kristoff@GENBANK.BIO.NET (Dave Kristofferson) (05/26/90)
These were mailed separately from the NIH today as an addition to the 18 May 1990 issue of the Guide. D.K. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GUIDELINES MINORITY INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM PA: PA-90-13 P.T. 42, FF; K.W. 0720005, 0715040, 0715165, 0785070 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Application Receipt Date: August 22, 1990 I. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM The Minority Institutional Research Training Program is intended to: 1. Train graduate students, health professional students who will take a minimum of one year from his/her professional training, and postdoctoral students in minority schools that have the potential to develop a meritorious program in cardiovascular, pulmonary or hematologic research* for research careers in areas relevant to these diseases. 2. Stimulate cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic diseases and hematologic resources research, prevention, control and education by offering minority school graduate students, health professional students, and postdoctoral students the opportunity to enhance their research capabilities in these areas. II. BACKGROUND Many studies have emphasized the need for minority individuals to participate in modern research activities to develop their investigative talents. Programs exit at the National Institutes of Health that are designed to answer this need, such as the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, the Minority Access to Research Careers Program, and the Minority Hypertension Research Development Summer Program. Even though these programs are successful in meeting their specific objectives and career development goals, graduate students, health professional students, and postdoctoral students in minority schools need further opportunities to develop biomedical and behavioral research skills. The Minority Institutional Research Training Program is designed to offer research training grant awards in cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic research to minority schools to enable qualified graduate students, health professional students, and postdoctoral students to participate in research programs. It is expected to attract students in their developmental stages, increase their awareness of these diseases, and to acquaint them with career opportunities in research. III. ELIGIBILITY A. Minority School The Institution must be a medical or non-medical college, university or equivalent school in which students of underrepresented minority groups, including Blacks, Hispanics American Indians, and Asian or Pacific Islanders, comprise a majority or a significant proportion of the school enrollment. It must have the ongoing staff and facilities required for the proposed program. The program director at the minority school will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees and the overall direction of the training program. B. Trainees The individual to be trained must (1) be a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or have been admitted to the United States for permanent residence at the time of appointment for training; (2) have a baccalaureate degree and must be training at the post-baccalaureate level in a relevant biomedical or behavioral science and have made a strong commitment to completing a doctoral degree; (3) be enrolled in a minority health professional school; or (4) have a doctoral degree or equivalent in a biomedical or behavioral science. C. Research Center The minority institution must identify and collaborate with a research center (medical school or comparable institution) that has strong, well-established cardiovascular, pulmonary or hematologic research and research training programs. Cooperation between institutions is needed to provide each trainee with a mentor who is recognized as an accomplished investigator in cardiovascular, pulmonary or hematologic research and who will assist the advisor at the minority institution in the trainee's development and research plan. Plans for summer training as well as academic year training should be developed by the student and advisor at the trainee's home institution in collaboration with the mentor at the research center. It is expected that both advisor and mentor will guide the trainee through the initial training period and continue this interaction throughout the award. IV. IMPLEMENTATION Minority institutions will compete for research training grants of up to five years' duration. Funds will be provided on an annual basis to develop and maintain a stable research training experience for qualified students. Awards recommended for the continuation years will be made contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding year, upon the availability of funds, and the requisite level authorization for continued support of training activities. Successful applicants may compete for a second award of up to five years' duration upon completion of the initial grant period. The minority institution will identify and complete arrangements with an established cardiovascular, pulmonary or hematologic research center(s) before submitting an application. Graduate trainees appointed to the grant may receive support for up to five years. Postdoctoral trainees appointed to the grant may receive support for up to three years. He/she will have a faculty advisor at the minority institution and they will jointly select a faculty mentor at the research center. A written commitment to the training plan by potential faculty mentors at the research center, the department(s) involved and countersigned by an institutional official, must be part of the application. The students may spend not more than 50 percent time at the research training center over the course of the year including a period of intensive research training during the summer. Students will be expected to meet the degree requirements at their institution. V. PROVISIONS OF THE AWARD The trainees may be appointed for 9 - 12 months at any time during the course of the budget period after he/she has been accepted as a full-time student. A strong interest in a cardiovascular, pulmonary or hematologic research career must be evident. Funds may be requested for: A. Stipends - Current stipend level for graduate and health professional student trainees at all levels of experience is $708 per month. Current stipend levels for postdoctoral trainees range from $1,417 - $2,625 per month. B. Tuition, Fees, when necessary, and Medical Insurance (individual coverage), when regularly charged to all students regardless of their source of support, are allowable trainee costs. In addition, tuition and fees charged by the research center during the summer or off- quarter period are allowable. C. Trainee Travel Costs - The institution may request funds to cover the costs of trainee travel including attendance at scientific meetings which are necessary to the individual's training. Funds for commuting expenses that are clearly in excess of those incurred during the usual home to work travel of the trainee may also be requested. D. Training Related Expenses - Funds are provided to partially defray the cost of training such as staff salaries, equipment, research supplies, staff travel and other expenses. The current level of training related expenses is $1,500 per annum per full-time graduate student trainees or health professional student trainees, and $2,500 per annum for postdoctoral trainees. E. Indirect Costs - The Notice of Grant Award will provide indirect costs based on 8 percent of total direct costs (exclusive of tuition and fees, and expenditures for equipment whichever is less). Payback Agreement - A National Research Service Award Payback Agreement must be signed by each individual who is to receive a stipend through an institutional award. This form and the statement of appointment are submitted annually at the time of each appointment. These forms will be completed beginning with the initial period of support even though the first 12 months is excluded from the cumulative payback requirement. VI. REVIEW PROCEDURES All applications responding to this announcement will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by the Research Manpower Review Committee of the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, followed by a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. Review Criteria The factors to be considered in the evaluation of the proposed training program are: o Adequacy of faculty, facilities, and resources for the proposed research training, both at the minority institution and the research center; o Adequacy of the cooperative arrangements between the minority institution and the research program; o Commitment of the relevant faculty and the two institutions to the goals of the training program; o Procedures for evaluation of the impact of the program on the trainees involved. VII. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Submit applications on an Institutional National Research Service Award application Form PHS-398 (Rev. 10/88). This form is available at the applicant institution's office of sponsored research or may be obtained from the three program offices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, listed below. When submitting the application, identify the Minority Institutional Research Training Program PA-90-13 on line 2 of the application face page. Special instructions for preparing the application are included in these guidelines. Applications Send the completed application and four (4) signed exact photocopies by the announced receipt date to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** Two additional copies of the application should be sent to the Executive Secretary of the Research Manpower Review Committee listed above. Program Information Information regarding this program may be obtained from one of the following: John Fakunding, Ph.D. Chief, Research Training and Development Branch Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Federal Building, Room 3C04 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1724 Diane Aiken Division of Lung Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute Federal Building, Room 640A Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7668 Helena Mishoe, Ph.D. Division of Blood Diseases and Resources National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Federal Building, Room 504D Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-6931 * Within NHLBI, the term "hematologic diseases" covers research into many aspects of bone marrow function and disorders of the red cell, megakaryocyte, platelet, and coagulation system. Other Institutes of the NIH are responsible for research on disorders of white cells, including the leukemias and other blood malignancies, and basic immunology related to the lymphoid system. Therefore NHLBI cannot provide support for such studies. GUIDELINES MINORITY SCHOOL FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARD PA: PA-90-14 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0720005, 0715040, 0715165, 0785070 NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE Application Receipt Date: August 22, 1990 I. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM The Minority School Faculty Development Award is intended to: 1. Encourage the development of faculty investigators at minority schools in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic diseases*. 2. Stimulate cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic disease research, prevention, control and education by offering minority school faculty members the opportunity to enhance their research capabilities in these areas. II. BACKGROUND The proportion of biomedical investigators who are members of minority groups is strikingly lower than the percentage of minority U.S. citizens. While 12 percent of the population is Black, less than 0.25 percent of persons holding a Ph.D. in science are Black. The figures are even lower for Black Ph.Ds. in the biomedical sciences. Furthermore, the number of doctorates, both M.Ds. and Ph.Ds., in other ethnic minority groups (such as Native Americans or Hispanics) is proportionally lower than for Blacks. Vigorous recruitment is underway throughout the government, academic institutions, hospitals, research institutions and industry. One method of addressing this problem is by increasing capabilities of faculty members at minority schools. In so doing, the pool of biomedical and behavioral investigators in cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic research will be increased. Furthermore, their graduate and undergraduate students, most of whom will be minority individuals, will become more cognizant of research opportunities in cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic disease areas. This program is designed to offer research support in cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematologic diseases to minority school faculty members who have the interest and capabilities of doing modern, sophisticated research in these areas. Despite a recent decline in the death rate from coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one cause of death in the United States. Arteriosclerosis and hypertension account for almost one million deaths annually. An estimated 40 million Americans have diseases of the heart and blood vessels, resulting in a large burden of acute and chronic illness and disability. Heart and blood vessel diseases cost the economy more then $50 billion per year in wages, lost productivity and expenses for medical care. A wide range of opportunities for research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart and vascular diseases have been enumerated in the Tenth Report of the Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Volume 2, Heart and Vascular Diseases (NIH publication No. 84-2357). Diseases of the lung constitute a major national health problem. About one in every five persons has some chronic respiratory problem resulting in an annual estimated cost to the nation of over $29 billion. In the newborn, the most common cause of death is neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Neonatal RDS may be implicated in development of adult respiratory diseases as well. Of the adult respiratory diseases, emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the major causes of death. Fibrotic and immunologic lung diseases are major causes of lung problems in the young adult and may contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis represent particularly pressing health problems, affecting an estimated 17 million Americans. Moreover, the death rate and prevalence of these conditions have increased at an alarming rate over the past 15 years. As a disabling disease, emphysema is a leading cause of worker retirement on Social Security disability payments. Disorders of the blood, including congenital or acquired disorders or deficiencies, are critical contributors to health problems of mankind. As a consequence, they are major causes of death and disability in the United States. Disorders of the blood affect not only the blood itself, but the tissues and organs through which it flows. Recent research findings have revealed the widespread involvement of thrombosis in the pathology of numerous disorders, including the development of atherosclerosis and coronary thrombosis. Aggressive therapy for cancer has resulted in the increased susceptibility of patients to bleeding disorders and has increased the demand for blood products for therapeutic purposes. A significant segment of the population has inherited disorders, such as sickle cell disease, hemophilia, or Cooley's anemia, which require life-long hematologic attention and support. Other diseases may be acquired or represent temporary demands, such as replacement therapy as a result of surgical or accidental trauma. Research opportunities in blood resources and transfusion medicine range from basic to clinical. They cover such diverse topics as the development of new blood products, methods to improve and assure the stability and safety of these products, and ways to improve the benefits and safety of transfusion. III. ELIGIBILITY A. Minority School A minority school is defined as a medical or non-medical college, university or equivalent school where (1) students of minority ethnic groups including Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian or Pacific Islanders comprise a majority or significant proportion of the school enrollment and that has a commitment to the special encouragement of minority faculty, students and investigators and (2) few or no members of its faculty are actively engaged in biomedical research. The commitment of the institution to the faculty candidate's research and development must clearly be presented in the application including statement(s) from the sponsor and the department chairman. B. Faculty Development Award Candidate Candidates for this award are minority school faculty members who (1) are citizens of the United States, non-citizen nationals or permanent residents at the time of application; (2) have a doctoral degree or equivalent in a biomedical or behavioral science; (3) wish to receive specialized training in cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic research; and (4) have the background and potential to benefit from the training. Applicants may not apply for, or accept, other Public Health Service research grant support or its equivalent at the time of Minority School Faculty Development Award application, nor may they apply currently for any other type of academic award. However, they may apply for, and accept research grant support subsequent to award of the Minority School Faculty Development Award. C. Mentor at Research Center Each candidate must also identify and complete arrangements with a nearby mentor (within approximately 100 miles) who is recognized as an accomplished investigator in the research area proposed and who will provide guidance for the awardee's development and research plan. Plans for the intensive training during the summer period (2 - 3 months), as well as during the academic years, should be developed with the mentor. The commitment of the mentor and his/her institution to both the summer and academic year training period must be demonstrated in the application. A commitment from the mentor's department chairman must be included in the application. IV. IMPLEMENTATION The awards will be made to the minority institution in behalf of the awardee. Each award will have a duration of five years and is non-renewable. These awards may not be transferred to another institution. Funding beyond the first year of the grant is contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding year. The status of the minority school faculty development award program will be reviewed periodically from the date of the first award to determine whether the program should be continued. In addition, to assess the effectiveness of the program in fulfilling its objectives, the Institute intends to follow the progress of the recipient for a period of five years after completion of each grant to determine: (1) the investigator's professional affiliation(s), (2) his/her record of subsequent grant or contract support, (3) his/her record of scientific publications, and (4) the institution's research programs. V. PROVISIONS OF THE AWARD A. Salary The awardee will receive salary support up to a maximum of $40,000 plus fringe benefits per year for five years. All funds must be used to support the original awardee. Support will be based upon the candidate's actual salary and must be consistent with the established salary structure of the minority institution for persons of equivalent qualifications, experience and rank. The actual amount will be determined by the proportion of effort devoted to this program. Awardees must commit 100 percent of effort during summer and/or off-quarter periods and at least 25 percent of effort during the academic year. Support for up to 10 percent of the mentor's salary during the summer experience may also be requested. Details of how or if this will be needed must be agreed upon by the mentor's institution and included in the application. B. Research Support Up to $20,000 per year will be provided for research support. Details regarding the apportionment of these funds between the minority institution and the research center must be worked out with the mentor at the research center and agreed to by representatives of both institutions. A statement of agreement must be provided in the application. These research support funds may be used for: Equipment: Specialized research equipment essential to the proposed program; in accordance with PHS policy, title to such equipment will vest with the grantee institution. Supplies: Consumable supplies essential to the proposed program; Travel: domestic travel for the awardee that is essential to the proposed program; Tuition and fees: if essential to the awardee's individual research development program; and Other: personnel, publication costs, computer costs, or other costs necessary for the research program. Indirect costs will be provided for at a rate of 8 percent of the total direct costs of each award, exclusive of tuition, fees, and expenditures for equipment. VI. REVIEW PROCEDURES All applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by the Research Manpower Review Committee of the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, followed by a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. Review Criteria The factors to be considered in the evaluation of the proposed training program are: o the overall merit of the candidate's five-year plan for research and the development of research skills. o the background and potential of the proposed candidate for development into an independent biomedical investigator. o the candidate's commitment to a research career. o The ability of both the minority institution and the training center to provide facilities, resources and opportunities necessary for the candidate's research development. o the qualifications, ability and plans of the sponsor who will provide the candidate with the guidance necessary for career development in research. VII. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Submit applications on the regular research grant application Form PHS 398 (Rev. 10/88). This form is available at the applicant institution's office of sponsored research or may be obtained from the three program offices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, listed below. When submitting the application, identify the NHLBI Minority School Faculty Development Award PA-90-14 on line 2 of the application face page. Special instructions for preparing the application are included in these guidelines. Applications Send the completed application and four (4) signed exact photocopies by the announced receipt date to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** Two additional copies of the application should be sent to the Executive Secretary of the Research Manpower Review Committee listed above. Program Information Information regarding this program may be obtained from one of the following: John Fakunding, Ph.D. Chief, Research Training and Development Branch Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 3C04 Bethesda, Maryland 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1724 Joan Wolle, Ph.D. Division of Lung Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 640 Bethesda, Maryland 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7668 Helena Mishoe, Ph.D. Division of Blood Diseases and Resources National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 504D Bethesda, Maryland 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-6931 * Within NHLBI, the term "hematologic diseases" covers research into many aspects of bone marrow function and disorders of the red cell, megakaryocyte, platelet and coagulation system. Other Institutes of the NIH are responsible for research on disorders of white cells, including the leukemias and other blood malignancies, and basic immunology related to the lymphoid system. Therefore NHLBI cannot provide support for such studies.