kirschstein-NRSA support are responsible for informing the NIH of changes in status or address.

For individuals who fail to fulfill their obligation through service, the United States is entitled to recover the total amount of Kirschstein-NRSA funds paid to the individual for the obligated period plus interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Financial payback must be completed within three years beginning on the date the United States becomes entitled to recover such amount. Under certain conditions, the Secretary, DHHS (or those delegated this authority), may extend the period for starting service or repayment, permit breaks in service, or in rare cases in which service or financial repayment would constitute an extreme hardship, may waive or suspend the payback obligation of an individual. Detailed information on the accrual and repayment of the Kirschstein-NRSA service payback obligation and waivers is available at: NIH Grants Policy Statement - Payback Reporting Requirements.

Officials at the grantee institution have the responsibility of explaining the terms of the payback requirements to all prospective trainees before appointment to the training grant. Additionally, all trainees recruited into the training program must be provided with information related to the career options that might be available when they complete the program. The suitability of such career options as methods to satisfy the NRSA service payback obligation must be discussed.

3. Reporting

Complete non-competing continuation applications with detailed budgets and progress reports are required annually.

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

This program is not subject to the Streamlined Non-competing Application Process (SNAP).

Progress Reports

Separate progress reports (Form 2590) will need to be submitted for the R90 and T90 awards. However, some of the information will be common to both reports.

The annual progress report should provide information about changes in the integrated program, a summary report by the Advisory Committee, and a description of the training, research and career progress of each student in the pre-doctoral programs on the appropriate R90 or T90 reports, and a description of the short-term research education component including information on the participants. These annual progress reports will be closely monitored by the Blueprint Training Project Team to ensure that the grant is achieving the goals of the overall Program. The NRSA instructions for the non-competing grant progress report should be followed, with any necessary modifications for other program components.

For the NRSA predoctoral research training program (T90) and non-NRSA pre-doctoral students, a substitute budget page and a summary of trainee page are to be included in the request for continuation support. The non-competing budget page should list the names of those students who are continuing in the research training program. Information on each student should also be included in the narrative portion of the progress report as described in the PHS Form 2590 instructions.

Progress Report Format

Changes: Describe any changes in the program, personnel and faculty commitments.

Objectives of the Training Program: Provide a brief description of the funded program.

Report on Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Report the type of instruction provided, topics covered, and other relevant information, such as attendance by students and tranines as well as faculty participation. The NIH encourages institutions to provide instruction in the responsible conduct of research to all u graduate students, postdoctorates and research staff regardless of their source of support.

Diversity reporting (Required for an NRSA T90 report, the R90 Non-NRSA student report and recommended for R90 Short Term Educational Component reports): Provide a detailed account of experiences in recruiting women (who are underrepresented in computational neuroscience) individuals from racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, during the previous funding period. Information must be included on successful and unsuccessful recruitment strategies. The report should provide aggregated information on the racial/ethnic distribution of all applicants and those accepted and appointed. For those who were enrolled in the program, the report should include aggregated information about the duration of research training and whether those trainees completed their training in good standing. Use the new Diversity Training report in the new 2590 form http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm

Program Accomplishments: Provide information on program accomplishments such as course development; any recommended changes to improve the program such as new faculty or mentors, changes in didactic components or programmatic activities, changes in core requirements, recruitment strategies, etc.

Evaluation Reports: Provide information collected under the evaluation plan proposed in the initial application. Information to be provided includes the number of participants in each component, information for students who have completed the program, and evaluation information for the short-term research education component, if applicable.

T90 and possible R90 reporting: CURRENT STUDENTS - PREDOCTORAL: Provide the name, date of start of training slot, mentors, a brief paragraph for each trainee describing the research and didactic training experiences completed and ongoing, and career progress.

R90 reporting: Short-term Research Education Component: Briefly describe any courses or workshops that were developed and offered. In addition, list the faculty involved in the course and the course participants. Provide information about how course participants were selected and whether they received support from the program to attend the course. Provide information about the number of applicants, the number offered admission, the number attending, and their career level. The report should also provide aggregated information regarding the diversity of participants, relative to the recruitment plan of the program. If any evaluations of courses or workshops were conducted, provide information about the outcomes. Describe any dissemination to the wider scientific community of any materials developed for this component.

Past Participants: Provide information on the current activities of students who were supported with the T90/R90 funds in the undergraduate and pre-doctoral training programs.

Presentations/Abstracts/Publications: List publications of students that resulted from their involvement in the training program only. For peer reviewed publications, provide the required NIH public access information (see below).

Advisory Committee Report: A report from the Advisory Committee should be separately attached summarizing its actions during the last year, evaluating the performance of the program in meeting its objectives and intent, evaluating the effectiveness of recruitment strategies, and providing recommendations for improving the program (e.g. new mentors, changes in core requirements, changes in recruitment strategies, etc.)

3.A. Additional Reporting Requirements

Trainee Reporting Requirements (NRSA): The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS 2271) for each NRSA trainee appointed or reappointed to the training grant. Grantees must submit the PHS 2271 data electronically using the xTrain system. More information on xTrain is available at http://era.nih.gov/training_career/index. Within 30 days of the end of the total support period for each trainee, the institution must submit a Termination Notice (PHS 416-7) to the NIH. Failure to submit the required forms in a timely, complete, and accurate manner may result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in any continuation funding for the award.

Student Reporting Requirements (non-NRSA): The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271) for each participant appointed for eight weeks or more. Grantees must submit the PHS 2271 data electronically using the xTrain system. More information on xTrain is available at xTrain (eRA Commons). An appointment or reappointment may begin any time during the budget period, but not before the budget period start date of the grant year.

Financial Status Report (FSR): An annual FSR is required and must be submitted within 90 days of the end of each budget period. Continuation support will not be provided until the required form is submitted and reviewed.

Final Reports: A final Progress Report and Financial Status Report are required at the end of the grant project period or upon relinquishment of an award. Note that an evaluation report is required as part of the Final Progress Report.

Evaluation: In carrying out its stewardship of human resource-related programs, the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Training Project Team may request information essential to an assessment of the effectiveness of this Program. Accordingly, recipients are hereby notified that they may be contacted during and after the completion of this award for periodic updates on various aspects of their employment history, publications, support from research grants or contacts, honors and awards, professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the Program.

Publication and Sharing of Research Results: Trainees are encouraged to submit reports of their findings for publication to the journals of their choice. For each publication that results from a trainee’s research, NIH support should be acknowledged by a footnote in language similar to the following: This project was supported by NIH grant number ______ which is part of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Inventions: Traineeships made primarily for educational purposes are exempted from the PHS invention requirements and thus invention reporting is not required for institutional training grants.

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.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC): Only approved hESC lines listed on the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry http://stemcells.nih.gov/registry/ may be used for research training activities. The abstract of the application must provide the registry identifying numbers of the HESC lines to be used.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

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

1. Scientific/Research Contacts:

Steven Grant, Ph.D.
Chief, Clinical Neuroscience Branch
Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
Room 4235, MSC 9593
6001 Executive Blvd
Bethesda, Md 20892-9593
Telephone: (301) 443-4877
FAX: (301) 443-6814
Email: [email protected]

2. Peer Review Contacts:

Mark Swieter, Ph.D.
Chief
Extramural Affairs Branch
Office of Extramural Affairs
National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, DHHS
6101 Executive Boulevard, Suite 220, MSC 8401
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8401
Telephone: (301) 435-1389
FAX: (301) 443-0538
Email: m[email protected]

3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:

Deborah S. Wertz
Senior Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch/OPRM
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4218
Bethesda, MD 20892-9560
Telephone: (301) 649-1715
Email: [email protected]

Section VIII. Other Information

Use of Animals in Research:

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 (45CFR46) 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 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/.

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.

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 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm). All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, 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.

Inclusion of Women And Minorities in Clinical Research:

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 new PHS Form 398; 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 all investigators submitting NIH applications for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.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 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-033.html) investigators must submit or have submitted for them their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts that arise from NIH funds and are accepted for publication as of April 7, 2008 to PubMed Central (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/), to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after publication. As of May 27, 2008, investigators must include the PubMed Central reference number when citing an article in NIH applications, proposals, and progress reports that fall under the policy, and was authored or co-authored by the investigator or arose from the investigator’s NIH award. 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 (DHHS) 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 DHHS 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) must be used for publicly accessible on-line journal articles. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide any other information necessary for the review because reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.

Healthy People 2010:

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This 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 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

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

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.

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