RFA-NR-99-002: NINR CAREER TRANSITION AWARD

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NINR CAREER TRANSITION AWARD Release Date: November 6, 1998 RFA: NR-99-002 P.T. National Institute of Nursing Research Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 15, 1999 Application Receipt Date: May 14, 1999 PURPOSE The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) invites applications for a program whose overall goals are to support outstanding individuals to obtain a research training experience at the NIH in the intramural research laboratories and to facilitate their successful transition to an extramural environment as independent researchers. The NINR Career Transition Award will provide up to three years of support for research training in an NINR or NIH intramural clinical or basic laboratory followed by up to two years of support for an independent program of research in an extramural institution. It is anticipated that recipients of the NINR Career Transition Award will continue their program of research with a research project grant (R01) after completion of the NINR Career Transition Award. 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), NINR Career Transition Award, is related to the priority area of human resource development. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" at http://www.crisny.org/health/us/health7.html. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Individuals with a doctoral degree or its equivalent, who have demonstrated the potential for a highly productive research career are eligible to apply. During the intramural phase of the award, the candidate is expected to devote 100% full-time effort on research. During the extramural phase, the candidate must spend a minimum of 75 percent of full-time professional effort conducting research and engaging in research career development activities for the two years of the award. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or noncitizen nationals, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Card (I-151 or I-552) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent U.S. resident at the time of the award. Non-citizen nationals, although not U.S. citizens, owe permanent allegiance to the U.S. They are usually born in lands that are not states, but are under U.S. sovereignty, jurisdiction, or administration. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. To progress to the extramural support phase, the candidate must have a formal tenure-track (or equivalent) offer from an extramural institution. Current principal investigators on PHS research grants are not eligible. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Awards in response to this RFA will use the NIH Career Transition Award (K22) mechanism. Planning, direction, and execution of the candidate"s individual proposed program of research will be the responsibility of the candidate. The total period of combined support is up to five years (up to three years intramural, up to two years extramural). There is no grant award associated with the intramural phase. Awards are not renewable. Total cost for the intramural phase is based on the candidate"s experience and research expenses, not to exceed $125,000, those for the extramural phase cannot exceed $125,000 plus fringe benefits per year in direct costs. The final two years of the scholar"s research program will be supported by the extramural institution to which the scholar is recruited and will be funded through an extramural, non- competing, NINR Career Transition Award (K22) mechanism. FUNDS AVAILABLE It is anticipated that applications for the NINR Career Transition Award will be solicited annually through the re-issuance of this RFA. NINR anticipates funding up to three awards in FY 1999 and has set-aside up to $375,000 annually for stipend and research expenses. The funding level will be dependent upon the number of meritorious applications received, funds available, and the particular resource needs for the proposed project. The earliest feasible start date for the initial awards will be Fall 1999. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Intramural scientists and facilities at the NINR/NIH provide a research environment for the training of promising new scientists who will subsequently enter the extramural biomedical research community and have the potential to become leaders in their fields of investigation. The goal of the NINR Career Transition Award program is to provide highly qualified developing investigators with an opportunity to receive intensive research training in the NINR Division of Intramural Research or in another NIH intramural research laboratory. It also provides them with transition funding to facilitate the initiation of their program of research at extramural institutions. The NINR Career Transition Award will consist of two phases: an intramural phase and an extramural phase. The total period of combined intramural and extramural support will be up to five years. Initially, up to three years of the research training program will be provided in the Intramural Support Phase in which the salary of the scholar will be commensurate with his/her level of experience. The final two years of the program, the Extramural Support Phase, will provide salary and funds for supplies, equipment and technical support thorough the NIH Career Transition Award. Transition from the intramural phase of support to the extramural phase will be based upon the success of the scholar"s research program as determined by a formal scientific progress review. This review will take place no later than the end of the second year of the Intramural Support Phase, and will include the evaluation of a research plan to be carried out at the extramural institution. Scholars approved to proceed with the extramural phase of support will receive notification of approval in writing from the NINR. The Dean of the extramural institution must demonstrate a commitment to the candidate by providing protected research time from the infrastructure space needed to perform the proposed research. Matching funds from the institution for the equipment and supplies (and if necessary, salary) are encouraged. INTRAMURAL RESEARCH AT THE NIH The NINR intramural research program is undergoing expansion and currently consists of one laboratory located on the Bethesda campus. The focus of the Wound Healing Laboratory at NINR is to discover the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying delayed wound healing in chronic wounds such as leg ulcers and pressure sores. However, a number of other NIH intramural research opportunities are available at other NIH institutes, such as the National Institute of Aging, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Human Genome Research Institute. For example, at the National Institute of Aging, research opportunities are possible in conjunction with the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging or with other on-going studies. At the National Cancer Institute opportunities are available with the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. At the National Human Genome Research Institute there are both laboratory and clinical opportunities. The candidate should describe how the intramural experience will enhance his/her research career and identify specific research training objectives. It is highly suggested that potential candidates receive guidance regarding research opportunities with NINR and with other NIH institute intramural research programs by contacting Dr. Annette Wysocki, Scientific Director, NINR. A more complete description of the NINR Intramural Research Program may be obtained from: http://www.ninr.nih.gov/woundlab.htm or by contacting: Annette B. Wysocki, PhD, RNC Scientific Director National Institute of Nursing Research Building 9, Room 1W125, MSC 0967 Bethesda, MD 20892-0967 TELEPHONE: (301) 402-3583 FAX: (301) 435-3435 Email: annette_wysocki@nih.gov ALLOWABLE COSTS Intramural Support Phase: The budget for the Intramural Support Phase includes the scholar"s salary and research expenses determined by the Scientific Director. The salary must be commensurate with the level of training and experience specified in the Federal pay schedule and will be negotiated with NINR at the time of an award. Extramural Support Phase: 1. Salary: The NIH will provide up to $50,000 in salary plus fringe benefits to the NINR Career Transition Award recipient. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12-month faculty or staff appointment. It must be consistent with the established salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other faculty or staff members of equivalent qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. There should be no less than 75 percent effort devoted by the scholar specifically to the proposed program of research. The institution may supplement the NIH 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 of the Career Transition Award. Under expanded authorities, however, institutions may rebudget funds within the total costs awarded to cover salaries consistent with the institution"s salary scale. 2. Research Support: The NINR will provide up to $75,000 per year for (a) research expenses, such as supplies, equipment, consultants, patient care costs, and technical personnel, (b) travel to research meetings or training, and statistical service, including personnel and computer time. 3. Ancillary Personnel Support: Salary for secretarial and administrative assistance, etc., is not allowed. 4. Indirect costs: Indirect costs will be reimbursed at eight percent of modified total direct costs, or the actual indirect cost rate, whichever is less. Special Restrictions: Acceptance into the NINR Career Transition Award program does not convey any commitment or intent of the NINR to consider the scholar for a tenure track position within the NINR. The NINR Career Transition Award is specifically intended to help develop scientists who will pursue their career in the extramural scientific research community. However, the NINR Career Transition Award scholars are not explicitly precluded from applying for available tenure track positions at the NIH. If a scholar obtains a NIH position, the NINR Career Transition Award will be terminated. 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 policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which was published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 11, March 18, 1994, available on the web at: http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/1994/94.03.18/notice-nih-guideline008.html. 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: http://www.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. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by March 15, 1999, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed program of research, the name, address, telephone and FAX number, and e-mail address of the applicant, 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, it allows NINR staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest in the review. An e-mail or FAX letter of intent is acceptable. The letter of intent is to be sent by March 15 to: Dr. Mary Stephens-Frazier Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Nursing Research 45 Center Drive, Room 3AN12 - MSC 6300 Bethesda, MD 20892-6300 Telephone: (301) 594-6906 FAX: (301) 480-8260 Email: ms471e@nih.gov APPLICATION PROCEDURES Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Annette Wysocki, at the address listed under INQUIRIES, prior to application submission. Applications are to be submitted using form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted on or before the receipt deadline of May 14, 1999. These forms are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892 (telephone: 301/710-0267, E-mail: GrantsInfo@nih.gov). The application must address the following issues: Candidate o Establish the candidate"s commitment to a career in biomedical or behavioral research. o Establish the candidate"s potential to develop and pursue a successful program of research as an independent investigator. o Establish the candidate"s ability to work with other scientists in an interactive research environment. o Summarize the candidate"s immediate and long-term career objectives, explaining how the award will contribute to their attainment. o Letters of recommendation. Three sealed letters of recommendation addressing the candidate"s potential for a research career must be included as part of the application. One should be from a thesis advisor or mentor, if the candidate is in a postdoctoral research setting. These letters should address the candidate qualifications as already outlined. Research Plan o Describe the research plan, including the scientific objectives and specific aims, and the use of a basic or clinical approach to a scientific research problem sufficient to justify two years of support in the extramural phase, i.e., what are the research goals and potential avenues of research that will be undertaken based upon the intramural research training. 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. Budget o Do NOT provide any dollar figures in the application. The final budget will be negotiated when a selected applicant accepts a position and will be within the allowable costs specified above. o For candidates who receive approval for transition to extramural support, a budget will be submitted as part of the form PHS 2590 noncompeting application as discussed below in Extramural Support Phase. Career Development Plan o Applicant"s should describe the career development plan, incorporating consideration of the candidate"s goals and prior experience. It should describe a systematic plan to obtain the necessary scientific background and research experience to launch an independent research career (including the need for any courses, research techniques or methods, etc.). The initial application for the NINR Career Transition Award program will NOT be processed through your current institution, therefore, follow the supplemental guidelines below for the face page: The applicant must provide her/his signature in item 15, signature is not required for item 16. Leave items 9-14 and 16 on the face page blank. Enter in item 6 (Dates of Proposed Period of Support) the combined 4 to 5 years of support needed to complete the intramural and the extramural support phases of the NINR Career Transition Award Program. Utilize the "Research Career Award" Table of Contents page, but re-label the page, "Career Transition Award." This page is included in the Form 398 packet and will facilitate organizing the research and career development components of the application. Add a "Career Development Plan" under "Section II: Specialized Information." 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 (NINR Career Transition Award (K22)) and number (NR-99-002) must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application for 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: 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 must be sent to: Dr. Mary Stephens-Frazier Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Nursing Research Building 45, Room 3AN-12 Bethesda, MD 20892-6300 Applications must be received by May 14, 1999. 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 the 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. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and responsiveness to the RFA by NINR staff. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate initial peer review group, convened by the NINR Division of Extramural Activities. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and may undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit will be discussed and assigned a priority score. All applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research. Review Criteria The peer review criteria for applications submitted in response to this RFA are: Candidate o Capacity and commitment to pursue an independent research career, o Potential to develop into an outstanding scientist who will make significant contributions to the field, o Quality and breadth of prior scientific training and experience including, where appropriate, the record of previous research support and publications, o Ability to plan, develop, and organize a program of research that will make full use of the support offered under this award. Research Plan o All candidates for this award will have had previous research experience. A sound research plan that is consistent with 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 Adequacy of plans to include both genders, children, 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, where appropriate. Career Development Plan o Appropriateness of the career development plan, considering the candidate"s goals and prior experience, o The consistency of the career development plan with the candidate"s research plan and potential for contributing to the scientific literature. SELECTION PROCEDURES Following peer review, the written evaluations and priority score assigned to the application by the initial review group will be sent to the candidate. Intramural Support Phase The applications will be considered by a NINR Selection Committee (NSC) consisting of Senior Scientists from the NINR Intramural Program and selected senior intramural and extramural scientists with specific content expertise. Based on priority score ranking and programmatic needs, this committee will identify the pool of outstanding candidates to be invited for an interview. Following interviews, a ranking and matching process considering both the candidates and the sponsoring intramural laboratories/branches will be used to determine the most meritorious candidates. Extramural Support Phase The NINR will conduct a formal scientific progress review no later than the end of the second year of the Intramural Support Phase to determine whether or not the scholar will be recommended for the extramural phase of support. At the same time, the scholar will prepare a research plan for the extramural phase of the award. This review will be conducted by an NINR Progress Review Committee composed of members of NSC, and other intramural and extramural scientists as appropriate. The results of the review will constitute a final evaluation of the intramural phase and be presented in writing to the scholar. Approval will result in eligibility for the extramural phase of funding of the Career Transition Award, and up to a third additional year of intramural support to facilitate the transition to an extramural laboratory. Approval of the transition to the extramural support phase could be made at any time prior to the end of second year of the intramural support phase. Whenever review and approval occur, the scholar remains eligible for up to one additional year of intramural support. However, any remaining unused portion of the intramural support phase will not be carried over into the two-year extramural support phase. The scholar must be accepted by an extramural institution which will request a change in institution by submitting a form PHS 2590 noncompeting application which must include an updated research proposal and budget. The application submitted by the scholar and the extramural institution for activation of the extramural phase of the program will be evaluated for completeness and responsiveness to the program by the extramural program administrator and Grants Management Office. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available positions/funds with all other scored applications submitted in response to this RFA. The following will be considered in making award decision: qualifications and potential of the applicant and quality of the proposed research project as determined by peer review, mentor/scholar match, availability of intramural NIH resources, programmatic priorities, and availability of funds. Program recommendations will be forwarded to the NACNR as informational items. EVALUATION OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS Intramural Support Phase Each scholar"s research progress will be evaluated on an annual basis as with all other independent intramural scientific research programs. For this purpose, the scholar will prepare on an annual basis a progress report, which will be evaluated by the corresponding laboratory/branch chief and the NINR Scientific Director. Additionally, the NINR will conduct a formal scientific progress review no later than the end of the second year (See section on Selection Process, Extramural Support Phase). Extramural Support Phase The scholar will be required to submit a form PHS 2590 non-competing continuation application for the final year of extramural support. The application should provide a description of the research and career progress of the awardee, including: 1) publications in press or submitted, 2) current investigator-initiated research grant support, and 3) all applications submitted for investigators-initiated research grant support. After the completion of this award, periodic updates on various aspects of 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 may be solicited from the scholar. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged, especially during the planning phase of the application. The opportunity to clarify any issues or address questions from potential applicants is welcome. Address questions for the intramural scientific support phase to: Annette Wysocki, PhD, RNC Scientific Director National Institute of Nursing Research Building 9, Room 1W125, MSC 0967 Bethesda, MD 20892-0967 TELEPHONE: (301) 402-3583 FAX: (301) 435-3435 Email: annette_wysocki@nih.gov Address questions for the extramural scientific support phase to: Hilary D. Sigmon PhD, RN Program Director National Institute of Nursing Research Building 45, Room 3AN12 - MSC 6300 Bethesda, MD 20892-6300 Telephone: (301) 594-5970 FAX: (301) 480-8260 Email: hilary_sigmon@nih.gov Address fiscal questions to: Mr. Jeff Carow Grants Management Officer National Institute of Nursing Research Building 45, Room 3AN12 - MSC 6300 Bethesda, MD 20892-6300 Telephone: (301) 594-6869 FAX: (301) 480-8260 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.361. Awards are made under authorization 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 grants policies and Federal Regulations 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 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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