Notice Regarding Updates to the MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) Institutional Research Training (T34) Program

Notice Number: NOT-GM-14-116

Key Dates
Release Date: May 6, 2014

Related Announcements
PAR-13-205

Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

This Notice provides updates to the MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T34) Program (PAR-13-205). These are to: 1) define the program title, 2) clarify the students who belong to underrepresented groups in biomedical and behavioral sciences, and 3) provide new instructions on how to prepare the budget for MARC U-STAR T34 applications.

Update in the Program Title
The meaning of the MARC acronym is now defined as “Maximizing Access to Research Careers” to better reflect the intent of the MARC Program as stated in the FOA. Applicants and grantees should note that this update in the title does not reflect any change in either the overall purpose of the program or the eligibility of institutions who may apply for MARC support.

Clarify Underrepresented Groups
Any reference to students from underrepresented groups in the MARC FOA refers to students who belong to groups A, B and C as stated the NIH Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research Program.

New Instructions on How to Prepare the Budget

Effective immediately, NIGMS will no longer require the submission of the “PHS 398 Detailed Budget For Initial Budget Period” with MARC U-STAR T34 applications.  Applicants are only required to submit the PHS 398 Training Budget form (and PHS 398 Training Subaward Budget form, as applicable) according to the supplemental instructions for Kirschstein-NRSA training grant applications contained in the SF424(R&R) Application Guide.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Shawn Drew Gaillard, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Telephone: 301-594-3900
Email: Shawn.Gaillard@nih.gov