Key Dates

Related Announcements

• December 20, 2022- Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements to Support Addiction Science and Related Neuroscience Pilot Research Projects at NIMHD-Funded Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI). See Notice NOT-MD-23-001.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
• October 9, 2020- Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PA-20-272.

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 Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) U54 awards to support pilot research projects led by early-stage investigators (ESIs) and new investigators (NIs) focused on research on substance use, addiction, and/or neuroscience, as a bridge to independently funded careers. It is expected that pilot project PIs will work with their institutions to prepare and submit follow-up research grant or career development applications to NIH based on the research supported by these supplemental funds.

  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  a documented historical mission or commitment to educating underrepresented students or have a record of providing clinical services to medically underserved communities. 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 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 an Investigator Development Core to support the development of highly talented postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and other early-stage investigators in basic biomedical, behavioral, and/or clinical sciences through a Pilot Project Program.

NIMHD in partnership with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks to leverage the unique contributions of RCMIs in the areas of substance use, addiction and neuroscience research through effective pilot projects at participating programs. Eligible investigators for pilot project support should be at the senior post-doctoral or fellowship level or assistant professor. Centers are expected to conduct outreach and recruitment strategies to encourage a diverse pool of potential PIs to consider applying for the program, including investigators from underrepresented groups. See, Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity, NOT-OD-20-031.    Centers will provide ongoing advice and mentorship to pilot PIs as they conduct their research projects, submit publications based on their work, and work with their institutions to apply for NIH or external grants such as mentored K-award or equivalent and ultimately an R01 grant as appropriate to their career level.

Research Objectives

Supplements awarded through this NOSI are intended to provide support to ESIs and NIs to conduct pilot studies in the areas of substance use, addiction and neuroscience research and collect data they can use to prepare applications for independent funding support. The proposed research can range from basic, to clinical, translation, epidemiology, services, and prevention, but must be relevant to the NIDA mission (see  https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/2022-2026-strategic-plan/executive-summary).

Eligibility to be a PI of a pilot project funded through this NOSI is limited to ESIs as defined by NIH (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm) and NIs with their primary appointment at an RCMI U54 recipient institution. NIs are defined by NIH as individuals who have not previously competed successfully for substantial, independent funding support from NIH. Investigators maintain NI status if they have been supported by any of the smaller research grants, training, infrastructure, and career awards that appear on this list: https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/list-smaller-grants.htm. ESI and NI PIs should be positioned to work with their institutions to submit an NIH grant application within two years of the supplement award date. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply as PIs. See, Reminder: Notice of NIH's Encouragement of Applications Supporting Individuals from Underrepresented Ethnic and Racial Groups as well as Individuals with Disabilities, NOT-OD-22-019 . Participating PIs will be invited to participate in NIDA-sponsored professional development activities.

For pilot projects examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use and/or addiction, investigators are encouraged to use NIH-supported COVID-19 specific survey item repositories and select existing survey items or protocol modules currently being fielded if consensus based measures (e.g., https://www.phenxtoolkit.org/collections/view/1) are not available. This is particularly important for efforts to rapidly assess the needs and impact of COVID-19 across different population groups, particularly for minority health and NIH-designated populations that experience health disparities. See NOT-OD-20-118 for additional information and resources for COVID-19 research data harmonization and data sharing.

Applications not responsive to this NOSI: 

• Projects supplementing awards that are not eligible under this NOSI.
• Projects not supporting pilot research projects led by ESIs and/or NIs at the senior post-doctoral or fellowship level or assistant professor conducting substance use, addiction, and related neuroscience research with their primary appointment at an RCMI U54 recipient institution.
• Projects lacking details on the outreach and recruitment strategies that were undertaken to encourage a diverse pool of potential PIs to consider applying for this program.
• Projects conducting research outside the U.S. or its territories and possessions, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or requesting foreign components.

Applications not responsive to these terms will be withdrawn.

Application and Submission Informatio

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  

Administrative supplements proposed through PA-20-272 must be within the scope of the peer reviewed and approved parent RCMI U54 award, including competitive revisions. For the purposes of this NOSI, proposed pilot research projects must be administered by the parent RCMI U54 center's Investigator Development Core.

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

• be awarded under either RFA-MD-24-001, RFA-MD-17-003, RFA-MD-17-006, RFA-MD-18-012, RFA-MD-20-006,  RFA-MD-22-002, RFA MD-23-001 or subsequent RCMI competing NOFOs.
• 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), and have sufficient time left to complete the studies proposed within this active project period. 

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

• Budget: An eligible applicant institution may propose up to two pilot research projects, each with a maximum budget of $50,000 (direct costs) per year and a maximum project period of two years (if two years remain within the parent award's active project period). Administrative supplement requests cannot exceed $100,000 in direct costs per year.
• Project Period: The pilot project 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.
• The application is limited to six pages per pilot project. 
• Applications must include details on outreach and recruitment strategies that were undertaken to encourage a diverse pool of potential PIs to consider applying for the program.
• Application Due Date:  April 17, 2024, October 17, 2024, January 17, 2025, April 17, 2025, October 17, 2025, January 17, 2026 and April 17, 2026 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-23-019"(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.
• Only eligible active awardees of the NIMHD RCMI U54 program may apply.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the program contact at the Institute supporting the parent award under which a request has been submitted in response to this NOSI in order to facilitate efficient processing of the request.
• Principal Investigators considering this award are highly encouraged to reach out to the NIDA Scientific/Research contact prior to submitting a supplement application.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Scientific/Research Contacts  

Arundhati Gogineni, PhD
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Telephone: 301-427-9545
Email: [email protected]  

Angela Holmes, PhD
Office of Diversity and Health Disparities, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-827-2487
Email: [email protected]

Fiscal/Grants Management Contact

Priscilla Grant, JD
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Telephone: 301-594-8412
Email: [email protected]