NCCAM INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM (T32) FOR MINORITY RESEARCHERS Release Date: February 7, 2001 RFA: RFA-AT-01-003 National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov) Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 16, 2001 Application Receipt Date: May 14, 2001 PURPOSE The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) announces the availability of grant funding to support research training at minority and minority-serving institutions for individuals who are training for careers in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research related to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The Institutional Research Training Program for Minority Researchers is a National Research Service Award (NRSA) Program intended to support individuals in predoctoral and postdoctoral training at minority and minority-serving institutions that have the potential to develop meritorious research training programs in CAM. There are limited training opportunities for graduate and health professions students and other individuals at minority and minority-serving institutions to develop biomedical and behavioral research skills in CAM. The NCCAM Institutional Research Training Program for Minority Researchers is designed to help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles related to the Nation’s research agenda, and to encourage pursuit of research career opportunities in CAM. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 2010, a PHS- led national activity for setting priority areas. This Request for Applications (RFA), NCCAM Institutional Research Training Program (T32) for Minority Researchers, is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Minority and Minority-Serving Institutions Institutions applying for this RFA must be minority or minority-serving institutions. For the purposes of this RFA, a minority institution is defined as a domestic college or university in which students from underrepresented racial/ethnic minority groups comprise a majority (more than 50%) of the school’s enrollment. A minority-serving institution is defined as a domestic college or university which has demonstrated a commitment to the education and training of underrepresented minority students. The applicant institution either must have the staff and facilities required for the proposed program, or establish collaboration with a research center to provide collectively the staff and facilities necessary for the proposed program. The program director at the applicant institution will be responsible for the selection and appointment of students and the overall direction of the program. Trainees Individuals appointed to the training grant must be citizens of the United States, non-citizen nationals, or persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid alien registration receipt card I-551) at the time of appointment and must be enrolled at the applicant institution. The NCCAM particularly encourages institutions to identify individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research nationally. These groups include African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Individuals must be training at the post-baccalaureate level (i.e., predoctoral or postdoctoral level) in relevant biomedical or behavioral science fields. Trainees are required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, devoting at least 40 hours per week to the program. Within the 40 hours per week training period, research trainees in clinical areas must devote their time to the proposed research training and must confine clinical duties to those that are an integral part of the research training experience. Research training grants are a desirable mechanism for the postdoctoral training of physicians and other health professionals who may have extensive clinical training but limited research experience. For such individuals, the training may be a part of a research degree program. In all cases, postdoctoral trainees should agree to engage in at least 2 years of research, research training, or comparable activities beginning at the time of appointment since the duration of training has been shown to be strongly correlated with post-training research activity. Predoctoral trainees: As of the appointment date for each trainee, predoctoral applicants must have received a baccalaureate degree and must be enrolled in a program leading to a research doctorate, such as the Ph.D. or D.Sc., relevant to CAM, or a combined research and clinical degree (i.e., Ph.D. and e.g., D.C., D.O., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or N.D.). This program may not support studies leading to the D.C., D.O., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., N.D. or similar professional degree unless they are part of a combined degree program. Students enrolled in health-professions programs who wish to postpone their professional studies in order to engage in full-time research training may receive an appointment to this program. Predoctoral applicants must have made a strong commitment to complete a doctoral degree or equivalent in a biomedical or behavioral science relevant to CAM. Postdoctoral trainees: Post-doctoral applicants must have received, prior to beginning the award, a Ph.D., D.C., M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M., O.D., D.P.M., D.Sc., Eng.D, Dr. P.H., N.D., Pharm.D., D.S.W., or D.Psy. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Research training at the postdoctoral level must emphasize specialized training to meet CAM research priorities in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. Trainees may not accept NRSA support for studies that are part of residency training leading to clinical certification in a medical or dental specialty or subspecialty. It is permissible and encouraged, however, for clinicians to engage in NRSA-supported, full-time, postdoctoral research training even when that experience is creditable toward certification by a clinical specialty or subspecialty board. Research training grants are a desirable mechanism for the postdoctoral training of physicians and other health professionals who may have extensive clinical training but limited research experience. For such individuals, the training may be a part of a research degree program. In all cases, postdoctoral trainees should agree to engage in at least 2 years of research, research training, or comparable activities beginning at the time of appointment since the duration of training has been shown to be strongly correlated with post-training research activity. Short-Term Health-Professional Trainees: To be eligible for short-term, full-time, predoctoral research training positions, health-professional students must be enrolled and in good standing and must have completed at least one quarter in a program leading to a clinical doctorate prior to participating in the program. Individuals matriculated in a formal research degree program, or those holding a research doctorate or masters degree or a combined health-professional/research doctorate are not eligible for short- term training positions. Within schools of pharmacy, only individuals who are candidates for the Pharm.D. degree are eligible for short-term positions. Research Center The research training center should have strong, well-established CAM research and research training programs. Each trainee should have a mentor who is recognized as an accomplished investigator in CAM research. In circumstances where the applicant institution is not able to provide such support, it should identify and collaborate with a research center (school of medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy or comparable institution) that has strong CAM research and training programs, and identify mentors to advise trainees and the applicant institution regarding CAM research training. Plans for summer training as well as academic year training should be developed by the student and institutional advisors. It is expected that institutional advisors will guide the trainee through the initial training period and continue interacting throughout the award. The development of strong mentoring relationships is essential to the success of the trainees and the program. If collaboration is necessary, the applicant institution will complete arrangements with an established CAM research center(s) before submitting an application. Arrangements between collaborating institutions for the recruitment of trainees, selection of faculty, and for ongoing cooperation and collaboration between the institutions in the implementation of the program should be outlined clearly in the application. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) mechanism (T32). Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed training program will be solely that of the applicant. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed five years. Funds will be provided on an annual basis to develop and maintain a stable research training experience for qualified students. This is a one-time solicitation. Future unsolicited competing continuation applications will compete with all investigator-initiated applications and be reviewed according to the customary peer review procedures. Funding beyond the first year of the grant is contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding year and availability of funds. Facilities and Administrative Costs will be awarded based on 8 percent of total direct costs exclusive of equipment, tuition, and fees. The anticipated award date is September 2001. Because the research training environment provides a powerful context in which to promote responsible research practices, all competing applications must include a description of formal or informal activities or instruction related to the responsible conduct of research that will be incorporated into the proposed CAM research training program. FUNDS AVAILABLE The NCCAM intends to commit approximately $500,000 in FY 2001 to fund approximately two new grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may request a project period of up to five years and a budget for total costs of up to $250,000 per year. Because the nature and scope of applications may vary, it is anticipated that the size of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the NCCAM provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. At this time, it is not known if this RFA will be reissued. OBJECTIVES Racial and ethnic minority investigators are underrepresented in biomedical research and need increased training opportunities in order to build the minority biomedical research community. Although several NIH programs focus on training opportunities for minority students at various educational levels, no program targets directly the development of a diverse CAM research community. In view of the broad cultural diversity of the American population and the presence of several CAM traditions, diversification of the CAM research community is necessary to train researchers who have experience and knowledge in various cultures and will understand the nuances of CAM practices and traditions. Limited opportunities for individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups to receive training in CAM research activities often result from a lack of CAM research resources at their home institutions, a lack of opportunities to develop the research skills necessary to investigate CAM through both didactic training and interactions with a critical mass of CAM research scientists, and a lack of access to state-of-the-art technology relevant to CAM. This initiative will address these limitations by providing training opportunities for individuals from underrepresented minority groups to secure research training applicable to CAM. This program is designed to attract students in the developmental stages of their careers, to increase their awareness of CAM research, and to encourage them to pursue research opportunities in this area. The initiative will fund training for individuals, selected by the grantee institutions, in specified areas of biomedical and behavioral research related to CAM. In addition, the inclusion of short-term summer training opportunities for health professions students (a feature of T32s) will assist in developing the pipeline of minority students interested in pursuing research careers in CAM related fields. Applicants to this initiative will be limited to minority institutions and minority-serving institutions (e.g., Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools) -- institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to the education and training of racial and ethnic minority individuals. This initiative may be used to fund research training at any or all of three levels: pre- or post-doctoral training, and short-term research training for health professions students. Predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates must meet the requirements under ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS above. Research training at the predoctoral level must emphasize fundamental training in areas related to CAM and at the postdoctoral level must emphasize specialized training to address national research issues relating to CAM. Applications may include a request for short-term predoctoral positions (lasting 2-3 months) reserved specifically to train health-professions students on a full- time basis during the summer or other "off-quarter" periods. Short-term appointments are intended to provide health-professions students with opportunities to participate in CAM research in an effort to attract these individuals to research careers. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Provisions of the Award The trainees may be appointed for 9 - 12 months at any time during the course of the budget period. Students must be enrolled on a full-time basis. For predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees, a strong interest in a CAM research career must be evident. Short-term training positions for health professions students are allowed under this program. Predoctoral trainees appointed to the grant may receive up to five years of support. Postdoctoral trainees appointed to the grant may receive up to three years of support. The applicant institution must assure that mentoring is provided in CAM research by including CAM expertise on the T32 training grant faculty. This may be accomplished by having an experienced CAM researcher as the mentor or, in circumstances where the expertise is not available at the applicant institution, the trainee and his or her faculty research advisor at the applicant institution will select jointly an additional faculty mentor with research and/or practice expertise in CAM. A written commitment to the training plan must be provided and must be signed by the faculty mentors of all involved departments as well as by institutional officials at all participating sites. ALLOWABLE COSTS Stipends. National Research Service Awards provide funds, in the form of stipends, to graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. A stipend is provided as a subsistence allowance to help trainees defray living expenses during the research training experience. It is not provided as a condition of employment with either the Federal Government or the awardee institution. Stipends must be paid to all trainees at the levels approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Stipend levels are adjusted from time to time and current stipend levels are available on the NIH website at: http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm. Predoctoral Trainees. Consult the NIH website above for the announcements of stipend levels. For appointments of less than a year, the stipend will be pro-rated. Postdoctoral Trainees. The current annual stipend for postdoctoral trainees is determined by the number of FULL years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment. Relevant experience may include research experience (including industrial), teaching, internship, residency, clinical duties, or other time spent in full-time studies in a health-related field following the date of the qualifying doctoral degree. Consult the NIH website above for the announcements of stipend levels. Tuition, Fees, and Health Insurance. The NIH will offset the combined cost of tuition, fees, and health insurance (either self-only or family as appropriate) at the following rate: 100 percent of all costs up to $3,000 and 60 percent of costs above $3,000. Costs associated with tuition, fees, and health insurance are allowable only if they are required for all individuals in a similar research training status at the institution regardless of the source of support. A full description of the tuition policy is contained within the NRSA Policy Guidelines on the NIH website at: http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsaguidelines/nrsa_toc.htm Other Trainee Costs. Trainee travel, including attendance at scientific meetings that the institution determines to be necessary to the individual"s research training, is an allowable trainee expense. In addition, travel support for a research training experience away from the applicant institution may be permitted. Research training experiences away from the applicant or collaborating institution must be justified considering the type of opportunities for training available, the manner in which these opportunities differ from and complement those offered at the applicant or collaborating institution, and the relationship of the proposed experience to the trainee"s career stage and goals. These research training experiences require prior approval from the NCCAM. Letters requesting such training may be submitted to the NCCAM at any time during the award period. Under exceptional circumstances, which can include providing accommodations for a trainee with disabilities, it is possible to request institutional costs above the standard rate. Requests for additional trainee costs must be explained in detail and carefully justified in the application. Consultation with NCCAM program staff in advance of such requests is strongly advised. The applicant institution may receive up to $167 per month to offset the cost of tuition, fees, health insurance, travel, supplies, and other expenses for each short- term, health-professional research training position. Training Related Expenses: Institutional costs of $2,000 a year per predoctoral trainee and $3,500 a year per postdoctoral trainee may be requested to defray the costs of other research training related expenses, such as staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and staff travel. Facilities and Administrative Costs. A facilities and administrative allowance (indirect cost allowance) based on 8 percent of total allowable direct costs (this excludes amounts for tuition, fees, health insurance, and equipment) may be requested. Applications from State and local government agencies may request full indirect cost reimbursement. See NRSA Policy Guidelines on the NIH Website at: http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsaguidelines/nrsa_toc.htm. Procedures for annual evaluation of the program should include plans to measure the impact of the program on the individual student and plans to measure the trainee’s progress. The evaluation procedures should also describe plans to monitor the future career course of individual trainees, to evaluate the effectiveness of the overall program, and assess the impact of the training program on the applicant institution. It should also include plans for assessing the effectiveness of the mentoring relationship and the training plan. STIPEND SUPPLEMENTATION, COMPENSATION, AND OTHER INCOME No departure from the established stipend schedule may be negotiated by the institution with the trainee. For postdoctoral trainees, the stipend for each additional full year of research training support is the next level in the stipend structure and does not change in the middle of an appointment. The grantee institution is allowed to provide funds to an individual in addition to the stipends paid by the NIH. Such additional amounts may be either in the form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or in the form of compensation, such as salary or tuition remission for services such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant, provided the following conditions described below are met. Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation or the services provided for compensation interfere with, detract from, or prolong the trainee"s approved NRSA training program. Stipend Supplementation. Supplementation or additional support to offset the cost of living may be provided by the grantee institution. Supplementation does not require any additional effort from the trainee. Federal funds may not be used for supplementation unless specifically authorized under the terms of both the program from which such supplemental funds are to be received and the program whose funds are to be supplemented. Under no circumstances may DHHS funds be used for supplementation. Compensation. An institution may provide additional funds to a trainee in the form of compensation (as salary and/or tuition remission) for services such as teaching or serving as a research assistant. A trainee may receive compensation for services as a research assistant or in some other position on a Federal research grant, including a DHHS research grant. However, compensated services should occur on a limited, part-time basis apart from the normal research training activities, which require a minimum of 40 hours per week. In addition, compensation may not be paid from a research grant supporting research that constitutes the research training experience. Educational Loans or G.I. Bill. An individual may make use of Federal educational loan funds and assistance under the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act (G.I. Bill). Such funds are not considered supplementation or compensation. Concurrent Awards. A NRSA may not be held concurrently with another federally sponsored fellowship or similar Federal award that provides a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of the NRSA. Tax Liability. Internal Revenue Code Section 117 applies to the tax treatment of all scholarships and fellowships. Under that section, non-degree candidates are required to report as gross income any monies paid on their behalf for stipends, or any course tuition and fees required for attendance. Degree candidates may exclude from gross income (for tax purposes) any amount used for tuition and related expenses such as fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at a qualified educational organization. The taxability of stipends, however, in no way alters the relationship between NRSA trainees and institutions. NRSA stipends are not considered salaries. In addition, trainees supported under the NRSA are not considered to be in an employee- employer relationship with the NIH or the awardee institution. It is therefore, inappropriate and unallowable for institutions to charge costs associated with employment (such as FICA, workman"s compensation, or unemployment insurance) to the training grant. It must be emphasized that the interpretation and implementation of the tax laws are the domain of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the courts. The NIH takes no position on the status of a particular taxpayer, and it does not have the authority to dispense tax advice. Individuals should consult their local IRS office about the applicability of the law to their situation and for information on their tax obligations. PAYBACK PROVISIONS As specified in the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, NRSA recipients incur a service payback obligation only during their first 12 months of postdoctoral support. Additionally, the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 specifies that the second and subsequent years of postdoctoral NRSA training will serve to pay back a postdoctoral service payback obligation. Accordingly, the following guidelines apply: o Predoctoral trainees are not required to sign the payback agreement and do not incur a service payback obligation. o Postdoctoral trainees in the first 12 months of postdoctoral NRSA support must sign the payback agreement form (PHS form 6031) before initiating an appointment. Postdoctoral trainees in their first 12 months of support will incur a period of service payback obligation equal to the period of support. o Postdoctoral trainees in the 13th and subsequent months of NRSA postdoctoral support are not required to sign the payback agreement form and will not incur a service payback obligation. o The 13th and subsequent months of postdoctoral NRSA support are considered acceptable payback service for prior postdoctoral support. For example, postdoctoral trainees who continue under that award for 2 years have fulfilled the obligation incurred during the first 12 months of support by the end of the second year. Service payback obligations can also be paid back by conducting health-related research or teaching averaging more than 20 hours per week of a full work year after terminating NRSA support. o Recipients with service obligations must begin to provide service on a continuous basis within two years of termination of NRSA support. The period for undertaking payback service may be delayed for such reasons as temporary disability, completion of residency requirements, or completion of the requirements for a graduate degree. Requests for an extension must be made in writing to the NIH specifying the need for additional time and the length of the required extension. o Recipients of NRSA support are responsible for informing the NCCAM of changes in status or address. o For individuals who fail to fulfill their obligation through service, the United States is entitled to recover the total amount of NRSA funds paid to the individual for the obligated period plus interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Financial payback must be completed within three years beginning on the date the United States becomes entitled to recover such amount. o Under certain conditions, the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (or those delegated this authority) may extend the period for starting service or repayment, permit breaks in service, or in rare cases in which service or financial repayment would constitute an extreme hardship, may waive or suspend the payback obligation of an individual. o Officials at the awardee institution have the responsibility of explaining the terms of the payback requirements to all prospective training candidates before appointment to the training grant. Additionally, all trainees recruited into the training program must be provided with information related to the career options that might be available when they complete the program. The relationship of the positions available and the training provided must also be discussed along with the applicability of these positions to any outstanding service payback obligation. Trainee Reporting Requirements The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271) for each trainee appointed or reappointed to the training grant at the beginning of the appointment period. Additionally, a completed Payback Agreement (PHS Form 6031) must be submitted for each trainee in their first twelve months of postdoctoral support. Within 30 days of the end of the total support period for each trainee, the institution must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form 416-7). Failure to submit the 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. LEAVE In general, trainees may receive stipends during the normal periods of vacation and holidays observed by individuals in comparable training positions at the grantee institution. For the purpose of these awards, however, the period between the spring and fall semesters is considered to be an active time of research and research training and is not considered to be a vacation or holiday. Trainees may receive stipends for up to 15 calendar days of sick leave per year. Sick leave may be used for the medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. Trainees may also receive stipends for up to 30 calendar days of parental leave per year for the adoption or the birth of a child when those in comparable training positions at the grantee institution have access to paid leave for this purpose and the use of parental leave is approved by the program director. A period of terminal leave is not permitted and payment may not be made from grant funds for leave not taken. Individuals requiring periods of time away from their research training experience longer than specified here must seek approval from the NIH awarding component for an unpaid leave of absence. At the beginning of a leave of absence, the trainee must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form 416-7) and upon return from the leave of absence, the trainee must be formally reappointed to the grant by submitting an updated Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271). Trainees within the first twelve months of postdoctoral support must also submit a Payback Agreement (PHS Form 6031) upon return from a leave of absence. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the UPDATED "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on August 2, 2000 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-048.html), a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm. The revisions relate to NIH defined Phase III clinical trials and require: a) all applications or proposals and/or protocols to provide a description of plans to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable, and b) all investigators to report accrual, and to conduct and report analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences. INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects that was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html. Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information necessary to the review since reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by April 16, 2001, a letter of intent that includes the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of this RFA. 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 NCCAM staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review. Mail or fax the letter of intent to: Morgan N. Jackson, M.D., M.P.H. Director, Office of Special Populations Division of Extramural Research, Training and Review National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 106, MSC 5475 Bethesda, MD 20892-5475 tel: 301-402-1278 fax: 301-480-3621 APPLICATION PROCEDURES The PHS grant application Form PHS-398 (Rev. 4/98) and its Additional Instructions for Preparing Institutional National Research Service Award Applications (Pages V-1 - V-8, Substitution Pages NN - PP) are to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research, and from: Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources National Institutes of Health 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910 Bethesda, MD 20892-7910 Telephone 301-710-0267 E-mail: grantsinfo@nih.gov Internet address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Type the RFA number on the label. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for the review. In addition, the RFA title (NCCAM Institutional Research Training Program (T32) for Minority Researchers) and number AT-01- 003 must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The sample RFA label available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf has been modified to reflect this change. Please note this label is in pdf format. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application and three signed photocopies in one package to: CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for courier service) At the time of submission, send two (2) additional copies of the application to: Chief, Review Branch National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 6707 Democracy Blvd., Room 106, MSC 5475 Bethesda, MD 20892-5475 (for courier service use Bethesda, MD 20817) tel: 301-496-4792 fax: 301-480-3621 It is important to send these two copies at the same time as the original and three copies are sent to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). These copies are used to identify conflicts and help ensure the appropriate and timely review of the application. Applications must be received by the application receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The CSR will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. Applicants who wish to include a request for short-term research training positions should identify short-term positions separately within the "stipends" and "training related expenses" categories on the budget page. Under "stipends", short-term positions should be listed in the "other" category. Tuition, fees, health insurance, and trainee travel, and other expenses are to be included in "training related expenses". The description of the short-term research training program should be included in the application for the regular research training program, but should be separated from the description of the regular program within each section of the application. In addition to the information requested in the "program plan" section, the applicant should address the relationship of the proposed short-term program to the regular research training program and provide assurance that the short-term program will not detract from the longer term, regular program. Applicants must observe the 25-page limit on the narrative section. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and responsiveness by the NCCAM. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NCCAM in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and may undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the NCCAM Advisory Council. Review Criteria The following criteria will be considered in evaluating the NCCAM Institutional Research Training Program (T32) for Minority Researchers applications: o Design of the proposed training program and CAM focus. o Qualifications, dedication, and previous training record of the program director and all participating faculty, particularly with regard to prior experience with similar programs and CAM. o Adequacy of facilities, environment, and resources for the proposed CAM research training, both at the applicant institution and (if included) the collaborating institution. o Adequacy of the arrangements (as applicable) between the applicant institution and the collaborating institution. o Recruitment and selection plans for trainees, and the identification of the potential pool of high quality candidates. o Methods for retaining and tracking students. o Commitment of the participating faculty and the institution(s) to the goals of the CAM training program. o Procedures for evaluation of the impact of the program on the trainees involved. TRAINING IN THE RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH Every predoctoral and postdoctoral NRSA trainee supported by an institutional research training grant must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research. (For more information on this provision, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992, URL: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not92-236.html.) Applications must include a description of a program to provide formal or informal instruction in scientific integrity or the responsible conduct of research. Applications without plans for instruction in the responsible conduct of research will be considered incomplete and may be returned to the applicant without review. o Although the NIH does not establish specific curricula or formal requirements, all programs are encouraged strongly to consider instruction in the following areas: conflict of interest, responsible authorship, policies for handling misconduct, policies regarding the use of human and animal subjects, and data management. Within the context of training in scientific integrity, it is also beneficial to discuss the mutual responsibilities of the institution and the graduate or postdoctoral students appointed to the program. o Plans must address the subject matter of the instruction, the format of the instruction, the degree of faculty participation, trainee attendance, and the frequency of instruction. o The rationale for the proposed plan of instruction must be provided. o Program reports on the type of instruction provided, topics covered, and other relevant information, such as attendance by trainees and faculty participation, must be included in future competing continuation and noncompeting applications. The NIH encourages institutions to provide instruction in the responsible conduct of research to all graduate and postdoctoral students in a training program or department, regardless of the source of support. The NCCAM initial review group will assess the applicant"s plans on the basis of the appropriateness of topics, format, amount and nature of faculty participation, and the frequency and duration of instruction. The plan will be discussed after the overall determination of merit, so that the quality of the plan will not be a factor in the determination of the priority score. Plans will be judged as acceptable or unacceptable. The acceptability of the plan will be described in an administrative note on the summary statement. Regardless of the priority score, applications with unacceptable plans will not be funded until a revised, acceptable plan is provided by the applicant. The acceptability of the revised plan will be judged by NCCAM staff. Following initial review, applications are also reviewed by the NCCAM Advisory Council which will consider, in addition to the assessment of the scientific and educational merit of the research training grant application, the initial review group"s comments on the plan for instruction in the responsible conduct of research. Schedule Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 16, 2001 Application Receipt Date: May 14, 2001 Earliest Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2001 AWARD CRITERIA Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include: o Scientific, technical, and research training merit of the application as determined by peer review. o Availability of funds. o Programmatic priorities. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Morgan N. Jackson, M.D., M.P.H. Director, Office of Special Populations Division of Extramural Research, Training and Review National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 106, MSC 5475 Bethesda, MD 20892-5475 tel: 301-402-1278 fax: 301-480-3621 email: mj145m@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding review issues to : Chief, Review Branch Division of Extramural Research, Training and Review National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 6707 Democracy Blvd., Room 106, MSC 5475 Bethesda, MD 20892-5475 tel: 301-496-4792 fax: 301-480-3621 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Mrs. Victoria Carper Grants Management Officer Division of Extramural Research, Training and Review National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 106 MSC 5475 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5475 tel: (301) 594-9102 fax: (301) 480-3621 email: vp8g@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, numbers: 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, and 93.839. Awards are made under authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or a Health Systems Agency Review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.


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