Key Dates

Related Announcements

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

Issued by

Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund)

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Purpose

Purpose

The NIH has a strong interest in the diversity of the NIH-funded research enterprise (see NIH notice NOT-OD-20-031) and encourages institutions to diversify their scientific workforce by  enhancing the participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences.  This notice encourages eligible awardees to apply for administrative supplements in response to PA-21-071 (or any reissue of this announcement through the expiration date of this NOSI) with the goal of promoting innovative research that enhances the utility and/or use of selected Common Fund datasets.  Providing these supplements may help enhance the utility and use of Common Fund data, promote the diversity of researchers using data generated by programs supported by the NIH Common Fund and, more broadly, may help promote the diversity of the scientific research workforce, which is a key component of the NIH strategy to identify, develop, support, and maintain the quality of our scientific human capital.

Background

Since its inception as the NIH Roadmap for Biomedical Research, the NIH Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund - https://commonfund.nih.gov/) has supported multiple transformative research programs that generate new technologies, methods, and data.  Many of these programs produced rich public data sets containing multi-dimensional molecular and phenotypic data from humans and model organisms.  Established Common Fund data sets listed below are well-poised for increased community use:

• 4D Nucleome (4DN) (https://www.4dnucleome.org/): Reference nucleomics and imaging data sets, including an expanding tool set for open data processing and visualization
• Extracellular RNA Communication (exRNA) (https://exrna.org/): Catalog of exRNA molecules found in human biofluids like plasma, saliva, and urine; and potential exRNA biomarkers for diseases
• Gabriella Miller Kids First (KF) (https://kidsfirstdrc.org/): Data from whole-genome sequencing of cohorts with structural birth defects and/or susceptibility to childhood cancer, with associated phenotypic and clinical data
• Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) (https://www.gtexportal.org/home/): Whole genome- and RNA sequence data from multiple human tissues to study tissue-specific gene expression and regulation, including tissue samples
• H3Africa (https://www.h3abionet.org/resources/h3africa-archive/): Genomic and phenotypic research data generated by the Human Heredity and Health in Africa program. Includes population-based genomic studies of common, non-communicable disorders (e.g., heart and renal disease), as well as communicable diseases (e.g., tuberculosis).
• Glycoscience (GL) (https://glygen.org/): A data integration and dissemination project for carbohydrate and glycoconjugate related data
• Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP) (https://hubmapconsortium.org/): An open and global platform to map healthy cells in the human body to determine how the relationships between cells can affect the health of an individual
• Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) (https://druggablegenome.net/): Data on understudied druggable proteins, including mRNA and protein expression data, phenotype associations, bioactivity data, drug target interactions, disease links, and functional information
• Integrated Human Microbiome Project (iHMP) (https://hmpdacc.org/ihmp/): Microbiome, epigenomic, metabolomic, and phenotypic data for 3 cohorts
• Knockout Mouse Phenotyping Program (KOMP2) (http://www.mousephenotype.org/): Data from broad, standardized phenotyping of a genome-wide collection of mouse knockouts
• Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) (http://lincsproject.org/): Molecular signatures that describe how different types of cells respond to a variety of agents that disrupt normal cellular function
• Metabolomics Workbench (https://www.metabolomicsworkbench.org/): Metabolomics data and metadata from studies on cells, tissues, and organisms
• Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity in Humans (MoTrPAC) (https://motrpac-data.org/data-access): Data contain assay-specific results, associated metadata, quality control reports, and animal phenotype data related to molecular transducers that underlie the effects of physical activity
• Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) (https://sparc.science/): Maps and tools to identify and influence therapeutic targets that exist within the neural circuitry of a wide range of organs and tissues

Additional information on some of these datasets can be found via the CFDE portal. 

To maximize the impact of these data and to engage a broader, more diverse community of end-users, the Common Fund will support administrative supplements through PA-21-071 (or any reissue of this announcement through the expiration date of this NOSI) for projects proposing to substantially leverage data from at least one of the above programs.

Objectives and Scope

Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the parent project.  To be eligible for consideration through this NOSI, the proposed research plan must substantially leverage data from at least one Common Fund program listed in the Background section above.  “Substantial leverage” is defined as the use and citation of the relevant dataset(s) in the envisioned research products of the proposed work (e.g., manuscripts, presentations, book chapters, portals, etc.) Data from other publicly available datasets, including Common Fund programs not listed above, can be included as needed. The accompanying training plan should be well described and must have the strong potential to significantly advance the candidate’s research career development.  Because information regarding the user experience could help NIH improve its data resources, successful applicants will be asked to provide feedback on the findability, usability, and utility of the relevant datasets and public data portals.  They may also be afforded an opportunity to present their work at an NIH-sponsored meeting (either virtually or in-person).  Beyond that, there are no explicit requirements for how the data are to be used – investigators are encouraged to employ approaches best suited to achieving their parent award’s research aims.

The research plan should be appropriate to the academic/career level of the candidate and discussed in sufficient detail to clarify the goals, milestones, and objectives of the proposed work. No aim removed in response to the initial peer review from the parent grant may be proposed as the basis for a supplement. The supplemental aims must be in scope and synergistic with the approved, ongoing research of the parent grant.  They must also have the potential to contribute significantly to the candidate's research career development.

The training plan for the candidate should enable and encourage interactions with other individuals on the parent grant, intellectual contributions to the research, and enhancement of the candidate’s research skills and scientific knowledge. It must also provide clear opportunities for development as a productive researcher and interactions with the scientific community (e.g., presentations at seminars, attendance of meetings, publication of manuscripts, and participation in mentoring/networking activities). Furthermore, it must demonstrate that the PD(s)/PI(s) is/are willing to provide appropriate mentorship consistent with the NIH notice encouraging the adoption and use of Individual Development Plans.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their proposed supplement project with the ICO Program Officer of the funded parent award prior to submission of a supplement application, to ensure that the proposed activity aligns with the scientific priorities of the ICO and is within the scope of the parent award.  Scientific inquiries may also be addressed to the contacts listed in the Inquiries section below.

Data Management and Sharing Plan

All applicants planning research (funded or conducted in whole or in part by NIH) that results in the generation of scientific data are required to comply with the instructions for the Data Management and Sharing Plan.  All applications, regardless of the amount of direct costs requested for any one year, must address a Data Management and Sharing Plan (see NOT-OD-22-189).  Applicants must consider and describe the anticipated timeline, formats, and methods for depositing products (e.g., computational, annotation, etc.) created under this FOA into a relevant public repository or relevant CF Data Coordinating Center.  Where applicable, the applicants should describe how they plan to share any tools, pipelines, or workflows through open access channels (e.g., public GitHub links).

Reporting Requirements

Recipients of administrative supplements are required to report progress associated with the supplement activities in the annual RPPR and/or the FRPPR, as applicable.  For these supplements, the reporting expectation is that major accomplishments and career development activities during the relevant budget period are listed explicitly and with enough detail to allow evaluation of progress.  Additionally, if funding will continue into the next budget period, planned activities should be discussed at the same level of granularity.  Failure to comply with these reporting requirements may result in delayed processing of the non-competing continuation and/or delays of the award closeout.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and receipt of responsive, rigorous applications. 

Application and Submission Instructions

Recently issued NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts provides a complete list of policy notices published by the NIH.  All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following opportunity or any reissue of this announcement through the expiration date of this NOSI:

• 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) – applications must be submitted on or before June 30, 2023, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.  Late applications to this NOSI will not be accepted.  Applicants are reminded to familiarize themselves with and adhere to the submission dates and special instructions provided by the IC administering the parent award.
• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-RM-23-005” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form.  Applications without this information in box 4B may not be considered for this initiative.
• The Research Strategy section is limited to 6 pages.
• The Mentoring and Career Development section is limited to 6 pages.
• For all other sections, please follow the instructions provided in PA-21-071 and the special instructions provided by the administering IC.
• Only existing awardees are eligible to apply.
• The project and budget periods must be within the currently approved project period for the existing parent award.  The parent award must have at least 12 months remaining in its approved project period as of September 1, 2023; and may not be in a terminal no-cost extension.
• Supplement project duration is subject to the policies of the IC administering the parent award.  OSC support will be limited to the first full year (12 months) only.
• Each eligible parent award is limited to no more than three supplement requests through this NOSI.  A separate supplement request is required for each candidate. The merit of each application will be reviewed independently. Each request must be strongly justified and include assurances that the candidate will receive appropriate mentoring. Each training and mentoring plan must specifically address the unique needs, strengths, and areas for development of the individual candidate. 
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the Program Officer at the IC supporting the parent award that a request has been submitted in response to this NOSI to facilitate efficient processing of the application.

Supplement requests that do not comply with these instructions or are deemed otherwise non-responsive to the terms of this NOSI will not be accepted for review.

Scientific Review Process

The NIH program staff will conduct administrative reviews of submitted applications and will recommend the most meritorious applications for support, pending the availability of funds. All criteria outlined in Section V – Application Review Criteria of PA-21-071 (or any reissue of this announcement through the expiration date of this NOSI) will be followed.

Application Submission Contacts

eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and post-submission issues)

Finding Help Online: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources)
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-637-3015

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

George J. Papanicolaou, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC)
Office of the Director (OD)
Telephone: 301-480-6722
Email: george.papanicolaou@nih.gov

Anthony Kirilusha, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC)
Office of the Director (OD)
Telephone: 301-402-7617
Email: anthony.kirilusha@nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Please contact the GM specialist listed on the most recent NoA for the parent award.