Notice Number: NOT-HG-14-032
Key Dates
Release Date: August 21, 2014
PAR-14-195
PAR-13-063
NOT-HG-14-029
Issued by
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH))
Purpose
The purpose of this Notice is to change Part 2, Section I and Part 2, Section IV.2 of PAR-14-195 in order to make Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science (CEGS) applicants aware of the opportunity to participate in NHGRI's Diversity Action Plan (DAP). See NOT-HG-14-029 for additional information.
Part 2. Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Currently reads:
Genomics Education and Outreach Activities
Each CEGS application is required to include an education and outreach activity that leverages the strengths of the Center and its investigators to train interdisciplinary scientists, including students and faculty, who will bring creativity to studying biomedical problems through a genomic approach. There is a shortage of investigators who have the interdisciplinary skills needed to conduct most effectively the types of genome-scale research including concept and methods development described in this FOA. One reason for the lack of adequately qualified personnel is that there are too few environments in which there is active effort to disseminate knowledge of how genomic approaches can most effectively be incorporated into the fundamental design of basic and clinical biomedical research.. The CEGS program is intended to help to alleviate this shortage by supporting the development of Centers that can serve as U.S. academic foci for genomics, and thereby to increase the cadre of investigators qualified to participate in the development and application of new genomics approaches to biomedical research.
To maximize the impact of these Centers, they should integrate the training of new investigators and perform outreach to broaden the expertise of established investigators. This might, for example, include plans for investigators who are already accomplished in other fields of research and engineering to acquire expertise in genomics. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, at a minimum, should participate in the research; however, such participation alone will be considered insufficient to meet the educational and outreach goals of the CEGS program. Applicants are expected to develop creative approaches, complementing the standard training vehicles used by academic institutions (e.g., training grants, fellowships, research education programs, seminar programs, course work) and, in addition, more novel avenues. This education and outreach program should take advantage of unique aspects of the research program, the combination of participating investigators' talents, and other unique institutional resources that underpin the CEGS, to offer innovative, substantive opportunities for pre-doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, and other investigators to develop expertise in genomics. The CEGS will therefore become an additional opportunity, beyond those previously developed by NHGRI and NIMH (see e.g., http://www.genome.gov/10000950 and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/training/index.shtml), for expanding the cadre of investigators working in the field of genomics
Modified to read:
General Genomics Education and Outreach Activities
Each CEGS application is required to include an education and outreach activity that leverages the strengths of the Center and its investigators to further educate interdisciplinary scientists, including students and faculty, who will bring creativity to studying biomedical problems through a genomic approach. There is a shortage of investigators who have the interdisciplinary skills needed to conduct most effectively the types of genome-scale research including concept and methods development described in this FOA. One reason for the lack of adequately qualified personnel is that there are too few environments in which there is active effort to disseminate knowledge of how genomic approaches can most effectively be incorporated into the fundamental design of basic and clinical biomedical research. The CEGS program is intended to help to alleviate this shortage by supporting the development of Centers that can serve as U.S. academic foci for genomics, and thereby to increase the cadre of investigators qualified to participate in the development and application of new genomics approaches to biomedical research.
To maximize the impact of these Centers, they should integrate the education of new investigators and perform outreach to broaden the expertise of established investigators. This might, for example, include plans for investigators who are already accomplished in other fields of research and engineering to acquire expertise in genomics. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, at a minimum, should participate in the research; however, such participation alone will be considered insufficient to meet the educational and outreach goals of the CEGS program. Applicants are expected to develop creative approaches, complementing the standard training vehicles used by academic institutions (e.g., training grants, fellowships, research education programs, seminar programs, course work) and, in addition, more novel avenues. This education and outreach program should take advantage of unique aspects of the research program, the combination of participating investigators' talents, and other unique institutional resources that underpin the CEGS, to offer innovative, substantive opportunities for pre-doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, and other investigators to develop expertise in genomics. The CEGS will therefore become an additional opportunity, beyond those previously developed by NHGRI and NIMH (see e.g., http://www.genome.gov/10000950 and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/training/index.shtml),for expanding the cadre of investigators working in the field of genomics.
Participation of CEGS applicants and grantees in Diversity Action Plan
NHGRI strongly encourages CEGS programs to participate in the NHGRI's DAP program, PAR-13-063 "Limited Competition: Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics (R25): Diversity Action Plan (DAP)" which funds no more than one R25 per institution. Applicants can submit an application to PAR-13-063, participate in an R25 currently funded at the applicant institution, or, per the recommendation of the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research, opt-out of having a DAP program with justification as to why the DAP would not be feasible. Non-participation in the DAP program will not affect NHGRI’s decision to fund a CEGS application. Applicants who elect to apply to PAR-13-063 are strongly encouraged to do so simultaneously with the CEGS application.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
PHS 398 Research Plan
Currently reads:
(There are no instructions specific to this FOA for Letters of support.)
Modified to read:
Letters of support: A letter or statement should be submitted detailing the applicant's plans for the Diversity Action Plan (DAP.) Applicants who have or intend to apply to PAR-13-063 should submit a statement of this. Applicants who plan to participate in an R25 funded through PAR-13-063 at their institution should include a letter from the PD/PI of the R25 describing how the new CEGS would participate in the ongoing DAP R25. Applicants who plan to opt out of having a DAP program should provide a statement of justification.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Jeffery A. Schloss, Ph.D.
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Telephone: 301-496-7531
Email: schlossj@mail.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
