Supplemental Information for
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Institutional National Research Service Awards (T32)
March 14, 2008
I INTRODUCTION
This policy statement of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) supplements the general guidelines of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as described in the program announcement: “Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grants (T32)” http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-468.html.
This NIAAA supplemental information and policies will go into effect for all T32 applications submitted for the May 25, 2008 receipt date.
II PURPOSE AND AVAILABILITY
The purpose of the NIAAA Institutional training program is to help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles in alcohol-related biomedical and behavioral research consistent with the Institute’s Mission Statement http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/AboutNIAAA/OrganizationalInformation/Mission.htm and five-year Strategic Plan http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/StrategicPlan/NIAAASTRATEGICPLAN.htm.
Each year the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) supports a total of approximately 200 trainees (80 pre-doctoral and 120 post-doctoral) at about 30 Institutional Training programs with a total annual budget of nearly $8 million. Each NIAAA Training Program provides a unique training experience focused on a significant issue in alcohol research (see: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralResearch/trainee.htm). In addition, institution¬al training programs form an important complement to Alcohol Research Centers, many of which are affiliated with a NIAAA institutional training program. Given the five-year maximum duration of T32 awards, an average of about six programs come up for competitive renewal each year. The receipt date for NIAAA T32 applications is May 25 of each year.
III SPECIAL NIAAA GUIDELINES
1) Distinctive goals: The focus of NIAAA-sponsored training programs must be on research topics relevant to alcohol use and its consequences and exhibit significant potential to promote health or mitigate the injurious effects of alcohol. Each program should also target distinctive goals that match the institution’s strengths and fill an important need in alcohol research.
2) Program Director qualifications: The training Program Director is expected to have outstanding qualifications in alcohol research and research training, and exhibit the leadership potential required to create and sustain an innovative and multidisciplinary training program that will train successful future researchers to address the most important and clinically relevant issues dealing with alcohol.
3) Innovation in research: Successful NIAAA institutional training programs are expected to lead the field in preparing young scientists for a future of ever changing ideas, expanding knowledge and increasing technical capacity and complexity. This will require creativity and innovation and where appropriate, the incorporation of expertise from outside the field of alcohol research.
4) Broad alcohol research orientation: In addition to their research and academic course work trainees should be offered a multidisciplinary orientation of alcohol research issues, techniques, theoretical concepts and future directions. The curriculum should be as wide ranging as possible consistent with the program's goals and include visiting speaker lecture series and other appropriate mechanisms.
5) Training successful scientists: Effective training programs are expected to transition trainees from learning how to do research to developing new questions, approaches and technologies to address the important issues of the future. This should include mentorship in the appropriate conduct of research, data analysis, effective writing, and the acquisition of the grantsmanship skills required to compete for NIH or other peer-reviewed sources of funding.
6) Significance of research: Research training should include experiences that enhance an understanding of alcohol outcomes, prevention, treatment and clinical care. Trainees may participate in appropriate ongoing applied programs or in other ways learn about the potential significance of their research.
7) Preceptor/Mentor Qualifications: Preceptors must be highly qualified in their area of research as demonstrated by scientific productivity and independent support from NIH or comparable peer-reviewed sources. If preceptors are not sufficiently experienced in alcohol research appropriate collaborators should participate in the trainee's research plan and evaluation. Preceptors are expected to contribute to the collegial nature of a training program and to serve as good mentors for all aspects of a trainee's career development.
The special NIAAA guidelines listed here do not replace, but rather augment the requirements of the NRSA Institutional Training programs as described it the NIH program announcement: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-468.html.
IV APPLICATION FORMS
New instructions and application forms for T32 Institutional Training programs are available. For Grant Application PHS 398 (Revised 11/2007) including: T32-specific Table of Contents, Budgets pages, and T32 training program Tables see: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html. NIAAA training program applicants are advised that the T32 Tables are intended to help them summarize the characteristics of their proposed programs and assist reviewers in evaluating their applications. Thus, applicants may adapt table formats to fit those needs and facilitate communication.
For Trainee Diversity Report form, see: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/traineediversity.pdf.
See also related NIH Guide Notices released January 4, 2008:
PHS 398: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-028.html
PHS 2271: (Appointments): http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-029.html
PHS 2590: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-030.html
V PEER REVIEW CRITERIA USED BY THE NIAAA
In addition to the NIH review criteria listed in the NIH T32 Program Announcement (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-468.html), the NIAAA asks peer reviewers to use the following criteria when evaluating T32 applications. It is understood that even exceptionally well-qualified Training Programs may not excel in all categories.
1) Does the proposed training program describe goals that focus on an important and distinctive area of alcohol research? Is there evidence for the overall significance of the objectives and quality of the training program design and infrastructure?
2) Does the Program Director demonstrate outstanding research productivity, training experience and leadership ability to develop and sustain a successful alcohol research training program? Is there evidence that the Program Director can coordinate a multidisciplinary research training environment?
3) Is the training program innovative in its approaches to research and its development of researchers for the future? Are there plans for incorporating experts from relevant related fields of research to participate as lecturers, consultants or preceptors?
4) Is there a well-conceived plan for a broad orientation to alcohol research? Does the plan take advantage of the strengths of the institution while also incorporating outside sources to strengthen potential gaps?
5) Is there evidence the program will provide the skills required of successful research scientists, including the appropriate conduct of research, data analysis, effective writing, and grantsmanship?
6)Does the Training Program provide appropriate opportunities for trainees to participate in experiences or training related to the potential significance of their research consistent with the program’s strengths and ultimate aims?
7) Is there evidence that the proposed Preceptors are highly qualified in their own areas of research and dedicated to mentoring trainees in alcohol research? If Preceptors are not sufficiently experienced in alcohol research is there evidence that appropriate collaborations will be incorporated into the trainee's research plan and evaluation?
VII AWARD DECISIONS
The NIAAA award decisions are largely based on the results of peer-review, but also will take into account programmatic priorities and balance and are contingent upon the availability of funds.
VIII INQUIRIES
For additional information regarding policies of the NIAAA for institutional NRSA grant applications, we recommend that you contact one of the following individuals:
1. Program Contact:
R. Thomas Gentry, Ph.D.
Division of Metabolism and Health Effects
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5635 Fishers Lane, Room 2025
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
[For express mail use: Rockville, MD 20852-1705]
Telephone: 301-443-6009
FAX: 301-594-0673
Email: tgentry@niaaa.nih.gov
Antonio Noronha, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Neuroscience & Behavior
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5635 Fishers Lane, Room 2061
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
[For express mail use: Rockville, MD 20852-1705]
Telephone: 301-443-7722
FAX: 301-443-1650
Email: anoronha@mail.nih.gov
Michael Hilton, Ph.D.
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5635 Fishers Lane, Room 2083
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
[For express mail use: Rockville, MD 20852-1705]
Telephone: 301-402-9402
FAX: 301-443-8614
Email: mhilton@mail.nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Abraham Bautista, Ph.D.
Chief, Extramural Project Review Branch
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
5635 Fishers Lane, Room 3039
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
[For express mail use: Rockville, MD 20852-1705]
Telephone: (301) 443-9737
FAX: 301-443-6077
Email: bautista@mail.nih.gov
3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
Judy Fox
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
5635 Fishers Lane MSC 9304 Room 3023
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
[For express mail use: Rockville, MD 20852-1705]
Telephone: 301-443-4704
FAX: 301-443-3891
Email: jfox@mail.nih.gov
Prepared: April 22, 2008