Training News Flashes

New grant program for residents and fellows

A new grant program exists to support the research training and education of residents and fellows of neurology and neurosurgery.  This institutional award is designed to facilitate the transition from medical training into successful research careers.  Medical residents participate in an intensive 9 to 24 month mentored research education experience during residency and fellowship years to develop research skills and become better positioned to compete for independent funding. To learn more about this opportunity, refer to the funding opportunity announcement.  

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Elimination of A2 submissions

The NIH will no longer allow the submission of second amendments, or A2 applications, for new and competing renewal applications received after January 25, 2009. All grant mechanisms are affected by this policy change. Please refer to the Notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts for more information.

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New applicant category: Early Stage Investigators

In recognition of the increased length of postdoctoral training and delayed transition to independence for many investigators, the NIH has developed a new classification system that identifies "Early Stage Investigators" as those candidates who are within 10 years of completing their terminal degree. An extension of this 10 year period will be considered in certain circumstances; see an updated Notice for more information. Appropriate priority consideration will be given to Early Stage Investigator applications during peer review. For more information on this classification and how it differs from the existing "New Investigator" category, please refer to the relevant Notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.

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Electronic Submission: Ks, Fs, Ts

Required electronic submission of training and career development applications has been scheduled. For more information about the grant programs that are transitioning, review the Notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts announcing this change.  The timeline for electronic submission has been modified to reflect this change.

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More flexibility for T32s

Previously, NINDS required T32 applications to fund primarily postdoctoral fellows, with support of up to two advanced predoctoral fellows allowed. Effective immediately, with approval of the NINDS Training Director, Institutional Training Programs can support any combination of predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows. Please see the description of T32 programs supported by NINDS for details and important limitations of this change.

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New Review Cycle for Diversity and Reentry Supplements

Starting in Fiscal Year 2008, funding decisions for PA-08-190 “Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research,” and PA-08-191, “ Supplements to Promote Re-entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers,” applications will only be made three times a year, namely by the end of March, June, and December (see the Notice for details). Please see application procedures and supplementary information for Diversity and Reentry Research Supplements for more information.