Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements Funding for Planning Research in Support of the Global Health Initiative and Other Critical Health Interventions focused on Women and Girls Health and/or Gender Equity


Notice Number: NOT-TW-11-018

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

  • July 6, 2011 - See Notice NOT-TW-11-029 The purpose of this Notice is to inform interested applicants that Fogarty International Center and its partner organizations are extending the receipt date.
  • May 20, 2011 - See Notice NOT-TW-11-023 Notice to include Administrative Review Process Language.
Key Dates

Release Date: May 11, 2011
Receipt Date: (Extended to July 29, 2011 per NOT-TW-11-029), Original Date 06/24/2011
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: 09/15/2011

Issued by

Fogarty International Center (FIC)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Purpose

Given the increasing recognition of women as fundamental to the health of populations, the Fogarty International Center (FIC), with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID),

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is soliciting applications for one-year administrative supplements to active NIH international research or research training grants for the purpose of developing research applications for implementation science intended to accelerate progress towards improved health for women and girls and/or the role of women and girls in the improvement of health. These supplements are intended to be used for planning for future grant applications either to other NIH institutes, to other U.S. Government (USG) agencies, particularly those engaged in the Global Health Initiative (GHI), or to outside international research funding entities.

Over the long term, the health of women enhances their productivity, their social and economic participation, and also acts as a positive multiplier, benefitting social and economic development through the health of future generations. The ability of women to access health-related knowledge and services is fundamental to the health of their families. However, both because of their reproductive role and patterns of gender discrimination, girls and women are particu larly vulnerable to ill health, and are comparatively underserved by health services.

One of the USG initiatives currently focusing on issues related to the health of women and girls is the GHI. The GHI is an evidence-based, health outcome-driven, whole-of-government approach to global health. The GHI aims to help partner countries improve health outcomes through strengthened health systems and is guided by a set of seven principles. The core principles of the GHI are:

  • To focus on women, girls, and gender quality;
  • To encourage country ownership;
  • Build sustainability through health systems strengthening;
  • Increase impact through strategic coordination and integration;
  • Improve metrics, monitoring, and evaluation;
  • Promote research and innovation.

The NIH proposes to issue these administrative supplements to active NIH international research or research training grants during FY 2011 to stimulate applications for research that will enhance the evidence base for translating effective interventions into community and population-level programs, services, and strategies at scale. Research applications should encompass as many of the Global Health Initiative's (GHI) principles as possible with particular focus on the principles of women and girls, gender equality, and host country leadership.

More specifically, the intent of these supplements is:

  • To provide an opportunity to make an important contribution to better health for women and girls through applications for targeted implementation research on knowledge gaps in advancing women and girls health;
  • To foster host country leadership in research; and
  • To stimulate or expand coordination and integration of research with existing and/or planned health programming, particularly those that are supported by the USG, and where appropriate, with emphasis on those that advance country-specific GHI targets.
SPECIFIC RESEARCH AREAS

The proposed research should advance the health of women and girls, be host-country driven, sufficiently oriented toward implementation science, and encompass as many of the GHI principles as possible.

Proposed research may address the GHI priority target areas (malaria, TB, maternal health, child health, nutrition, family planning and reproductive health, and neglected tropical diseases) or may address chronic/non-communicable diseases relevant to women and girls health.

Cost-effective, novel, innovative research methodologies for demonstration of the effectiveness of programs that are increased to scale are encouraged.

Applications for HIV/AIDS related research will not be accepted under this solicitation. HIV/AIDS related grants are not eligible either even if the research proposed is non HIV/AIDS related.

Where appropriate, the proposed research should synergize with GHI country plans and/or national research priorities or advance the work of the GHI within country through attention to GHI principles. To facilitate this, as part of the supplement application, grantees are strongly encouraged to include a strategy for engagement with the in-country USG team as part of the planning process for proposed research. This strategy might include a letter from the US Country Health team stating that the research would be valuable for USG and country programming to facilitate the evidence base for country policy and programming.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the NIH Point of Contact from the IC administering the parent grant prior to submitting applications to clarify appropriateness of the supplement for their grant.

Clarifications of any questions regarding agency priorities, and how these may fit with their currently funded research, can be discussed at that time.

Budget and Funding Information

Funding will be available for fiscal year FY 2011 for administrative supplements to currently funded NIH research and research training grants. Supplement requests must be for not more than $40,000 in direct costs for a funding period of one year. In addition, the budget format should be the same as that used for the parent grant i.e. modular or detailed.

The majority of the work done under the supplement must be conducted with leadership from host-country researchers and institutions, and thus, 80% of the award dollars should be spent in the foreign country, and the resulting research applicationl should be led by a host-country researcher or researchers.

While there are no pre-designated follow-on funding announcements, the supplements are intended to result in applications for research ranging from approximately $50,000 to $300,000/year (direct costs) for 3 years or appropriate for the NIH unsolicited R01 pool.

Eligibility

This announcement is for administrative supplements for funded R01, R21, D43, U19 (NIMH-specific), and T32 (NIAID-specific) grants will be allowed.

Applicants are limited to investigators with current NIH grant funding for research or research training from the co-sponsoring institutions.

Applicants eligible for this supplement must already have a strong existing relationship with a foreign academic institution or organization as demonstrated by the geographic focus of the current NIH grant.

The proposed supplement must be within the general scope of the peer-reviewed activities and aims approved within the parent grant.

A letter of support must be provided by the authorized organizational official for each collaborating institution.

Grants in their last year of funding or in no cost extensions categories are not eligible for this opportunity.

For applications oriented towards the GHI, priority will be given to applications from GHI program countries. The list of these countries can be found in the FAQ section of the supplement website.

To be eligible, the parent grant must be active, and the research proposed in the supplement must be accomplished within the competitive segment. The proposed supplement must be within the general scope of the peer-reviewed activities and aims approved within the parent grant.

IMPORTANT: The research proposed by the NIH grantee in the supplement application must be within the original scope of the NIH-supported grant project. The funding mechanism being used to support this program, administrative supplements, can be used to cover cost increases that are associated with achieving certain new research objectives as long as they are within the original scope of the project. Any cost increases need to result from making modifications to the project in order to take advantage of opportunities that would increase the value of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes.

Submitting an Administrative Supplement Request

To be considered for an administrative supplement, the request must be signed by the Authorized Organizational Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO), and must describe the need for additional funding and the categorical costs.

Submit one original, hard copy of the request packet (with original signatures of the authorized business official) to the address listed below:

Bruce R. Butrum
Chief Grants Management Officer
Office of the Director
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive, Room B2C39
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Phone: 301-496-1670
Email: FICGHIsupplements@mail.nih.gov

In addition, applicants are encouraged to send an electronic copy of the submitted supplement request as an e-mail attachment in PDF format to the email listed above.

Requests should be submitted on the PHS398 Application Guide forms (font size and other formatting rules apply as designated in the instructions), as indicated below. Include only the following elements:

Cover Letter which cites this Notice, and the following information:

  • Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) name
  • Parent grant number and title
  • Amount of the requested supplement
  • Name and title of the institutional official, and
  • Phone, email, and address information for both the PD/PI and institutional official.
  • The cover letter must be signed by the authorized organizational representative/institutional official.

PHS 398 Form Page 1 (Face page)

  • The title of the project should be the title of the parent award.
  • This Notice should be cited in Box 2, and the yes box should be checked.
  • The Principal Investigator (PI) must be the same as the PI on the parent award. For Multiple PI parent awards, the Contact PI must be the PI listed on the supplement request, and the supplement cannot change the Multiple PI team.
  • The remaining items on the face page should be filled out in accordance with the PHS 398 application instructions.

PHS 398 Form Page 2

  • Note: The project summary is that of the administrative supplement, not the parent grant.

A brief proposal describing the project, including:

  • Scope of the overall project and the anticipated contribution of the requested supplement (not to exceed five pages).
    • Provide a brief description of the scope of the overall project on which the supplemental request is based.
    • This section should include a description of the supplement's specific aims, including research design and methods and data analysis. Describe the relationship of the supplement request to the parent grant.
  • Budget for the supplement with a justification that details the items requested, including Facilities and Administrative costs.
  • Biographical Sketch for all new key personnel (those who are additions on the supplemental project
  • Human Subjects/ Vertebrate Animal documentation (if applicable).
    • Include a current Human Subjects/IRB or Vertebrate Animals/IACUC approval letter, if available. Otherwise, this will be required at the time of funding. All appropriate IRB and IACUC approvals must be in place prior to a supplement award being made.
    • Any differences in the involvement or use of human subjects or specimens, or use of vertebrate animals, between the administrative supplement activity and the parent grant should be noted.
    • When appropriate, details should be provided on the protection of human subjects and inclusion of women, children, and minorities. Additional guidance on Human Subjects Research and Vertebrate Animals is provided under Part II of the PHS 398 instructions.
  • PHS 398 Checklist Form
Selection

Administrative supplement applications in response to this funding opportunity will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

  • Relevance of the proposed activities to the NIH parent grant activities or geographic location
  • Scientific content for program balance.
  • Geographic balance considerations.
  • Relevance to the interests of partner organizations.
Inquiries

Inquiries and discussion of plans for responding to this Notice are strongly encouraged.

Yvonne Njage, M.D.
Program Officer
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
31 Center Drive, Room B2C39
Bethesda, MD 20992-2220
Phone: 301-496-1653
Email: FICGHIsupplements@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/women-girls-grant-supplements.aspx

Bruce R. Butrum
Chief Grants Management Officer
Office of the Director
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive, Room B2C29
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Phone: 301-496-1670
Email: Bruce.Butrum@nih.gov