Full Text NOT-97-007
 
NIH NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARD INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH TRAINING
GRANTS
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 16, May 16, 1997
 
P.T. 34

Keywords: 
  Biomedical Research Training 
  Grants Administration/Policy+ 

 
National Institutes of Health
 
PURPOSE
 
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will award National Research
Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Training Grants (T32) to eligible
institutions to develop or enhance research training opportunities
for individuals, selected by the institution, who are training for
careers in specified areas of biomedical and behavioral research.
The purpose of the NRSA program is to help ensure that a diverse and
highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles
related to the Nation's biomedical and behavioral research agenda.
Accordingly, the NRSA program supports predoctoral, postdoctoral, and
short-term research training experiences.
 
Predoctoral Training.  Predoctoral research training must lead to the
Ph.D. degree or a comparable research doctoral degree.  Students
enrolled in health-professional programs that are not part of a
formal, combined program (e.g. M.D./Ph.D. or D.D.S./Ph.D.) and who
wish to postpone their professional studies in order to gain research
experience may also be appointed to an Institutional Research
Training Grant.  Predoctoral research training must emphasize
fundamental training in areas of biomedical and behavioral sciences.
 
Postdoctoral Training.  Postdoctoral research training is for
individuals who have received a Ph.D., an M.D., or a comparable
doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.
Research training at the postdoctoral level must emphasize
specialized training to meet national research priorities in the
biomedical and behavioral sciences.
 
Research training grants are a desirable mechanism for the
postdoctoral training of physicians and other health professionals
who may have extensive clinical training but limited research
experience.  For such individuals, the training may be a part of a
research degree program.  In all cases, postdoctoral trainees should
agree to engage in at least 2 years of research, research training,
or comparable activities beginning at the time of appointment since
the duration of training has been shown to be strongly correlated
with post-training research activity.
 
Short-Term Research Training for Health-Professional Students.
Applications for Institutional Research Training Grants may include a
request for short-term predoctoral positions reserved specifically to
train medical or other health-professional students on a full-time
basis during the summer or other "off-quarter" periods.  Short-term
appointments are intended to provide health-professional students
with opportunities to participate in biomedical and/or behavioral
research in an effort to attract these individuals into research
careers.
 
Short-term research training positions should last at least 2 months
but must not exceed 3 months.  Individual health-professional
students selected for appointment should be encouraged to obtain
multiple periods of short-term research training during the years
leading to their degree.  Such appointments may be consecutive or may
be reserved for summers or other "off-quarter" periods.
 
Since not all NIH institutes and centers support short-term research
training positions applicants are strongly urged to contact the
appropriate NIH institute representative, listed at the end of this
announcement, before requesting short-term research training
positions.
 
Healthy People 2000
 
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This PA,
~NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant~, is related to the
priority area of human resource development.  Potential applicants
may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No.
017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) from
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).
 
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
 
Only domestic, non-profit, private or public institutions may apply
for grants to support research training programs.  The applicant
institution must have a strong research program in the area(s)
proposed for research training and must have the requisite staff and
facilities to carry out the proposed program.  The research training
program director at the institution will be responsible for the
selection and appointment of trainees to receive NRSA support and for
the overall direction of the program.
 
Trainees appointed to the training program must have the opportunity
to carry out supervised biomedical or behavioral research with the
primary objective of developing or extending their research skills
and knowledge in preparation for a research career.
 
Trainee Eligibility Requirements
 
Positions on NRSA institutional grants may not be used for study
leading to the M.D., D.D.S., or other clinical, health-professional
degrees except when those studies are a part of a formal combined
research degree program, such as the M.D./Ph.D.  Similarly, trainees
may not accept NRSA support for studies which are part of residency
training leading to certification in a medical or dental specialty or
subspecialty, except when the residency program credits a period of
full-time, postdoctoral research training toward board certification
and the trainee intends to pursue a research career.
 
Students enrolled in health-professional doctoral degree programs may
receive support for short-term research training as described above.
Additionally, health-professional students may interrupt their
studies for a year or more to engage in an extended period of
full-time research training before completing their professional
degree.
 
Trainees are required to pursue their research training on a
full-time basis, devoting at least 40 hours per week to the program.
Within the 40 hours per week training period, research trainees in
clinical areas must devote their time to the proposed research
training and must confine clinical duties to those that are an
integral part of the research training experience.
 
Citizenship.  To be appointed to a training position supported by an
NRSA research training grant, an individual must be a citizen or
noncitizen national of the United States or must have been lawfully
admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently
valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or must be in possession
of other legal verification of such status).  Noncitizen nationals
are generally persons born in outlying possessions of the United
States (e.g., American Samoa and Swains Island).  Individuals on
temporary or student visas are not eligible.
 
Predoctoral Trainees.  Predoctoral trainees must have received a
baccalaureate degree by the beginning date of their NRSA appointment,
and must be training at the postbaccalaureate level and enrolled in a
program leading to a Ph.D. in science or in an equivalent research
doctoral degree program.  Health-professional students who wish to
interrupt their studies for a year or more to engage in full-time
research training before completing their professional degrees are
also eligible.
 
Postdoctoral Trainees.  Postdoctoral trainees must have received, as
of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, a Ph.D., M.D. or
comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign
institution.  Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited
to, the following:  D.D.S., D.M.D., D.O., D.V.M., O.D., D.P.M.,
Sc.D., Eng.D., Dr. P.H., D.N.Sc., D. Pharm., D.S.W., and Psy.D.
Documentation by an authorized official of the degree-granting
institution certifying all degree requirements have been met prior to
the beginning date of training is acceptable.
 
Short-Term Health-Professional Trainees.  To be eligible for
short-term predoctoral research training positions,
health-professional students must have completed at least one quarter
in a program leading to a clinical doctorate prior to participating
in the program.  Individuals matriculated in a formal research degree
program, or those holding a research doctorate or masters degree or a
combined health-professional/research doctorate are not eligible for
short-term training positions.  Within schools of pharmacy, only
individuals who are candidates for the Pharm.D. degree are eligible
for short-term positions.
 
Mechanism of Support
 
Institutional NRSA research training grants may be made for periods
up to 5 years and are renewable.  Awards within an approved
competitive segment are normally made in 12-month increments with
support for additional years based on satisfactory progress and the
continued availability of funds.
 
Trainee appointments are normally made in 12-month increments.  No
trainee may be appointed for less than 9 months during the initial
period of appointment, except with the prior approval of the NIH
awarding unit or when health-professional students are appointed to
approved, short- term research 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 grants and individual fellowship awards.  Any
extension of the total duration of trainee support at either the
predoctoral or postdoctoral level requires approval by the director
of the NIH Institute or Center that supports the award.  Requests for
extension must be made in writing by the trainee, endorsed by the
director of the training program and the appropriate institutional
official, and addressed to the director of the awarding component.
The request must include a sound justification for an extension of
the statutory limits on the period of support.
 
Special Program Considerations
 
The primary objective of the NRSA program is to prepare qualified
individuals for careers that significantly impact the Nation~s
research agenda.  Within the framework of the program's longstanding
commitment to excellence and projected need for investigators in
particular areas of research, attention must be given to recruiting
individuals from minority groups underrepresented nationally in the
biomedical and behavioral sciences.  The following groups have been
identified as underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research
nationally:  African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans,
Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Use of the term "minority" in
this announcement will refer to these groups.
 
Other considerations relate to the duration of training and the
transition of trainees to individual support mechanisms.  Studies
have shown that the length of the appointment to a training grant for
postdoctoral trainees with health-professional degrees strongly
correlates with subsequent application for and receipt of independent
NIH research support.  Program directors, therefore, should limit
appointments to individuals who are committed to a career in research
and plan to remain on the training grant or in some other type of
research experience for a minimum of 2 years.  It has also been shown
that individuals who have been supported by an individual
postdoctoral fellowship are more likely to subsequently apply for and
receive NIH research support than are individuals who have received
support only from a research training grant.  Therefore, program
directors should encourage trainees to apply for individual
postdoctoral fellowships or mentored career development awards (K
awards).  During the review of training grants applications, peer
reviewers will examine the training record to determine the average
duration of training appointments for health-professional
postdoctoral trainees and whether there is a record of transition to
individual support mechanisms.
 
Past studies have shown that trainees from programs oriented
exclusively toward health professionals are less likely to
subsequently apply for and receive research grant support than health
professionals who train with postdoctoral researchers who have an
intensive background in research.  Programs located in clinical
departments that focus on research training for individuals with an
M.D. or other health-professional degrees should consider developing
strong ties to basic science departments or modifying their program
to include individuals with research doctoral degrees if such changes
are consistent with the goals of the program.  Applications should
describe the basic science department's contribution to the research
training experience and also indicate if both health professional
trainees and trainees with research doctorates are included in the
training program.
 
Payback Provisions
 
As specified in the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, NRSA recipients
incur a service payback obligation only during their first 12 months
of postdoctoral support.  Additionally,  the NIH Revitalization Act
of 1993 specifies that the second and subsequent years of
postdoctoral NRSA training will serve to pay back a postdoctoral
service payback obligation.  Accordingly, the following guidelines
apply:
 
o  Predoctoral trainees are not required to sign the payback
agreement and do not incur a service payback obligation.
 
o  Postdoctoral trainees in the first 12 months of postdoctoral NRSA
support must sign the payback agreement form (PHS form 6031) and will
incur a period of service payback obligation equal to the period of
support.
 
o  Postdoctoral trainees in the 13th and subsequent months of NRSA
postdoctoral support are not required to sign the payback agreement
form and will not incur a service payback obligation.
 
o  The 13th and subsequent months of postdoctoral NRSA support are
considered acceptable payback service for prior postdoctoral support.
Individuals who continue under that award for 2 years have fulfilled
their obligation by the end of the second year.  Service payback
obligations can also be paid back by conducting health-related
research or teaching averaging more than 20 hours per week of a full
work year after terminating NRSA support.
 
o  Recipients must begin to undertake obligated service on a
continuous basis within two years of NRSA support termination.  The
period for undertaking payback service may be delayed for such
reasons as temporary disability, completion of residency
requirements, or completion of the requirements for a graduate
degree.  Requests for an extension must be made in writing to the
awarding component specifying the need for additional time and the
length of the required extension.
 
o  Recipients of NRSA support are responsible for informing the NIH
awarding component of changes in status or address.
 
o  For individuals who fail to fulfill their obligation through
service, the United States is entitled to recover the total amount of
NRSA funds paid to the individual for the obligated period plus
interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Financial payback must be completed within 3 years beginning on the
date the United States becomes entitled to recover such amount.
 
o  Under certain conditions,  the Secretary, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (or those delegated this authority) may
extend the period for starting service or repayment, permit breaks in
service, or in rare cases in which service or financial repayment
would constitute an extreme hardship, the approving official may
waive or suspend the payback obligation of an individual.
 
o  Officials at the awardee institution have the responsibility of
explaining the terms of the payback requirements to all prospective
training candidates before appointment to the training grant.
Additionally, all trainees recruited into the training program should
be provided with information related to the career options available
to individuals who complete the program and whether the types of
positions available are consistent with the nature of the training
provided and, where applicable, whether those positions are likely to
satisfy any outstanding service payback obligation.
 
Trainee Reporting Requirements
 
The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS
Form 2271) for each trainee appointed or reappointed to the training
grant at the beginning of the appointment period.  Additionally, a
completed Payback Agreement (PHS Form 6031) must be submitted for
each trainee in their first twelve months of postdoctoral support.
Within 30 days of the end of the total support period for each
trainee, the institution must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form
416-7).  Failure to submit the required forms in a timely manner may
result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in any continuation
funding for the award.
 
Leave
 
In general, trainees may receive stipends during periods of vacation
and holidays observed by individuals in comparable training positions
at the grantee institution. For the purpose of these awards, however,
the period between the spring and fall semesters is considered to be
an active time of research and research training and is not
considered to be a vacation or holiday.
 
Trainees may receive  stipends for up to 15 calendar days of sick
leave per year.  Sick leave may be used for the  medical conditions
related to pregnancy and childbirth pursuant to the Pregnancy
Discrimination Act (42 USC 2000 e(k)).  Trainees may also receive
stipends for up to 30 calendar days of parental leave per year for
the adoption or the birth of a child when those in comparable
training positions at the grantee institution have access to paid
leave for this purpose and the use of  parental leave is approved by
the program director.
 
A period of terminal leave is not permitted and payment may not be
made from grant funds for leave not taken. Individuals requiring
periods of time away from their research training experience longer
than specified here must seek approval from the NIH awarding
component for an unpaid leave of absence.  At the beginning of a
leave of absence, the trainee must submit a Termination Notice (PHS
Form 416-7) and upon return from the leave of absence, the trainee
must be formally reappointed to the grant by submitting an updated
Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271).  Trainees within the first
twelve months of postdoctoral support must also submit a Payback
Agreement (PHS Form 6031) upon return from a leave of absence.
 
Stipends
 
National Research Service Awards provide funds, in the form of
stipends, to graduate students and postdoctoral trainees.  A stipend
is provided as a subsistence allowance to help trainees defray living
expenses during the research training experience.  It is not provided
as a condition of employment with either the Federal Government or
the awardee institution.  Stipends must be paid to all trainees at
the levels approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services.
 
Predoctoral Trainees.  The current annual stipend for predoctoral
trainees is $11,496.  For
appointments of less than a year, the stipend will be based on a
monthly proration that is currently $958 per month.
 
Postdoctoral Trainees.  The current annual stipend for postdoctoral
trainees is determined by the
number of FULL years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time
of appointment.  Relevant
experience may include research experience (including industrial),
teaching, internship, residency,
clinical duties, or other time spent in full-time studies in a
health-related field following the date of the qualifying doctoral
degree.  Current postdoctoral stipends are as follows:
 
Years of Relevant Experience                   Annual Amount
 
less than  1                                     $20,292
greater than or equal to 1 but less than 2        21,420
greater than or equal to 2 but less than 3        25,600
greater than or equal to 3 but less than 4        26,900
greater than or equal to 4 but less than 5        28,200
greater than or equal to 5 but less than 6        29,500
greater than or equal to 6 but less than 7        30,800
greater than or equal to 7                        32,300
 
No departure from the established stipend schedule may be negotiated
by the institution with the trainee.  The stipend for each additional
full year of stipend support is the next level in the stipend
structure and does not change in the middle of an appointment.  The
grantee institution is allowed to provide funds to an individual in
addition to the stipends paid by the NIH.  Such additional amounts
may be either in the form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or
in the form of compensation, such as salary or tuition remission for
services such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant,
provided the following conditions are met:
 
Stipend Supplementation.  Supplementation or additional support to
offset the cost of living may be provided by the grantee institution.
Supplementation does not require any additional effort from the
trainee.  Federal funds may not be used for supplementation unless
specifically authorized under the terms of both the program from
which such supplemental funds are to be received and the program
whose funds are to be supplemented.  Under no circumstances may DHHS
funds be used for supplementation.
 
Compensation.  An institution may provide additional funds to a
trainee in the form of compensation (as salary and/or tuition
remission) for services such as teaching or serving as a research
assistant.  A trainee may receive compensation for services as a
research assistant or in some other position on a Federal research
grant, including a DHHS research grant.  However, compensated
services should occur on a limited, part-time basis apart from the
normal research training activities, which require a minimum of 40
hours per week. In addition, compensation may not be paid from a
research grant supporting research that is part of the research
training experience.
 
Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation
or the services provided for compensation interfere with, detract
from, or prolong the trainee's approved NRSA training program.
 
Educational Loans or G.I. Bill.  An individual may make use of
Federal educational loan funds and assistance under the Veterans
Readjustment Benefits Act (G.I. Bill).  Such funds are not considered
supplementation or compensation.
 
Concurrent Awards.  An NRSA may not be held concurrently with another
federally sponsored fellowship or similar Federal award that provides
a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of the NRSA.
 
Tax Liability
 
Internal Revenue Code Section 117 applies to the tax treatment of all
scholarships and fellowships.  Under that section, non-degree
candidates are required to report as gross income all stipends and
any monies paid on their behalf for course tuition and fees required
for attendance.  Degree candidates may exclude from gross income (for
tax purposes) any amount used for tuition and related expenses such
as fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of
instruction at a qualified educational organization.
 
The taxability of stipends, however, in no way alters the
relationship between NRSA trainees and institutions.  NRSA stipends
are not considered salaries.  In addition, trainees supported under
the NRSA are not considered to be in an employee-employer
relationship with the NIH or the awardee institution.
 
It must be emphasized that the interpretation and implementation of
the tax laws are the domain of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and
the courts.  PHS takes no position on what the status may be for a
particular taxpayer, and it does not have the authority to dispense
tax advice.  Individuals should consult their local IRS office about
the applicability of the law to their situation and for information
on their tax obligations.
 
Tuition, Fees, and Health Insurance
 
Tuition, fees, and self-only medical insurance, are allowable trainee
costs if such charges are required of all individuals in a similar
training status at the institution, regardless of  their source of
support.  Family medical insurance coverage is not an appropriate
charge to the NRSA research training grant.  Tuition at the
postdoctoral level is limited to that required for specific courses
in support of the approved research training program.  On an annual
basis, for each trainee, the training grant will cover 100% of the
first $2,000 of the combined cost of tuition, fees, and self-only
health insurance and 60% of any amount above $2,000.  Institutions
are instructed to request the full amount of these costs in competing
applications.  Noncompeting awards will reimburse tuition, fees, and
health insurance costs in the amount paid in the previous award year,
unless there is a change in the scope of the award.
 
Other Trainee Costs
 
Trainee travel, including attendance at scientific meetings that the
institution determines to be necessary to the individual's research
training, is an allowable trainee expense.  In addition, support for
travel to a research training experience away from the institution
may be permitted.  Research training experiences away from the parent
institution must be justified considering the type of opportunities
for training available, how these opportunities differ from those
offered at the parent institution, and the relationship of the
proposed experience to the trainee's career stage and goals.  This
type of research training requires prior approval from the NIH.
Letters requesting such training may be submitted to the NIH awarding
component at any time during the award period.
 
Institutional costs of up to $1,500 a year per predoctoral trainee
and up to $2,500 a year per postdoctoral trainee may be requested to
defray the costs of other research training related expenses, such as
staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and
staff travel.
 
Under exceptional circumstances, which can include providing
accommodations for a trainee with disabilities, it is possible to
request institutional costs above the standard rate.  Requests for
additional costs must be explained in detail and carefully justified
in the application.  Consultation with NIH program staff in advance
of such requests is strongly advised.
 
The institution may receive up to $125 per month to offset the cost
of tuition, fees, health insurance, travel, supplies, and other
expenses for each short-term, health-professional research training
position.
 
A facilities and administration allowance (indirect cost allowance)
based on 8 percent of total allowable direct costs (this excludes
amounts for tuition, fees, health insurance, and equipment) may be
requested.  Applications from State and local government agencies may
request full indirect cost reimbursement (see PHS Grants Policy
Statement).
 
Application Procedures
 
Applicants must use the grant application form PHS 398.  It contains
special instructions for
Institutional National Research Service Awards (T32).
 
Applications Requesting Short-term Training for Health Professional
Students.  Applicants who wish to include a request for short-term
research training positions should identify short-term positions
separately within the "stipends" and "training related expenses"
categories on the budget page.  Under "stipends," short-term
positions should be listed in the "other" category.  Tuition, fees,
health  insurance, and trainee travel, and other expenses, are to be
included in "training related expenses."  The description of the
short-term research training program should be included in the
application for the regular research training program, but should be
separated from the description of the regular program within each
section of the application.  In addition to the information requested
in the "program plan" section, the applicant should address the
relationship of the proposed short-term program to the regular
research training program and provide assurance that the short-term
program will not detract from the regular program.
 
Applicants must observe the 25-page limit on the narrative section.
 
The PHS 398 form is available on the NIH website at
http://www.nih.gov and at institutional offices of sponsored research
or their equivalent.  If not available locally or from the Internet,
call 301-710-0267 or send a request, accompanied by a self-addressed
mailing label, to:
 
ASKNIH
Extramural Outreach and Information Resources
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7910
Bethesda, MD  20892-7910
Email:  [email protected]
 
Review Considerations
 
Applications are evaluated for merit by NIH initial review groups
based on the following criteria:
 
o  Past research training record of both the program and the
designated preceptors as determined by the success of former trainees
in seeking further career development and in establishing productive
scientific careers.  Evidence of further career development can
include receipt of fellowships, career awards, further training
appointments, and similar accomplishments.  Evidence of a productive
scientific career can include a record of successful competition for
research grants, receipt of special honors, a record of publications,
receipt of patents, promotion to scientific positions, and any other
measure of success consistent with the nature and duration of the
training received.
 
o  objectives, design, and direction of the research training
program;
 
o  caliber of preceptors as researchers, including successful
competition for research support;
 
o  the institutional training environment, including the level of
institutional commitment, quality of the facilities, availability of
appropriate courses, and availability of research support;
 
o  recruitment and selection plans for trainees and the availability
of high quality candidates;
 
o  record of the research training program in retaining
health-professional postdoctoral trainees for at least 2 years in
research training or other research activities;
 
o  when appropriate, the concomitant research training of
health-professional postdoctorates (i.e., individuals with the M.D.,
D.O., D.D.S., etc.) with basic science postdoctorates (i.e.,
individuals with a Ph.D., etc.) or linkages with basic science
departments.
 
Short-Term Research Training Positions:  In addition to the above
criteria, applications that request short-term research training
positions will also be assessed using the following criteria:
 
o  quality of the proposed short-term research training program
including the commitment and availability of the participating
faculty, program design, availability of research support, and
training environment;
 
o  access to candidates for short-term research training and the
ability to recruit high quality, short-term trainees from the
applicant institution or some other health-professional school;
 
o  characteristics of the research training program that might be
expected to persuade short-term trainees to consider
academic/research careers, particularly in clinical areas;
 
o  success in attracting students back for multiple appointments
(competing continuation applications);
 
o  effect of the short-term training program on the quality of the
regular research training program or any existing, stand-alone short-
term research training program; including the appropriateness of the
number of short-term positions, and the plan to integrate the
short-term training program into other existing programs;
 
o  plan to follow former short-term trainees and to assess the effect
of such research training on their subsequent careers.
 
Additional Review Considerations
 
Minority Recruitment Plan:  The NIH remains committed to increasing
the participation of individuals from underrepresented minority
groups in biomedical and behavioral research.  As first announced in
1989, all competing applications for institutional NRSA research
training grants must include a specific plan to recruit and retain
underrepresented minorities in the training program.  In addition,
all competing continuation applications also must include a report on
the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities during
the previous award period.  If an application is received without a
plan, or without a report on the previous award period, the
application will be considered incomplete and will be returned to the
applicant without review.  Additional information on this requirement
was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 22,
Number 25, July 16, 1993.
 
As indicated above, competing continuation applications must include
a detailed account of experiences in recruiting individuals from
underrepresented groups during the previous award period.
Information must be included on successful and unsuccessful
recruitment strategies.  The report should provide information on the
racial/ethnic distribution of:
 
o  students or postdoctorates who applied for admission or positions
within the department(s) relative to the training grant,
 
o  students or postdoctorates who were offered admission to or a
position within the department(s),
 
o  students actually enrolled in the academic program relevant to the
training grant,
 
o  students or postdoctorates who were appointed to the research
training grant.
 
For those trainees who were appointed to the grant, the report should
include information about the duration of research training and
whether those trainees have finished their training in good standing.
 
After the overall educational and technical merit of an application
has been assessed, peer reviewers will examine and evaluate the
minority recruitment plan and any record of recruitment and
retention.  For competing continuation applications, the reviewers
will examine and evaluate the record of the program in recruiting and
retaining underrepresented minority trainees during the previous
award period.  The panel also will consider whether the experience in
recruitment during the previous award period has been incorporated
into the formulation of the recruitment plan for the next award
period.
 
The findings of the panel will be included in an administrative note
in the summary statement.  If the minority recruitment plan or if the
record of recruitment and retention of minorities is judged to be
unacceptable, funding will be withheld until a revised plan that
addresses the deficiencies is received.  Staff within the NIH
awarding component, with guidance from the appropriate national
advisory committee or council, will determine whether amended plans
and reports submitted after the initial review are acceptable.
 
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research:  Every predoctoral
and postdoctoral NRSA trainee supported by an institutional research
training grant must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of
research.  (For more information on this provision, see the NIH Guide
for Grants and Contracts, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992.)
 
Applications must include a description of a program to provide
formal or informal instruction in scientific integrity or the
responsible conduct of research.  Applications without plans for
instruction in the responsible conduct of research will be considered
incomplete and may be returned to the applicant without review.
 
o  Although the NIH does not establish specific curricula or formal
requirements, all programs are encouraged strongly to consider
instruction in the following areas: conflict of interest, responsible
authorship, policies for handling misconduct, policies regarding the
use of human and animal subjects, and data management.  Within the
context of training in scientific integrity it is also beneficial to
discuss the mutual responsibilities of the institution and the
graduate students or postdoctorates appointed to the program.
 
o  Plans must address the subject matter of the instruction, the
format of the instruction, the degree of faculty participation,
trainee attendance, and the frequency of instruction.
 
o  The rationale for the proposed plan of instruction must be
provided.
 
o  Program reports on the type of instruction provided, topics
covered, and other relevant information, such as attendance by
trainees and faculty participation, must be included in future
competing continuation and noncompeting applications.
 
The NIH encourages institutions to provide instruction in the
responsible conduct of research to all graduate students and
postdoctorates in a training program or department, regardless of the
source of support.
 
NIH initial review groups will assess the applicant~s plans on the
basis of the appropriateness of topics, format, amount and nature of
faculty participation, and the frequency and duration of instruction.
The plan will be discussed after the overall determination of merit,
so that the quality of the plan will not be a factor in the
determination of the priority score.  Plans will be judged as
acceptable or unacceptable.  The acceptability of the plan will be
described in an administrative note on the summary statement.
Regardless of the priority score, applications with unacceptable
plans will not be funded until a revised, acceptable plan is provided
by the applicant.  The acceptability of the revised plan will be
judged by staff within the NIH awarding component.
 
Following initial review, applications are also reviewed by the
appropriate NIH institute or center council, board, or other advisory
group.  These advisory groups will consider, in addition to the
assessment of the scientific and educational merit of the research
training grant application, the initial review group's comments on
the recruitment of individuals from underrepresented minority groups
into the research training program and the plan for instruction in
the responsible conduct of research.
 
Review  Schedule
 
Application        Initial        Council        Earliest
Receipt            Review         Review         Possible
Date               Date           Date           Start Date
 
Jan 10             Jun            Sep/Oct        Dec 1
May 10             Oct/Nov        Jan/Feb        Apr 1
Sep 10             Feb/Mar        May/Jun        Jul 1
 
Many institutes and centers review applications once or twice per
year.  A listing of these institutes and the appropriate receipt
date(s) is provided below.
                                               Application
Institute/Center                               Receipt Date(s)
 
NIAAA                                           May 10
NIAID                                           Sep 10
NIAMS                                           May 10
NICHD                                           May 10
NIDCD                                           May 10
NIDR                                            Sep 10
NIDA                                            May 10
NIEHS                                           May 10
NEI (beginning in fiscal 1998)                  May 10
NHLBI                                           Jan 10 & May 10
NHGRI                                           May 10
NIMH (except for AIDS with 3 receipt dates)     May 10
NINDS                                           May 10
NINR                                            May 10
 
Applicants are encouraged to contact appropriate institute/center
staff before preparing and submitting an application.  (See the end
of this announcement for a list of NIH contacts).
 
Award Criteria
 
Applications are selected for funding primarily on the basis of
scientific and educational merit, but other factors are considered,
such as:  availability of funds, research program priorities, the
balance among types of research training supported by the awarding
component, the acceptability of the plan for minority recruitment,
and the acceptability of the proposal for instruction in the
responsible conduct of research.  The awarding NIH institute will
notify the applicant of the final action shortly after advisory
council review.
 
Additional Information
 
For additional information, see the current document titled,
Guidelines for National Research Service Awards, Individual Awards -
Institutional Grants usually available at the institution or contact
the appropriate NIH staff person listed below.
 
Inquiries and NIH Staff Contacts
 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the individuals
designated below, in advance of preparing an application, for
additional information concerning the areas of research, receipt
dates, and other types of pre-application consultation.
 
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Dr. Robin Barr
301-496-9322
Fax: 402-2945
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Ms. Frances Cotter
Health Services Research Branch
301-443-0786
Fax: 301-443-8774
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Cherry Lowman
Treatment Research Branch
301-443-0796
Fax: 301-443-8774
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Ernestine Vanderveen
Division of Basic Research
301-443-2530
Fax:301-594-0673
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Dr. Milton Hernandez
Office of Science Training and Manpower Development
301-496-7291
Fax: 301-402-0369
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
(NIAMS)
Dr. Richard Lymn
301-594-5128
Fax: 301-480-4543
Email: [email protected]
 
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Dr. Vincent Cairoli
Cancer Training Branch
301-496-8580
Fax: 301-402-4472
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Andrew Vargosko
Cancer Training Branch
301-496-8580
Fax: 301-402-4472
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Dr. Danuta Krotoski
301-402-2242
Fax: 301-402-0832
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
(NIDCD)
Dr. Daniel Sklare
301-496-1804
Fax: 301-402-6251
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR)
Dr. James Lipton
301-594-2618
Fax: 301-480-8318
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK)
Dr. Judith Podskalny
Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition
301-594-8876
Fax: 301-480-8300
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Ronald Margolis
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
301-594-8819
FAX: 301-480-3503
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Charles Rodgers
Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases
301-594-7717
Fax: 301-480-3510
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dr. Timothy Condon
301-443-6036
Fax: 301-443-6277
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Charles Sharp
Division of Basic Research
301-443-1887
Fax: 301-594-6043
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Arthur Horton
Division of Clinical Research
301-443-4877
Fax: 301-443-2317
Email: [email protected]
 
Ms. Ann Blanken
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research
301-443-6504
Fax: 301-443-2636
Email: [email protected]
 
Ms. Jamie Biswas
Medications Development Division
301-443-6270
Fax: 301-443-2599
Email : [email protected]
 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Dr. Michael Galvin
919-541-7825
Fax: 919-541-2843
Email: [email protected]
 
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Dr. Maria Giovanni
301-496-0484
Fax: 301-402-0528
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Dr. John Norvell
301-594-0533
Fax: 301-480-2004
Email: [email protected]
 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Ms. Joyce Creamer
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources
301-435-0061
Fax: 301-480-1046
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Michael Cammarato
Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases
301-435-0527
Fax: 301-480-1454
Email: [email protected]
 
Ms. Mary Reilly
Division of Lung Diseases
301-435-0222
Fax: 301-480-3557
Email: [email protected]
 
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Dr. Bettie Graham
301-496-7531
Fax: 301-480-2770
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Dr. Henry Khachaturian
Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science
301-443-4347
Fax: 301-443-1731
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Kenneth Lutterman
Division of Epidemiology and Services Research
301-443-3373
Fax: 301-443-4045
Email:  [email protected]
 
Dr. George Niederehe
Division of Clinical and Treatment Research
301-443-3264
Fax: 301-594-6784
Email: [email protected]
 
Dr. Dianne Rausch
Office of AIDS Programs
301-443-7281
Fax: 301-443-9719
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Dr. Joseph S. Drage
301-496-4188
Fax: 301-402-4370
Email: [email protected]
 
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Dr. Lynn Amende
301-594-5968
Fax: 301-480-8260
Email: [email protected]
 
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Dr. Harriet Gordon
301-594-0790
Fax: 301-480-3661
Email: [email protected]
 
Office of Alternative Medicine
Dr. Richard Nahin
301-496-4792
Fax: 301-480-3519
Email: [email protected]
 
Note:  The Office of Alternative Medicine will provide funds for a
limited number of training grants in fiscal year 1998.  The funds
will be provided to the appropriate institute identified above, which
will award and administer the training grants.
 
Other NIH Research Training and Career Development Programs
 
The NIH provides other opportunities for training and career
development for individuals interested in biomedical and behavioral
careers.  Some examples of these programs are:
 
NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grants (T35)
NRSA Individual Postdoctoral and Senior Fellowships (F32, F33)
NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) (NIAAA, NIDA, and NIMH
only)
NRSA Individual MD/PhD Fellowships (F30) (NIAAA, NIDA, and NIMH only)
NRSA Predoctoral Fellowships for Minority Students (F31)
NRSA Predoctoral Fellowships for Students with Disabilities (F31)
Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program (T34)
Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Institutional Training Grants
(T34)
Career Development Awards (K)
Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities
Research Supplements to Promote the Recruitment of Individuals with
Disabilities into Biomedical Research Careers
Foreign-funded postdoctoral fellowships for research experiences
abroad.
 
For a comprehensive list of programs that provide scientific training
support at levels from high school to senior investigator, refer to
Research Training and Career Development Programs Supported by the
National Institutes of Health,  NIH Publication No. 93-2273,
reprinted August 1996.  This booklet can be obtained by exploring the
Grants and Contracts section of the NIH Home Page
(http://www.nih.gov/) or by writing to the Grants Information Office,
Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Room 6207, Bethesda,
Maryland, 20892-7910, 301-710-0267, Fax 301-480-0525, E-Mail
[email protected].
 
NRSA Programs at Other Agencies Within the Department of Health and
Human Services
 
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR).  The AHCPR
(formerly the National Center for Health Services Research and Health
Care Technology Assessment) is a separate agency of the Public Health
Service.  AHCPR supports NRSA institutional training grants that
allow predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees to gain experience in
applying research methods to the systematic analysis and evaluation
of health services.  For information and application forms, contact
the NRSA Project Officer, AHCPR Center for Research Dissemination and
Liaison, 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400, Rockville, Maryland
20852, 301-594-1362,  Fax 301-594-0154,
Email:  [email protected].
 
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  The HRSA is a
separate agency within the Public Health Service.  HRSA offers
postdoctoral institutional research training grants for research
training in primary medical care.  These awards permit trainees to
gain experience in applying research methods to the systematic
analyses and evaluation of primary medical care.  For information and
application forms, contact the following offices at 5600 Fishers
Lane, Rockville, Maryland  20857:
 
Grants Management Branch (T32)
Residency and Advanced Grants Section
Bureau of Health Professions, HRSA
Parklawn Building, Room 8C-26
301-443-6002
 
Programmatic inquiries may be addressed to:
Division of Medicine, BHP/HRSA
Primary Care Medical Education Branch
Parklawn Building, Room 9A-20
301-443-1467
 
Authority and Regulations
 
NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants are made under the
authority of Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act as amended
(42 USC 288).  Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 66,
is applicable to this program.  This program is also described under
the following numbers in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance:
93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.272, 93.278, 93.282, 93.306, 93.361,
93.398, 93.821, 93.837-93.839, 93.846-93.849, 93.853-93.856, 93.859,
93.862-93.868, 93.871, 93.880, 93.894, and 93.929.
 
.

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