Notice of Change to Instructions for Application Submission for RFA-HL-18-023 "Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) (R38)"

Notice Number: NOT-HL-17-359

Key Dates
Release Date: September 14, 2017

Related Announcements
NOT-HL-17-549
RFA-HL-18-023

Issued by
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to revise information in several sections of RFA-HL-18-023, "Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) (R38)".

Part 1. Overview Information

Number of Applications

Current Language:
Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in
Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Revised Language:
No more than three applications per institution to each participating NIH Institute or Center (IC) per cycle is allowed. No institution will have more than one active award at each participating IC.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose

Current Language:
This award supports institutional programs of mentored research opportunities designed for Resident-Investigators to engage in research projects with experienced investigators for a minimum of one contiguous year, and a maximum of two years, with the goal of accelerating the transition of participating residents to subsequent research and career development support.

Revised Language:
This award supports institutional programs of mentored research opportunities designed for Resident-Investigators to engage in research projects during residency with experienced investigators for a minimum of one year, and a maximum of two years, with the goal of accelerating the transition of participating residents to subsequent research and career development support.

Program Components

Current Language:
Support for Resident-Investigators for 80% of PGY salary for a minimum of one contiguous year of research and a maximum of two years during residency training.

Revised Language:
Support for Resident-Investigators for 80% of PGY salary for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years of research during residency training. A contiguous research period of 12 months is encouraged, but research periods could also be split across residency years (e.g., 6 months in years 2 and 3, or 3 months research effort in year 2 and 9 months in year 3). A minimum of 3 months of contiguous research is required in any given residency year, and 80% effort towards research must be maintained during all research periods.

Section III. Eligibility Information

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

Current Language:
Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH IPF number) is allowed.

Revised Language:

No more than three applications per institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH IPF number) to each participating NIH Institute or Center (IC) per cycle is allowed. No institution will have more than 1 active award at each participating IC.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

SF424 (R&R) Other Project Information Component

Other Attachments.

Current Language:

2. Data Tables

Tables should be included to show: (a) participating faculty including research preceptors (including their sources of support and records in research training and research education), (b) the potential participant pool, and, for applicants with a previous history of funding for research education in diverse populations, (c) information about past participants and their subsequent activities. For this purpose, the following Data Tables should be used: Data Tables 2, 3, 4, 5A and 8A. For Table 5A, the "Degree" information in the "Training Period" column should be omitted since this R25 FOA supports short-term, non-degree granting experiences. For Table 8A, GRE and MCAT scores are optional and not required. These tables are not subject to a page limit. They should be compiled as a single pdf file. The filename "Data_Tables.pdf" should be used and the file attached.

Revised Language:

2. Data Tables

Tables should be included to show participating faculty including research preceptors (including their sources of support and records in research training and research education. For this purpose, the following Data Tables should be used: Data Tables 2, 3, and 4. These tables are not subject to a page limit. They should be compiled as a single pdf file. The filename "Data_Tables.pdf" should be used and the file attached.

Research Program Plan
Proposed Institutional Research Program and Milestones.

Current Language:

Because Resident-Investigators uniquely must fulfill both research goals and clinical duties, it is essential that the program description include an annotated timeline indicating planned periods of research leading to research competencies, as well as periods of clinical duties leading to specialty board-eligibility. Evidence that the proposed institutional plan for clinical and research activities in residency and fellowship is recognized as sufficient to prepare for board eligibility is required at the time of application.

Revised Language:

Because Resident-Investigators uniquely must fulfill both research goals and clinical duties, it is essential that the program description include an annotated timeline indicating planned periods of research leading to research competencies, as well as periods of clinical duties leading to specialty board-eligibility. Evidence that the proposed institutional plan for clinical and research activities in residency and fellowship is recognized as sufficient to prepare for board eligibility is required at the time of application. A letter of approval from the appropriate board must be included in the application; however, for the first submission deadline of October 24, 2017, this letter may be submitted as post submission material to the NIH Scientific Review Officer at least 30 calendar days prior to review meeting (See Section IV, 7. Post Submission Materials). For subsequent application due dates, namely October 24, 2018 and October 24, 2019, the board approval letter must be included in the application and submitted by the application due date.

Letters of Support

Current Language:
A letter from a Board recognized by the ABMS, the ADA CODA, or the ABVS indicating that the overall structure of research and clinical activities outlined in the application leads to participant eligibility for medical board certification, must be attached as part of Letters of Support (see section above: "Proposed Institutional Research Program and Milestones".

Revised Language:
A letter from a Board recognized by the ABMS, the ADA CODA, or the ABVS indicating that the overall structure of research and clinical activities outlined in the application leads to participant eligibility for medical board certification, must be attached either as part of Letters of Support at the time of application submission or, for only the initial receipt date, may be submitted as post-application materials (See Section IV, 7. Post Submission Materials) to the NIH Scientific Review Officer at least 30 calendar days prior to review meeting in accordance with the post-application submission policy (NOT-OD-17-066) with post-submission materials at least 30 calendar days prior to review (see section above: "Proposed Institutional Research Program and Milestones". )

7. Other Submission Requirements and Information
Post Submission Materials

Current Language:
Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy.

Revised Language:

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy(NOT-OD-17-066).

For the first application due date (October 24, 2017) only:

  • The required letter of approval from the appropriate board that provides evidence that the proposed institutional plan for clinical and research activities in residency and fellowship is recognized as sufficient to prepare for board eligibility, may be submitted as post submission material to the NIH Scientific Review Officer at least 30 calendar days prior to review meeting.
  • The required letter from a Board recognized by the ABMS, the ADA CODA, or the ABVS indicating that the overall structure of research and clinical activities outlined in the application leads to participant eligibility for medical board certification, may be submitted as post-application materials to the NIH Scientific Review Officer at least 30 calendar days prior to review meeting.

All other aspects of this FOA remain unchanged.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Neil Raj Aggarwal, M.D.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-827-7820
Email: neil.aggarwal@nih.gov

Mark Damico, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-5630
Email: Mark.damico@nih.gov

Shawn Gaillard, Ph.D.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Telephone: 240-627-3857
Email: Shawn.gaillard@nih.gov