EXPIRED
NIMH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN RESEARCH EDUCATION AND TRAINING (COR) HONORS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRAINING GRANT (T34) Release Date: October 31, 2000 (see amendment NOT-MH-03-003) PA NUMBER: PAR-01-008 (Reissued as PAR-08-093) Update: The following update relating to this notice has been issued: May 17, 2007 - See Notice (NOT-MH-07-112) This PAR has been expired. April 14, 2006 (NOT-MH-06-111) - See this notice for Extension of the NIMH Career Opportunities in Research Education and Training (COR) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant (T34) (PAR-01-008) EXPIRATION DATE: May 10, 2006 National Institute of Mental Health (http://www.nimh.nih.gov) Application Receipt Date: May 10, Annually PURPOSE This program announcement replaces PA-95-045 for the Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Education and Training Program (T34) of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This program is intended to strengthen research and research training experiences of undergraduate minority students in scientific disciplines related to mental health. It is directed specifically to 4-year colleges and universities that serve substantial numbers of students of one or more racial/ethnic minority groups, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and Asians/Pacific Islanders. Persons belonging to these racial/ethnic groups are underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences research relevant to mental health-related fields. An applicant institution must propose a 2-year COR Honors Undergraduate program for which 6 to 10 highly talented third-and fourth-year undergraduate students are selected. Proposed training programs should provide students with special research training experiences designed to improve their qualifications for entry into advanced research career training programs leading to doctoral-level or M.D. research career degrees. As part of its efforts to stimulate interest among racial/ethnic minority youth for research careers in biomedical and behavioral science, NIMH encourages applicant organizations that have received NIMH COR funding for 3 or more years to apply for a COR high school training component. This optional program is described in PAR-01-009 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-01-009.html. The high school component provides a unique opportunity for pre-college students to have hands-on experiences in research or science education enrichment programs to encourage the choice of a research career in a mental health- related field. This component also provides an opportunity to offer mentoring and role modeling for up to 6 high school students per year through interaction with both COR honors undergraduate students and faculty of institutions having COR Honors Undergraduate Grant programs. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS- led national activity for setting priority areas. This Program Announcement (PA), NIMH COR Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant (T34) is related to the priority areas of mental health and mental disorders. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Institutions Applicant institutions must be 4-year public or private, non-profit colleges, universities, or heath professional schools with at least 50 percent racial/ethnic minority students from one or more of the ethnically defined groups noted above, and be able to develop the faculty and institutional facilities in order to provide a suitable research environment and high- quality research training in areas relevant to mental health. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply. Trainees Trainee candidates must be outstanding students who are in their third or fourth year of a baccalaureate degree program and have at least a 3.00 grade point average (on a scale of 4.00). Trainee candidates must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been admitted lawfully to the United States for permanent residence and must have in their possession an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-155 or some other legal evidence of admission for permanent residence) at the time of appointment to the training program. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This PA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) T34 award mechanism for minority institution undergraduate research training in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. A direct cost ceiling of $300,000 annually applies to this program. Six (6) to 10 highly talented third and fourth year undergraduate students may be selected. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this PA may not exceed 5 years. The maximum period of support a trainee may receive is 2 years. Allowable Costs Student Support Stipends must be requested for each trainee. The stipend is a pre- established level of support to help provide for the trainee's living expenses during the period of training. The stipend is not payment for services performed. Trainees are not considered to be employees of either the NIH or the sponsoring institution. The current stipend level for COR honors undergraduate trainees (juniors and seniors) is $9,492. The NIH announces periodic stipend increases. For tuition and fees, the NIMH will pay 100 percent of the first $3,000 and 60 percent of the remaining costs. Supplementation of a COR Honors Undergraduate stipend from non-Federal funds is permitted. No NIH grant funds may be used for supplementation. Other Federal funds may be used for supplementation only if explicitly authorized by the program from which funds are derived. Additional support may be provided to the trainee without obligation by the trainee institution or may be conditioned on performance of certain services, such as serving as a laboratory assistant. Under no circumstances, however, may the service requirements detract from or prolong the training. Additional funding for the following budget items may be requested. Each item of cost must be directly related to the proposed research education program and the application must include justification for each category. o Personnel Salary and fringe benefit support may be requested for present and additional faculty, to the extent that the support reflects the time or effort devoted to this program and is based on institutional salary levels. Such requests may not exceed 50 percent of the total time for any individual. Limited funds may be requested for support personnel (e.g., laboratory and secretarial assistance). Mentoring of trainees is considered as part of the role of faculty and therefore not reimbursable from the grant. o Consultants Support may be requested to cover expenses for consultants, such as seminar and colloquium speakers. o Equipment Support may be requested for purchasing research equipment items necessary to conduct the trainee research projects. o Supplies Support may be requested for supplies necessary for use in conducting research, such as glassware, chemicals, or animals, and for other office and institutional supplies needed to conduct the training and research program, not otherwise available at the grantee institution. o Travel Attendance by trainees and selected faculty at national meetings (e.g., the annual COR Colloquium) closely related to the research projects is encouraged, and support for this travel may be requested. Staff travel to off-campus training sites for purposes of consultation with participating off-campus staff/preceptors and evaluation of student progress is also allowed. o Other Expenses The applicant may request other items necessary to the training program, such as computer time, reference materials, duplication costs, telephone, and costs related to publishing trainee research papers. o Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs The applicant may request actual F&A costs, or 8 percent of allowable direct costs, whichever is less. RESEARCH TRAINING OBJECTIVES The principal objectives of COR Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grants are to: (a) increase the number of well-prepared students from institutions with substantial minority enrollments who can compete successfully for entry into research career training programs leading to the Ph.D. or equivalent research degree, the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree or other combined professional degree and research doctoral degree in the biomedical, behavioral sciences, or health services areas relevant to mental health; and, (b) develop and strengthen undergraduate didactic and experiential research opportunities for racial/ethnic minority undergraduate students in areas relevant to mental health. Applications must provide information on the following: Institution Characteristics o A brief overview of the applicant institution (i.e., when it was founded, its status as a private or state-supported institution, and other pertinent information) o A description of the research infrastructure (i.e., facilities, laboratories, participating departments, computer services, and any other resources to be used in the conduct of the proposed program) o Evidence of institutional commitment and support for the proposed program o Where applicable, a description of plans for collaborating with other institutions and laboratories for purposes of exchange, consolidation, and sharing of resources, including faculty, equipment, and facilities (Letters of agreement or memoranda indicating intended cooperation must be included with the application.) o Description of facilities and resources available to conduct the research training at the grantee institution; evidence of commitment of the sponsoring institution Training Program o A detailed training plan for 6 to 10 students, including core curriculum and specific research experiences from entry to completion of COR training o A detailed plan for student recruitment, selection and retention o A detailed plan for facilitating the successful transition of students into graduate research programs relevant to mental health o A detailed plan for students' summer research and study experiences between the junior and senior years (It is desirable for students to study and conduct research in graduate departments specializing in behavioral and neuroscience projects related to mental health.) o A detailed plan demonstrating that trainees will receive high-quality scientific training and research experiences that provide both learning and motivation to pursue research careers in the mental health field o A description of seminar and colloquia series, academic courses, and other activities whereby trainees can become knowledgeable about mental health research o A description of the method(s) of providing instruction in the responsible conduct of research. o A means for preparing trainees in effective communication, both written and oral, about science and scientific issues o A detailed plan for tracking COR program graduates, from entry to completion of post-graduate studies or other career options Program Director o Evidence that Program Director is actively engaged in research and/or scholarship activity in an area related to mental health o Evidence that Program Director can organize and administer the training program o A description of the membership and role of a Program Advisory Committee Faculty/Preceptors o Evidence that a high percentage of the participating faculty hold a Ph.D. or other doctoral-level degree o Evidence that participating faculty and preceptors are actively engaged in research or other scholarly activities related to mental health o Evidence that faculty and preceptors publish in research areas related to mental health o Evidence that sufficient time is committed by preceptors and faculty to conduct a high-quality program (A staffing chart that details percent-of-time allotted for each staff member is recommended.) Trainees o Evidence that trainees will be selected for their potential to pursue graduate work successfully in mental health-relevant sciences o Evidence that trainees will be selected for their commitment to pursue graduate programs leading to doctoral-level degrees necessary for research careers o Documentation of the number of students majoring in each participating department during the past 5 years; the number of graduates from the participating departments who continued studies in pursuit of advanced degrees (especially the Ph.D. or M.D. degrees), and the pool of potential COR scholars currently enrolled in the college Evaluation o An evaluation plan for determining success of the program in achieving goals and objectives o A plan for tracking trainees after completion of COR program, including information about graduate schools, assistance in locating financial support, and provisions for follow-up support and consultations For competing continuation applicants only, the following information about the previous training grant period should be provided: o Number of individuals who completed COR training to date o Post-COR career activities of program graduates (advanced training, employment, etc., including type of degree, fields pursued and publications) o Attrition rate of COR trainees o Publication record of past and present COR trainees If applicable, provide information requested in bullets 1-3 (above) If a high school component is proposed, follow instructions in PAR-01-009 Special Requirements Each COR trainee candidate must meet National Research Service Award (NRSA) eligibility requirements in order to be appointed to an Honors Undergraduate Training Grant. The institution must submit a Statement of Appointment (form PHS 2271) to NIMH each time a trainee is appointed or reappointed to the grant (usually every 12 months). At the end of the total support period for an individual trainee (which may be a maximum of 2 years under this program), the institution must submit a Termination Notice (form PHS 416-7) to NIMH. Failure to submit the required forms in a timely fashion may result in an expenditure disallowance. As with all NRSA Awards, no funds for tuition, fees, or trainee expenses may be provided from a COR Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant to, or on behalf of, any individual unless that individual is receiving a stipend under the COR grant. Institutions may make no trainee appointment for less than 9 months without prior approval by the NIMH. An NRSA traineeship may not be held concurrently with other Federally sponsored fellowships or similar Federal awards that provide a stipend or otherwise duplicate provisions of the NRSA. A trainee however, may accept concurrent educational remuneration from the Veterans Administration (e.g., G.I. Bill) and loans from Federal funds. Trainees in academic institutions are not entitled to vacations as such. They are, however, entitled to the normal short student holidays observed by the training institution. The time between the spring and fall semesters is to be used as an active part of the training period. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided indicating 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 UPDATED "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on August 2, 2000 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-048.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm. The revisions relate to NIH defined Phase III clinical trials and require: (a) all applications or proposals and/or protocols to provide a description of plans to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and (b) all investigators to report accrual, and to conduct and report analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences. 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: 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 Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) and will be accepted at one receipt date, May 10, annually, rather than at the standard application deadlines 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) 710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov. The application is also available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html The title and number of the program announcement must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and five signed photocopies in one package to: CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) Receipt and Review Schedule Applications for the COR Honors Undergraduate Training Program are received on a single receipt date of May 10 and will be reviewed on the following schedule: Receipt Initial Review Council Earliest Date Group Meeting Meeting Start Date May 10, Annually Oct/Nov Jan/Feb Apr 1 REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate scientific review group convened by NIMH in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National Advisory Mental Health Council. Review Criteria Applications will be assessed for: Quality of Training Program for COR Undergraduates o Scientific and educational merit of the proposed research training plans o Quality of the applicant institution's training record and potential for training future scientists o Adequacy and appropriateness of plans for recruitment, selection, retention, mentoring/counseling and facilitating the successful transition into graduate research training programs relevant to mental health o Adequacy of plans for providing students with appropriate summer research experiences, including linkages and commitments from placement sites o Appropriateness of course requirements and sequencing, and timetable for completing planned activities o Adequacy of facilities and resources at the applicant institution to sponsor an undergraduate research training program o Overall organization of training program, the factors involved in assigning trainees to specific research experiences, and the plan for monitoring students' progress o Adequacy of training in the responsible conduct of research. o Adequacy of plans for protection of human subjects and/or care of animals in research, where applicable Methods of Selection, Monitoring, and Follow-up of Trainees o Availability of trainee candidates of high potential o Adequacy of plans for selecting trainees o Methods for monitoring student progress, early identification and remedy of student problems, and provision of support and supervision o Provision of enrichment experiences, professional socialization, and interaction beyond those in the local setting o Knowledge of available graduate training programs and a plan for career advising and choice-assistance of students o Adequacy of plans for assisting students in gaining acceptance in graduate research training programs in mental health, including plans to assist students in securing scholarships and obtaining financial aid o Adequacy of plans for tracking students after graduation Program Leadership o Qualifications and experience of the Program Director, and effort to be devoted to direction and leadership essential for a successful training program o Relevant research experience of COR faculty and mentors o Plans for effective program administration and coordination among faculty and advisory committee by Program Director Institutional Commitment and Resources o It is the intent of this program to foster interactions across disciplines and departments within institutions. There should be evidence of institutional commitment to the goals and objectives of the COR program as it has an impact on students' academic preparation, research training, and faculty interaction o Access to research facilities and related resources, including laboratory space, computer time, equipment, and research samples o Adequacy of plans for linkages with collaborating institutions where necessary o Adequacy of plans for evaluating the effectiveness of the training Program (for competing continuations, evidence for accomplishing previous goals) o Evidence of involvement of a wide variety of research areas in disciplines relevant to mental health research, such as psychology, sociology, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and behavioral sciences Budget o Appropriateness of budget in relation to scope of proposed training program Program Evaluation o Adequacy of plans for evaluating the COR program on an annual basis, including methods for assessing the extent to which the COR program increases recruitment, training, and placement of racial/ethnic minority students in graduate programs in mental health fields AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications assigned to the NIMH. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; availability of funds; and, program priority. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Carolyn Strete, Ph. D. Office for Special Populations National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8130 MSC 9659 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9659 Telephone: 301-443-2847 Fax: 301-443-8552 Email: cstrete@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Diana S. Trunnell Grants Management Branch National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6115, MSC 9605 Bethesda, MD 20892-9605 Telephone: 301-443-2805 FAX: 301-443-6885 Email: Diana_Trunnell@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.282. Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410) as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 66 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the NIH Grants Policy Statement (October 1, 1998). 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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