Full Text PA-97-064 INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARD IN SLEEP RESEARCH NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 20, June 13, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-064 P.T. 44 Keywords: Sleep Disorders Biomedical Research Training Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl National Institutes of Health THIS PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REVISION OF THE PA APPEARING IN THE MAY 30 ISSUE OF THE NIH GUIDE. THIS REVISION REFLECTS THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN NIH-WIDE PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT. PURPOSE The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites applications for National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Training Grants (T32) to develop or enhance sleep research training opportunities for individuals selected by eligible institutions. A specific objective is to ensure that scientists, highly trained in sleep research, are available in adequate numbers to address important gaps in our biomedical and biological understanding of sleep including those outlined in the NIH Director's Sleep Disorders Research Plan. For this program announcement, the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR) will serve as a primary contact for applicants and work closely with relevant NIH Institutes to support the training opportunities identified in this announcement. Potential applicants are strongly urged to contact the NCSDR before preparing an application. Background It has become apparent over the past decade that sleep disorders and sleep deprivation are major public health problems affecting as many as 40 million Americans. Progress in understanding the neurobiology of sleep/awake states and the pathophysiological mechanisms of sleep disorders, especially molecular and genetic aspects, has been hampered by an inadequate number of health professionals trained in sleep biology, sleep disorders medicine and relevant research. Currently, there is a critical shortage of scientists with the needed skills to bring state-of-the-art multidisciplinary approaches to sleep research. In addition, few or no investigators are studying some key research areas identified in the NIH Director's Sleep Disorders Research Plan (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/ sleep/sleep.htm) developed and coordinated by the NCSDR. The overall goal of this training program is to increase the number of sleep researchers that are available to investigate the basic biology of sleep; to explore epidemiological, behavioral, and clinical aspects of sleep-related disorders; and to develop new approaches for the treatment and prevention of these conditions. A specific objective is to ensure that scientists, highly trained in sleep research, are available in adequate numbers to address important gaps in our biomedical and biological understanding of sleep including those outlined in the NIH Director's Sleep Disorders Research Plan. Among the areas identified in the Plan is basic research at molecular, cellular, and systems levels to understand the mechanisms for sleep regulation and homeostasis; the fundamental functions of sleep during development and with age; the cause of chronic sleepiness; the effects of sleep deprivation; the interactions between circadian and neurophysiological systems that regulate sleep and wakefulness; and the genetic factors influencing sleep control and responsible for sleep-related disorders such as narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome. The Sleep Disorders Research Plan also identifies areas of patient-oriented clinical and applied research to study the effects of chronic sleepiness and sleep disturbances on performance and lifestyle; the pathogenesis of sleep disorders and its pathophysiological links to cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, and other morbid conditions; the epidemiology of sleep disorders to determine etiology and the role of factors such as gender, age, and ethnicity; and the relative efficacy and effectiveness of different treatment modalities for common sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. Addressing these questions will require a combination of approaches. Innovative, multidisciplinary and collaborative training programs with interactive training provided by investigators from different disciplines and with complementary skills are strongly encouraged. Successful training programs will attract individuals with backgrounds in relevant scientific disciplines and should have flexibility to provide interdisciplinary training to individual candidates. It is important that trainees receive thorough training in multidisciplinary approaches to modern basic and patient-oriented research. The possibility exists for this goal to be achieved through collaborative arrangements with one or more cooperating institutions offering unique opportunities for sleep research training. In these cases, the parent program must have a continuous and substantive role in the training process. It is anticipated that this new sleep training program will act as a source of trainees and activities to enhance the research programs of the participating NIH Institutes. The application should indicate how this goal will be achieved. It is essential that the applicant institution as well as all participating academic units and departments fully support the training program. 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 PA, "National Research Service Award Institutional Training Grants in Sleep Research," is related to the priority areas of heart disease and stroke, chronic disabling conditions, mental health and disorders, and clinical prevention services. 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 printing office, Washington D.C. 20402-9325 (Telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applicant Eligibility Requirements Only domestic, non-profit, private or public institutions, may apply for grants to support the research training programs described herein. The applicant institution must have a strong research program in the area proposed for research training and must have the staff and facilities required for a substantive portion of the proposed program. Collaborative arrangements with one or more cooperating institutions may be proposed to provide multidisciplinary sleep research training not available at the applicant institution. The research training program director at the parent institution will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees to receive NRSA support and for the overall direction of the program. Trainees appointed to the training program must have the opportunity to carry out supervised research with the primary objective of developing or extending their research skills and knowledge in preparation for a basic science or clinical research career in the field of sleep and sleep disorders. Levels of Training Predoctoral: Predoctoral research training must lead to the Ph.D. or a comparable research doctorate degree in a sleep-related science. Relevant disciplines include, but are not limited to, neuroscience, physiology, cellular biology, epidemiology, behavioral science, psychology, endocrinology, immunology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and genetics. The completion of two years of training at the postbaccalaureate level in a relevant science program leading to the Ph.D. or an equivalent degree prior to being appointed to this T32 is encouraged. Students enrolled in health-professional programs that are not part of a formal, combined program (i.e., M.D./Ph.D.) and who wish to postpone their professional studies in order to gain experience in sleep research may also be appointed. Predoctoral research training must emphasize fundamental training in areas of basic biomedical and behavioral sciences related to sleep and sleep disorders. Since some NIH Institutes support pre-doctoral research training on a limited basis, applicants are strongly urged to contact the NCSDR or appropriate Institute staff, before requesting predoctoral training positions in a T32 application. Postdoctoral: Postdoctoral research training is for individuals who have received a Ph.D., an M.D., or comparable health-professional doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Comparable doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to the following: D.D.S., D.O., D.V.M., O.D., D.P.M., Sc.D., Eng.D., Dr. P.H., D.N.Sc., D. Pharm., D.S.W., and Psy.D. Research training at the postdoctoral level must emphasize specialized training to meet national research priorities in the biomedical, behavioral, epidemiologic and patient-oriented aspects of sleep and sleep disorders. Research training grants are a desirable mechanism for the postdoctoral training of physicians and other health professionals who may have had extensive clinical training, but limited research experience. For such individuals, the training may be a part of a research degree program; in all cases, health-professional postdoctoral trainees should agree to engage in at least two years of research, research training, or comparable experiences beginning at the time of appointment. Short-Term Research Training Positions for Health-Professional Students: T32 applications may include a request for short-term positions reserved specifically to train medical or other health- professional students on a full-time basis during the summer or other "off quarter" periods. Short-term appointments are intended to provide health-professional students with opportunities to participate in sleep related biomedical and/or behavioral research in an effort to attract these individuals into sleep research careers. Short-term positions should be longer than two months but may not last longer than three months. Students should be encouraged to obtain two or more periods of short-term research training during their studies leading to a health professional degree. Such appointments may be consecutive or may be reserved for summers or other "off quarter" periods. Since some NIH Institutes support short-term research training positions on a limited basis, applicants are strongly urged to contact the appropriate NIH Institute representative listed at the end of this announcement, before requesting short-term research training positions in a T32 application. Trainee Eligibility Requirements To be appointed to a research training grant, an individual must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or must be in possession of other legal verification of such status). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Predoctoral Trainees: Predoctoral trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree in a relevant science program at the beginning date of their NRSA appointment. Health-professional students who wish to interrupt their studies for a year or more to engage in full-time research training before completing their professional degrees are also eligible. Postdoctoral Trainees: Postdoctoral trainees must have received, as of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, a Ph.D., M.D., or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Written certification by an authorized official of the degree-granting institution that all degree requirements have been met, prior to the date training is to begin, is acceptable. Short-Term Health Professional Trainees: To be eligible for short-term research training positions, health-professional students must have completed at least one quarter in a program leading to a clinical doctorate prior to participating in the program. Individuals matriculated in a formal research degree program or those holding an M.S., a Ph.D., or an M.D./Ph.D. degree or equivalent graduate level research degree are not eligible for short-term training positions. Within schools of pharmacy, only individuals who are candidates for the Pharm.D. degree are eligible for short-term positions. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The support mechanism for grants made in response to this program announcement will be the NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Training Grant (T32). The announcement will remain in effect through the end of fiscal year 2000. Institutional NRSA research training grants may be made for periods up to five years and are renewable. Awards within an approved competitive segment are normally made in 12-month increments with support for additional years contingent on satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. GENERAL PROVISIONS Positions on NRSA institutional grants may not be used for study leading to the M.D., D.D.S., or other clinical, health-professional degrees except when those studies are a part of a formal combined research degree program such as the M.D./Ph.D. Similarly, trainees may not accept NRSA support for studies which are a part of residency training leading to a medical specialty or subspecialty except when the residency program credits a period of full-time, postdoctoral research training toward board certification and the trainee intends to pursue a research career. Students enrolled in health-professional doctoral degree programs may receive support for short-term research training for one or more periods lasting up to three months each. Such students may also interrupt their studies for a year or more to engage in full-time research training before completing their professional degree. Trainees are required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, devoting at least 40 hours per week to the program. Within the 40 hours per week training period, research trainees in clinical areas must devote their time to the proposed research training and must confine clinical duties to those that are an integral part of the research training experience. Duration of Support Trainee appointments are normally made in 12-month increments with support for additional years dependent on satisfactory progress and the continued availability of funds. No trainee may be appointed for less than nine months during the initial period of appointment, except with the prior approval of the NIH awarding unit or when health-professional students are appointed to approved, short-term research training positions. No individual trainee may receive more than five years of aggregate NRSA support at the predoctoral level or three years of aggregate NRSA support at the postdoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards. Any exception to the total duration of trainee support at either the predoctoral or postdoctoral level requires a waiver from the director of the NIH Institute or Center that supports the award. Requests for extension must be made in writing by the trainee, endorsed by the director of the training program and the appropriate institutional official, and addressed to the director of the awarding component. The request must include a sound justification for an extension of the statutory limits on the period of support. Recruitment and Appointment of Trainees The primary objective of the NRSA program is to prepare qualified individuals for careers that significantly impact the Nation's research agenda. Within the framework of the program's longstanding commitment to excellence and projected needs for investigators in particular areas of research, it is important that attention also be given to recruiting individuals from minority groups that are underrepresented nationally in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research nationally include: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders. In the science areas of some sponsoring Institutes, additional groups have been identified. Applicants should contact the appropriate NIH Institute representative listed at the end of this announcement for further information. Future use of the term "minority" in this announcement will refer to the underrepresented groups identified by the appropriate Institute. Other considerations relate to the duration of training and the movement of trainees to individual support mechanisms. Studies have shown that the length of the appointment to a training grant for postdoctoral trainees with health-professional degrees is strongly correlated with subsequent application for and receipt of independent NIH research support. Program directors, therefore, are strongly encouraged to limit appointments to individuals who plan to remain on the grant or in some other type of research experience for a minimum of two years. It has also been shown that individuals who have been supported by an individual postdoctoral fellowship are more likely to apply for and receive NIH research support than individuals who have received support from a training grant alone. Program directors are therefore encouraged to identify candidates for individual postdoctoral fellowships or early career development (K awards) in order to stimulate applications. During the review of applications, peer reviewers will examine the training record to determine the average duration of training for health-professional postdoctoral trainees and whether there is a record of transition to individual support mechanisms. Past studies have shown that trainees from programs oriented exclusively toward health-professionals are less likely to apply for and receive research grant support than health-professionals who train with postdoctoral researchers who have an intensive background in research. Programs that focus on research training for individuals with an M.D. or other health-professional degrees should consider developing strong ties to basic science departments or modifying their program to include individuals with research doctoral degrees if such changes are consistent with the goals of the program. Applications should describe the contribution of basic science departments to the research training experience and indicate whether both health professional trainees and trainees with research doctorates are included in the training program. Payback Provisions As specified in the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, NRSA recipients incur a service payback obligation only during the first 12 months of postdoctoral support. Additionally, the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 specifies that the second and subsequent years of postdoctoral NRSA training will serve to pay back a postdoctoral service payback obligation. Accordingly, the following guidelines apply: o Predoctoral trainees are not required to sign the Payback Agreement Form (PHS Form 6031) and do not incur a service payback obligation. o Postdoctoral trainees in the first twelve months of postdoctoral NRSA support must sign the payback agreement form and incur a period of service payback obligation equal to the period of support. o Postdoctoral trainees in the thirteenth and subsequent months of NRSA support are not required to sign the Payback Agreement Form and do not incur a service payback obligation. o The thirteenth and subsequent months of postdoctoral NRSA support are considered acceptable payback service for prior postdoctoral support. Individuals appointed to their initial NRSA postdoctoral period on or after June 10, 1993, and who continue under that award for two years, have fulfilled their obligation by the end of the second year. Service payback obligations can also be paid back by conducting health-related research or teaching for more than 20 hours per week of a full year after terminating NRSA support. Recipients must begin to undertake any remaining obligated service on a continuous basis within two years after termination of NRSA support. The period for undertaking payback service may be delayed for such reasons as temporary disability, completion of residency requirements, or completion of the requirements for a graduate degree. Requests for an extension must be made in writing to the awarding unit specifying the need for additional time and the length of the required extension. Recipients of NRSA support are responsible for informing the awarding unit of changes in status or address. For individuals who fail to fulfill their obligation through service, the United States is entitled to recover the total amount of NRSA funds paid to the individual for the obligated period plus interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Financial payback must be completed within three years, beginning on the date the United States becomes entitled to recover such amount. Under certain conditions, the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (or those delegated this authority) may extend the period for starting service or repayment, permit breaks in service, or in rare cases in which service or financial repayment would constitute an extreme hardship, the approving official may waive or suspend the payback obligation of an individual. Officials at the awardee institution have the responsibility of explaining the terms of the payback requirements to all prospective training candidates before appointment to the training grant. Additionally, all trainees recruited into the training program should be provided with information related to the career options available to individuals who complete the program and whether the types of positions available are consistent with the nature of the training provided and where applicable whether those positions are likely to satisfy any outstanding service payback obligation. Trainee Reporting Requirements The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271) for each trainee appointed or reappointed to the training grant at the beginning of the appointment period. Additionally, a completed Payback Agreement (PHS Form 6031) must be submitted for each trainee in their first twelve months of postdoctoral support. Within 30 days of the end of the total support period for each trainee, the institution must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form 416-7). Failure to submit the required forms in a timely manner may result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in any continuation funding for the award. Leave In general, trainees may receive stipends during periods of vacation and holidays observed by individuals in comparable training positions at the grantee institution. For the purpose of these awards, however, the period between the spring and fall semesters is considered to be an active time of research and research training and is not considered to be a vacation or holiday. Trainees may receive stipends for up to 15 calendar days of sick leave per year. Sick leave may be used for the medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth pursuant to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (42 USC 2000 e(k)). Trainees may also receive stipends for up to 30 calendar days of parental leave per year for the adoption or the birth of a child when those in comparable training positions at the grantee institution have access to paid leave for this purpose and the use of parental leave is approved by the program director. A period of terminal leave is not permitted and payment may not be made from grant funds for leave not taken. Individuals requiring periods of time away from their research training experience longer than specified here must seek approval from the NIH awarding component for an unpaid leave of absence. At the beginning of a leave of absence, the trainee must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form 416-7) and upon return from the leave of absence, the trainee must be formally reappointed to the grant by submitting an updated Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271). Trainees within the first twelve months of postdoctoral support must also submit a Payback Agreement (PHS Form 6031) upon return from a leave of absence. Stipends National Research Service Awards provide funds, in the form of stipends, to graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. A stipend is provided as a subsistence allowance for trainees to help defray living expenses during the research training experience. It is not provided as a condition of employment with either the Federal Government or the awardee institution. Stipends must be paid to all trainees at the levels approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Predoctoral: Beginning in FY 97, the annual stipend for predoctoral trainees is $11,496. For appointments of less than a year, the stipend will be based on a monthly proration that is currently $958 per month. Postdoctoral: The current annual stipend for postdoctoral trainees is determined by the number of FULL years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment. Relevant experience may include research experience (including industrial), teaching, internship, residency, clinical duties, or other time spent in full-time studies in a health-related field following the qualifying doctoral degree. The stipend for each additional year of NRSA support is the next level on the stipend scale. Current postdoctoral stipends are as follows: Years of Relevant Experience Annual Amount Less than 1 $20,292 Greater than or equal to 1 but less than 2 21,420 Greater than or equal to 2 but less than 3 25,600 Greater than or equal to 3 but less than 4 26,900 Greater than or equal to 4 but less than 5 28,200 Greater than or equal to 5 but less than 6 29,500 Greater than or equal to 6 but less than 7 30,800 Greater than or equal to 7 32,300 A trainee with a health-professional doctoral degree who is enrolled in a graduate degree program is considered to be in postdoctoral training and will receive the appropriate postdoctoral stipend listed above. No departure from the established stipend schedule may be negotiated by the institution with the trainee. The stipend for each additional full year of stipend support is the next level in the stipend structure and does not change mid-year. The sponsoring institution is allowed to provide funds to an individual in addition to the stipends paid by the NIH. Such additional amounts may be either in the form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or in the form of compensation, such as salary or tuition remission for services such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant, provided the following conditions are met: Stipend Supplementation: Supplementation or additional support to offset the cost of living may be provided by the awardee institution but must not require any additional obligation from the trainee. Federal funds may not be used for supplementation unless specifically authorized under the terms of both the program from which such supplemental funds are to be received and the program whose funds are to be supplemented. Under no circumstances may DHHS funds be used for supplementation. Compensation: An institution may provide additional funds to a trainee in the form of compensation (as salary and/or tuition remission) for services such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant. A trainee may receive compensation for services as a research assistant or in some other position on a Federal research grant, including a DHHS research grant. However, compensated services should occur on a limited, part-time basis apart from the normal research training activities, which require a minimum of 40 hours per week. In addition, compensation may not be paid from a research grant that supports research that is part of the research training experience. Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation or the services provided for compensation interfere with, detract from, or prolong the trainee's approved NRSA training program. Educational Loans or G.I. Bill: An individual may make use of Federal educational loan funds and assistance under the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act (G.I. Bill). Such funds are not considered supplementation or compensation. Concurrent Awards: An NRSA may not be held concurrently with another Federally-sponsored fellowship or similar Federal award that provides a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of the NRSA. More specific information on stipend supplementation and compensation is available in the current Guidelines for NRSA Individual Awards - Institutional Grants and in the current PHS Grants Policy Statement. Tax Liability Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code applies to the tax treatment of all scholarships and fellowships. Under that section, non-degree candidates are required to report all stipends, and any monies paid on their behalf for course tuition and fees required for attendance as gross income. Degree candidates may exclude from gross income (for tax purposes) any amount used for tuition and related expenses such as fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at a qualified educational organization. The taxability of stipends, however, in no way alters the relationship between NRSA trainees and institutions. NRSA stipends are not considered salaries. In addition, trainees supported under the NRSA are not considered to be in an employee-employer relationship with the NIH or the awardee institution. It must be emphasized that the interpretation and implementation of the tax laws are the domain of the Internal Revenue Service and the courts. The PHS takes no position on what the status may be for a particular taxpayer, and it does not have the authority to dispense tax advice. Individuals should consult their local IRS office about the applicability of the law to their situations and for information on the proper steps to be taken regarding their tax obligations. Tuition, Fees, and Health Insurance Tuition, fees, and self-only medical insurance, are allowable trainee costs if such charges are required of all individuals in a similar training status at the institution, regardless of their source of support. Family medical insurance coverage is not an appropriate charge to the NRSA research training grant. Tuition at the postdoctoral level is limited to that required for specific courses in support of the approved research training program. On an annual basis, for each trainee, the training grant will cover 100 percent of the first $2,000 of the combined cost of tuition, fees, and self-only health insurance and 60 percent of any amount above $2,000. Institutions are instructed to request the full amount of these costs in competing applications. Noncompeting awards will reimburse tuition, fees, and health insurance costs in the amount paid in the previous award year, unless there is a change in the scope of the award. Other Training Costs Trainee travel, including attendance at scientific meetings that the institution determines to be necessary to the individual's research training, is an allowable trainee expense. In addition, support for travel to a research training experience away from the grantee institution may be permitted. Research training experiences away from the parent institution must be justified considering the type of opportunities for training available, how these opportunities differ from those offered at the parent institution, and the relationship of the proposed experience to the trainee's career stage and career goals. This type of research training requires prior approval from the NIH. Letters requesting such training may be submitted to the NIH awarding component at any time during the award period. Institutional costs of up to $1,500 per year per predoctoral trainee and up to $2,500 per year per postdoctoral trainee may be requested to defray the costs of other research training related expenses, such as staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and staff travel. Under exceptional circumstances, which can include accommodating the disabilities of a trainee, it is possible to request institutional costs above the standard rate. These additional costs must be explained in detail and carefully justified in the application. Consultation with program staff in advance of such requests is strongly advised. The institution may receive up to $125 per month to offset the cost of tuition, fees, health insurance, travel, supplies, and other expenses for each short-term, health-professional research training position. A facilities and administration allowance (indirect cost allowance) based on eight percent of total allowable direct costs (this excludes amounts for tuition, fees, health insurance, and equipment), may be requested. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applicants must use the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). It contains special instructions for Institutional National Research Service Awards (T32). Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division 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. The PA title and number should be typed on line 2 of the application face page. Applicants must observe the 25-page limit on the narrative section of the PHS 398 application. Applicants who wish to include a request for short-term research training positions for Health Professional Students should identify the short-term positions separately within the "Stipends" and "Training Related Expenses" categories on the budget page. Under "Stipends," short-term positions should be listed in the "Other" category. Tuition, fees, health insurance, and trainee travel, and other expenses, are to be included in "Training Related Expenses." The description of the short-term research training program should be included in the application for the regular research training program, but should be separated from the description of the regular program within each section of the application. In addition to the information requested in the "Program Plan" section, the applicant should address the relationship of the proposed short-term program to the regular research training program and provide assurance that the short-term program will not detract from the regular program. Submit an original of the application with both required signatures and checklist, and five exact single-sided copies of the application to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, SUITE 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) Application Schedule Many Institutes review T32 applications only once or twice per year. Applicants should contact the NCSDR or appropriate Institute staff for specific schedule information before preparing and submitting an application. The following table provides general guidance for possible receipt dates and the review of applications: Application Receipt Date: Jan 10 May 10 Initial Review Meeting: Jun Oct/Nov Council/Board Meeting: Sep/Oct Jan/Feb Earliest Start Date: Dec 1 Apr 1 REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Division of Research Grants. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Review Criteria Applications are evaluated for merit by NIH initial review groups based on the following criteria: o Past research training record of both the program and the designated preceptors as determined by the success of former trainees in establishing independent and productive research careers. Evidence of further career development can include receipt of fellowships, career awards, further training appointments, and similar accomplishments. Evidence of a productive scientific career can include a record of successful competition for research grants, receipt of special honors, a record of publications, receipt of patents, promotion to scientific positions, and any other measure of success consistent with the nature and duration of the training received. o Objectives, design, and direction of the training program in sleep related research; o Caliber of preceptors as researchers in sleep-related disciplines, including successful competition for research support; o The institutional training environment, including the level of institutional commitment, the quality of the facilities, availability of appropriate courses, and the availability of support for sleep research; o Recruitment and selection plans for trainees, and the availability of high quality candidates; o The record of the research training program in retaining health- professional postdoctoral trainees for at least two years in research training or other research activities; o When appropriate, the concomitant research training of health-professional postdoctorates (i.e., individuals with the M.D., D.O., D.D.S., etc.) with basic science postdoctorates (i.e., individuals with a Ph.D., etc.) or linkages with basic science departments. Short-Term Research Training Positions: In addition to the above criteria, applications that request short-term research training positions will also be assessed using the following criteria: o The quality of the proposed short-term training program in sleep research including the commitment and availability of the participating faculty, the program design, the availability of research support, and the training environment; o Access to candidates for short-term research training and the ability to recruit high quality, short-term trainees from the applicant institution or some other health-professional school; o The characteristics of the research training program that might be expected to persuade short-term trainees to consider academic/research careers in sleep research, particularly in clinical areas; o The success in attracting students back for multiple appointments (competing renewal applications); o The effects of the short-term training program on the quality of the regular research training program, including the appropriateness of the number of short-term positions, and the plan to integrate the short-term training program into the regular research training program; o The plan to follow former short-term trainees and assess the effect of such research training on their subsequent careers in sleep research. Additional Review Considerations Minority Recruitment Plan: The NIH remains strongly committed to increasing the participation of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in biomedical and behavioral research. As announced in 1989, all competing applications for institutional NRSA research training grants must include a specific plan to recruit underrepresented minorities, and competing continuation applications also must include a report on the recruitment and retention record during the previous award period. If an application is received without a plan, or without a report on the previous award period, the application will be considered incomplete and may be returned to the applicant without review. Additional information on this requirement was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 22, Number 25, July 16, 1993. Competing renewal applications for research training grants must include a detailed account of experiences in recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups during the previous award period. Information on the types of recruitment strategies used and which have been successful and unsuccessful must be included. The report should provide information on the racial/ethnic distribution of: (a) students and/or postdoctorates in the department(s) relevant to the training grant, (b) individuals who applied for research training, (c) individuals who were offered admission, and (d) individuals who were appointed to the research training grant. For those trainees who were appointed to the grant, the report should include information about the duration of research training and whether those trainees have finished their training in good standing. After the overall educational and technical merit of an application has been assessed, peer reviewers will examine and evaluate the minority recruitment plan and any record of recruitment and retention. For competing continuation applications, the reviewers will examine and evaluate the record of the program in recruiting and retaining underrepresented minority trainees during the previous award period. The panel also will consider whether the experience in recruitment during the previous award period has been incorporated into the formulation of the recruitment plan for the next award period. The findings of the panel will be included in an administrative note in the summary statement. If the minority recruitment plan or if the record of recruitment and retention of minorities is judged to be unacceptable, funding will be withheld until a revised plan that addresses the deficiencies is received. Staff within the NIH awarding component, with guidance from the appropriate national advisory committee or council, will determine whether amended plans and reports submitted after the initial review are acceptable. Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Every predoctoral and postdoctoral NRSA trainee supported by an institutional research training grant must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research. For more information on this provision, please consult a notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992. Applications must include a description of a program to provide formal or informal instruction in scientific integrity or the responsible conduct of research. Applications without plans for instruction in the responsible conduct of research will be considered incomplete and may be returned to the applicant without review. o Although the NIH does not establish specific curricula or formal requirements, all programs are encouraged strongly to consider instruction in the following areas: conflict of interest, responsible authorship, policies for handling misconduct, policies regarding the use of human and animal subjects, and data management. Within the context of training in scientific integrity it is also beneficial to discuss the mutual responsibilities of the institution and the graduate students or postdoctorates appointed to the program. o Plans must address the subject matter of the instruction, the format of the instruction, the degree of faculty participation, trainee attendance, and the frequency of instruction. The rationale for the proposed plan of instruction must be provided. o Program reports on the type of instruction provided, topics covered, and other relevant information, such as attendance by trainees and faculty participation, must be included in future competing and noncompeting applications. The NIH encourages institutions to provide instruction in the responsible conduct of research to all graduate students and postdoctorates in a training program or department, regardless of the source of support. NIH initial review groups will assess the applicant's plans on the basis of the appropriateness of topics, format, amount and nature of faculty participation, and the frequency and duration of instruction. The plan will be discussed after the overall determination of merit, so that the quality of the plan will not be a factor in the determination of the priority score. Plans will be judged as acceptable or unacceptable. The acceptability of the plan will be described in an administrative note on the summary statement. Regardless of the priority score, applications with unacceptable plans will not be funded until a revised, acceptable plan is provided by the applicant. The acceptability of the revised plan will be judged by staff within the awarding component at the NIH. Following initial review, applications are also reviewed by the appropriate NIH Institute or Center Council, Board, or other advisory group. These advisory groups will consider, in addition to the assessment of the scientific and educational merit of the research training grant application, the initial review group's comments on the recruitment of individuals from underrepresented minority groups into the research training program and the plan for instruction in the responsible conduct of research. AWARD CRITERIA Applications are selected for funding primarily on the basis of scientific and educational merit, but other factors are considered, such as: availability of funds, research program priorities, balance among types of research training supported by the awarding component, the acceptability of the plan for minority recruitment, and the acceptability of the proposal for instruction in the responsible conduct of research. The awarding NIH Institute will notify the applicant of the final action shortly after the advisory group meeting. Additional information For additional information, see the document titled "Guidelines for National Research Service Awards, Individual Awards - Institutional Grants" available from the applicant's institution or by contacting 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, E-mail: asknih@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. INQUIRIES Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the individuals designated below, in advance of preparing an application, for additional information concerning the areas of research, receipt dates, and other types of pre-application consultation. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: James P. Kiley, Ph.D. National Center on Sleep Disorders Research National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 7024, MSC 7920 Bethesda, MD 20892-7920 Telephone: (301) 435-0199 Email: kileyj@gwgate.nhlbi.nih.gov Additional contacts for Institute-specific program issues are: Andrew Monjan, Ph.D., M.P.H. Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 3C307, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9350 Email: am39m@nih.gov Ellen D. Witt, Ph.D. Division of Basic Research National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402, MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-6545 Email: ewitt@willco.niaaa.nih.gov Marian Willinger, Ph.D. Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-5575 Email: willingm@hd01.nichd.nih.gov Paul Coulis, Ph.D. National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A/08 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-1801 Email: pcoulis@aoada.ssw.dhhs.gov Israel Lederhendler, Ph.D. National Institute of Mental Health 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11/102 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-1576 Email: ilu@cu.nih.gov Joseph Drage, M.D. Training and Special Programs Officer National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Federal Building, Room 1016 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-4188 Email: dragej@nswide.ninds.nih.gov Mary Leveck, Ph.D., R.N. National Institute of Nursing Research 45 Center Drive, Room 3AN12, MSC 6300 Bethesda, MD 20892-6300 Telephone: (301) 594-5963 Email: mleveck@ep.ninr.nih.gov Direct inquires regarding fiscal matters to: Raymond L. Zimmerman Grants Operations Branch National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 7160, MSC 7926 Bethesda, MD 20892-7920 Telephone: (301) 435-0171 Email: zimmermr@gwgate.nhlbi.nih.gov Crystal Ferguson Grants Management Office National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2C212, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 (Courier Zip: 20814) Telephone: (301) 496-1472 Email: Ferguson%nihniagw.bitnet@cu.nih.gov Linda Hilley Grants Management Branch National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 504 MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-0915 Email: lhilley@wilco.niaaa.nih.gov Douglas Shawver Office of Grants and Contracts National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 8A17 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1303 Email: Shawver@hd01.nichd.nih.gov Gary Fleming Grants Management Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8A-54 Rockville, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 443-6710 Email: gfleming@aoada.ssw.dhhs.gov Diana Trunnell Grants Management Branch National Institute of Mental Health 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-08 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-3065 Email: dt21a@nih.gov Karen Shields Grants Management Branch National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Federal Building, Room 1004 Bethesda, MD 20892-9190 Telephone: (301) 496-9231 Jeff Carow Grants Management Officer National Institute of Nursing Research Building 45, Room 3AN-12 Bethesda, MD 20892-6301 Telephone: (301) 594-6869 Email: jcarow@ep.ninr.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants are made under the authority of Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 288). Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 66, is applicable to this program. This program is also described under the following numbers in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.233, 93.272, 93.278, 93.282, 93.306, 93.361, 93.398, 93.821, 93.837-93.839, 93.846-93.849, 93.853-93.856, 93.859, 93.862-93.868, 93.871, 93.880, 93.894, and 93.929. 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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