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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Information for Applicants from Foreign Institutions
Research Grants
1. Does NCCAM offer research grants to foreign (non-U.S. based) institutions?
Yes, foreign institutions may either:- Apply for direct funding under selected grant mechanisms and initiatives at NCCAM/NIH or
- Receive support through subcontracts or consortium agreements, by being collaborators with other investigators funded by NCCAM.
2. What advantages can foreign institutions gain by partnering with a U.S.-based research institution?
The NIH grant application and review process is complex and highly competitive (see information about NCCAM's funding strategy), including the "success" rate for grant applications). The likelihood of success in this process is highly dependent on a researcher's experience with it. For these reasons, many foreign investigators choose to work in a collaborative partnership with an experienced investigator and/or institution that has a successful record of obtaining NIH funding and can provide sound advice regarding the proposed research plan and grant application.
3. Please describe how a consortium partnership with an experienced institution (as mentioned in question #2), might work. How might a foreign institution get involved?
Foreign institutions often receive NIH/NCCAM support as foreign components of a grant made to another research institution. In these cases, the funding flows from the grantee institution to the foreign collaborating institution through a sub-contract agreement between the two institutions. The sub-contract agreement details the respective roles, activities and responsibilities of both institutions, and any conditions or terms for payment of sub-contract funds. These arrangements are developed during the grant application process.
4. How can a foreign institution or researcher identify potential collaborators?
The most important consideration is developing a collegial relationship with other investigators or institutions that have the requisite scientific experience and skills, and that may have an interest in your research. Tools to assist in finding potential collaborators include:
- Attend professional conferences or associations, especially those that focus on the particular subject area of interest;
- Search the PubMed database to identify published research on the particular topic of interest to the foreign institution, and the researchers who have authored such research (PubMed is a Web-accessible tool for searching peer-reviewed professional journals);
- Search the CRISP database to help identify researchers (and institutions) who currently are NIH grant recipients in the area of interest (and further searches to specifically identify successful NCCAM grant recipients in the research area of interest). (CRISP is a Web-accessible search tool that allows the public to search through all current grants funded by NIH and several other U.S. Federal Health agencies.)
5. What research topics are of priority interest to NCCAM?
NCCAM supports biomedical research in complementary, alternative, and traditional medicine primarily by funding the best proposals submitted to it through a competitive grant applications process. NCCAM describes its priorities in its 5-Year Strategic Plan.
NCCAM also periodically releases Program Announcements (PAs) and Requests for Applications (RFAs) that update and expand upon the Center's research priorities, or that solicit research addressing specific needs or priorities.
6. Are there specific deadlines for the submission of research applications to NCCAM for funding?
Deadlines for PAs or RFAs are listed in the announcements.
Deadlines for "unsolicited" applications are available on NIH's Web site.
7. Which research NCCAM grant mechanisms can be used to support foreign institutions to do CAM research?
Foreign institutions may submit grant applications for the following types of grant mechanisms used by NCCAM. A description of the many types of grant mechanisms used by NCCAM can be found online.
- Research Project (R01 mechanism) http://era.nih.gov/electronicreceipt/index.htm
- Exploratory/Development Grants (R21 mechanism)
- Small Research Grants (R03 mechanism; these must be solicited via a specific RFA or PA utilizing the RO3 mechanism)
In the case of PAs or RFAs, eligibility of foreign institutions will be specified in the announcement. In addition, NCCAM encourages foreign researchers to contact the appropriate NCCAM Program Officer noted in the PA or RFA, or on the NCCAM Web site.
8. What kinds of grants are not awarded to foreign institutions by NCCAM?
Foreign institutions are not eligible to submit grant applications for the following types of grant mechanisms used by NCCAM:
- Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) (T32 mechanism)
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Short-Term Research Training (T35 mechanism)
- Program Project Grants (P01 mechanism)
- Center Grants (P30 and P50 mechanisms)
- Resource Grants (P41 mechanisms)
- Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants (R41 and R42 mechanisms)
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants (R43 and R44 mechanisms)
- Conference Grants (R13 mechanism)
- Career Development Awards (all K mechanisms)
- Academic Research Enhancement Awards (R15 mechanism)
9. Does the NIH accept research grant applications sent via mail, or do they require these applications be sent electronically, via the web? Are there any special requirements regarding electronic submission applicants should be aware of?
The NIH is transitioning from paper submission of grant applications to electronic submission via the web portal of Grants.gov, while simultaneously phasing out the PHS398 grant application form and replacing it with the SF424 [Research and Research-related (R&R)] application. This staged transition began in December 2005 and will culminate in September 2007.
Applicants must first register at the Grants.gov website in order to be able to utilize this service. Please visit: http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/faq_prepare.htm and http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/preparing_grantsgov_reg.htm for more information on registration, and other frequently asked questions.
Guidance for this staged transition from paper copy submission to electronic submission is evolving frequently. Applicants should refer to: era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/index.htm for a more complete description of this process and its requirements.
10. What should foreign applicants know about the review process at NIH?
All NIH-supported research is subject to the same process of peer review. You can learn more about the NIH grant review process at the NIH Center for Scientific Review Web site.
11. Do special requirements apply to foreign applicants during the review process?
During the initial peer review process, standard NIH review, evaluation, and scoring criteria will be used for applications from foreign institutions or international organizations. In addition, the following criteria will also be used as part of the review process and award decision for foreign applicants:
- Whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily accessible in the U.S., or that augment existing U.S. resources;
- Whether the proposed project has specific relevance to the mission and objectives of NCCAM and has the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences.
In addition, research grant applications from foreign or international organizations must also be specifically approved for funding by NCCAM's National Advisory Council. In addition, clearance by the U.S. Department of State may also be required. Finally, there may be special requirements of the foreign country in which the research will take place. For example, the governments of India and Brazil must approve any externally-funded research before the grants can be released to the researchers.
12. What U.S. Government policy requirements apply to grants made to foreign institutions or international organizations?
A complete listing of public policy requirements and objectives, and their applicability to foreign grants, is included in "Public Policy Requirements and Objectives" of the NIH Grants Policy Statement (12/03).
13. When considering the budgets for proposed research, are there any types of costs or expenses that NIH will not pay for?
In general, the costs that are allowable under grants to domestic U.S. organizations are also allowable under foreign grants, with the following important exceptions:
- Alteration and Renovation (A&R). NIH will not allow its foreign research grants to pay for any building or structural alterations or renovations. This restriction also applies to the foreign components of grants made to U.S. institutions.
- Customs and import duties. For its foreign research grants or foreign components within U.S. grants, NIH will also not pay for any customs or import-related expenses. This includes consular fees, customs surtax, value-added taxes, and other related charges.
- Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs. NIH provides for limited reimbursement of F&A costs to foreign institutions and international organizations to support the costs of compliance with NIH requirements including, but not limited to, protection of human subjects, animal welfare, and research misconduct. This is usually calculated at 8 percent of total direct costs, less equipment. NIH will not support the acquisition of, or provide for depreciation on, any capital expenditures, or support the normal, general operations of foreign and international organizations. Excepted from this policy is the American University of Beirut, and the World Health Organization.
Research Training
14. Can foreign national scientists study or conduct research on the NIH/NCCAM campus?
Training opportunities at NCCAM for foreign national scientists are available through the NIH Visiting Program. The Visiting Program is open to scientists at all career levels. There are two categories of program participants, Visiting Fellows, who receive awards for research training, and Visiting Scientists, who receive appointments to conduct research. Foreign scientists (pre/post doc) who wish to participate in the NIH Visiting Program must first secure an invitation for an award or appointment from a senior scientist at the NIH. The award or appointment is offered based on a candidate's qualifications and the research needs of the host laboratory. Each participant works closely with a senior NIH investigator who serves as supervisor or sponsor during the period of award or appointment.
15. What other opportunities are available through NCCAM to support the training of foreign scientists in the U.S.?
In the past, NCCAM had an International Postdoctoral Fellowship (F05 mechanism) which is designed to support training of foreign scientists in rigorous research methodology at a clinical or basic research facility in the U.S. The purpose of the training is to prepare foreign scientists to successfully conduct high-quality research in CAM when they return to their home countries and to establish a lasting collaborative relationship with the U.S. research partner. Candidates must hold a doctoral degree (or foreign equivalent) in a biomedical or behavioral science, must have at least four years of relevant experience beyond the doctoral degree, and must have a permanent independent position in their home institutions to which to return.
Note: The F05 International Fellowship mechanism is currently under review and is closed to applicants at this time.
16. Will NCCAM support the training and career development of foreign national scientists at foreign institutions?
No. Eligibility for the National Research Service Award (NRSA) for predoctoral (F31 mechanism), postdoctoral (F32 mechanism), and senior (F33 mechanism) fellowships requires that the applicant be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national of the U.S., or have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence by the time of award. Career awards (K mechanisms) are also only available to those detailed above.
17. Are there mechanisms available to support U.S. citizens, permanent residents and non-citizen nationals who want to do research at foreign institutions?
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-citizen nationals interested in conducting research at foreign institutions may be eligible to apply for NRSA mechanisms, specifically the F31 (pre-doctoral), F32 (post-doctoral) and F33 (senior fellowship) mechanisms. More information on these mechanisms can be found online.
18. Where can foreign national scientists learn about other NIH grant and fellowship opportunities for which they may be eligible?
NIH's Fogarty International Center (FIC) promotes and supports scientific research and training internationally to reduce disparities in global health. Learn more about research and training opportunities for which foreign national scientists may be eligible.
19. Where might interested parties refer for more general information on NIH grant policy?
The NIH's Grants Policy provides additional overall guidance to foreign institutions on eligibility.
20. Where can foreign national scientists learn about other non-NIH research grant and fellowship opportunities for which they may be eligible?
There are several sources for information on grants from places other than the NIH:
