All training grant applicants are expected to present detailed plans of the training program organization, criteria for trainee recruitment and selection, and mechanisms for evaluation of the quality and success of the training effort. Information should be provided on the size and quality of the applicant pool and on the qualifications of the proposed faculty participants, including their experience as trainers and their current research programs and support. Applicants must describe their program plans, efforts to recruit and retain individuals from underrepresented minority groups, and success in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of these individuals, as well as describe program plans to provide instruction in the responsible conduct of scientific research. NIGMS places special emphasis on the recruitment of underrepresented minorities. The following groups have been identified as underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research nationally: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands. Additional information on the implementation of this requirement can be found at the following Web sites:
The NIGMS training grant awards do not provide support for mixed predoctoral and postdoctoral research training; an application must request support for either predoctoral or postdoctoral research training. In general, only one award in each of the areas listed below will be made to an institution. This provision includes predoctoral applications from combined support areas. Institutional training grants may be made for project periods of up to 5 years and may be renewable. Information regarding dates of application, trainee-related expenses, trainee eligibility, required payback provision, and current stipends may be found at http://grants1.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm#inst.
NIH stipend levels are adjusted periodically. The stipend level for postdoctoral trainees is determined by the number of years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment. The stipend levels and other allowable costs for new and competing renewal awards made in FY 2007 are as follows (these levels also will be applied to the FY 2007 noncompeting awards of competing awards that were made in FY 2006):
|
Career Level |
Stipend for FY 2007 |
Training-Related Expenses |
Travel |
|
T34: Undergraduates in the
MARC Program: |
|
|
|
|
Juniors/Seniors |
$10,956 |
Variable |
Variable |
|
T32:
Predoctoral |
|
$20,772
|
$4,200*
|
$300
|
|
| Postdoctoral
|
|
Years of Experience: |
|
|
|
|
0 |
$36,996 |
|
|
|
1 |
$38,976 |
|
|
|
2 |
$41,796 |
|
|
|
3 |
$43,428 |
$7,850* |
$500 |
|
4 |
$45,048 |
|
|
|
5 |
$46,992 |
|
|
|
6 |
$48,852 |
|
|
|
7 or more |
$51,036 |
|
|
*includes health insurance
NIH encourages institutions to limit the duration of graduate and postdoctoral training to the extent possible. In most cases, graduate and postdoctoral research training from any source should not exceed 6 years and 5 years, respectively. The NIH retains eight levels of postdoctoral stipends to accommodate individuals who complete other forms of health-related training prior to accepting a Kirschstein-NRSA-supported position. The presence of eight discrete levels of experience should not be construed as an endorsement of extended periods of postdoctoral research training.
The initial review of institutional training grants is carried out in study sections organized by the NIGMS Office of Scientific Review. Site visits are employed on some occasions as part of this process; however, applicants should not assume that site visits are automatic. Information on the criteria employed for the review of training grants and suggestions for preparation of an application can be found at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Research/Application/SuggPrepNRSAApps/.
For questions about the review of applications, contact:
Dr. Helen Sunshine
Chief, Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-6200
Tel: 301-594-3663
E-mail: sunshinh@nigms.nih.gov
For general information about these institutional NRSA programs, contact:
Dr. John Norvell
Assistant Director for Research Training
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-6200
Tel: 301-594-0533
E-mail: norvellj@nigms.nih.gov
or
Dr. Alison Cole
Deputy Assistant Director for Research Training
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-6200
Tel: 301-594-3827
E-mail: colea@nigms.nih.gov
Before preparing an application, applicants are strongly urged to contact Dr. Norvell and the staff member who is responsible for the specific area of training. For financial and grants management aspects of the training grant programs, contact:
Ms. Grace Olascoaga
Grants Management Officer, NIGMS
45 Center Drive MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: 301-594-5135
E-mail: olascoag@nighm.nih.gov
