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PA-20-142 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)

Issued by

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Purpose

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is issuing this Notice to highlight interest in receiving grant applications focused in the following area(s):

1. Genome sciences to support training with a focus on the quantitative sciences, bioinformatics, and technology development;
2. Genomic medicine to support training with a focus on innovation and understanding of when, where, and how best to implement the use of genomic information and technologies in clinical care;
3. Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomic Research to support training with a focus on developing multi-disciplinary conceptual and methodological skills necessary to pursue independent careers as ELSI researchers.
   
   Overall Considerations:

• In general, NHGRI does not expect to make more than one award per institution per training track - genome sciences, genomic medicine and ELSI. Institutions that already have an award in one of these three areas are encouraged to apply for an award in a different area. Institutions that have more than one NHGRI-supported R25 diversity program and/or T32 program must demonstrate coordination and collaboration amongst the programs.

• Preference is to support one career level only per T32 program (pre-doctoralorpost-doctoral). For applicants who propose to provide training at both the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral levels, a detailed training plan must be provided for each level. Applicants should demonstrate coordination and collaboration such that there is synergy among the trainee cohort.
• Training programs should be housed in institutions that have significant support from NHGRI.
• NHGRI does not require that applicants for T32 training grants with direct costs over $500,000 obtain prior approval from NHGRI staff before submitting their T32 application or include a cover letter with their application indicating prior staff approval.
• The number of trainee slots awarded will depend upon the quality of the proposed program as determined by peer review, programmatic considerations, and the availability of funds.
• Trainees should be appointed for a minimum of two years and no more than three.
• For subsequent training, trainees are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the NRSA Individual Pre-doctoral (F31) or NRSA Individual Post-doctoral (F32) fellowship programs or the Mentored Career Development Awards (K01, K08) or the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) programs, as appropriate.
  
  All NHGRI training programs should provide:

• A strong foundation in Bioinformatics / statistics / computational biology
• A strong foundation in research design, methods, and analytic techniques appropriate for the proposed genomic research area;
• Experience conducting genomic research using state-of-the-art methods as well as presenting and publishing research findings;
• Enhancement of the trainees’ understanding of the health-related sciences and the relationship of their genomic research training to health and disease.
  
  Some of the common elements of a successful genomic training program might include:

• Courses that expose trainees to the basic concepts and working knowledge in the related scientific areas;
• Training in the ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding research;
• A team science approach to problem solving that provides an opportunity for individuals with different knowledge domains and skill sets to come together to solve important genomic problems;
• An emphasis on the importance of reproducibility of experimental results, in the development, sharing, and analyses of large, complex and varied datasets.
• Rotations and external internships in basic and clinical laboratories and other settings, such as industry, are widely recognized as effective means to introduce trainees to the myriad types of data sets that are a challenge in genomics.
• Multi-disciplinary mentorship, to enhance training and communication among disciplines.
• Participation in ongoing genomic research projects, genomic medicine (both clinical and basic) and ELSI experiences.
• A multi-disciplinary forum for intellectual exchanges to enhance opportunities for trainees to interact with other trainees and faculty from other relevant areas.
• Career development and professional guidance, such as skills for writing manuscripts, fellowships or grant applications, and for delivering oral presentations for scientific presentations and interviewing for jobs, etc. should be provided.
• Trainee cohort building activities such as an annual trainee orientation or retreat.
• Individual Development Plans (IDP) are strongly encouraged for each trainee.
• Evaluation Plan should describe the metrics that will be used to determine the success of the trainees and the program.
   

Objectives of the Institutional Training Grant Program in Genome Sciences

• The program objective is to develop research leaders in genome sciences. Training programs should ensure that trainees will develop a knowledge base and skill sets in two areas: 1) genome sciences (includes the biological sciences, engineering, technology development, clinical discovery, etc.), 2) and the quantitative sciences (includes mathematics, statistics, bioinformatics, computational biology, etc.). Training should be acquired broadly across both areas and in depth in one or more areas of specialty. A greater emphasis should be placed on in-depth training in a quantitative sciences specialty as it relates to genomics. Applications will likely be more successful from institutions that have many and varied ongoing genomic research projects, and in which trainees will have access to large and complex datasets, including genomic, other omic, and patient and clinical data, due to the essential opportunities that such resources will provide to trainees.
• 
  New genome sciences training programs can request up to ten (10) training positions per year. Renewals can request up to the current number of training positions approved by Council upon their latest renewal. Any new or competing application may include a request for (1) pre-doctoral, (2) post-doctoral, or (3) pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training positions, provided that there is appropriate coordination and collaboration amongst the trainee cohorts.

Objectives of the Institutional Training Grant Program in Genomic Medicine

• The primary objective of this program is to prepare a new generation of genomic medicine experts that can advance and lead the field. Individuals in these programs should receive deep and broad training and experiences in the sciences underpinning genomic medicine such as but not limited to clinical trial design and methods, implementation science, and medical informatics in order to qualify them to perform independently as researchers. Training is accomplished through a combination of formal courses, seminars, supervised research, and clinical training in genomic medicine, as appropriate.

New and renewal genomic medicine training programs can request up to ten (10) training positions per year. Any new or competing application may include a request for (1) pre-doctoral, (2) post-doctoral or (3) pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training positions, provided that there is appropriate coordination and collaboration amongst the trainee cohorts. Preference is for programs that will successfully recruit medical students, interns, residents or fellows.

• For institutions that wish to train clinically oriented scientists in genomic medicine knowledge and skills, this program will support two career paths: (1) for Ph.D trainees, medical students, and M.D./Ph.D. students, a focus on course work and genomic medicine research and (2) for Ph.D, MD, MD/Ph.D degree holders, or their equivalents, a focus on genomic medicine research (not for clinical care of patients).

Objectives of the Institutional Training Grant Program in ELSI Research

• The program objective is to support training experiences that provide the multi-disciplinary conceptual and methodological skills necessary to develop independent ELSI researchers. The training program should be designed to ensure that the trainees develop the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills needed for a successful ELSI research career. In most cases, this will include a strong foundation in: 1) the current state of genome science and genomic medicine; 2) core principles and conceptual frameworks in bioethics; 3) qualitative and quantitative behavioral and social science research methodologies; 4) conceptual and analytic research approaches; and 5) the design and implementation of inter- or trans-disciplinary research projects.

• New and renewal ELSI training programs can request up to five (5) training positions per year. Any new or competing application may include a request for (1) pre-doctoral, (2) post-doctoral or (3) pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training positions, provided that there is appropriate coordination and collaboration amongst the trainee cohorts.
• It is not necessary that the projects on which the trainees will be working to develop their knowledge and skills have received funding from the NHGRI ELSI research program as long as they have substantial support for ongoing research projects addressing issues that are relevant to ELSI research topics.

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to NHGRI’s T32 due dates listed inTable of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts website on or after July 1, 2021 and subsequent receipt dates.

Submit applications using the following funding opportunity announcement (FOA) or any reissues of the announcement.

• PA-20-142 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)
  All instructions in theSF424 (R&R) Application Guideand the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Previous Notices

The following Notices are superseded by this document: NOT-HG-21-010, NOT-HG-14-016, NOT-HG-14-017, NOT-HG-15-004, NOT-HG-19-018, and NOT-HG-20-003, into this single Notice. The previous Notices are now rescinded.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after July 1, 2021 and subsequent receipt dates through May 25, 2023. 

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

PA-20-142 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-HG-21-032” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

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