RFA-HL-00-019: NHLBI SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS PROGRAM (T35)

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)

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NHLBI SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS PROGRAM (T35) Release Date: June 8, 2000 RFA: HL-00-019 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov) Letter of Intent Receipt Date: July 21, 2000 Application Receipt Date: September 12, 2000 PURPOSE The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) invites grant applications for its Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program. This program provides short-term research support to underrepresented minority undergraduate and graduate students and students in health professional schools to provide them with career opportunities in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic and sleep disorders research. Underrepresented minority ethnic groups include but are not limited to Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders. The grant provides training experiences of two to three consecutive months combined with mentoring by experienced researchers and exposes talented students to the various possibilities in pursuing a biomedical or behavioral research career. In addition to the research experience, institutions provide enrichment activities such as research forums, guest lectures, student presentations, special courses, or social activities. 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), NHLBI Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program, 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 Applications may be submitted by non-federal, domestic, for-profit and non- profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, medical schools, and units of state and local government. The applicant institution must have the available research facilities, personnel, and support for the program in the areas of cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or sleep disorders. Minority institutions with adequate staff and resources in these areas are encouraged to apply. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as program directors. Applications from foreign institutions will not be accepted. These grants will support short-term research training experiences of consecutive two to three months duration for minority undergraduate students, minority students in health professional schools, and minority graduate students. The grantee institution will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees. Trainees must have successfully completed at least one undergraduate year at an accredited school or university (including baccalaureate schools of nursing) or have successfully completed one semester at a school of medicine, optometry, osteopathy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, or public health, or an institution with an accredited graduate program, prior to participating in the program. Institutions must adhere strictly to these requirements when selecting trainees. These grants are intended to introduce students to research that would not otherwise be available through their regular course of studies. For graduate students, this may include graduate students in programs, such as mathematics and computer science, where they would not normally be exposed to biomedical research or minority graduate students who may need a specialized research experience to supplement their normal graduate education. Trainees appointed to this program must be U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, or legal permanent residents (i.e., in possession of the Alien Registration Receipt Card, I-155, or other legal verification of such status). Noncitizen nationals are generally persons born in possessions of the United States (i.e., American Samoa and Swains Island). Individuals on temporary or student visas and individuals holding Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M. or equivalent doctoral degrees in the health sciences are not eligible. Trainees appointed to the program need not be from the applicant institution, but may include a number of minority students from other institutions, schools, colleges, or universities. The applicant’s program can be designed to include research experiences for minority individuals at the applicant institution but applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a program that includes a number of individuals from other institutions, schools, colleges or universities. The only requirement for student selection is that the trainees fulfill the above referenced eligibility requirements. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Short-Term Training Grant (T35). 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. 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 eight percent of total costs exclusive of equipment, tuition and fees. The anticipated award date is April 1, 2001. FUNDS AVAILABLE The estimated funds (total costs) available for the first year of support for the entire program is expected to be $250,000 in fiscal year 2001. The actual amount may vary, depending on the response to the RFA and availability of funds. Seven new awards are anticipated. OBJECTIVES Background Although the number of minority individuals pursuing advanced degrees in the biomedical and behavioral sciences increased in the last decade, under- representation of minorities in these fields continues to be a problem. For example, the number of doctorate degrees in the biomedical and behavioral sciences awarded to individuals from underrepresented minority populations (Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders) almost doubled between 1986 and 1996 (National Research Council, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 1998). In 1996, however, the total number of doctorate degrees awarded to minorities in these fields only accounted for 7.5 percent of the total degrees received. Furthermore, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), U.S. medical schools graduated more underrepresented minorities than ever that year and the number of minorities applying to medical school reached a new record. A total of 5,259 minority students applied to the nation’s medical schools, representing 11 percent of all applicants (AAMC, 1997). Yet, only 3.5 percent of all U.S. medical school faculty holding Ph.D.s in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, and only 3.6 percent of those with combined M.D./Ph.D. degrees are members of underrepresented minority groups. There are existing programs at the NIH that are designed to address this need. These include the NHLBI Minority Institutional Research Training Program, the NHLBI Mentored Minority Faculty Development Award, and the NHLBI Minority Institution Research Scientist Development Award. Even though these programs appear successful in meeting their specific objectives and career development goals, minority graduate, health professional, and postdoctoral students need additional opportunities to develop biomedical and behavioral research skills to become productive investigators. Although there is strong interest in the scientific community in attracting minority students into research careers, few minority students opt for science degrees and research careers, and few minority graduates of health professional schools go on to investigative careers. The shortage of qualified minority investigators in academic research positions may even exacerbate the situation due to a lack of visible role models for students. One method of addressing this problem is by attracting minority students to research opportunities and by providing them with research training to develop their research capabilities in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep disorders. This RFA is designed to offer research training opportunities for minority students in an effort to encourage their participation in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep disorders research. The NHLBI Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program is intended to: o Provide minority undergraduate and graduate students and students in health professional schools exposure to opportunities inherent in research careers in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep disorders. o Attract qualified minority students into biomedical and behavioral research careers. o Increase the already short supply of qualified minority investigators. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Provisions of the Award Institutions may request support for at least 4 but not more than 24 trainees per budget period, based on a full-time three month appointment. A trainee may be appointed for a minimum of two months and a maximum of three months during a budget period; however, institutions are encouraged to appoint a trainee for more than one budget period, i.e., two or more successive summer research experiences. A student may be appointed, in special circumstances, to more than one 3-month period during a budget period, provided prior approval is obtained from the staff of the NHLBI. All research training must be full-time during the specific training sequence. It is expected that most programs will be designed to provide a summer research experience but other innovative program designs and time schedules will be considered. The requested number of short-term trainees must be justified in the application. Funds may be requested for: o Stipends - The current stipend level for trainees is $1,255 per month. Stipends may be supplemented from non-federal funds. o Training-related Expenses - Up to $167 per month per trainee may be requested yearly; and may be used for faculty, laboratory, and secretarial assistance; supplies and equipment; consultant costs; and tuition and fees. o Travel Expenses - The institution may request up to $500 per year per trainee to cover the cost of travel to and from the training institution. The institution may also request up to $250 per month per trainee to cover the cost of housing expenses. A Statement of Appointment form (PHS 2271, rev. 4/98) must be submitted at the start of each trainee appointment and reappointment. This form is available at the following URL address: http://grants.nih.gov/training/phs2271.pdf. Individuals supported under this program are not required to sign an NRSA Payback Agreement or submit an NRSA Termination Notice. 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 is provided 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 "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which was published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513), and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Vol. 23, No. 1 1, March 18, 1994, available at the following URL address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANT 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 because 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 July 21, 2000, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, 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 the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. 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 NHLBI staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan for the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. C. James Scheirer at the address listed under APPLICATION PROCEDURES by the letter of intent receipt date listed. 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) is to be used in applying for these grants. This form is available at most institutional offices of sponsored research, and from the: Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources National Institutes of Health 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910 Bethesda, MD 20892-7910 Telephone 301-435-0174 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. 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 review. In addition, the RFA title (NHLBI SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS PROGRAM) and number (HL-00-019) 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 allow for 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 express/courier service) At the time of submission, send an additional two copies of the application to: C. James Scheirer, Ph.D. Director, Review Branch Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7216, MSC 7924 Bethesda, MD 20892-7924 Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) Telephone (301) 435-0266 FAX: (301) 480-3541 Internet Address: js110j@nih.gov 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 September 12, 2000. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application 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. The application should provide a summary of the training program including its objectives, the types of research activities available, the faculty who will participate, the geographical area to be included in the recruitment, a mentoring plan, and any special activities or experiences to be provided to the trainees. It should also describe the administrative structure of the program and the distribution of responsibilities within it, plans for recruiting, selecting, and assigning trainees to research activities, duration of training and months in which it will occur, description of a typical student program including percent time to be spent in various activities, and additional support or services to be provided by the applicant institution. All 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 research training program. During the past decade, the number of minority men participating in and pursuing careers in the biomedical, behavioral, mathematical, and computer sciences has not increased significantly. To address this problem, applicants are encouraged to develop and/or enhance their procedures for recruiting minority men. Applicants for competitive renewal applications will be required to provide information concerning past trainees in the program, the accomplishments of the program, trainee publications, and whether students supported by the program have pursued research careers. This information should also be included in the noncompeting renewal application. Therefore, it is important that the applicant includes plans for tracking students who participated in the program. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and responsiveness by the NHLBI. 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 a Special Emphasis Panel in the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. Review Criteria The following criteria will be considered when assessing the merits of the proposed NHLBI NRSA Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program. o Design of the proposed training program; o Qualifications, dedication, and previous training record of the program director and participating faculty, particularly with regard to prior experience with similar programs; o Adequacy of facilities, environment, and resources for the proposed research training; o Recruitment and selection plans for trainees, and the availability of high quality candidates; o Methods for retaining promising students in the program and methods for tracking students; o Commitment of the institution and participating faculty to the goals of the training program; and o Procedures for evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and the impact of the program on the students involved. AWARD CRITERIA The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o Scientific, technical, and research training merit of the application as determined by peer review; o Program balance among the research areas of the announcement; and o Availability of funds. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding program guidelines, supplemental instructions, or programmatic issues to: Michael Commarato, Ph.D. Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases (responding for all NHLBI programmatic Divisions) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7940 Bethesda, MD 20892-7940 Telephone: (301) 435-0530 FAX: (301) 480-1454 Email: michael_commarato@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Rebecca Chamberlin Grants Management Specialist National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926 Bethesda, MD 20892-7927 Telephone: (301) 435-0166 FAX: (301) 480-3310 Email: chamberlinr@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 the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

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