Key Dates

Related Announcements

• April 19, 2024 - Worta McCaskill-Stevens Career Development Award for Community Oncology and Prevention Research (K12). See PAR-24-153 
• April 11, 2022 - Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Optional). See PAR-22-136
• October 9, 2020 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). See PA-20-272

Issued by

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) announces support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the professional development of clinical scholars aiming to establish a career in research focused on malignancies in people with HIV (PWH) through an administrative supplement to an active NCI Institutional Career Development Award (K12). This NOSI will support one additional scholar appointment to active K12 awards currently supported by NCI. These scientists must be provided with career development research experiences, resources, and mentorship to foster a group of early career clinical Scholars conducting research focused on malignancies in PWH. This cadre of early career clinical Scholars must conduct research to improve the understanding of the risks, development, progression, diagnosis, and treatment of malignancies in PWH. 

Background

The NCI encourages research that advances our understanding of the epidemiology, pathobiology, and treatment of cancer in PWH. Additionally, the NCI encourages studies aimed at understanding the interplay between host factors and immune perturbations that occur as PWH age and develop cancer. This NOSI calls for NCI K12 programs to appoint an additional clinical scholar who seeks to identify specific contributions of HIV infection and its potential interaction with other oncogenic pathogens on the development and pathogenesis of cancer. Ultimately, such efforts could guide development of targeted screening approaches and therapies optimized for PWH. The proposed research project must be consistent with the HIV/AIDS Research Priorities outlined by NIH’s Office of AIDS Research (OAR).  

The purpose of this NOSI is therefore aligned with OAR priorities for HIV/AIDS research and is specifically launched to foster the career development of clinical researchers conducing cancer-focused research that addresses important gaps in knowledge for the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of cancer and cancer-related comorbidities among PWH.

NCI K12 programs must establish individualized career development plans to accommodate Scholars with different levels of prior research training/experience and assign two mentors to each Scholar with appropriate expertise such as a cancer care delivery researcher and a fundamental biology or clinical researcher with HIV/AIDS-related malignancy expertise. NCI K12 programs are expected to leverage the institution’s unique strengths in these oncology specialties and to incorporate the latest research and technology advancements in designing cutting-edge career development curricula. For the purposes of this announcement, institutions are encouraged to recruit prospective mentors and scholars from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities in its programs as described in the NOT-OD-20-031 .

Career Development Research Objectives

People with HIV are at higher risk for certain cancers than the general population with many factors thought to contribute to increased risk of HIV-associated malignancies, including chronic immunosuppression, chronic inflammation and “accelerated aging”. Through this NOSI, NCI will support research that falls within the NCI’s mission and specifically focuses on improving the understanding of cancer in PWH, co-infections that increase cancer risk, and other complications associated with a cancer diagnosis. The projects propose should improve the health outcomes of cancer patients with HIV and increase knowledge that can be translated into new diagnostic tools and medications for these individuals.

While not an exhaustive list, NCI encourages K12 Scholars research projects addressing the following in PWH and cancer:

• Identification of specific contributions of HIV infection and its potential interaction with other pathogens toward the development and pathogenesis of cancer;
• Research that provides clinical information on cancer screening, prevention, treatment, and outcomes;
• Research that identifies biological sex and gender identity differences across the cancer research and care continuum;
• Identification of ways to address disparities based on biological sex and gender identity to better screen, prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer;
• Research to understand how aging in the presence of chronic HIV infection affects the risk, spectrum, and biology of cancer;
• Research that examines social and behavioral factors that may impact quality of life in PWH and cancer;
• Other suggested areas of research as specified in Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research on HIV-associated Malignancies  NOT-CA-23-070.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following opportunity or its subsequent reissued equivalent.

• PA-20-272 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-20-272 must be followed, with the following additions:

Application Due Date(s):

• Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis, starting August 2, 2024, at any time prior to the NOSI expiration date (October 31, 2024) but should be received at least four (4) months prior to the requested start date. Applications will be funded using NCI/NIH FY25 budget allocations for HIV/AIDS research activities, pending the availability of funds.
• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-CA-24-081" (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4b) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4b are considered incomplete and will not be considered for this initiative.

Eligibility:

• Only existing award recipients of NCI K12 (active award funded previously under any NCI K12 funding opportunity) are eligible to apply. The supplement must comply with all K12 funding opportunity requirements.
• To be eligible, the parent award must be active (i.e., not be in an extension period), and the activities proposed for the supplement must be accomplished within the remaining active project period. A grant must have at least two years remaining, from the requested start date, to be eligible for this funding opportunity.

Award Project Period:

• Requests may be for up to two years of consecutive funding for each scholar, consisting of 12-month appointments.  Awards for the supplement applications are anticipated to be made shortly after the FY25 budget cycle date for the parent K12 award.

Additional Requirements:

• The one Scholar appointment must be named in the administrative supplement application.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the NCI program director assigned to the parent award that a request has been submitted in response to NOT-CA-24-081 in order to facilitate efficient processing of the request.
• Applicant organizations are permitted to submit only one administrative supplement application in response to this NOSI. The application should include only one named candidate Scholar for the supplement.
• The supplement application should meet the criteria listed in NOT-OD-20-018 and should specifically outline the HIV outcomes for the proposed work. If the NIH OAR does not deem an application as 100% aligned with the criteria in NOT-OD-20-018, the application will not be considered for funding.

R&R Budget, PHS 398 Training Budget:

Application budgets must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project with the following limitations.

• Scholar salaries can be requested up to $110,000 for 75% of full-time professional effort, in accordance with K-awardee salary guidelines, along with associated fringe benefits. Scholars are required to devote a minimum of 9 person-months (75% full-time professional effort) to the K12 program, except for those in surgical specialties, who can request a minimum of 6 person-months (50%) protected time for this program. A clear justification must be provided in the application when requesting less than 75% full-time professional effort (less than 9 person-months). Additional support may be requested for research-related activities detailed below.
• Scholar Research and Development Support: Up to $30,000 per individual Scholar may be requested for the following types of research-related expenses: (a) research expenses, such as supplies, equipment, and technical personnel; (b) tuition and fees related to required career development courses and activities; (c) travel to scientific meetings or training that the institution determines to be necessary for the individual’s career development experience; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time. These funds may be pooled for program-wide activities only if such activities support the career development of all Scholars. It is expected that the K12 Scholars will be working in a funded research environment and that support provided by the K12 administrative supplement will augment existing research support to the Scholar. These expenses must be itemized in Section F of the R&R Budget.
• Support for mentors is not an allowable budget item.
• The total amount budgeted per scholar must not exceed $140,000 direct costs per year.
• Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs (exclusive of tuition and fees, consortium costs in excess of $25,000, and expenditures for equipment), rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement.

Submitting Applications:

Instructions for Electronic Application Submission through Grants.gov: Use the “Apply” button(s) in Part I of the PA-20-272 program announcement to access the application forms package. Applicants are expected to select the appropriate forms package based on their awarded grant.

Prepare applications using the SF424 (R&R) forms associated with the chosen package. Please note that some forms marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this announcement. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate required and optional forms, with the following additional guidance:

Program Plan (may not exceed 12 pages):

• Background: Include a summary or abstract of the funded parent award project. Provide rationale for the proposed supplement program and its alignment with the main goals outlined in this NOSI.
• Research Program Plan: The proposed plan should align with the main goals outlined in this NOSI. Describe how the proposed project will contribute to the candidate Scholar's career goals and path to research independence. Present a timeline for career development activities and potential publications and grant applications for future support.
• Career Development Plan: Describe key activities of the candidate Scholar during the supplement, including mentored team science activities, didactic coursework (including formal degree programs if appropriate), and other activities. Describe how the proposed career development activities and experiences will enhance the candidate's clinical and translational science skills and prepare them for an independent research career.
• Mentoring Faculty: Provide information about the program faculty who will be involved in the supplement activities, including the complementary expertise and experiences, active research and other scholarly activities in which the faculty are engaged, as well as experience mentoring individuals at the proposed career stages. If any co-mentor is not located at the sponsoring institution, describe the frequency and type of communication that will be used to engage the scholar.  

Letters of Support: Attach appropriate letters from all individuals confirming their roles in the proposed supplement program. Include a signed letter, on institutional letterhead, that describes the applicant institution’s commitment to the planned proposed research project. The letter should provide assurance that the candidate Scholar will be able to devote a minimum of 9 person-months (75% full-time professional effort) to the supplement project. The letter should confirm that the candidate Scholar will be supported by the K12 if the supplement is funded. The letter should also identify the laboratories, centers, and other specialized institutional facilities that will be made available to the candidate Scholar for the research project.

Project/Performance Site Location form: Include the primary site where the proposed supplement activities will be performed. If a portion of the proposed supplement activities will be performed at any other site(s), identify the locations in the fields provided.

Senior/Key Person form:

• List the PD/PI as the first person (regardless of their role on the supplement activities).
• List Senior/Key Personnel who will be serving as members of the candidate Scholar's mentoring team.
• List the Scholar proposed to be added through this supplement. The candidate Scholar must have an eRA Commons account, and the Scholar's Commons Username must be entered in the Credential field.
• Biographical sketch, Senior/Key Personnel: Include a biographical sketch of the K12 PD/PI(s) and of each of the individuals who will compose the candidate Scholar's mentoring team. The personal statement of each individual who will serve on the Scholar's mentoring team should include a description of their specific role in mentoring the Scholar, how the mentoring will occur (e.g., frequency and mode), and how the Scholar's progress will be monitored during the supplement award period.
• Biographical sketch, Scholar: The personal statement of the candidate Scholar's biographical sketch should include a description of their research objectives and career goals, and why their experience and qualifications make them particularly well-suited to receive the supplement award focused on HIV/AIDS-related malignancies research training and career development. Relevant factors include previous training and research accomplishments in HIV/AIDS-related malignancies, and any source(s) of current funding.   

Budget forms: When using the R&R budget form, only include funds requested for the additional supplement activities.

R&R Other Project Information form, Facilities and Other Resources attachment: Describe how the scientific environment in which the career development activities will be done contributes to the probability of the candidate Scholar's success (e.g., institutional support, physical resources, and intellectual rapport).

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form: Complete this section if the candidate Scholar will design and conduct their own independent human subjects research. Approval by the reviewing human subjects Institutional Review Board (IRB) is required prior to award. If additional human subjects involvement is planned for the supplement component, adherence to the NIH policy for including women and minority health populations and populations with health disparities in clinical studies must also be ensured. 

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Raejean Hermansen, Ph.D.
Office of HIV and AIDS Malignancy
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Email: hermansr@mail.nih.gov

Nastaran Zahir, Ph.D.
Center for Cancer Training
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Email: nas.zahir@nih.gov