Minority Programs Update - News and resources for MORE program participants

IN THIS ISSUE . . .
October 16, 2006

Funding Opportunities/Research Administration News

Meetings

The NIGMS Division of Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) administers research and research training programs aimed at increasing the number of minority biomedical and behavioral scientists. For more information about the Division, see http://www.nigms.nih.gov/minority.

NIGMS is one of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. By supporting basic biomedical research and training nationwide, NIGMS lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

All MORE grantees are automatically subscribed to this e-newsletter; other interested individuals are encouraged to subscribe. To subscribe, change subscription options, or unsubscribe, visit the Minority Programs Update subscription page at https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=nigms-mpu-newsletter&A=1.

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Got MORE news to share? Contact the newsletter editor, Susan Athey, at atheys@nigms.nih.gov or 301-496-7301.

From the MORE Director: Change is in the Air

For the past year, MORE staff have been working feverishly to meet deadlines for revising our program announcements. The new MBRS SCORE program was recently announced, as were the MBRS RISE and IMSD programs (see next story). Others are on the drafting table.

All MORE program announcements have a limited lifetime. When they are nearing renewal, they are reviewed to be sure that they comply with various evolving criteria and conform to certain specified templates. More importantly, the program announcements are examined to ensure they provide both guidance and flexibility, allowing institutions to tailor opportunities to meet their needs.

The MORE Division has sought—and continues to seek—input regarding each of our programs. A Working Group of the National Advisory General Medical Sciences (NAGMS) Council urged the Division to re-think the balance of its efforts between supporting research versus student development. It set a target for NIGMS to increase the number of underrepresented minorities receiving Ph.D.s in biomedical and behavioral sciences by 10 percent per year.

We encourage you to visit the MORE Planning Web page at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Minority/ProgramPlanning/ to offer your comments or suggestions for improving our programs.

Clifton A. Poodry
Director, MORE Division
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
poodryc@nigms.nih.gov
301-594-3900

MORE Program Revisions

Following the recommendations of the NAGMS Council, several MORE programs were modified or refocused in an effort to increase the number of minority biomedical researchers. While brief descriptions of the program revisions are provided below, applicants are encouraged to read the full program announcements for specific details about the changes. Questions can be directed to MORE program staff.

MBRS Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Awards (R25)
The RISE program has been refocused to clarify its goals, expectations, and intent. A notable change is that the RISE program is no longer available to 2-year institutions. For more information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-548.html.

MBRS Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Awards
The new SCORE program offers separate funding opportunities for individual, investigator-initiated research awards and a stand-alone, institutional award. It is hoped the new programs will allow for more interaction between principal investigators and NIH scientific staff. The mechanisms are:

SCORE Investigator-Initiated Awards:
Research Advancement Award (SC1)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-491.html

Pilot Project Award (SC2)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-492.html

Research Continuance Award (SC3)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-493.html

SCORE Institutional Award (S06):
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-490.html

MBRS Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) Awards (R25)
The new IMSD program has higher expectations of program participants in an effort to increase the number of underrepresented minorities performing biomedical and behavioral research. For more information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-553.html.

MORE News

NIGMS recently welcomed three new scientific staff members who are involved with MORE grants. They are Alberto Rivera-Rentas, Jermelina Tupas, and Mona Trempe. For more on these new staff members, see http://www.nih.gov/nihrecord/09_22_2006/09222006_Record.pdf (scroll to page 7).

The publication 21st Century Scientists: Research Training Opportunities for Underrepresented Minorities is now available on the NIGMS Web site. This brochure provides an overview of the Institute's minority programs and includes a chart of these programs by career stage. Printed copies also are available from the NIGMS Office of Communications and Public Liaison at info@nigms.nih.gov or 301-496-7301.

Funding Opportunities/Research Administration News

Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

Principal investigators holding active NIGMS research grants can request supplemental funds to recruit and support individuals from groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research. NIGMS now will consider requests to support more than one graduate student or postdoctoral fellow per grant. For more information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-GM-06-111.html and contact Anthony René, NIGMS assistant director for referral and liaison, at renea@nigms.nih.gov or 301-594-3833.

PREP on Hold

NIH recently announced that there will be no competition for Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) awards for the October 20, 2006, receipt date. For more information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-GM-06-114.html or contact Adolphus Toliver at tolivera@nigms.nih.gov or 301-594-3900.

Bridges Receipt Dates Change

The submission dates for the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Degree and Bridges to the Doctoral Degree programs have been changed from November 14, 2006, and May 14, 2007, to January 18 and May 18, 2007. For more information, contact Adolphus Toliver at tolivera@nigms.nih.gov or 301-594-3900.

Other Upcoming Receipt Dates

January 10, 2007—Ruth L. Kirschstein institutional postdoctoral National Research Service Awards (T32), Ruth L. Kirschstein institutional predoctoral National Research Service Awards (T32), Minority Access to Research Careers Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (T34) awards, and MARC Ancillary Training Activities (T36) awards.

January 16, 2007—MBRS Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (R25).

January 18, 2007—SCORE Research Advancement Award (SC1), Pilot Project Award (SC2), Research Continuance Award (SC3), and Institutional Development Award (S06).

February 21, 2007—Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (R25).

For more information on these programs, see the MORE Division Web page, http://www.nigms.nih.gov/minority.

Meetings

We look forward to seeing you at two NIGMS-supported meetings this fall. Be sure to stop by our exhibit booth to meet MORE staff, pick up NIGMS' latest science education materials, and learn about other NIGMS funding opportunities.

Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science

October 26-29, 2006 in Tampa, FL
http://www.sacnas.org

Be sure to check out the NIGMS session "Fire in the Belly: Why Should You Go to Graduate School?" on Friday, October 27, from 8:00-9:45 a.m. The session will highlight NIGMS-sponsored training programs, encourage undergraduates to seek the highest quality research training experiences, inform students and faculty mentors about opportunities at NIH-supported graduate programs, and develop linkages between undergraduate and research-intensive institutions.

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students

November 8-11, 2006 in Anaheim, CA
http://www.abrcms.org

MORE Division staff will provide an overview of recent program changes during the MORE Program Directors Meeting on Friday, November 10, from 9:30-10:30 a.m.