NHLBI MENTORED RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD FOR MINORITY FACULTY

Release Date:  September 10, 1998

RFA:  HL-98-018

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  August 3, 1998
Application Receipt Date:  September 23, 1998

The following addendum is for RFA HL-98-018, which was published in the NIH
Guide of July 16, 1998.

PROVISIONS OF THE AWARD

Applicant Institution

Applications will be accepted from domestic colleges or universities, medical
schools, or comparable institutions.  The application must include a plan that
identifies personnel and other resources to be devoted to the candidate.  In
addition, evidence of institutional commitment to the candidate's research
development and level of effort should be included in a statement from the
institution.  The statement should also address the institution's plans for
the candidate during and following the tenure of the award.  The statement
should be signed by an institutional official (e.g., a dean) and the
candidate's departmental chair.
 
Minority Candidate
 
To receive an award under this program, individuals must have been awarded a
doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M. or D.O., degree or its equivalent) and
have a faculty appointment at an accredited college or university at the time
of award.  Applicants for this award must be either citizens or noncitizen
nationals of the United States or have been admitted lawfully to the United
States for permanent residence.  An individual admitted lawfully for permanent
residence must submit with the application, a notarized statement indicating
possession of the Alien Registration Receipt Card.  Individuals on temporary
or student visas are not eligible.

Candidates must be nominated by an institution on the basis of qualifications,
interests, accomplishments, motivation, and potential for performing quality
research.  The candidate's academic background, previous experience, and
career goals should determine both the necessary length and the kind of
program that is appropriate.  The sponsoring institution should provide a
statement in the application that the candidate is a member of a minority
group, indicating the ethnic or racial background of the applicant.

Sponsor

Each candidate must identify a sponsor(s) who is an accomplished investigator
in the research area proposed and has experience in developing independent
investigators.  The sponsor is not required to be affiliated with the
applicant institution.  If the sponsor is affiliated with another institution,
appropriate documentation must be provided concerning the relationship of the
applicant institution and the sponsor's institution, as well as a clear
delineation of the arrangements proposed for the research development program
at a location distinct from the applicant institution.  The sponsor must
provide a written plan for the development of the candidate and provide
guidance during the preparation of the research project.  A secondary sponsor
may also be proposed, but the primary sponsor must continue to be involved
throughout the award period.  In some cases candidates may choose to have both
a basic research sponsor and a clinical research sponsor.  The sponsor must
provide a written plan for the development of the candidate, and the sponsor
and candidate should be jointly responsible for the preparation of the
research development plan.  The sponsor must submit a report each year on the
candidate's progress which should be included in the annual progress report. 

Research Development Program

All research development programs should be carefully tailored to meet
individual needs and must include a sponsor(s) who is competent to provide
appropriate research guidance.  All candidates must provide a full description
of the research and career development plan for the period of the award.  The
proposed plan must include hands-on research experience, with either a
clinical or a basic science focus, for the entire three to five year period. 
Awardees, in conjunction with their sponsor(s), are required to submit a
detailed annual progress report.

For minority candidates with minimal research experience, the development
program may be designed to start with a creative and detailed scientific
learning experience and progress to an intensive research activity under the
guidance of an appropriate sponsor(s).  The first year or two of the program
may incorporate any needed course work, and seminars and other educational
experiences necessary to prepare the candidate for the subsequent research
program, but must include a hands-on research experience.  This initial phase
of the program may resemble a traditional postdoctoral research training
program.  The remainder of the development plan could include an intensive,
fully-described research program and research projects that can be reasonably
completed within the planned period.  During this latter phase, the program
should provide for progressive development of the individual into an
independent investigator.

If the minority candidate has already acquired some research experience, as
might be obtained through a research fellowship, but needs further development
under the guidance of an appropriate sponsor(s), the candidate may propose a
three to five year program encompassing an advanced research experience
focusing on a specific research project.  Such a candidate may take additional
courses or engage in special instruction in research techniques in other
laboratories for a reasonable period of time if needed.  During the latter
phases of the award, the relationship of the sponsor and candidate may more
closely resemble that of collaborators.

Individuals with significant research experience in the proposed field of
study should not apply for this award but rather should consider applying for
independent research grant support.

Advisory Committee

A committee composed of the candidate's sponsor(s) and two or three other
senior faculty members must be identified.  This advisory committee should
meet with the candidate to review the research development plan and research
project, to evaluate the awardee's progress, and to provide guidance for
scientific career development.

Duration and Effort

The award is granted for three to five years depending on the needs of the
candidate and the evaluation of the initial review group and the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council.  It is non-renewable and all funds
must be used on behalf of the original candidate.  Substitution of another
sponsor and/or a change of institution may be permitted with the prior
approval of the NHLBI.  A minimum of 80 percent effort must be devoted to the
research program.  The remainder may be devoted to other clinical and teaching
pursuits that are consistent with the program goals, i.e., the candidate's
development into an independent biomedical scientist or the maintenance of the
teaching and/or clinical skills needed for an academic research career.

The candidate must have a "full-time" appointment at the applicant
institution.  In general, candidates who have Veteran's Administration (VA)
appointments may not consider part of the VA effort toward satisfying the
"full-time" requirement at the applicant institution.  However, it is
permissible for part or all of the research program to be conducted in a VA
laboratory, for example if the sponsor has a VA appointment, so long as the
above conditions are satisfied as they apply to the Mentored Research
Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty candidate.

Allowable Costs

Salary.  Individual compensation is based on the institution's salary scale
for individuals at an equivalent experience level.  Funding from this award
for salary may not exceed $50,000 per year plus commensurate fringe benefits
with at least 80 percent effort devoted to the research program.  If 100
percent effort is to be devoted to the research program during the "summer
months," the percent effort for the remainder of the year may be reduced
provided that the effort over the course of the year is at least 80 percent. 
NIH policy permits supplementation of salary from non-Federal sources. 
Supplementation from other Federal funds is not allowed unless explicitly
authorized by the program from which the funds are derived and the NHLBI.  In
no case may other NIH funds be used for supplementary salary support.

Sponsor's Salary.  Salary support may be requested for the primary sponsor up
to a level commensurate with 5 percent effort.  If the sponsor is at a
different institution than the applicant institution, arrangements for the
transfer of funds for the sponsor's salary and, if necessary, for research
expenses should be formalized in a contract or written agreement with the
sponsor's institution and included as part of the application.  The sponsor's
salary support is considered as separate and distinct from funds requested for
the candidate's salary or research and development support.  The percent
effort may exceed 5 percent for selected periods of time, provided the total
effort for the budget period (12 months) does not exceed 5 percent.  If the
sponsor's salary is requested as a consortium cost, the subcontracting grantee
is only allowed to request indirect costs based on 8 percent of total
allowable direct costs.

Research and Development Costs.  A maximum of $30,000 per year may be
requested for research project requirements and related support, (e.g.,
technical personnel costs, supplies, equipment, candidate travel, telephone
charges, publication costs, and tuition for necessary courses).

Facilities and Administrative (Indirect) Costs.  Funds will be provided for
the reimbursement of facilities and administrative (indirect) costs at a rate
of 8 percent of the total direct costs of each award, exclusive of tuition,
fees, and expenditures for equipment.

Concurrent Applications

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Minority Faculty
applications may not be submitted or awarded concurrently with other NIH
applications, such as the Independent Scientist Award, Mentored Clinical
Scientist Development Award, FIRST Award, Academic Award, or Research Project
Grant.

Subsequent Applications for NIH Research Support

During the later years of the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
for Minority Faculty (MRSDAMF), incumbents are encouraged to apply for
independent research support, such as the FIRST Award or other research
project grants.  MRSDAMF recipients who are successful in obtaining NIH
research grant support may not receive salary support from the research grant
for the duration of the MRSDAMF.  After the conclusion or termination of the
award, salary support should transfer to the research grant.  MRSDAMF
recipients who apply for research grant support are encouraged to include
salary and all other research needs in the research grant application for the
period following completion of the MRSDAMF.  Alternatively, recipients of
research grant awards may terminate the MRSDAMF prior to the start of the
research grant.

NIH POLICY AND GUIDELINES ON THE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN
RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. 
This policy applies to all initial (type 1) applications submitted for receipt
dates after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in
Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL
address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.

As part of the scientific and technical merit evaluation of the research plan,
reviewers will be instructed to address adequacy of plans for including
children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research, or
justification for exclusion

INQUIRIES

ALL POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MUST OBTAIN THE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR
COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION FROM THE STAFF LISTED BELOW.

Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any
issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Michael Commarato, Ph.D. or Beth Schucker, M.A.
Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7940
Bethesda, MD  20892-7940
Telephone:  (301) 435-0530
FAX:  (301) 480-1454
Email:  mc63a@nih.gov  or bs77t@nih.gov

Mary Reilly, M.S. or Ann Rothgeb
Division of Lung Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7952
Bethesda, MD  20892-7952
Telephone:  (301) 435-0222
FAX:  (301) 480-3557
Email:  mr50w@nih.gov or ar31t@nih.gov

LeeAnn Jensen, Ph.D.
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7950
Bethesda, MD  20892-7950
Telephone:  (301) 435-0066
FAX:  (301) 480-1060
Email:  lj15x@nih.gov

Thomas Blaszkowski, Ph.D.
Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7938
Bethesda, MD  20892-7938
Telephone:  (301) 435-0433
FAX:  (301) 480-1864
Email:  tb33i@nih.gov

James Kiley, Ph.D.
National Center for Sleep Disorders Research
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7952
Bethesda, MD  20892-7952
Telephone:  (301) 435-0199
FAX:  (301) 480-3451
Email:  jk52u@nih.gov

For fiscal and administrative matters contact:

Marie Willett
Grants Operations Branch, Heart Section
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926
Bethesda, MD  20892-7926
Telephone:  (301) 435-0177
FAX:  (301) 480-3310
Email:  mw48f@nih.gov

Raymond L. Zimmerman
Grants Operations Branch, Lung Section
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926
Bethesda, MD  20892-7926
Telephone:  (301) 435-0171
FAX:  (301) 480-3310
Email:  rz2x@nih.gov

Jane Davis
Grants Operations Branch, Blood Section
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926
Bethesda, MD  20892-7926
Telephone:  (301) 435-0166
FAX:  (301) 480-3310
Email:  jd53j@nih.gov

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