Full Text HL-96-010 NHLBI MINORITY INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 18, June 7, 1996 RFA: HL-96-010 P.T. 44, FF Keywords: Biomedical Research Training Cardiovascular Diseases Pulmonary Diseases Blood Diseases Sleep Disorders National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: August 2, 1996 Application Receipt Date: August 23, 1996 PURPOSE The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) invites applications for the Minority Institutional Research Training program. The Minority Institutional Research Training Program is designed to offer research training grant awards in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic research, and sleep disorders, to minority schools and institutions to enable qualified graduate students, health professional students, and postdoctoral students to participate in research programs. It is expected to attract students in their developmental stages, increase their awareness of these diseases, and to acquaint them with career opportunities in research. The purpose of this program is to encourage the enhancement of research skills by individuals at minority educational institutions and to increase the number of minority individuals involved in research endeavors in the areas of interest to the NHLBI. 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. 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), NHLBI Minority Institutional Research Training Program, is related to the priority areas of heart disease and stroke, educational and community-based programs, maternal and infant health, and environmental 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 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by non-federal domestic, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, medical schools, and units of state and local government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as program directors. Applications will not be accepted from foreign institutions, with the exception of institutions located in United States possessions, such as Puerto Rico. A minority school 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, Alaska Natives, or Pacific Islanders, comprise a majority of the school's enrollment. The program director at the minority school will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees and the overall direction of the training program. The minority institution is expected to collaborate with a research center that has well-established cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic research and research training programs in order toprovide training in the program. The collaborating research center should be a university, medical school, or comparable institution that has strong, well-established research and research training programs in areas relevant to heart, lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders. Cooperation between institutions is needed to provide each trainee with a mentor at a research intensive institution who is recognized as an accomplished investigator in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic or sleep disorders research and who will assist the advisor at the minority institution in the trainee's development and research plan. Trainees must be training at (1) the post-baccalaureate level (i.e., predoctoral level) in a relevant biomedical or behavioral science and have made a strong commitment to completing a doctoral degree, (2) be enrolled in a minority health professional school, or (3) have a doctoral degree or equivalent in a biomedical or behavioral science (i.e. postdoctoral level). MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) grant (T32). Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed training 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, tuition, and fees. The anticipated award date is May 1, 1997. The Minority Institutional Research Training program may support predoctoral students, postdoctoral trainees, and short-term trainees in health professional schools. Stipend levels for predoctoral and short-term trainees are $10,008 per year and stipend levels for postdoctoral trainees range from $19,608 to $32,300 per year. Stipends may be supplemented from non-Federal sources. Training related expenses ($1,500 annually for predoctoral trainees and $2,500 annually for postdoctoral trainees), tuition and fees, and travel expenses ($800 per trip) may also be requested for trainees, although the levels may vary depending on the type of training to be supported. The trainees may be appointed to the training program for 9-12 months periods (for short-term trainees, the period of appointment may be of two to three months duration) at any time during the course of the year after acceptance as a full-time student. A strong interest in a cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or sleep disorders research career must be evident. Trainees are encouraged to be appointed to the training for at least two years, in order to obtain adequate training. FUNDS AVAILABLE The estimated funds (total costs) available for the first year of support for the entire program is expected to be $360,000 in fiscal year 1997. Three new awards for the Minority Institutional Research Training Program are anticipated. The actual amounts to be awarded may vary, depending on the response to the RFA and availability of funds. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 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 Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities. Even though these programs appear successful in meeting their specific objectives and career development goals, minority graduate students, health professional students, and postdoctoral students in minority schools need additional opportunities to develop biomedical and behavioral research skills and become productive investigators. This RFA is designed to offer research training opportunities for individuals at minority institutions and encourage their participation in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep disorders research. The Minority Institutional Research Training program is intended to: o Train graduate students, health professional students, and postdoctoral students at minority schools that have the potential to develop a meritorious program in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or sleep disorders research for research careers in areas relevant to these diseases. o Stimulate cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases, hematologic resources and sleep disorders research, prevention, control, and education by offering minority school graduate students, health professional students, and postdoctoral students the opportunity to enhance their research capabilities in these areas. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by August 2, 1996, a letter of intent that includes the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, 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 allows NIH staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. C. James Scheirer, at the address listed under APPLICATION PROCEDURES. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. Guidelines and supplemental instructions for the Minority Institutional Research Training program may be obtained from NHLBI staff listed under INQUIRIES. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) 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 Institutional Research Training Program) and number (HL-96-010) must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The completed original application and four legible copies, must be delivered 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) In addition one copy of the application must also be sent to: C. James Scheirer, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7220 - MSC 7924 Bethesda, MD 20892-7924 Telephone: (301) 435-0266 FAX: (301) 480-3541 Email: james_scheirer@nih.gov Applications must be received by August 23, 1996. 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 Applications will be assigned on the basis of established Public Health Service referral guidelines. All applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by a Special Emphasis Panel in the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. Following scientific-technical review, applications will receive a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. The following criteria will be considered when assessing the merit of a Minority Institutional Research Training program application. o Adequacy of faculty, facilities, and resources for the proposed research training, both at the minority institution and the established research center, including the expertise of preceptors as researchers who have successfully competed for research support; o Commitment of the relevant faculty and the two institutions to the goals of the training program; o Adequacy of the cooperative arrangements between the minority institution and the established research program; o Past research training record for the program director and designated preceptors in terms of the success of trainees pursuing research activities and procedures for evaluation of the impact of the program on the trainees involved; o Objectives, design, and direction of the research training program. o Acceptability of plan to provide instruction on the responsible conduct of research. 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. Direct inquiries regarding program guidelines, supplemental instructions, or programmatic issues to: Michael Commarato, Ph.D. Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Two Rockledge Centre 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 9204 - MSC 7940 Bethesda, MD 20892-7940 Telephone: (301) 435-0530 FAX: (301) 480-1454 Email: michael_commarato@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Jane Davis Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7174 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 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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