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Funding Strategy: Fiscal Year 2007

The Fogarty International Center (FIC), yearly, receives its appropriation from Congress for the upcoming FY; the organization develops a budget based on available resources within that appropriation. A joint resolution providing NIH with continued funding was provided to NIH on 2/15/07, by PL 110-005: Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution (CR), 2007.

Based on the terms of the CR, FIC is currently able to budget approximately $50.1 million for grant awards in FY 2007. These funds are apportioned between our anticipated competing awards of approximately $9.4 million and previously established funding commitments of approximately $40.7 million for our continuing non-competing awards. To provide adequate funds for new and re-competing awards, both competing and non-competing grants funding levels will be less than requested or recommended for FY 2007.

FIC non-competing grants, using the R01, U01, R21, and R03 mechanisms, will be funded at 97.1% of the FY2007 recommended levels (shown on the previous year’s grant award) in accordance with NIH guidance at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-049.html. FIC non-competing grants, using the D43, U2R, R25, and K01 mechanisms, will be funded at 94% of the FY2007 recommended levels (shown on the previous year’s grant award).

FIC competing grants will be funded at 94% of the recommended level for FY 2007 and all future years will be adjusted accordingly. In some circumstances, individual awards may need to be reduced more than 6% to accomplish the goals of the FIC FY 2007 Funding Strategy. Competing applications submitted and reviewed during FY 2007 that are not funded will be administratively de-activated in June 2008.

During the course of any given fiscal year, multiple factors could affect the implementation of the FIC funding strategy. Please check the FIC website (http://www.fic.nih.gov/) for periodic updates.

FIC uses several methods to solicit applications for research and research training awards: Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs) are the two chief methods used. In the past, RFAs have covered topics such as tobacco, genetics, HIV/AIDS, malaria, emerging infectious diseases, population and health, environmental and occupational health, ecology of infectious disease, biodiversity, international research in bioethics, and informatics training. The current FIC PAs are the AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP), Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (GID), Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award (FIRCA) Program, International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) Program, Trauma and Injury Training Program, Brain Disorders in the Developing World, and the Global Health Research Initiative Program (GRIP). FIC employs a variety of funding mechanisms to meet programmatic objectives. These mechanisms include Research Projects Grants (R01); Small Research Grants (R03); International Training Planning Grants (D71); International Research Training Cooperative Agreements (U2R); Cooperative Agreements (U01); International Training Grants (D43); Educational Projects (R25); and the Research Scientist Development Awards (K01).

The success rate of competing applications varies by program but generally ranges between 10 to 15%. Funding decisions are based on the number of high-quality applications, the overall number of applications, and the availability of funds. FIC funds a large number of initiatives with collaborating funding partners that include other NIH Institutes/Centers, other government agencies, and non-government organizations. In certain programs, the program relevance of FIC’s funding partners can also be a factor that affects the selection of grants to be funded. FIC’s cost-management plan strives to award grants at funding levels that are slightly less than the recommended amount by the review groups and the FIC Advisory Board. Final funding decisions take into account program relevance and overall portfolio consideration and decisions are made the FIC Director.

FIC is committed to providing opportunities for new investigators to engage in international research and training activities. The predominance of current FIC programs focus on the training of new and upcoming foreign investigators to compete in and contribute to efforts addressing global health research priorities. In order to augment these efforts, FIC developed a research program called the GRIP that concentrates on establishing research capacity for new investigators in their home countries. FIC has also made a change to its long-standing FIRCA program. Foreign collaborators are now allowed to apply for a competing continuation grant after the first competitive segment has been awarded. Additionally, FIC has also converted many of its on-going programs to the Program Announcement (PA) format that will allow new investigators an ongoing opportunity to compete as well as submit amended applications for FIC awards.