June 29, 2023
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Eye Institute (NEI)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
This Notice is to clarify the placement and content of the Institutional Letter for RFA-MH-23-330 K99/R00 BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required) and RFA-MH-23-331 K99/R00 BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
The current language reads:
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Other Project Information
Institutional Letter: Applicants are required to attach a letter from the institution explaining how the candidate's participation would further the goals of the BRAIN Initiative Postdoctoral Career Transition Award, consistent with the Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031). The letter from the institution must be on institutional letterhead and scanned so that an institutional official signature is visible. Name the PDF-formatted letter "Institutional_Ltr.pdf." This letter is limited to 1 page.
Due to the implementation of the Forms-H application package, applicants should now refer to the PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplement Form for the Institutional Letter requirement and instructions. Please see the updated instructions below.
The language has been modified to read:
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplemental Form
Environment and Institutional Commitment to Candidate Section
As outlined in the SF424 form instructions, applicants to diversity-related NOFOs must complete the 12. Description of Candidate’s Contribution to Program Goals attachment:
Institutional Letter: The sponsoring institution must provide a document on institutional letterhead that explains how the candidate’s participation will further the goals of the career development program to promote diversity in BRAIN Initiative research. The Description of Candidate’s Contribution to Program Goals attachment must be dated and signed by an institutional official. In most cases, this will be the dean or the chairman of the department. The signature must appear over the signer's name and title at the end of the statement. Attach this information as a PDF file.
All other aspects of this NOFO remain unchanged.
James Churchill, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-326-8800
Email: [email protected]