Full Text DE-95-007

NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARD - INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING AWARDS

NIH GUIDE, Volume 24, Number 18, May 19, 1995

RFA:  DE-95-007

P.T. 44

Keywords: 
  Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl 
  Behavioral/Social Studies/Service 
  Oral Diseases 


National Institute of Dental Research

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  August 10, 1995
Application Receipt Date:  September 11, 1995

PURPOSE

The National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) invites new and
competing applications proposing National Research Service Award
(NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) programs in basic
biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences pertaining to oral
health research.  The primary objective is to develop highly
qualified, clinical investigators by supporting postdoctoral training
of individuals with a D.D.S., D.M.D., or equivalent degree, who are
committed to a career in oral health research.  The secondary
objective is training of pre- and post-Ph.D. biomedical and
behavioral scientists in oral health research.

Background

Several NIDR and NIH advisory groups and reports from the Institute
of Medicine and National Research Council, National Academy of
Sciences, have called attention to the need to expand the pool of
clinical investigators in order to take advantage of opportunities
for transfer of fundamental knowledge to improve oral health care of
the public.  For this purpose, the term clinical is defined as
research conducted with human subjects or on material of human origin
such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomenon, for which the
investigator directly interacts with human subjects in either an
outpatient or an inpatient setting.  It is often referred to as
patient-oriented or patient-related research.  It includes
characterization of normal and diseased human function, evaluation of
new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and devices, patient
compliance and disease prevention regimens, drug trials, assessment
of various health care practices by various population subgroups, and
epidemiological studies.

In order to address the need for clinical investigators, applications
must allocate not less than two postdoctoral positions to trainees
with a declared interest in receiving training to conduct clinical
research.  The remaining positions may be allocated to basic or
clinical research training, in the array of biomedical and behavioral
research areas pertaining to the NIDR's mission.

Programs must be relevant to the research goals of the NIDR
including: the causes, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment of dental caries, periodontal and soft tissue diseases,
oral cancer, oral manifestations of AIDS and HIV infection, and
craniofacial anomalies; orofacial pain; temporomandibular disorders;
structure and function of teeth, jaws, oral mucosa, bone, connective
tissue, and salivary glands; behavioral, social, economic, and
cultural factors related to oral diseases and disorders;
biomaterials; fluoride and nutrition; and research on older
Americans, gender differences, minorities, those with medical
problems and disabilities, and individuals and groups at high-risk
for oral health problems.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

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), NRSA - Institutional Training Awards, 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 Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1)
through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202/783-3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic, public, and private
institutions such as dental schools and dental research institutions.

Only one application may be submitted by an institution, unless the
proposed training programs are in distinctly different areas of oral
health research.

Levels of Training and Trainee Eligibility

Training is to be provided at one or more of the following levels:
(1) dentists pursuing postdoctoral clinical research training; (2)
dentists pursuing a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in basic biomedical or
behavioral science; (3) baccalaureate degree holders pursuing a Ph.D.
or equivalent degree; (4) Ph.D. degree holders pursuing postdoctoral
research training, although generally, they are expected to apply for
an individual postdoctoral NRSA fellowship (F32).

Preference must be given to post-doctoral trainees 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.  If the degree has not yet been conferred, a statement,
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 of the appointment and 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.

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, as well as by the institution, is required
before an appointment can be offered.

No short-term research training positions may be requested through
this RFA.  Instead, these types of positions may be supported through
NRSA Short-Term Institutional Training grants (T35).

Trainees must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United
States, or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and
possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551).
Noncitizen nationals, although not citizens of the United States, owe
permanent allegiance to the U.S.  They are generally born in lands
which are not states but are under U.S. sovereignty, jurisdiction, or
administration.  Individuals on temporary or student visas are not
eligible.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Awards resulting from this RFA will be the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants (T32).
Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the
proposed project will be solely that of the applicant.  The total
project period for each application submitted in response to this RFA
may not exceed five years.  Awards may be renewable upon submission
of a successful competing application, depending on programmatic
needs and the availability of funds.  The anticipated award date is
July 1, 1996.

Trainees may receive up to five years of NRSA 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.  It is expected that postdoctoral trainees with Ph.D.,
D.D.S., or equivalent degrees will engage in not less than two years
training.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

In response to this RFA, the NIDR expects to make up to three new or
competing continuation awards, each with two postdoctoral positions
in the first year.  The estimated total funding for the first year of
support is $240,000.  This level of support is dependent on the
receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific and
educational merit.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

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 to ensure that trainees will have
the opportunity to acquire the necessary foundation for 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 must request at least six postdoctoral positions over the
five-year period, with two appointments in each of the first, second,
and third years.  Applicants must allocate not less than two
postdoctoral positions to trainees interested in receiving training
to conduct the type of clinical research defined under Background.
Such appointments must be made in the first and second years of the
award.  The remaining positions may be allocated to basic or clinical
research trainees, in any of the research areas relevant to the
NIDR's mission.  Up to three predoctoral positions may be requested
for the five year period.  The number and types of positions awarded
will be determined by the initial review group's assessment of
scientific and educational merit, program needs, and the availability
of funds.

Training grants may not be used to support studies leading to a
D.D.S. or other similar professional degrees, or to support
residencies, or other training for dentists providing care 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,
the training must include a minimum of two years of basic or clinical
research training.

Applicants are reminded of the importance the NIDR places on
recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented minorities to
sponsored training and career development programs.  Where feasible,
women and minority mentors should be involved as role models.

Additional information regarding NRSA Institutional Research Training
Grants is given in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts (NIH
Guide), Vol. 23, No. 21, June 3, 1994.  Copies of the NIH Guide are
usually available in the office of sponsored research of most
academic institutions and from the Office of Grants Information,
Division of Research Grants, at the address below.

Stipends and Other Training Costs

For predoctoral trainees, at all levels of experience, the stipend is
$10,008 per year.

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; or 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                                  $19,608
     1                                   20,700
     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.  Other NIH funds may not be used to supplement stipends.
Non-NIH Federal funds may not be used for stipend supplementation
unless 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 Department of Veterans' Affairs
benefits when permitted by those programs.  Under no circumstance may
the condition of stipend supplementation detract from or prolong the
training.

Reimbursement of tuition and fees, including self-only medical
insurance, will be consistent with NIH policy.  They 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 increases in
tuition costs beyond the first year of a five-year award will not be
allowed.

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 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 - reimbursement of actual indirect costs at a rate up
to, but not exceeding, eight percent of the total direct costs,
exclusive of tuition, fees, and equipment, is allowed.

Payback Provisions

Postdoctoral trainees must complete and sign a Payback Agreement Form
(PHS 6031) to fulfill the NRSA payback requirement when they are
appointed initially to a research training grant.  Postdoctoral
trainees in the first twelve months of postdoctoral NRSA support
incur one month of obligation for each month of support.
Postdoctoral trainees in the thirteenth and subsequent months of NRSA
support are not required to sign the Payback Agreement Form and do
not incur a service payback obligation.  The thirteenth and
subsequent months of postdoctoral NRSA support are considered
acceptable payback service for prior postdoctoral support.
Individuals appointed to their initial NRSA postdoctoral period in a
project funded in response to this RFA and who continue under that
award for two years have fulfilled their obligation by the end of
their second year.  Service payback obligations also can be paid back
by conducting biomedical or health-related behavioral research or
teaching for more than 20 hours per week for a period equal to the
period of support, up to 12 months.

Postdoctoral NRSA recipients must begin to undertake any remaining
obligated service on a continuous basis within two years after
termination of NRSA support.  The period for undertaking payback
service may be delayed for such reasons as temporary disability,
completion of residency requirements, or completion of the
requirements for a graduate degree.  Requests for an extension must
be made in writing to the Division of Extramural Research, NIDR,
specifying the need for additional time and the length of the
required extension.  Recipients of NRSA support are responsible for
informing the Division of Extramural Research, NIDR, of changes in
status and address.

Individuals who fail to fulfill the 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 of 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.

For additional information, including the grounds for approving
extensions of support and payback provisions, refer to the
announcements in the NIH Guide, "National Research Service Awards -
Guidelines for Individual Awards - Institutional Grants," Special
Edition, Volume 13, No. 1, January 6, 1984, and "Modification of the
NRSA Service Payback Obligation," Volume 22, No. 27, July 30, 1993.

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 subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported
biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects,
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided
that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the
subjects or the purpose of the research.  This new policy results
from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law
103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies
concerning the inclusion of women in study populations, and
concerning the inclusion of minorities in study populations, which
have been in effect since 1990.  The new policy contains some
provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the
Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and reprinted
in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11,
March 18, 1994.

Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program
staff listed under INQUIRIES.  Program staff may also provide
additional relevant information concerning the policy.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by August 10, 1995, a
letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed
research training program, the name, address, and telephone number of
the program director, the identities of other key personnel and
participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in
response to which the application may be submitted.

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does
not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information
that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of
applications.  It allows NIDR staff to estimate the potential review
workload and to avoid conflicts of interest in the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. James A. Lipton at the
address listed under INQUIRIES.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants contact Dr.
Lipton early in the planning phase of application preparation.  This
will help ensure that applications are responsive to the RFA.

Applications are to be submitted on form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91).
Application forms are available at most institutional offices of
sponsored research and from the Office of Grants Information,
Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 6701
Rockledge Drive, Room 3032, MSC 7762, Bethesda, MD 20892-7762,
telephone 301/710-0267, and from Dr. Lipton at the address listed
under INQUIRIES.

Applicants must request six postdoctoral positions over the five-year
period, with two appointments in each of the first, second and third
years.  Applicants must allocate not less than two postdoctoral
positions to trainees interested in receiving training to conduct the
type of clinical research defined under Background.  Such
appointments must be made in the first and second years of the award.
The remaining positions may be allocated to basic or clinical
research trainees, in any of research areas relevant to the NIDR's
mission.  Three predoctoral positions may be requested for the five
year period.  No positions may be for short-term training.

A plan must be included for the recruitment of women and individuals
from minority groups that are nationally underrepresented in these
sciences.  No awards will be made to applications lacking this
component.  Where possible, women and minority preceptors should be
included, to serve as role models.

Cumulative information on the career development of all former
trainees, including information about their minority and gender
status must be included.

Applications must include a description of formal and or informal
activities related to instruction about the responsible conduct of
research to be incorporated into the proposed research training
program.  Information must be provided on the rationale, subject
matter, appropriateness, format, frequency, and duration of
instruction; and the amount and nature of faculty participation.
Progress reports in competing and non-competing continuation
applications must include the type of instruction, topics covered,
and other details, such as attendance by trainees and names of the
instructors.  No award will be made if an application lacks this
component.

Information regarding, "Modification of Existing Review Criteria for
NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants," is given in the NIH
Guide, Vol. 21, No. 11, March 20, 1992.

To identify the application as a response to this RFA, check "YES" on
item 2a on the face page of the application and enter "RFA:
DE-95-007, NRSA - Institutional Training Awards."  The RFA label
available in the 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.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including
the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in one package to:

DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application
also must be sent to:

H. George Hausch, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher Building, Room 4AN.44F
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-2372

This RFA is for a single competition.  Applications must be received
by September 11, 1995.  If an application is received after that date
or deemed non-responsive to the RFA, it will be returned to the
applicant without review.  The DRG will not accept any application
that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.  This does not
preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications
already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction
addressing the previous critique.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications will be reviewed for completeness and responsiveness to
the RFA by NIH staff.  Incomplete or nonresponsive applications will
be returned to the applicant without further consideration.
Remaining applications may be subjected to triage by the NIDR Special
Grants Review Committee, a standing NIH initial review group, to
determine their merit, relative to others received in response to the
RFA.  The NIDR will withdraw applications judged to be noncompetitive
and notify the applicant.  Applications judged to be competitive will
be evaluated further for scientific and educational merit by the
review committee.

The following review criteria will be applied:

o  Research training program objectives, design, and direction:
Management structure; core curriculum and available courses or
seminars; how guided research activities are selected and trainees
are assigned to preceptors; procedures for monitoring progress;
existence of a true training program, as contrasted with fellowship
training for an individual; appropriateness of the number of
trainees; unique and innovative aspects.

o  Program director, faculty and preceptors: Administrative and
scientific qualifications, roles, time commitment, ability to compete
for research support, and experience in graduate research training.

o  Training environment:  Institutional commitment; evidence of
ongoing fundamental and clinical research; availability of research
support, equipment, facilities, and clinical resources.

o  Selection of trainees:  Plans for recruitment and criteria for
selection of trainees, availability of high-quality candidates,
including minorities and women.

o  Past training record:  For new and renewal applications, potential
or performance in training scientists as indicated by former
trainees' success in obtaining research grant support, establishing
independent research careers, and involvement in clinical and basic
oral health research.

o  Recruitment and retention of women and minority trainees:  After
review of the application for scientific and educational merit and
assignment of a priority score, the Special Grants Review Committee
will comment on plans for recruiting women and underrepresented
minorities. For renewal applications, this will include
accomplishments in recruiting and retaining women and
underrepresented minorities and training them for research careers.

o  Responsible conduct of research:  The quality of scientific
integrity instruction.

The second level of review will be by the National Advisory Dental
Research Council (NADRC).  Among the information the NADRC considers
will be the report of the Special Grants Review Committee on the
plans for, and success in, recruitment and retention of women and
individuals from underrepresented minority groups.

The NIDR will notify the applicant of the NADRC's action shortly
after its meeting.

Schedule

Applications will be processed according to the following schedule:

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  August 10, 1995
Application Receipt Date:       September 11, 1995
Initial Review Group Meeting:   February 1996
Council Meeting:                June 1996
Earliest Award Date:            July 1, 1996

AWARD CRITERIA

Funding decisions will be based on the Special Grant Review
Committee's and NADRC's recommendations; the need for research
personnel in particular program areas, including the need to train
clinical investigators; and the availability of funds.  The earliest
award date is July 1, 1996.

The NIDR appreciates the value of complementary funding from other
public and private sources, including foundations and industrial
concerns, for activities that will complement and expand those
supported by the NIDR.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.
The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential
applicants is welcome.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

James A. Lipton, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher Building, Room 4AN-18J
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-2618 or 594-7710
FAX:  (301) 480-8318
Email:  liptonj@de45.nidr.nih.gov

Direct inquiries pertaining to fiscal matters to:

Mr. Martin Rubinstein
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher Building, Room 4AS-55
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-4800
FAX:  (301) 480-8303

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.121.  NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants
are made under the authority of Section 487 of the Public Health
Service (PHS) Act as amended (42 USC 288).  Title 42 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Part 66, is applicable to this program.  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 routing 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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