Participating Organization(s)	National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Components of Participating Organizations	Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Funding Opportunity Title	Planning Grant for Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D71)
Activity Code	D71 International Research Training Planning Grant
Announcement Type	Reissue of FOA PAR-10-262
Related Notices	Mach 27, 2015 - This PA has been reissued as PAR-15-160. June 4, 2014 - Notice NOT-14-074 supersedes instructions in Section III.3 regarding applications that are essentially the same.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number	PAR-14-194
Companion Funding Opportunity	PAR-14-193, D43 International Research Training Grants
Number of Applications	See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	93.989
Funding Opportunity Purpose	This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites new planning grant applications for the Global Infectious Disease (GID) Research Training Program from applicants at low- and middle-income research institutions (LMICs). The application should propose plans to develop a collaborative research training program with a U.S. institution that will strengthen the capacity of the applicant institution to conduct infectious disease (excluding HIV/AIDS and select agents) research. Planning grants should describe the planning process and detailed vision for developing a research-training program that focuses on major endemic or life-threatening emerging infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, infections that frequently occur as co-infections in HIV infected individuals or infections associated with non-communicable disease conditions in LMICs.

Posted Date	April 25, 2014
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)	June 29, 2014
Letter of Intent Due Date(s)	30 days prior to the application due date
Application Due Date(s)	July 29, 2014, July 29, 2015, July 29, 2016, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
AIDS Application Due Date(s)	July 29, 2014, July 29, 2015, July 29, 2016, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
Scientific Merit Review	October/November 2014, October/November 2015, October/November 2016
Advisory Council Review	January 2015, January 2016, January 2017
Earliest Start Date	March 2015, March 2016, March 2017
Expiration Date	New Date March 27, 2015 per issuance of PAR-15-160. (Original Expiration Date: July 30, 2016)
Due Dates for E.O. 12372	Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide including the Supplemental Instructions to the SF424 (R&R) for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Application, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages planning grant applications in the Global Infectious Disease Research Training program from research institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The application should propose a detailed one year planning process to develop an innovative, collaborative research training program with a U.S. institution that is envisioned to strengthen the capacity of the applicant institution to conduct infectious disease (excluding HIV/AIDS and select agents) research. The proposed planning process is expected to lead to an application submitted in response to PAR-14-193 "Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D43)" which provides up to five years of support for a U.S.-LMIC collaborative research training program that focuses on major endemic or life-threatening emerging infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, infections that frequently occur as co-infections in HIV infected individuals or infections associated with non-communicable disease conditions in LMICs. Applicants interested in providing HIV research training should apply to the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program funding opportunities (see http://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/hiv-aids-research-training.aspx).

Infectious diseases continue to impose a tremendous health burden in resource-poor countries throughout the world, claiming millions of lives annually and inflicting severe morbidity that results in significant losses in economic productivity and social progress. Attempts to control infectious diseases endemic to developing countries suffer due to an incomplete understanding of the pathogens, disease manifestations and transmission mechanisms, inadequate preventive measures and interventions, and inadequate health services and disease control efforts. A major barrier to improved research, treatment, and control of infectious diseases is the scarcity of scientists and health professionals in LMICs with relevant infectious disease research knowledge and expertise."

Sustainable research capacity requires a critical mass of scientists and health research professionals with in-depth scientific expertise and complementary skills that enable the institution to conduct independent, internationally-recognized infectious disease research relevant to the health priorities of their country. Therefore, the overall intent of this funding opportunity is the development of effective research training that will engender scientific knowledge and skills that will enhance prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases causing major morbidity and mortality.

The objectives of the Planning Grant for the Global Infectious Disease Research Training program are:

• To assess the existing research and research training capacity in the proposed infectious disease scientific area at the applicant LMIC institution in order to justify the need for additional research training;
• To develop a detailed vision and strategies for implementing an innovative research training and career development program for multiple scientists and health research professionals to strengthen the applicant LMIC institution's capacity to conduct independent, sustainable infectious disease research;
• To identify the research training, faculty development, scientific environment and administrative resources needed to undertake such a research training program;
• To define a pool of the best potential trainees that could be recruited and the selection process for future research training;
• To define the collaborations and roles of all individual and institutional partners for an effective organizational structure that will support the envisioned research training program; and
• To organize and submit an application in response to the D43 FOA, PAR-14-193.

Funding Instrument	Grant: support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.
Application Types Allowed	New Resubmission The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards	The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Award Budget	Application budgets are limited to $28,000 per year direct costs.
Award Project Period	The maximum project period is for 1 year.

Personnel Costs	Individuals designing, directing, and implementing research training program planning activities may request salary and fringe benefits appropriate for the person months devoted to the program. Salaries requested may not exceed the levels commensurate with the institution's policy for similar positions and may not exceed the congressionally mandated cap. Limited administrative and clerical salary costs associated distinctly with the program planning activities that are not normally provided by the applicant organization may be direct charges to the grant only when they are in accordance with applicable cost principles. For institutions covered by OMB Circular A-21, this type of training program may qualify as a major project where administrative salaries are allowable as a direct cost. When specifically identified and justified, these expenses must be itemized in Sections A and B, as appropriate, of the R&R Budget.
Training Related Expenses	Consultants may also be supported for specific contributions to research training program planning activities. Faculty Travel: Funds may be requested for round-trip economy airfare on U.S. carriers (to the maximum extent possible), lodging and per diem for the Principal Investigator to attend the annual program network meeting, normally in the U.S. Funds may be requested for faculty and collaborator travel associated with well justified research training program planning activities.
Indirect Costs	Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs (exclusive of tuition and fees, consortium costs in excess of $25,000, and expenditures for equipment), rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions)

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.

Applicants should include an eligible U.S. institution as a collaborator for which joint research with the applicant LMIC institution can be documented by publications, grants or previous research training activities. Applicants are encourages to contact the FIC Scientific/Research Staff if more than one U.S. and one LMIC institution will be proposed as training sites.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.

Only institutions in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), defined by the World Bank classification system (according to Gross National Income (GNI) per capita as low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income ) and NOT-TW-12-011 "Notice of Change in Country Eligibility for Fogarty International Training Grants" are eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Applicant Organizations

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.

• Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) - All registrations require that applicants be issued a DUNS number. After obtaining a DUNS number, applicants can begin both SAM and eRA Commons registrations. The same DUNS number must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.
• System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly CCR) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.
• NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
• eRA Commons - Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the eRA Commons registration. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.gov registration. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
• Grants.gov Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

International applicants may obtain more information on the registrations required for grants.gov and eRA Commons at:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/Tips_for_International_Applicants.pdf.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/international_support.pdf
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/international_qa.pdf
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/preparing_grantsgov_reg.htm

Guidance for International Applicants Blocked from Registration Websites: NOT-OD-11-090.

An NIH supported webinar on Electronic Submission of Grant Applications for Foreign Institutions can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/webinar_docs/webinar_20120927.htm.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed planning activities to develop a research training program as the Training Program Director/Principal Investigator (Training PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is programmatically distinct.

NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed within the past thirty-seven months (as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), except for submission:

• To an RFA of an application that was submitted previously as an investigator-initiated application but not paid;
• Of an investigator-initiated application that was originally submitted to an RFA but not paid; or
• Of an application with a changed grant activity code.

Program faculty should have strong records as researchers, including recent publications and successful competition for research support in the area of the proposed research training program. Program faculty should also have a record of research training, including successful, former trainees who have established productive careers. Researchers from diverse backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and women are encouraged to participate.

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit "Frequently Asked Questions" Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Letter of Intent

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• Descriptive title of proposed activity
• Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institution(s)
• Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Barbara Sina Ph.D.
Telephone: 301-402-9467
Fax: 301-402-0779
Email: [email protected]

All page limitations described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, required and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.

Instructions for Application Submission

The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this FOA.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Include the applicant institution and all of the collaborating institutions, both U.S. and foreign, as performance sites.

Foreign Award or With Foreign Component. Check YES and list the foreign countries in 6a for all performance sites listed in SF 424 (R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations Component.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), with the following additional modifications:

Project Summary/Abstract. Provide an abstract of the entire application. Include the objectives, rationale and design of the research training program development process, as well as key planning activities. Include the name of the LMIC institution and infectious disease focus of the research training which will be developed during the proposed planning process. Describe the public health relevance of the proposed infectious disease focus of the research training to the named LMIC.

Facilities and Other Resources: Include descriptions of facilities and research training resources for the LMIC and collaborating U.S. institutions.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide with the following additional modifications:

• Use the Other Personnel section to submit costs for salary support for administrative staff.
• Use the Travel section to submit costs for key personnel and faculty travel including the annual network meeting.
• Use the Participant/Trainee Support Costs section to submit costs to list allowable categories of funds requested to support participants in the program.

All Supplemental Instructions to the SF424 (R&R) for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Application must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Program Plan

Program Administration. Describe the acknowledged strengths, leadership and administrative skills, training experience, scientific expertise, and active research of the PD/PI. Relate these strengths to the proposed management of the training program planning process. Describe the planned strategy and administrative structure to be used to oversee and monitor the research training program planning process. If there are multiple PDs/PIs, then the plan for Program Administration is expected to synergize with the Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan section of the application.

Program Faculty. The application must include information about the faculty who will be available to contribute to the training program planning process. Describe the complementary expertise and experiences of the proposed Faculty, including active research and other scholarly activities in which the faculty are engaged, as well as experience mentoring and training individuals.

Proposed Training. Provide an overview of the proposed research training program planning process. Outline the objectives of the research training program planning process and the activities that will be used to meet these objectives. Describe for whom the training program is intended, including the training level(s) of the trainees, the academic and research background needed to pursue the proposed training, and, as appropriate, plans to accommodate differences in preparation among trainees. Include information about the process for developing courses, mentored research experiences, and any activities designed to develop specific technical skills or other competencies essential for the proposed research training. Applicants are encouraged to include a timeline for all proposed planning activities.

Background Research Training Program Justification

Applicants must provide a specific justification for the need for support for a one year planning process to develop a research training program application. Applicants should explain in detail what planning activities are proposed that could not be possible without support from a planning grant.

Scientific Focus

The rationale for the scientific focus should include a description of the expected impact of research training on endemic disease in the country in question. Applications must identify an infectious disease scientific focus directly relevant to the LMIC health priorities for which research capacity is limited at the LMIC institution. FIC will support planning grants for research training programs that focus on:

• Major endemic or life-threatening emerging infectious diseases;
  
  
• Neglected tropical diseases;
  
  
• Infections that frequently occur as co-infections in HIV infected individuals; or
  
  
• Infections associated with non-communicable disease conditions of public health importance in LMICs.

Applicants should describe the current level of research and expertise at the LMIC institution in the proposed scientific focus and justify the need for more research training in this field. Applicants should explain how relevant research grant support and activities of the PD/PI(s) and proposed faculty are envisioned to provide mentored research training experience for participants in the program that will be planned.

Types of Training to be Planned

Activities can be proposed to plan research training in basic biomedical or clinical sciences; behavioral or social sciences; prevention research; health services, operations and implementation research. Applicants are encouraged to design multidisciplinary research training programs. The proposed planning process should consider how to incorporate an appropriate mix of research training opportunities to address the infectious disease-related research training capacity needs identified at the LMIC institution.

Applicants should propose planning activities to develop research training that instills in-depth scientific expertise and research leadership capabilities. Planning may include advanced degree and non-degree research training supported at a U.S. or foreign institution, however, mentored training-related research should be carried out mainly in the proposed LMIC.

Applicants may propose planning for programs in which trainees are supported to participate in conducting research or analyses associated with clinical trials supported by other research grants. For planning purposes, applicants should be aware that PAR-14-193, does not support clinical trials research.

Applicants are also encouraged to design plans for strengthening associated skills and knowledge necessary for long-term research career sustainability, such as scientific writing and presentation, grant writing, and expertise in bioinformatics, bioethics, good clinical practice, good laboratory practice, biosafety, research administration and the management of intellectual property. Training in English as a second language may be supported, if needed.

The proposed planning process may consider designing short term training that provides selected trainees a thorough exposure to the principles and skills of specific research methods or research related competencies to enable immediate incorporation into current trainee research or career development activities. Applicants should refer to PAR-14-193 for the limited types of short term training support that are supported in the Global Infectious Disease research training program (D43.)

Applicants may wish to consider the use of distance learning technology for research training, if appropriate and sustainable for the LMIC institution. Planning grants that propose the development of distance learning may include pilot training activities to explore the effective use of this approach. All applicants are encouraged to develop research training in the use of information technology to facilitate trainee data management, access to online scientific information and collaborative interaction. Where applicable, applicants should also describe other infectious disease research training programs at the LMIC institution and explain what distinguishes the program envisioned and compare how components of the proposed program will complement or synergize and not overlap with existing infectious disease research training activities. Applicants should provide evidence that the pool of faculty, potential trainees, and resources are robust enough to support additional programs.

Types of Activities to Be Planned

Applicants must propose how the existing research and research training capacity in the proposed infectious disease scientific area at the applicant LMIC institution will be assessed in order to justify the need for additional research training.

Applicants must propose a process and identify faculty to develop a detailed vision and strategies for implementing an innovative research training and career development program for multiple scientists and health research professionals to strengthen the applicant LMIC institution's capacity to conduct independent, sustainable infectious disease research.

The proposed planning process should identify the research training, faculty development, scientific environment and administrative resources needed to undertake such a research training program;

The proposed planning process should define a pool of the best potential trainees that could be recruited and the trainee selection criteria and process for future research training;

The proposed planning process should define the collaborations and roles of all individual and institutional partners for an effective organizational structure that will support the envisioned research training program.

Applicants must plan a process by which all training-related research projects will be independently peer-reviewed through a scientific review procedure or committee established by the applicant institution.

Applicants must plan how faculty mentors and trainees will be provided with education in the protection of human subjects and ethical review of the proposed research by institutional (or ethical) review board or committee for anticipated trainee research that involves human subjects.

Applicants should design a process to submit an application in response to Global Infectious Disease Research Training program (D43) PAR-14-193.

Program Evaluation. Describe a plan to develop an evaluation process to determine the quality and effectiveness of the training program. Applications must include a plan for designing the evaluation of envisioned research training activities supported by the award as well as the overall success in building research capacity at the LMIC institution. This plan should include a process for determining the metrics to be evaluated (including program activities completed, degree completion (if applicable), publications, fellowships/honors, and subsequent positions) as well as a process to obtain feedback from trainees to help identify weaknesses and to provide suggestions for program improvements. Specified evaluation metrics should be tied to the goals of the program.

Trainees. Program plans must be designed only for individuals who are citizens of LMICs (defined by the World Bank classification system - also refer to NOT-TW-12-011 "Notice of Change in Country Eligibility for Fogarty International Training Grants", for additional information) as eligible for pre-doctoral or postdoctoral training support or other training activities.

Program may plan to train to be offered to a wide range of scientists, including laboratory scientists, clinicians, social scientists, and other health professionals, as well as technical and administrative staff.

Institutional Environment and Commitment to the Program.

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program including assurance that sufficient time will be allowed for the PDs/PIs and other Program Faculty to contribute to the proposed planning process. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planning process.

Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity

This section is not required for this FOA.

Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

The proposed planning process should consider how a future training program applications submitted to the GID PAR-14-193 will comply with the instructions for Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research provided in Chapter 8 of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop courses in the responsible conduct of research adapted to the locally relevant scientific context at the LMIC institution that include LMIC faculty.

Appendix

Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. .

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.

Important reminders:

All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management (SAM). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-13-030.

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research training are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood that the proposed planning process will develop a research training program likely to prepare individuals for successful, productive scientific research careers and thereby exert a sustained influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of the merit of the planning process for a training program, and give a separate score for each. No training will be supported. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.

Training Program and Environment

• Do the objectives defined in the application address the objectives of the planning grant FOA?
• Are planning activities proposed that would not be possible without support from a planning grant?
• Does the applicant demonstrate the need for research training in the specified scientific topic?
• Does the applicant propose a realistic plan and vision for developing an application in response to the D43 FOA for the Global Infectious Disease Research Training program?
• Does the applicant propose creative approaches to develop a research training program?
• Is there adequate potential for a supportive training environment at the applicant and proposed partner institutions as demonstrated by available mentors, institutional support, and on-going research projects in which trainees may participate?
• Is there evidence of a significant institutional commitment from all participating institutions to collaboratively plan a research training program?
• Is there evidence of institutional and individual research collaborations among the faculty of the participating institutions to support the future research training?

Training Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s))

• Does the training PD/PI have the scientific background, expertise, and administrative and training experience to provide strong leadership, direction, management, and administration of the planning process for the envisioned research training program?
• Does the training PD/PI plan to commit sufficient effort to the planning process to ensure its success in developing an application to the D43 FOA?
• For applications designating multiple PDs/PIs:
  • Is a strong justification provided that the multiple PD/PI leadership approach will benefit the research training program planning process?
  • Is a strong and compelling leadership approach evident, including the designated roles and responsibilities, governance, and organizational structure consistent with and justified by the aims of the research training program planning process proposed and the complementary expertise of the PDs/PIs?

Preceptors/Mentors

• Are sufficient numbers of experienced mentors with appropriate expertise and funding available to support the future research training program to be planned?
• Do the proposed mentors have adequately funded and appropriate research to support the future research training program envisioned?

Trainees

• Will the proposed planning process identify an adequate pool of the best potential trainees?
• Will the proposed planning process identify recruitment and selection strategies likely to involve the best trainees?

Training Record

• Does the applicant distinguish the program envisioned from existing infectious disease research training programs at the LMIC institution and explain how the components of the proposed program will complement or synergize and not overlap with existing infectious disease research training activities?

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

Not Applicable

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

Not Applicable

Vertebrate Animals

Not Applicable

Biohazards

Not Applicable

Resubmissions

For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.

Renewals

Not Applicable

Revisions

Not Applicable

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.

Recruitment & Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity

Not Applicable

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Not Applicable

Select Agent Research

Not Applicable

Budget and Period of Support

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), convened by the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

• May undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review) will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.
• Will receive a written critique.

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the Fogarty International Center's Advisory Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (GID), and FIC priorities (FIC Strategic Plan (http://www.fic.nih.gov/About/Pages/Strategic-Plan.aspx).
• Scientific content for program balance.
• Geographic balance.

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, SAM Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Awards made primarily for educational purposes are exempted from the PHS invention requirements and thus invention reporting is not required, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Not Applicable

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Evaluation results should be included as part of the final Progress Report.

A final Progress Report and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Evaluation results should be included as part of the final Progress Report.

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Because of the difference in individual Institute and Center (IC) program requirements for this FOA, prospective applications MUST consult the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts, to make sure that their application is responsive to the requirements of one of the participating NIH ICs. Prior consultation with NIH staff is strongly encouraged.

eRA Commons Help Desk (Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, submitting and tracking an application, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, post submission issues)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
Finding Help Online: http://grants.nih.gov/support/index.html
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: [email protected]

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and application packages)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Web ticketing system: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/ContactUs.aspx
Email: [email protected]

Grants Info (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone: 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: [email protected]

Barbara Sina Ph.D.
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Telephone: 301-402-9467
Email: [email protected]

Hilary D. Sigmon, Ph.D., R.N.
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
Telephone: 301-357-9236
Email: [email protected]

Satabdi Raychowdhury
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Telephone: 301-496-9750
Email: [email protected]

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 287b) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 63a.