Nih prep program application

Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25)

Activity Code Announcement Type Related Notices Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number Companion Funding Opportunity Number of Applications

Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) Funding Opportunity Purpose

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The goal of this NIGMS R25 program is to support educational activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce. To this end, this funding opportunity announcement encourages the development of creative educational activities with a primary focus on Research Experiences and Courses for Skills Development. Applications are encouraged from research-intensive institutions that propose to develop recent baccalaureate science graduates from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences so that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue PhD or MD-PhD degrees in these fields. The program provides support for well-designed courses for skills development and extensive research experiences aimed at preparing individuals from diverse backgrounds to complete doctoral degrees.

Posted Date

January 27, 2014

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

February 28, 2014

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) Application Due Date(s)

March 31, 2014; January 25, 2015; January 25, 2016, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

AIDS Application Due Date(s) Scientific Merit Review

June-July, 2014; June-July, 2015; June-July, 2016

Advisory Council Review

October, 2014; October, 2015; October, 2016

Earliest Start Date

December, 2014; December, 2015, December, 2016

Expiration Date

January 26, 2016

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions will not be reviewed

Table of Contents

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research educational activities that complement other formal training programs in the mission areas of the NIH Institutes and Centers. The over-arching goals of the NIH R25 program are to: (1) complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs; (2) enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce; (3) help recruit individuals with specific specialty or disciplinary backgrounds to research careers in biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences; and (4) foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications.

This goal of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) is to support educational activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce. To this end, this funding opportunity announcement encourages the development of creative educational activities with a primary focus on research experiences and courses for skills development for recent college graduates, to prepare them for graduate school.

Applications are encouraged from research-intensive institutions that propose to develop recent baccalaureate science graduates from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences so that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue PhD or MD-PhD degrees in these fields. The program provides support for well-designed courses for skills development and extensive research experiences aimed at preparing individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to complete rigorous doctoral degree programs in these disciplines.

Background

The NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences research workforce. The NIH expects efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups; to improve the quality of the educational and training environment; to balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; to improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the nation's capacity to address and eliminate health disparities.

Accordingly, the NIH continues to encourage institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations and thus to increase the participation of individuals currently underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences. Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will increase diversity on a national or institutional basis.

There is abundant evidence that the biomedical and educational enterprise will directly benefit from broader inclusion. Recent studies have supported the argument that diversity enhances the quality of education in multiple settings. Studies have suggested that racially and culturally concordant scientific staff may be more successful in recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups into clinical trials. Racially similar physician-patient dyads also may be related to greater patient satisfaction in ways that could enhance communication and participation in clinical research settings. There is no question that the need for a diverse workforce permeates all aspects of the nation's health-related research effort.

Although the NIH currently provides multiple opportunities to develop research careers and improve participation of individuals from groups with low representation in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, reports from the National Science Foundation (NSF), (see http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/) and others provide strong evidence that the lack of diversity remains an important problem that the entire research enterprise must actively address. As part of its mission (see the NIGMS Strategic Plan), NIGMS actively supports programs that would increase the pool of scientists who are members of groups currently underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives, natives of the US Pacific Islands, and individuals with disabilities. The data clearly show that populations of these groups have historically not gained access to biomedical and behavioral sciences disciplines, and continue to be underrepresented in those fields.

Objectives

The objective of the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) is to prepare individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences who have recently obtained their baccalaureate degrees for successful completion of PhD or MD-PhD training programs. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, recent baccalaureate graduates are those who have graduated from an accredited U.S. college or university no more than 36 months prior to applying to the PREP and are not currently enrolled in a degree program. In order to increase their acceptance into rigorous doctoral training programs, PREP participants will receive extensive research experiences and take courses for skills development during a one- to two-year research apprenticeship, to further develop their scholarly potential and improve their research skills. NIGMS expects that this program will lead to a steady supply of exceptional PhD students from underrepresented groups.

Program Components

PREP applications are institutional in nature and therefore they should reflect the plans and priorities of the participating institutions. PREPs should generate carefully designed, individualized student development plans (IDPs) that are compatible with the participants curricular needs and experience, combined with research projects mentored by faculty members who have active and extramurally funded research programs. The development plans will typically be designed within the context of a one-year apprenticeship to provide the necessary skills to prepare the participants for rigorous doctoral training programs. Participants should not be appointed for less than a year. NIGMS recognizes that each participant has individual needs and that a one-year program may not be sufficient for some to fully prepare to be competitive for graduate school. A second-year apprenticeship is allowable at the discretion of the PREP Program Director/Principal Investigator if within the awarded costs of a particular program. This does not require NIGMS pre-approval, but should be used selectively for those participants who would benefit from a second year in the program. The second-year apprenticeship must enhance participants competitiveness to enter a rigorous doctoral program and not simply allow participants more time to decide if they wish to obtain a graduate degree, to explore other career options, or to provide job opportunities. This program will not support individuals earning Master's degrees. Applications may request between five and ten postbaccalaureate positions for each year of the grant (i.e., up to 50 participants for a five-year grant period), for individuals to engage in courses for skills development and mentored research studies.

As apprentice scientists, the participants will be involved in independent research projects that will allow them to experience the fulfillment of discovery as scientists. They are expected to learn to develop their own hypotheses and design experiments to test them. The research environment should be supportive and favorable to learning and include opportunities for the participants to interact with graduate student peers, postdoctoral researchers, and other investigators who could contribute to their growth and will allow them to thrive in rigorous doctoral programs. PREP participants will be required to work as research apprentices at 9 person-months (75% full-time effort) and the other 3 person-months (25% full-time effort) will be for further skills development.

The academic preparations may include courses, workshops, seminars, supplemental instruction, or lectures that will enrich the quantitative and analytical skills of the participants. The courses to be taken should be appropriate to the requirements for rigorous doctoral programs.

In addition to developing IDPs for each participant, PREPs should include group activities that will complement or augment the individualized plans and allow for interactions among participants. The group activities should be appropriate to the resources of the institution and integrated well with the overall program plan. These activities should enrich the participants verbal, analytical and critical thinking abilities and build their academic credentials to support their completion of PhD degrees. While constructed and conducted with PREP support, these activities may include non-PREP participants and thereby convey benefit more broadly throughout the institution. Existing activities within the institution should not be duplicated. Rather, efforts should be made to integrate the PREP participants into the institutional activities. Plans to connect the PREP with other institutional student training programs, such as NIH-funded training grants, should be provided.

It is expected that upon completion of apprenticeship, PREP participants will apply to high-caliber doctoral training programs. It is also anticipated that institutional PREPs will help awardee institutions in achieving greater diversity in their doctoral programs, either through institutional change fostered by experience with the PREP program and/or through recruitment of successful PREP participants into those programs.

Since PREP participants should have an interest in obtaining a PhD and/or MD-PhD degree as a condition of enrollment in the program, NIGMS expects that a successful PREP will provide the knowledge and skills such that at least 75% of its participants go on to such programs. Furthermore, with this expertise and experience, NIGMS expects that at least 75% of the participants who enter these programs will obtain the degree(s). Thus, applicant institutions should design the strategies and interventions, as well as set the goals and measurable objectives for their PREPs, within the context of the NIGMS’s expectations and in line with their institutional settings and missions.

Research education programs may complement ongoing research training and education occurring at the applicant institution, but the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those training and education programs currently receiving Federal support. R25 programs may augment institutional research training programs (e.g., T32, T90) but cannot be used to replace or circumvent Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) programs.

Section II. Award Information Funding Instrument

Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New
Renewal
Resubmission

The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

NIGMS intends to commit $2.5 million (total costs) annually.

Award Budget

Although the size of award may vary with the scope of the research education program proposed, it is expected that applications will stay within the following budgetary guidelines: total direct costs are limited to $400,000 annually.

Award Project Period

The total project period may not exceed 5 years.

Other Award Budget Information Personnel Costs

Individuals designing, directing, and implementing the research education program may request salary and fringe benefits appropriate for the person months devoted to the program. Salaries requested may not exceed the levels commensurate with the institution's policy for similar positions and may not exceed the congressionally mandated cap. (If mentoring interactions and other activities with participants are considered a regular part of an individual's academic duties, then any costs associated with the mentoring and other interactions with participants are not allowable costs from grant funds).

Salary support for the PD(s)/PI(s) (or combination of multiple PD(s)/PI(s)) may be requested up to a total of 1.8 person-months (15% full-time) effort per year. Salary for a program coordinator may be requested to assist the PD(s)/PI(s) in the day-to-day administration of the program. The role of the program coordinator in the implementation of the program should be clearly defined and be significantly different from the PD(s)/PI(s). The duties and responsibilities of the program coordinator should be included in the budget justification. The salary of the coordinator is limited to a maximum of 6 person-months (50% full-time) effort per year.

Participant Costs

Remuneration for PREP participants is through salary and wages. PREP participants will be paid a salary of $27,200. The total compensation package, which includes fringe benefits and tuition remission and fees (if applicable) for a PREP participant must not exceed $35,000/year from the grant. Institutions can supplement PREP participant salary and benefits with non-federal funds if needed and if they follow applicant institution guidelines for wages for employees in similar positions at the institution. PREP participants will be required to work as research apprentices devoting a minimum of 9 person-months (75% of full-time professional effort), and the remaining 3 person-months (25% effort) will be for further academic development. In order for the participant to receive this compensation, the following conditions must be met:

TUITION REMISSION: The applicant institution may request tuition remission for a course it deems necessary to enhance the preparedness of a PREP scholar for graduate studies; tuition remission must be specifically justified. However, tuition remission may not exceed the in-state tuition cost at institutions that also have out-of-state tuition charges.

TRAVEL: Applicants may request support for travel of PREP scholars to attend or present scientific papers at domestic scientific conferences. Requests for PREP scholars travel to scientific meetings or workshops must be carefully justified, with specificity.

Other Program-Related Expenses

Consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel for key persons, and other program-related expenses may be included in the proposed budget. These expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution.

Indirect Costs

Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs (exclusive of tuition and fees and expenditures for equipment), rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Higher Education Institutions

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

The applicant institution must be a research-intensive institution that has a significant number of faculty mentors with active and extramurally funded (such as R01 or equivalent) research programs to support adequate research and academic training of the participants. It must be an institution with strong PhD and/or MD-PhD degree programs in biomedical and/or behavioral sciences that could provide excellent, challenging, and supportive, peer groups for the PREP participants to interact and network with and also serve as peer mentors.

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.

Institutions with existing Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (e.g., T32) or other Federally funded training programs may apply for a research education grant provided that the proposed educational experiences are distinct from those training programs receiving federal support. In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed research education program will complement ongoing research training occurring at the applicant institution.

Foreign Institutions Required Registrations

Applicant Organizations

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account and should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate an existing account with the applicant organization’s eRA Commons account. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

The PD/PI should be an established investigator in the scientific area in which the application is targeted and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required.

The PD(s)/(PI(s) must have a regular, full-time appointment (i.e., not adjunct, part-time, retired, or emeritus) at the applicant institution and should have research, teaching, student counseling and/or academic administrative experience and an interest in promoting biomedical and behavioral science education among students from underrepresented groups.

2. Cost Sharing

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed within the past thirty-seven months (as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), except for submission:

Program Faculty

Researchers from diverse backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and women are encouraged to participate as preceptors/mentors. Mentors should have research expertise and experience relevant to the proposed program. Mentors must be committed to continue their involvement throughout the total period of the mentee s participation in this award.

Participants

The applicant institution will select the PREP participants who will receive salary support and it is the responsibility of the institution to establish the qualifications of the participants before they are supported by the program. In order to receive salary support, participants must be considered underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research, have a baccalaureate degree in a biomedically relevant science from an accredited U.S. college or university awarded no more than 36 months prior to applying to a PREP, and must not be currently enrolled in a degree program.

For the purpose of this FOA, individuals underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences include the following:

A. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see data at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27 and the most recent report on Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be convincingly demonstrated to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in this program.

B. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

C. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who are defined as:

1. Individuals who come from a family with an annual income below established low-income thresholds. These thresholds are based on family size; published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census; adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index; and adjusted by the Secretary for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary periodically publishes these income levels at HHS - Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement. For individuals from low income backgrounds, the institution must be able to demonstrate that such participants have (1) qualified for Federal disadvantaged assistance, (2) they have received Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL) or Loans for Disadvantaged Student Program, or (3) they have received scholarships from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Scholarship for Individuals with Exceptional Financial Need.

2. Individuals who come from a social, cultural, or educational environment such as that found in certain rural or inner-city environments that have demonstrably and recently directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.

Recruitment and retention plans related to a disadvantaged background (C1 and C2) are most applicable to high school and perhaps to undergraduate candidates, but would be more difficult to justify for individuals beyond that level of academic achievement. Under extraordinary circumstances the PHS may, at its discretion, consider an individual beyond the undergraduate level to be from a disadvantaged background. Such decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, based on appropriate documentation.

Institutions are required to develop selection plans and criteria to identify eligible participants who are interested in pursuing a career in biomedical or behavioral research. Selection of program supported participants should take into consideration whether the participant’s inclusion would help achieve the overall goals/objectives of the proposed institutional program and the PREP goals. All individuals selected as participants should intend to apply for a PhD and/or MD-PhD program in the biomedical or behavioral sciences, immediately following completion of apprenticeship.

PREP participants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package 2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructionswill not be reviewed.

Page Limitations Required and Optional Components

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, required and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.

Instructions for Application Submission

The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this FOA.

SF424(R&R) Cover

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

SF424 (R&R) Other Project Information

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide with the following additional modifications:

Facilities & Other Resources. Describe the educational environment, including the facilities, laboratories, participating departments, computer services, and any other resources to be used in the development and implementation of the proposed program. List all thematically related sources of support for research training and education following the format for Current and Pending Support.

An Institutional Advisory Committee for the PREP is recommended. This committee may provide counsel and assistance to the PD(s)/PI(s) and institutional officials in meeting the goals of the PREP. Representatives from various institutional offices, including those involved in graduate admission, student advising, business office, and central administration, may make up this committee. Representatives including PREP participants or graduate students as well as faculty members from one or two participating departments are also appropriate. Other committee members may include individuals or faculty members from other institutions who may be able to provide insights to further the goals and specific measurable objectives of the program.

Typically, an advisory committee may: (1) advise and assist the PD(s)/PI(s) in the development and implementation of program procedures and practices, (2) assist the PD(s)/PI(s) in establishing criteria and procedures for the admittance/retention of participants and selection of faculty mentors, (3) help monitor progress of program activities and participants, (4) assist the PD(s)/PI(s) in designing IDPs, (5) advise on rebudgeting of funds, (6) help expand the present effort by identifying internal and external funding sources, (7) assist in monitoring compliance with NIH policies and regulations, and, if necessary, (8) address faculty and participant grievances related to the PREP, and (9) assist in selecting a new PD(s)/PI(s) if it becomes necessary.

If an Advisory Committee will be used, provide a plan for the appointment of an Advisory Committee to monitor progress of the training program. The composition, roles, responsibilities, and desired expertise of committee members, frequency of committee meetings, and other relevant information should be included. Describe how the Advisory Committee will evaluate the overall effectiveness of the program. Proposed Advisory Committee members should be named in the application if they have been invited to participate at the time the application is submitted. Renewal applications with Advisory Committees should include the names of all committee members during the past project period. Please name your file Advisory_Committee.pdf

The filename provided for each Other Attachment will be the name used for the bookmark in the electronic application in eRA Commons.

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide with the following additional modifications: