Full Text HL-95-017

NHLBI MINORITY INSTITUTION FACULTY MENTORED RESEARCH SCIENTIST
DEVELOPMENT AWARD

NIH GUIDE, Volume 24, Number 2, June 16, 1995

RFA:  HL-95-017

P.T. 44, FF

Keywords: 
  Biomedical Research Training 
  Blood Diseases 
  Cardiovascular Diseases 
  Pulmonary Diseases 
  Sleep Disorders 


National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Application Receipt Date:  August 23, 1995

PURPOSE

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) invites grant
applications for the Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research
Scientist Development Award program.  The purpose of this program is
to encourage the enhancement of research skills by faculty members at
minority institutions in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary
and hematologic diseases and transfusion medicine and stimulate
cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic disease research,
prevention, control and education at minority institutions by
offering faculty members the opportunity to enhance their research
capabilities in these areas.

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 RFA,
NHLBI Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research Scientist
Development Award, is related to the priority areas of heart disease
and stroke, maternal and infant health, environmental health, and
educational and community-based programs.  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, for-profit and non-profit
organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges,
hospitals, laboratories, and units of state and local government.
Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with
disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators.
Applications from foreign institutions will not be accepted.  Awards
in this program will be made to a domestic minority institution on
behalf of a principal investigator.  A minority institution is
defined as a domestic medical or non-medical college, university, or
equivalent school in which students of minority ethnic groups,
including Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Asians, or Pacific
Islanders, comprise a majority of the institution's enrollment.
Candidates for this award are faculty members of minority
institutions 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.

Each candidate must propose a research development program that
includes intensive, full-time, training during the summer period (two
to three months) and part-time training during the academic year.  In
proposing a research development program, the candidate must identify
and complete arrangements with a nearby investigator (within
approximately 100 miles) who can act as a mentor for the research
development program.  The mentor must be an accomplished investigator
in the research area proposed in the application and will provide
guidance for the principal investigator's development and research
plan related to heart, lung, or blood disorders.  Plans for the
research development must be developed with the mentor.  The
commitment of the minority institution to the faculty candidate's
research and development must clearly be presented in the
application. This must include statement(s) from the Dean and
departmental chair indicating that the candidate will be provided
with sufficient release time from other duties to accomplish the
research goals stated in the application.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentored
Research Scientist Development Award grant (K01).  Responsibility for
the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed career
development program will be solely that of the applicant.  The total
project period for an application submitted in response to this RFA
may not exceed five years.  Funding beyond the first year of the
grant is contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding
year and the availability of funds.  Indirect costs will be awarded
based on eight percent of total direct costs exclusive of equipment.
The anticipated award date is May 1, 1996.

The awardee may receive salary support up to a maximum of $50,000 per
year plus fringe benefits for five years.  The actual amount
allowable for salary will be dependent upon the actual percent effort
committed to the project.  All funds must be used to support the
awardee.  Awardees must commit 100 percent effort during the summer
and/or off quarter periods and at least 25 percent effort during the
academic year.  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.  If funds are to be transferred
to the mentor's institution for any purpose, arrangements for the
transfer or conduct of activities should be formalized in a contract
or written agreement with the mentor's institution and submitted as
part of the application.  The award is non-renewable and may not be
transferred to another institution or another faculty member.  The
indirect cost rate on subcontract costs for the mentor's institution
may not exceed 8 percent of total costs.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The estimated funds (total costs) available for the first year of
support for the program are expected to be $250,000 in fiscal year
1996.  The actual amount may vary, depending on the response to the
RFA and availability of funds, but the anticipated number of awards
for the Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research Scientist
Development Award Program is three new awards.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

Many studies have emphasized the need for minority individuals to
participate in modern research activities to develop their
investigative talents.  Whereas approximately 12 percent of the U.S.
population is Black, less than 0.25 percent of individuals holding a
Ph.D. degree in biomedical science are Black.  There are existing
programs at the National Institutes of Health that are designed to
answer this need.  These include the Minority Biomedical Research
Support Program, the Minority Access to Research Careers Program, and
the Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities Program.
Even though these programs appear successful in meeting their
specific objectives and career development goals, students and
faculty at minority schools need additional opportunities to develop
biomedical and behavioral research skills and become productive
investigators.

While there is strong interest in the scientific community in
attracting minority students into research careers, few minority
students opt for science degrees and research careers, and few
minority graduates of health professional schools go on to
investigative careers.  The shortage of qualified minority
investigators in academic research positions may even exacerbate the
situation due to a lack of visible role models for students.  One
method of addressing this problem is by increasing the research
capabilities of minority faculty members and faculty members at
minority institutions, so that these individuals may serve as role
models for minority undergraduate and graduate students, and
stimulate students to become more cognizant of research opportunities
in cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic disease areas.

Other

The present RFA is designed to offer career development opportunities
for faculty at minority institutions.  The Minority Institution
Faculty Mentored Research Scientist Development Award is intended to:

o  Encourage the development of faculty investigators at minority
schools in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and
hematologic* diseases and transfusion medicine.

o  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.

* Within NHLBI, the term "hematologic" covers research on thrombosis
and hemostasis, immunohematology, blood cell disorders,
hematopoiesis, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, transfusion
medicine, blood resources including blood component and derivative
therapy, blood substitutes and blood resource management, aspects of
AIDS-products in AIDS prevention and treatment, and AIDS-related bone
marrow and hematologic disorders.  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.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN
SUBJECTS

It is the policy of 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 new 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 may obtain copies from these sources or from the
program staff or contact person listed below.  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. 9/91).  Application kits are available at most
institutional offices of sponsored research; 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 the program
administrator listed under INQUIRIES.

The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) application form
must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.
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 School
Faculty Development Award) and number (HL-95-017) must be typed on
line 2a 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 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 courier service)

One additional copy of the application must also be sent to:

Kathryn Ballard
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7924
Bethesda, MD  20892-7924
Telephone:  (301) 435-0288
FAX:  (301) 480-3541
Email:  kathryn_ballard@nih.gov

Applications must be received by August 23, 1995.  If an application
is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant
without review.  The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not
accept any application to this RFA that is essentially the same as
one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws
the pending application.  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

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG
and responsiveness by 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 the
Research Training Review Committee of the Division of Extramural
Affairs, NHLBI, in accordance with the review criteria stated below.

The following criteria will be considered when assessing the merit of
career development applications, including the Minority Institution
Faculty Mentored Research Scientist Development Award.

o  Candidate -- The candidate's overall competence as demonstrated by
academic record and performance, potential for a career in
independent research, and commitment or interest in pursuing an
academic research career.

o  Mentor(s) -- The mentor's accomplishments in the scientific
research area(s) proposed, experience and track record in training
investigators, and commitment for the duration of a candidate's
research development.

o  Environment -- The applicant institution's ability to provide
adequate facilities, resources, and opportunities necessary for the
candidate's training, and the institutional commitment to the
candidate.  The  quality of the research and research training
programs at the mentor's institution.

o  Acceptability of plan to provide instruction on the responsible
conduct of research.

o  Career Development Plan -- The adequacy of the research career
development plan, based on the detailed description of the
candidate's past research experience, training, and career goals.

o  Research Project -- Scientific merit of the proposed research
project and its appropriateness as a vehicle for developing the
candidate's research skills.

o  adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their
subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research.
Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be
evaluated.

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for funds with all other approved
applications assigned to the NHLBI.  The following will be considered
in making funding decisions:

o  Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review

o  Availability of funds

o  Program balance among the research areas of the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.  The opportunity to
clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.

Inquiries regarding program guidelines, supplemental instructions, or
programmatic issues may be directed to:

LeeAnn Jensen, Ph.D.
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7950
Bethesda, MD  20892-7950
Telephone:  (301) 435-0065
FAX:  (301) 480-1060
Email:  leeann_jensen@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Jane Davis
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7926
Bethesda, MD  20892-7926
Telephone:  (301) 435-0166
FAX:  (301) 480-3310
Email:  jane_davis@nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATION

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance numbers 93.837, 93.838, and 93.839.  Awards are made under
the authority 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
285) and administered under PHS grant policies and Federal
Regulations at 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 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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