Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Funding Opportunity Title
Transition to Aging Research for Predoctoral Students (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Activity Code

F99/K00 Pre-doc to Post-doc Transition Award/Post-doctoral Transition Award

Announcement Type
Reissue of RFA-AG-21-022
Related Notices

    See Notices of Special Interest associated with this funding opportunity

  • July 6, 2023 - Notice of Correction to the Application Types Allowed Information for RFA-AG-23-016, Transition to Aging Research for Predoctoral Students (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See Notice NOT-AG-23-041
  • April 13, 2022 - This RFA has been reissued as RFA-AG-23-016
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number
RFA-AG-22-026
Companion Funding Opportunity
None
Assistance Listing Number(s)
93.866
Funding Opportunity Purpose

NIA invites outstanding graduate students from a wide range of broad research areas who are interested in receiving aging-related postdoctoral training to apply for this award. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) fosters the development of research and clinician scientists in the following areas: genetic, biological, clinical, epidemiological, neuroscience, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging, both basic and translational.

The purpose of the Transition to Aging Research Award for Predoctoral Students is to recruit and retain emerging investigators to aging research.

This two-phase award will allow awardees to complete doctoral dissertation projects and provides a variety of training supports to facilitate the smooth transition of doctoral graduates into competitive, aging-focused postdoctoral positions.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) does not allow applicants to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow applicants to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.

Key Dates

Posted Date
November 04, 2021
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)
January 03, 2022
Letter of Intent Due Date(s)

Not Applicable

Application Due Dates Review and Award Cycles
New Renewal / Resubmission / Revision (as allowed) AIDS Scientific Merit Review Advisory Council Review Earliest Start Date
February 03, 2022 February 03, 2022 Not Applicable June 2022 August 2022 December 2022

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on the listed date(s).

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.

No late applications will be accepted for this Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Expiration Date
February 04, 2022
Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the Fellowship (F) 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 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Note: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) does not allow applicants to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow applicants to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.

The objective of the Transition to Aging Research Award for Predoctoral Students (F99/K00) is to facilitate the transition of outstanding and committed graduate students into aging-focused post-doctoral positions.

The F99/K00 award is meant to provide up to six years of support in two phases. The F99 phase provides a minimum of one and up to two years of support to doctoral students to complete their dissertation research projects before transitioning into the aging-focused post-doctoral phase (K00). Please note that the K00 phase supports the awardees for up to four years of mentored post-doctoral training; however, the fourth year of award is contingent upon submission of any career development award application (e.g., K99/R00) before the end of the third year of the K00 phase.

Please note that the four years of K00 support of this award will not preclude the awardees from applying for other mentored NIA career development (K) awards such as K99/R00. Awardees can justify the need for additional mentored career development beyond the four years of K00 and apply for NIA's other mentored career development awards.

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

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument

Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New
Resubmissions
Resubmissions from RFA-AG-21-022 - Transition to Aging Research Award for Predoctoral Students (F99/K00)

Resubmissions from RFA-AG-20-009 - Transition to Aging Research Award for Predoctoral Students (F99/K00)

The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this FOA.

Clinical Trial?

Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose independent clinical trials.

Note: Applicants may propose to gain experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor/co-sponsor as part of their research training.

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

NIA intends to commit $450,000 in FY 2022 to fund 7-10 awards.

Award Budget

For the F99 phase, award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, and institutional allowance, as described below. For the K00 phase, award budgets are composed of salary and fringe benefits, research and career development support, and indirect costs, as described below.

Award Project Period

For the F99/K00 award, individuals may receive up to 6 years of combined support for both phases, which includes up to 2 years in the F99 fellowship phase and up to 4 years in the K00 career development phase. Please note that the fourth year of the K00 phase will not be awarded automatically; applicants must submit a career development award by the end of the third year of K00 phase to receive the fourth year of K00 award.

Other Award Budget Information

Stipends (F99) / Salary (K00)

F99 PHASE: Stipends are provided as a subsistence allowance to help defray living expenses during the research training experience. The stipend level for F99 predoctoral fellows is the same as for the F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellows. See https://researchtraining.nih.gov/resources/policy-notices.
K00 PHASE: NIA will contribute up to $53,760 in the first year toward the salary of the career award recipient. This will be increased to $54,144 for the second year, $54,540 for the third year, and $56,712 for the fourth year. Further guidance on budgeting for career development salaries is provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. The total salary, however, may not exceed the legislatively mandated salary cap. See: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm.

Tuition and Fees

ALLOWABLE COSTS: F99 PHASE NIA will contribute to the combined cost of tuition and fees at the rate in place at the time of award, at the same level set for the F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowships. See https://researchtraining.nih.gov/resources/policy-notices.

Institutional Allowance

ALLOWABLE COSTS: F99 PHASE The applicant should request an institutional allowance to help defray the cost of fellowship expenses such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel to scientific meetings. The annual institutional allowance level for the F99 phase is the same as that provided for the F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) awards (see https://researchtraining.nih.gov/resources/policy-notices), plus a one-time additional $1,500 to defray travel costs to an institution to meet the proposed mentor and to discuss and prepare a postdoctoral research and career development strategy.

ALLOWABLE COSTS: K00 PHASE NIH will contribute $5,000 per year toward the research development costs of the award recipient, which must be justified and consistent with the stage of development of the candidate and the proportion of time to be spent in research or career development activities. These funds may be used for the following expenses: (a) tuition and fees related to career development; (b) research-related expenses, such as supplies, equipment and technical personnel; (c) travel to research meetings or training; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time.

Salary for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistants, etc. is not allowed.

Indirect Costs

ALLOWABLE COSTS: F99 PHASE Fellowship awards do not include a separate reimbursement for indirect costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs). Instead, costs for administering fellowships are covered by the Institutional Allowance. See https://researchtraining.nih.gov/resources/policy-notices

ALLOWABLE COSTS: K00 PHASE Indirect Costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs.

Stipend levels, as well as funding amounts for tuition and fees and the institutional allowance are announced annually in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, and are also posted on the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) webpage.

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

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Higher Education Institutions

  • Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
  • Private Institutions of Higher Education

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

  • Hispanic-serving Institutions
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
  • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
  • Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

For-Profit Organizations

  • Small Businesses
  • For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)

Governments

  • None
Other
  • None
Foreign Institutions

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

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

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Required Registrations

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) 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.
  • eRA Commons - Applicants must have an active DUNS number to register in eRA Commons. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.gov registration, but all registrations must be in place by time of submission. 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.

All PD(s)/PI(s) must be registered with ORCiD. The personal profile associated with the PD(s)/PI(s) eRA Commons account must be linked to a valid ORCID ID. For more information on linking an ORCID ID to an eRA Commons personal profile see the ORCID topic in our eRA Commons online help.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any applicant fellow with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her sponsor and 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. Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed.

By the time of award, the applicant must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States, or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status), or be a non-U.S. citizen with a valid U.S. visa. For applications submitted on behalf of non-U.S. citizens with valid U.S. visas, the visa status during each phase of the F99/K00 award must allow the PD/PI to conduct the proposed research at the applicant institution. For the F99 phase of the award, the applicant's current institution is responsible for determining and documenting that the applicant's visa will allow the applicant to remain in the U.S. to complete the F99 phase of the award and that there are no known obstacles that would prevent the applicant from obtaining a visa for the K00 phase. For the K00 phase of the award, the U.S institution at which the K00 phase of the award will be conducted is responsible for determining and documenting, in the transition application, that the PD/PI’s visa will allow the PD/PI to remain in the U.S. for the duration of the K00 award. NIA may request verifying information as part of the pre-award process.

The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree and be currently enrolled as a student in a mentored PhD or equivalent research degree program (e.g., DrPH, ScD) at a domestic institution. The applicant must show evidence of high academic performance, and provide a comprehensive plan to successfully transition into and advance aging research.

At the time of award, the applicant must be at the dissertation research stage of training and is expected to require no more than 2 years to complete their PhD dissertation research training (F99 phase) before transitioning to mentored postdoctoral research training (K00 phase). At the time of application, the applicant will typically be in the third or fourth year of their graduate program. Applicants are required to use at least one year of the F99 phase of the award.

The F99/K00 award may not be used to support studies leading to an MD, DDS, or other clinical, health-professional degree (e.g., DC, DMD, DNP, DO, DPM, DVM, ND, OD, AuD). Students matriculated in a dual-degree program (e.g. MD/PhD, DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, or DVM/PhD) are not eligible for the F99/K00 program.

If an applicant completes all doctoral dissertation requirements or begins a postdoctoral position before an F99 award is issued, neither the F99 nor the K00 will be awarded.

Individuals who are currently being supported under F31 and/or R36 are eligible to apply for this program; however, they must give up the F31 and/or R36 if they decide to accept the F99 award. Individuals who receive F99/K00 support remain eligible and are encouraged to apply for subsequent individual career development awards (e.g. K01, K08, K23) and Pathway to Independence awards (K99/R00) provided they meet program eligibility.

2. Cost Sharing

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

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time, per 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application. 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.
Duration of Support

The Transition to Aging Research Award for predoctoral students will provide up to six years of support in two phases. Please refer to Section I for more information.

Level of Effort

F99 awardees are required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, normally defined as 40 hours per week or as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies.

K00 awardees are required to have a full-time appointment at the applicant institution, and to commit a minimum of 9 person months (or 75% of their full-time appointment at the applicant institution) to their career development and research training. K00 awardees may engage in other duties (e.g., other research, training, clinical and teaching activities) as part of the remaining 25% effort not covered by the award, as long as such duties do not interfere with or detract from the proposed career development program.

Sponsor

Before submitting the application, the applicant must identify an F99 sponsor(s) who will supervise the proposed dissertation research training experience. The primary sponsor should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research training and be committed both to the applicant’s research training and to direct supervision of his/her research. The primary sponsor must document the availability of sufficient research funds and facilities for high-quality research training. Applicants may identify more than one sponsor, i.e., a team of sponsors, if this is deemed advantageous for providing expert advice in all aspects of the research and training program. When there is a sponsor team, one individual must be identified as the primary sponsor who will coordinate the applicant’s F99 training program. The applicant must work with the sponsor(s) in preparing the application. The F99 sponsor(s) should provide support and guidance to the applicant during the search for a postdoctoral research position and transition to the postdoctoral career development phase (K00).

At the time of the initial F99/K00 application, applicants must provide a strategy and plan for identifying an expert K00 mentor in aging research, independent of having already identified a K00 mentor or not.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace 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.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the Fellowship (F) 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.

Page Limitations
All page limitations described in the SF424 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.

Instructions for Application Submission
SF424(R&R) Cover

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

SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations

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

Other Project Information

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed with the following additional instructions:

Other Attachments:
Certification Letter
Applicants are required to attach a letter from the institution certifying the applicant is at the dissertation research stage of training per Section III. The certification letter must be on institutional letterhead and scanned so that an institutional official signature is visible. See instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. For applicants with a valid temporary visa please include assurance that the applicant can stay in U.S. to complete the F99 phase of the award.

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded

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

IMPORTANT REMINDER: The personal profile associated with the eRA Commons username entered in the Credential field for the PD/PI (fellowship applicant) must include an ORCID ID. For more information on linking an ORCID ID to an eRA Commons personal profile see the ORCID topic in our eRA Commons online help

PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form

The PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form is comprised of the following sections:

  • Fellowship Applicant
  • Research Training Plan
  • Sponsor(s), Collaborator(s), and Consultant(s);
  • Institutional Environment & Commitment to Training
  • Other Research Training Plan Sections
  • Additional Information
  • Budget
  • Appendix

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

Fellowship Applicant Section

Applicant’s Background and Goals for Fellowship Training

This section should address both the F99 phase and the K00 phase.

Doctoral Dissertation and Research Experience

Include a description of how the combination of past research experiences and the F99/K00 will contribute to achieving a long-term career goal in aging research.

Training Goals and Objectives

Describe the long-term career goal in aging research and explain how the F99/K00 will enable the attainment of that goal. Describe how the current project and research experience will be leveraged for identifying and pursuing a research question within the mission of NIA. For each phase, describe how the proposed research training and career development plan will enhance the applicant's knowledge and understanding of aging-related research and expand her/his technical and professional skills, keeping in mind existing strengths as well as gaps in existing skills.

It is not expected that the F99 phase includes aging research. Thus, for those individuals who are entering the field of aging research in their K00 phase, this will represent a significant research redirection. Such individuals are expected to describe their aging-relevant efforts and/or training plans (e.g., aging-relevant research skills, coursework, professional development, etc.) during both the F99 and K00 phases that provide preparation for the K00 aging research and, later, as an independent aging scientist.

Activities Planned Under This Award

Describe the scientific and professional development activities planned for each phase and explain how the activities will facilitate the transition to each subsequent career stage. Include a timeline with scientific, professional development, and career milestones. The activities planned under this award should be individually tailored and well-integrated with the research project. This should not just be a list of activities; provide justification for planned activities based on goals and existing strengths and gaps. The plan and timeline should span the entire award period, i.e., both the F99 and K00 phases.

Research Training Plan

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Specific Aims

Specific Aims must address plans for pre (F99) and post (K00)-doctoral phases. All applicants must use these two Specific Aims:

Specific Aim 1: The Dissertation Research Project

Provide a detailed description of the current research and research to be completed during the F99 phase. This phase is not required to be related to the NIA mission.

Specific Aim 2: The Postdoctoral Research Direction

Identify research direction(s) and plans within NIA’s interest areas to be pursued during the K00 phase. For more information about the NIA’s research areas of interest, please visit the NIA blog and NIA website.

Research Strategy

If the applicant is proposing to gain experience in a clinical trial as part of his or her research training, describe the relationship of the proposed research project to the clinical trial.

Since data sharing promotes new ideas and advances science, new data and novel methods and approaches are recommended to be shared with the public.

Applicants should address the Significance and Approach for each Specific Aim individually.

Specific Aim 1: Dissertation Research Project

Significance

Provide a thoughtful overview of the dissertation research, including the scientific question being addressed and its potential impact, and the scientific approaches, strategies, techniques, methodologies, skill sets, etc. acquired during graduate training that can be applied to aging research.

Approach

Provide an overview of the dissertation research, including the background, goal, rationale, and hypotheses of the research project(s). The Approach for this Aim should be organized into two sections:

1. A progress report on the dissertation research project thus far, including the approaches used, research outcomes obtained, and important methodologies learned. Describe plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project

2. A detailed research proposal for the work to be completed in the F99 phase, including rigorous experimental design, anticipated results, potential problems, alternative strategies, and potential follow-up studies. Detail how the rigorous experimental design will achieve robust and unbiased results. Highlight connections to aging research and the K00 aging research phase in terms of approaches, strategies, techniques, methodologies, skill sets, etc.

Specific Aim 2: Postdoctoral Research Direction

Significance

Explain the significance of the K00 aging research direction. Describe a specific question or observation that might be investigated. Explain how this question or observation is related to NIA’s and the applicant's research interests. Make sure to include how your work will advance the field of aging and/or promote prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of age-related diseases and promote health span and/or lifespan. Explain how this question or observation is related to NIA's and the applicant's research interests and builds on skills acquired in the F99 phase. Applicants are highly encouraged to discuss their K00 phase research aims with a potential postdoctoral mentor and a NIA Program Officer and to make a clear connection between the proposed research and aging.

Approach

Provide a general description of how the research might be conducted, including approaches and methodologies to be used, anticipated results, challenges that might arise, and pitfalls of the approaches and how to address them. Explain how your previous training, especially if your K00 is associated with research redirection, will propel you onto an aging-focused research career path. Provide a strategy and plan for identifying a K00 mentor, independent of having already identified a K00 mentor or not, including specific attributes of the K00 mentor and features of the postdoctoral scientific environment that would benefit the proposed research and research training. Individuals who are entering the field of aging research in the K00 phase should strategize and plan for identifying K00 postdoctoral mentor(s) with sufficient funds, expertise in aging research, and mentoring history who can provide comprehensive training and guidance onto an aging-focused research career path.

Sponsor(s), Collaborator(s), and Consultant(s)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

  • The F99 sponsor and any co-sponsor(s) should discuss how they will support the applicant's transition to the K00 aging research phase and how the applicant's research and career development progress will be monitored and evaluated throughout the F99 phase.
  • If the K00 aging research field is outside of the primary F99 sponsor's expertise, discuss plans to provide the candidate with a foundation for the K00 aging research direction. This may be through interactions with co-sponsors, consultants, and other career development activities.
  • If the applicant is proposing to gain experience in a clinical trial as part of his or her research training, the sponsor or co-sponsor must include a statement to document leadership of the clinical trial including source of funding, NCT# and appropriate expertise to guide the applicant in any proposed clinical trials research experience. The individual receiving support for the clinical trial (i.e., the sponsor/primary mentor or a co-sponsor) is the responsible individual of record for oversight of the trial though fellows can take part in all components of a clinical trial. Oversight includes (but is not limited to): interacting with relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) staff; reviewing all informed consent documents; reporting potential serious adverse events; and maintaining responsibility for patient safety. However, the fellow can gain experience in all these components in conjunction with the mentor or individual leading the trial.

Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training Section

Description of Institutional Environment and Commitment to Training

Educational Information

  • A description of the institution's training program in which the candidate is enrolled in the F99 phase. Provide some background on the graduate degree training programs, including general program outcomes, such as the completion rate and the percentage of program graduates who are in academic research positions post-training. Describe the structure of the graduate program and required milestones and their usual timing (e.g., number of courses, any teaching requirements, and qualifying exams). The name of the individual providing the information should be included at the end of the attachment.

Appendix

Limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide; any instructions provided here are in addition to the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide instructions.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

When involving human subjects research, and/or clinical research (and when applicable, clinical trials research experience) follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:

If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or Delayed Onset Study record.

Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

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

  • Do not provide an NCT# in Section 1, item 1.5. See instruction for Sponsor(s), Collaborator(s), and Consultant(s) above.
  • Do not complete Section 4 Protocol Synopsis information or Section 5 Other Clinical Trial-related Attachments.

Delayed Onset Study

Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described, but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start).

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

PHS Assignment Request Form
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
Reference Letters

Applicants must carefully follow the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, including the time period for when reference letters will be accepted. Applications lacking the appropriate required reference letters will not be reviewed. This is a separate process from submitting an application electronically. Reference letters are submitted directly through the eRA Commons Submit Reference Letter link and not through Grants.gov.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

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

4. Submission Dates and Times

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.

5. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

6. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The National Research Service Award (NRSA) policies apply to this program. A Kirschstein-NRSA fellowship may not be held concurrently with another federally sponsored fellowship or similar Federal award that provides a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of this award.

Pre-award costs are generally not allowable for Fellowships.

7. Other Submission Requirements and Information

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 How to Apply Application Guide. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. 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 and responsiveness by components of participating organizations, NIH. Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

In order to expedite review, applicants are requested to notify the NIA Referral Office by email at ramesh.vemuri@nih.gov when the application has been submitted. Please include the FOA number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.

Post Submission Materials

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

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. Applications submitted to the NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

For this particular announcement, note the following:

  • A fellowship application has a research project that is integrated with the training plan. The review will emphasize the candidate’s potential for a productive career in aging research; the candidate’s need for the proposed training; and the degree to which the research project and training plan, the sponsor(s), and the environment will satisfy those needs.
Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood that the fellowship will enhance the candidate’s potential for, and commitment to, a productive independent scientific research career in a health-related field, in consideration of the scored and additional review criteria.

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, 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.

  • Are the candidate's academic record and research experience of high quality?
  • Does the candidate have the potential to develop into an independent and productive aging researcher?
  • Does the candidate demonstrate commitment to a research career in the future?
  • Do the letters of reference provide evidence that the applicant has both a strong commitment to, and high potential for, becoming an independent aging research investigator?
  • Did the applicant describe how his/her current research experience can be leveraged toward aging research?
  • Are the F99 sponsor(s ) research qualifications (including recent publications) and track record of mentoring individuals at a similar stage appropriate for the needs of the candidate?
  • Is there evidence of a match between the research and clinical interests (if applicable) of the candidate and the sponsor(s) in the F99 phase? Do(es) the sponsor(s) demonstrate an understanding of the candidate’s training needs as well as the ability and commitment to assist in meeting these needs?
  • Is there evidence of adequate research funds to support the candidate’s proposed research project and training for the duration of the F99 phase?
  • If a team of sponsors is proposed, is the team structure well justified for the mentored training plan, and are the roles of the individual members appropriate and clearly defined?
  • Have the sponsor(s) provided a strong mentorship plan with provisions for monitoring and evaluating the applicant's F99 research and career development progress?
  • Are the qualifications of any collaborator(s) and/or consultant(s), including their complementary expertise and previous experience in fostering the training of fellows, appropriate for the proposed project?
  • If the research direction for the K00 phase is outside of the primary sponsor's expertise, have adequate plans been presented to provide the applicant with a foundation for the K00 aging research postdoctorate?
  • If the applicant is proposing to gain experience in a clinical trial as part of his or her research training, is there evidence of the appropriate expertise, experience, resources, and ability on the part of the sponsor(s) to guide the applicant during the clinical trial research experience?
  • Is the proposed F99 research project of high scientific quality, and is it well integrated with the proposed research training plan?
  • Is the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project rigorous?
  • Has the applicant included plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project?
  • Has the applicant presented strategies to ensure a robust and unbiased approach, as appropriate for the work proposed?
  • Has the applicant presented adequate plans to address relevant biological variables, such as sex, for studies in vertebrate animals or human subjects?
  • Is the F99 research project consistent with the applicant's stage of research development and relevant to his/her research career objectives?
  • Is the proposed time frame feasible to accomplish the proposed F99 research training and transition to the K00 career development phase?
  • Have the applicant and sponsor(s) outlined feasible research milestones for the transition from the F99 fellowship phase of the award to the K00 career development phase?
  • Is the research plan outlined for the K00 career development phase appropriate to the applicant's anticipated stage of development and as a vehicle for developing the aging-related research skills described in the career development plan?
  • Have the applicant and sponsor(s) described an appropriate set of qualifications and attributes for the mentor(s) in the K00 phase? Does the application include an adequate strategy and plan for identifying the K00 mentor, independent of having already identified a K00 mentor or not?
  • How likely is it that this strategy can identify a strong mentor who is capable of guiding the candidate's transition into aging research and successfully completing the proposed work?
  • If proposed, will the clinical trial experience contribute to the proposed project and/or the applicant’s research training?
  • Are the proposed research project and training plan likely to provide the candidate with the requisite individualized and mentored experiences in order to obtain appropriate skills for a research career in the field of aging?
  • Does the training plan take advantage of the candidate’s strengths and address gaps in needed skills and training?
  • Does the training plan document a clear need for, and value of, the proposed training?
  • Does the proposed training in the F99 phase have the potential to serve as a sound foundation that will clearly enhance the candidate’s ability to develop into a productive aging scholar?
  • Have the applicant and sponsor(s) outlined appropriate milestones in terms of professional and career skills for transition to the K00 career development phase of the award?
  • Are adequate plans described for monitoring and evaluating the applicant's research and career development progress throughout the F99 training period?
  • Are the research facilities, resources (e.g., equipment, laboratory space, computer time, subject populations, clinical training settings) and training opportunities (e.g. seminars, workshops, professional development opportunities) adequate and appropriate?
  • Is the institutional environment for the applicant’s scientific and clinical development (if applicable) of high quality?
  • Does the environment include individuals with similar training who will serve as role models for the applicant?
  • Is adequate evidence provided that the F99-sponsoring institution is strongly committed to fostering the applicant's development and preparation for transition to the K00 career development phase?
  • Is there appropriate institutional commitment to supporting the applicant’s research and training, if needed, for the duration of the proposed award?
  • Given the integrated nature of the training program, will appropriate advising be available to the applicant as he/she transitions between the research and clinical components of the integrated training program and to the next career stage?
Additional Review Criteria

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.

When the proposed project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults) to determine if it is justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research.

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Human Subjects.

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following criteria: (1) description of proposed procedures involving animals, including species, strains, ages, sex, and total number to be used; (2) justifications for the use of animals versus alternative models and for the appropriateness of the species proposed; (3) interventions to minimize discomfort, distress, pain and injury; and (4) justification for euthanasia method if NOT consistent with the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. Reviewers will assess the use of chimpanzees as they would any other application proposing the use of vertebrate animals. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

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.

Not Allowed

Not Allowed

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Additional Review Considerations

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.

All applications for support under this FOA must include a plan to fulfill NIH requirements for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). Taking into account the level of experience of the candidate, including any prior instruction or participation in RCR as appropriate for the candidate’s career stage, the reviewers will evaluate the adequacy of the proposed RCR training in relation to the following five required components: 1) Format - the required format of instruction, i.e., face-to-face lectures, coursework, and/or real-time discussion groups (a plan with only on-line instruction is not acceptable); 2) Subject Matter - the breadth of subject matter, e.g., conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects and animal use, laboratory safety, research misconduct, research ethics; 3) Faculty Participation - the role of the sponsor(s) and other faculty involvement in the fellow’s instruction; 4) Duration of Instruction - the number of contact hours of instruction (at least eight contact hours are required); and 5) Frequency of Instruction instruction must occur during each career stage and at least once every four years. Plans and past record will be rated as ACCEPTABLE or UNACCEPTABLE, and the summary statement will provide the consensus of the review committee. See also: NOT-OD-10-019.

Not Applicable

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genomic Data Sharing Plan.

For projects involving key biological and/or chemical resources, reviewers will comment on the brief plans proposed for identifying and ensuring the validity of those resources.

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

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by NIA, 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 will receive a written critique.

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.

Appeals of initial peer review will not be accepted for applications submitted in response to this FOA.

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 National Advisory Council on Aging. 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

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

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.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

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 recipient's business official.

Recipients must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.6. 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.

Institutional Review Board or Independent Ethics Committee Approval: Grantee institutions must ensure that protocols are reviewed by their IRB or IEC. To help ensure the safety of participants enrolled in NIH-funded studies, the awardee must provide NIH copies of documents related to all major changes in the status of ongoing protocols.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Transition to the Postdoctoral Career Development K00 Phase

The F99/K00 award is intended to facilitate the successful transition to an aging-focused postdoctoral career. Consequently, a requirement for the K00 phase award is successful completion of the doctoral research degree and subsequent transition to an aging-related, mentored, traditional postdoctoral research position. Applicants are encouraged to expand their skill set and apply for postdoctoral positions at departments and institutions other than where they conducted their doctoral research. It is important for all applicants to provide a detailed plan by which they will separate their work from their Ph.D. sponsor. Those applicants who intend to stay at the predoctoral phase institution for the postdoctoral phase should also provide a strong justification for staying. The transition from the predoctoral phase to the postdoctoral phase is intended to be continuous in time; therefore, except in unusual circumstances, NIA will not extend the F99 phase. To begin the K00 award phase of the grant, individuals must a) have been offered a postdoctoral appointment to carry out aging-focused research and b) have received approval from NIA for the K00 transition (see below). Upon starting the K00 phase of the award, the F99 phase of the award is terminated. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their Program Official to discuss plans for transition to, and application for, the K00 phase as soon as a plan to assume a postdoctoral position develops, not later than 6 months prior to the end of the F99 phase of the award.

A proposed K00 institution and mentor must have appropriate infrastructure to support the proposed research program and a history of external research funding. Applicants may apply for NIH-sponsored postdoctoral positions within the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP). However, should the individual accept such a position in the IRP, the postdoctoral phase will be supported directly by NIH intramural funds.
The K00 postdoctoral phase institution must submit the materials on behalf of the candidate for the K00 award no later than 12 weeks prior to the proposed start of the K00 award. The institution's Authorized Organizational Representative will email the application in PDF format using the PHS 398 form to the NIA Scientific Contact listed in Section VII. The K00 application will be evaluated by NIA Program staff for completeness and responsiveness to the program.
Candidates who are not approved to transition will receive written notification from the awarding component communicating the rationale for the disapproval. This notification will typically be sent within 60 days of receipt of the K00 application. Although the financial plans of NIA provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds.

Instructions for the K00 Transition Award

K00 transition applications must follow the Career Development (K) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, including Supplemental Grant Application Instructions, except where instructed in the FOA to do otherwise, as described here.
The K00 Transition Application will include the following components:

  • A new cover page signed by the K00 phase institutional representative;
  • A Final Progress Report for the F99 phase;
  • A final evaluation statement by the F99 primary sponsor;
  • Updated Project Summary, Abstract, Project Narrative, Bibliography and References Cited, Facilities and Other Resources, and Equipment sections;
  • Updated Biographical sketches;
  • Detailed budget pages for a non-modular budget;
  • K00 budgets consist of salary and fringe benefits; the combined cost of tuition and fees in an amount equal to 60% of the level requested by the applicant institution, up to $4,500 per year; other program-related expenses,; and indirect costs, as described in Part II, Section II;
  • Other costs are not allowed.
Updated sections of the PHS Career Development Award Supplemental Form should include the following:
  • A new Candidate section;
  • An updated Research Plan section;
  • The Specific Aims should be updated to reflect current plans for the K00 phase;
  • The updated Research Strategy should be described in less than 3 pages;
  • A new Mentor, Co-Mentor, Consultant, and Collaborators section that includes a plan for transitioning the candidate to the next stage of his/her career by the end of the project award period;
  • The mentor should describe his/her mentoring history, including type of mentoring (e.g., graduate students, career development awardees, postdoctoral students), number of persons mentored, and career outcomes;
  • The role of each mentor, co-mentor, consultant and collaborator (as applicable) in the K00 and commitment to the candidate should be clearly described.
  • If the primary mentor has limited training experience, a co-mentor with a strong, successful track record as a mentor should be included;
  • An updated Description of Institutional Environment;
  • An Institutional Commitment to Candidate's Research Career Development;
  • If the candidate is not a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident, the sponsoring institution must include information about the candidate's visa status and an assurance that the candidate's visa provides sufficient time to complete the K00 phase of the award at a U.S. institution;
  • Updated Protections for Human Subjects and Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Individuals Across the Lifespan (as appropriate);
  • Updated Other Research Plan Sections (as appropriate), including: Vertebrate Animals, Select Agent Research Resource Sharing Plans, Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources.

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, Recipients, and Activities, including of note, but not limited to:

If a recipient is successful and receives a Notice of Award, in accepting the award, the recipient agrees that any activities under the award are subject to all provisions currently in effect or implemented during the period of the award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of the award, and applicable statutory provisions.

Recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS must administer their programs in compliance with federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age and, in some circumstances, religion, conscience, and sex. This includes ensuring programs are accessible to persons with limited English proficiency. The HHS Office for Civil Rights provides guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/provider-obligations/index.html and http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/section1557/index.html.

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.

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.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

The taxability of stipends is described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Inventions and Copyrights

Fellowships funded primarily for educational purposes are exempted from the PHS invention requirements and thus invention reporting is not required. More details, including exceptions for fellows training at NIH are provided in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

3. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, recipients will be required to submit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) annually. The report is due two months before the beginning date of the next budget period and must include information describing the current year's progress as well as the research and training plans for the coming year.

NIH FOAs outline intended research goals and objectives. Post award, NIH will review and measure performance based on the details and outcomes that are shared within the RPPR, as described at 45 CFR Part 75.301 and 2 CFR 200.301.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for recipients of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All recipients 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 the threshold. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Other Fellowship Reporting Requirements:

  • Individuals admitted to the United States as Permanent Residents must submit notarized evidence of legal admission prior to the award.
  • The fellowship award recipient has up to six months from the issue date on the Notice of Award to activate the award using the Kirschstein-NRSA Individual Fellowship Activation Notice (PHS 416-5). Under unusual circumstances, the activation period may be extended at the request of the fellow. Such a request must be countersigned by the sponsor and an authorized institutional official.
  • For the individual's initial 12 months of Kirschstein-NRSA postdoctoral support, a signed, original Payback Agreement Form (PHS 6031) must accompany the Activation Notice.
  • At the conclusion of a fellowship, the fellow must submit a Termination Notice (PHS 416-7) via pdf through email to the NIH within 30 days of termination.

Institutional Allowances and No-Cost Extensions

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.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

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

Application Submission Contacts

eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and 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)

General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources)
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-945-7573

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Maria Carranza, Ph.D.
NIA Training Officer
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Email: NIAtraining@nih.gov

Peer Review Contact(s)

Ramesh Vemuri, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-402-7700
Email: ramesh.vemuri@nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Jessi Perez
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-403-7739
Email: jessi.perez@nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

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.

Please note that the NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs to attract and retain promising early-stage investigators in research careers by helping them to repay their student loans. Recipients of fellowship awards are encouraged to consider applying for an extramural LRP award.

Authority and Regulations

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200.

NIH Office of Extramural Research Logo
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Home Page
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
USA.gov - Government Made Easy
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health®


Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files.