Key Dates

Related Announcements

• June 29, 2023 - Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-23-189

Issued by

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers.

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)

Purpose

This Notice encourages eligible awardees in the BRAIN Initiative community to apply for administrative supplements in response to PA-23-189, Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The NIH has a strong interest in the diversity of the NIH-funded workforce (see NOT-OD-20-031) and encourages institutions to prioritize inclusion by supporting the participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences.

The NIH BRAIN Initiative recognizes that teams comprised of individuals with a diversity of experiences and perspectives that work together often outperform homogeneous teams. There are many benefits that flow from a diverse scientific workforce, including fostering scientific innovation, enhancing global competitiveness, contributing to robust learning environments, improving the quality of the research, advancing the likelihood that underserved populations participate in, and benefit from research, and enhancing public trust (see NOT-OD-20-031). The BRAIN Initiative is firmly committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the research community. BRAIN investigators should strive to compose teams richly diverse in perspectives, backgrounds, and academic disciplines, and provide full opportunity for potential participation to individuals and groups underrepresented in neuroscience (see BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision, BRAIN 2.0: From Cells to Circuits, Toward Cures, and BRAIN 2.0 Neuroethics: Enabling and Enhancing Neuroscience Advances for Society). Relatedly, the recruitment of diverse research participants and the inclusion of community perspectives ensures that research questions are informed by patient and family perspectives and that the benefits of research have wide applicability. The Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research offers an opportunity for BRAIN awardees to request additional funds to train and mentor future researchers, including those from underrepresented groups, who will contribute to advancing the goals of the BRAIN Initiative.

The program also aligns and bridges to the Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) for BRAIN Initiative research programs. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) of active BRAIN Initiative research program grants are encouraged to identify eligible individuals across the career development pipeline (from high school students to the faculty level) under the auspices of this administrative supplement. The research activities proposed in the supplement application must fall within the scope of the parent grant. Proposed career development activities should be appropriate for the career stage of the supplement candidate and should demonstrate both a strong commitment by the mentor and a clear path forward for the candidate. All applications must include a signed statement from an institutional official establishing eligibility of the candidate for the program, including information about citizenship of the candidate, and a description of how the appointment of the candidate would further the goals of the program, consistent with NOT-OD-20-031, "Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity". BRAIN Initiative PDs/PIs are strongly encouraged to incorporate research activities that will help prepare the supplement candidate to conduct research relevant to the goals of the BRAIN Initiative (see BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision, BRAIN 2.0: From Cells to Circuits, Toward Cures, and BRAIN 2.0 Neuroethics: Enabling and Enhancing Neuroscience Advances for Society). advance the proposed specific aims and are integral to equity and inclusion in the science being performed.

Before submitting an application, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Program Official for the parent grant or the contact listed below to confirm eligibility and to obtain technical assistance.

Description of circumstances for which administrative supplements are available.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following opportunity or any reissue of this announcement.

• PA-23-189 - Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-23-189 must be followed, with the following additions:

• Applications are accepted on a continuing basis throughout the year up until November 30, 2026.
• For funding consideration, applicants must include NOT-AA-23-020 in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.
• Only existing awardees of NIH BRAIN Initiative program are eligible to apply.
• A parent award may support more than one individual on a supplement; however, each request must be strongly justified and include assurances that each candidate will receive appropriate mentoring. Note that a separate supplement request is required for each candidate, and that the merit of each application will be reviewed independently. Each training and mentoring plan must specifically address the unique needs, strengths and weaknesses of the individual candidate.
• Supplement requests under this Notice will undergo administrative evaluation by NIH BRAIN Initiative staff from across the participating NIH Institutes. All applications are reviewed by Program staff to assess the scope of the planned activities, and their scientific merit and training potential.
• Research Supplement awards under PA-23-189 cannot be used to expand the scope of the parent grant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the program contact at the Institute supporting the parent award that a request has been submitted in response to this FOA in order to facilitate efficient processing of the request. For additional guidance, see Supplemental Information for Diversity Supplements to BRAIN Initiative Awards, https://braininitiative.nih.gov/research/training-inclusion-and-equity/training-program
• Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Ivana Grakalic, Ph.D.
National Institute Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the BRAIN Initiative
Telephone: 301-443-7600
Email: [email protected]