kristoff@GENBANK.BIO.NET (Dave Kristofferson) (06/11/91)
$$XID RFA DK9111 DK-91-11 P1O1 *****************************************
DIABETES AND ENDOCRINOLOGY RESEARCH CENTERS
RFA: DK-91-11
P.T. 04; K.W. 0715075, 0785050, 0710030
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 10, 1992
Application Receipt Date: February 11, 1992
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK) invites applications for Diabetes and Endocrinology Research
Center grants.
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 priority areas. This Request for
Applications (RFA), Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Centers, is
related to the priority area of diabetes mellitus. Potential applicants
may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No.
017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No.
017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).
BACKGROUND
The NIDDK-supported Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Centers (DERCs)
are part of an integrated program of diabetes-related research support
provided by NIDDK. These centers have provided a focus for increasing
collaboration and cost effectiveness among groups of successful
investigators at institutions with established comprehensive diabetes
research bases.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
The objective of the DERCs is to bring together investigators from
relevant disciplines in a manner that will enhance and extend the
effectiveness of research related to diabetes and its complications. A
diabetes center must be an identifiable unit within a single university
medical center or a consortium of cooperating institutions, including an
affiliated university. The overall goal of the DERC is to bring
together, on a cooperative basis, clinical and basic science
investigators in a manner that will enrich the effectiveness of diabetes
research. An existing program of excellence in biomedical research in
the area of diabetes and related metabolic and endocrine disorders is
required. This research should be in the form of NIH-funded research
projects, program projects, or other peer-reviewed research that is in
existence at the time of submission of a center application. Close
cooperation, communication, and collaboration among all involved
personnel of all professional disciplines are ultimate objectives.
Applicants should consult with NIDDK staff concerning plans for the
development of the center.
The DERCs are based on the core concept. Cores are defined as shared
resources that enhance productivity or in other ways benefit a group of
investigators working in diabetes or diabetes-related areas to
accomplish the stated goals of the center. Two other types of
activities may also be supported with center funding--a pilot and
feasibility program and an enrichment program. The pilot and
feasibility program provides modest support for new initiatives or
feasibility research studies. This program is directed at new
investigators or established investigators in other research disciplines
where their expertise may be applied to diabetes research. The center
grant may also include limited funds for program enrichment such as
seminars, visiting scientists, consultants, and workshops.
Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research
Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources
may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting the proposed
research. In such a case, a letter of agreement from either the GCRC
program director or Principal Investigator must be included with the
application.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH
POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL
RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS
NIH and ADAMHA policy is that applicants for NIH/ADAMHA clinical
research grants and cooperative agreements will be required to include
minorities and women in study populations so that research findings can
be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or
condition under study; special emphasis should be placed on the need for
inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and
conditions which disproportionately affect them. This policy is
intended to apply to males and females of all ages. If women or
minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical
research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear
compelling rationale should be provided.
The composition of the proposed study population must be described in
terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and
racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in developing a research design
and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study.
This information should be included in the form PHS 398 in Section 2,
A-D of the Research Plan AND summarized in Section 2, E, Human Subjects.
Applicants/offerors are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of
including the broadest possible representation of minority groups.
However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in
all research projects to include representation of the full array of
United States racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., Native Americans
(including American Indians or Alaskan Natives), Asian/Pacific
Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics). The rationale for studies on single
minority population groups should be provided.
For the purpose of this policy, clinical research includes human
biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention
(and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of diseases,
disorders or conditions, including but not limited to clinical trials.
The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply.
Basic research or clinical studies in which are excluded. However,
every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and
racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of
the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants. If the
required information is not contained within the application, the
application will be returned.
Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in
the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of
women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the
scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the selected
study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific
weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be reflected in
assigning the priority score to the application.
All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required to
address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or
cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
NIDDK expects to award up to three DERC grants in Fiscal Year 1993 on a
competitive basis. The receipt of three competing continuation
applications is anticipated that will be in competition with other
applications received in response to this announcement. Foreign
institutions are not eligible to apply. Awards will be for five years
contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. Requests for
support must be limited to no more than $750,000 in direct costs per
year. Any application exceeding this amount will be returned to the
applicant.
REVIEW PROCEDURES
Applications for a DERC grant will be evaluated by the NIH grant peer
review process. Applications will be reviewed initially by an ad hoc
review group convened by the NIDDK and subsequently by the National
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Advisory Council.
METHOD OF APPLYING
Applicants should request a copy of "Guidelines for Diabetes
Endocrinology Research Centers (DERCs)". These guidelines contain
important additional information on the format, content, and review of
applications and review criteria.
Letter of Intent:
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of
intent by January 10, 1992. The letter of intent may only include names
of the Principal Investigator/program director and principal
collaborators, descriptive title of the potential application, and
identification of the organization(s) involved. The letter of intent is
to be sent to the Chief, Review Branch, NIDDK at the address noted
below.
Format for Application:
Applications must be submitted on the form PHS 398 (rev. 10/88)
available at most institutional business offices and from the Division
of Research Grants, NIH, (301) 496-7441. On item 2 of the face page of
the application, applicants must enter: Diabetes Centers, RFA number
DK-91-11. The RFA label available in the current revision of
application form PHS 398 must be affixed to the bottom of the face page.
Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the
application to the extent that it may not reach the review committee in
time for review.
Application Procedures:
Applications must be received by February 11, 1992. The original and
four copies of the application must be sent or delivered to:
Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD 20892
Two additional copies of the application under separate cover must be
sent to:
Review Branch
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 406
Bethesda, MD 20892
Receipt, Review, and Start Dates:
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 10, 1992
Application Receipt Date: February 11, 1992
Initial Review: June - July 1992
Council Review: September - October 1992
Earliest Start Date: December 1, 1992
INQUIRIES
Inquiries and requests for guidelines should be directed to:
Dr. Sanford A. Garfield
Diabetes Centers Program Director
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 626
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7418
For fiscal and administrative matters, contact:
Linda Stecklin
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 639
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7467
These programs are described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.847 - Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases
Research. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health
Service Act, Title III, Section 301 (Public Law 78-4110, as amended: 42
USC 241) and administered under PHS Grants Policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order
12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
$$XID RFA DK9112 DK-91-12 P1O1 *****************************************
DIABETES RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTERS
RFA: DK-91-12
P.T. 04, 44; K.W. 0715075, 0710030, 0785035, 0403004
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 22, 1991
Application Receipt Date: December 20, 1991
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK) invites applications for Center grants. NIDDK anticipates the
competitive awarding of at least five Diabetes Research and Training
Center (DRTC) grants in Fiscal Year 1993.
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 priority areas. This Request for
Applications (RFA), Diabetes Research and Training Centers, is related
to the priority area of diabetes mellitus. Potential applicants may
obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No.
017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No.
017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).
BACKGROUND
At the present time, the NIDDK supports six DRTCs. These centers are
part of an integrated program of diabetes-related research support
within the NIDDK. Centers have provided a focus for increasing the
efficiency and collaborative effort among groups of successful
investigators at institutions with established comprehensive diabetes
research bases.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
The objective of the DRTCs is to bring together investigators from
relevant disciplines in a manner that will enhance and extend the
effectiveness of research and training being conducted in the field of
diabetes and its complications. It should be stressed that a DRTC,
although containing all of the elements present in a Diabetes
Endocrinology Research Center (DERC, see RFA DK-91-11), contains
substantial additional components described here. Diabetes Centers must
be an identifiable unit within a single university medical center or a
consortium of cooperating institutions, including an affiliated
university. The overall goal of the DRTC is to bring together, on a
cooperative basis, clinical and basic science investigators and those
involved in diabetes training and information transfer in a manner that
will enrich the effectiveness of diabetes research, training, and
information transfer. When fully developed, the DRTCs are expected to
encompass the following: (1) facilitating and strengthening basic and
clinical research related to diabetes and its complications; (2)
training health professionals about diabetes and its management; (3)
developing a model demonstration facility to contribute to the above
endeavors; and (4) transferring advances in the field of diabetes into
improved care for people with diabetes through activities that identify
and then overcome barriers to the application of new science to diabetes
management and treatment. All of these areas need not be developed to
the same degree. However, a strong base of biomedical research is the
most important function of a center. Accordingly, a program of
excellence in biomedical research in the area of diabetes and related
metabolic and endocrine disorders in the form of NIH-funded research
projects, program projects, or other peer-reviewed research must be in
existence at the time of submission of a Center application. Close
cooperation, communication, and collaboration among all involved
personnel of all professional disciplines are ultimate objectives.
Applicants should request a copy of the DRTC guidelines and consult with
NIDDK staff concerning plans for the development of the Center.
The DRTCs are based on the core concept. Cores are defined as shared
resources that enhance productivity or in other ways benefit a group of
investigators working in diabetes or diabetes-related areas to
accomplish the stated goals of the Center. Two other types of
activities may also be supported with center funding - a pilot and
feasibility program and an enrichment program. The pilot and
feasibility program provides modest support for new initiatives or
feasibility research studies for new investigators or for established
investigators in other research disciplines where their expertise may be
applied to diabetes research. These include biomedical, epidemiologic,
behavioral, and health care research as it pertains to the Center's
mandate for the training of primarily health care professionals. The
Center grant may also include limited funds for program enrichment such
as seminars, visiting scientists, consultants, and workshops.
Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research
Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources
may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting the proposed
research. In such a case, a letter of agreement from either the GCRC
program director or Principal Investigator must be included with the
application.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH
POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL
RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS
NIH and ADAMHA policy is that applicants for NIH/ADAMHA clinical
research grants and cooperative agreements will be required to include
minorities and women in study populations so that research findings can
be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or
condition under study; special emphasis should be placed on the need for
inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and
conditions which disproportionately affect them. This policy is
intended to apply to males and females of all ages. If women or
minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical
research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear
compelling rationale should be provided.
The composition of the proposed study population must be described in
terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and
racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in developing a research design
and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study.
This information should be included in the form PHS 398 in Section 2,
A-D of the Research Plan AND summarized in Section 2, E, Human Subjects.
Applicants/offerors are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of
including the broadest possible representation of minority groups.
However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in
all research projects to include representation of the full array of
United States racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., Native Americans
(including American Indians or Alaskan Natives), Asian/Pacific
Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics).
The rationale for studies on single minority population groups should be
provided.
For the purpose of this policy, clinical research includes human
biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention
(and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of diseases,
disorders or conditions, including but not limited to clinical trials.
The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply.
Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues cannot be
identified or linked to individuals are excluded. However, every effort
should be made to include human tissues from women and racial/ethnic
minorities when it is important to apply the results of the study
broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants.
If the required information is not contained within the application, the
application will be returned.
Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in
the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of
women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the
scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the selected
study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific
weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be reflected in
assigning the priority score to the application.
All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required to
address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or
cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies.
ELIGIBILITY
Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
NIDDK expects to award up to five DRTC grants in Fiscal Year 1993 on a
competitive basis. The receipt of five competitive continuation
applications is anticipated, and these will be in competition together
with other applications received in response to this announcement.
Awards will be for five years contingent upon the availability of
appropriated funds. Requests for support must not exceed $1,250,000 per
year in direct costs. Any application exceeding this amount will be
returned to the applicant.
REVIEW PROCEDURES
Applications for a DRTC grant will be evaluated in national competition
by the NIH grant peer review process. Applications will be reviewed
initially by an ad hoc review group convened by the NIDDK and
subsequently by the National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Advisory Council.
METHOD OF APPLYING
Applicants should request a copy of "Guidelines for Diabetes Research
and Training Centers (DRTCs)." These guidelines contain important
additional information on the format, content, and review of
applications and review criteria.
Letter of Intent:
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of
intent by November 22, 1991. The letter of intent may only include
names of the Principal Investigator/program director and principal
collaborators, descriptive title of the potential application, and
identification of the organization(s) involved. The letter of intent is
to be sent to the Chief, Review Branch, NIDDK at the address noted
below.
Format for Application:
Applications must be submitted on the form PHS 398 (rev. 10/88)
available at most institutional business offices and from the Division
of Research Grants, NIH, (301) 496-7441. On item 2 of the face page of
the application, applicants must enter: Diabetes Centers, RFA number
DK-91-12. The RFA label available in the current revision of
application form PHS 398 must be affixed to the bottom of the face page.
Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the
application to the extent that it may not reach the review committee in
time for review.
Application Procedures:
Applications must be received by December 20, 1991. The original and
four copies of the application must be sent or delivered to:
Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD 20892**
Two additional copies of the application under separate cover must be
sent to:
Review Branch
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 406
Bethesda, MD 20892
Receipt, Review, and Start Dates:
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 22, 1991
Application Receipt Date: December 20, 1991
Initial Review: June - July 1992
Council Review: September - October 1992
Earliest Start Date: December 1, 1992
INQUIRIES
Inquiries and requests for guidelines should be directed to:
Dr. Sanford A. Garfield
Diabetes Center Program Director
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 626
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7418
For fiscal and administrative matters, contact:
Linda Stecklin
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 639
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7467
These programs are described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.847 - Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases
Research. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health
Service Act, Title III, Section 301 (Public Law 78-4110, as amended: 42
USC 241) and administered under PHS Grants Policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order
12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
$$XID RFA DE9105 DE-91-05 P1O1 *****************************************
NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARD - INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING APPLICATIONS
RFA: DE-91-05
P.T. 44; K.W. 0715148, 0404000, 0785040, 0715008
National Institute of Dental Research
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: October 21, 1991
Application Receipt Date: November 20, 1991
PURPOSE
The National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) invites applications
from domestic, private or public, nonprofit institutions proposing
institutional training programs in basic and clinical sciences
pertaining to: (1) oral soft tissue diseases including oral cancer,
oral manifestations of AIDS, and oral herpes simplex virus (HSV)
infection; and (2) behavioral science research in dentistry.
Applications pertaining to other areas of oral health research are also
acceptable. Proposed training must be relevant to the goals of the
NIDR, as described in the NIDR Long-Range Research Plan for the
Nineties, "Broadening the Scope".
The primary objective of these training programs is to develop highly
qualified, clinical investigators by supporting postdoctoral training of
individuals with DDS, DMD, or equivalent clinical degrees, who are
committed to a career in oral health research. Applications may include
pre- and postdoctoral training for basic scientists and/or short-term
training for dental students in the proposed programs.
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 priority areas. This Request for
Applications (RFA) is related to the priority area of oral health.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full
Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary
Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325
(telephone 202-783-3238).
The NIDR expects to make five new and/or renewal institutional training
awards in response to this RFA.
This RFA is for a single competition with a receipt date of November 20,
1991.
LEVELS OF TRAINING AND TRAINEE ELIGIBILITY
Several studies and advisory panels have emphasized the importance of
graduate-level training leading to the Ph.D. degree in order prepare
dentists for productive careers in oral health research. However,
training in oral health research is also appropriate for pre- and
postdoctoral basic scientists and for dental students during their
professional education.
Applications will be accepted to provide training at one or more of the
following levels, given in priority order: (1) dentists pursuing a
Ph.D. or equivalent degree in basic science; (2) dentists pursuing
postdoctoral research training; (3) baccalaureate degree holders
pursuing a Ph.D. or equivalent degree; (4) Ph.D. degree holders pursuing
postdoctoral research training; (5) pre-dental degree students pursuing
a short-term research experience, usually during, but not limited to,
the summer months.
Preference must be given to individuals who have received, as of the
beginning of an appointment, a D.D.S., D.M.D., or equivalent dental
degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.
Certification by an authorized official of the degree-granting
institution that all degree requirements have been met is acceptable.
Predoctoral trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree as of the
beginning date of their appointment and must be enrolled in a graduate
program leading to the award of a Ph.D. or an equivalent degree in
biomedical or behavioral oral health research.
Trainees for short-term research experiences must be enrolled in a
program leading to a D.D.S. or equivalent degree.
Individuals who wish to interrupt their dental school studies for one or
more years to engage in full-time research training before completing
their professional degrees are eligible; however, prior approval by the
NIDR is required before an appointment can be offered.
Individuals with a Ph.D. or equivalent degree may be appointed to the
training grant. However, in general, they are expected to apply for a
National Research Service Award (NRSA), individual postdoctoral
fellowship award (F32).
Trainees must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States
or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in
possession of the Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551 or I-151) at the
time of appointment. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not
eligible.
RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF WOMEN AND MINORITY TRAINEES
Attention must be given to recruiting women and individuals from
minority groups that are underrepresented, nationally, in these
sciences. A plan must be included for the recruitment of these
individuals.
PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS
The training program must provide opportunities for individuals to carry
out supervised biomedical or behavioral oral health research and develop
research skills. Clinical programs must have strong relationships with
basic scientists that will ensure that the dentists have the opportunity
to acquire the necessary foundation for future independent research.
The training program director will be responsible for the selection and
appointment of trainees and for the overall direction of the program.
Applicants may request as many postdoctoral, predoctoral, or short-term
trainee positions as can be justified. However, five or more positions
for postdoctoral trainees over the five-year period must be proposed.
Acceptance of postdoctoral trainees must be limited to the first three
years of the five-year award, i.e., two trainees the first year, two the
second year, and one the third year. A similar pattern is to be
proposed by applicants requesting more than five positions. The number
and types of positions will be determined by peer review, program needs,
and the availability of funds.
Only one training award will be made to an institution unless the
training programs are in distinctly different areas of oral health
research.
PERIOD OF SUPPORT
Institutional training grant awards are made for five years and are
renewable. Trainees may receive up to five years of support at the
predoctoral level and three years of support at the postdoctoral level,
including any combination of support from institutional training awards
and individual fellowship awards. Extensions beyond these periods
require a waiver from the NIH. Dentists requiring additional time to
complete training as a participant in a Ph.D. program may anticipate
favorable consideration of a waiver request, contingent upon
certification of the recipient's good academic standing.
STIPENDS AND OTHER TRAINING COSTS
For predoctoral and the short-term trainees, at all levels of
experience, the stipend is $8,800 per year ($734 per month).
For postdoctoral trainees, the stipend is determined by the number of
years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment.
Relevant experience may include research (including industrial),
teaching, internship, residency, clinical practice, and other time spent
in a health-related field beyond that of the qualifying doctoral degree.
The postdoctoral stipends are as follows:
Years of Relevant Experience Stipend
0 $18,600
1 19,700
2 25,600
3 26,900
4 28,200
5 29,500
6 30,800
7 or more 32,300
Stipends may be supplemented by an institution from non-Federal funds.
Federal funds may be used for stipend supplementation only if
specifically authorized under the terms of the program from which the
supplemental funds are derived. An individual may make use of Federal
educational loan funds or V.A. benefits if permitted by those programs.
Under no circumstance may the condition of stipend supplementation
detract from or prolong the training.
The Tax Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-514, impacts on the tax
liability of all individuals supported under the NRSA program. Degree
trainees may exclude only required course tuition, fees, books,
supplies, and equipment. Non-degree trainees will be required to report
stipends and all monies paid on their behalf for tuition and fees.
These statutory requirements went into force as of January 1, 1987.
NIH is not in a position to advise students or institutions about their
tax liability. In any event, changes in the taxability of stipends in
no way alter the relationship between NRSA fellows, trainees, and
institutions. NRSA stipends are not now, and never have been, salaries.
Trainees supported under the NRSA are not in any employer-employee
relationship with NIH or the institution at which they are pursuing
research training.
Tuition and fees, including medical insurance, are allowable trainee
costs if such charges are required of all persons in a similar training
status at the institution, without regard to their source of support.
Tuition at the postdoctoral level, if justifiable, is limited to that
required for specific courses in support of the approved training
program. Annual increments in tuition costs beyond the first year of a
five-year award may not exceed six percent.
Trainee travel, including attendance at scientific meetings, that the
institution determines to be necessary to the individual's training, is
an allowable trainee cost.
Institutional costs of $1,500 per year per predoctoral trainee and
$2,500 per year per postdoctoral trainee and $125 per month per
short-term trainee may be requested to defray the cost of
training-related expenses, such as staff salaries, consultant costs,
equipment, research supplies, and staff travel.
Indirect costs based on 8 percent of total direct costs less tuition and
fees, or actual indirect costs, whichever is less, may be requested.
Applications from state and local government agencies may request full
indirect cost reimbursement.
PAYBACK PROVISIONS
Trainees, other than the short-term trainees, must sign an agreement
that they will fulfill the payback requirements. Trainees agree to
engage in biomedical or health-related behavioral research and/or
teaching for a period equal to the period of support in excess of 12
months.
Trainees must undertake the obligated service on a continuous basis
within two years after termination of support. Individuals who fail to
fulfill their obligation through service must pay back the total amount
of funds paid to the individual for the obligation period plus interest
at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Financial
payback must be completed within three years beginning on the date the
United States becomes entitled to recover such amount.
Under certain conditions, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may
extend the period for starting service or for repayment, permit breaks
in the period of service or repayment, or otherwise waive or suspend the
payback obligation of an individual.
Officials of the applicant organization responsible for recruitment of
trainees should familiarize themselves with the terms of the payback
service requirement and explain them carefully to prospective trainees
before an appointment to the training grant is offered.
REVIEW PROCESS AND CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by the
NIDR Special Grants Review Committee (SGRC), a standing NIH initial
review group. Site visits may be involved.
The following review criteria will be applied:
o The proposed research training and program design; core curriculum;
prescribed set of courses or seminars; the manner in which
individual guided research activities will be selected; procedures
for monitoring trainee progress; the existence of a true training
program, as contrasted with fellowship training for an individual
trainee; the combination of different levels of training; the
appropriateness of the proposed number of trainees; the unique
and/or innovative nature of the training program; resources and
facilities.
o The qualifications of the program director and participating
faculty including the roles of specific preceptors; their time
commitment; current research grant holdings, and pending research
grant activities; specific experience in graduate research
training.
o Training environment: evidence of a high level of ongoing
fundamental and clinical research activity; availability of
equipment, facilities, and clinical resources.
o Selection of trainees: plans for recruitment and criteria for the
selection of trainees, including minorities and women; how trainees
are assigned to preceptors.
o Provisions for protection of human subjects; efforts to include
women and minorities in study populations (see below); and
provisions for the ethical treatment of animals.
After review of the training grant application for scientific and
technical merit and assignment of a priority score, the SGRC will
comment on plans for attracting women and individuals from
underrepresented minority groups to the training program. In the case
of renewal applications, this will cover accomplishments in recruiting
women and individuals from underrepresented minority groups and in
training them for research positions.
o Past training record: for both new and renewal applications, the
past performance of the program director and preceptors in training
scientists; reviewers will look for accomplishments, or potential,
of the faculty in the training of scientists who will make major
contributions to dental research, as indicated by success in
obtaining individual research grant support, recognition for
outstanding scientific accomplishment, and involvement of former
trainees in academic, clinically oriented, and laboratory research
and their ongoing productivity. For renewal applications, the
record in filling trainee positions and the completion record of
trainees will be considered. Cumulative information on the career
development of all former trainees, including information about
their minority status, will be evaluated.
Secondary review will be by the National Advisory Dental Research
Council. Among the information the Council considers will be the report
of the SGRC on the plans for, and success in, recruitment of women and
individuals from underrepresented minority groups. The NIDR will notify
the applicant of the Council's action shortly after its meeting.
Funding decisions will be made based on the SGRC and Council
recommendation, the need for research personnel in specified program
areas, and the availability of funds. The earliest award date will be
July 1, 1992.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH
POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL
RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS
NIH policy is that applicants for NIH clinical research grants will be
required to include minorities and women in study populations so that
research findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the
disease, disorder or condition under study; special emphasis should be
placed on the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of
diseases, disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect them.
This policy is intended to apply to males and females of all ages. If
women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical
research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear
compelling rationale should be provided.
The composition of the proposed study population must be described in
terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and
racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in developing a research design
and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study.
This information should be included in the form PHS 398 in Section 2,
A-D of the Research Plan and summarized in Section 2, E, Human Subjects.
Applicants are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including
the broadest possible representation of minority groups. However, NIH
recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in all research
projects to include representation of the full array of United States
racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., Native Americans (including
American Indians or Alaskan Natives), Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks,
Hispanics).
The rationale for studies on single minority population groups must be
provided.
For the purpose of this policy, clinical research includes human
biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention
(and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of diseases,
disorders or conditions, including but not limited to clinical trials.
The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply.
Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues cannot be
identified or linked to individuals are excluded. However, every effort
must be made to include human tissues from women and racial/ethnic
minorities when it is important to apply the results of the study
broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants.
If the required information is not contained within the application, the
application will be returned.
Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in
the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of
women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the
scientific question(s) addressed and the justification for the selected
study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific
weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be reflected in
assigning the priority score to the application.
All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required to
address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants
that do not comply with these policies.
Copies of the NIDR Long-Range Research Plan for the Nineties,
"Broadening the Scope," are available by a written request to NIDR, P.O.
Box 54793, Washington, D.C. 20032
Training grants may not be used to support studies leading to a D.D.S.
or other similar professional degrees, or to support residencies, i.e.,
postgraduate training for dentists providing health care directly to
patients where the majority of their time is spent in non-research
clinical training. However, if a specified period of full-time research
training is creditable toward specialty board certification, the
training grant may support such research training if the trainee has
shown a clear interest in a research career. Since recently graduated
dentists usually have little or no prior research training, their
training must include a minimum of two years of basic research training.
All competing institutional training grant applications must include a
description of formal and informal activities related to instruction
about the responsible conduct of research to be incorporated into the
proposed research training program. No awards will be made to
applications lacking this component. This announcement was published in
the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 18, No. 45, December 22,
1989.
For additional information, including the grounds for approving
extensions of support and payback provisions, please refer to the
announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, entitled,
"National Research Service Awards - Guidelines for Individual Awards -
Institutional Grants," Special Edition, Volume 13 (1), dated January 6,
1984. These are available in the business or grants office of most
academic institutions and from:
Office of Grants Inquiries
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 449
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7441
REVIEW SCHEDULE
Applications will be processed according to the following schedule:
Application Initial Review Council Earliest
Receipt Date Group Meeting Meeting Award Date
November 20 Feb/March May/June July
1991 1992 1992 1992
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
It is recommended that prospective applicants contact program staff
early in the planning phase of application preparation. Such contact
may help ensure that applications are responsive to this RFA. It is
suggested that prospective applicants submit a letter of intent no later
than October 21, 1991, giving a descriptive title of the proposed
training; the name, address and telephone number of the Program
Director; and the names of key personnel and collaborating institutions.
A letter of intent is not binding nor is it a prerequisite for
acceptance of an application but it will assist staff in planning for
timely review of applications.
Applications must be prepared on grant application form PHS 398 (rev.
10/88). Application forms may be obtained from most institutional
business or grants office and from the Office of Grants Inquiries at the
above address. Applications received after November 20, 1991, and those
deemed nonresponsive to the RFA will be returned to the applicant. To
identify the application as a response to this RFA, check "yes" on item
2 of page 1 of the application and enter "RFA: DE-91-05, NRSA -
INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING APPLICATIONS." The RFA label available in
application form PHS 398 must be affixed to the bottom of the face page.
Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the
application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for
review.
An original and four copies of the application must be received by
November 20, 1991 at:
Grant Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD 20892-4500**
Two additional copies must be sent to:
H. George Hausch, Ph.D.
Chief, Scientific Review Branch
Extramural Program
National Institute of Dental Research
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 519
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7658
Inquiries concerning this RFA and letters of intent should be directed
to:
Thomas M. Valega, Ph.D.
Special Assistant for Manpower Development and Training
Extramural Program
National Institute of Dental Research
Westwood Building, Room 510
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-6324
For fiscal and administrative matters, contact:
Theresa Ringler
Grants Management Officer
National Institute of Dental Research
Westwood Building, Room 518
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7437
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
No. 93.122. National Research Service Awards are made under
authorization of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 288).
Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 66, is applicable to
this program.