It is critical that applicants follow the Training (T) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, 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

A major barrier to improved treatment and control of chronic NCDs is the lack of capacity to conduct locally relevant research due to the scarcity of scientists and health professionals in LMICs with relevant research expertise. Sustainable research capacity is known to require a critical mass of scientists and health research professionals with in-depth scientific expertise and complementary leadership skills that enable the institution to conduct independent, internationally-recognized NCD research relevant to the health priorities of their country.

Therefore, the overall intent of this FOA is to support a planning process to build on previous research and research training capacity development initiatives at the LMIC institution(s) to develop an application for a D43 research training program within the LMIC, led by the LMIC institution (see: https://researchtraining.nih.gov/programs/training-grants/D43).

The proposed program is expected to further enhance the LMIC capacity to conduct research directly related to identification, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and control of NCDs that cause significant morbidity and mortality.

Chronic non-communicable diseases and disorders in resource-poor countries impose physical, financial, social and health care burdens while also claiming millions of lives annually. Attempts to identify and control NCDs in LMICs suffer due to an incomplete understanding of the scope of individual and co-morbid NCDs and their manifestations, etiology, cultural and genetic context, along with inadequate preventive measures and interventions, insufficient health services and unknown or uncontrolled risk factors.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for the "Planning for Non-Communicable Diseases and Disorders Research Training Programs in Low and Middle-Income Countries" (Global NCD D71). The Fogarty International Center (FIC) will support planning of innovative research training programs that are designed to build sustainable NCD research capacity at the institution(s) in an LMIC.

This D71 FOA invites applications from LMIC research institutions that are already involved in NCD research and/or research training activities under previous NIH or non-NIH initiatives, but not yet as the lead institution. The applications should propose a planning process and detailed vision for a LMIC-led D43 research training program to strengthen the capacity of the LMIC institution(s) to conduct research that focuses on NCD conditions of public health importance in LMICs.

The goal of the planning process is to develop a detailed application under LMIC leadership for a D43 research training program to sustainably strengthen the research capacity of the LMIC institutions, and to train in-country experts to conduct research on NCDs, with the ultimate goal of implementing evidence-based interventions relevant to their countries (For the goals and requirements of D43 programs in general see: https://researchtraining.nih.gov/programs/training-grants/D43). See https://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/chronic-lifespan.aspx for the previous D43 FOA Announcement: Chronic, Noncommunicable Diseases and Disorders Across the Lifespan: Fogarty International Research Training Award (NCD-LIFESPAN) (D43, PAR-10-257).

The objectives of the "Planning for Non-Communicable Diseases and Disorders Research Training program in Low and Middle Income Countries" (Global NCD D71) are:

• To assess the existing research and research training capacity at the applicant LMIC institution in the proposed scientific area(s) that are directly relevant to the LMIC health priorities in order to show feasibility to develop a new or continued research training program directed from and at the LMIC institution;
• To develop a detailed vision and strategies for implementing an innovative research training program at and led by the LMIC institution for multiple scientists and health research professionals;
• To plan to strengthen both the trainees' capacity to conduct, and the applicant LMIC institution's capacity to support and promote, independent, sustainable research;
• To identify the research training, faculty development, scientific environment and administrative resources still needed to undertake such a research training program by the LMIC institution after building on prior initiatives such as collaborations under an FIC D43.
• To define a pool of the best-qualified potential LMIC trainees that could be recruited and the selection process for future research training;
• To develop defined collaborations and roles of all individual and institutional partners for an effective organizational structure that will support the envisioned D43 research training program; and
• To lay the foundation for sustainable, competitive NCD D43 research training program in and led by the LMIC(s).

Scientific Focus

Applications are encouraged to plan for research training on NCDs that are:

1) Major life-threatening or causing significant morbidity in the wider population or sub-populations in the LMIC.

2) Emerging or neglected NCD diseases and disorders.

3) NCD conditions of public health importance co-morbid with, related to, or consequences of endemic infectious diseases in the LMIC.

Examples of the NCDs that may be addressed within the planned research training program include, but are not limited to: cancer, cardio- and cerebrovascular disease and stroke, chronic lung disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, mental illness, neurological, substance abuse and addiction, and developmental disorders. Research training is encouraged that emphasizes lifecycle studies and early life determinants of chronic diseases, genetic, epigenetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, co-morbid conditions, and common risk factors and interventions relevant to multiple conditions and their prevention.

Applications that focus on planning HIV/AIDS research training will not be supported in this program but can be supported in applications to the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program funding opportunities (see http://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/hiv-aids-research-training.aspx).

Applicants are encouraged to plan for multi-disciplinary research training programs especially designed to reach underserved and vulnerable LMIC populations.

The proposed planning process should aim at a future research training program that will expose LMIC trainees to a diversity of research tools and technologies and diverse approaches and systems for scientific study. Planners may consider team-based research training approaches depending upon the goals of the training program envisioned. Research training proposed may include but is not limited to basic biomedical or clinical sciences; bioengineering and informatics research; behavioral or social sciences; prevention research; health services, operations and implementation research.

Proposed collaborators should have research or disciplinary expertise directly relevant to the proposed scientific focus of the research training program.

Types of Training to be planned

Applicants should propose a planning process that incorporates the following characteristics into the training program:

• A strong foundation in rigorous research design, methods, and analytic techniques appropriate for the proposed research area and that addresses research reproducibility (for guidance refer to NOT-OD-16-011 - Implementing Rigor and Transparency in NIH & AHRQ Research Grant Applications;
• The enhancement of the LMIC trainees ability to conceptualize and think through research problems with increasing independence;
• The opportunity to interact with members of the scientific community at appropriate scientific meetings and workshops; and
• The enhancement of the LMIC trainees understanding of health-related sciences and the relationship of their research training to health and disease.

The Global NCD Research Training program envisioned by the planners should be designed to both train individuals for the next career level while also continuing to increase sustainable, independently resourced NCD research capacity at the awardee LMIC institution and partnering institutions.

The planned institutional NCD research training program may complement other ongoing research training and career development programs at the applicant institution, but should be clearly distinct from existing programs.

Planning proposed should prepare for a future research training program that will:

• focus on advanced degree or non-degree research training supported at the LMIC institution (research training at a US or an Upper middle-income Country UMIC institution may be incorporated if short-term and justified as necessary for specific purposes such as to "train the trainers" or to complement long term research training at the LMIC);
• include as needed short term training that provides selected LMIC 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;
• incorporate strategies to support transition of supported LMIC trainees to the next career stage (to this end planning should consider how LMIC and non-LMIC mentors will provide scientific and career guidance).
• incorporate training activities as needed to strengthen the skills and knowledge necessary for long-term research career sustainability, such as but not limited to scientific writing and presentation, grant writing, and, as appropriate, expertise in bioinformatics, bioethics, good clinical practice, good laboratory practice, biosafety, research administration and English as a second language training.
• includes different research training approaches (e.g., such as distance learning) that might be appropriate and sustainable for the LMIC participants and institutions involved. Planning grants that propose the development of distance learning components may include pilot training activities to explore the effective use of this approach.
• includes the use of information technology to facilitate trainee data management, access to online scientific information and collaborative interaction.

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

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.

Only institutions in low and middle income countries (LMICs) are eligible to apply. LMICs are 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 (http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups). See Notice of Change in Country Eligibility for Fogarty International Training Grants http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-TW-12-011.html and Country Eligibility http://www.fic.nih.gov/Grants/Pages/country-eligibility.aspx for definition of "eligible LMIC" used in this FOA.

Applications must be submitted by an eligible foreign institution in a low-and middle-income country (LMIC). Collaborating U.S. or other LMIC institutions may be included as appropriate and justified for needed training or research expertise but trainees must be from the eligible LMIC(s). The applicant LMIC institution must have at least one existing research program(s) in the area(s) proposed under this FOA (see below under "Eligible Individuals") and must have an already developed core of the requisite faculty, staff, and facilities on site, as a foundation to build on, to conduct the proposed institutional research training program. In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed program will complement other ongoing research training programs occurring at the applicant LMIC institution and that a number of program faculty will have active research projects in which participating trainees may gain relevant experiences consistent with their research interests and goals.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

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.

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 research training program planning process 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.

The PD/PI applicants must have their primary appointment at the LMIC institution and be a citizen or permanent resident of an eligible LMIC.

The PD/PI should be an established investigator in an NCD area for which the application is targeted and have research and research training experience in the LMIC that is the focus of the application.

The PD/PI should be capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed planning activities for the research training program.

The PD/PI must be designated as the PD/PI of at least one research award (NIH or other award from an international or national funding agency/institution) that is directly relevant to the scientific focus of the research training proposed and with at least 18 months of support remaining at the time of submission of the application.

Applicants may only designate a UMIC or U.S. collaborator as one of the multiple PD/PIs (if multiple PD/PIs are designated) if the individual has ongoing collaborative research as the PD/PI of at least one LMIC research award at the LMIC site with at least 18 months of support remaining at the time of submission of the application.

The PD/PI(s) will be responsible for overseeing the proposed planning process and is the overall direction, management and administration of the planning activities. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess planning progress and submit all documents and reports as required. The PD/PI has responsibility for the day to day administration of the program.

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.

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time. This means that the NIH will not accept:

• A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
• A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
• An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NOT-OD-11-101).

Proposed program faculty identified in the planning process 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 relevant to the NIH mission. Researchers from diverse backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and women are encouraged to participate as mentors.

Planning for recruitment of trainees under the future D43 program should take into account the requirement that only individuals who are citizens or permanent residents 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) are eligible for research training support or other training activities. In addition, individuals who have dual citizenship or permanent residency in the U.S., other high income countries or ineligible countries described above are not eligible for support

Buttons to access the online ASSIST system or to download application forms are available in Part 1 of this FOA. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

It is critical that applicants follow the Training (T) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide including Supplemental Grant Application Instructions 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:

Kathleen Michels, PhD
Telephone: 301-496-1653
Fax: 301-402-0779
Email: FIC-NCD-D43@mail.nih.gov

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

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.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application, 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 planning process, as well as key activities

Include the name of the LMIC institution and NCD focus of the research training program that will be developed during the planning process.

Project Narrative: Describe the public health relevance of the proposed focus of the research training to the LMIC.

The filename provided for each Other Attachment will be the name used for the bookmark in the electronic application in eRA Commons.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

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 networking meeting.
• Use the Other Direct Costs section to submit costs for other direct costs related to training activities. Describe fully in the budget justification

The PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form is comprised of the following sections:

• Training Program
• Faculty, Trainees, and Training Record
• Other Training Program Sections
• Appendix

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

Training Program

Program Plan

Background

Provide the rationale for the proposed research training program to be planned in terms of the specific NCD research capacity needs for the LMIC and LMIC institution. Applicants should describe the current level of research and expertise at the LMIC institution in the proposed scientific focus area and justify the need for more research training in this field.

Applicants must provide a specific justification for the need for support for a one-year planning process to develop a research training program application from the LMIC institution. Applicants should explain why the planning activities proposed would not be possible without support from a planning grant.

Describe a detailed process and vision for development and implementation of an NCD research-training program, under LMIC leadership that will enhance, expand and build on already existing research and research training initiatives and resources at the LMIC institution (through a previous FIC D43 or other similar NIH or non-NIH initiatives and collaborations).

Program Administration

Describe the leadership, administrative skills, scientific research and training experience of the PD/PI(s) and how these strengths are related to planning for the management of the research training program.

Describe the planned strategy and administrative structure to be used to oversee and monitor the research training program planning process.

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

Describe how decisions regarding the proposed components of the research training program being planned will be made in consultation with the proposed LMIC faculty and other partners, including any U.S. faculty as applicable.

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 LMIC individuals.

Provide a description of how the previous and ongoing collaborative research among the PI/PD(s) and faculty as well as other relevant research at the collaborating institutions will provide a foundation for the research training program envisioned.

Describe the prior record of successful research training in NCDs at the LMIC institution.

Describe the successful past NCD research training record of the PD/PI and mentors.

Proposed Training

Institutions may build on previous related research training and capacity building programs. However, if other research training programs still exist at the institution the applicant must explain how the planning process will determine 1) what distinguishes the proposed research training program being developed from the others 2) how their programs will synergize with one another, if applicable, and 3) that the pool of faculty, potential LMIC trainees, and resources are robust and distinct enough to support additional programs.

Applicants should outline the objectives of the research training program planning process and the activities that will be used to meet these objectives.

Describe plans to develop trainee mentorship. 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 research training envisioned. Applicants are encouraged to include a timeline for all proposed planning activities.

Applicants should describe steps to plan activities to provide LMIC trainees with professional development skills and individualized career guidance in during the planned D43 research training program. Mentorship training for proposed faculty may be proposed during the planning grant period

While the intent of the D71 research training planning grant is to provide planning support for LMIC institutions with the infrastructure ready to undertake a full D43 research training program, the proposed planning process should identify any additional research resources, faculty development/ mentorship training, scientific environment and administrative efforts needed to undertake the research training program envisioned.

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 to address any human subjects-related research and training requirements such as planning for a process in which faculty mentors and LMIC trainees will be provided with education in the protection of human subjects and the ethical reviews of proposed trainee research by institutional ethical review boards or committees for anticipated trainee research that involves human subjects.

Applicants should design a process to prepare a D43 application (see https://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/chronic-lifespan.aspx for the previous chronic disease research training D43 programs).

Training Program Evaluation

Describe a plan to develop an evaluation process to determine the quality and effectiveness of the research training program. This process should include evaluation of the training and mentorship activities envisioned, as well as the overall success in building sustainable, independently resourced NCD research capacity at the LMIC institution.

Trainee Candidates

Describe for whom the training program to be planned is intended, including the training level(s) of the LMIC trainees and the academic and research background needed to pursue the proposed training envisioned. The proposed planning process should define a pool of the best potential LMIC trainees that may be recruited, trainee selection criteria, including requirement for LMIC citizenship.

Describe how the potential pool of candidates for the future research training will be assessed and possible strategies and criteria that will be considered to recruit and select trainees.

Institutional Environment and Commitment to the Program

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed research training program planning process including assurance that sufficient time will be allowed for the PDs/PIs and other Program Faculty to contribute to the proposed program.

The application should include letters of support from institutional leaders of the collaborating institutions describing the possible institutional contribution and commitment to the research training program planning process

Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

The proposed planning process should determine how a future training program application submitted to the future NCD-Lifespan D43 FOA would comply with the instructions for "Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research" provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Applicants are strongly encouraged to plan 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.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

See Part 1. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates and times. 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. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

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. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Policy on Late Application Submission.

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. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Guidelines for Applicants Experiencing System Issues. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.

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 and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed.

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy.

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 are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood that the proposed training program planning process will develop a research training program application 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 research training planning proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of the merit of the training program, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.

Training Program and Environment

• Does the applicant demonstrate the need for research training in the proposed NCD scientific area at the applicant LMIC institution directly relevant to LMIC health priorities? Are the objectives, design and direction of the proposed research training program likely to ensure effective training?
• Does the application propose a sufficient process to assess the existing specific NCD research capacity gaps at the LMIC institution in order to inform the development of a future research training program that will strengthen the applicant LMIC institution's ability to conduct independent, sustainable research in this area?
• Is the proposed planning process likely to develop a realistic vision and detailed strategies for implementing an innovative research training program?
• Does the application include adequate processes to define the best LMIC trainee pool, trainee recruitment and selection plans, research training and related activities, faculty roles, scientific environment and administrative resources needed to undertake the research training program envisioned?
• Is there adequate potential for a supportive training environment at the applicant and proposed partner institutions as demonstrated by available faculty mentors, institutional support, and on-going collaborative research projects in which LMIC trainees may participate?

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

• Does the PD/PI have the scientific background, expertise, LMIC experience 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 PD/PI plan to commit sufficient effort to the planning process to successfully develop an application in response to the full NCD D43 FOA?
• For applications designating multiple PDs/PIs:
• Is a strong justification provided that the multiple PD/PI leadership approach will benefit the training program and the trainees?
• 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 training program and the complementary expertise of the PDs/PIs?

Mentors

• Are sufficient numbers of LMIC faculty with appropriate expertise, appropriate ongoing research and collaborative experience available to contribute to the success of the proposed LMIC institutional research training program planning process?
• Does the application describe the roles in the planning process and explain how decisions regarding the proposed components of the research training program being developed will be made in consultation with the proposed LMIC (and U.S. as relevant) faculty?

Training Record

• Is there a prior record of successful research training in NCDs at the LMIC institution?
• Does the proposed planning build on previous research training programs or initiatives at the LMIC institution?
• Is there evidence of a successful past NCD research training record of the PD/PI and mentors?
• Does the applicant distinguish the program to be planned from existing NCD research training programs at the LMIC institution? Do the components of the program to be planned and designed build on, complement or synergize but not overlap with existing NCD 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

Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Vertebrate Animals

Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Biohazards

Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

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 Plan to Enhance Diversity

Not Applicable

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Plans and past record will be rated as ACCEPTABLE or UNACCEPTABLE, and the summary statement will provide the consensus of the review committee.

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 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 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 The Fogarty International Center 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 program priorities and the FIC strategic plan (https://www.fic.nih.gov/about/pages/strategic-plan.aspx).
• Consideration of programmatic priorities, scientific area and geographic distribution

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. Refer to Part 1 for dates for peer review, advisory council review, and earliest start date

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 terms and conditions found on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website. This includes any recent legislation and policy applicable to awards that is highlighted on this 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.

Recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS must administer their programs in compliance with federal civil rights law. This means that recipients of HHS funds must ensure equal access to their programs without regard to a person’s race, color, national origin, disability, age and, in some circumstances, sex and religion. This includes ensuring your programs are accessible to persons with limited English proficiency. HHS recognizes that research projects are often limited in scope for many reasons that are nondiscriminatory, such as the principal investigator’s scientific interest, funding limitations, recruitment requirements, and other considerations. Thus, criteria in research protocols that target or exclude certain populations are warranted where nondiscriminatory justifications establish that such criteria are appropriate with respect to the health or safety of the subjects, the scientific study design, or the purpose of the research.

For additional guidance regarding how the provisions apply to NIH grant programs, please contact the Scientific/Research Contact that is identified in Section VII under Agency Contacts of this FOA. HHS provides general guidance to recipients of FFA on meeting their legal obligation to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their programs by persons with limited English proficiency. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/limited-english-proficiency/index.html. The HHS Office for Civil Rights also provides guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/section1557/index.html; and https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/laws-regulations-guidance/index.html. Recipients of FFA also have specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with disabilities. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/disability/index.html. Please contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights for more information about obligations and prohibitions under federal civil rights laws at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/about-us/contact-us/index.html or call 1-800-368-1019 or TDD 1-800-537-7697. Also note it is an HHS Departmental goal to ensure access to quality, culturally competent care, including long-term services and supports, for vulnerable populations. For further guidance on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services, recipients should review the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care at http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53.

In accordance with the statutory provisions contained in Section 872 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417), NIH awards will be subject to the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) requirements. FAPIIS requires Federal award making officials to review and consider information about an applicant in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS) prior to making an award. An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a Federal agency previously entered and is currently in FAPIIS. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgement about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR Part 75.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants. This provision will apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.

Not Applicable

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) annually. Continuation support will not be provided until the required forms are submitted and accepted.

Failure by the grantee institution to submit required forms in a timely, complete, and accurate manner may result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in any continuation funding for the award.

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.

In accordance with the regulatory requirements provided at 45 CFR 75.113 and Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75, recipients that have currently active Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies with a cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of a Federal award, must report and maintain the currency of information reported in the System for Award Management (SAM) about civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings in connection with the award or performance of a Federal award that reached final disposition within the most recent five-year period. The recipient must also make semiannual disclosures regarding such proceedings. Proceedings information will be made publicly available in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS). This is a statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be publicly available. Full reporting requirements and procedures are found in Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75 Award Term and Conditions for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

In carrying out its stewardship of human resource-related programs, the NIH may request information essential to an assessment of the effectiveness of this program from databases and from participants themselves. Participants may be contacted after the completion of this award for periodic updates on various aspects of their employment history, publications, support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program.

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

To make sure that their application is responsive to the requirements of the FOA, 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)
Finding Help Online: http://grants.nih.gov/support/ (preferred method of contact)

Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and application packages)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov (preferred method of contact)

Telephone: 301-710-0267

Kathleen Michels, Ph.D.
Fogarty International Center
Telephone: 301-496-1653
Email: FIC-NCD-D43@mail.nih.gov

Marya Levintova Ph.D.
Fogarty International Center
Telephone: 301-496-1653
Email: FIC-NCD-D43@mail.nih.gov

Lynn Mertens King, Ph.D.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-594-5006
Email: lynn.king@nih.gov

Fungai Chanetsa , Ph.D.
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
Telephone: 301-408-9436
Email: Fungai.Chanetsa@nih.gov

Satabdi Raychowdhury
Fogarty International Center
Telephone: 301-496-9750
Email: raychowdhurys@mail.nih.gov

Diana Rutberg, M.B.A.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-594-4798
Email: rutbergd@mail.nih.gov

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 Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 288) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 66.

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.