Institutional Research Training Grants
Supplemental Information/Application Instructions
Purpose and Availability
The National Eye Institute (NEI) encourages the submission of applications for National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (T32). General details regarding the NIH T32 program, including objectives, eligibility, service payback, application processing, and review criteria, are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-109.html. The training programs proposed must place primary emphasis on enhancing predoctoral and/or postdoctoral training in disciplines relevant to research on the visual system. These include the areas of biostatistics and clinical trial methodology. Training programs may be focused on a single scientific discipline or may more broadly include several disciplines. The NEI expects that the majority of the preceptors will be engaged in vision research directly and that trainees will receive course work, where appropriate, and conduct research on the visual system.
Training programs may include any appropriately-justified mix of predoctoral- and postdoctoral-level positions. Any proposed postdoctoral-level training should include strategies to encourage trainees, where appropriate, to make the transition to an individual mechanism of training or career development support: NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32), Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08), or Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23).
Application Receipt Date and Review Schedule
NEI accepts Institutional Training Grant applications only once each year:
May 10.
Applications assigned to the NEI will be reviewed in June or July by an initial review group convened by the Chief, Scientific Review Branch, NEI, and by the National Advisory Eye Council in September. Funding decisions will be made by the following December.
The original application and THREE exact copies should be sent to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817-7710 (for express/courier service)In order to expedite the review of the application, at the same time, please mail or deliver TWO additional complete copies of the application to:
Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Eye Institute
Division of Extramural Research
Suite 1300
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9300
Bethesda, MD 20892-9300Review Criteria
The criteria for initial review are provided in the NIH general program announcement referenced above. Of these review criteria, the past research training record will be given the most weight.
For further information regarding the initial scientific review, prospective applicants should contact the Chief, Scientific Review Branch, at (301) 451-2020.
In the second stage, the National Advisory Eye Council will consider: (1) the scientific training merit as assessed by the initial review group, and (2) the relevance of the proposed training to NEI programs and priorities as described in Vision Research--A National Plan: 1999-2003. Funding decisions will be based on the results of peer review, programmatic considerations, and the availability of funds.
General Application Instructions
Applicants should submit applications using form PHS 398 (Rev. 05/2001). The "Additional Instructions for Preparing Institutional National Research Service Award Applications" included in the PHS 398 application kit should be followed carefully. Further information is available on the World Wide Web at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-00-103.html.
More than one application may be submitted per institution (or per campus for multicampus institutions), if the training programs are focused on different disciplines. Independent, neighboring institutions may submit an application for a joint training program.
Additional NEI Application Instructions
Form Page 5-PP. Budget Justification - Number of Trainees Requested. Applicants should justify the number of predoctoral and postdoctoral positions for which support is requested. Among the factors that are relevant are the time commitments of the faculty and the availability of highly-qualified candidate trainees.
Section 9.b.(2). Program Faculty. NEI expects that all proposed preceptors will have a strong record of obtaining independent, peer reviewed research support, and have appropriate experience in training candidates. The application should specify which members of the proposed training faculty will serve as preceptors.
Section 9.b.(3). Proposed Training. The application should describe how the design of the proposed training program will meet NEI training goals. The immediate goal of the NEI institutional training grant program is to provide high quality research training in biostatistics, clinical trial methodology, and/or basic science disciplines relevant to vision research. A longer term goal is to increase the numbers of well-trained individuals who will pursue opportunities in vision research. It is expected that the trainee's introduction to opportunities in vision research will come principally through the trainee's research projects and required course work. However, the application should also describe any special educational experiences for trainees, such as seminars and meetings, which would enhance training in the visual sciences.
If postdoctoral positions are requested, the justification should include a discussion of the institution's plans for using these positions to attract promising candidates to vision research and to provide transitional support to other mechanisms of training or career development support. It is recognized that transition to an individual award may not be appropriate for some postdoctoral trainees, e.g., clinicians engaged in research training leading to a graduate degree. NEI expects that all postdoctoral trainees will be engaged directly in research on the visual system, regardless of the disciplinary focus of the training program.
Clinicians accepted for an NRSA traineeship who have had little, if any, prior basic research experience should make a commitment for at least two years of initial research training. The two years of training may be supported by NRSA and/or non-NRSA sources. However, the non-NRSA training must be comparable to NRSA training, i.e., training on a full-time basis, with clinical duties confined to those that are a part of the research training. Clinicians should explore the eligibility requirements and features of the Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) or the Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23), mechanisms designed to help support their transition from a training status to that of an independent investigator.
Inquiries
Inquiries are encouraged. Please contact the following individual prior to submitting an application:
Research Training Officer
National Eye Institute
Division of Extramural Research
Suite 1300
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9300
Bethesda, MD 20892-9300
Telephone: 301-451-2020For grants administration information, applicants should contact:
Ms. Linda Dingle
Grants Management Specialist
National Eye Institute
Division of Extramural Research
Suite 1300
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9300
Bethesda, MD 20892-9300
Telephone: (301) 451-2020
Email: ltd@nei.nih.govThe NEI publication, Vision Research - A National Plan: 1999-2003, is available on the NEI web site and in hard copy from:
Office of Science Policy and Legislation
National Eye Institute
Building 31, Room 6A25
31 Center Dr. MSC 2510
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
Telephone: (301) 496-4308.Authority and Regulations
This program is described in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.867, Vision Research. Awards 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 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
