Full Text HL-97-008
 
NHLBI SHORT-TERM RESEARCH TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS PROGRAM
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 14, May 2, 1997
 
RFA: HL-97-008
 
P.T. 44, FF

Keywords: 
  Biomedical Research Training 
  Blood Diseases 
  Cardiovascular Diseases 
  Pulmonary Diseases 
  Sleep Disorders 

 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  July 1, 1997
Application Receipt Date:  August 25, 1997
 
PURPOSE
 
This program provides short-term research support to minority
underrepresented undergraduate students, graduate students, and
students in health professional schools to provide them with career
opportunities in cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases,
and sleep disorders research.  The grant provides training
experiences of 2-3 consecutive months and exposes talented students
to the various possibilities in pursuing a biomedical research
career.
 
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,
Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program, is related to the
priority areas of Heart Disease and Stroke, Tobacco, Educational and
Community-Based Programs, Environmental Health, Maternal and Infant
Health, Diabetes and Chronic Disabling Diseases, and HIV Infection.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full
Report: Stock No. 017-001- 00474-1) through or "Healthy People 2000"
(Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C. 20402-9325 (telephone: 202-783-3238).
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Applicant Institutions
 
Domestic non-federal private or public nonprofit institutions or
organizations engaged in health related research may apply for
grants.  The applicant institution must have the available research
facilities, personnel, and support for the program in either the
cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic diseases or sleep disorders
area.  Minority institutions with adequate staff and resources in
these research areas are encouraged to apply.  Only one application
per health professional school may be submitted for a given receipt
date and a health professional school may have only one active NHLBI
Short-Term Training  for Minority Students award at any time.
 
Trainees
 
The grantee institution will be responsible for the selection and
appointment of trainees.  Underrepresented minority students are
defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial
group that has been determined by the grantee institution to be
underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research.  In making
awards, NHLBI may give priority to those programs involving Black,
Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander or
other ethnic or racial group members who have been found to be
underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research nationally.
 
Trainees should have successfully completed at least one
undergraduate year at an accredited school or university (including
baccalaureate schools of nursing) or have successfully completed one
semester at a school of medicine, optometry, osteopathy, dentistry,
veterinary medicine, pharmacy or public health or an institution with
an accredited graduate program, prior to participating in the short
term training program.  These grants are intended to introduce
students to research that would not otherwise be available through
their regular course of studies.  For graduate students, this may
include students in programs such as mathematics, where they would
not normally be exposed to biomedical research, or students who may
need a specialized research experience to supplement their normal
education. Individuals holding Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M. or equivalent
doctoral degrees in the health sciences are not eligible.
 
Trainees must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United
States, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residency
(i.e., in possession of the Alien Registration Receipt Card) at the
time of appointment.  Individuals on temporary or student visas are
not eligible.
 
Trainees need not be affiliated with the applicant institution.  The
applicant's program can be designed to include research experiences
for minority individuals at the applicant institution but applicants
are strongly encouraged to propose a program that includes a number
of individuals from other institutions, schools, colleges or
universities.  The only requirement for student selection is that the
trainees fulfill the above referenced eligibility requirements.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National
Research Service Award Short-Term Research Training grant (T35)
mechanism.  Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution
of the proposed training program will be solely that of the
applicant.  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.  Facilities
and administrative 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, 1998.
 
Institutions may request support for at least four but not more than
24, short-term trainees per year.  The requested number of short-term
trainees must be justified in the application.  Trainees may be
minority undergraduate, graduate, or health professional students.
The stipend level for trainees is $958 per month.  Stipends may be
supplemented from non-federal funds.  Training-related expenses up to
$125 per month per trainee may be requested.  In addition, up to $250
per month per trainee may be requested to cover the cost of housing
at the training site.  Trainee tuition and fees, where necessary to
the research training, must be covered by the Training Related
Expenses.
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 
Background
 
There is a need for minority students to participate in research
activities to develop their investigative talents and increase the
pool of accomplished minority biomedical investigators.  In 1991, 108
Ph.D.s in the natural sciences were awarded to Blacks.  Academic
positions totaled 1177 Blacks (1.7%)  and 1113 Hispanics  (1.6%) in
the life sciences out of a total of 69,122 individuals.  In medical
schools, there were 1748 Black (2.3%) and 2087 Hispanic (2.8%)
faculty members in 1993.  Blacks represented 7.4% of the total
enrollment in medical schools in 1993.  Although there is strong
interest in the scientific community in attracting minority students
into research careers, few minority students opt for science degrees
and research careers, and few minority graduates of health
professional schools go on to investigative careers.  The shortage of
qualified minority investigators in research positions may even
exacerbate the situation due to a lack of visible role models for
students.
 
There are existing programs at the National Institutes of Health that
are designed to answer the need for more minority investigators.
These include the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, the
Minority Access to Research Careers Program, the NHLBI Minority
Institutional Research Training Grant, Predoctoral Fellowship Awards
for Minority Students, Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
for Minority Faculty, Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research
Scientist Development Award, and the Minority Investigator Research
Supplement Program.  Although these programs are successful in
meeting their specific objectives and career development goals, the
need to attract minority students to research careers continues to
exist. This NHLBI Short-Term Training for Minority Students program
is designed to provide opportunities for underrepresented minority
students at the undergraduate and graduate level to become exposed to
biomedical research in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary,
and hematologic diseases and sleep disorders through a short-term
research experience.
Within NHLBI, the term "hematologic" covers research on thrombosis
and hemostasis, immunohematology, blood cell disorders, sickle cell
disease, 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 and the lymphocirculatory system.
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.
 
Program Elements
 
Each institution is invited to develop an application that is best
suited to its own strengths and characteristics.  Applicant
institutions need not propose a program that encompasses all types of
students, i.e., undergraduate, graduate, and health professional
students, but specific types of students should not be excluded
without careful consideration and justification.  The goal is to
identify a cadre of minority students with the potential to pursue
careers in biomedical and biobehavioral research in the areas of
heart, lung, blood diseases, transfusion medicine, and sleep
disorders, and provide the students with a research training
experience that may stimulate interest in pursuing a research career.
If the proposed area of research is not obviously related to the
areas indicated, the principal investigator should explain the
benefits of training students in areas not within the mission of the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The training program
director and participating faculty should have a demonstrated record
of success in conducting research and in working with research
trainees.  Each application should describe a plan for widely
advertising the program to ensure active competition for
appointments.  Special attention should be given to the recruitment
of individuals from minority groups that now are underrepresented
nationally in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, i.e., Blacks,
Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders.
The strategy for recruitment is left to the discretion of the
applicant institution.
 
The overall training is not restricted to activities in a single
discipline or department but should be centered on research
activities in the areas of cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic
diseases, and sleep disorders.  The choice of participating training
sites and mentors should be carefully described, to show that the
institution's best environments and role models have been selected.
It is expected that students will be assigned to the institution's
strongest research and training programs, which may involve basic or
clinical research or a combination of both.  For those training
programs that include undergraduate students, emphasis should be on
providing an interesting, informative, inspiring, and stimulating
research experience with close supervision in a nurturing
environment.  At the end of the research experience, the
undergraduate students may be required to write a paper or present a
poster of their research endeavors.  More rigorous intellectual
endeavors, such as research presentations, should be carefully
considered, depending on the enthusiasm and talent of the individual
trainee.
 
Each institution will be expected to encourage among the trainees a
sense of belonging to a community of scientists.  Among the methods
that may be used is providing a special seminar series, addressing
such topics as research methodology, instrumentation, experimental
design, grantsmanship, research ethics, scientific publications, etc.
A plan for evaluating the impact of the program on the institution
and the trainee is required.
 
Grants will be awarded to support no fewer than 4, and not more than
24 trainees per budget period, based on a full-time three month
appointment.  A trainee may be appointed for a minimum of two months
and a maximum of three months during a budget period; however,
institutions are encouraged to appoint a trainee for more than one
budget period, e.g., two or more successive summer research
experiences.  A student may be appointed, in special circumstances,
to more than one 3-month period during a budget period, provided
prior approval is obtained from the staff of the NHLBI.  All research
training must be full-time during the specific training sequence.  It
is expected that most programs will be designed to provide a summer
research experience but other innovative program designs and time
schedules will be considered.
 
Authority:
 
Under authority of Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act as
amended (42 USC 288), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
awards National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Training
Students in Health Professional Schools (STSHPS) institutional
grants.  These grants, by supporting short-term research training
experiences of two to three consecutive months, expose talented
students in health professional schools to the opportunities inherent
in a research career.  The Short-Term Training for Minority Students
program is based on the STSHPS program and is designed to help
ameliorate the shortage of minority biomedical and biobehavioral
investigators in the areas of heart, lung, and blood diseases and
sleep disorders by attracting minority students in their
developmental stages, increasing their awareness of heart, blood
vessel, lung, blood diseases, transfusion medicine,  and sleep
disorders and acquainting them with career opportunities in
biomedical and behavioral research.
 
LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by July 1, 1997, a letter
of intent that includes the name, address, and telephone number of
the Program Director, 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 NIH 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
 
Submit applications on Form PHS-398 (Rev. 5/95), Application for
Public Health Service Grant, using the Institutional National
Research Service Award substitution pages NN-PP.  This form is
available at the applicant institution's office of sponsored
research. An application may also be obtained from the NIH Office of
Extramural Research (301-710-0267; E-mail:
asknih@odrockm1.od.nih.gov).  When submitting the application,
identify the NHLBI Short-Term Training for NHLBI Minority Students
Program, on the face page in item 1, and the RFA number HL-97-008 in
item 2.
 
Special supplemental instructions for preparing the application are
included in the full program guidelines.  Applicants must contact the
appropriate individual listed under the inquiries section for a copy
of these guidelines prior to preparation of the application.
 
Send the completed application and four (4) signed exact photocopies
by the announced receipt date (August 25, 1997) 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)
 
One additional copy of the application must be sent to:
 
Dr. C. James Scheirer
Chief, Review Branch
NHLBI Research Training Review Special Emphasis Panel
Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7924
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7924
Telephone: (301) 435-0288
FAX: (301) 480-3541
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
All applications responding to this announcement will be reviewed for
scientific and technical merit by the Research Training Review
Special Emphasis Panel of the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI,
followed by a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Advisory Council.
 
Review Criteria
 
The factors to be considered in the evaluation of the proposed
training program are:
 
Design of the proposed training program;
 
Qualifications, dedication, and previous training record of the
program director and participating faculty;
 
Adequacy of facilities, environment, grant support, and other
resources for the proposed research training;
 
Feasibility of proposed methods of recruiting, selecting and
assigning minority students;
 
Commitment of the institution and participating faculty to the
objectives of the training program;
 
Procedures for evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and the
impact of the program on the students involved and its impact on the
institution; and
 
Plans for tracking students.
 
PROVISIONS OF THE AWARD
 
Period of Support
 
Institutions applying for a new or a competitive renewal Short-Term
Training for Minority Students grant may request up to five years of
support.  The earliest start date is May 1.
 
Trainee Expenses
 
The stipend level for trainees is $958 per month.  Stipends may be
supplemented by an institution from non-Federal funds.  No Federal
funds may be used for stipend supplementation unless specifically
authorized under the terms of the program from which the supplemental
funds are derived.  Under no circumstances may the conditions of
stipend supplementation detract from or prolong the training.
 
Trainee Related Expenses
 
Up to $125 per month for each participating student may be requested
to defray other costs of training, such as staff salaries, consultant
costs, research supplies, etc.  Trainee tuition and fees, where
necessary to the research training, must be covered by the Training
Related Expenses.
 
Trainee Travel Expenses
 
Up to $500 per year per trainee may be requested to cover domestic
trainee travel to and from the training site.  In addition, up to
$250 per month per trainee may be requested to cover housing costs
for trainees.
 
Facilities and Administrative (Indirect) Costs
 
Facilities and administrative (indirect) costs for short-term
training grants will be reimbursed at 8 percent of total allowable
direct costs.
 
Trainee Reporting Requirements
 
A Statement of Appointment form (PHS 2271, rev.1/95) must be
submitted at the start of each trainee appointment and reappointment.
Individuals supported under this program are not required to sign an
NRSA Payback Agreement or submit an NRSA Termination Notice.
Applicants for competitive renewal applications will be required to
provide information concerning past trainees in the program, the
accomplishments of the program, trainee publications, and whether
students supported by the program have pursued research careers.
 
Other Terms and Conditions
 
Except as modified by this announcement, the terms and conditions in
the National Research Service Awards, Guidelines for Individual
Awards - Institutional Grants (January 6,1984), as amended, will be
applicable to grants made under this program.
 
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
 
Special supplemental instructions for preparing the application are
included in the full Program Guidelines.  Applicants must contact the
appropriate individual listed below for a copy of these guidelines
prior to preparation of the application.
 
Michael Commarato, Ph.D. or Beth Schucker, M.A.
Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7940
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7940
Telephone: (301) 435-0530
FAX: (301) 480-1454
Internet Address: michael_commarato@nih.gov or
beth_schucker@nih.gov
 
Mary Reilly, M.S. or Ann Rothgeb
Division of Lung Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7952
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7952
Telephone: (301) 435-0222
FAX: (301) 480-3557
Internet Address: mary_reilly@nih.gov or ann_rothgeb@nih.gov
 
Joyce Creamer, MBA or Bette Houston
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7950
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7950
Telephone: (301) 435-0064
FAX: (301) 480- 0146
Internet Address: joyce_creamer@nih.gov or
bette_houston@nih.gov
 
Thomas Blaszkowski, Ph.D.
Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7838
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7838
Telephone: (301) 435-0433
FAX: (301) 480-1455
Internet Address: thomas_blaszkowski@nih.gov
 
James P. Key, Ph.D.
National Center for Sleep Disorders Research
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7920
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7920
Telephone: (301) 435-0199
FAX: (301) 480-3451
Internet Address: james_kiley@nih.gov
 
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
 
William W. Darby
Grants Operations Branch, Heart Section
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7926
Telephone:  (301) 435-0177
FAX: (301) 480-3310
Internet Address:  william_darby@nih.gov
 
Raymond L. Zimmerman
Grants Operations Branch, Lung Section
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926
Bethesda, MD 20892-7926
Telephone: (301) 435-0171
FAX: (301) 480-3310
Internet Address:  raymond_zimmerm@nih.gov
 
Jane Davis
Grants Operations Branch, Blood Section
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7926
Telephone: (301) 435-0166
FAX: (301) 480-3310
Internet Address:  jane_davis@nih.gov
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance numbers 93.837, 93.838, 93.839 and 93.231.  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 102-277, 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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