MINORITIES IN CLINICAL ONCOLOGY (K08)

Release Date:  January 10, 2000 (see replacement PAR-03-002)

PA NUMBER:  PAR-00-040

National Cancer Institute

This program announcement replaces PAR-97-031, which was published in NIH 
Guide, Vol. 26, No. 3, January 31, 1997.

PURPOSE

The Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch, Office of Centers (CMBB), 
Training and Resources, Office of the Deputy Director for Extramural Sciences, 
National Cancer Institute, announces the availability of minority clinical 
oncology awards. The purposes of these awards are to:

o  Encourage recently trained underrepresented minority individuals who hold a 
health-professional degree (M.D., D.C., D.D.S., D.O., O.D.,  D.V.M., N.D. 
(Doctor of Naturopathy), Pharm.D.) or its equivalent, or who are doctorally 
trained oncology nurses to acquire research experience in clinical oncology,

o  Increase representation of minorities in clinical oncology research.

This award will provide the opportunity for recent clinically trained 
underrepresented minority health professionals to gain sufficient research 
expertise to become clinical oncologists with experience in biomedical 
research. This mechanism provides specialized study for individuals who have 
professional doctoral degrees and who are committed to a career in clinical 
oncology in underserved minority populations or field-based research. 
Candidates must have the potential to develop into independent investigators. 
The K08 supports a three, four, or five year period of supervised research 
experience that may integrate didactic studies with laboratory or clinically-
based research. The proposed research must have intrinsic research importance 
as well as serve as a suitable vehicle for learning the methodology, theories, 
and conceptualizations necessary for a well-trained independent researcher.

Clinically trained minority professionals who are interested in a career in 
patient-oriented research should apply for the Mentored Patient-Oriented 
Research for Underrepresented Minorities (K23) (see 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-00-042.html). A definition of 
patient-oriented research is provided in the K23 announcement, which is 
available on the NCI Website at http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/cmbs/index.htm.

Because of the focus on progression to independence, the prospective candidate 
should propose a period of study and development consistent with her/his 
previous training and her/his career development needs. For example, a 
candidate with limited experience in a given field of research may find a 
phased 5-year developmental program that includes a designated period of 
didactic training and supervised research experience to be the most efficient 
means of attaining independence. A candidate with substantial previous 
research experience may require a shorter award period to facilitate the 
transition to independence.

This PA will expire in two years from the first receipt date. NIH grants 
policies apply to these awards.

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 Program Announcement (PA), 
Minorities in Clinical Oncology, is related to the priority area of cancer. 
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" at 
http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

This award is designed to provide an intensive, supervised research experience 
for underrepresented minority health professionals. The award is intended for 
individuals who have  a health professional degree (M.D., D.C., D.D.S., D.O., 
O.D.,  D.V.M., N.D. (Doctor of Naturopathy), Pharm.D. or its equivalent, or 
are doctorally trained oncology nurses to acquire research experience in 
clinical oncology. Individuals with the Ph.D. or other doctoral degrees in 
clinical disciplines such as clinical psychology, nursing, clinical genetics, 
speech-language pathology, audiology and rehabilitation are also eligible. 
Individuals holding the Ph.D. in a non-clinical discipline but who are 
certified to perform clinical duties should contact CMBB concerning their 
eligibility for a K08 award. The candidate must have a mentor with extensive 
research experience. The candidate must be willing to devote a minimum of 75 
percent of full-time professional effort conducting research and research 
career development.

Underrepresented minorities are defined as individuals belonging to a 
particular ethnic or racial group determined by the grantee institution to be 
underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research. The NCI wishes to 
point out that African Americans (Blacks), Hispanic Americans, Native 
Americans and Alaska Natives, and non-Asian Pacific Islanders are 
underrepresented nationally in biomedical or behavioral research. Awards will 
be limited to individuals who are citizens, non-citizen alien nationals, or 
permanent residents of the United States. 

Candidates for the award should have broad clinical training, must demonstrate 
competence in clinical activities, must document a serious intent for a 
research career in clinical oncology, and must be culturally sensitive to the 
practice of medicine among the major U.S. ethnic populations. The candidates 
must be nominated by institutions on the basis of qualifications, interests, 
accomplishments, motivation, and potential for careers in clinical oncology. 
Evidence of the institution's commitment to the applicant's research 
development must be documented.

Candidates must have at least two mentors. One who is recognized as an 
accomplished clinical investigator and at least one additional mentor or 
advisor who is recognized as an accomplished independent investigator in the 
proposed basic research area.

Applications may be submitted by domestic, for-profit and non-profit 
organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, 
laboratories, units of State or local government, and eligible agencies of the 
Federal government or comparable institutions with well-established training 
programs in clinical oncology. Foreign organizations are excluded from 
submission to this announcement. Eligible institutions must also have active 
biomedical research programs in oncology, including clinical trials with 
adequate numbers of highly trained faculty in the clinical and biomedical 
sciences areas as they relate to cancer. They must also demonstrate a 
commitment to the development of the research careers of junior 
underrepresented minority health professionals in clinical oncology. Women and 
persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators.

Ineligible individuals include current and former Principal Investigators on 
NIH research project grants (R01), FIRST Awards (R29), comparable career 
development awards (K01, K07, K23), sub-projects of program project (P01) or 
center (P30) grants, and the equivalent. Former principal investigators of NIH 
Small Grants (R03) or Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21) remain eligible. 
Current and former recipients of Clinical Associate Physician Awards (CAP) 
support may apply for the K08 provided they have had no more than 3 years of 
CAP support by the time a K08 award is made. The combined total of CAP plus 
K08 support must not exceed 6 years. A candidate for the K08 award may not 
have pending and may not concurrently apply for a CAP award or any other 
career development award. K08 recipients are encouraged to apply for 
independent research grant support during the period of this award.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Awards in response to this program announcement will be made through the 
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) mechanism. Planning, 
direction, and the execution of the proposed training program will be the 
responsibilities of the applicant and her/his mentors on behalf of the 
applicant institution. 

The career development award will be for a period of up to 5 years. Each award 
is non-renewable and non-transferable from one Principal Investigator to 
another.   

Funding beyond the first year of the award is contingent upon satisfactory 
progress during the preceding year, as documented in the required Progress 
Report. NIH Grant policies apply to these awards.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

A.  Background: Substantial national and local efforts have been made and are 
continuing to be made to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in the general 
population. However, in spite of these efforts, projections made for 1999 
indicate that 1,221,800 cancers are expected to be diagnosed in the United 
States and 563,100 Americans are expected to die of this disease.

Past patterns of cancer incidence and mortality predict that a 
disproportionate share of this increase in U.S. cancer incidence and mortality 
will be borne by minorities. Specifically, past and current SEER data show 
that Hispanic Americans have excessive cancer incidences of the prostate, 
breast, lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, and cervix. Native Americans from 
New Mexico show excessive cancer rates for prostate, breast, colon and rectum, 
ovary, kidney, and renal pelvis cancers, with the incidence rate for gall 
bladder cancer being the highest of any racial group.  Alaska Natives have the 
highest cancer incidence rates among any racial group for cancer of the colon 
and rectum. Finally, cancer mortality rates for all sites for African 
Americans are almost 1.4 times greater than for Whites.

Contributing to the cancer mortality of U.S. minorities is their limited 
access for treatment to culturally sensitive physicians. This factor is 
largely due to the small numbers of U.S. minority clinical oncologists. Data 
from the American Medical Association for 1994 show that of 11,224 U.S. 
oncologists, only 184 (1.6 percent) were of African American descent, 336 (3.0 
percent) were of Hispanic descent, and 3 (0.03 percent) were of Native 
American descent. Current statistics on medical specialties among U.S. medical 
school graduates do not portray a significant change in this situation. 
Specifically, of the total 1993 medical school graduates, only 0.9 percent had 
selected oncology as their area of specialization, and only 0.2 percent of 
graduates selecting an oncology specialization were underrepresented 
minorities. In 1994, only 11.2 percent of all medical school applicants were 
from underrepresented minority groups, a proportion that has not changed 
significantly from the value of 10.8 percent six years earlier.

A reduction in the overall cancer mortality rate in minority populations would 
substantially impact known cancer statistics. Cultural barriers to cancer 
diagnosis/treatment and to preventive health care advice will take on added 
importance as the techniques of molecular epidemiology are increasingly 
applied to identify minority individuals and family members at high risk for 
cancer. As a result of this new technology, physicians will increasingly be 
called upon to deal with culturally sensitive issues such as prophylactic 
surgery for family members, and/or major changes in lifestyle, possibly even 
including childbearing. It is therefore imperative that a sufficient number of 
minority clinical oncologists be available so that access to care is not 
limited by the number of oncologists sensitive to cultural issues. 
Additionally, the clinical oncologist must have an understanding of the new 
technologies being developed that will assist in the diagnosis/treatment of 
cancers and the predictions of cancer risk. This understanding can best be 
provided by a research and career development experience in the 
development/application of these technologies.

B.  Environment:   The institution must have a well-established research and 
clinical career development program and qualified faculty in clinical or basic 
research to serve as mentors. The institution must be able to demonstrate a 
commitment to the development of the candidate as a productive, independent 
investigator.

C.  Program:  Support will be provided up to five consecutive 12-month awards. 
At least 75 percent of the recipient's full-time professional effort must be 
devoted to the goals of this award. The remainder may be devoted to clinical, 
teaching, or other research pursuits consistent with the objectives of the 
award. Both the didactic and the research phases of an award period must be 
designed to develop the necessary knowledge and research skills in scientific 
areas relevant to the career goals of the candidate.

Because of the focus on progression to independence as researchers, candidates 
for the K08 should propose a period of study and career development consistent 
with her or his previous research and clinical experience. For example, a 
candidate with limited experience in a given field of research may find a 5-
year phased developmental program that includes a designated period of 
didactic training followed by a period of closely supervised research 
experience to be the most efficient means of attaining independence. A 
candidate with previous research experience and training may not require 
extensive additional didactic preparation, and a program that focuses on an 
intensive, supervised cancer research experience may be appropriate. All 
programs must be tailored to meet the individual needs of the candidate to 
ensure that he/she will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out 
high quality cancer research. The candidate and the mentor are jointly 
responsible for the preparation of the plan for this program. The mentor may 
form an advisory committee to assist with the development of a program of 
study or to monitor the candidate's progress through the career development 
program. The didactic and research components of both phases must develop new 
knowledge and research skills in scientific areas relevant to the career goals 
of the candidate.

D.  Mentor(s): Each applicant must name a primary mentor who is responsible 
for the planning, direction, and execution of the program. The mentor should 
be recognized as an accomplished clinical investigator. A second basic 
research mentor in the proposed research area should have a proven record of 
success in training independent investigators. The mentors should have 
sufficient independent research support to absorb the costs of the proposed 
research project in excess of the allowable costs of this award. Candidates 
may also nominate co-mentors in each area as appropriate to the goals of the 
program. Where feasible, women, underrepresented minority individuals and 
individuals with disabilities should be involved as mentors to serve as role 
models.

E.  Allowable Costs:

1. Salary:   The NIH will provide salary and fringe benefits for the career 
award recipient. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12-
month staff appointment. It must be consistent both with the established 
salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the 
institution from its own funds to other staff members of equivalent 
qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. If 
full-time, 12-month salaries are not currently paid to comparable staff 
members, the salary proposed must be appropriately related to the existing 
salary structure. 

Most NCI awarding components will provide up to $75,000 to offset the full-
time salary requirements of the candidate. The institution may supplement the 
NIH salary contribution up to a level that is consistent with the 
institution's salary scale; however, supplementation may not be from Federal 
funds unless specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such 
funds are derived. Because the salary amount provided by this award is based 
on the full-time institutional salary, no other PHS funds may be used for 
salary supplementation. Institutional supplementation of salary must not 
require extra duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose 
of the K08 award. Under expanded authorities, however, institutions may 
rebudget funds within the total costs awarded to cover salaries consistent 
with the institution's salary scale.

2. Research Development Support:  NCI will provide generally up to $30,000 per 
year for the following expenses: (a) tuition, fees, and books related to 
career development; (b) research expenses, such as supplies, equipment and 
technical personnel; (c) travel to research meetings or training; (d) 
statistical and computational services including personnel and computer time. 
All expenses must be directly related to the proposed research career 
development program.

3.  Ancillary Personnel Support:  Salary for mentors, secretaries and 
administrative assistants is not allowed.

4.  Facilities and Administrative Costs:  These costs, which were formerly 
called indirect costs, will be reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total 
direct costs.

F.  Evaluation:  In carrying out its stewardship of human resource related 
programs, the NCI may request information essential to an assessment of the 
effectiveness of this program. Accordingly, recipients are hereby notified 
that they may be contacted after the completion of this award for periodic 
updates on various aspects of their employment history, publications, support 
from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional activities, 
and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program.

G.  Other Income:  Fees resulting from clinical practice, professional 
consultation, or other comparable activities required by the research and 
research-related activities of this award may not be retained by the career 
award recipient. Such fees must be assigned to the grantee institution for 
disposition by any of the following methods:

o  The funds may be expended by the grantee institution in accordance with the 
NIH policy on supplementation of career award salaries and to provide fringe 
benefits in proportion to such supplementation. Such salary supplementation 
and fringe benefit payments must be within the established policies of the 
grantee institution.
o  The funds may be used for health-related research purposes.
o  The funds may be paid to miscellaneous receipts of the U.S. Treasury. 
Checks should be made payable to the Department of Health and Human Services, 
NIH and forwarded to the Director, Office of Financial Management, NIH, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Checks must identify the relevant award account and 
reason for the payment. 
o  Awardees may retain royalties and fees for activities such as scholarly 
writing, service on advisory groups, or honoraria from other institutions for 
lectures or seminars, provided that these activities remain incidental and 
provided that the retention of such pay is consistent with the policies and 
practices of the grantee institution.

Usually, funds budgeted in an NIH-supported research or research training 
grant for the salaries or fringe benefits of individuals, but freed as a 
result of a career award, may not be rebudgeted. The NCI will give 
consideration to approval for the use of released funds only under unusual 
circumstances. Any proposed retention of funds released as a result of a 
career award must receive prior written approval.

H.  Special Leave:  Leave to another institution, including a foreign 
laboratory, may be permitted if the proposed experience is directly related to 
the purpose of the award. Only local, institutional approval is required if 
such leave does not exceed 3 months. For longer periods, prior written 
approval is required. To obtain prior approval, the award recipient must 
submit a letter countersigned by his or her department head and the 
appropriate institutional official to the NCI CMBB program describing the 
plan. A copy of a letter or other evidence from the institution at which the 
leave is to be taken must be submitted to assure that satisfactory 
arrangements have been made. Support from the career award will continue 
during such leave.

Leave without award support may not exceed 12 months. Such leave requires 
prior written approval and will be granted only in unusual situations. Support 
from other sources is permissible during the period of leave. Such leave does 
not reduce the total number of months of program support for which an 
individual is eligible.

Under unusual and pressing circumstances, an awardee may submit to the 
awarding component a written request for a reduction in professional effort 
below 75 percent. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis 
during the award period.  In no case will it be permissible to work at a rate 
of less than 50 percent effort. The nature of the circumstances requiring 
reduced effort might include medical conditions, disability, or pressing 
personal or family situations such as child or elder care.  Permission to 
reduce the level of effort will not be approved to accommodate other sources 
of funding, job opportunities, clinical practice, or clinical training. In 
each situation, the grantee institution must submit documentation supporting 
the need for reduced effort along with assurance of his or her intention to 
return to full-time professional effort (at least 75 percent) as soon as 
possible. During the period of reduced effort, the salary and other costs 
supported by the award will be reduced accordingly.

I. Termination or Change of Institution:  When a grantee institution plans to 
terminate an award, the NCI must be notified in writing at the earliest 
possible time so that appropriate instructions can be given for termination. 
The NCI may discontinue an award upon determination that the purpose or terms 
of the award are not being fulfilled. In the event an award is terminated, the 
Director of the NIH shall notify the grantee institution and career award 
recipient in writing of this determination, the reasons, therefore, the 
effective date, and the right to appeal the decision.

Awardees planning a change of institution must submit, in advance of the 
change, a written request for transfer to CMBB countersigned by the 
appropriate institutional business official, describing the reasons for the 
change and including the new mentors' names and biosketches. The awardee must 
establish in this request that the specific aims of the research program to be 
conducted at the new institution are within the scope of the original peer-
reviewed research program. Additionally, the new mentor must have the 
appropriate research expertise to supervise the program and sufficient 
research support to ensure continuation of the research program to the end of 
the award. Staff within the NCI funding component will review this request and 
may require a review by an initial review group and/or the appropriate 
National Cancer Advisory Board. Upon approval of this request, a new career 
award application must be submitted by the new institution far enough in 
advance of the requested effective date to permit review. The duration of 
support requested in the new application must be for no more than the time 
remaining within the existing award period.

When a mentor at the grantee institution is to be replaced, the institution 
must submit from the proposed mentor a letter from the proposed mentor 
documenting the need for substitution, the new mentor's qualifications for 
supervising the program, and the level of support for the candidate's career 
development. The letter must also document that the specific aims of the 
research program will remain within the scope of the original peer-reviewed 
research program. Staff within the NCI will review the request and will notify 
the grantee institution of the results of the evaluation.

A final progress report, invention statement, and Financial Status Report are 
required upon either termination of an award or relinquishment of an award in 
a change of institution situation.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that women and members of minority groups and their 
subpopulations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral 
research projects involving human subjects unless a clear and compelling 
rationale and justification is provided to indicate that inclusion is 
inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the 
research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 
492B of Public Law 103-43).  

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical 
Research", which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 
(FR 59 14508-14513) and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, 
Volume 23, Number 11 March 18, 1994. It is also available at: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html.

Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program staff 
listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant 
information concerning the policy.

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 clear and compelling 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: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.

Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff 
listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant 
information concerning the policy.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Potential candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the program staff 
person listed under INQUIRIES. Such contact should occur early in the planning 
phase of application preparation. Such contact will help ensure that 
applications are responsive to the goals and policies of this announcement.

Applicants who will be using the resources within a General Clinical Research 
Center (GCRC) during the course of the award should include a letter of 
agreement from either the GCRC program director or the principal investigator 
for the application.

Applications are to be prepared using Section IV of the grant application form 
PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) according to the instructions in Section IV, Research 
Career Awards, of the application kit for Just-In-Time procedures. 
Applications will be accepted on the standard application receipt dates as 
indicated in the application kit. Application kits are available at most 
institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the 
Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes 
of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 
301/435-0714, Email: [email protected]. For those applicants with Internet 
access, the 398 kit may be found at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.

All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within 
specified page limitations.  Unless otherwise specified in an NIH 
solicitation, internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide 
information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation 
to view the Internet sites.  Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may 
be compromised when they directly access an Internet site (see  
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-004.html).

To identify the application as a response to this program announcement, check 
"YES" on item 2 of page one of the application and enter the title and number 
of this PA.

The application must address the following issues:

Candidate

o  Describe the candidate's commitment to a career in clinical oncology in 
underserved minority populations and to research in these populations 
(candidates interested in patient-oriented research should consider the 
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award for 
Underrepresented Minorities [K23]).
o  Establish the candidate's potential to develop into an independent 
investigator.
o  Describe immediate and long-term career objectives, explaining how the 
award will contribute to their attainment.
o  A commitment of at least 75 percent effort to research career development 
activities.
o  Letters of recommendation. Three sealed letters of recommendation 
addressing the candidate's potential for a research career must be included as 
part of the application. Letters must be from individuals other than the 
designated mentor(s).

Career Development Plan

o  Describe the career development plan incorporating consideration of the 
candidate's goals and prior experience. A systematic plan should be presented 
for obtaining the necessary basic biomedical background research to launch an 
independent research career.  The plan must include justification for the need 
for a three-,four-, or five-year period of mentored research experience. 
Relatively junior candidates with little previous research experience may 
require a phased developmental period during which the first year(s) of the 
award are largely of a didactic nature followed by a period of intense, 
supervised research experience. Candidates with more experience at the time of 
the application may require a shorter development period and may already have 
had an adequate basic science background. In any case, the career development 
plan must be tailored to the needs of the candidate and the ultimate goal of 
the candidate's achieving independence as a researcher. 

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

o  Candidates must describe plans to receive instruction in the responsible 
conduct of research. These plans must detail the proposed subject matter, 
format, frequency, and duration of instruction. No award will be made if an 
application lacks this component.

Research Plan

Must include:

o A description of the research plan and the use of a basic or clinical 
science approach to a biomedical or behavioral problem as it relate to a 
clinical oncology issue in the underserved minority populations. The research 
plan must be described as outlined in PHS form 398 including sections on the 
Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Progress Report/Preliminary 
Studies, Research Design and Methods. The candidate should consult with the 
mentors regarding the development of this section.

Mentor's Statements

o  The application must include a statement from the mentors including 
information on their qualifications in the research area proposed by the 
candidate and previous experience as research supervisors. The application 
must also include information to describe the nature and extent of supervision 
that will occur during the proposed award period.
o  Any co-mentor must provide similar information. The two mentors' respective 
areas of expertise and responsibility should be described.

Environment and Institutional Commitment

o  The sponsoring institution must document a strong, well-established 
research and training program related to the candidate's area of interest and 
a high-quality research environment with staff capable of productive 
collaboration with the candidate. The sponsoring institution must provide a 
statement of commitment to the candidate's development into a productive 
independent investigator. The institutional statement also must commit to 
provision of release time from normal clinical, teaching or administrative 
duties necessary to meet the 75% effort requirement of this award. 

Budget

The total direct costs requested must be consistent with this K08 program 
announcement and the award limits of the NCI. Applicants seeking information 
on award limits should contact the fiscal representative listed in the 
INQUIRIES section at the end of this announcement.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application with Checklist, and 
three signed photocopies, in one package to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 B MSC  7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20817-7710 (for express/courier service)

At the same time of submission, please submit two additional copies of the 
application to:

Ms. Toby Friedberg
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 8062, MSC 8329
Bethesda, MD  20892-8329
Rockville, MD  20852 (for express/courier service)

If an application is received after the deadline, it will be returned to the 
applicant without review. If the application submitted in response to this PA 
is substantially similar to a grant application already submitted to NIH for 
review but has not yet been reviewed, the applicant will be asked to withdraw 
either the pending application or the new one. Simultaneous submission of 
identical application will not be allowed, nor will essentially identical 
applications be reviewed by different review committee. An application, 
therefore, cannot be submitted in response to this PA which is essentially 
identical to the one that has already been reviewed. This does not preclude 
the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but 
such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous 
critique.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Center for Scientific 
Review. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without 
further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the PA 
will he evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate NCI 
peer review group in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures 
and the review criteria stated below.  As part of the initial merit review, 
all applications will receive a written critique. 

The following review criteria will be applied:

Candidate

o  Quality of the candidate's research, academic and clinical record in 
cancer;
o  Potential to develop as an independent researcher; and
o Commitment to a research career in clinical oncology in underserved minority 
populations.

Career Development Plan

o  Appropriateness of the content, the phasing, and the proposed duration of 
the career development plan for achieving scientific independence;
o Consistency of the career development plan with the candidate's previous 
training and career goals; and
o  Likelihood that the plan will contribute substantially to the achievement 
of scientific independence.

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

o  Quality of the proposed training in the responsible conduct of research.

Research Plan

Reviewers recognize that applicants will have variable amounts of previous 
research experience. Those with limited research experience are less likely to 
be able to prepare a research plan with the breadth and depth of that 
submitted by a more experienced investigator. All applications must include a 
fundamentally sound research plan but reviewers will consider the applicant's 
prior research experience in judging the level of detail provided. 

o  Scientific and technical merit of the research question, design and 
methodology;
o  Relevance of the proposed research to the candidate's career objectives;
o  Appropriateness of the research plan to the stage of research development 
and as a vehicle for developing the research skills described in the career 
development plan; and
o  Adequacy of plans for including women, minorities, and children, as 
appropriate, for the scientific goals of the research, or justification for 
exclusion.

Mentor/Co-Mentor

o  Appropriateness of the mentor(s) research qualifications in the area of 
this application;
o  Quality and extent of the mentor(s) proposed roles in providing guidance 
and advice to the candidate;
o  Previous experience in fostering the development of researchers; 
o  History of research productivity; and
o  Adequacy of support for the proposed research project.

Environment and Institutional Commitment

o  Adequacy of research facilities and the availability of appropriate 
educational opportunities;
o  Quality and relevance of the environment for scientific and professional 
development of the candidate;
o  Applicant institution's commitment to the scientific development of the 
candidate and assurances that the institution intends the candidate to be an 
integral part of the research program; and
o  Applicant institution's commitment to an appropriate balance of research 
and clinical responsibilities including the commitment of 75 percent of the 
candidate's effort to research and research related activities.

Budget

o  Justification of the requested budget and duration in relation to the 
career development goals and research aims.

AWARD CRITERIA

Funding decisions will be made on the basis of recommendations of the initial 
review group and NCAB, program priorities, and the availability of funds.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries concerning this program announcement are 
strongly encouraged, especially during the planning phase of the application. 
 
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Eric J. Bailey, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-7405
Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 496-7344
FAX: (301) 402-4551
Email: [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Ms. Barbara Fisher
Grants Administration Branch
National Cancer Institute
6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 243
Bethesda, MD 20892-7150
Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 496-8626
FAX: (301) 496-8601
Email: [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding referral matters to:

Ms. Toby Friedberg
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 8062, MSC 8329
Bethesda, MD 20892-8329
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
telephone: (301) 496-3428
FAX: (301) 402-0275
Email: [email protected]

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 
93.398 Cancer Research Manpower. Awards are made under authorization of the 
Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 
and 284) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 
CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program is not subject to the 
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health 
Systems Agency review. 

The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In 
addition, Public Law 103-227, The Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking 
in certain facilities (or, in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which 
regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early 
childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent 
with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of 
the American people.

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