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Funding Strategy: Fiscal Year 2009

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Introduction

Budget Data

Research and Research Training Funding Guidelines

Research Funding Opportunities

Strategy for New Investigators

Introduction

Fogarty International Center (FIC) distributes its resources among many programs and mechanisms. FIC is committed to funding the largest number of meritorious projects possible, while allowing the flexibility needed to support selected program priorities and to respond to emerging scientific opportunities.

The Center establishes general guidelines for funding based on the overall FIC appropriation, allowing for necessary adjustments throughout the year to reflect directives from Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as emerging program priorities.

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.

Budget Data

Appropriations

FIC is operating on a continuing resolution (CR) [Public Law 110-329 Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009] that currently extends through March 6, 2009. The CR applies the terms of the FY 2008 appropriations for the period covered by the CR. Until the final FY 2009 appropriation is enacted, NIH will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level).

FIC is currently able to budget approximately $50.2 million for grant awards during the CR. These funds are apportioned between our anticipated competing awards of approximately $15 million and previously established funding commitments of approximately $34.3 million of our continuing non-competing awards.

Success Rate and Funding Decisions

The success rate of competing applications varies by program, but generally ranges between 10 to 15 percent. 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 close to, but slightly less than, the amount recommended by the review groups and the FIC Advisory Board. Funding decisions take into account program relevance and overall portfolio consideration. Final funding decisions are made by the FIC Director.

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Research and Research Training Funding Guidelines

Non-Competing Awards (Type5)

FIC will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90 percent of the previously committed level). This is consistent with our practice during the CRs of FY 2006 - 2008. NIH will consider upward adjustments to these levels after the final appropriation is enacted. FIC will issue awards with the following training grant mechanisms: D43, U2R, K01, R24, and R25's at the recommended level for FY 2009.

New and Competing Awards

To provide adequate funds for new and re-competing grants, funded levels will be less than requested or recommended for FY 2009. Most FIC competing grants will be funded at 94 percent of the recommended level for FY 2009 and all future years will be adjusted accordingly. In some circumstances, individual awards may need to be reduced more than six percent to accomplish the goals of the FIC FY 2009 Funding Strategy.

Unfunded Applications

Competing applications submitted and reviewed during FY 2009 that are not funded will be administratively de-activated in June 2010.

Competing Grants issued with Significant Budget Reductions

FIC considers reductions in funding (greater than 25 percent of the total costs of the IRG recommended level for the competitive year) to be a change in scope. FIC staff will request revised budgets and specific aims if this occurs.

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Research Funding Opportunities

FIC uses two methods to solicit applications for research and research training awards: Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs). In the past, RFAs have covered topics such as tobacco, 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.

FIC employs a variety of funding mechanisms to meet programmatic objectives. Current funding mechanisms, and related active program announcements, include:

• Research Projects Grants (R01)
• Small Research Grants (R03)
• Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
• International Training Planning Grants (D71)
• International Research Training Cooperative Agreements (U2R)
• Cooperative Agreements (U01)
• International Training Grants (D43)
• Educational Projects (R25)
• Research Scientist Development Awards (K01)
• Resource-Related Research Projects (R24)

For more information about current research and training programs, please see FIC's funding opportunities web page: (http://www.fic.nih.gov/funding/index.htm).

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Strategy for New Investigators

FIC is committed to providing opportunities for new investigators to engage in international research and training activities. The predominant focus of the current FIC programs is 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 has developed a research program, called Global Research Initiative Program for New Foreign Investigators (GRIP), which concentrates on establishing research capacity for new investigators in their home countries.

FIC has also made a change to its long-standing Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award (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 converted many of its on-going programs to the Program Announcement (PA) format. This will allow new investigators the opportunity to compete annually as well as submit amended applications for FIC awards.

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