NIMH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN RESEARCH AND TRAINING (COR) HONORS HIGH SCHOOL
RESEARCH EDUCATION GRANT (R25)
Release Date: October 31, 2000 (see amendment NOT-MH-03-003)
PA NUMBER: PAR-01-009
National Institute of Mental Health
(http://www.nimh.nih.gov)
Application Receipt Date: May 10, Annually
PURPOSE
This revised program announcement (PA), with a once per year receipt date,
replaces PAR-95-046. It encourages applications for training activities
designed to stimulate interest among minority youth in research careers in
biomedical and behavioral sciences relevant to mental health. The National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) established this Career Opportunities in
Research (COR) Honors High School Research Education Grant program for honors
high school students in conjunction with colleges and universities with a
substantial minority enrollment. This program is specifically designed to
increase the participation of groups that are underrepresented in biomedical
and behavioral sciences, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native
Indians and Alaska Natives, and Asians/Pacific Islanders. The program is
intended to support activities that allow hands-on experiences in research or
science education and encourage high school students to make the choice of a
research career in a mental health-related field. This program provides an
opportunity for institutions funded for an NIMH Career Opportunities in
Research and Training (COR) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant
(T34) to offer mentoring and role modeling to up to 6 high school students
per year through interactions with both undergraduate college students who
are COR Undergraduate Honors Students and faculty of institutions that have
existing NIMH COR Honors Undergraduate Research Training grants.
This program announcement expires 3 years from the release date shown
directly above, unless reissued.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-
led national activity for setting priority areas. This program announcement,
NIMH COR Honors High School Research Training Grant (R25), is related to the
priority areas of mental health and mental disorders. Potential applicants
may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Institutions
Applicant institutions must have a currently funded NIMH Career Opportunities
in Research Education and Training Program - Honors Undergraduate Research
Training Grant (T34). Such institutions are baccalaureate granting, 4-year
domestic, public or private, non-profit colleges, universities, or health
professional schools with at least 50 percent minority students from one or
more of the ethnically defined groups noted above. Foreign organizations are
not eligible to apply. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons
with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators.
Students
Student participants must be outstanding high school students who are in
their junior or senior years and who have at least a 3.00 grade point average
(on a scale of 4.00 or comparable grading system).
Trainee candidates must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United
States, or have been admitted lawfully to the United States for permanent
residence and have in their possession an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-
155 or some other legal evidence of admission for permanent residence) at the
time of appointment to the training program.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
This PA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Education Projects
grant (R25) award mechanism. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and
execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The
total project period for an application submitted in response to this PA may
not exceed 5 years or the length of time remaining in the current project
period of the NIMH COR Honors Undergraduate Training Grant (T34), which is
described under a separate program announcement, PAR-01-008
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-01-008.html)
Funds Available
NIMH expects applications to request support ranging from $25,000-$35,000
direct costs annually supporting up to six high school students per year. In
no case will the NIMH fund more than $38,000 direct costs per year for this
program.
Allowable Costs
Student Support
Annual salary support will be provided for each high school student at a
level up to $2,000 for a full-time, 3-month educational experience. The
salary must be based on institutional guidelines for wages to students in
similar status. Support should be for a minimum of 3 months during any one
year that may include a mixture of full-time summer experience and part-time
experience during the school year. Students are expected to devote
sufficient effort to the research project and related activities during the
period of support to gain insight into the process of scientific discovery.
High school students are expected to devote at least 2 years to this program
(i.e., equivalent to two 3-month, full-time periods). Exceptions to the
latter will be considered, depending on the circumstances of the individual
applicant and the specific request. Research equipment may not be purchased
using grant funds for high school students' projects.
Additional funding for the following budget items may be requested. Each item
of cost must be directly related to the proposed research education program
and the application must include justification for each category
o Personnel
Limited salary and fringe benefit support may be requested for present and
additional faculty, to the extent that they reflect the actual time or effort
devoted to this specific program. Mentoring of students at the applicant
institution is considered as part of the role of faculty and therefore not
reimbursable from the grant.
o Consultants
Support may be requested to cover expenses such as seminar and colloquium
speakers, etc.
o Supplies
Support may be requested for necessary supplies, e.g., glassware, chemicals,
or animals for conducting student research. Other supplies may include
general office and instructional supplies needed to conduct the education and
research program that are not otherwise available at the grantee institution.
o Travel
Staff travel to off-campus training sites for purposes of consultation with
participating off-campus staff/preceptors and evaluation of student progress
is allowed.
o Other Expenses
The applicant may request other items necessary to the educational program,
such as computer time, reference materials not available in the library,
duplication costs, telephone, and costs related to publishing student
research papers, etc.
o Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs
The applicant may request actual (F&A) costs, or 8 percent of allowable
direct costs, whichever is less. This rate applies to both T34 (COR
Undergraduate Program) and R25 (High School Program) components.
RESEARCH TRAINING OBJECTIVES
The principal objective of the COR Honors High School Research Education
Grants program is to stimulate interest and motivation among high school
students from racial/ethnic minority groups to pursue research careers in
science disciplines related to mental health.
Applications must provide information on the following:
Institution Characteristics
o A brief overview of the applicant institution (i.e., when it was founded,
its status as a private or State-supported institution, and other pertinent
information)
o A description of the research infrastructure (i.e., facilities,
laboratories, participating departments, computer services, and any other
resources to be used in the conduct of the high school education program)
o Evidence of institutional commitment and support for the proposed program
o Where applicable, a description of plans for collaborating with nearby
institutions and laboratories for purposes of exchange, consolidation, and
sharing of resources, including faculty, equipment, and facilities (Letters
of agreement or memoranda indicating intended cooperation must be included
with the application.)
o Letters of agreement or memoranda indicating intended cooperation with
participating high schools
Description of the Research Education Program
o A plan for summer and year-round research experiences with COR faculty
and/or scientists conducting research at the COR-grantee institution for up
to 6 minority high school students who are juniors or seniors
o Evidence of involvement of a wide variety of research departments from the
biomedical and behavioral sciences, emphasizing mental health related science
o A plan for career counseling in science and research, mentorships, and
opportunities for high school students to interact with COR Honors
undergraduates and faculty
o A plan for facilitating the successful transition from high-school into
undergraduate schools and science programs relevant to research in mental
health
o A plan for recruitment and retention of students
o Evidence of support/cooperation from local high school administrators and
science teachers
o Evidence of undergraduate COR institution's commitment to the goals and
objectives of the high school training component (providing access to
facilities, libraries, laboratories, computers, equipment)
o Detailed budget justification for all project expenditures related to the
high school research education component
Program Director
o Evidence that the Program Director is actively engaged in research and/or
scholarship in an area related to mental health
o Evidence that the Program Director can organize and administer the
research education program
o Advisory Committee to the Program Director with a role in selecting and
supervising students, and in evaluating the research training program (This
committee should be representative of faculty and departments participating
in the program and be chaired by the Program Director.)
o The Program Director is responsible for serving as liaison between
participating high schools and the applicant institution, recruiting and
selecting high school students, and assigning each to an appropriate mentor.
Faculty/Preceptors
o Evidence that a high percentage of the participating faculty hold a Ph.D.
or other doctoral-level degree
o Evidence that participating faculty and preceptors are actively engaged in
research or other scholarly activities related to mental health
o Evidence that faculty and preceptors publish in research areas related to
mental health
o Evidence that sufficient time is committed by preceptors and faculty to
conduct a high-quality program (A staffing chart that details percent-of-time
allotted for each staff member is recommended.)
Students
o Evidence that students will be selected for their potential to continue
their education at higher levels and ultimately pursue careers successfully
in mental health-relevant sciences, including behavioral, biomedical,
epidemiological, neurosciences, prevention, treatment, and related fields
o Evidence that students will be selected for their expressed interests in
pursuing programs related to mental health
o Documentation of number of high schools and number of students eligible to
participate in high school program
Evaluation
o Describe an evaluation plan for determining success of the program in
achieving goals and objectives, including: (1) entry and completion dates for
each student; (2) departments of students' experiences; (3) summer
internships (locations and research areas); (4) colleges, universities, and
other institutions where students pursue post-high school studies; (5) areas
of students' career choices; (6) research accomplishments; and (7) awards.
o Describe a plan for tracking students after completion of COR high school
program and provisions for follow-up support and consultations for pursuing
mental health science careers, including assistance in locating financial
support.
o Provide statistics on numbers of students entering the college programs
and the areas of specialization.
For Competing Continuation Applicants Only
The following information about the previous research education grant period
must be provided for renewal applications:
o Number of high school students who participated in the research education
program
o Research activities of all students subsequent to the COR research
education program
o Present information of continued career development and employment of
former COR high school participants (i.e., whether in biomedical and
behavioral research areas related to goals of the program)
o Attrition rate of student participants
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and
their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and
behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and
compelling rationale and justification are provided indicating that inclusion
is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of
the research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993
(Section 492B of Public Law 103-43).
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
UPDATED "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on
August 2, 2000
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-048.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm. The
revisions relate to NIH defined Phase III clinical trials and require: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols to provide a description of plans
to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) all
investigators to report accrual, and to conduct and report analyses, as
appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by
the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.
This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for
receipt dates after October 1, 1998.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in
Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL
address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html
Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff
listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant
information concerning the policy.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev.
4/98) and will be accepted at one receipt date, May 10, annually. Application
kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and
may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information
Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910,
Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
The application form is also available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html.
The title and number of the program announcement must be typed on line 2 of
the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked.
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and 5 signed photocopies in one package to:
CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
Receipt and Review Schedule
Applications for the COR Honors High School Education Program are
submitted on the single receipt date of June 1 and reviewed on the
following schedule:
Receipt Initial Review Council Earliest
Date Group Meeting Meeting Start Date
May 10, Annually Oct/Nov Jan/Feb April 1
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral
guidelines. Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical
merit by an appropriate scientific review group convened by NIMH in
accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the
initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and
undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest
scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will
be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second-level review by
the National Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC).
Review Criteria
Applications will be assessed for:
Quality of Research Education Program for COR High School Students
o Scientific and educational merit of the proposed research training plans
o Quality of the applicant institution's training record and training
potential
o Strength of institution's commitment to the goals and objectives of
attracting talented minority high school youth to careers in mental health
science fields
o Comprehensiveness of the proposed plan to offer opportunities in a broad
range of disciplinary areas related to mental health, methods for fostering
interest, and feasibility of plans for short-term (summer) and long-term
(summer and part-time during school year) participation
o Adequacy and appropriateness of plans for recruitment, selection,
retention, mentoring/counseling and facilitating the successful transition
into undergraduate research training programs
o Appropriateness of educational program, including decision criteria for
pairing each student with only one mentor for the research experience, choice
of participating COR faculty for this component of the program, provisions
for student career counseling, and overall plan for supervising the students'
research and research experiences
o Appropriateness of timetable for completing planned activities for each
student
o Adequacy of design of proposed ancillary activities: science day
activities convened on campus or at high schools; visits to research
institutions or plans for adopt-a-high school programs (These elements should
emphasize ways in which the program extends beyond the participating students
and reaches a broader number of students.)
Methods of Selection, Monitoring, and Follow-up of Students
o Availability of student candidates of high potential
o Adequacy of plans for selecting students
o Methods for monitoring student progress, early identification and remedy
of student problems, and provision of support and supervision
o Provision of enrichment experiences, professional socialization, and
interaction beyond those in the local setting
o Knowledge of available post-high school training programs and a plan for
career advising and choice-assistance of students
o Adequacy of plans for tracking students after graduation and post-
graduation guidance related to entry into a college curriculum targeted
toward research and science education
Program Leadership
o Qualifications and experience of Program Director
o Relevant research experience of COR faculty and mentors
o Plans for effective program administration and coordination among faculty
and advisory committee by Program Director
Institutional Commitment and Resources
It is the intent of this program to foster interactions across disciplines
and departments within institutions. There should be evidence of
institutional commitment to the goals and objectives of the COR Honors High
School Research Education Grant program as it has an impact on students'
academic preparation, research education, and interactions with faculty and
undergraduate students, as evidenced by the following:
o Access to research facilities and related resources, including laboratory
space, computer time, equipment, and research samples for use by students
o Plans for linkages with collaborating institutions where necessary
o Plans for evaluating the effectiveness of the program
o Evidence of involvement of a wide variety of research areas in disciplines
such as biology, chemistry, psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and
behavioral sciences
Budget
o Appropriateness of budget in relation to scope of proposed educational
program
Program Evaluation
o Adequacy of plans for evaluating the COR High School Program on an annual
basis, including methods for assessing the extent to which the COR High
School Program increases recruitment, science education, and placement of
minority students in careers in mental health fields
INQUIRIES
Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions
from potential applicants is welcome.
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
Carolyn Strete, Ph.D.
Office for Special Populations
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8125, MSC 9659
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9659
Telephone: 301-443-2847
Fax: 301-443-8552
Email: cstrete@nih.gov
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
Diana S. Trunnell
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6115, MSC 9605
Bethesda, MD 20892-9605
Telephone: 301-443-2805
FAX: 301-443-6885
Email: Diana_Trunnell@nih.gov
AWARD CRITERIA
Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended
applications assigned to the Institute. The following will be considered in
making funding decisions: Quality of the proposed project as determined by
peer review; availability of funds; and, program priority.
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
93.242. Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service
Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42
USC 241) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations
42 CFR 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.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In
addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking
in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which
regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early
childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent
with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of
the American people.
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