NIMH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN RESEARCH AND TRAINING (COR) HONORS HIGH SCHOOL 
RESEARCH EDUCATION GRANT (R25)

Release Date:  October 31, 2000 (see amendment NOT-MH-03-003)

PA NUMBER:  PAR-01-009

National Institute of Mental Health
 (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)
  
Application Receipt Date:  May 10, Annually

PURPOSE

This revised program announcement (PA), with a once per year receipt date, 
replaces PAR-95-046.  It encourages applications for training activities 
designed to stimulate interest among minority youth in research careers in 
biomedical and behavioral sciences relevant to mental health.  The National 
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) established this Career Opportunities in 
Research (COR) Honors High School Research Education Grant program for honors 
high school students in conjunction with colleges and universities with a 
substantial minority enrollment.  This program is specifically designed to 
increase the participation of groups that are underrepresented in biomedical 
and behavioral sciences, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native 
Indians and Alaska Natives, and Asians/Pacific Islanders.  The program is 
intended to support activities that allow hands-on experiences in research or 
science education and encourage high school students to make the choice of a 
research career in a mental health-related field.  This program provides an 
opportunity for institutions funded for an NIMH Career Opportunities in 
Research and Training (COR) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant 
(T34) to offer mentoring and role modeling to up to 6 high school students 
per year through interactions with both undergraduate college students who 
are COR Undergraduate Honors Students and faculty of institutions that have 
existing NIMH COR Honors Undergraduate Research Training grants.

This program announcement expires 3 years from the release date shown 
directly above, unless reissued.

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, 
NIMH COR Honors High School Research Training Grant  (R25), 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 have a currently funded NIMH Career Opportunities 
in Research Education and Training Program - Honors Undergraduate Research 
Training Grant (T34).  Such institutions are baccalaureate granting, 4-year 
domestic, public or private, non-profit colleges, universities, or health 
professional schools with at least 50 percent minority students from one or 
more of the ethnically defined groups noted above.  Foreign organizations are 
not eligible to apply. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons 
with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators.

Students

Student participants must be outstanding high school students who are in 
their junior or senior years and who have at least a 3.00 grade point average 
(on a scale of 4.00 or comparable grading system).

Trainee candidates must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United 
States, or have been admitted lawfully to the United States for permanent 
residence and 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) Education Projects 
grant (R25) award mechanism.  Responsibility for the planning, direction, and 
execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant.  The 
total project period for an application submitted in response to this PA may 
not exceed 5 years or the length of time remaining in the current project 
period of the NIMH COR Honors Undergraduate Training Grant (T34), which is 
described under a separate program announcement, PAR-01-008 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-01-008.html)

Funds Available

NIMH expects applications to request support ranging from $25,000-$35,000 
direct costs annually supporting up to six high school students per year.  In 
no case will the NIMH fund more than $38,000 direct costs per year for this 
program.

Allowable Costs

Student Support

Annual salary support will be provided for each high school student at a 
level up to $2,000 for a full-time, 3-month educational experience.  The 
salary must be based on institutional guidelines for wages to students in 
similar status.  Support should be for a minimum of 3 months during any one 
year that may include a mixture of full-time summer experience and part-time 
experience during the school year.  Students are expected to devote 
sufficient effort to the research project and related activities during the 
period of support to gain insight into the process of scientific discovery.  
High school students are expected to devote at least 2 years to this program 
(i.e., equivalent to two 3-month, full-time periods).  Exceptions to the 
latter will be considered, depending on the circumstances of the individual 
applicant and the specific request.  Research equipment may not be purchased 
using grant funds for high school students' projects.

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

Limited salary and fringe benefit support may be requested for present and 
additional faculty, to the extent that they reflect the actual time or effort 
devoted to this specific program.  Mentoring of students at the applicant 
institution 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 such as seminar and colloquium 
speakers, etc.

o  Supplies

Support may be requested for necessary supplies, e.g., glassware, chemicals, 
or animals for conducting student research.  Other supplies may include 
general office and instructional supplies needed to conduct the education and 
research program that are not otherwise available at the grantee institution.

o  Travel

Staff travel to off-campus training sites for purposes of consultation with 
participating off-campus staff/preceptors and evaluation of student progress 
is allowed.

o  Other Expenses

The applicant may request other items necessary to the educational program, 
such as computer time, reference materials not available in the library, 
duplication costs, telephone, and costs related to publishing student 
research papers, etc.

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.  This rate applies to both T34 (COR 
Undergraduate Program) and R25 (High School Program) components.

RESEARCH TRAINING OBJECTIVES

The principal objective of the COR Honors High School Research Education 
Grants program is to stimulate interest and motivation among high school 
students from racial/ethnic minority groups to pursue research careers in 
science disciplines related 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 high school education program) 

o  Evidence of institutional commitment and support for the proposed program

o  Where applicable, a description of plans for collaborating with nearby 
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  Letters of agreement or memoranda indicating intended cooperation with 
participating high schools

Description of the Research Education Program

o  A plan for summer and year-round research experiences with COR faculty 
and/or scientists conducting research at the COR-grantee institution for up 
to 6 minority high school students who are juniors or seniors

o  Evidence of involvement of a wide variety of research departments from the 
biomedical and behavioral sciences, emphasizing mental health related science

o  A plan for career counseling in science and research, mentorships, and 
opportunities for high school students to interact with COR Honors 
undergraduates and faculty

o  A plan for facilitating the successful transition from high-school into 
undergraduate schools and science programs relevant to research in mental 
health

o  A plan for recruitment and retention of students

o  Evidence of support/cooperation from local high school administrators and 
science teachers

o  Evidence of undergraduate COR institution's commitment to the goals and 
objectives of the high school training component (providing access to 
facilities, libraries, laboratories, computers, equipment)

o  Detailed budget justification for all project expenditures related to the 
high school research education component

Program Director

o  Evidence that the Program Director is actively engaged in research and/or 
scholarship in an area related to mental health

o  Evidence that the Program Director can organize and administer the 
research education program

o  Advisory Committee to the Program Director with a role in selecting and 
supervising students, and in evaluating the research training program (This 
committee should be representative of faculty and departments participating 
in the program and be chaired by the Program Director.)

o  The Program Director is responsible for serving as liaison between 
participating high schools and the applicant institution, recruiting and 
selecting high school students, and assigning each to an appropriate mentor.

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.)

Students

o  Evidence that students will be selected for their potential to continue 
their education at higher levels and ultimately pursue careers successfully 
in mental health-relevant sciences, including behavioral, biomedical, 
epidemiological, neurosciences, prevention, treatment, and related fields

o  Evidence that students will be selected for their expressed interests in 
pursuing programs related to mental health 

o  Documentation of number of high schools and number of students eligible to 
participate in high school program

Evaluation

o  Describe an evaluation plan for determining success of the program in 
achieving goals and objectives, including: (1) entry and completion dates for 
each student; (2) departments of students' experiences; (3) summer 
internships (locations and research areas); (4) colleges, universities, and 
other institutions where students pursue post-high school studies; (5) areas 
of students' career choices; (6) research accomplishments; and (7) awards.

o  Describe a plan for tracking students after completion of COR high school 
program and provisions for follow-up support and consultations for pursuing 
mental health science careers, including assistance in locating financial 
support.

o  Provide statistics on numbers of students entering the college programs 
and the areas of specialization.

For Competing Continuation Applicants Only

The following information about the previous research education grant period 
must be provided for renewal applications:

o  Number of high school students who participated in the research education 
program

o  Research activities of all students subsequent to the COR research 
education program

o  Present information of continued career development and employment of 
former COR high school participants (i.e., whether in biomedical and 
behavioral research areas related to goals of the program)

o  Attrition rate of student participants

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. 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: [email protected].  
The application form 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 5 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 High School Education Program are
submitted on the single receipt date of June 1 and reviewed on the
following schedule:

Receipt                 Initial Review        Council        Earliest
Date                    Group Meeting         Meeting        Start Date

May 10, Annually        Oct/Nov               Jan/Feb        April 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 (NAMHC).

Review Criteria 

Applications will be assessed for:

Quality of Research Education Program for COR High School Students

o  Scientific and educational merit of the proposed research training plans

o  Quality of the applicant institution's training record and training 
potential

o  Strength of institution's commitment to the goals and objectives of 
attracting talented minority high school youth to careers in mental health 
science fields

o  Comprehensiveness of the proposed plan to offer opportunities in a broad 
range of disciplinary areas related to mental health, methods for fostering 
interest, and feasibility of plans for short-term (summer) and long-term 
(summer and part-time during school year) participation

o  Adequacy and appropriateness of plans for recruitment, selection, 
retention, mentoring/counseling and facilitating the successful transition 
into undergraduate research training programs

o  Appropriateness of educational program, including decision criteria for 
pairing each student with only one mentor for the research experience, choice 
of participating COR faculty for this component of the program, provisions 
for student career counseling, and overall plan for supervising the students' 
research and research experiences

o  Appropriateness of timetable for completing planned activities for each 
student

o  Adequacy of design of proposed ancillary activities: science day 
activities convened on campus or at high schools; visits to research 
institutions or plans for adopt-a-high school programs (These elements should 
emphasize ways in which the program extends beyond the participating students 
and reaches a broader number of students.)

Methods of Selection, Monitoring, and Follow-up of Students

o  Availability of student candidates of high potential

o  Adequacy of plans for selecting students

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 post-high school training programs and a plan for 
career advising and choice-assistance of students

o  Adequacy of plans for tracking students after graduation and post-
graduation guidance related to entry into a college curriculum targeted 
toward research and science education

Program Leadership

o  Qualifications and experience of Program Director

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

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 Honors High 
School Research Education Grant program as it has an impact on students' 
academic preparation, research education, and interactions with faculty and 
undergraduate students, as evidenced by the following:

o  Access to research facilities and related resources, including laboratory 
space, computer time, equipment, and research samples for use by students

o  Plans for linkages with collaborating institutions where necessary

o  Plans for evaluating the effectiveness of the program

o  Evidence of involvement of a wide variety of research areas in disciplines 
such as biology, chemistry, psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and 
behavioral sciences

Budget

o  Appropriateness of budget in relation to scope of proposed educational 
program

Program Evaluation

o  Adequacy of plans for evaluating the COR High School Program on an annual 
basis, including methods for assessing the extent to which the COR High 
School Program increases recruitment, science education, and placement of 
minority students in careers in mental health fields

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 8125, MSC 9659
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9659
Telephone: 301-443-2847
Fax: 301-443-8552
Email: [email protected]

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:  [email protected]

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended 
applications assigned to the Institute.  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.

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS 

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 
93.242.  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 administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations 
42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  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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