NIBIB POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING GRANT (T32) 
APPLICATIONS
 
RELEASE DATE:  August 21, 2003

NOTICE:  NOT-EB-03-010

(See Replacement Notice NOT-EB-07-005)

National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
 (http://www.nibib.nih.gov/) 

The mission of the NIBIB is to improve health by supporting and 
conducting interdisciplinary research and training in biomedical 
imaging and bioengineering.  This is achieved through supporting the 
development and translation of emerging technologies that enable 
fundamental biomedical discoveries and facilitate early disease 
detection and management.  More specifically, the NIBIB plans, conducts 
and supports an integrated and coordinated program of research and 
research training that can be applied to an individual or to a broad 
spectrum of biological processes, disorders, and diseases and across 
organ systems.  The research promoted and supported by the NIBIB is 
strongly synergistic with the other NIH Institutes and Centers as well 
as across government agencies, and has the potential for direct 
positive medical application.  Ultimately, the NIBIB seeks to translate 
research findings from the laboratory into practical solutions that 
will benefit the public health.

This notice provides guidance on the NIBIB policies and procedures for 
the NIH National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training 
Grants (T32).  A primary objective of the NIBIB interdisciplinary 
training program is to support the development of predoctoral and 
postdoctoral scientists in areas of research related to biomedical 
imaging and bioengineering.  To achieve this goal, the NIBIB seeks the 
highest caliber trainees for support on funded T32 applications.  

For full details on the NIH Institutional Training Grant (T32), please 
refer to the full program announcement at: 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-109.html).  This 
notice is not intended to replace the NIH T32 program announcement, but 
to elaborate further on NIBIB-specific policies and procedures.

NIBIB APPLICATION GUIDELINES: 

Because of the inter-disciplinary nature of biomedical imaging and 
bioengineering research, the NIBIB encourages applications that are 
cross-disciplinary and involve multiple departments.  It is incumbent 
upon the applicant to demonstrate how the proposed program addresses a 
need in the bioengineering/biomedical imaging research community and 
how the program will provide a solid training ground for tomorrow's 
biomedical imaging and bioengineering researchers.

Length of Training Experience:  NIH guidelines 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-109.html) encourage 
at least a 2-year training experience for any given trainee appointed 
to a T32 institutional training grant.  The NIBIB also encourages a 
postdoctoral training program that provides 2 years of support for any 
given candidate, however, recognizes this may not be feasible for all 
potential training candidates.  The NIBIB will allow applications 
proposing a 1-year postdoctoral training experience for medical 
residents; however, these applications must clearly justify how the 
proposed 1-year postdoctoral training program will provide a sufficient 
training experience that will encourage clinicians to remain in 
academic medicine and research.  All applications proposing predoctoral 
training should propose a minimum 2-year training experience for any 
given candidate.

Receipt Dates: Starting with the September 10, 2003 receipt date, the 
NIBIB will accept applications proposing a mix of predoctoral and 
postdoctoral training candidates within the same training grant 
application.  All application types (predoctoral, postdoctoral or 
mixed) will be accepted for all three receipt dates: September 10, 
January 10, and May 10 annually. 

Application Review:  Starting with the May 10, 2003 receipt date, all 
T32 applications will undergo initial peer evaluation by a review group 
organized by the NIBIB.  For review questions, please contact Dr. David 
George (contact information provided below).

Slots Guidelines: Applicants are encouraged to request the number of 
training slots deemed appropriate for the proposed training program.  
However, in general, the NIBIB will not fund more than 8 slots steady 
state.  Exceptions to this policy may be made and will depend on a 
number of factors, including initial review evaluation and priority 
score, availability of funds, and size of the candidate recruitment 
pool.

Special Budget Requirements:  Individuals should refer to the full NIH 
T32 program announcement for guidance on what costs are allowable in 
proposing an application 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-109.html).

o Travel: In addition, the NIBIB requests that the applicants include 
funds for travel to an annual NIBIB Inter-Disciplinary Training Program 
workshop in the Bethesda, MD area.  Specifically, travel should be 
included for the training grant program director and up to 4 trainees.

o Program Assessment and Evaluation: An evaluation plan should be 
provided for determining the performance of the processes and outcomes 
of the proposed training program.  This plan should include parameters 
and criteria that will be used to evaluate the program.

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATIONS REQUESTING $500,000 OR MORE PER 
YEAR: Applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any 
year must include a cover letter identifying the NIH staff member 
within one of NIH institutes or centers who has agreed to accept 
assignment of the application.   

Applicants requesting more than $500,000 must carry out the following 
steps:
   
1) Contact the IC program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the 
application, i.e., as you are developing plans for the study; 

2) Obtain agreement from the IC staff that the IC will accept your 
application for consideration for award; and,
  
3) Identify, in a cover letter sent with the application, the staff 
member and IC who agreed to accept assignment of the application.  

This policy applies to all investigator-initiated new (type 1), 
competing continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended 
or revised version of these grant application types. Additional 
information on this policy is available in the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts, October 19, 2001 at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-004.html. 

Individuals interested in the NRSA Institutional Training Grant (T32) 
program are strongly encouraged to contact NIBIB staff prior to 
preparing an application.

The following are NIBIB contacts:

Direct inquiries regarding scientific and programmatic issues to:

Meredith D. Temple-O'Connor, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Division of Interdisciplinary Training
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
National Institutes of Health/DHHS
6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 200, MSC 5477
Bethesda, MD 20892 (20817 for FedEx, UPS, and other courier services
Telephone: 301-451-4792
Fax: 301-480-4973
Email: templem@mail.nih.gov 

Direct inquiries regarding review matters to:

David T. George, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
National Institutes of Health/DHHS
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 920, MSC 5469
Bethesda, MD  20892-5469 (20817 for FedEx, UPS, and other courier 
services)
Voice: (301) 496-8633
Fax: (301) 480-0675
Email: GeorgeD@nih.gov 

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Florence Turska
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
National Institutes of Health/DHHS
6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 900, MSC 5469
Bethesda, MD  20892 (20817 for FedEx, UPS, and other courier services
Telephone:  (301) 496-9314
FAX:  (301) 480-4974
Email:  ft7p@nih.gov

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