Full Text DK-93-03 CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY CLINICIAN-INVESTIGATORS NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 31, August 28, 1992 RFA: DK-93-03 P.T. 34, FF Keywords: Clinical Medicine, General Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 4, 1992 Application Receipt Date: December 3, 1992 PURPOSE The purpose of this solicitation is to increase the number of underrepresented minority clinicians who can conduct high-quality independent research and provide leadership in the areas of diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism and metabolic diseases (including cystic fibrosis), nutrition, eating disorders, obesity, organ systems and components associated with the gastrointestinal tract, renal and urological diseases, and hematology. This Request for Applications (RFA) is limited to the Clinical Investigator Award (CIA/K08) and the Physician Scientist Award (PSA/K11). Each of these mechanisms is tailored to a particular stage of the investigator's career. Each is designed to equip the developing physician-scientist to become an independent investigator capable of designing and executing rigorous research protocols, carefully crafted to examine a clearly stated and focused hypothesis. Ideally, such investigators should be able to integrate patient-oriented and laboratory-oriented research methods to address specific questions. 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 RFA, Career Development Awards for Underrepresented Minority Clinician- Investigators, is related to the priority area of nutrition and diabetes and chronic disabling disorders. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal Government. Applicants for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) CIA must: o Hold an M.D., D.O., or other appropriate clinical degree; o Have had approximately four to eight years of postdoctoral experience, both clinical and research (a minimum of two years of each), by the projected start of the award; o Not have been a Principal Investigator (PI) on a PHS-supported research project; and o Commit at least 75 percent time to CIA activities. Applicants for the NIDDK PSA must: o Hold an M.D., D.O., or other appropriate clinical degree; o Have completed at least one postgraduate year of clinical training by the time the award is made; o Not have been a PI on a PHS-supported research project; and o Commit at least 75 percent time to PSA activities. Potential candidates must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or its possessions and territories or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence at the time of the application and must be a member of a minority group that is underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral science. Applicants applying for the CIA or the PSA under this solicitation must have completed, by the time an award would be activated, a residency in internal medicine, surgery, or pediatrics. MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT The mechanisms of support will be the Clinical Investigator Award (K08) and the Physician Scientist Award (K11). While these two mechanisms are summarized in this announcement, detailed guidelines may be obtained from the office of sponsored programs at most research institutions or from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, NIH, (301) 496-7441. Awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the PHS Grants Policy Statement. This RFA is a one time solicitation. The total requested project period for applications submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed five years. Clinical Investigator Award The CIA is offered to provide the opportunity for promising clinically-trained individuals with demonstrated aptitude in research to develop into independent investigators. Provisions of the CIA include: o Five years of support, nonrenewable; o Salary up to $50,000 per year plus fringe benefits; and o Up to $20,000 per year for research supplies, equipment, technical assistance, and travel. Physician Scientist Award The PSA is designed to encourage the newly trained clinician to develop independent research skills and experience in a fundamental biomedical or behavioral science. This is a five year award that is divided into two phases. During Phase I, which may last two to three years, the candidate is expected to develop independent research skills and experience and may elect to work toward a Ph.D. degree. The primary sponsor must be an accomplished basic science investigator. Phase II entails intensive basic or clinical research activity, applying the skills learned during Phase I. Provisions of the PSA include: o Five years of support, nonrenewable; o Salary up to $50,000 per year plus fringe benefits; and o Up to $10,000 (Phase I) and $20,000 (Phase II) per year for research supplies, equipment, technical assistance, and travel. Grant funds awarded under the CIA and the PSA mechanisms are for research development only and may not be used for the support of clinical training or clinical services. Such activities must be supported from other funding sources. FUNDS AVAILABLE Up to eight awards will be made in support of applications submitted for this RFA, dependent upon the receipt of a sufficient number of highly meritorious applications. Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of the NIDDK, the award of grants pursuant to this RFA is also contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The proportion of physicians among all first-time PIs has been declining since 1977, and the number of physicians and other professional doctorates participating in NIH research training programs has declined since 1975. The limited number of minority clinicians in research is a matter of critical concern. The Institute of Medicine's Committee on National Needs for Biomedical and Behavioral Research Personnel, in their 1983 report, predicted that a potential no-growth situation in medical schools would decrease the flow of qualified new entrants into the field of clinical investigation, particularly in the face of declining opportunities in the academic sector. The maintenance of such a flow, particularly for minority scientists, is vital to the future of biomedical and behavioral research in this country. The NIDDK is a focal point at the NIH for research on diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism and metabolic diseases, including cystic fibrosis; nutrition, eating disorders, obesity, organ systems and components associated with the gastrointestinal tract; renal and urological diseases and hematology. Advances in knowledge in the scientific areas served by the NIDDK requires a steady supply of rigorously trained individuals. To this end, the NIDDK wishes to encourage research training and career development in areas related to the mission of the NIDDK that utilize the most current scientific disciplines such as molecular biology, cell biology, structural biology, immunology, neurology, developmental biology, genetics, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physiology, and epidemiology, to name a few. Applicants are encouraged to acquire proficiency in technologies at the forefront of current biomedical and behavioral research and should seek mentors in the areas served by the NIDDK. Minority populations and women must be included in all proposed clinical studies, unless sufficient justification is provided for their exclusion. Potential applicants are encouraged to read the guidelines for each mechanism to identify the mechanism most appropriate for their needs and experience. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Awardees will be asked to inform the NIH for each of five years following the completion of the award about academic status, publications, and research grants and contracts received. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL STUDY POPULATIONS It is NIH and ADAMHA policy that clinical research studies include women and minorities in study populations so that research findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease, disorder, or condition under study; special emphasis must be placed on the need for inclusion of women and minorities in studies of diseases, disorders, and conditions which disproportionately affect them. This policy is intended to apply to females and males of all ages. If women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in a clinical research project, particularly in proposed population based studies, a clear compelling rationale must be provided. The composition of the proposed study population must be described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and racial/ethnic issues must be addressed in developing a research design and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study. This information must be included in form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) in Item 4 (Research Design and Methods) of the Research Plan AND summarized in Item 5, Human Subjects. Applicants are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of minority groups. However, the NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in all research projects to include representation of the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority populations; i.e., Native Americans [including American Indians or Alaskan Natives], Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, and Hispanics. The rationale for studies on single minority population groups should be provided. For the purpose of this policy, clinical research is defined as human biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of diseases, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to clinical trials. The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply. Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded. However, every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants. If the required information is not contained within the application, the application will be returned to the applicant without review. Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and reflected in assigning the priority score to the application. All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required to address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by November 4, 1992, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant, the name of the sponsor, the names of all participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application is being submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. It allows NIDDK staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid possible conflicts of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Chief, Review Branch Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Westwood Building, Room 605 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7083 FAX: (301) 402-1277 APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used in applying for the K awards. Special instructions for preparing CIA and PSA applications can be found in the booklet "The K Awards," October 1991. These forms and "The K Awards" booklet are available from most institutional business offices and from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892 (telephone (301) 496-7441). The RFA label available in the PHS 398 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 an application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA number and title, RFA DK-93-03, Career Awards for Underrepresented Minorities, must be typed on line 2a of the face page of the application form, and the YES box must be checked on the face page. Applicants must submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed exact photocopies, in one package to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** At time of submission, two additional copies of the application should be sent under separate cover to: Chief, Review Branch Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Westwood Building, Room 605 Bethesda, MD 20892 Applications must be received by December 3, 1992. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) 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 DRG also will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of applications previously reviewed that have since been substantially revised. Such applications must not only include an introduction addressing the previous critique, but also must be responsive to this RFA. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed initially by the DRG for completeness. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Evaluation for responsiveness to the program requirements and criteria stated in the RFA is an NIDDK staff function. If the application is not responsive to the RFA, NIDDK staff will contact the applicant to determine whether it should be returned to applicant or be held until the next regular receipt date and reviewed in competition with all other unsolicited applications. Those applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below for scientific/technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIDDK. Applications may be subjected to triage by an NIDDK peer review group to determine their scientific merit relative to other applications received in response to this RFA. If the number of applications is large compared to the number of awards to be made, the NIDDK may conduct a preliminary scientific peer review (triage) and withdraw applications from further competition if they are not competitive for the award. The NIDDK will notify the applicant and institutional official of any such action. Those applications judged to be competitive will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by an NIDDK initial review group (IRG). Following this review, applications will be given a secondary review by the National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Advisory Council. Applications not recommended for further consideration by the IRG will not undergo secondary review. The review criteria for applications received in response to this RFA are the same as those for unsolicited K08 and K11 applications. Generally stated, these include: o Applicant's potential for and commitment to a research career in the areas specified by this RFA; o Scientific merit of the proposed research; o Potential of the proposed research in developing the applicant as an independent investigator; o Qualifications, research expertise, and training experience of the sponsor along with adequate institutional commitment to ensure completion of the proposed training; and o Adequacy of the proposed means for protecting against or minimizing such effects, for those applications involving activities that could have an adverse effect upon humans, animals, or the environment. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications received in response to this RFA. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; o Availability of funds; and o Program balance among the research areas of this RFA. Schedule Letter of Intent: Nov 4, 1992 Application Receipt: Dec 3, 1992 Initial Review: Feb/Mar 1993 Second Level Review: May/Jun 1993 Anticipated Award: Jul 1, 1993 INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries about this RFA and the opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants are encouraged. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Lois F. Lipsett, Ph.D. Director, Research Training and Career Development Programs Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Westwood Building, Room 620 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7433 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Kim Law Grants Management Specialist Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Westwood Building, Room 649 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7467 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Nos. 93.847, 93.848, and 93.849. 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 66 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
Return to NIH Guide Main Index
Office of Extramural Research (OER) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892 |
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
||||||||
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files. |