Notice Number: NOT-RM-08-023
Key Dates
Release Date: July 3, 2008
Issued by
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) ( http://www.ncrr.nih.gov )
NCRR, on behalf of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, has issued Requests for Applications for the Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Awards (RFA-RM-06-002, RM-07-002, RM-07-007 and RM-08-002).
The optional Institutional National Research Service Award [NRSA] program (funded through a TL1 mechanism) currently provides for short-term (practical experience in clinical research ranging from 2 to 3 months) and year-long predoctoral support for clinical research trainees. The support provides research experience for trainees interested in clinical research careers. When the CTSA program was first implemented, support for post-doctoral trainees was provided only through a KL2 program. However, experience gained in the first two years of awards has shown a need for TL1 support for postdoctoral trainees at CTSAs.
The Notice modifies the Eligibility requirements for Research Training Component (T32) Eligibility under section “1.B.3. Eligible Research Education, Research Training and Research Career Development – trainees, scholars and mentors” that currently reads:
“Predoctoral trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree by the beginning date of their NRSA trainee appointment, and must be training at a post-baccalaureate level and enrolled in a program leading to a PhD in a clinical research-related doctoral degree program, or a combined doctoral level professional degree plus a clinical research-related advanced degree, such as a MD, DDS, DO, DNP, PharmD/MS or MD, DDS, DO, DNP, PharmD/PhD. NRSA traineeships are not provided for study leading to a MD, DO, DDS, DNP, PharmD or other similar professional clinical degrees, or a master's degree that is not pursued in a combined program with a professional level doctorate. Individuals currently supported by other Federal funds are not eligible for trainee support from the T32 program at the same time. Trainees are customarily appointed for full-time, 12-month continuous periods. An individual trainee may receive no more than five years of NRSA support in aggregate at the predoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards.”
Is amended to read:
Predoctoral trainees
Predoctoral trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree by the beginning date of their NRSA trainee appointment, and must be training at a post-baccalaureate level and enrolled in a program leading to a PhD in a clinical research-related doctoral degree program, or a combined doctoral level professional degree plus a clinical research-related advanced degree, such as a MD, DDS, DO, DNP, PharmD/MS or MD, DDS, DO, DNP, PharmD/PhD. NRSA traineeships are not provided for study leading to a MD, DO, DDS, DNP, PharmD or other similar professional clinical degrees, or a master's degree that is not pursued in a combined program with a professional level doctorate. Individuals currently supported by other Federal funds are not eligible for trainee support from the T32 program at the same time. Trainees are customarily appointed for full-time, 12-month continuous periods. An individual trainee may receive no more than five years of NRSA support in aggregate at the predoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards.
Postdoctoral Trainees
Postdoctoral trainees must have received, as of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, a Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to, the following: D.M.D., D.C., D.O., D.V.M., O.D., D.P.M., Sc.D., Eng.D., Dr. P.H., D.N.Sc., Pharm.D., N.D. (Doctor of Naturopathy), D.S.W., Psy.D, as well as a doctoral degree in nursing research or practice. Documentation by an authorized official of the degree-granting institution certifying all degree requirements have been met prior to the beginning date of the training appointment is acceptable. Research training at the postdoctoral level must emphasize specialized training to meet national research priorities in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences that are within the scientific purview of the NIH awarding components participating in this research training program.
Postdoctoral trainees supported by NRSA awards incur a service payback obligation for the first 12 months of postdoctoral support. The second year of NRSA postdoctoral support will serve to pay back the service obligation. See NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Trainee Appointments: All trainees are required to pursue their research training full time, normally defined as 40 hours per week, or as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies. Appointments are normally made in 12-month increments, and no trainee may be appointed for less than 9 months during the initial period of appointment, except with prior approval of the NIH awarding unit, or when trainees are appointed to approved, short-term training positions.
No individual trainee may receive more than 5 years of aggregate NRSA support at the predoctoral level or 3 years of support at the postdoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training and individual fellowship awards. Any exception to the maximum period of support requires a waiver from the NIH awarding office based on a review of the written justification from the individual trainee, and endorsed by the Program Director and the sponsoring grantee institution. Trainees seeking additional support are strongly advised to consult with the NIH awarding office.
Additionally, tuition and fees at the postdoctoral level are limited to that required for specific courses in support of the approved training program which should be identified prior to matriculation.
Inquiries
We encourage your inquiries concerning this Notice and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants:
Dr. Anthony Hayward
Division for Clinical Research Resources, NCRR
6701 Democracy Blvd.
Room 906, MCS 4874
Bethesda , MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 435-0790
FAX: (301) 480-3661
Email: [email protected]
and Human Services (HHS)
