NHLBI MINORITY INSTITUTION RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD (K01)
RELEASE DATE: March 6, 2002
RFA: HL-02-023
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
(http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/)
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: May 20, 2002
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: June 19, 2002
THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
o Purpose of this RFA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanism of Support
o Funds Available
o Eligibility Requirements
o Special Requirements
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
The NHLBI Minority Institution Research Scientist Development Award is a five-
year award made to a minority institution on behalf of a candidate with an
appropriate mentor (at the same institution or at a collaborating research
center) who is recognized as an accomplished investigator. It is open to
candidates having faculty appointments and holding a Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M.,
D.O., or equivalent professional degree who wish to develop research
capabilities in research areas relevant to the mission of the NHLBI. A
"hands-on" research experience is required for the candidate for the duration
of the award with 100% effort during summer and/or off quarter periods and at
least 25% effort during the academic year. The award also requires that at
least one and a maximum of two students participate on the project as research
assistants.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Important NHLBI program goals are to enhance the institution"s science
infrastructure, to provide "hands-on" research opportunities for
underrepresented minority students at the applicant institutions, and to
develop the research career and teaching skills of the candidate. By
developing these capabilities, the candidate will be better able to prepare
and direct his/her students to pursue advanced degrees and, ultimately careers
in biomedical and behavioral research, thereby increasing the pool of well-
trained biomedical and behavioral investigators in cardiovascular, pulmonary,
hematologic, and sleep disorders research. Because it is important to sustain
the candidate=s research program following the initial period, recipients may
reapply for an additional five years of support. One competing renewal award
is allowed. More than one candidate from each institution may apply. At the
end of the period of K01 support, it is anticipated that the awardee will be
prepared to apply for other types of NIH support such as the Research Project
Grant (R01), Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA, R15),
Exploratory/Development Grant (R21) or Minority Biomedical Research Support
Program (MBRS, S06.)
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
This RFA will use the NHLBI Minority Institution Research Scientist
Development Award (K01) mechanism of support. Responsibility for the
planning, direction, and execution of the proposed training project will be
solely that of the applicant. The total project period for an application
submitted in response to this RFA must be at least three but not more than
five years and the applicant may reapply for an additional five years of
support. The anticipated award date is April 1, 2003.
FUNDS AVAILABLE
The estimated funds (total costs) available for the first year of support for
the entire program is expected to be approximately $400,000 in Fiscal Year
2003 (October 1, 2002-September 30, 2003). The actual amount may vary,
depending on the response to the RFA and availability of funds. Three new
awards are anticipated.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
A. Minority School
The Institution must be a domestic college or university with student
enrollment drawn substantially from minority ethnic groups (including Blacks,
Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders). It must
have the ongoing staff and facilities required for the proposed program.
B. Research Scientist 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 by
the time of the award, 2) have a doctoral degree, such as the Ph.D., M.D.,
D.O., D.V.M., or an equivalent, in a biomedical or behavioral science, 3) wish
to receive specialized training in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or
sleep disorders research, 4) have the background and potential to benefit from
the training, and 5) are committed to providing research opportunities for
underrepresented minority students at their institution. The candidate is
responsible for tracking and reporting on the progress of the students for up
to five years after they complete their undergraduate education.
C. Mentor at Same or Collaborating Research Center
Each candidate must also identify and complete arrangements with a mentor (at
the same institution or at a collaborating research center) who is recognized
as an accomplished investigator in the proposed research area and who will
provide guidance for the candidate"s development and research plan.
Arrangements with mentors at institutions at a distance from the applicant
institution will be considered, but approaches for ensuring close and active
involvement of a distant mentor must be clearly outlined in the application.
Plans for intensive training of the candidate and his/her student(s) during
the summer period (2 - 3 months) and during the academic year should be
developed with the mentor. The establishment of a viable mentoring plan is
essential to the success of the candidate and the student.
The commitment of the mentor and the mentor"s department chair to both the
summer and academic year training periods must be documented in the
application. A mentoring plan that describes the candidate=s interaction with
the mentor and his/her staff, how it will enhance the candidate=s research
capabilities and teaching skills, and steps to assist the candidate and
student(s) advance their career goals must be delineated in the application.
The mentor must provide an annual evaluation of the candidate=s career
development. This evaluation is to be included as part of the annual progress
report if an award is made.
D. Student Research Assistants
Student research assistants are underrepresented minority students enrolled at
the applicant institution who: 1) are citizens of the United States,
noncitizen nationals, or permanent residents (i.e. in possession of a
currently valid alien registration receipt card) at the time of application,
2) have declared a major or concentration in a biomedical, mathematical,
computer, or behavioral science, 3) have an overall B grade average, 4) have
the potential and desire to pursue an advanced degree in the biomedical,
mathematical, computer, or behavioral sciences, and 5) wish to receive
research training in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic,
or sleep disorders research. At least one and a maximum of two students may
participate on the project simultaneously as research assistants. Students
are expected to participate in the program for a minimum of two years.
The candidate should identify and list in the application the student(s)
proposed for the first two-year period, provide a brief summary of their
interest in biomedical, mathematical, computer or behavioral science, and
describe any previous research or laboratory experience of the students. The
candidate should describe a mentoring plan stating how (s)he and the mentor
will foster student interest in graduate school in behavioral or biomedical
research and a career in scientific research in areas related to heart, lung,
blood, or sleep disorders.
For the purpose of this announcement, underrepresented minority students are
defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that
has been determined by the applicant institution to be underrepresented in
biomedical or behavioral research. Nationally, NHLBI considers Black,
Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander students to be
underrepresented.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Provisions Of The Award
Salary
The awardee (candidate at the minority institution) will receive salary
support up to a maximum of $75,000 per year plus fringe benefits for five
years. These funds must be used to support the awardee. The level of support
will be based upon the awardee"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 salary level will
be determined by the amount of effort devoted to this program. Awardees must
commit 100% effort during summer and/or off-quarter periods and at least 25%
of effort during the academic year. Supplementation of the awardee"s salary
from non-Federal sources is permissible. Supplementation of the awardee"s
salary from other Federal funds is not allowed unless explicitly authorized by
both the program from which funds are derived and the NHLBI. In no case may
other NIH funds be used to supplement the salary of the awardee.
In addition to salary support for the awardee, support for up to 5% of the
mentor"s salary plus fringe benefits during the summer experience may also be
requested. If funds are to be transferred to the mentor"s institution for the
mentor"s salary, arrangements for the transfer of funds and the conduct of
activities should be formalized in a subcontract agreement with the mentor"s
institution. The mentor"s salary should not be included in the research and
development costs.
A maximum of $8.50 per hour plus fringe benefits may be requested for the
student research assistant(s). Level of support and hours worked during the
academic year should reflect the institution=s policy for student work-study
programs. Students must commit 100% effort during the summer and off-quarter
periods and at least 25% effort during the academic year.
Research and Development Costs
Up to $36,000 per year beyond that requested for the awardee"s, mentor"s, and
student(s)" salaries will be provided for research support. Details regarding
the apportionment of these funds between the minority institution and the
mentor"s institution must be worked out with the mentor, agreed to by
representatives of both institutions, and included as part of the agreement
submitted as part of the application.
These research support funds may be used for:
o Personnel: support for technical personnel.
o Equipment: limited to specialized research equipment essential to the
proposed program. In accordance with PHS policy, title to such equipment will
vest with the grantee institution.
o Supplies: consumable supplies essential to the proposed program.
o Travel: essential to the proposed program.
o Other: publication costs, computer costs, or other costs necessary for the
research program.
Facilities and Administrative (F & A) Costs
F & A costs will be provided at a rate of 8% of the total direct costs of each
award, exclusive of equipment. The F & A cost rate on an agreement with the
mentor"s institution may not exceed 8%.
Concurrent Applications
NHLBI Minority Institution Research Scientist Development Award applications
may not be submitted or awarded concurrently with other NIH Career Development
Award applications, such as the Independent Scientist Award, Mentored Clinical
Scientist Development Award, Academic Award, Research Project Grant, or
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award.
Subsequent Applications for NIH Research Support
During the later years of the NHLBI Minority Institution Research Scientist
Development Award (K01), incumbents are encouraged to apply for independent
research support (e.g., R01, etc.). K01 recipients who are successful in
obtaining subsequent NIH research grant support may not receive salary support
from the research grant for the duration of the K01 award except under certain
circumstances and with prior NHLBI approval. After the conclusion or
termination of the K01 award, salary support should transfer to the research
grant. K01 recipients who apply for subsequent research grant support are
encouraged to include salary and all other research needs in the research
grant application for the period following completion of the K01.
Alternatively, recipients of research grant awards may terminate the K01 prior
to the start of the research grant.
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Candidates must describe
plans to receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research (RCR).
The Public Health Service policy on RCR
(http://ori.hhs.gov/policies/RCR_Policy.shtml#rcr) describes nine core
instructional areas that comprise RCR: data acquisition, management, sharing,
and ownership, mentor/trainee responsibilities, publication practices and
responsible authorship, peer review, collaborative science, human subjects,
research involving animals, research misconduct, and conflict of interest and
commitment. Plans for RCR training must describe the proposed subject matter,
format, frequency and duration of instruction. This description should
include an explicit statement that the candidate has taken or will take the
course, and when. No award will be made if an application lacks this
component. See the NIH website http://www.nih.gov/sigs/bioethics for resources
and information on this topic.
WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES
We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity to
answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three
areas: programmatic, review and financial or grants management issues:
o Direct your questions about programmatic issues to:
Joyce I. Creamer, M.B.A.
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources (responding for all NHLBI
programmatic Divisions)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7950
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7950
Telephone: (301) 435-0064
FAX: (301) 480-0867
Email: CreamerJ@nhlbi.nih.gov
o Direct your questions about review issues to:
Anne Clark, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Two Rockledge Center, Room 7178
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7924
Bethesda, MD 20892-7924
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express mail)
Telephone: (301) 435-0270
FAX: (301) 480-0730
Email: clarka@nhlbi.nih.gov
o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:
Kevin Keating
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7136, MSC 7926
Bethesda, MD 20892-7926
Telephone: (301) 435-0185
FAX: (301) 480-0422
Email: KeatingK@nhlbi.nih.gov
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes
the following information:
o A descriptive title of the proposed research
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel
o Participating institutions
o Number and title of this RFA
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not
enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it
contains allows NHLBI staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan
for the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. Anne Clark at the address listed
under WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES by May 20, 2002.
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). The PHS 398 is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive
format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267,
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001)
application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the
application. Type the RFA number on the label. 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. In addition, the RFA title
(NHLBI MINORITY INSTITUTION RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD) and number
(HL-02-023) must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form
and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also available at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten original of
the application and three 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)
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and all
five collated sets of the appendix material must be sent to Dr. Anne Clark at
the address listed under WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES.
APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by June 19, 2002. If
an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the
applicant without review.
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in
response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending
initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The
CSR 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.
PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and
responsiveness by the NHLBI. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications
will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.
Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for
scientific and technical merit by a Special Emphasis Panel in the Division of
Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, in accordance with the review criteria stated
below. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:
o Receive a written critique
o Undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the
highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under
review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score
o Receive a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Advisory Council.
REVIEW CRITERIA
The following criteria will be considered in the evaluation of the proposed
NHLBI Minority Institution Research Scientist Development Award program:
o Candidate -- The candidate"s overall qualification as demonstrated by
academic record and research performance, potential for a career as an
independent researcher, potential to mentor undergraduate and graduate
students, commitment toward pursuit of an academic research career and toward
the enhancement of the scientific program at the minority institution, and
commitment to the career development of minority students.
o Candidate"s Career Development Plan -- The quality of the research career
development plan, based on the candidate"s past research experience, training,
and career goals, as demonstrated by such things as relevance of the proposed
didactic training, structure of interaction with mentor, attendance at
scientific meetings, and participation in journal clubs and research seminars.
o Student"s Development Plan B The quality of the student career development
plan as demonstrated by such things as exposure to research opportunities to
attend/present at scientific meetings, interaction with mentor, and
participation in journal clubs and research seminars.
o Research Project -- Scientific merit of the proposed research project and
its appropriateness as a vehicle for developing the candidate"s and
student(s)" research skills.
o Keeping Students in Research Careers -- The candidate"s record and an
outline of future plans for involving students in research and guiding them to
science graduate programs and careers in academic, biomedical and behavioral
research, and plans for tracking students.
o Mentor(s) -- The mentor"s accomplishments in the scientific research area(s)
proposed, plans for mentoring the candidate and students, experience and
record in training investigators, and commitment for the duration of the
project. A curriculum vitae with relevant publications and a list of current
and pending research support must be included for all mentors. Mentors should
also include a list of current and past research trainees (not more than the
last 10 years) with information on their current positions.
o Environment -- The applicant institution"s ability to provide adequate
facilities, resources, and opportunities necessary for the candidate"s and
student(s)" training, and the institutional commitment to the candidate and
student(s). If the mentor(s)" institution is different from the applicant,
the quality and extent of interaction of the faculty in the basic and clinical
sciences, and the quality of the research and research training programs at
the mentor"s institution will be considered.
o Institutional Commitment -- The institution"s commitment to the development
of the candidate and student(s).
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
o Quality of the proposed training in responsible conduct of research.
ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, if your
research involves human subjects your application will also be reviewed with
respect to the following:
o PROTECTIONS: The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals,
or the environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the
project proposed in the application.
o INCLUSION: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all
racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the
scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of
subjects will also be evaluated. (See Inclusion Criteria included in the
section on Federal Citations, below)
o DATA SHARING: The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data.
o BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period
of support in relation to the proposed research and career development
activities.
RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: May 20, 2002
Application Receipt Date: June 19, 2002
Peer Review Date: October/November 2002
Council Review: February 2003
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2003
AWARD CRITERIA
Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:
o Scientific and career development merit (as determined by peer review)
o Availability of funds
o Programmatic priorities.
REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS
MONITORING PLAN AND DATA SAFETY AND MONITORING BOARD: Research components
involving Phase I and II clinical trials must include provisions for
assessment of patient eligibility and status, rigorous data management,
quality assurance, and auditing procedures. In addition, it is NIH policy
that all clinical trials require data and safety monitoring, with the method
and degree of monitoring being commensurate with the risks (NIH Policy for
Data Safety and Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12, 1998:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH: 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 clinical research projects unless a
clear and compelling justification is 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 clinical research should read the AMENDMENT "NIH
Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts on October 9, 2001 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-OD-02-001.html), a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are
available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm
. The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical
research, updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB
standards, clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical
trials consistent with the new PHS Form 398, and updated roles and
responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy
continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a)
all applications or proposals and/or protocols must 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) investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting
analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group
differences.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS:
The NIH maintains a policy 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 is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm.
REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS: NIH policy
requires education on the protection of human subject participants for all
investigators submitting NIH proposals for research involving human subjects.
You will find this policy announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: The
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to provide
public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a project that is
supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and
officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has the force and
effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed through FOIA. It is
important for applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment. NIH
has provided guidance at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this RFA in a public
archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include
information about this in the budget justification section of the application.
In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent
statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider
use of data collected under this award.
URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and proposals for
NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless
otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not
be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are
under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution
reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an
Internet site.
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 RFA is
related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain
a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance No. 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, and 93.839 and is not subject
to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or
Health Systems Agency review. Awards are made under authorization of Sections
301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284)
and administered under NIH grants policies described at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm and under Federal Regulations
42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free
workplace and discourage the 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.