NINR CAREER TRANSITION AWARD Release Date: January 16, 2001 RFA: RFA-NR-01-003 National Institute of Nursing Research (http://www.ninr.nih.gov) Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 13, 2001 Application Receipt Date: May 11, 2001 PURPOSE The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) invites applications from recently graduated doctorally prepared nurse scientists or doctorally prepared nurse scientists venturing into novel areas of research for the career transition program. The overall goals of this program 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 postdoctoral 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 2010 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This Request for Applications (RFA), NINR Career Transition Award, is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Registered Nurses (RN) who are recent recipients of a doctoral degree or its equivalent and who have demonstrated the potential for a highly productive research career are eligible to apply. During the NIH intramural phase of the award, the candidate is expected to devote 100% full-time effort on research training. 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 up to two years of the award. 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 insitution by the end of the second year of the intramural experience and will be evaluated by an internal NINR review board, not a traditional NIH study section. Because the purpose of this initiative is to ease the transition of newly awarded doctoral candidates into postdoctoral education, current principal investigators on PHS research grants are not eligible. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) career transition (K22) award mechanism. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. 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 of the intramural phase is based on the candidate"s experience and research expenses, not to exceed $125,000 per year, 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. This RFA is one-time solicitation. The anticipated award date is Fall 2001. 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 2001 and has set-aside up to $375,000 total cost 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. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Intramural scientists and facilities at the NIH provide an infrastructure for the research training and career development of promising new scientists who will subsequently enter the extramural biomedical and health care 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 doctorally prepared registered nurses with an opportunity to receive postdoctoral research training in an NIH intramural research laboratory or clinical department. Transition funding will be provided upon completion of the fellowship for the continuation of their program of research in an extramural institution. The NINR Career Transition Award consists of an Intramural Support Phase and an Extramural Support 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 awardee 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 recipient’s postdoctoral research training program as determined by a formal internal NINR scientific progress review. To progress to the Extramural Support Phase, the candidate must have a formal tenure-track (or equivalent) offer from an extramural institution by one year before the move to the Extramural site and will be evaluated by an internal NINR review board, not a traditional NIH study section. 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. Recipients approved to proceed with the Extramural Support Phase will receive notification of approval in writing from the NINR. By the end of the recipient"s second year of the Intramural Support Phase, the Dean of the extramural institution must provide a letter of commitment to the candidate by providing protected research time, infrastructure, and space needed to perform the proposed research. Matching funds from the institution for equipment and supplies (and if necessary, salary) are encouraged. Intramural Research at the NIH The NINR intramural research program is located on the Bethesda campus. In addition, NIH intramural research opportunities are available with other NIH institutes, such as the National Institute on Aging, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Human Genome Research Institute. For example, at the National Institute on 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. To assist the applicant in finding a sponsor for this research training and career development experience, a listing of NIH intramural research opportunities can be accessed through the following website http://www1.od.nih.gov/oir/sourcebook/sci-prgms/sci-prgms-toc.htm The website identifies individual Institutes and Centers, describes intramural laboratories and clinical research services, and the topic areas of interest within the institutes and centers. Names and phone numbers of scientists are listed on the websites, and prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the scientists directly and dialogue with them about the potential for a laboratory and/or clinical postdoctoral research training experience. It is recommended that the candidate obtain a commitment from the intramural scientist before completing the K22 application. When completing the application, the candidate should describe: 1) how the specific laboratory postdoctoral intramural experience will enhance his/her projected research career, and, 2) identify specific research training objectives. Research training objectives should include how the intramural research experience will assist the candidate in developing a unique program of research at an extramural institution. It is essential for the candidate to identify a mentor (usually the scientist who has committed to the postdoctoral research training) in the NIH intramural laboratory AND provide a letter of support from the mentor stating his/her willingness to accept the candidate for a postdoctoral research training opportunity, characteristics of the laboratory"s infrastructure including space for the candidate, computer accessibility, seminar attendance, and if needed, academic course work and/or clinical rounds. It is strongly recommended that potential candidates receive guidance regarding research and mentoring opportunities with NINR and with other NIH institute intramural research programs by contacting staff identified in the Inquiries section below. ALLOWABLE COSTS Intramural Support Phase: The budget for the Intramural Support Phase includes the candidate"s salary and research expenses determined by the NINR Intramural Scientific Director. There is no grant award associated with the intramural phase. Total cost for the intramural phase is based on the candidate"s experience and research expenses and is not to exceed $125,000 per year total cost. 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 candidate 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, institutions may rebudget funds within the total costs awarded, but may not rebudget funds involving the salary component of the budget. 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 (c) statistical service, including personnel and computer time. Total cost for the Extramural Support Phase cannot exceed $125,000 plus fringe benefits per year. 3. Ancillary Personnel Support: Salary for secretarial and administrative assistance, etc., is not allowed. 4. Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs: F&A costs will be reimbursed at eight percent of modified total direct costs. SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS Acceptance into the NINR Career Transition Award program does not convey any commitment or intent of the NINR to consider the awardee for a tenure track position within the NINR. The NINR Career Transition Award is specifically intended to give a postdoctoral research training experience to candidates who will pursue their career in the extramural scientific research community. However, the NINR Career Transition Awardee are not explicitly precluded from applying for available tenure track positions at the NIH. If an awardee 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 sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the UPDATED "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on August 2, 2000 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-048.html), a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm: The revisions relate to NIH defined Phase III clinical trials and require: a) all applications or proposals and/or protocols to provide a description of plans to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable, and b) all investigators to report accrual, and to conduct and report analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences. INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects that was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. URLS IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address, and telephone and fax numbers of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows NINR staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review. An e-mail or FAX letter of intent is acceptable. The letter of intent is to be sent by April 13, 2001 to: Dr. Mary Stephens-Frazier Scientific Review Administrator 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. Hilary Sigmon, at the address listed under INQUIRIES, prior to application submission. Applications are to be submitted using form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) and will be accepted on or before the receipt deadline of May 11, 2001. 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 doctoral or 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 (rev. 4/98) 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 should describe the research training and career development plan, incorporating consideration of the candidate"s goals and prior experience. The applicant should describe a systematic plan to obtain the necessary scientific background and research training experience to launch an independent research career (including the need for any courses, mentoring format, plans for immersion into the laboratory, 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. 4/98) 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-01-NNN) must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application for and the YES box must be marked. The sample RFA available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf has been modified to allow for this change. Please note this is in pdf format. 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 Scientific Review Administrator National Institute of Nursing Research Building 45, Room 3AN-12 Bethesda, MD 20892-6300 Applications must be received by May 11, 2001. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS 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 (NACNR). 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 independent research 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 A sound research plan that is consistent with the candidate"s level of research development must be provided, o Usefulness of the intramural research plan as a vehicle for enhancing or expanding 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. Intramural Training Plan o Appropriateness of the intramural training plan, considering the candidate"s goals and prior experience, o The logical sequence and scientific rigor of the intramural training plan with the candidates research plan, o Potential of the scholar to contribute 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 Applicants will be selected for award based on priority score ranking and programmatic needs. 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 awardee will be recommended for the extramural phase of support. At the same time, the awardee will prepare a revised research plan for the Extramural Support Phase of the award and submit the name of the institution offering the extramural faculty position. This review will be conducted by an NINR Progress Review Committee composed of members of the NINR Selection Committee, and other intramural and extramural scientists as appropriate. The results of the review will constitute a final evaluation of the Intramural Support Phase and be presented in writing to the awardee. 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. Schedule Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 13, 2001 Application Receipt Date: May 11, 2001 Peer Review Date: June 2001 Council Review: September 2001 Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 28, 2001 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/awardee 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 awardee"s research progress will be evaluated on an annual basis as with all other intramural scientific research programs. For this purpose, the awardee will prepare an annual 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 awardee 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 awardee. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Address questions for the 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: Ms. Cindy McDermott Grants Management Specialist National Institute of Nursing Research Building 45, Room 3AN12 - MSC 6300 Bethesda, MD 20892-6300 TELEPHONE: (301) 594-5979 FAX: (301) 480-8260 Email: cindy_mcdermott@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.361. Awards are made under authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.


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