Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide including the Supplemental Instructions to the SF424 (R&R) for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Application, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

The World Health Organization’s World Health Report 2006 clearly illustrates the vastly inadequate levels of human resources for health in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with the continent bearing more than 24% of the global burden of disease but having access to just 3% of health care workers and less than 1% of the world’s financial resources. SSA s average physician and nurse-to-population ratio of 18 and 110 per 100,000 people, respectively, lies in stark contrast to that of the United States, with 270 physicians and 980 nurses per 100,000 people. Given this dearth of physicians and nurses, clinical responsibilities necessarily take precedence over research. However, locally relevant research remains critical to better informing regional and national health policies. World Bank research and development statistics reveal that the United States has 4,650 researchers per million people, while SSA (excluding South Africa) has just 56 researchers per million people. As a result, SSA produces less than 1% of biomedical publications, and only 2.3% of the world’s articles cite an African author.

The original Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) (FY 2010-2015) sought to build human capacity for health by strengthening the medical education system in an environment that valued and nurtured research in SSA countries. Through both programmatic awards, which supported innovative multidisciplinary approaches to medical education, and linked awards, which built research foundations by increasing the expertise of faculty and students in priority scientific areas, the MEPI program is contributing to the foundation for human resources for health by training health care workers to both provide high-quality, evidence-based care and to conduct the relevant research needed to inform this work.

Significant progress toward this goal has been made. However, greater numbers of well-trained researchers are still needed to fill significant gaps in the number of faculty with research expertise in order to build the next generation of African researchers. Currently, although some senior African scientists are able to secure funding from NIH and other funding agencies, there is little support for junior faculty to launch a research career. Gaps in African research career development include lack of protected time for research activities, inadequate research project funding opportunities, insufficient training in research design, data analysis, and presentation/writing skills, limited opportunities for collaboration with researchers from other countries, including the United States, and meager institutional support for developing, submitting, and administering research applications and awards. Continued support through this initiative will further strengthen the research cultures in existing MEPI institutions and/or consortium partners in SSA and provide junior faculty with opportunities to become the next generation of African research leaders.

Through support from the NIH Common Fund and other NIH partner Institutes and Centers (ICs), FIC is committed to continue fostering the next generation of faculty researchers in existing MEPI institutions and/or consortium partners in SSA (see Eligible Organizations below). This defined set of eligible organizations will be referred to as "MEPI-supported institutions throughout this FOA.

The goal of the Limited Competition: Research Training for Career Development of African Junior Faculty in Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Institutions (D43) program is to foster the next generation of African faculty researchers by providing research training and mentored research opportunities for junior faculty in MEPI-supported institutions who seek careers in research that contribute to improved human health.

This program will extend the activities supported under the original MEPI program to increase the capacity of faculty to conduct locally driven research that addresses scientific questions regarding critical health needs in their countries. Junior faculty members are expected to gain enhanced capabilities in research methodology, research management, ethics training, mentorship, scientific publication, and presentation and grants writing.

This program will also support further development of training programs that prepare faculty and postgraduate students to assume the roles and responsibilities of a researcher and a Principal Investigator throughout the grant process.

It is anticipated that this program will strengthen the research culture of the grantee institutions so that they can better support their junior faculty to be more successful in participating in research both as collaborators with others and as independent researchers. Increased research opportunities can add to the sustainability and quality of the original MEPI initiative to strengthen medical education, promote faculty retention, and lead to the acquisition of new knowledge that contributes to improved human health. Furthermore, these institutions and faculty will serve as role models for strengthening the research culture at other African institutions.

Scientific Areas

The scientific focus for research training permitted under this FOA is broad and encompasses the breadth of knowledge needed to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability based on the priority needs of the country or region. Each applicant is expected to propose research training activities for junior faculty members that address priority health needs of the applicant country and of interest to the applicant institution. The activities should focus on two to four scientific areas, of which one must be HIV/AIDS-related.

Research Training Activities

These research training grants are intended to support junior faculty in MEPI-supported institutions who desire to pursue research as part of their professional careers. Junior faculty can be from any academic discipline that contributes to improved human health.

The goal of this funding opportunity is to create a vibrant group or groups of researchers within an institution that can further science through strengthened research capacity. For this reason, it is appropriate to concentrate the proposed activities within the applicant institution. However, if the applicant institution would like to provide training to junior faculty from existing MEPI consortium partners, that approach would also be acceptable.

Activities supported under this FOA can strengthen existing capabilities and develop new training capabilities to fill gaps, based on the particular needs of the institution and the junior faculty selected for research training support.

Anticipated research training for the individual junior faculty member should be tailored for each trainee and sufficiently advanced and intensive to create an increased number of junior faculty with the capabilities to pursue independent research in the selected scientific area(s). Individual research training plans may include training courses. A research project in which the trainee implements what he/she learned didactically is also required. These trainees, upon completion of the program, will have:

• Thorough exposure to the principles underlying appropriately executed research;

• Skills to apply for and secure independent research funding; and

• Experience and expertise to engage in both independent and international collaborative research

The proposed research training program will also support institutional level training programs needed to provide the additional skills required by the junior faculty to submit an application and manage a research project. Support may be to strengthen or develop courses, programs, or career development activities at the institution. A menu of activities should be designed to support the specific needs of individual junior faculty members. These activities should be made available to the wider academic community by incorporation to whatever extent possible into the structure of the institution, so that future faculty can continue to benefit from activities supported by this grant.

All mentored research projects under this award must be independently peer reviewed through scientific review procedures established by the applicant institution, with documentation of education in the protection of human subjects for the trainee, compliance with the required federal citations, and approval from an institutional (or ethical) review board or committee at the applicant institution and, if different, at the institution in which the research is being conducted. Where appropriate, the design of training-related research projects, including pre-clinical research, should take into account potential sex and gender differences that may affect the questions asked and the analyses performed.

Research Training Sites

Training site(s) may include institutions other than the applicant institution. Training can be designed for the most appropriate site(s) for the proposed activities; however, it is recommended that training in countries other than that of the applicant institution be limited to focused, short-term experiences. Distance learning with sufficient mentoring and support at the applicant institution may be proposed. Mentored research projects must be conducted in or use data from the country of the grantee institution.

Collaboration with U.S. and other international institutions, including MEPI-supported institutions, is encouraged. These partnerships are expected to contribute to the probability of success of applicants in meeting the objectives of this program and provide a benefit for all trainees and institutions.

Interests of Components of Participating Organizations

Applicants are encouraged to review the following scientific interests of the participating components of NIH:

Fogarty International Center (FIC): FIC is dedicated to advancing the mission of the NIH by supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and training the next generation of scientists to address global health needs. FIC supports a diversity of research and research training grants that advance basic to implementation science with a particular focus on priority health areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD is interested in developing research administrative leadership by providing training in the management of research grants (e.g. pre- and post- award and compliance processes, project management, fiscal oversight, and reporting). NICHD is also interested in studies related to improving populations access to and utilization of family planning, as well as studies related to family-based interventions to improve child survival, such as use of bed nets, oral rehydration, cookstove ventilation, and sanitation, amongst others.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR): The mission of NIDCR is to improve dental, oral, and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information. NIDCR supports basic, translational, and clinical research in biomedical and behavioral sciences. NIDCR encourages institutional applications that will provide research training and mentored research opportunities for junior faculty dentists and other junior faculty clinician scientists and investigators who are committed to improving oral health. NIDCR encourages applications that address the oral health needs of the population by including partnerships with dental schools and developing curricula to improve local dental, oral, and craniofacial health research capacity.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): NIMH supports basic, translational, clinical, mental health services, and implementation research that provides the evidence base to prevent, preempt, and treat mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other disorders. NIMH will support research capacity building activities that equip junior faculty in MEPI institutions (and affiliated institutions) with skills to develop and sustain mental health research activities. Areas of interest include research that 1) identifies risk and protective factors with high predictive value and their underlying mechanisms of action; 2) evaluates the effectiveness and mechanisms of action of psychosocial (psychotherapeutic and behavioral), pharmacologic, somatic, rehabilitative, and combination interventions on mental and behavior disorder for children, adolescents, and adults; 3) tests interventions to improve the quality and outcomes of care (including diagnostic, treatment, preventive, and rehabilitation services); 4) evaluates how patient, provider, facility, and health system factors influence implementation and scalability of evidence-based care and treatment interventions; and 5) identifies new ways of classifying psychopathology based on dimensions of observable behavior and neurobiological measures, taking into account the contribution of developmental processes and environmental influences (see http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-priorities/rdoc/index.shtml).

NIMH also recognizes the importance of developing research capacity among clinicians who will provide HIV care as well as mental health services and encourages research training activities that contribute to 1) elucidation of the risk and resilience factors for development of mental disorders over the course of HIV infection; 2) development of secondary prevention approaches for people with co-morbid major mental disorders and HIV infection--including development and testing of interventions for adherence to HIV care in the setting of dually diagnosed HIV and mental illness--and increased capacity to assess mental disorders using screening tools that are culturally and contextually relevant; 3) development of novel approaches to adapt psychosocial and biomedical interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders to a range of providers and settings that manage HIV care and treatment; and 4) policy research to inform or expand systems of care for effective integration of HIV and mental health services.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. NINDS encourages institutional neurological training applications that will provide research training and mentored research opportunities for junior neuroscientists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and other clinical-investigators whose research interests are in neurological disorders. The scientific focus for research training should be on the development of research and mentoring skills needed to enhance neurological health, and the development of effective prevention, diagnostic, or treatment strategies aimed at relieving the burden of neurological diseases of the applicant’s country or region. Specific disease areas of interest include, but are not limited to, stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, neurological disorders of children, brain trauma and spinal cord injury, and neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders.

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR): NINR supports clinical, biological, and translational research in the science areas of Symptom Science: promoting personalized health strategies; Wellness: promoting health and preventing illness; Self-Management: improving quality of life for individuals with chronic illness; End-of-Life and Palliative Care: the science of compassion; and, Training & Technology: a cross-cutting theme for all NINR-supported research. NINR focuses on drawing together experts from diverse disciplines to support a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare. Nursing science has positioned itself as a leader in identifying high-quality, high-value biobehavioral approaches to health promotion, disease prevention, and well-being--which are all critically linked to quality of health care and quality of life. Areas of interest in HIV research include behavioral approaches to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment and maintenance in care as a means to reduce viral load and the potential for further HIV-related illness. Additionally, NINR is interested in research related to multiple chronic conditions in HIV/AIDS as this population increases in age. Nurse scientists have a unique ability to identify community communication methods to reach individuals that may not utilize or have access to more formal modes of healthcare provision. This relationship may aid in reaching populations not generally involved in HIV research. The scientific focus for research training should be the development and implementation of research skills that translate into clinical practice.

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD): The mission of NIMHD is to lead scientific research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities. NIMHD conducts and supports research, the training of a diverse research workforce, research capacity and infrastructure development, public education, and information dissemination programs. NIMHD is the leading entity at the NIH for planning, reviewing, coordinating, and evaluating minority health and health disparities research activities conducted by NIH ICs, and fosters innovative collaborations and partnerships to make that mission a reality.

Office of AIDS Research (OAR): OAR, located within the NIH Office of the Director, coordinates the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of NIH HIV/AIDS research. OAR supports NIH programs that build long-term research and research training partnerships between institutions in the United States and in SSA. Please refer to FY 2014 Trans-NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research for OAR research priorities.

Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH): Of particular interest are research activities on health topics of importance for women and girls, in support of the NIH Strategic Plan for Women's Health Research and the PEPFAR Women and Girl-Centered Approach to Health and Gender Equity. Support for increased engagement of female junior faculty and mentors in research activities in any relevant health area is also highly desired. Examples of priority women s health topics include, but are not limited to: maternal/newborn/child health, sexual and reproductive health, obstetric fistula, violence against women, chronic diseases, mental health, women as caregivers, nutrition, environmental health, infectious diseases and cancer, particularly HIV-related malignancies. For a full description of priority areas for women’s health, please see the Global Women’s Health section (beginning on page 78) of the NIH Strategic Plan for Women's Health Research Volume II, Regional Scientific Reports.

Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund): The Office of Strategic Coordination, located within the NIH Office of the Director, manages the Common Fund, which supports cross-cutting programs that are expected to have exceptionally high impact. All Common Fund initiatives invite investigators to develop bold, innovative, and often risky approaches to address problems that may seem intractable or to seize new opportunities that offer the potential for rapid progress.

For additional guidance, see list of Frequently Asked Questions.

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

Eligibility is limited to MEPI-supported institutions and consortium partners in SSA in order to build upon MEPI's existing platform, accomplishments, and momentum.

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.

The applicant institution must have robust and high-quality research ongoing in the area(s) proposed under this FOA and must have the requisite faculty, staff, eligible junior faculty, and facilities on site or at partnering institutions to conduct the proposed institutional program. It is anticipated that program faculty will have active, funded research projects in which participating trainees may gain relevant experiences consistent with their research interests and goals.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Applicant Organizations

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.

• Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) - All registrations require that applicants be issued a DUNS number. After obtaining a DUNS number, applicants can begin both SAM and eRA Commons registrations. The same DUNS number must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.

• System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly CCR) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.
  • NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
• eRA Commons - Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the eRA Commons registration. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.gov registration. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.

• Grants.gov Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons.If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

International applicants may obtain more information on the registrations required for grants.gov and eRA Commons at:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/Tips_for_International_Applicants.pdf.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/international_support.pdf

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/international_qa.pdf

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/preparing_grantsgov_reg.htm

Guidance for International Applicants who are blocked from registration websites is available here.

An NIH supported webinar on Electronic Submission of Grant Applications for Foreign Institutions can be found here.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research training program as the Training Program Director/Principal Investigator (Training PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

The Training PD/PI should be an established investigator and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program.

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

Only one application per eligible institution is allowed.

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

• A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.

• A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.

• An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NOT-OD-11-101).

In addition, the NIH will not accept a resubmission (A1) application that is submitted later than 37 months after submission of the new (A0) application that it follows. The NIH will accept submission:

To an RFA of an application that was submitted previously as an investigator-initiated application but not paid;

Of an investigator-initiated application that was originally submitted to an RFA but not paid; or

Of an application with a changed grant activity code.

Program faculty should have strong records as researchers, including recent publications and successful competition for research support in the areas of the proposed research training program. Program faculty should also have a record of research training, including successful, former trainees who have established productive careers relevant to the NIH mission.

Key personnel should include an established investigator as leader/coordinator for each of the scientific area(s) in which the application is targeted as well as individuals who can provide needed expertise in curriculum, ethics, or other components included within the training program.

Preceptors/Mentors should have research and research training/mentoring expertise and experience relevant to the proposed program. Preceptors/Mentors must be committed to continuing their involvement throughout the total period of the award.

Trainees should be junior faculty who desire to pursue research as part of their professional careers and have demonstrated some commitment to research as part of their career development. For this FOA, junior faculty are defined as those who are at the entry to mid-level of teaching and/or research in academic institutions, with entry-level including but not limited to instructors or demonstrators and mid-level including but not limited to assistant lecturers, lecturers, senior lecturers, and assistant professors. They should have faculty appointments at the MEPI-supported institution included in the application. They can be from any discipline that contributes to improved human health within their country. Junior faculty from diverse backgrounds, persons with disabilities, and women, are encouraged to participate as trainees.

Junior faculty who will be provided training through this program will be referred to as "trainees" in this FOA.

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/about_grants.htm for information relevant to NIH grants including "How to apply," "Peer review process," and "Award management.

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide including Supplemental Grant Application Instructions except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Letter of Intent

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• Descriptive title of proposed activity

• Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)

• Names of other key personnel

• Participating institution(s)

• Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Dr. Myat Htoo Razak, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Fogarty International Center
Division of International Training and Research
Telephone: 301-402-6112
Email: [email protected]

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

Instructions for Application Submission

The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this FOA.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Proposed Project Start Date: Use the Earliest Anticipated Start Dates given in this FOA as the Proposed Project Start Date.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Include the applicant institution as well as any other participating institutions, both U.S. and foreign, that will serve as training sites.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), with the following additional modifications:

Project Summary/Abstract: Provide an abstract of the entire application. Include the objectives, rationale and design of the research training program, as well as key activities in the training plan. Include the country(ies) and name(s) of other institution(s) listed as performance sites. Describe the scientific area(s) for which the application is targeted. Include a brief description of the proposed junior faculty training program. Indicate the planned duration of training and the projected number of junior faculty who will be trained in each of the targeted scientific area(s).

Project Narrative: Using no more than two or three sentences, include the country and applicant institution, the scientific area(s) for which the application is targeted, and describe the public health relevance to the country of the expected increased research capacity to the applicant institution.

Facilities and Other Resources: Include descriptions of the facilities and other resources to be used for research training at all performance sites.

Other Attachments: Provide the plan for a Training Advisory Committee (TAC). Responsibilities, frequency of meetings, and other relevant information should be included. The composition of the TAC, the roles people should fill, and the desired expertise of the members should be described. The TAC should be composed of expert faculty and relevant professionals from the applicant country and from the United States as well as other countries, if appropriate. TAC members should not be directly involved in the training program or in mentoring trainees.

Describe how the TAC will function in providing oversight of the development, implementation, and evaluation of recruitment strategies, the recruitment and retention of candidates, scientific review of trainees projects, and the evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the program. Please name your file Advisory_Committee.pdf .

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

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA). In addition,

Include at least one person from each of any other participating institutions as Senior/Key Personnel and identify their role.

Include at least one faculty member to serve as leader/coordinator for each of the targeted scientific area(s) as key personnel.

List all members of the TAC as Senior/Key Personnel; select Other and list their role as TAC member .

Attach bio-sketches for the Key Personnel, including TAC members.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

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

Use the Other Personnel section to submit costs for salary support for administrative staff.

Use the Travel section to submit costs for key personnel and faculty travel, including annual network meetings.

Use the Participant/Trainee Support Costs section to submit costs for trainees and training-related expenses. Include health insurance under E.5 Other (not in Tuition/Fees/Health Insurance), if applicable. Do not use the Subsistence category.

Trainee travel to attend scientific meetings, workshops, and courses that the institution determines to be necessary for the individual's research training experience is an allowable trainee expense and may be requested in accordance with the applicant institution's policies regarding local and non-local travel.

Use the E.5 Other section to submit costs for other direct costs related to training activities. Applicants are encouraged to budget adequate professional development opportunities for trainees. Include other training costs, such as for short- term courses, mentored research projects, manuscript publication, laptop computers or tablets, and internet connectivity.

Budget Justification: Provide budget justification for all training related expenses.

All Supplemental Instructions to the SF424 (R&R) for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Application must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Training Data Tables 1, 3 12 do not need to be completed. Table 2 does need to be completed.

Background

Provide the rationale for the proposed research training program, relevant background history, and the need for the research training proposed. Please include the following information:

Training record: Describe the applicant institution’s role in the original MEPI program (as a primary awardee or as a consortium partner), the applicant institution’s progress and accomplishments in increasing the capacity of junior faculty in the MEPI-supported institution to participate in and carry out locally relevant research as a result of the original MEPI award, and how these efforts will be expanded in the current application.

Research training program rationale: This program will support further development of training programs that prepare faculty and postgraduate students to assume the roles and responsibilities of a researcher and a Principal Investigator throughout the grant process.

Scientific topic and rationale: Identify the two to four scientific areas, one of which must be HIV/AIDS-related, that will be targeted in the proposed research training program. Provide the rationale for selecting the areas. When selecting these areas, discuss how training in these scientific areas may be complementary or synergistic with each other. For each area, describe the current level of research capacity, a short description of all the relevant prior and ongoing research at the applicant institution in that area, and the identified gaps in research capacity that need to be addressed.

Institutional participation: Describe the process used to include the applicant institutional leadership and relevant professional staff in the planning, decision-making, and development of the application.

Collaboration: Describe the prior and current research training and research collaborations in the targeted scientific areas among any participating institutions and how they might serve as a platform for the proposed research training. Provide rationale for the selection of any partnering institutions.

Program Plan

Program Administration. Describe the acknowledged strengths, leadership and administrative skills, training experience, scientific expertise, and active research of the PD/PI. Relate these strengths to the proposed management of the training program. Describe the planned strategy and administrative structure to be used to oversee and monitor the program. If there are multiple PDs/PIs, then the plan for Program Administration is expected to synergize with the Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan section of the application.

Describe how the key personnel selected as established investigators in the scientific area(s) in which the application is targeted were chosen and how they will be incorporated into the management and administrative structure. Describe the decision-making processes for the program.

The Training PD/PI is also responsible for appointing members of a Training Advisory Committee (TAC) and using their recommendations to determine the appropriate distribution of funds for research and training among the targeted scientific areas. The PD(s)/PI(s) will also need to describe how they will obtain continuing advice from the TAC. The Training PD/PI, in consultation with the TAC, will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees to the approved research training program and for the overall direction, management, administration, and evaluation of the program. The Training PD/PI will be responsible for maintaining adequate numbers of established investigators as mentors in the scientific area(s) in which the application is targeted.

Program Faculty. The application must include information about the program faculty who will be available to serve as Preceptors/Mentors and provide guidance and expertise appropriate to the level of trainees proposed in the application. Describe the complementary expertise and experiences of the proposed Program Faculty, including active research and other scholarly activities in which the faculty are engaged, as well as experience mentoring and training individuals at the proposed career stage(s). Describe the history of collaborations among the Preceptors/Mentors at the participating institutions and how these collaborations will enhance the proposed research training.

Trainees may need multiple mentors who may come from a variety of institutions and disciplines to address the components of the research training for their career development activities. If the training expects to support multiple mentors for a trainee, a plan to address coordination among the mentors must be included. Describe the criteria used to appoint and remove faculty as Program Faculty and to evaluate their participation.

Proposed Training. Provide an overview of the proposed program. Outline the objectives of the program and the program activities that will be used to meet these objectives. Describe for whom the training program is intended, the numbers of trainees for which the program is designed and in each scientific area, the training level(s) (or degree requirements) of the trainees, the academic position and research background needed to pursue the proposed training, and, as appropriate, plans to accommodate differences in preparation among trainees. Include information about planned courses, mentored research experiences, and any activities designed to develop specific technical skills or other skills essential for the proposed research training. Describe how trainees will be educated in the human health- and disease-related aspects of their research training.

Describe how the proposed approach and training program will provide the advanced and individualized research training needed by the trainees and strengthen the institutional capacity to support all junior faculty to advance their research careers at the applicant institution.Preceptors/Mentors should create a clear plan for mentorship of junior faculty trainees. Describe plans to ensure expected standards for mentoring among the various faculty who will serve as mentors.

Research training may be delivered by interactive distance learning technology, if appropriate and sustainable for trainees and institution. Applicants are encouraged to maximize training in the use of information technology to facilitate trainee data management, access to online scientific information, and collaborative interaction.

Describe the process/course that will be offered so that all trainees create individual career development plans that guide what options they take in the program.

Several applicant institutions may already have capacity to start training junior faculty immediately. However, several other institutions may not have such capacity. Accordingly, applicants are allowed to use the first year of the grant to plan for their institutional needs and to further strengthen components of the career development plan and strategy for trainees if needed. All training programs should result in an increased number of junior faculty with the capabilities to pursue independent research in the selected scientific area(s) by the end of the grant period.

Provide a five-year training implementation plan that includes descriptions of how the proposed training will achieve the following milestones:

• By the end of the 2nd year of funding, the applicant institution should have established:

• Institutional level training programs to provide the additional skills required by junior faculty to submit a research application and manage a research project

• Administrative, grants management, and peer review systems that can meet the increased demands that will be created as a result of this program

• Systems and processes for the protection of human subjects

• These programs, curricula, modules, and tools should be accessible to all faculty, staff, and students.

• By end of project period (5th year of funding), the applicant institution should have:

• Implemented a comprehensive research training program for junior faculty that includes research skills, grant-submission and post-award management skills, responsible conduct of research education, mentoring, at least one research project per trainee, and opportunities for global networking. At least 10 trainees in the institution should have completed the program.

• Collectively, the trainees should have:

• Submitted/Published articles in peer reviewed journals

• Delivered scientific presentations at national, regional, or international conferences

• Written or participated in research grant applications submitted to national and/or international research funding agencies

• Improved research grants support in the institution, which can be measured by the number of FOAs circulated to the faculty and staff, number of faculty participating in grants, number of grants submitted by the faculty, number of faculty involved, number of awards received, and number of pre- and post-award consultations for grants management.

Describe the process by which the topics for trainee research projects will be approved, how each trainee’s program will be guided, and how each trainee’s performance will be monitored and evaluated. Describe a plan for mentorship that will support trainees while in any formal coursework and while conducting training-related research relevant to the specified scientific area(s). Describe the plans proposed for independent, scientific peer review of mentored research projects and compliance with federal requirements for protection of human subjects in research and animal care and use in research.

Describe plans for strengthening associated skills and knowledge necessary for long-term research career sustainability, such as leadership and management, scientific writing and presentation, grant writing, and expertise in bioinformatics, bioethics, good clinical practice, good laboratory practice, biosafety, research administration, mentoring training (so that trainees can one day be mentors for others), and the management of intellectual property and technology transfer. English as a second language training may be supported, if needed.

Sustainability Plans. Applications must contain a plan for trainees to develop and sustain research activities at their institution. Mentored research projects should be designed to meet LMIC trainee career sustainability goals. Applicants are also encouraged to propose innovative approaches for continuing research education, grant and scientific manuscript writing, and networking for LMIC trainees to further enhance their research capabilities. Applications may include support for trainees to travel to research conferences to present their work or cover the costs of technical workshops to enhance their research career.

Program Evaluation. Describe an evaluation plan to review and determine the quality and effectiveness of the training program. This plan should include the metrics to be evaluated to document progress towards achieving the required milestones and should be tied to the goals of the program. Include measures to also monitor the long-term impact of strengthening capacity of the applicant institution to support junior faculty as the next generation of African researchers. The evaluation plan should include methods to obtain feedback from current and former trainees to help identify weaknesses and to provide suggestions for program improvements.

Trainee Candidates. Describe, in general terms, the size, qualifications, and career level of the pool of junior faculty who would be eligible to apply for training, including information about the disciplines and types of prior clinical and research training. Describe specific plans to recruit candidates and explain how these plans will be implemented. Describe the nomination and selection process, including the criteria, to be used to select candidates. Selection criteria should include a list of standards that will be used to ensure that trainees have appropriate prior training and experience, are likely to complete the training, and are likely to contribute to the increased capacity of the applicant institution in the specified scientific area(s). Describe recruitment efforts to attract women and other populations who are under-represented in sciences in that LMIC to apply for training opportunities. Describe the role of the institution faculty and the TAC in the recruitment and selection process. Trainees are expected to devote at least 20 hours/week of protected time for research and career development activities during the training period. Describe a plan for retaining trainees in the program until completion.

Institutional Environment and Commitment to the Program.

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program including assurance that sufficient time will be allowed for the PDs/PIs and other Program Faculty to contribute to the proposed program. The application must include a signed letter, on institutional letterhead, that describes the applicant institution’s commitment to the planned program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program. This commitment may also include features such as PD/PI salary, stipend or tuition support for individuals involved in the proposed training program, or other commitments essential to a successful training program. Institutions with ongoing research training, student development, or career development programs regardless of funding source should explain what distinguishes the proposed program from existing ones at the same trainee level, how the programs will synergize, if applicable, whether trainees are expected to transition from one support program to another, and how the training faculty, pool of potential trainees, and resources are sufficiently robust to support the proposed program in addition to existing ones.

Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity

This section is not required for this FOA.

Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research as provided in Chapter 8 of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to develop courses in the responsible conduct of research adapted to the locally relevant scientific context at the applicant institution, if such courses do not currently exist.

Letters of Support

The application should include letters of support that describe how the proposed training program will collaborate with other training programs and relevant on-going research at the institution. The application may include letters of support from officials at the LMIC government that describe how it will support and collaborate with the proposed training program, as well as letters of institutional commitment from applicant and partnering institutions.

Appendix

Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.

Important reminders:

All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management (SAM). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by components of participating organizations, NIH. Applications that are incomplete and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

In order to expedite review, applicants are requested to notify the FIC Referral Office by email at [email protected] when the application has been submitted. Please include the FOA number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-13-030.

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood that the proposed training program will prepare individuals for successful, productive scientific research careers and thereby exert a sustained influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of the merit of the training program, and give a separate score for each. When applicable, the reviewers will consider relevant questions in the context of proposed short-term training. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.

Training Program and Environment

Has the applicant proposed a plan that will build on progress already achieved to foster research capacity among junior faculty though previous MEPI or other awards?

Are the training programs proposed at an institutional level expected to strengthen the capacity of the applicant institution to support junior faculty to take on the roles of researcher and Principal Investigator?

If an institution identifies a gap in its ability to support one or more components in the proposed research training program, have they described an appropriate and adequate way to fill this gap?

Has the applicant proposed a research training plan that includes components that will benefit the wider academic community at the institution so that the research capacity is sustainable and supports high quality research?

How well do the targeted scientific area(s) address the health priorities of the country as well as the existing research capacity at the applicant institution?

Do the objectives, design, and direction of the proposed research training program support career development for African junior faculty in the targeted scientific areas?

Are there plans for mentored research projects in training-related research areas to undergo independent, scientific peer review and to be compliant with federal requirements for protection of human subjects in research and animal care and use?

Does the proposed training program include plans for an individualized development plan that will provide advanced and individualized research training?

Will the training result in an increased number of junior faculty who can participate and possibly lead research in the targeted scientific areas?

Are there plans for strengthening the associated skills and knowledge necessary for long-term research career sustainability, such as leadership and management, scientific writing and presentation, grant writing, and expertise in bioinformatics, bioethics, good clinical practice, good laboratory practice, biosafety, research administration, mentoring training, and the management of intellectual property and technology transfer?

To what extent does the proposed research training program take advantage of the applicant institution’s research infrastructure as well as previous and current support from FIC and other organizations? Does it complement, rather than duplicate, research training in the targeted scientific area(s) that has been or is currently being provided by others at the applicant institution?

Does the applicant present a strong rationale for why partner institutions were chosen and adequately describe the research training activities that will occur with these partners?

Is sufficient administrative and research training support provided for the program?

Is there evidence of a significant level of institutional commitment to support the program from the applicant institution?

Are the content, phasing, and proposed duration of the training plan appropriate for achieving the expected milestones?

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

• Does the Training PD/PI have the strengths, leadership and administrative skills, research training and mentoring experience, and involvement in active research needed to provide strong leadership, direction, management, and administration of the proposed research training program?
• Has the Training PD/PI chosen leaders/coordinators for the targeted scientific area(s) who are able to provide the necessary scientific and mentoring leadership to achieve the expected milestones towards the goals of the program?
• Do the Training PD/PI and key personnel involved in the research training program plan to commit sufficient effort and time to ensure the program’s success?
• Has the administrative structure, including the TAC, been constructed in a way that will support the goals of the FOA?
• For applications designating multiple Training PDs/PIs:
  • Is a strong justification provided that the multiple Training PD/PI leadership approach will benefit the training program and the trainees?
  • Is a strong and compelling leadership approach evident, including the designated roles and responsibilities, governance, and organizational structure consistent with and justified by the aims of the training program and the complementary expertise of the Training PDs/PIs?

Preceptors/Mentors

• Are sufficient numbers of experienced Preceptors/Mentors with appropriate expertise and funding available to support the number and level of trainees proposed in the application?
• Do the Preceptors/Mentors have strong records as researchers, including recent publications and successful competition for research support in areas directly related to the proposed research training program?
• How successful have the proposed Preceptors/Mentors been in providing research training/mentoring in the targeted scientific area(s)? Are appropriate plans in place to ensure that proposed Preceptors/Mentors who lack sufficient research training/mentoring experience are likely to provide strong and successful mentoring?
• How strong is the history of collaborations among the Preceptors/Mentors at the participating institutions and how well will these collaborations serve as a platform for the proposed training?
• Is there a clear plan for mentorship for the trainees?
• Are there well-described criteria used to appoint and remove Preceptors/Mentors and to evaluate their participation? In the case of multiple mentors for a trainee, how will coordination among the Mentors be addressed?

Trainees

• How well has the applicant provided the rationale for the qualifications for candidates for training under this FOA?
• Has the applicant provided the estimated number of trainees in each scientific area?
• Is there a competitive applicant pool of sufficient size and quality to ensure a successful training program?
• Is a recruitment plan proposed with strategies likely to attract well-qualified candidates with a commitment to research for the research training program? Does the plan include strategies to recruit junior faculty who are women or other underrepresented populations and who are eligible for training?
• Is the nomination and selection process to be used to select candidates well-defined with clear and well-justified selection criteria so that the process is likely to be fair and transparent?
• Has adequate protected time for trainees been provided?
• Are there plans to retain trainees until completion of the program?
• How well does the sustainability plan include strategies that will be used to encourage and prepare trainees and future junior faculty to pursue further research opportunities in the applicant country?

Training Record

• How successful has the institution been in ensuring productivity (in terms of research accomplishments, publication of research conducted, and subsequent appointments) for junior faculty in general and for trainees supported under the original MEPI program (2010-2015)?
• Does the program propose an evaluation plan that will adequately assess the quality and effectiveness of the training, including mechanisms for feedback from current and former trainees and consideration for long-term impact?
• Does the evaluation plan reflect the required milestones?

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

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

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

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

Vertebrate Animals

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

Biohazards

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

Resubmissions

Not Applicable

Renewals

Not Applicable

Revisions

Not Applicable

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.

Recruitment & Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity

Not Applicable

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

All applications for support under this FOA must include a plan to fulfill NIH requirements for instruction in the responsible conduct of research. Taking into account the specific characteristics of the training program, the level of trainee experience, and the particular circumstances of the trainees, the reviewers will evaluate the adequacy of the proposed responsible conduct of research training in relation to the following five required components: 1) Format - Does the plan satisfactorily address the format of instruction, e.g. lectures, coursework and/or real-time discussion groups, including face-to-face interaction? (A plan involving only on-line instruction is not acceptable.); 2) Subject Matter Does the plan include a sufficiently broad selection of subject matter, such as conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects and animal use, laboratory safety, research misconduct, research ethics? 3) Faculty Participation - Does the plan adequately describe how faculty will participate in the instruction? For all new applications, are all training faculty who served as course directors, speakers, lecturers, and/or discussion leaders during the past project period named in the application? 4) Duration of Instruction - Does the plan meet the minimum requirements for responsible conduct of research, i.e., at least eight contact hours of instruction? 5) Frequency of Instruction Does the plan meet the minimum requirements for responsible conduct of research, i.e., at least once during each career stage (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty levels) and at a frequency of no less than once every four years?

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

Select Agent Research

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

Budget and Period of Support

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

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), convened by the Center for Scientific Review in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

• May undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.

• Will receive a written critique.

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

Applications will be assigned to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications . Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the FIC and other participating IC Advisory Councils or Boards. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.

• Availability of funds.

• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities as laid out in the background and program goals.

• Consideration of scientific areas and geographic distribution.

• Interests of participating NIH ICs.

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to terms and conditions found on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website. This includes any recent legislation and policy applicable to awards that is highlighted on this website.

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Not Applicable

The Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (RPPR) and financial statements as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are required annually. Continuation support will not be provided until the required forms are submitted and accepted. Chapters 1-6 and Chapter 7.5 of the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Instruction Guide and additional guidance provided by FIC, must be followed.

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

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

• During the award period grantees will be requested to enter information annually concerning long-term trainees into CareerTrac, a database to track the training history and accomplishments of trainees over time. The database will be made available to grantees after the award is made.

A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Evaluation results should be included as part of the final Progress Report.

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

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

eRA Commons Help Desk (Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, submitting and tracking an application, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, post submission issues)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
Finding Help Online: http://grants.nih.gov/support/index.html
Email: [email protected]

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and application packages)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Web ticketing system: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/ContactUs.aspx
Email: [email protected]

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone: 301-710-0267
Email: [email protected]

Myat Htoo Razak, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Telephone: 301-402-6112
Email: [email protected]

Regina Smith James, MD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-435-2692
Email: [email protected]

Lynn Mertens King, PhD
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-594-5006
Email: [email protected]

LeShawndra N. Price, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-594-7963
Email: [email protected]

Yuan Liu, PhD
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Telephone: 301-496-0012
Email: [email protected]

Lynda Hardy, PhD, RN
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 301-594-5976
Email: [email protected]

Rick Berzon, DrPH, PA
National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Telephone: 301-594-8949
Email: [email protected]

Paolo Miotti, MD
Office of AIDS Research (OAR)
Telephone: 301-435-7699
Email: [email protected]

Maggie Brewinski Isaacs, MD, MPH
Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
Telephone: 301-451-7082
Email: [email protected]

Leslie K. Derr, PhD
Office of the Director (OD)
Telephone: 301-594-8174
Email: [email protected]

Dr. Hilary D. Sigmon, PhD, RN
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Telephone: 301-357-9236
Email: [email protected]

Kasima Brown
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Telephone: 301-496-5710
Email: [email protected]

Bryan Clark
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-435-6975
Email: [email protected]

Diana Rutberg, MBA
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-594-4798
Email: [email protected]

Tamara Kees
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-8811
Email: [email protected]

Tijuanna Decoster
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Telephone: 301-496-9231
Email: [email protected]

Judy L. Sint
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 301-402-6959
Email: [email protected]

Priscilla Grant, JD, CRA
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Telephone: 301-594-8412
Email: [email protected]

Sonika Tejashree
Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
Telephone: 301-435-1057
Email: [email protected]

Michael G. Morse
Office of the Director (OD)
Telephone: 301-435-5446
Email: [email protected]

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301, 307(b), and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 287b) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 63a.