Notice of Modifications to PAR-16-361 Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (R25)

Notice Number: NOT-GM-17-003

Key Dates
Release Date: March 10, 2017

Related Announcements
PAR-16-361

Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to revise programmatic information, eligibility criteria, application instructions, and reporting requirements for PAR-16-361 “Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (R25)”. The summary of the modifications are as follows:

  • Updated Goals or Outcomes
  • Updated Award Information limiting personnel costs
  • Updated Eligibility Information for organizations, individuals, and participants
  • Updated Research Education Program Plan to include succession plan
  • Updated Funding Restrictions for unallowable costs
  • Updated Reporting Requirements to include tables

The following is detailed information about each of these modifications.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Goals or Outcomes

Current Language:
It is expected that the following objectives will be achieved:

  • An increase in the overall number of underrepresented (UR) students that complete a Ph.D. and continue biomedical research careers;
  • At least 50% of undergraduate (UG) and 75% of master’s RISE-supported students will enter a Ph.D. program within three years after graduation; and
  • At least 80% of RISE-supported Ph.D. students will complete the degree.

Revised Language:
It is expected that the following objectives will be achieved:

  • An increase in the overall number of underrepresented (UR) students that complete a Ph.D. and continue biomedical research careers;
  • At least 80% of RISE-supported undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. students will complete their degrees; and
  • At least 50% of undergraduate (UG) and 75% of master’s RISE-supported students will enter a Ph.D. program within three years after graduation, and 80% of them will complete their degrees.

NIGMS recognizes that there is heterogeneity in institutional context that may affect these targets, however we expect that RISE support will enhance graduation rates relative to general students in institutional contexts.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section II. Award Information

Other Award Budget Information

Personnel Costs

Current Language:
The total salary support for other administrative personnel (e.g., program administrator/program coordinator and/or program assistant) is limited to up to 6.0 person months (i.e., 50% on a 12-month basis), depending on person months devoted to the administration of the program, and depending on size and scope of the program.

Revised Language:
The combined total salary support for other administrative personnel (e.g., program administrator/program coordinator and/or program assistant), and the salary for any other single support position are limited to up to 6.0 person months (i.e., 50% on a 12-month basis), depending on person months devoted, and on the size and scope of the program.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Current Language:
This funding opportunity announcement is open to all institutions of higher learning that:
1) award science degrees to undergraduate (B.S. or B.A.) and/or graduate students (M.S./Ph.D.); and

2) have a historical mission statement that explicitly states that the institution was founded to educate students from any of the populations that have been identified as underrepresented in biomedical research as defined by the National Science Foundation NSF, see http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/) (i.e., African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, U.S. Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities); or

3)have a documented track record of recruiting, retaining, training, and graduating underrepresented students as defined by NSF (see above), which has resulted in the demonstrable outcome of increasing the institution's contribution to the national pool of graduates from underrepresented backgrounds who pursue biomedical research careers.

Revised Language:
This funding opportunity announcement is open to all institutions of higher learning that:
1) award science degrees to undergraduate (B.S. or B.A.) and/or graduate students (M.S./Ph.D.); and

2) have a historical mission statement that explicitly states that the institution was founded to educate students from any of the populations that have been identified as underrepresented in biomedical research as defined by the National Science Foundation NSF, see http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/) (i.e., African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, U.S. Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities); or

3) have a documented track record of recruiting, retaining, training, and graduating underrepresented students as defined by NSF (see above), which has resulted in the demonstrable outcome of increasing the institution's contribution to the national pool of graduates from underrepresented backgrounds who pursue biomedical research careers.
4) have received less than $6 million dollars per year from R01 and equivalent grant support (total costs) in each of the last two fiscal years.

Institutions supported by NIGMS IMSD programs are not eligible to apply for or receive RISE grants.
Similarly, IRACDA lead institutions are not eligible to apply for or receive RISE grants.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Current Language:
The PD/PI should be an established full-time faculty member with a strong record in research, training, and teaching and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required.

Revised Language:
The PD(s)/PI(s) must have a regular full-time appointment (i.e., not adjunct, part-time, retired, or emeritus) at the applicant institution. The PD(s)/PI(s) should also have a strong record in research, training, and teaching and be able to provide both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section III. Eligibility Information

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Participants

Current Language:
RISE participants are expected to be appointed to at least one consecutive 12-month appointment. On an annual basis, appointments for less than 12 months require prior written approval by NIGMS.

Revised Language:
RISE participants are expected to be appointed to at least one consecutive 12-month appointment. On an annual basis, appointments for less than 12 months require prior written approval by NIGMS.

Appointment of new participants is not allowed during no-cost extensions.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

SF424 (R&R) Other Project Information Component
Other Attachments.

Current Language:
Research Training Table 8D Part I is required to provide data on undergraduate student outcomes.  Please name your file "Table 8D.pdf"

Revised Language:
Research Training Table 8A Part I is required to provide data on graduate student outcomes. If the program has both M.S. and Ph.D. participants, list them in two separate tables. Please name your files "Table 8A MS.pdf" and/or “Table 8A PhD.pdf”.

Research Training Table 8D Part I is required to provide data on undergraduate student outcomes.  Please name your file "Table 8D.pdf".

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

PHS 398 Research Plan Component

Research Education Program Plan

Current Language:
Program Director/Principal Investigator. Describe arrangements for administration of the program.  Provide evidence that the Program Director/Principal Investigator is actively engaged in research and/or teaching in an area related to the mission of NIH, and can organize, administer, monitor, and evaluate the research education program. For programs proposing multiple PDs/PIs, describe the complementary and integrated expertise of the PDs/PIs; their leadership approach; and governance appropriate for the planned project. 

Revised Language:
Program Director/Principal Investigator. Describe arrangements for administration of the program. Provide evidence that the Program Director/Principal Investigator is actively engaged in research and/or teaching in an area related to the mission of NIH, and can organize, administer, monitor, and evaluate the research education program. For programs proposing multiple PDs/PIs, describe the complementary and integrated expertise of the PDs/PIs; their leadership approach; and governance appropriate for the planned project. All applicants must describe the administrative structure and leadership succession plan for critical positions (e.g., PD/PI).

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

PHS 398 Research Plan Component

Research Education Program Plan
Institutional Environment and Commitment.

Current Language:
Table A. Current Status of the Undergraduate and/or Graduate Biomedical Science-Related Academic Program

Revised Language:
Table A - Current Student Development and Research Training Programs

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section IV. Award Information

6. Funding Restrictions

Deleted the following information:
Add additional information about funding restrictions. If any of these restrictions become part of the terms of award, that must be stated in Section VI.1

Added the following information:

The following items are unallowable costs:

  • Faculty research mentors' time or effort compensation, if mentoring interactions and other activities with participants are considered a regular part of an individual's academic duties.
  • Undergraduate student tuition, housing, food, or recruitment expenses.
  • Graduate student housing, food, or recruitment expenses.
  • Undergraduate or graduate student support in the form of a stipend (note: stipend differs technically from salary/wages described above, which is allowable).
  • Support for either graduate or undergraduate students not matriculated at the applicant institution.
  • Costs for textbooks, incentives (including laptop computers), memberships, or subscriptions to Internet services or journals.
  • A summer stand-alone program for students not matriculated as full-time students at the applicant/grantee institution.
  • Costs of workshops or courses with a limited focus of preparation for a specific test, including GRE and MCAT.
  • Alterations and renovations.
  • Consortium/contractual arrangements.
  • Foreign travel by PD(s)/PI(s), faculty, coordinators, research mentors, other personnel or RISE participants.
  • Other prohibited costs. See NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section VI. Award Administration Information

3. Reporting

Added the following information:
Applicants must submit Data Tables 8A Part 1: Program Outcomes: Predoctoral and 8D Part 1: Program Outcomes:  Undergraduate, in Section G.1 of the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). 

Sample and table descriptions can be found at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/data-tables.htm

In addition, applicants should provide a summary of student participant outcomes in Section G.1 of the RPPR, and are encouraged to use Sample Format Table 1 for that purpose. Applicants must provide current year and cumulative numbers.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Luis Cubano, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Telephone: 301-594-3900
Email: [email protected]

Anissa J. Brown, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Telephone: 301-827-7311
Email: [email protected]