NOT-GM-08-127: NIGMS Will Consider Support of More Than One Position by Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (PA-08-190)

NIGMS Will Consider Support of More Than One Position by Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (PA-08-190)

Notice Number: NOT-GM-08-127

Key Dates
Release Date: July 9, 2008

Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), (http://www.nigms.nih.gov/)

NIGMS-supported investigators are hereby notified that NIGMS will consider the support of more than one graduate student or postdoctoral fellow on a grant when requests are made in response to the NIH Program Announcement PA-08-190 Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research [http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-190.html].

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research is a program designed to improve the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting individuals from underrepresented groups in biomedical research. Previously NIH investigators have been encouraged to recruit more than one high school or undergraduate student for support by a supplemental award. However, at career levels beyond undergraduate training, a parent grant typically supported only one individual on a supplement. In keeping with a recent National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council recommendation and the latest NIH Program Announcement, NIGMS-supported investigators are hereby notified that requests for the support of more than one graduate student or postdoctoral fellow per grant will be considered. A separate supplement application for each candidate is required. The support of more than one graduate student or postdoctoral fellow on a supplement may be especially important when interim support is needed to give these candidates a chance to apply for a National Research Service Award (either an NIH Pre-doctoral Fellowship or an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship).

Applicants are reminded that this program was designed to attract individuals from underrepresented groups into research careers and is not intended to provide an alternative or additional means of supporting individuals who already receive support from an NIH research grant, an NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA), or any other DHHS funding mechanism. Graduate students or individuals in postdoctoral training who are supported by an Institutional NRSA may not be transferred to supplemental support prior to the completion of their appointed period of training. The appointment to a single grant of more than one individual above the high school or undergraduate level depends on the nature of the parent grant, the circumstances of the request, and the program balance of NIGMS. Applicants will be required to provide information on how well previously supported minority students and postdoctoral fellows have done toward achieving their career goals.

Inquiries

Since awards are based on the current programmatic needs of the institute, investigators are strongly recommended to contact their program administrators in NIGMS before applying for supplements. Applications must be submitted directly to the coordinator of this program in NIGMS, Dr. John Whitmarsh. The decision to fund a supplement will take approximately ten weeks from receipt of a completed application.

John Whitmarsh, Ph.D.
Special Assistant to the Director
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institutes of Health
45 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Phone: (301) 451 6446
whitmarj@nigms.nih.gov