Part 1. Overview Information

Key Dates

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

No late applications will be accepted for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

It is critical that applicants follow the Training (T) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply - Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

There are several options available to submit your application through Grants.gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners. You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity.

1. Use the NIH ASSIST system to prepare, submit and track your application online.
2. Use an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution to prepare and submit your application to Grants.gov and eRA Commons to track your application. Check with your institutional officials regarding availability.
   
   
3. Use Grants.gov Workspace to prepare and submit your application and eRA Commons to track your application.



Table of Contents
Part 1. Overview Information
Key Dates
Part 2. Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Other Award Budget Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose and Background Information

The overall goal of the NIH Research Career Development programs is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. More information about Career programs may be found at the NIH Extramural Training Mechanisms website.

This NOFO encourages applications from organizations that propose creative and innovative institutional research career development programs in the mission area(s) of the NIH.

The proposed institutional research career development program may complement other, ongoing research training and career development programs at the applicant institution, but the proposed career development experiences must be distinct from those career development programs currently receiving Federal support.

Investigators proposing NIH-defined clinical trials may refer to the Research Methods Resources website for information about developing statistical methods and study designs.

Note: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) allows appointment of Scholars (K12) proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial; or proposing a separate ancillary clinical trial; or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, as part of their research and career development.

Background and Program Objectives

The purpose of the Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Career Development Program is to develop a well-qualified cadre of obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) investigators to strengthen research capacity in the study of women’s reproductive health. Initiated in 1998, the WRHR program has been designed to meet the need for highly skilled clinician-scientists to address the increasing opportunities in this field.

The WRHR Program supports the research career development of junior OB/GYN faculty who have recently completed postgraduate clinical training and wish to pursue careers in basic, translational and/or clinical research in the field of women’s reproductive health. These junior faculty (known as “WRHR Scholars") are provided with state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary research training in areas related to general OB/GYN and its subspecialties. Through an outstanding career development research experience, these Scholars are poised to transition into productive, independent physician scientists able to sustain viable careers and mentor those that follow them. 

Scope

The research scope for this program encompasses all areas of OB/GYN and its related subspecialties: maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and related fields such as adolescent gynecology, family planning, and the reproductive health of women with disabilities. Projects may include basic science, translational, or clinical research, but must be within the biomedical and biobehavioral purview of the NIH. Research with a primary focus on health care delivery, health care services, or health policy is outside the scope of this NOFO. Programs focused on somatic health, for example, the breast, cardiovascular or musculoskeletal systems, should similarly not be proposed.

Senior investigators with established research programs covering a broad range of basic and applied biomedical and biobehavioral science related to obstetrics and gynecology form the intellectual and technical base for mentoring junior faculty accepted into the program. Although mentors from collaborating departments outside of OB/GYN may provide needed expertise and resources, the emphasis of the WRHR Scholars' scientific projects should be on research ultimately relevant to obstetrics and gynecology and/or its subspecialties. 

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information

Other Award Budget Information

The program will support Scholars for periods of a minimum of two and maximum of five years consisting of consecutive 12-month appointments.  The program is designed to support an average of two scholars per year. 

The NICHD will provide up to $125,000 in direct costs per year for each scholar. This amount includes salary, fringe benefits, and research and career development expenses as itemized below.

Salary and Fringe Benefits: 

Each Scholar's award may include up to $100,000 for salary and fringe benefits.  Salaries can be adjusted according to grantee institutional policy to be consistent with the institution's salary scale for equivalent positions. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12-month staff appointment and requires Scholars to devote a minimum of 9 person months (equivalent to 75 percent) of full-time professional effort toward health-related research and career development activities, with the remaining effort being devoted to activities related to the development of a productive research career.

Scholars who are U.S.-licensed surgeon-scientists with active surgical duties may devote less than the required 9 person months (75%) full-time professional effort for the specific purpose of maintaining specialty clinical competency. Such appointments may not involve less than 6 person months (50%) full-time professional effort for research and career development activities. Appointments for Scholars involving less than 75% full-time professional effort will be for no less than three consecutive years. NICHD will adjust the total salary support committed to the K12 award consistent with the adjusted level of effort. 

The institution may supplement the NIH salary contribution up to a level that is consistent with the institution's salary scale; however, supplementation may not be from Federal funds unless specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such funds are derived. Institutional supplementation of salary must not require extra duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose of the program.

Research and Career Development Support: 

Within each scholar's $125,000 direct cost allowance, up to $25,000 per year may be allocated for research and career development costs.  Allowable costs under this category include: 1) research expenses such as supplies, equipment and other expenses generated by the Scholar in the laboratories of the established investigators who serve as mentors; 2) partial salary support for technical assistants; 3) travel to receive training or attend scientific meetings where the Scholar will be presenting WRHR-funded work (not to exceed $3,500 annually); 4) tuition, fees, or books; and 5) computer services. These research and development costs must be itemized for each individual candidate and related to the Scholar's research activities. They cannot be pooled and used for other programs unrelated or indirectly related to the research activities of individual Scholars.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Higher Education Institutions

• Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
• Private Institutions of Higher Education

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

• Hispanic-serving Institutions
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
• Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

Local Governments

• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
• U.S. Territory or Possession

Other

• Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Faith-based or Community-based Organizations

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.

An application may be submitted on behalf of a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (here understood to include a department providing obstetrical and/or gynecologic care as its primary function, regardless of title) that has as a primary teaching site either in a hospital for women or within a larger medical institution . The applicant institution must have an adequate pool of highly trained established investigators in research related to obstetrics and gynecology and its related subspecialty areas. Applicant institutions must have the clinical specialties and subspecialties as well as the clinical and research facilities sufficient to meet the purposes of the WRHR Program, namely, to bridge clinical training with a career in basic, translational, and/or clinical research relevant to women's reproductive health. These institutions should also have the commitment and capability to provide career development guidance to promising candidates who aspire to become independent investigators. 

The applicant institution must have a strong and high quality research program in the area(s) proposed under this NOFO and must have the requisite faculty, staff, potential trainees and facilities on site to conduct the proposed institutional program. In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed program will complement other ongoing career development programs occurring at the applicant institution and that a substantial number of program faculty will have active research projects in which participating scholars may gain relevant experiences consistent with their research interests and goals.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Applicant Organizations

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information.

• System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.
• NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code – Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) – A UEI is issued as part of the SAM.gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.
• eRA Commons – Once the unique organization identifier is established, organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their Grants.gov registration; all registrations must be in place by time of submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
• Grants.gov – Applicants must have an active SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research training program as the Training Program Director/Principal Investigator (Training PD/PI) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. See, Reminder: Notice of NIH's Encouragement of Applications Supporting Individuals from Underrepresented Ethnic and Racial Groups as well as Individuals with Disabilities, NOT-OD-22-019.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the How to Apply - Application Guide.

The PD/PI should be an established investigator in the scientific area in which the application is targeted and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees to the approved research training program, and for the overall direction, management, administration, and evaluation of the program. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required. The PD/PI has responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the program and is responsible for appointing members of the Advisory Committee (when applicable), using their recommendations to determine the appropriate allotment of funds.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the PD/PI will make the final decisions regarding appropriate recipients of the program funds. 

If desired, a separate Research Director may be designated to take responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the program. The proposed division of responsibilities between the Research Director and PD/PI must be clearly delineated within the application with a clear statement that all final decisions are the responsibility of the PD/PI. The Research Director, if different than the PD/PI, must possess the educational and scientific expertise, leadership, and administrative capabilities required to coordinate and supervise a multidisciplinary research and career development program of this scope.

2. Cost Sharing

This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1.2 Definition of Terms.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is programmatically distinct.

NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application. This means that the NIH will not accept:

• A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
• A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
• An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NIH Grants Policy Statement 2.3.9.4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications).

Programs are encouraged to build a broadly diverse team of preceptors/mentors that includes, for example, faculty at different career stages (i.e., junior as well as senior faculty). Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. See, Reminder: Notice of NIH's Encouragement of Applications Supporting Individuals from Underrepresented Ethnic and Racial Groups as well as Individuals with Disabilities, NOT-OD-22-019.

Scholars

Scholars to be supported by the institutional career development program must be at the career level for which the planned program is intended. Scholars are expected to devote a minimum of 9 person-months (75% of full-time professional effort) during the appointment on the K12 award.

Scholars who are U.S.-licensed surgeon-scientists with active surgical duties must devote a minimum of 6 person months (50% of full-time professional effort) during the appointment on the K12 award.

Scholars must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment. Additional details on citizenship requirements are available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Preceptors/Mentors

Program faculty must have strong records as researchers, including recent publications and successful competition for research support in the area of the proposed research training program.  Program faculty must also have a record of research training, including successful, former trainees who have established productive careers relevant to the NIH mission.  

Mentors must be independent investigators who are actively involved in basic, translational, and/or clinical research relevant to the proposed WRHR program. They must hold senior faculty positions, be supported by NIH or other competitively awarded grants, and be acknowledged experts in the application of new advances in basic science, translational, or clinical research.

The established investigators, as mentors, will make available their expertise, guidance, and laboratory facilities to be utilized by WRHR Scholars for research projects that will enhance the Scholar's knowledge and skills. Mentors must have a successful record of providing research training and will be expected to interact closely with the assigned Scholar to develop a tailored career development plan. Mentors must be committed to continue their involvement throughout the WRHR Scholar's total period of development under the award.

Mentors are not required to be members of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Although mentors from collaborating departments may provide needed expertise and resources, the emphasis of the WRHR Scholars' scientific projects should be on research relevant to OB/GYN and its subspecialties.  

Scholars

An institution receiving a WRHR Program award must recruit and select Scholars who have the potential to develop into independent investigators. At the time of appointment to the K-12 Program, candidates for position as a WRHR Scholar must:

• Be a physician holding the M.D. or D.O. degree.
• Have completed postgraduate residency training in obstetrics and gynecology.
• Have identified an approved mentor or mentors with extensive research experience.
• Be able to devote at least 9 person months (equivalent to 75 percent) of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development activities.  Scholars who are U.S.-licensed surgeon-scientists with active surgical duties may devote less than the required 9 person months (75%) full-time professional effort for the specific purpose of maintaining specialty clinical competency. Such appointments may not involve less than 6 person months (50%) full-time professional effort for research and career development activities. A clear justification must be provided in the application when requesting less than 75% full-time professional effort (less than 9 person-months).
• Each Scholar will commit to provide 75% effort over a minimum of two calendar years. Surgeon Scientists will have the option of committing to 50% effort. The percent effort will remain constant over the full course of the appointment.
• Not be or have been a PI on an R01, R29, U01/U10, subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60, U54) grant, or individual mentored or non-mentored career development award (e.g., K01, K02, K08, K22, K23, K24, K25, K99).  Individuals who are or were PIs on NIH Small Grants (i.e., R03s) or Exploratory/Developmental Grants (i.e., R21s) may be eligible providing they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Support for Scholars must be provided through a minimum of two consecutive 12-month appointments, or 3 consecutive 12-month appointments for surgeon-scientists, renewable in annual increments, for up to five years total. Support of Scholars is renewed at the discretion of the PD/PI and contingent upon presentation of evidence of satisfactory progress. The pool of potential Scholars and criteria for selecting WRHR Scholars must be described in the grant application. Institutions are encouraged to develop novel mechanisms for recruiting  obstetrician-gynecologists from diverse backgrounds, especially those with disabilities or those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

The Scholar position is a junior faculty appointment, not a fellowship or extension of a fellowship position. Scholars may be general OB/GYNs as long as they do not intend to pursue a fellowship in the future. Scholars may be appointed to the K12 program in the final year of subspecialty fellowship training, but only if the year is designated as a primary research year in order to meet the requirements for 75% research effort.  

New Scholar appointments may be made any time during the year.  Please contact NICHD staff if considering appointment during the 4th year of the cycle. Scholars may not be appointed in the 5th year of an ongoing WRHR award cycle.  

In a limited number of cases, individuals who are interested in the K12 program may have had a career hiatus because of family responsibilities, uniformed service, or other circumstances. For such individuals, there is no limit on time elapsed since completion of training. Allowances may also be granted for a temporary decrease in percent effort for personal or family medical or family care considerations, but only if approved through NICHD staff (NOT-OD-18-156).

During the period of this award, Scholars may not accept or hold any other PHS award that duplicates the provisions of this career award. However, Scholars may remain eligible for other individual mentored career development awards (e.g., K01, K08, K22, K23, K25, K99) at the conclusion of the K12 appointment if additional training is needed to establish research independence. Scholars may not hold concurrent K awards. Combined support through the K12 and other mentored career development award programs must not exceed six years per NICHD policy.

K12 Scholars are strongly encouraged to apply for independent research grant support (e.g. R01, R03, R21) during the award but must adhere to effort requirements. K12 Scholars in the last two years of career award support may reduce effort on the career award to a minimum of 50% and hold concurrent support from their career award and a competing NIH research grant if they are recognized as a Principal Investigator or Subproject Director. Independent NIH research grant support must conform to all NIH policies and guidelines as described in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts (see NOT-OD-17-094 and NOT-OD-18-157).   Scholars must provide strong justification and institutional assurance that the additional research responsibilities will be beneficial to their overall career development.

Scholars or program leadership are strongly encouraged to contact NICHD staff regarding Scholar eligibility, change in effort, loss of status with additional grant funding, or any other questions. 

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace are available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the Training (T) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the How to Apply - Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Letter of Intent

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.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• Descriptive title of proposed activity
• Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institution(s)
• Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Donna Mazloomdoost, MD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-594-1336
Email: [email protected] 
 

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Instructions for Application Submission

The following section supplements the instructions found in the How to Apply - Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this NOFO.

SF424(R&R) Cover

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

SF424 (R&R) Other Project Information

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

Foreign Components

Foreign institutions and foreign components of US institutions are not eligible to apply for K12 awards under this NOFO.  However, foreign research and career development experiences for scholars may be allowable as foreign components.  K12 applications that anticipate foreign work must check “Yes” for Item 6 of the SF424 R&R Other Project Information Form: “Does this project involve activities outside of the United States or partnerships with international collaborators”. A Foreign Justification attachment must be included as instructed in the SF424 Application Guide.

Substitute the term “scholars” for all references to “trainees” in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, and substitute the term “career development” for all references to “training” in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Project Summary/Abstract. Provide an abstract of the entire application. Include the objectives, rationale and design of the career development program, as well as key activities in the training plan. Indicate the plannedduration of appointments, the projected number of scholars including their levels (i.e., predoctoral , postdoctoral , short-term faculty ), and intended trainee/scholar outcomes

Other Attachments. An Advisory Committee is not a required, but a highly recommended component of a training program. However, if an Advisory Committee is intended, provide a plan for the appointment of an Advisory Committee to monitor progress of the training program. The composition, roles, responsibilities, and desired expertise of committee members, frequency of committee meetings, and other relevant information should be included. Describe how the Advisory Committee will evaluate the overall effectiveness of the program. Proposed Advisory Committee members should be named in the application if they have been invited to participate at the time the application is submitted. Renewal applications with Advisory Committees should include the names of all committee members during the past project period. Please name your file “Advisory_Committee.pdf”.

The filename provided for each “Other Attachment” will be the name used for the bookmark in the electronic application in eRA Commons.

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded

Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement

Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

PHS 398 Training Subaward Budget Attachment(s)

Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

Research and Related (R&R) Budget

Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide with the following additional modifications:

• Include all personnel other than the Training PD(s)/PI(s) in the Other Personnel section, including clerical and administrative staff. Also include proposed salary costs for planned scholars.
• Do not complete the section on Participant/Trainee Support Costs.

PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan

The PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form is comprised of the following sections:

• Training Program
• Faculty, Trainees, and Training Record
• Other Training Program Sections
• Appendix - Note that the Appendix should only be used in circumstances covered in the NIH policy on appendix materials or if the FOA specifically instructs applicants to do so.

Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

Data Tables:

Particular attention must be given to the required Training Data Tables. Applicants should summarize, in the body of the application, key data from the tables that highlight the characteristics of the applicant pool, faculty mentors, the educational and career outcomes of past participants, and other factors that contribute to the overall environment of the program.

For this NOFO, applicants should use the following Data Tables only (Data for Scholars should be entered into the Postdoctoral sections of the tables):

Table 2 (New and Renewal applications)

Table 3 (New and Renewal applications)

Table 4 (New and Renewal applications)

Table 5B (Renewal applications only)

Table 7 (Renewal applications only)

Table 8C, Part I only (Renewal applications only)

Training Program Section

Research Career Development Program Plan  

Program Administration.

Include the planned strategy and administrative structure to be used to oversee and monitor the program, including the role of an Advisory Committee.  When a Research Director position is planned, a description of the scientific expertise, leadership, and administrative capabilities essential to coordinate a program for developing investigators must be included in the application. 

Institutions with existing K12 or other programs must explain what distinguishes this program from the others, how their programs will synergize with one another, if applicable, and make it clear that the pool of faculty, potential scholars, and resources are robust enough to support additional programs. Career development and training in the separate programs should be both separate and distinct, including avoidance of substantial overlap in terms of research topics and personnel. 

When a program administrator position is planned, a description of the scientific expertise, leadership, and administrative capabilities essential to coordinate a program for developing investigators must be included in the application.

In the event that a clinical trial may be proposed, provide documentation of the PD/PI(s) expertise, experience, and ability to oversee the organization, management and implementation of the clinical trial, including any feasibility or ancillary study, proposed by Scholar(s).

Program Faculty.

A clear plan for identifying a mentoring team should be described for each WRHR Scholar with the understanding that these teams may be of various size and composition depending on the Scholar's research experience, scientific project, and ultimate career goals. Describe the complementary expertise and experiences of the proposed mentors. The application should describe past research career development activities/experiences of mentors, documenting the success of former trainees in establishing independent productive scientific careers. 

Proposed Training.

Provide an overview of the proposed program. Outline the objectives of the program and the program activities that will be used to meet these objectives. Describe for whom the training program is intended, including the training level(s) of the trainees, the academic and research background needed to pursue the proposed training, and, as appropriate, plans to accommodate differences in preparation among trainees. Include information about planned courses, mentored research experiences, and any activities designed to develop specific technical skills or other skills essential for the proposed research training. Describe how Scholars will be educated in the human health- and disease-related aspects of their research training.

Applications should describe program activities intended to develop the working knowledge needed for trainees to select among and prepare for the next step within the varied research career options available in the biomedical workforce. For example, programs should provide all trainees with instruction and training in oral and written presentation and in skills needed to apply for individual fellowship or grant support. All postdoctoral trainees should also be provided with instruction in laboratory and project management, the responsible conduct of science, animal welfare, and human subjects protections.

In the event that a clinical trial may be proposed, provide documentation of the administrative, data coordinating, enrollment and laboratory/testing centers, appropriate for the clinical trial, including any feasibility or ancillary study, proposed by the Scholar(s).

For existing programs, provide brief summaries of the overall career development program that has been successful in preparing Scholars for careers as independent investigators. Include information on the career outcomes of all Scholars that have entered your program over the course of the award. The summary should contain information on their promotions, publications, support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, and other relevant professional activities. Include measures of success consistent with the nature and duration of the training period and additional information helpful in evaluating the impact of the WRHR Program.  For new applications, please provide information on any comparable programs/trainees within your institution. 

The program description should include strategies to be used to ensure that the objectives are met. 

Training Program Evaluation.

For renewal applications, highlight how the training program has evolved in response to changes in relevant scientific and technical knowledge, educational practices, and to evaluation of the training program. 

Scholar Candidates.

The pool of potential Scholars and criteria for selecting WRHR Scholars must be described in the grant application. Institutions are encouraged to develop novel mechanisms for recruiting a diverse pool of obstetrician-gynecologists. 

Institutional Environment and Commitment to the Program.

The application must include a signed letter, on institutional letterhead, that describes the applicant institution’s commitment to the planned program. The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program including assurance that sufficient time will be allowed for the PDs/PIs and other Program Faculty to contribute to the proposed program, and that there will be protected time for appointed scholars (minimum of 6 person-months, equivalent to 50%, full-time professional effort for clinician-scientists in surgical specialties and 9 person-months, equivalent to 75%, for all other Scholars). 

Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity

Follow instructions in the SF424 Application Guide.

​​​​​Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

Program Faculty.

If any mentors will supervise a Scholar proposing to either lead a clinical trial, or gain research experience in a clinical trial, provide documentation of their expertise, experience, and ability to provide guidance in the organization, management and implementation of the proposed clinical trial, ancillary, or feasibility study and help him/her to meet the study timelines.

Trainee Candidates.

If the event that a clinical trial may be proposed, discuss the potential of prospective Scholars to organize, manage, and implement the proposed clinical trial, feasibility or ancillary study.

Appendix:

Limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide; any instructions provided here are in addition to the How to Apply - Application Guide instructions.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional modifications:

Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

DO NOT USE. Attempts to submit a full, detailed study record will result in a validation error.

Delayed Onset Study

Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start).

If you answered “Yes” to the question “Are Human Subjects Involved?” on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must complete a Delayed Onset Study.

If you check the “Anticipated Clinical Trial” box within your Delayed Onset Study, then the Justification attachment must acknowledge that additional clinical trial information will be provided to the awarding component before any appointee begins independent clinical trial research.

PHS Assignment Request Form

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

In the event that a Scholar appointed to the program is planning to pursue a clinical trial as the lead investigator, is proposing an ancillary clinical trial to an existing trial or is proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, the PD/PI will confirm that NIH clinical trials requirements will be met and submit required information to the Project Officer at NICHD for approval prior to the start of the Scholar's proposed trial. If a clinical trial will be conducted, a milestone plan will also be established at that time.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

See Part 2. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov

4. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

5. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

6. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. 

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Note, however, that pre-award costs are not allowable charges for stipends or tuition/fees on institutional training grants because these costs may not be charged to the grant until a trainee has actually been appointed and the appropriate paperwork submitted to the NIH awarding component. 

7. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the How to Apply - Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit How to Apply – Application Guide. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.

Important reminders:

All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile form. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the unique entity identifier provided on the application is the same identifier used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by NICHD, NIH. Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant, and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

Recipients or subrecipients must submit any information related to violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. See Mandatory Disclosures, 2 CFR 200.113 and NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 4.1.35.

Send written disclosures to the NIH Chief Grants Management Officer listed on the Notice of Award for the IC that funded the award and to the HHS Office of Inspector Grant Self Disclosure Program at [email protected]. 

Post Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy.

Any instructions provided here are in addition to the instructions in the policy.

Section V. Application Review Information

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.

Applications submitted to the NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood that the proposed training program will prepare individuals for successful, productive scientific research careers and thereby exert a sustained influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed.

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of the merit of the training program and give a separate score for each. When applicable, the reviewers will consider relevant questions in the context of proposed short-term training. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score. 

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), convened by the NICHD in accordance with NIH peer review policies and practices, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications will receive a written critique.

Applications may undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review) will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.

Appeals for initial peer review will not be accepted for applications submitted in response to this NOFO.

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this Announcement. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council.

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.5.1. Just-in-Time Procedures. This request is not a Notice of Award nor should it be construed to be an indicator of possible funding.

Prior to making an award, NIH reviews an applicant’s federal award history in SAM.gov to ensure sound business practices. An applicant can review and comment on any information in the Responsibility/Qualification records available in SAM.gov.  NIH will consider any comments by the applicant in the Responsibility/Qualification records in SAM.gov to ascertain the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and performance record of managing Federal awards per 2 CFR Part 200.206 “Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.”  This provision will apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access their Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons. Refer to Part 1 for dates for peer review, advisory council review, and earliest start date.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.4.4 Disposition of Applications.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

A Notice of Award (NoA) is the official authorizing document notifying the applicant that an award has been made and that funds may be requested from the designated HHS payment system or office. The NoA is signed by the Grants Management Officer and emailed to the recipient’s business official.

In accepting the award, the recipient agrees that any activities under the award are subject to all provisions currently in effect or implemented during the period of the award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of the award, and applicable statutory provisions.

Recipients must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.6. Funding Restrictions. Any pre-award costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the applicant's own risk.  For more information on the Notice of Award, please refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 5. The Notice of Award and NIH Grants & Funding website, see Award Process.

Individual awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the NIH and are subject to the IC-specific terms and conditions identified in the NoA.

ClinicalTrials.gov: If an award provides for one or more clinical trials. By law (Title VIII, Section 801 of Public Law 110-85), the "responsible party" must register and submit results information for certain “applicable clinical trials” on the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System Information Website (https://register.clinicaltrials.gov). NIH expects registration and results reporting of all trials whether required under the law or not. For more information, see https://grants.nih.gov/policy/clinical-trials/reporting/index.htm

Institutional Review Board or Independent Ethics Committee Approval: Recipient institutions must ensure that all protocols are reviewed by their IRB or IEC. To help ensure the safety of participants enrolled in NIH-funded studies, the recipient must provide NIH copies of documents related to all major changes in the status of ongoing protocols.

Data and Safety Monitoring Requirements: The NIH policy for data and safety monitoring requires oversight and monitoring of all NIH-conducted or -supported human biomedical and behavioral intervention studies (clinical trials) to ensure the safety of participants and the validity and integrity of the data. Further information concerning these requirements is found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/hs/data_safety.htm and in the application instructions (SF424 (R&R) and PHS 398).

Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption Requirements: Consistent with federal regulations, clinical research projects involving the use of investigational therapeutics, vaccines, or other medical interventions (including licensed products and devices for a purpose other than that for which they were licensed) in humans under a research protocol must be performed under a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigational new drug (IND) or investigational device exemption (IDE).

The following Federal wide and HHS-specific policy requirements apply to awards funded through NIH: 

• The rules listed at 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. 
• All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the terms and conditions in the Notice of Award (NoA). The NoA includes the requirements of this NOFO. 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, Recipients, and Activities. 
• If a recipient receives an award, the recipient must follow all applicable nondiscrimination laws. The recipient agrees to this when registering in SAM.gov. The recipient must also submit an Assurance of Compliance (HHS-690). To learn more, see the Laws and Regulations Enforced by the HHS Office for Civil Rights website.
  • HHS recognizes that NIH research projects are often limited in scope for many reasons that are nondiscriminatory, such as the principal investigator’s scientific interest, funding limitations, recruitment requirements, and other considerations. Thus, criteria in research protocols that target or exclude certain populations are warranted where nondiscriminatory justifications establish that such criteria are appropriate with respect to the health or safety of the subjects, the scientific study design, or the purpose of the research.  For additional guidance regarding how the provisions apply to NIH grant programs, please contact the Scientific/Research Contact that is identified in Section VII under Agency Contacts of this NOFO.

All federal statutes and regulations relevant to federal financial assistance, including those highlighted in NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 4 Public Policy Requirements, Objectives and Other Appropriation Mandates.

Recipients are responsible for ensuring that their activities comply with all applicable federal regulations.  NIH may terminate awards under certain circumstances. See 2 CFR Part 200.340 Termination and NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 8.5.2 Remedies for Noncompliance or Enforcement Actions: Suspension, Termination, and Withholding of Support. 

Not Applicable.

Consistent with the 2023 NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing, when data management and sharing is applicable to the award, recipients will be required to adhere to the Data Management and Sharing requirements as outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.  

When multiple years are involved, recipients will be required to submit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 8.4.1 Reporting. Continuation support will not be provided until the required forms are submitted and accepted. To learn more about post-award monitoring and reporting, see the NIH Grants & Funding website, see Post-Award Monitoring and Reporting.

Failure by the recipient institution to submit 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. 

• The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271) for each scholar appointed or reappointed to the training grant for 8 weeks or more. Recipients 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.
• Termination Notice: Within 30 days of the end of the total support period, the institution must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form 416-7) via xTrain for each scholar appointed for eight weeks or more. Scholars with service payback requirements must notify the NIH of any change in address and submit Annual Payback Activities Certification Forms (PHS Form 6031-1) until the payback service obligation is satisfied.

A final RPPR, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 8.6 Closeout. Evaluation results should be included as part of the final RPPR.

In carrying out its stewardship of human resource-related programs, the NIH may request information essential to an assessment of the effectiveness of this program from databases and from participants themselves. Participants may be contacted after the completion of this award for periodic updates on various aspects of their employment history, publications, support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten on-time submission, and post-submission issues)

Finding Help Online: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

General Grants Information (Questions regarding application processes and NIH grant resources)
Email: [email protected] (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-480-7075

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: [email protected]

Donna Mazloomdoost, MD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-594-1336
Email: [email protected] 

Elena K Gorodetsky, M.D., Ph.D.
ORWH - Office of Research on Women's Health
Phone: (301) 594-9004
E-mail: [email protected]

Joanna Kubler-Kielb, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-435-6916
Email: [email protected]

Yvonne Talley 
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-496-7432
Email: [email protected] 
 

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 2 CFR Part 200.