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NOT-HL-21-009 - Updated Notice of Information: NHLBI Extensions for Career Development Award (K01, K08, K23, K25) Recipients Whose Career Trajectories Have Been Significantly Impacted by COVID-19

NOT-OD-21-052 - Reminder Requesting Extensions for Early Career Scientists Whose Career Trajectories Have Been Significantly Impacted by COVID-19

Issued by

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Purpose

Purpose

NIH recently released NOT-OD-21-052 which provided general guidance for early career scientists affected by COVID-19 to request no-cost extensions or funded extensions. This NHLBI Notice provides additional guidance for currently-funded NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 recipients impacted by COVID-19 seeking funded extensions.

Background

NHLBI investigators have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and several areas of need have been identified for early career scientists, in particular K01, K08, K23, and K25 recipients. To help support NHLBI career development award recipients, NHLBI is providing an opportunity for select K award recipients to apply for a funded extension to support their career development and successful transition to research independence. Due to limited funding in FY2021, the NHLBI will not be able to provide funded extensions for all K award recipients. To maximize the limited resources, NHLBI seeks to support K award recipients in the last year of their award or in their first no-cost extension (NCE) for whom an NHLBI-supported cost extension will be most impactful toward subsequent R01 funding and a transition to independent investigation.

Eligibility and Extension Criteria

Applicants must be a currently funded NHLBI K01, K08, K23, or K25 recipient in the final year of their award or in their first NCE and have experienced a minimum of a 12-week lab closure or clinical research interruption due to COVID-19. Applicants meeting these requirements will be eligible for a 4-month extension. Clinician applicants who have experienced increased clinical duties due to COVID-19 are eligible for an additional 2-month extension, for a total combined 6-month extension. Any funded extensions will be for salary support only and not for additional resources or research expenses.

Currently funded NHLBI K01, K08, K23, or K25 recipients with an unobligated balance equivalent to 1 year or more of funding are not eligible for this extension. In addition, NHLBI K01, K08, K23, or K25 award recipients who have successfully competed as a PD/PI for a research project grant (RPG) with direct costs of = $100,000 per year are not eligible for this extension.

While NHLBI Fellowship ( F ) and K99 recipients are not eligible for this extension, they may contact their Program Officer to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on their awards.

Application and Submission Information

Currently funded NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 recipients impacted by COVID-19 seeking funded extensions must include the following:

• A letter (maximum length 2 pages) from the applicant’s Department Chair (or equivalent) and co-signed by the Chair, primary mentor, and applicant.
  • The letter must describe the nature of the research interruption (e.g., lab closure, clinical research restriction), certify that the research interruption and additional clinical responsibilities (if applicable) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and specify the timeframe and/or duration of the interruption(s) and additional clinical responsibilities (if applicable).
  • The letter must confirm continued institutional commitment to the K award recipient for the remainder of the K award period and the duration of the funded extension, including a description of any additional funds to support the work proposed, if provided. NHLBI expects the K award recipient to resume the required minimum effort (75% in most cases) during the funded extension.
• A description (maximum length 1 page) of additional COVID-19 related disruptions to the applicant’s research including but not limited to:
  • Delays from core facility disruptions
  • Shortage of research personnel due to departures or inability to hire
  • Increased childcare responsibilities
• A budget and budget justification (using PHS 398 Form Page 4:Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period and PHS 398 Form Page 5: Budget for Entire Proposed Project Period), including an estimate of funds remaining on the award at the end of the current budget period and a description of why the remaining funds cannot be used to cover the requested extension.
• Applicant’s pending, current, and prior PHS or non-PHS support (Other Support).
• A description (maximum length 3 pages) of the research plan for the extension, which must remain within the scope of the parent award.

The package should be submitted via the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR)/Signing Official (SO) to the Grants Management Specialist and Program Official listed in the Notice of Award. Applicants are encouraged to consult with their Program Official prior to submission.

Currently funded NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 recipients affected by COVID-19 seeking funded extensions must provide all of the information requested above by the due date(s) noted below or the request will not be considered.

Applications due dates

• April 15, 2021
• May 17, 2021
• June 25, 2021

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Roya Kalantari, Ph.D.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-480-1989
Email: [email protected]

Wayne Wang, Ph.D.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-0535
Email: [email protected]