Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements to Support Addiction Science and Related Neuroscience Seminar Series at NIMHD-Funded Research Centers in Minority Institutions
Notice Number:
NOT-MD-23-014

Key Dates

Release Date:

April 26, 2023

First Available Due Date:
June 26, 2023
Expiration Date:
June 27, 2023

Related Announcements

PA-20-272 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

Issued by

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Purpose

This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) invites applications for administrative supplements to NIMHD U54 awarded under the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program to support a scientific and professional development speaker series geared to undergraduate, pre-doctoral , and doctoral scholars focused on research on substance use, addiction, and/or neuroscience.

Background

NIMHD's Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program supports specialized research centers in institutions that offer doctoral degrees in the health professions or health-related sciences and have an historical and current commitment to educating students underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. RCMIs play an important role in supporting scientific research, particularly on diseases or conditions that disproportionately impact racial/ethnic minorities and other U.S. populations that experience health disparities. These institutions are uniquely positioned to engage racial and ethnic minority populations in research and in the translation of research advances into culturally competent, measurable and sustained improvements in health outcomes. Each RCMI U54 Center includes specific aims to support the development of highly talented undergraduate, pre-doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and other early-stage investigators in basic biomedical, behavioral, and/or clinical sciences.

Objectives

The goal of the seminar series is to provide opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows at Minority Serving Institutions and Institutions with a historical mission to inform underrepresented minorities about research opportunities in the areas of substance use, addiction, and/or neuroscience. The seminar series also serves to foster collaborations between faculty at minority serving institutions and the outside invited speaker.

The supplement is to support a seminar series of 10-12 invited scientists at their institutions throughout the academic year.  Funds for the supplement may be used for travel and for  accommodation of the invited speaker.  Indirect costs may be used to pay for a lunch with the speaker for students who attend the seminar. Students who participate in the seminar series would be eligible by nomination of their institution to travel to the College on the Problems of Drug Dependence or to the Society for Neuroscience supported by the NIDA Diversity Scholars Travel Awards program.  Awardees are highly encouraged to videocast presentations to other institutions with historical missions to train underrepresented minorities.

To be eligible for an Administrative Supplement under this NOSI, the parent RCMI U54 award must:

  • be awarded under either RFA-MD-17-003RFA-MD-17-006RFA-MD-18-012RFA-MD-20-006, or RFA-MD-22-002.
  • be an active NIH award at the time of application (i.e., within five years of the start date of the originally reviewed and approved project period of the existing parent RCMI U54’s competitive segment; or if applicable, within the originally reviewed and approved project period of a competitive revision).
  • have sufficient time left to complete the studies proposed within the parent award's current project period.

Applications not responsive to this NOSI:

Projects supplement awards that are not eligible under this NOSI.

  • Projects that are not within the scope of the peer reviewed and approved parent RCMI project, including competitive revisions. 
  • Proposals that are not being used to meet increased costs that are within the scope of the approved award, but were unforeseen when the new or renewal application or grant progress report for non-competing continuation support was submitted.
  • Applications from an ineligible institution.
  • Projects not supporting a seminar series on research on substance use, addiction, and/or neuroscience.

Applications not responsive to these terms will be withdrawn for this NOSI initiative.

Description of circumstances for which administrative supplements are available.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following opportunity or its subsequent reissued equivalent.

  • PA-20-272 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-20-272 must be followed, with the following additions:

  • Application Due Date – June 26, 2023, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
  • All applications to PA-20-272 must be submitted electronically using a single-project application form package with the Competition ID of “FORMS-H-ADMINSUPP-RESEARCH". The process for Streamlined Submissions using the eRA Commons cannot be used for PA-20-272.
  • For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-MD-23-014” (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.
  • Budget: An eligible applicant institution may propose a seminar series with a maximum budget of $30,000 (direct costs) per year and a maximum project period of two years (if two years remain within the parent award's current project period).  Thus, applicant institutions may propose a maximum of two seminar series with each seminar to be held during two separate academic years.  Administrative supplement requests cannot exceed $30,000 in direct costs per year.
  • Project Period: The seminar series and budget periods must be within five years of the start date of the originally reviewed and approved project period of the existing parent U54 award’s competitive segment; or if applicable, within the originally reviewed and approved project period of a funded competitive revision.
  • Institutional Commitment: The applicant institution should convincingly demonstrate that the seminars will be attended by at least 15 faculty and students, and that the audiovisual facilities are adequate to support a seminar with PowerPoint and a platform for web broadcasting.
  • Seminar Series Plan: This section of the application which takes the place of the Research Strategy is limited to 6 pages total and must include the following:
    • Describe the objectives, specific program, and logistical arrangements for the meeting
    • Identify related conferences held on the subject during the past 3 years and describe how the proposed conference is similar to, and/or different from these.
    • Describe strategies for:
      • Involving the appropriate representation of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in the planning and implementation of, and participation in, the proposed conference
      • Identifying and publicizing resources for child care and other types of family care at the conference site to allow individuals with family care responsibilities to attend
      • Publicizing the conference to all interested participants
  • Diversity Plan: Applications must include a Diversity Plan attachment in the Other Attachment section named “DiversityPlan.pdf” (no spaces) that should not exceed one-page. The Diversity Plan attachment should specifically describe the involvement of or plans to enhance diversity by increasing individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups (e.g., underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and women) in the selection of and/or the makeup of:
    • Organizing committee
    • Speakers
    • Invited participants (e.g., session chairs, panel discussants, etc.)
    • Attendees
  • NIH Biosketches of the RCMI Principal Investigator(s) and biosketches of the invited speakers as faculty for the seminar series.
  • Applicants should consider the geographical conference area from where anticipated participants will come (i.e., national, statewide), the expected size and composition of the audience, as well as the method of selection in describing plans to enhance diversity and how efforts will be assessed afterwards. Where applicable, applicants should describe the success of previous strategies to enhance diversity in the planning and implementation of conferences.
  • Safety Plan (to be submitted as Just-in-Time materials): At a minimum, “safety plans” are required to include the following elements:: 
    • Statement of commitment to provide a safe environment
    • Expectations of behavior including list of behaviors considered harassing (specific emphasis on harassment, sexual, racial, ethnic, or otherwise)
    • Instructions on how to confidentially report alleged violations of the expectations of behavior to conference organizers
    • Description of how the organizers will assess allegations and the consequences for those who are found to violate the expectations of behavior
    • Information explaining that individuals who have questions, concerns or complaints related to harassment are also encouraged to contact the conference organizer or the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
    • Information about how to file a complaint with HHS OCR (see OCR’s webpage, Filing a Civil Rights Complaint)
    • Information explaining that filing a complaint with the conference organizer is not required before filing a complaint of discrimination with HHS OCR, and that seeking assistance from the conference organizer in no way prohibits filing complaints with HHS OCR
    • Information explaining how individuals can notify NIH about concerns of harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and other forms of inappropriate conduct at NIH-supported conferences (see NIH’s Find Help webpage)
  • Along with the Safety Plan to be shared with attendees, applicants recommended for funding must also provide to NIH as part of Just-in-Time materials:
    • Describe the strategy that will be used to communicate the Safety Plan to conference attendees and a plan to document allegations and resulting actions.
    • Provide information on the steps the organizers will take to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all attendees, free from discrimination and harassment.
  •  

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Scientific/Research Contact

Rina Das, PhD.
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Telephone: 301-496-3996
Email: dasr2@mail.nih.gov

Nathan Stinson, Jr., PhD, MD, MPH
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Telephone: 301-594-8704
Email: stinsonn@mail.nih.gov

Angela Holmes, PhD
Office of Diversity and Health Disparities, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Telephone: 301-827-2487
Email: angela.holmes2@nih.gov

Damiya Eve Whitaker, PsyD, MA
Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
Phone: 301-451-8206
E-mail: damiya.whitaker@nih.gov

Fiscal/Grants Management Contact

Priscilla Grant, JD
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Telephone: 301-594-8412
Email: pg38h@nih.gov