Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for T32 Global Health Physician Scientist Postdoctoral Training Slots

Notice Number: NOT-AI-10-028

Key Dates
Release Date: July 9, 2010
Receipt Date: January 18, 2011
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2011

Issued by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), (http://www.niaid.nih.gov)

Purpose

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announces an administrative supplement program of up to $1,000,000 per year total in Fiscal Year 2011 to provide funds to NIAID-supported NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) awards for the additional appointment of postdoctoral clinical fellows engaged in global health-related research.

The purpose of these administrative supplements is to allow existing T32 Institutional Research Training Programs with an overall focus on infectious diseases and a global health research capability, including collaborations with foreign clinical research sites, to add 1- 2 clinical postdoctoral trainees over the remaining non-competitive segment of the parent award. The goal is to respond to and support the enthusiasm of clinical fellows eager to help solve global health problems in infectious diseases (including HIV). Additional research training will allow clinical fellows to gain international experience that will enhance their ability to function in foreign settings where many communicable diseases and associated health conditions are endemic. It will also provide research experience where other important infectious disease influences are prevalent, such as multiple co-morbidities, nutritional factors, cultural practices, and health care delivery challenges.

Background

Historically, the NIAID has always supported the largest global health research portfolio at the NIH and international research, training and capacity enhancement have been a priority for the NIAID for many years. More recently, the NIH Director, Dr. Francis Collins, has made the expansion of research to improve global health one of his five priorities http://www.nih.gov/about/director/02172010_earthsky_l.htm. In FY2009, NIAID obligated $414 million to support international research and related activities. NIAID maintains multiple global clinical research networks to conduct studies in nearly 100 countries. Many US based institutions with T32 NRSA Research Training Programs participate in these and other international research networks. While there have never been restrictions on applicants for Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships (F32) or NRSA Institutional Research Training Programs (T32) pursuing research training focused on global health, relatively few clinical fellows seek these awards as an initial experiences for a career in global health. More often, the first time clinicians consider such a commitment is later at the career development award eligibility stage. The NIAID seeks to encourage an earlier commitment to global health research careers by providing supplements to existing T32 Programs which have an infectious disease focus and international research capability, for timely appointments of clinical fellows who have recently completed their residency training and are interested in global health-related research training.

For the purpose of this NIAID initiative only, global health or international research is defined as clinical research focused on infectious diseases that occur at high incidence and/or prevalence primarily in developing countries; and/or that have a likelihood of becoming a global threat through the spread of a pathogen or vector to multiple countries.

Eligibility

The current announcement is for administrative supplements to ongoing NIAID T32 awards with at least 24 months remaining at the time of application. The postdoctoral slot(s) proposed in the supplement must be activated within the current non-competing project period. Appointments that are expected to extend across a competitive renewal segment are permitted, but appointees should be made aware of the possibility that support may be interrupted if the parent grant is not renewed or extended.

Only one administrative supplement will be considered for each eligible NIAID funded T32 Program. Preference will be given to Programs that include mentors with demonstrated experience in global health research.

IMPORTANT: The research proposed by the NIH grantee in the supplement application must be within the original scope of the NIH-supported training grant program. The funding mechanism being used to support this program, administrative supplements, can be used to cover cost increases that are associated with achieving certain new training objectives as long as they are within the original scope of the program. Any cost increases need to result from making modifications to the program in order to take advantage of opportunities that would increase the value of the program consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes.

Submitting an Administrative Supplement Request

To be considered for an administrative supplement, submit a request in writing directly to the NIAID, not to the Division of Receipt and Referral, Center for Scientific Review. The request must be signed by the authorized Business Official and describe the need for additional funding and the categorical costs.

Requests under this notice should use the PHS 398 forms (rev. 11/2007); available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html and include the following elements in the request packet. Font size restrictions apply as designated within the PHS398 (rev. 4/2006) instructions.)

1) Cover Letter - Citing this Notice (NOT-AI-10-028), a request for an Administrative Supplement, and the following information:

  • Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) name
  • Parent grant number and title
  • Amount of the requested supplement
  • Name and title of the institutional official, and
  • Phone, email, and address information for both the PD/PI and institutional official.

The cover letter must be signed by the authorized organizational representative/institutional official.

2) PHS 398 Form Page 1 (Face page) MS Word PDF

  • The title of the project (Box 1) should be the title of the parent award.
  • This Notice NOT-AI-10-028, Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for NIAID-supported NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) Awards should be cited in Box 2, and the yes box should be checked.
  • The Principal Investigator (PI) must be the same as the PI on the parent award. For Multiple PI parent awards, the Contact PI must be the PI listed on the supplement request, and the supplement cannot change the Multiple PI team.
  • The remaining items on the face page should be filled out in accordance with the PHS 398 application instructions.

3) PHS 398 Form page 2 MS Word PDF
Note: The project summary is that of the administrative supplement, not the parent grant.

4) A brief proposal describing the program, including:

a) Scope of the overall program and the anticipated contribution of the requested supplement (not to exceed five pages). Provide a brief description of the scope of the overall project on which the supplemental request is based. Include brief description of infectious disease focus and international research capacity inherent in the grantee institution and its linkages to specific international research and training sites.

b) Budget for the supplement with a justification that details the items requested, including Facilities and Administrative costs. See Budget and Funding Information below.

c) Biographical Sketch for all new and continuing key personnel (those who are additions on the supplemental project), particularly highlighting demonstrated global health research experience associated with potential mentors. MS Word PDF

d) Human Subjects/ Vertebrate Animal documentation (if applicable). Include a current Human Subjects/IRB or Vertebrate Animals/IACUC approval letter, if available. Otherwise, this will be required at the time of funding. All appropriate IRB and IACUC approvals must be in place prior to a supplement award being made.

e) PHS 398 Checklist Form MS Word PDF

Selection Factors

Administrative supplement requests will be reviewed administratively by NIAID Program and Grants Management Staff. Selection factors will include the following:

  • Relevance of the proposed activities to the parent grant
  • Adequate progress of the parent grant appropriate to the current stage of the program
  • Appropriate and well-described plan to accomplish the goals within the timeframe proposed
  • Expertise of the mentor and trainee team proposed to conduct and achieve the goals the supplemental appointment(s).

Budget and Funding Information

For FY 2011, up to $1,000,000 for 6-12 awards will be available for administrative supplements to existing T32 NRSA training awardss. Administrative supplements are limited to 2 postdoctoral NRSA stipends and associated allowable costs. Supplements may be requested for up to three years but may extend no longer than the parent grant. It is anticipated that supplemental funding appointments will begin in mid 2011. Research training experiences away from the parent organization at an international site will be supported by a travel allowance of up to $5,000 for each trainee.

How to Apply

This is a one-time announcement. If sufficient interest is generated, the NIAID will consider reissuing this funding opportunity. Upon the appropriation of sufficient funds, the NIAID anticipates reissuing this announcement. Applications must be received on or before January 18, 2011.

Do not send applications to the NIH Center for Scientific Review.

Submit one original, hard copy of the request packet (with original signatures of the authorized business official) to the NIAID listed below:

Ms. Shellie Wilburn
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Program, DEA, NIAID
6700B Rockledge Drive, Room 2233
Bethesda, MD 20892-7614 (for Express/Courier Delivery:20817)
EXPRESS/COURIER: Bethesda, MD -20817
Phone: (301); 594-9676 Fax: (301) 493-0597
Email: sw270q@nih.gov

In addition, applicants are encouraged to send an electronic copy of the submitted supplement request as an e-mail attachment in PDF format to the program and grants management contacts listed below under Inquiries.

Inquiries

Inquiries and discussion of plans for responding to this Notice are strongly encouraged.

Program Contact:

Katrin Eichelberg, PhD
Acting Special Assistant to the Director, DEA
Office of Special Populations and Research Training, NIAID
National Institutes of Health
6700B Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7616
EXPRESS/COURIER: Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (301) 496-0818 Fax: (301) 496-8729
Email: keichelberg@niaid.nih.gov

Grants Management Contact:

Ms. Shellie Wilburn
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Program, DEA, NIAID
6700B Rockledge Drive, Room 2233
Bethesda, MD 20892-7614 (for Express/Courier Delivery:20817)
EXPRESS/COURIER: Bethesda, MD -20817
Phone: (301); 594-9676 Fax: (301) 493-0597
Email: sw270q@nih.gov