Notice Number: NOT-GM-20-007
Key Dates
Release Date: November 27, 2019
PAR-19-299
Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Purpose
The purpose of this Notice is to clarify the application instructions for multiple PDs/PIs and the appropriate placement and description of suggested tables in applications submitted to PAR-19-299 “Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program (T34)”.
The following is detailed information about the modifications to the FOA.
Part 2. Section IV. Application and Submission Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
SF424 (R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded
Current language:
Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application, with the following modifications:
Biographical sketch. The personal statement should describe a commitment to scientific rigor, research training, mentoring, as well as to promoting inclusive and supportive scientific environments.
Revised language: The following additional instructions are added to help applicants comply with the requirement to designate a PD/PI from each participating institution (lead grantee and partner institutions).
Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application, with the following modifications:
This FOA requires the designation of multiple PDs/PIs as key personnel, with a PD/PI from each participating institution. All PDs/PIs must be assigned the "PD/PI" role. The role of "Co-PD/PI" is not currently used by NIH or other PHS agencies to designate a multiple PD/PI application. Do not use the role of "Co-PD/PI".
Profile Project Director/Principal Investigator. List the contact PD/PI in this section of the form. The PD/PI of the lead institution must be designated as the contact PD/PI. Select a Project Role of “PD/PI”.
Profile Senior/Key Person. List a PD/PI from each of the partner institutions. Select a Project Role of “PD/PI”.
Biographical sketch. The personal statement should describe a commitment to scientific rigor, research training, mentoring, as well as to promoting inclusive and supportive scientific environments.
Part 2. Section IV. Application and Submission Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan
Current Language:
Program Plan:
Rationale, Mission, Objectives, and Overall Training Plan
Applications must include the rationale for the proposed diversity enhancing training program as well as the feasibility of success in the context of the trainee pool and institutional setting. The application should describe how the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program will develop a diverse pool of research-oriented undergraduates who bridge from a community college or two-year institution and complete bachelor's degrees in STEM fields as delineated in the Program Objective. Specifically, the application should describe the following:
- The rationale for the proposed Bridges to the Baccalaureate program diversity enhancing research training program. Provide a justification for the selection of the partnering institutions. Describe the proximity of the institutions and any ongoing collaborations. The application should describe the current institutional efforts among the proposed consortium members to promote diversity and to create inclusive training environments. Explain how the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program will enhance, but not duplicate, these efforts. The application should describe how the program will improve the training environment and not simply provide financial support to trainees from diverse backgrounds.
- Institutional self-assessment. The application must demonstrate the presence across the Bridges consortium of a sufficient number of STEM-focused trainees from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups (applicants are encouraged to use the Suggested Table Formats A.1, A.2, and A.3), and of faculty mentors/participating faculty in the appropriate biomedical fields (Table 2). The application should also demonstrate the existence of sufficient resources to achieve the training objectives (Table 3 and 4).
Revised Language: The instructions for the inclusion of suggested table formats are revised to clarify that these tables must be included in the Program Plan attachment and count towards the page limit for this attachment.
Program Plan:
Rationale, Mission, Objectives, and Overall Training Plan
Applications must include the rationale for the proposed diversity enhancing training program as well as the feasibility of success in the context of the trainee pool and institutional setting. The application should describe how the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program will develop a diverse pool of research-oriented undergraduates who bridge from a community college or two-year institution and complete bachelor's degrees in STEM fields as delineated in the Program Objective. Specifically, the application should describe the following:
- The rationale for the proposed Bridges to the Baccalaureate program diversity enhancing research training program. Provide a justification for the selection of the partnering institutions. Describe the proximity of the institutions and any ongoing collaborations. The application should describe the current institutional efforts among the proposed consortium members to promote diversity and to create inclusive training environments. Explain how the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program will enhance, but not duplicate, these efforts. The application should describe how the program will improve the training environment and not simply provide financial support to trainees from diverse backgrounds.
- Institutional self-assessment. The application must demonstrate the presence across the Bridges consortium of a sufficient number of STEM-focused trainees from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. Applicants are encouraged to use the Suggested Table Formats A.1, A.2, and A.3. However, any Suggested Table Formats must be included within the Program Plan attachment and count towards the 25-page limit. Suggested Tables may not be uploaded in Other Attachments on the R&R Other Project Information form or in the Data Tables attachment on this form. The application must also demonstrate the presence of faculty mentors/participating faculty in the appropriate biomedical fields (Table 2), as well as the existence of sufficient resources to achieve the training objectives (Tables 3 and 4).
Part 2. Section IV. Application and Submission Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan
The following text is added for the Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan attachment to clarify the requirements of this FOA.
Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan: Since multiple PDs/PIs must be designated in the application, the application must include a Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan as indicated in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
All other aspects of this FOA remain the same.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Mercedes Rubio, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Email: mercedes.rubio@nih.gov
Patrick H. Brown, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: patrick.brown@nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
