Notice Number: NOT-DA-06-013 - (See Notice NOT-DA-08-039 Salary Modification)

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

• December 23, 2010 - See Notice NOT-DA-11-005 Clarification of Use of the NIH Independent Scientist Award (K02) by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Key Dates
Release Date: September 20, 2006

Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov/)

Purpose

This Notice regarding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentored and Career Development Program Announcements (K Awards) replaces NOT-DA-05-005 and is intended to complement the policies of the Trans-NIH K-series funding opportunity announcements listed below. This Notice supersedes the NIDA Policy Updates released on August 5, 1999, October 28, 2004, and February 16, 2005. Prospective applicants should carefully follow all guidelines and procedures outlined in each funding opportunity announcement as well as the Research Career Award section of PHS 398 when preparing the application. Particular attention should be paid to the purpose of each award mechanism, eligibility requirements, research objectives, and review considerations. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate NIDA Research Training and Career Development Representative prior to submission of an application, see http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchTraining/Contacts.html for contact list.

This policy will go into effect as of the October 2006 submission receipt date.

The purpose of this Notice is to address NIDA-specific issues and considerations regarding the following NIH mechanisms:

PA-06-001 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K0l)
PA-06-527 Independent Scientist Award (K02)
PA-06-555 Senior Scientist Research and Mentorship Award (K05)
PA-06-512 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
PAR-02-076* Mentored Clinical Scientists Development Program Award (K12)
PA-05-143 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
PA-04-107 Mid-career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
PA-06-087 Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
PA-06-133 NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00)
*currently under revision

Mentored Career Development (K) Awards

The ultimate goal for all NIH mentored career (e.g., K01, K08, K12, K23, K25) awardees is to plan, submit, and receive independent research grant (e.g., R01) support. It is highly encouraged that the research is focused on a scientific area relevant to the mission of NIDA. Applicants must have full-time appointments at the applicant institution and be able to devote a minimum of 75% of full-time professional effort conducting the research and career development activities identified in the proposed application.

During the last two years of mentored career support, NIDA strongly encourages award recipients to apply for an NIH research grant (e.g., R01, R03, R21). This will allow award recipients to reduce the level of effort required for their mentored career award to no less than 50% and replace that support with funds from an NIH research grant or subproject, provided that the career award recipient remains in a mentored situation and is listed as the PI on the research grant application. This NIH policy will permit those mentored career award recipients who are ready to compete for NIH research grants to continue to benefit from the period of protected time to conduct research, which is offered by the mentored career award. For specific details regarding NIH policy on concurrent support from a mentored career award and a research grant, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-007.html.

NOTE: Regardless of the timing, when a research grant application is subsequently submitted to the NIH requesting support that overlaps with the period of mentored career award support, the award recipient must describe how the research and mentoring supported through the mentored career award will be modified. This should be reflected in the research grant application. The applicant also should describe how the mentored career award and the research grant applications are related, highlighting any areas of scientific overlap. Given that the R01 and several other research grant mechanisms follow modular budgetary guidelines, any budgetary overlap issues will need to be resolved with NIDA staff prior to award. The mentored career scholar may not receive salary as the Principal Investigator on a research grant prior to the last two years of the mentored career award. It is strongly encouraged that prospective applicants discuss these scientific and budgetary issues with NIDA Program staff prior to submitting a research grant application.

Individual Mentored Career Development Awards (K01, K08, K23, K25)

Salary and Support Structure:

This policy applies to all new (Type 1), competitive renewal (Type 2, as permitted only in exceptional situations), and all non-competitive renewal (Type 5) mentored career applications. The NIDA contribution to the principal investigator's salary for individual mentored Career Development awards (e.g., K01, K08, K23, K25) will be up to 100% of the Principal Investigator's institutional base annual salary, up to a maximum of $90,000. [Note: Salary allowance will be commensurate with the actual level of effort up to $90,000.]
Research Development Support:

NIDA allows for funds up to $50,000 annually per individual for K01, K08, K23, K25 awards for research-related costs - examples include supplies, equipment, technical personnel, travel, and statistical services.
Renewals:

Support for the mentored career awards (K01, K08, K23, K25) awards are limited to 1 term of 3 to 5 years and are further restricted to 1 mentored career award per individual. Renewals are not allowed, although certain exceptions will be considered; see section on ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXCEPTIONS TO THE MENTORED CAREER DEVELOPMENT (K) AWARDS POLICY.

Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (K12)

Salary and Support Structure:

This policy applies to all new (Type 1), competitive renewal (Type 2), and all non-competitive renewal (Type 5) K12 applications. The NIDA contribution to the principal investigator's salary for each K12 scholar will be up to 100% of the Principal Investigator's institutional base annual salary, up to a maximum of $90,000. [Note: Salary allowance will be commensurate with the actual level of effort up to $90,000.]
Research Development Support:

For each appointed K12 scholar, NIDA will allow for funds up to $50,000 annually for research-related costs--examples include supplies, equipment, technical personnel, travel, and statistical services.
Renewals:

Scholars may not submit a concurrent or subsequent application for any other NIDA career development award (e.g., K01, K08, K22, K23, K25, K99/R00) or any PHS award that duplicates any of the provisions of the K12 award; for exemptions, see section on ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXCEPTIONS TO THE MENTORED CAREER DEVELOPMENT (K) AWARDS POLICY.

NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00)

Salary, Support Structure, and Research Development Support are outlined at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-133.html.

Renewals:

The Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) will provide up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases. Renewals are not allowed.

Independent Scientist Award (K02)

Salary and Support Structure:

This policy applies to all new (Type 1), competitive renewals (Type 2), and non-competitive renewal (Type 5) applications. The NIDA contribution to the principal investigator's salary on the K02 and K05 will be 75% of the Principal Investigator's institutional base annual salary, up to a maximum of $90,000.

Research Support:

For most K02 awards, NIDA does not provide funds for research support. However, up to $25,000 in research support can be obtained for predominantly theoretical work, such as modeling or computer simulation.

Renewal:

The Independent Scientist Award (K02) is renewable 1 time only.

Mid-career Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K24)

Salary and Support Structure:

This policy applies to all new (Type 1), competitive renewals (Type 2), and non-competitive renewal (Type 5) applications. As described in the general funding opportunity announcement, the Principal Investigator must commit to 25 - 50% of full-time professional effort to patient-oriented research and mentoring. The actual salary provided by NIDA will be determined by two factors: (1) level of effort and (2) full-time, 12-month institutional salary up to the maximum legislated salary rate in effect at the time of award. Note that based on both of these factors, the NIDA contribution will not exceed $90,000 per year.

Research Development Support:

NIDA will provide up to $50,000 for K24 awards for research-related support, such as supplies, equipment, technical personnel, travel, and statistical services.

Renewals:

The Mid-career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) is renewable 1 time only.

Senior Scientist Award (K05)

This policy will be in effect as of the October 2006 submission date:

There will be a limit of 1 renewal (up to 5 years) for all K05 applicants. For those K05 awardees who have already received 1 or more renewals, no further renewal applications will be considered. Current awards will terminate at their expected end date.

Providing mentorship will be required in K05 applications to be considered responsive for all new (Type 1) and competitive renewals (Type 2). In addition, K05 awardees must list and describe mentorship activities in annual progress reports. The description of mentees should include information about application/receipt of federal and non-federal research grant support, disciplines and specialties, position, and whether they are interdisciplinary (across the broad areas of clinical, basic science, translational, or health services research), which will function as an intermittent review for non-competitive renewals (Type 5) by NIDA Program staff.

New (Type 1) K05 applicants: in order to be considered responsive, applicants must have peer-reviewed, independent research support from any federal agency at the time of application submission. At the time of renewal, in order to be considered responsive, K05 applicants must have been awarded a NIDA-funded research grant (R01), center grant, P01, or cooperative agreement. The only exception is for NIDA-funded scientists whose work is primarily theoretical.

Note: Applications submitted by former K05 awardees from other NIH Institutes who come in new (Type 1) to NIDA will be subject to the same responsiveness criteria and guidelines as other new K05 applications.

Salary and Support Structure:

This policy applies to all new (Type 1), competitive renewals (Type 2), and non-competitive renewal (Type 5) applications. The NIDA contribution to the principal investigator's salary on the K05 will be 75% of the Principal Investigator's institutional base annual salary, up to a maximum of $90,000.
Research Support:

For most K05 awards, NIDA does not provide funds for research support. However, K05 applications from scientists performing predominantly theoretical research (e.g., modeling, computer simulation) may request funds up to $25,000 per year in research-related and/or mentoring support costs.

Renewals:

There will be a limit of 1 renewal (up to 5 years) for all K05 applicants.

ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXCEPTIONS TO THE MENTORED CAREER DEVELOPMENT (K) AWARDS POLICY

In exceptional circumstances, exemptions to the 5-year limit (1 full term) may be considered and approved provided that the aggregate total of NIH mentored career awards support does not exceed 6 years. NIDA will only consider as exceptional circumstances those in which a significant change in the field of study has occurred, such as moving from physical science to life science research, or from engineering to behavioral research; or when there has been a significant hiatus in the research career because of family or other personal reasons. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis with concurrence of the NIDA Research Training Committee obtained prior to application submission and a statement describing the circumstances must be included in a cover letter to the application. A list of Program staff on the NIDA Research Training Committee (RTC) to identify a contact in the research area for consideration of eligibility can be found at http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchTraining/Contacts.html.

1) Formalized Eligibility Review Process for Subsequent Mentored Career Awards

a) Prior Eligibility Approval: A prospective mentored career development (K) applicant, who has held a previous individual mentored career award or who has been a mentored scholar on a K12 award, must undergo a prior NIDA Eligibility Review (see below). If approval is granted, the prospective applicant needs to state in a cover letter to the application that it was approved by the NIDA Research Training Committee for review consideration. Otherwise, an application will be considered non-responsive and will be returned to the applicant without consideration.

b) NIDA Eligibility Review: Applicants will provide justification for the request to the RTC. After a full eligibility review, which includes the questions the RTC will address as outlined below, if RTC concurrence is obtained, NIDA staff will convey the recommendation to the NIDA Referral Officer, the NIDA Program Official, and the prospective applicant. Applicants for an eligibility review are strongly encouraged to initiate the process at least 2 months before the application receipt date.

2) Eligibility Review Consideration Questions

a) If the reason given for submitting a new mentored career application is a change in field: Is it a substantial change in the field of study?
b) If the reason given for the new mentored career application is a hiatus: Has the field changed significantly?
c) Has the prospective applicant written a compelling justification for transitioning to another mentored career development (K) award, including what research objectives they have accomplished and what they hope to accomplish under the subsequent mentored K award?
d) Is the timeline outlined to obtain research independence reasonable, giving consideration to the combination of prior support and the new requested period of additional support?

Inquiries

Below are the names of the NIDA staff to obtain further information:

NIDA Research Training and Career Development Coordinators:

Susan Weiss, Ph.D.
Coordinator, NIDA Research Training Committee
Office of Science Policy and Communications
(301) 443-6071
(301) 480-2485 (fax)
E-mail: [email protected]

Suman Rao King, Ph.D.
Deputy Coordinator, NIDA Research Training Committee
Office of Science Policy and Communications
(301) 443-6071
(301) 480-2485 (fax)
E-mail: [email protected]

Scientific Review Administrator:

Office of Extramural Affairs
Eliane Lazar-Wesley, Ph.D.
(301) 451-4530
(301) 443-0538 (fax)
E-mail: [email protected]

Grants Management Officer:

Catherine Mills
Grants Management Officer
(301) 443-6710
(301) 594-6849 (fax)
E-mail:[email protected]