NINR MENTORED RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD FOR MINORITY INVESTIGATORS

Release Date:  November 26, 2001

RFA:  RFA-NR-02-002

National Institute of Nursing Research
 (http://www.ninr.nih.gov)

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  March 29, 2002
Application Receipt Date:       April 25, 2002

PURPOSE

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) invites 
applications to support the research career development of 
doctorally prepared minority nurse investigators in tenure-
earning positions at Traditionally Minority Based Institutions 
(TMBIs) and at majority academic institutions in the biomedical 
and behavioral scientific mission areas of the NINR.  The 
purposes of this program initiative are to: (1) foster the 
development of independent investigators in nursing research on 
the faculties of TMBIs and majority academic institutions, (2) 
stimulate nursing research and nursing research training at these 
institutions, and (3) encourage the development of qualified 
minority nurse investigators in academic research settings who 
can become effective role models for minority students.

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 Request for Applications (RFA), Title of 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/.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

For purposes of this RFA, applications may be submitted on behalf 
of candidates by domestic TMBIs and majority academic 
institutions, public and private. Applications from foreign 
institutions will not be accepted.

Awards will be limited to citizens or non-citizen nationals of 
the United States or to individuals who have been lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of an Alien 
Registration Receipt Card) at the time of application.

Candidates must be from ethnic/racial groups determined by the 
applicant institution to be underrepresented in biomedical or 
behavioral nursing research.  Candidates for this award must be 
full-time nursing faculty members in tenure-earning positions at 
Traditionally Minority Based Institutions or majority academic 
institutions who:(1) have a research or health-professional 
doctorate (e.g., PhD or DNSc), or its equivalent, (2) have 
demonstrated the capacity or potential for productive independent 
research career, (3) have a Registered Nurse license, and (4) 
have secured the commitment of an appropriate research mentor 
actively involved in research relevant to the mission of NINR.

The candidate must identify an appropriate mentor or co-mentors 
with extensive research experience in the research area proposed 
in the application. The candidate must be willing to spend a 
minimum of 75 percent of full-time professional effort conducting 
research and career development activities for the period of the 
award. The remaining 25 percent time should be devoted to other 
research-related and/or teaching or clinical pursuits consistent 
with the objectives of the award.

Candidates who have served as principal investigators on PHS 
research grants or have been supported by a research career award 
in the past, are eligible to apply, provided the proposed 
research career development program is in a fundamentally new 
area of scientific endeavor for the candidate or there has been a 
significant hiatus in his/her research career because of family 
or other personal obligations.  Current principal investigators 
on PHS research grants are not eligible.

Applicants are encouraged to call the program director listed in 
the Inquiries section to discuss any aspects of this program that 
need clarification. 

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the National Institute of Nursing (NINR) 
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) mechanism.  
This mechanism is described in program announcement PA-00-019 
(NIH Guide, December 3, 1999). Although all general guidelines of 
PA-00-019 will apply, this RFA is written as a stand-alone 
document and contains provisions that are unique to this 
initiative.  Planning, direction, and execution of the proposed 
career development program are the responsibility of the 
candidate and his/her mentor on behalf of the applicant 
institution.  The total project period for grants awarded under 
this program may be up to three years.  These grants are not 
eligible for renewal.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The estimated funds available for the first year of support for 
the program are expected to be $360,000 in Fiscal Year 2002.  
NINR anticipates funding up to four awards in FY 2002. Salary 
support for each recipient will be for a maximum of $50,000 plus 
fringe benefits with a minimum of 75% effort committed.  Each 
year up to $20,000 may be requested for research development 
support. An applicant may request a project period of up to three 
(3) years. Although the financial plans of the NINR provide 
support for this program, awards pursuant to this RFA are 
contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a 
sufficient number of meritorious applications. At this time, it 
is not known if this RFA will be reissued.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

The striking underrepresentation of racial/ethnic minority groups 
in biomedical and behavioral research in the United States has 
been underscored in many studies.  There are existing programs at 
the NIH designed to improve this situation.  These include: the 
Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, the Minority Access 
to Research Careers (MARC) Program, the Individual Predoctoral 
Fellowship for Minority Students Program, and the Research 
Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities Program.  The NINR 
has been an active participant in these trans-NIH minority 
research training programs.

NINR has had a long-standing interest in increasing the number of 
minority investigators in nursing research.  Based on the 
recommendations from groups of minority health experts, NINR has 
developed a variety of outreach strategies that assist 
individuals at TMBIs and other majority institutions in obtaining 
support for research training, career development, and research 
funding from NINR. The NINR Mentored Research Scientist 
Development Award for Minority Investigators is one approach that 
NINR has taken to strengthen the participation of TMBIs, where 
there are few graduate schools of nursing, and majority academic 
institutions by addressing the needs of minority nurse 
investigators for additional research training with financial 
support.

NINR also recognizes that the paucity of qualified minority nurse 
investigators in academic research settings has created a 
shortage of role models for minority students.  This RFA seeks to 
address this problem by enhancing the research capabilities of 
minority nurse faculty members so these individuals may establish 
research laboratories and research programs in nursing at their 
institutions. In this fashion they will serve as role models for 
minority undergraduate and graduate students, stimulating them to 
consider research career opportunities in nursing research.

The purposes of the present RFA are to foster the development of 
independent investigators in nursing research on the faculties of 
TMBIs and majority academic institutions, to stimulate nursing 
research and nursing research training at these institutions, and 
to encourage the development of qualified minority nurse 
investigators in academic research settings who can become 
effective role models for minority students.  This is the fifth 
consecutive year NINR has issued this RFA.  The NIH Office of 
Research on Minority health (ORMH), now the National Center on 
Minority Health and Health Disparities has been a co-sponsor of 
this initiative.

Research Areas

The research career development plan must address a research area 
consistent with the NINR mission. Descriptions of relevant 
research areas may be found on the NINR website at 
http://www.ninr.nih.gov/ResearchAndFunding/DEA/OEP/AreasofscienceFile.htm. Minority nurse 
investigators are encouraged to develop their innovative research 
career development plans in areas relevant to underserved 
minority populations and in priority areas of NINR"s scientific 
research mission, particularly research on health disparities.  
Applicants are encouraged to review NINR"s Strategic Plan on 
Reducing Health Disparities located at: 
http://www.ninr.nih.gov/research/diversity/mission.html.

Environment

The applicant TMBI or majority academic institution must 
demonstrate in the application a firm commitment to the 
development of the candidate as a productive, independent 
investigator in nursing research and to the pursuit of the 
research career development plan described in the application. 
The candidate should describe a career development program that 
will maximize the use of relevant research and educational 
resources available in the TMBI or the majority academic 
institution and in the mentor"s institution.

Program

The award provides three consecutive 12-month appointments to 
pursue a mentored research experience and specialized study in 
nursing research that are tailored to the individual needs of the 
candidate.  At least 75 percent of the recipient"s full-time 
professional effort must be devoted to the program, and the 
remaining 25 percent devoted to other research-related and/or 
teaching or clinical pursuits consistent with the objectives of 
the award.  The program must consist of both a research plan and 
a research career development plan that will develop knowledge 
and research skills relevant to his or her career goals.

Mentor(s)

The candidate must receive appropriate mentoring throughout the 
three-year program. Where feasible, women and minority mentors 
should be involved as role models.  If the mentor (and/or a co-
mentor, if desired) is geographically distant from the candidate, 
detailed rationale must be provided to document the mentor-
candidate relationship and level of commitment for the successful 
implementation and completion of the proposed research and career 
development program.

Allowable Costs:

1.  Salary:  The NINR will provide salary for the recipient of 
this award up to a maximum of $50,000 plus fringe benefits per 
year.  The institution may supplement the NINR contribution up to 
a level that is consistent with the institution"s salary scale, 
however, supplementation may not be from Federal funds unless 
specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such 
funds are derived. In no case may PHS funds be used for salary 
supplementation.  Institutional supplementation of salary must 
not require extra duties or responsibilities that would interfere 
with the purpose and provisions of this research career 
development award.  Under expanded authorities, institutions may 
rebudget funds within the total costs awarded, but may not 
rebudget funds involving the salary component of the budget.

The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12-month 
staff appointment.  It must be consistent both with the 
established salary structure at the institution and with salaries 
actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other 
staff members of equivalent qualifications, rank, and 
responsibilities in the department concerned.  If full-time, 12-
month salaries are not currently paid to comparable staff 
members, the salary proposed must be appropriately related to the 
existing salary structure.

2.  Research Development Support: The NINR will provide up to 
$20,000 per year for the following expenses: (a) tuition, fees, 
and books related to career development, (b) research expenses, 
such as supplies, equipment, and technical personnel, (c) travel 
to research meetings or training, (d) statistical services 
including personnel, research and computer time. These funds must 
be expended solely for the support of the candidate"s research 
career development plan.

3.  Ancillary Personnel Support:  Salary for mentors, secretarial 
and administrative assistance, etc., is not allowed.

4.  Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs: F&A costs will be 
reimbursed at eight percent of modified total direct costs.

Evaluation

In carrying out its stewardship of human resource related 
programs, the NINR or NIH may request information essential to an 
assessment of the effectiveness of this program.  Accordingly, 
recipients are hereby notified that they may be contacted after 
the completion of this award for periodic updates on various 
aspects of their employment history, publications, support from 
research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional 
activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the 
impact of the program.

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 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

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.

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.  This policy announcement is 
found in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Announcement 
dated June 5, 2000, at the following website: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.

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.  Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may be 
compromised when they directly access an Internet site.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent 
that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, 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 a subsequent application, the 
information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the 
potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to the program contact listed 
in the INQUIRIES section by the letter of intent receipt date listed.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms 
(rev. 5/2001) available at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html must be 
used in applying for these grants. This version of the PHS 398 is 
available in an interactive, searchable format.  For further 
assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone 301/710-0267, Email: 
GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

The application must address the following issues:

Candidate

o  The candidate"s commitment to a nursing career in biomedical 
or behavioral research.
o  The candidate"s potential to develop into a successful 
independent nursing investigator.
o  The candidate"s immediate and long-term career objectives, and 
how the award will contribute to their attainment.
o  Letters of recommendation.  Three sealed letters of 
recommendation addressing the candidate"s potential for an 
independent nursing research career must be included as part of 
the application.

Career Development Plan

o  The career development plan, incorporating consideration of 
the candidate"s goals and prior experience.  It should describe a 
systematic plan to obtain any necessary basic biomedical or 
behavioral science background and research experience to launch 
or reinitiate an independent nursing research career.

o  The candidate must describe plans to receive instruction in 
the responsible conduct of research.  These plans must detail the 
proposed subject matter, format, frequency, and duration of 
instruction as well as the amount and nature of faculty 
participation.  No award will be made if an application lacks 
this component.  Additional information is available at: 
http://ori.hhs.gov/policies/RCR_Policy.shtml#rcr

Research Plan

The candidate must describe the research plan and the use of a 
basic or clinical approach to a biomedical or behavioral problem.  
The candidate must describe the research plan as outlined in form 
PHS 398, including sections on the Specific Aims, Background and 
Significance, Progress Report/Preliminary Studies, Research 
Design and Methods.

Mentor"s Statement

The application must include a biographical sketch and 
information on the mentor(s) including research qualifications 
and previous experience as a research supervisor.  The 
application must also include information that describes the 
nature and extent of supervision that will occur during the award 
period.  A letter of support from the mentor (and co-mentor, if 
appropriate) must be included in the application delineating the 
match with the candidate"s research and development plan and 
willingness to provide the necessary assistance.

Environment and Institutional Commitment

The sponsoring TMBI or majority academic institution must provide 
a statement of commitment to the candidate"s development into a 
productive, independent investigator in nursing research.  This 
statement must indicate that the candidate will be provided with 
sufficient release time from other duties to accomplish the 
research and career development goals stated in the application.

Budget

Individuals applying for the K01 award must comply with the JUST-
IN-TIME procedures announced in the NIH Guide on March 29, 1996 
and May 17, 1996.

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 and number 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.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, 
including the Checklist, 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 courier service)

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

John E. Richters, PhD
Office of Review
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Nursing Research
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN-12 - MSC 6300
Bethesda, MD  20892-6300
ATTN:  Minority Investigator MRSDA
Telephone:  (301) 594-5971
FAX:  (301) 480-8260

Applications must be received by the application receipt date 
listed in the heading of this RFA.  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.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

If the application is not responsive to the RFA, CSR staff may 
contact the applicant to determine whether to return the 
application to the applicant or submit it for review in 
competition with unsolicited applications at the next review cycle.

Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be 
evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate 
peer review group convened by the NINR in accordance with the 
review criteria stated below.  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 the 
applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority 
score, and receive a second level review by the National Advisory 
Council for Nursing Research.

Review Criteria

The following criteria will be applied:

Candidate

o  Commitment to an independent research career in nursing 
research,
o  Potential to develop (or evidence of the capacity to develop) 
as an independent nurse investigator, and 
o  Quality and breadth of prior scientific training and 
experience, including, where appropriate, the record of previous 
research support, publications, and other scholarly activities.

Career Development Plan

o  Likelihood that the plan will contribute substantially to the 
scientific development of the candidate and the achievement of 
research independence,
o  Appropriateness of the research plan to the career goals of 
the candidate, 
o  Appropriateness of the research plan to develop new nursing 
knowledge,
o  Consistency of the career development plan with the 
candidate"s prior research and academic experience and stated 
career goals,
o  Clarity of the goals and scope of the plan and the need for 
the proposed research experience, and
o  Quality of the proposed training in the responsible conduct of 
research.

Research Plan

A sound research plan that is consistent with the career 
development plan and the candidate"s level of research 
development must be provided:
o  Usefulness of the research plan as a vehicle for enhancing 
existing research skills as described in the career development 
plan,
o  Scientific and technical merit of the research question, 
design and methodology, judged in the context of the candidate"s 
previous training and experience,
o  Relevance of the proposed research to the candidate"s career 
objectives, and 
o  When human subjects are involved, adequacy of plans to include 
both genders and minorities and children and their subgroups as 
appropriate for the scientific goals of the research.  Plans for 
the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.

Mentor

o  Appropriateness of mentor"s(s") research qualifications in the 
specific areas of the application,
o  Quality and commitment of the mentor(s) to supervise and guide 
the candidate throughout the award period,
o  Previous experience in fostering the development of 
independent nurse investigators, and
o  History of research productivity and support.

Institutional Environment and Commitment

o  Applicant institution"s commitment to the scientific 
development of the candidate and assurances that the institution 
intends the candidate to be an integral part of its research 
program,
o  Adequacy of research facilities and training opportunities at 
the sponsoring institution,
o  Quality of environment for scientific and professional 
development, and
o  Applicant institution"s willingness to develop an appropriate 
balance  of research, teaching and administrative 
responsibilities for the candidate.

Budget

Justification of budget requests in relation to career 
development goals and research aims and plans.

Schedule

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:    March 29, 2002
Application Receipt Date:         April 25, 2002
Peer Review Date:                 June, 2002
Council Review:                   September, 2002
Earliest Anticipated Start Date:  September 30, 2002

AWARD CRITERIA

The NINR anticipates awarding up to four K01 grants in response 
to this RFA. The anticipated date of award is September 30, 2002.  
The following criteria will be considered in making funding 
decisions:

o  Responsiveness to the purpose of this request,
o  Quality of the proposed research career development program, 
as determined by peer review, and
o  Availability of funds.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.  The opportunity to 
clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is 
welcome. Consultation with NINR staff is strongly encouraged, 
especially during the planning phase of the application process, 
in order to ensure that the application is responsive to the 
scientific mission and the research training and career 
development goals of the NINR.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Yvonne Bryan, PhD, RN
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Nursing Research
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN-12 - MSC 6300
Bethesda, MD  20892-6300
Telephone:  (301) 594-6908
FAX:  (301) 480-8260
Email:  yvonne_bryan@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding review issues to:

John E. Richters, PhD
Office of Review
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Nursing Research
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN-12 - MSC 6300
Bethesda, MD  20892-6300
Telephone:  (301) 594-5971
FAX:  (301) 480-8260
Email:  jrichters@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Cindy McDermott
Office of Grants and Contracts Management
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of  Nursing Research
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN-12 - MSC 6300
Bethesda, MD  20892-6300
Telephone:  (301) 594-6869
FAX:  (301) 480-8260
Email:  cindy_mcdermott@nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATION

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance No. 93.361.  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 
and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.  
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 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.

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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