Full Text HS-98-001 NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARD--INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS POLICY AND GUIDELINES NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 20, June 13, 1997 RFA: HS-98-001 P.T. 22, 44 Keywords: Biomedical Research Training Grants Administration/Policy+ Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Letter of Intent Receipt Date: July 10, 1997 Application Receipt Date: September 23, 1997 PURPOSE The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) awards National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (T32) to eligible institutions to develop research training opportunities for qualified individuals selected by the institution who have demonstrated an interest in health services research and who seek to prepare for careers in the systematic examination of the organization, provision, financing, and effectiveness of health care services. The purpose of the NRSA program is to help ensure that adequate numbers of highly trained individuals are available to carry out the Nation's health services research agenda, in order to improve quality, assure value for health dollars spent, and enhance access to services. A goal is to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences to conduct future research which will meet the needs of patients, providers, plans, purchasers, and/or policy makers. Accomplishing the above effectively will require fostering a mixture of academic and applied training opportunities to meet the needs of students who wish to pursue traditional academic careers, as well as those who opt for careers in applied research settings. Applicants are encouraged to foster cooperation and partnerships with relevant components of the health care delivery system. NRSA institutional training grants assist domestic institutions in supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral academic training. The awards allow trainees to gain one or more years of experience in applying research methods to the evaluation of health services. The AHCPR will not support short-term training through this mechanism. Predoctoral Training. Predoctoral research training must lead to the Ph.D. Degree or a comparable research doctoral degree. Students enrolled in health-professional programs that are not part of a formal, combined program (e.g., M.D./Ph.D.) and who wish to postpone their professional studies in order to gain research experience may also be appointed to a T32 grant. Predoctoral research training must emphasize fundamental training in areas relevant to health services research. Postdoctoral Training. Postdoctoral research training is for individuals who have a Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Research training at the postdoctoral level must emphasize specialized training to meet national priorities in health services research. A research training grant is a desirable mechanism for the postdoctoral training of physicians and other health professionals who 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, health-professional postdoctoral trainees should agree to engage in at least two 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. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting high priority areas. AHCPR encourages applicants to submit grant applications with relevance to the specific objectives of this initiative. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001- 00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone 202- 512-1800. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applicant Institutions Only domestic non-profit private and public institutions may apply for grants to support doctoral and postdoctoral health services research training programs. The applicant institution must have the staff and facilities required for the proposed program. The research training program director at the institution will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees and for the overall direction of the program. Institutions may apply for support for predoctoral students, postdoctoral students, or a combination. Applicants should include a rationale for their proposed choice of supporting the level(s) of students requested. An applicant may request as many postdoctoral or predoctoral positions as the proposed program can adequately accommodate; but the number of positions awarded will be determined by the review process, program needs, and availability of funds. Institutions currently approved for receipt of AHCPR institutional training support beyond FY 1997 in response to applications they submitted under AHCPR's program announcement entitled, "National Research Service Award-- Institutional Grants Policy and Guidelines (PAR-95-002, NIH guide, Volume 23, Number 36, October 14, 1994) are eligible to apply. If these institutions opt not to apply, they will still continue to receive support under conditions stipulated in their existing grant. However, upon completion of the existing grant projects, the next opportunity for these institutions to apply for competing grant support from AHCPR will be when AHCPR announces a new RFA. Trainees Trainees appointed to the proposed training program must have the opportunity to carry out supervised health services research with the primary objective of extending their research skills and knowledge in preparation for a health services research career. Prospective trainees must be U.S. citizens or noncitizen nationals or permanent residents of the United States in possession of an Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status at the time of appointment. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Positions on NRSA institutional grants may not be used for study leading to the M.D., D.D.S., or other clinical, health-professional degrees except when those studies are a part of a formal combined research degree program, such as the M.D./Ph.D. Similarly, trainees may not accept NRSA support for studies which are part of residency training leading to certification in a medical specialty or subspecialty, except when the residency program credits a period of full-time, postdoctoral research training toward board certification and the trainee intends to pursue a research career. A postdoctoral student, as of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, must have a Ph.D., M.D., O.D., D.D.S., Dr.P.H., Sc.D, D.N.Sc. or other doctoral degree, or an equivalent degree from any accredited domestic or foreign institution. (Persons holding the J.D. as the sole advanced degree are not considered postdoctoral for purposes of NRSA appointments.) Certification by an authorized official of the degree-granting institution that all requirements for the doctoral degree have been met is acceptable. 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. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The mechanism of support will be the National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grant (T32). The total requested project period for an application may not exceed 5 years. The earliest anticipated award date is May 1, 1998. FUNDS AVAILABLE Depending on the availability of funds, AHCPR expects to award up to $3,500,000 in FY 1998 to support the first year for approximately 15-24 projects under this RFA. The number of awards is dependent on the number of high quality applications and their individual budget requirements; it is not the intent of AHCPR that the awards be equal in size. Funding beyond the initial budget period will depend upon annual progress reviews by AHCPR and the availability of funds. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Areas of Training AHCPR-sponsored NRSA Awards emphasize multidisciplinary health services research training. Training should provide individuals with rigorous academic and health services research experiences that will allow them to address emerging issues in our changing health care system. It is expected that AHCPR-supported health services research training programs be responsive to research needs associated with the ongoing shifts in the source and demand for services, and provide training in identified areas of need, such as outcomes/health status measurement, biostatistics, epidemiology, health economics, decision analysis, cost- effectiveness analysis, and health policy. At the conclusion of the training program, trainees should have the conceptual, methodological, and practical foundation to conduct research that would: o Help consumers make more informed choices; o Determine what works best in clinical care; o Measure and improve quality of care; o Monitor and evaluate health care delivery; o Improve the cost-effective use of health care resources; o Provide health care policy makers with the information needed to make informed decisions; o Address issues of relevance to priority populations, including women, children, persons with chronic diseases or disabilities, the elderly, and minority populations; and o Build and sustain the health services research infrastructure. Duration of Support Institutional NRSA research training grants may be made for periods of up to five years. Awards are normally made in 12-month increments with support for additional years based on satisfactory progress and the continued availability of funds. As noted below, an award received in response to this RFA will supersede previous AHCPR approved NRSA institutional awards, which extend beyond FY 1997. Trainee appointments are normally made in 12-month increments. No trainee may be appointed for less than nine months during the initial period of appointment, except with the prior approval of the Grants Management Office. No individual trainee may receive more than five years of aggregate NRSA support at the predoctoral level and three years of aggregate NRSA support at the postdoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards. Any exception to this policy requires a waiver from AHCPR. 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) and will incur 1 month of service payback obligation for each month 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. Individuals who continue under that award for 2 years, have fulfilled their obligation 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 the award. o Recipients must begin to undertake obligated service on a continuous basis within two years of NRSA support termination. 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 AHCPR's Grants Management Office, specifying the need for additional time and the length of the required extension. o Recipients of NRSA support are responsible for informing the AHCPR Grants Management Office 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 3 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 cases in which service or financial repayment would constitute an extreme hardship, the approving official 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 should be provided with information related to the career options available to individuals who complete the program and whether the types of positions available are consistent with the nature of the training provided and where applicable whether those positions are likely to satisfy 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. Additionally, a completed Payback Agreement (PHS Form 6031) must be submitted for each trainee in his/her first twelve months of postdoctoral support. At 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 manner may result in an expenditure disallowance. Leave In general, trainees may receive stipends during 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 a 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 pursuant to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (42 USC 2000 e(l)). 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 must seek approval from AHCPR's Grants Management Office 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 form 2271). Trainees within the first twelve months of postdoctorate support must also submit a Payback Agreement (PHS Form 6031) upon return from a leave of absence. Stipends and Other Trainee Support Stipends National Research Service Awards provide funds in the form of stipends to predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. A stipend is provided as an allowance for trainees to help defray living expenses during the research training experience. It is not provided as a condition of employment with either the Federal Government or the institution. Stipends must be paid to all trainees at the levels approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Trainees may not receive stipends for periods during which they are not enrolled in the training program. For predoctoral trainees at all levels of experience, the stipend level (effective October 1, 1996) is $11,496 per year. For appointments of less than a year, the stipend will be based on a monthly proration. For 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. Current postdoctoral stipend levels, effective October 1, 1996, are as follows: Full years of relevant experience Stipend Less than 1 $20,292 1 21,420 2 25,600 3 26,900 4 28,200 5 29,500 6 30,800 7 or more 32,300 A trainee with a health-professional doctoral degree who is enrolled in a graduate degree program is considered to be in postdoctoral training and will receive the appropriate postdoctoral stipend listed above. No departure from the established stipend schedule may be negotiated by the institution with the trainee. The stipend for each additional full year of stipend 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 AHCPR. 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 are met: o Stipend Supplementation. Supplementation or additional support to offset the cost of living may be provided by the grantee institution, but must not require any additional obligation 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 PHS funds be used for supplementation. o 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 laboratory assistant. A trainee may receive compensation for services as a research assistant or in some other position on a Federal research grant, including a PHS 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 is part of the research training experience. 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. 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 traineeship 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 all stipends and any monies paid on their behalf for 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 AHCPR or the awardee institution. 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. AHCPR takes no position on what the status may be for 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. Tuition Fees and Health Insurance Tuition and fees, including self-only medical insurance, are allowable trainee costs if such charges are required of all individuals in a similar training status at the institution, regardless of their source of support. Family medical insurance coverage is not an appropriate charge to the NRSA research training grant. Tuition at the postdoctoral level is limited to that required for specific courses in support of the approved research training program. On an annual basis, for each trainee, the training grant will cover 100% of the first $2,000 of the combined cost of tuition, fees, and self-only health insurance and 60% of any amount above $2,000. Institutions are instructed to reflect the full amount of these costs in competing applications. Other Training 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, support for travel to a research training experience away from the institution may be permitted. Research training experiences away from the parent institution must be justified considering the type of opportunities for training available, how these opportunities differ from those offered at the parent institution, and the relationship of the proposed experience to the trainee's career stage and goals. Justification for research training experience away from the institution must be described in detail in the budget justification section of the application. Institutional costs of up to $1,500 a year per predoctoral trainee and up to $2,500 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. Under exceptional circumstances, which can include accommodating the disabilities of a trainee, it is possible to request institutional costs above the standard rate. Requests for additional costs must be explained in detail and carefully justified in the application. Consultation with program staff in advance of such requests is strongly advised. A facilities and administration allowance (indirect cost allowance) based on 8 percent of total allowable direct costs (this excludes tuition) may be requested. Applications from State and local government agencies may request full indirect cost reimbursement (see PHS Grants Policy Statement). SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Confidentiality of Data Information obtained in the course of this study that identifies an individual or entity must be treated as confidential in accordance with section 903(c) of the Public Health Service Act. Applicants must describe in the Human Subjects section of the application procedures for ensuring the confidentiality of identifying information. The description of the procedure should include a discussion of who will be permitted access to the information, both raw data and machine readable files, and how personal identifiers will be safeguarded. This special term of award is in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable PHS grant policies and Federal regulations. INCLUSION OF WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND CHILDREN IN RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of AHCPR that women and members of minority groups be included in all AHCPR-supported research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. The NIH policy resulting from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43) supersedes and strengthens the NIH's previous policies (concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations), which were in effect since 1990 and which AHCPR had adopted. The NIH policy contains provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which has been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513), and in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS of March 18, 1994, Volume 23, Number 11. AHCPR follows the revised NIH Guidelines, as applicable. Investigators may obtain copies from those sources or from the AHCPR contractor, Global Exchange, Inc., listed under INQUIRIES. AHCPR is also encouraging investigators to consider including children in study populations, as appropriate. AHCPR announced in the NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 15, May 9, 1997, that it is developing a policy and implementation plan on the inclusion of children in health services research. The Notice is available through AHCPR's WEB site (http://www.ahcpr.gov) and AHCPR Instant FAX. For instruction in using Instant FAX, call (301) 594-2800, using a fax machine with a telephone handset. AHCPR program staff may also provide information concerning this policy (See INQUIRIES). LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by July 10, 1997, a letter of intent that includes the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the proposed Program Director and other key personnel; and the number and title of the RFA. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the consideration of any subsequent application, the information allows AHCPR staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid conflicts of interest in the review. AHCPR will not provide responses to letters of intent. The letter of intent is to be addressed to: Karen Rudzinski, Ph.D. NRSA Project Officer Agency for Health Care Policy and Research 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852-4908 Email: training@ahcpr.gov APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used in applying for these grants. State and local government applicants may use form PHS 5161-1, Application for Federal Assistance (rev. 5/96), and follow those requirements for copy submission. Applicants are reminded that the 25-page limit on the narrative section must be observed. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, Telephone: 301-710-0267, E-mail: asknih@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. AHCPR applicants should obtain application materials from the AHCPR contractor: Global Exchange, Inc., 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 400, Bethesda, MD 20814-3015, Telephone: 301- 656-3100, Fax: 301-652-5264. The RFA label available in the form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the original application. Failure to do so 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 and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and YES must be marked. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and three signed photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS 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, two additional copies of the application must be sent to: Karen Rudzinski, Ph.D. NRSA Project Officer Office of Scientific Affairs Agency for Health Care Policy and Research 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852-4908 Applications submitted under this RFA must be received in the Division of Research Grants, NIH, by September 23, 1997. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. Applications received on that date will be for awards to begin no earlier than July 1, 1998. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be reviewed for technical and educational merit by an AHCPR peer review group. Review Criteria The peer review group will consider the following criteria in its review: Program Characteristics o Objectives, design, and direction of the research training program -- including the probability of achieving stated goals. o Substantive and methodological content of the proposed program and its relevance to the Program Objectives noted above, including relevant descriptions of courses and experiential opportunities offered and/or required. o The extent to which proposed approaches address areas in need of research given changes in the health care delivery system. Program Support and Organizational Structure and Plans o The institutional training environment, including the level of institutional commitment, quality of the facilities, availability of appropriate courses, and availability of research support. o Organizational structure of the proposed training program, including delineation of administrative responsibilities for planning, oversight, and evaluation. o Demonstration of cooperation by any proposed collaborating facilities, institutions, or departments in providing research experiences and/or sites for trainees, including (where applicable) documentation of mechanisms by which trainees will be integrated into the ongoing health services research activities of other entities. o Demonstration of extent to which and ways in which AHCPR support will be (has been in the past) leveraged through the use of other Federal and private resources to maximize health services research training within the institution. o Availability of other relevant support. Trainee Recruitment & Retention Plans o Recruitment and selection plans for trainees and the availability of high quality candidates, including minority trainees (see below for details). o When appropriate, record of the research training program in retaining health-professional postdoctoral trainees for at least two years in research training or other research activities. Program Record and Evaluation Plans o Past research training record of both the program and the designated preceptors as determined by the success of former trainees in seeking further career development and in establishing productive scientific careers. Evidence of further career development can include receipt of fellowships, career awards, a prestigious training appointment, and similar accomplishments. Evidence of a productive scientific career can include a record of successful competition for individual research grants, receipt of special honors, a record of publications, receipt of patents, promotion to prestigious positions in academe, industry, or health policy and any other appropriate measure of success consistent with the nature and duration of the training received. o Record of the research training program in recruiting and retaining trainees, noting past annual success rates in filling committed slots; o Proposed methods for monitoring and evaluating performance of trainees and the overall program, including tracking of graduates after completion of training, record of trainees in obtaining individual research awards or fellowships following training and in establishing careers in health services research. Budget o Reasonableness of the proposed budget, including number and levels of trainees, in relation to the research training. Additional Review Considerations Minority Recruitment Plan: The AHCPR remains committed to increasing the participation of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in health services research. As announced in 1989, all applications for institutional NRSA research training grants must include a specific plan to recruit minorities. If an application is received without a plan, it will be considered incomplete and may be returned to the applicant without review. Additional information on this requirement was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 22, Number 25, July 16, 1993. After the overall educational and technical merit of an application has been assessed, peer reviewers will examine and evaluate the minority recruitment plan and any record of recruitment and retention. The findings of the panel will be included in an administrative note in the summary statement. If the minority recruitment plan of the application is judged to be unacceptable, funding will be withheld until a revised plan that addresses the deficiencies is received. Staff within the AHCPR will determine whether amended plans and reports submitted after the initial review are acceptable. 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. (or more information on this provision, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992.) 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 AHCPR 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, data management, and confidentiality and privacy. Within the context of training in scientific integrity it is also useful to discuss the mutual responsibilities of the institution and the graduate students or postdoctorates 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 AHCPR encourages institutions to provide instruction in the responsible conduct of research to all graduate students and postdoctorates in a training program or department, regardless of the source of support. AHCPR initial review groups 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 AHCPR staff. AWARD CRITERIA Funding decisions will be based on peer review, research program priorities, the need for research personnel in specified program areas, balance among types of research training supported by AHCPR, and the availability of funds. Awards made under this announcement will automatically supersede all prior awards received in response to AHCPR's program announcement entitled, "National Research Service Award--Institutional Grants Policy and Guidelines" (PAR-95- 002, NIH Guide, Volume 23, Number 36, October 14, 1994). INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquires concerning this RFA are encouraged. Copies of the RFA and related materials are available from: Global Exchange, Inc. 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 400 Bethesda, MD 20814-3015 Telephone: (301) 656-3100 FAX: (301) 652-5264 This RFA is available through the AHCPR's website: http:\\www.ahcpr.gov and through AHCPR InstantFAX at 301- 594-2800. To use InstantFAX, you must call from a facsimile (FAX) machine with a telephone handset. Follow the voice prompt in order to obtain a copy of the table of contents which has the document order number (not the same as the RFA number). The RFA will be sent at the end of the ordering process. AHCPR InstantFAX operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For questions about this service, call AHCPR's Division of Communications at 301-594-1364, ext. 1389. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues, including information on the inclusion of women, minorities, and children in study populations, to: Karen Rudzinski, Ph.D. NRSA Project Officer Agency for Health Care Policy and Research 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852-4908 Telephone: (301) 594-1452 Email: training@ahcpr.gov Direct fiscal and administrative inquiries to: Mable L. Lam Grants Management Officer Agency for Health Care Policy and Research 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 601 Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 594-1447, ext. 1165 FAX: (301) 594-3210 Email: mlam@ahcpr.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants are made under the authority of Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 288). Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 66, is applicable to this program. This program is also described the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.225. The program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-fee 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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