Full Text HL-96-012 NHLBI MENTORED RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD FOR MINORITY FACULTY NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 18, June 7, 1996 RFA: HL-96-012 P.T. 44, FF Keywords: Biomedical Research Training Cardiovascular Diseases Pulmonary Diseases Blood Diseases Sleep Disorders National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: August 2, 1996 Application Receipt Date: August 23, 1996 PURPOSE The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) invites grant applications for the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty Program. The purpose of the award is to encourage the enhancement of research skills in the areas of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases, sleep disorders, and transfusion medicine by minority faculty members at domestic institutions and to increase the number of minority individuals involved in research endeavors. Within NHLBI, the term "hematologic" covers research on thrombosis and hemostasis, immunohematology, blood cell disorders, hematopoiesis, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, transfusion medicine, blood resources including blood component and derivative therapy, blood substitutes and blood resource management, aspects of AIDS-products in AIDS prevention and treatment, and AIDS-related bone marrow and hematologic disorders. Other Institutes of the NIH are responsible for research on disorders of white cells, including the leukemias and other blood malignancies, and basic immunology related to the lymphoid system. Therefore, NHLBI cannot provide support for such studies. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, NHLBI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty, is related to the priority areas of heart disease and stroke, maternal and infant health, environmental health, and educational and community-based programs. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by non-federal domestic, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and units of state and local government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. Individuals applying for this program must have been awarded a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., D.O. degree or its equivalent), have a faculty appointment at an accredited college or university at the time of award, and be members of an underrepresented minority group. For the purpose of this program, underrepresented minority faculty members are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research. In making grant awards under this program, the NHLBI will give priority to projects involving Black, Hispanic, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Pacific Islander, and/or other ethnic or racial group members who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research nationally. Candidates must be nominated by an institution on the basis of qualifications, interests, accomplishments, motivation, and potential for performing quality research. The candidate's academic background, previous experience, and career goals should determine both the necessary length and the kind of research development program that is appropriate. Each candidate must identify a sponsor(s) who is an accomplished investigator in the research area proposed and has experience in developing independent investigators. The sponsor is not required to be affiliated with the applicant institution. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty (K01) . Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed career development program will be solely that of the applicant. The awardee may receive salary support up to a maximum of $50,000 plus fringe benefits per year for the five year period. All funds must be used to support the awardee. A minimum of 80 percent effort must be devoted to the research program. In addition to the salary request for the candidate, support for up to five percent of the sponsor's salary may be requested. Up to $30,000 per year will be provided for research support. Substitution of another sponsor and/or a change of institution may be permitted with the prior approval of the NHLBI. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed five years. Funding beyond the first year of the grant is contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding year and the availability of funds. Indirect costs will be awarded based on eight percent of total direct costs exclusive of equipment and tuition and fees. The anticipated award date is May 1, 1997. FUNDS AVAILABLE The estimated funds (total costs) available for the first year of support for this program are expected to be $1 million in fiscal year 1997. The actual amount may vary, depending on the response to the RFA and availability of funds, but the number of new awards is anticipated to be 12 awards. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Many studies have emphasized the need for minority individuals to participate in modern research activities to develop their investigative talents. The percentage of minorities with Ph.D. degrees in biomedical science is significantly smaller than the percent of minority citizens in the U.S. There are existing programs at the NIH that are designed to answer this need. These include the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, the Minority Access to Research Careers Program, and the Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities Program. Even though these programs appear successful in meeting their specific objectives and career development goals, minority students and faculty need additional opportunities to develop biomedical and behavioral research skills and become productive investigators. One method of addressing this problem is by attracting minority students to research opportunities and by providing them with research training to develop their research capabilities in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic diseases, and sleep disorders. In addition, by increasing the research capabilities of minority faculty members and faculty members at minority institutions, these individuals may serve as role models for minority undergraduate and graduate students, and stimulate these students to become more cognizant of research opportunities in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic diseases, and sleep disorders. Other The present RFA is designed to offer career development opportunities for minority faculty members to encourage their participation in cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic research. The Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty is intended to: o Encourage research-oriented minority faculty to develop independent research skills and gain experience in advanced methods and experimental approaches in the basic and applied sciences relevant to heart, blood vessel, lung, blood diseases, transfusion medicine, and sleep disorders. o Increase the pool of highly trained minority investigators who can use advanced technologies to address the major problems in heart, blood vessel, lung, blood diseases, transfusion medicine, and sleep disorders. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This new policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies (Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations) which have been in effect since 1990. The new policy contains some new provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research", which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513), and reprinted in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS of March 18, 1994, Volume 23, Number 11. Investigators may obtain copies from these sources or from the program staff or contact person listed below. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by August 2, 1996, a letter of intent that includes the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains allows NHLBI staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. C. James Scheirer, at the address listed under APPLICATION PROCEDURES. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Grants Information Office, Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov; and from the program administrator listed under INQUIRIES. Guidelines and supplemental instructions for the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty may be obtained from NHLBI staff listed under INQUIRIES. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title (NHLBI Research Development Award for Minority Faculty) and number (HL-96-012) must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE ROOM 1040 MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for courier service) Two additional copies of the application must also be sent to: C. James Scheirer, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Two Rockledge Centre, Room 7220 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7924 Bethesda, MD 20892-7924 Telephone: (301) 435-0266 Fax: (301) 480-3541 E-mail: james_scheirer@nih.gov Applications must be received by August 23, 1996. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The DRG will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG and responsiveness by NHLBI. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by a Special Emphasis Panel in the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, a process (triage) may be used by the initial review group in which applications will be determined to be competitive or non-competitive based on their scientific merit relative to other applications received in response to the RFA. Applications judged to be competitive will be discussed and assigned a priority score. Application determined to be non-competitive will be withdrawn from further consideration and the applicant and the official signing for the applicant organization will be notified. Review Criteria The following criteria will be considered when assessing the merit of career development applications, including the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty. o Candidate -- The candidate's overall competence as demonstrated by academic record and performance, potential for a career in independent research, and commitment or interest in pursuing an academic research career. o Sponsor(s) -- The sponsor's accomplishments in the scientific research area(s) proposed, experience and track record in training investigators, and commitment for the duration of a candidate's research development. o Environment -- The applicant institution's ability to provide adequate facilities, resources, and opportunities necessary for the candidate's training, and the institutional commitment to the candidate. If different from the applicant institution, the quality and extent of interaction of the faculty in the basic and clinical sciences, and the quality of the research and research training programs at the sponsor's institution. o Career Development Plan -- The adequacy of the research career development plan, based on the candidate's past research experience, training, and career goals. o Research Project -- Scientific merit of the proposed research project and its appropriateness as a vehicle for developing the candidate's research skills. o Adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. AWARD CRITERIA The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o Technical merit of the application as determined by peer review o Availability of funds o Program balance among the research areas of the announcement INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding program guidelines, supplemental instructions, or programmatic issues to: Mary S. Reilly, M.S. Division of Lung Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Two Rockledge Centre, Suite 10112 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7952 Bethesda, MD 20892-7952 Telephone: (301) 435-0222 FAX: (301) 480-3557 Email: mary_reilly@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Jane Davis Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Two Rockledge Centre, Room 7174 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7926 Bethesda, MD 20892-7926 Telephone: (301) 435-0166 FAX: (301) 480-3310 Email: jane_davis@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATION This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers 93.837, 93.838, and 93.839. Awards are made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations at 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the american people. .
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