Key Dates

Related Announcements

PA-21-071 - Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

NOT-MH-19-038 - Notice of Special Interest to Encourage Eligible NIH BRAIN Initiative Awardees to Apply for PA-18-906 Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Issued by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

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 Mental Health (NIMH)

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Purpose

This Notice encourages eligible awardees in the BRAIN Initiative community to apply for administrative supplements in response to PA-21-071, Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The NIH has a strong interest in the diversity of the NIH-funded workforce (see NOT-OD-20-031) and encourages institutions to prioritize inclusion by supporting the the participation of individuals from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences.

The BRAIN Initiative is firmly committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the research community. BRAIN investigators should strive to compose teams richly diverse in perspectives, backgrounds, and academic disciplines, and provide full opportunity and participation to individuals and groups underrepresented in neuroscience (see BRAIN 2025 Report, BRAIN Initiative 2.0 Report, and BRAIN Initiative and Neuroethics Report). Relatedly, the recruitment of diverse research participants and the inclusion of community perspectives ensures that research questions are informed by patient and family perspectives and that the benefits of research have wide applicability.The foundational BRAIN 2025 report states that "the BRAIN Initiative should be a catalyst that will drive outstanding trainees to enter this area at their most creative career stage." The NIH diversity supplement offers an opportunity for BRAIN awardees to request additional funds to train and mentor the next generation of researchers, including those from underrepresented groups, who will contribute to advancing the goals of the BRAIN Initiative.

The program also aligns and bridges to the Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) for BRAIN Initiative research programs. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) of active BRAIN Initiative research program grants are encouraged to identify eligible individuals across the career development pipeline (from high school students to the faculty level) for support and scientific mentorship under the auspices of this administrative supplement. The research activities proposed in the supplement application must fall within the scope of the parent grant. Proposed career development activities should be appropriate for the career stage of the supplement candidate and should demonstrate both a strong commitment by the mentor and a clear path forward for the candidate. All applications must include a signed statement from an institutional official establishing eligibility of the candidate for the program, including information about citizenship of the candidate, and a description of how the candidate would further the goals of the program, consistent with NOT-OD-20-031, "Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity". BRAIN Initiative PD/PIs are strongly encouraged to incorporate training activities that will help prepare the supplement candidate to conduct research relevant to the goals of the BRAIN Initiative 2025 Report. The BRAIN Initiative encourages the research community to broadly consider how diverse perspectives advance the proposed specific aims and are integral to equity and inclusion in the science being performed.

Before submitting an application, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Program Official for the parent grant or the contact listed below to confirm eligibility and to obtain technical assistance.

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-21-071 - Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-21-071 must be followed, with the following additions:

• Application Due Date(s): All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of application organization to due dates on or after September 30, 2021 and subsequent receipt dates through September 30, 2024.
• For funding consideration, applicants must include NOT-NS-22-012" (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 existing awardees of NIH BRAIN Initiative program are eligible to apply. Awards in a no-cost extension (NCE) are not eligible.
• Investigators are encouraged to recruit more than one high-school or undergraduate student for supplemental award support. Support of more than one candidate above the high school or undergraduate level depends on the nature of the parent grant and the circumstances of the request. Note that a separate supplement request is required for each candidate, and that the merit of each application will be reviewed independently. Each request must be strongly justified and include assurances that each candidate will receive appropriate mentoring. Each training and mentoring plan must specifically address the unique needs, strengths and weaknesses of the individual candidate.
• Supplement requests under this Notice will undergo administrative evaluation by NIH BRAIN Intiative staff from across the partcipating NIH Institutes. All applications are reviewed by Program staff to assess the scope of the planned activities, and their scientific merit and training potential.
• Diversity Supplement awards cannot be used to expand the scope of the parent grant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the program contact at the Institute supporting the parent award that a request has been submitted in response to this FOA in order to facilitate efficient processing of the request. See for additional guidance: https://braininitiative.nih.gov/resources/supplemental-information-diversity-supplements-brain-initiative-awards
• Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Michelle Jones-London, Ph.D.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Email: BRAINDiversitySupp@ninds.nih.gov