MARC FACULTY PREDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP (F34)

RELEASE DATE:  December 31, 2002

PA NUMBER:  PAR-03-048

Application Receipt Dates: April 5 and December 5

EXPIRATION DATE: December 6, 2005, unless reissued

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
 (http://www.nigms.nih.gov)  

This Program Announcement (PA) replaces PAR-94-032, which was published 
in the NIH Guide, February 18, 1994, Volume 23, Number 7.

THIS PA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o  Purpose of the PA
o  Training Objectives
o  Mechanism of Support
o  Eligible Institutions
o  Individuals Eligible to Apply
o  Where to Send Inquiries
o  Special Requirements
o  Allowable and Unallowable Costs
o  Submitting an Application
o  Peer Review Process
o  Review Criteria
o  Award Criteria
o  Terms and Conditions of Support
o  Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE OF THIS PA

The Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Branch of the Division 
of Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) of the National Institute 
of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) provides research training 
opportunities for faculty at minority/minority serving institutions to 
enhance their research skills in biological and biomedical sciences.  

The purpose of this program is to allow eligible faculty who have had 
three years of full-time employment at a minority/minority serving 
institution and who lack a research doctorate degree (Ph.D. or 
equivalent) the opportunity to obtain a Ph.D. or equivalent in the 
biomedical or behavioral sciences.  The fellowship supports a 
candidate, for up to five years, during his/her Ph.D. studies in the 
biomedical or behavioral sciences at a research intensive institution 
of the candidate's choice.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES

The goals of the MARC Branch are to increase the number of minorities 
engaged in biomedical research and their potential for quality 
research, and to strengthen science course curricula and research 
training environments at minority/minority serving institutions.  As 
part of its ongoing commitment to the development of research training 
capabilities at these institutions the MARC Branch will provide funds 
to eligible underrepresented minority faculty in biomedical science-
related fields without a terminal research doctorate degree, to obtain 
a research doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent degree). 

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This PA for the individual Faculty Predoctoral Fellowship (F34) is 
issued under the auspices of the National Research Service Award (NRSA) 
(see AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS).

The period of fellowship support requested in response to this PA may 
not exceed 5 years.

Fellowship awards are administered as described in the NIH Grants 
Policy Statement found at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm and the NRSA Guidelines 
for Individual Awards and Institutional Grants, available on the NIH 
Website at http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsaguidelines/nrsa_toc.htm.  
The proposed training under the F34 award must be within the fields 
related to biomedical or behavioral research and must be directed to 
obtain a research doctoral degree.  Applicants are required to pursue 
their research training on a full-time basis, devoting at least 40 
hours per week to the training program. Awards are not made for study 
leading to any of the professional degrees (M.D., D.O., D.D.S., etc.). 

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS

HOME INSTITUTION:  To be eligible to sponsor a MARC Faculty Predoctoral 
Fellow, an institution must be a domestic, non-profit, private or 
public minority/minority serving institution or an institution run by 
an Indian tribe that has a recognized governing body and that performs 
substantial governmental functions, or by an Alaska Regional 
Corporation (ARC), as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), that offers at least an associate's 
degree in the biomedical/behavioral or related sciences, including 
mathematics.  The home institution is the college or university where 
the applicant is employed at the time of the application. For purposes 
of this Program Announcement, institutions such as Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), 
and other institutions that have substantial enrollments of students in 
biomedical and related sciences from minority groups underrepresented 
in these sciences are considered to be minority/minority serving 
institutions.  In addition, the home institution must certify the 
eligibility of the applicant, sponsor the applicant's plan, and grant 
the necessary study leave for completion of a research doctoral degree 
program.  

TRAINING INSTITUTION:  The training institution is the research 
university or research institution or center at which the fellow plans 
to pursue the proposed doctoral degree program. The training 
institution may be a public or private, domestic, or with strong 
justification, a foreign institution with active biomedical and/or 
behavioral science research faculties.  The training institution must 
offer a strong research environment in biomedical and related sciences 
with a good record of doctoral candidate preparation, faculty/graduate 
student peer-reviewed research publications and full extramural 
research support.  However, the applicant's home institution may not 
serve as the training institution. 

Individuals requesting foreign-site training rather than a domestic 
site must show in the application that the foreign institution and 
sponsor offer unique opportunities that are not currently available in 
the United States.  Foreign training will NOT be supported without a 
clear scientific advantage.

SPONSOR:  The individual applying for this NRSA F34 MARC faculty 
predoctoral fellowship must have been accepted into the doctoral degree 
program of the prospective training institution. If the applicant had 
also identified a specific faculty member to serve as the doctoral 
dissertation advisor that individual will serve as the sponsor.  The 
sponsor is the individual scientist who would direct the candidate's 
doctoral research.  The applicant's sponsor should be an active 
investigator in the area of the proposed research and have a 
distinguished record of achievement as documented by high-quality 
research publications and competitive grant support.  Since the 
fellowship application requires a detailed research plan, 
identification of a sponsor before submitting an application is highly 
desirable.  However, if a sponsor is not yet identified the graduate 
program chair at the training institution may serve as the sponsor, and 
attest to the availability of staff, research support, and facilities 
for completing the proposed research. 

INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY 

Applicants for the MARC Faculty Predoctoral Fellowship must be a full-
time faculty member in a biomedical or behavioral science related 
department, including mathematics, for at least three years in a 
minority/minority serving institution.  The applicant must be seeking a 
doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in a biomedical or related 
science, including mathematics.  Although the candidate may not be 
tenured or on a tenure-track, there is the expectation of continued 
employment.  In addition, the applicant must have been accepted for 
admission or be enrolled in a doctorate degree training program at a 
research intensive university/institution.  He/she must be sponsored by 
his/her home institution, must be granted a study leave for up to five 
years, and is expected to return to the home institution to enhance its 
research and training environment.  

Adjunct or part-time faculty members are not eligible to apply for 
support under this program. 

Only citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or 
individuals lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent 
residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt 
Card 1-551, or other legal verification of such status) are eligible to 
apply under this program.  Non-citizen nationals are persons born in 
possessions of the United States (e.g., American Samoa and Swains 
Island).  Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Applications must be prepared using PHS 416-1(rev. 6/02), Application 
for an Individual National Research Service Award.  The PHS 416-1 is 
available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/416/phs416.htm in an 
interactive format.  For further assistance, contact Grantsinfo, 
Telephone (301) 435-0714, Email: Grantsinfo@nih.gov. 

In Item 3, of the PHS 416-1 face page, applicants must give this 
Program Announcement number, PAR-03-048.  In Item 2, applicants should 
type MARC Faculty Predoctoral Fellowship Program.

An application for a MARC Faculty Predoctoral Fellowship must contain a 
letter signed by the appropriate officials of the applicant's home 
institution, including the applicant's department head (1) supporting 
the applicant's training plans and guaranteeing that the necessary 
study leave will be granted to the applicant; (2) certifying the 
applicant's eligibility for the program based on employment history and 
citizenship; and (3) establishing the home institution's eligibility as 
a minority/minority serving institution.
  
Applications must also include at least three sealed letters of 
reference (use PHS 416-1 Reference Page).  Applications without at 
least three letters of reference and the home institution 
certifications will be returned to the applicant without review.
  
If the applicant marks pending status in the Permanent Resident block 
on the Face Page of the PHS 416-1 application, a notarized statement 
documenting legal admission for permanent residence must be submitted 
prior to the issuance of an award (see below). 

Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Applications must 
include the candidate's plans for obtaining instruction in the 
responsible conduct of research, including the rationale, subject 
matter, appropriateness, format, duration and frequency of instruction.  
No award will be made if an application lacks this component.

ALLOWABLE AND UNALLOWABLE COSTS

The MARC Predoctoral Fellowship award provides an annual stipend to 
help meet the fellow's living expenses, an allowance for tuition and 
fees and health insurance in accordance with NIH policy, and an annual 
institutional allowance.  

Stipend.  A MARC Faculty Predoctoral Fellowship provides a stipend of 
$32,820 per year, the current level of an NIH first year post-doctoral 
stipend.  This stipend could vary periodically (see the NIH Guide at 
http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm for current levels of support).  

Tuition, Fees, and Health Insurance.  The NIH will offset the combined 
cost of tuition, fees and health insurance (either self-only or family 
as appropriate) at the following rate: 100 percent of all costs up to 
$3,000 and 60 percent of costs above $3,000.  Costs associated with 
tuition and fees are allowable only if they are required for specific 
courses in support of the research training experience supported by the 
fellowship.  A full description of the tuition policy is contained 
within the NRSA Policy Guidelines on the NIH website at  
http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsaguidelines/nrsa_toc.htm.

Institutional Allowance.  An institutional allowance of $2,750 per 12-
month period will be awarded to non-Federal, non-profit sponsoring 
institutions to help defray such awardee expenses as research supplies, 
equipment, travel to scientific meetings, and related items.  This 
allowance is intended to cover training-related expenses for the 
individual awardee and is not available until the fellow officially 
activates the award.  If the fellow is not enrolled or engaged in 
training for more than six months of the award year, only one-half of 
that year's allowance may be charged to the grant.  

Other Training Costs.  Additional funds may be requested by the 
institution if the training of a fellow involves extraordinary costs 
for:(1) travel to field sites remote from the sponsoring institution; 
or (2) accommodations for fellows with disabilities, as defined by the 
Americans with Disabilities Act. 

The funds requested for these additional costs must be reasonable in 
relationship to the total dollars awarded under the F34.  Such 
additional funds shall be provided only in exceptional circumstances 
that are fully justified and explained by the institution.

Funds are not available to cover the cost of travel between the 
fellow's place of residence and a training institution.  However, in 
cases of extreme need or hardship, a one-way travel allowance may be 
authorized by the awarding component.  Such travel must be paid from 
the institutional allowance.

Facilities and Administrative Costs.  F&A (indirect) costs are not 
allowed on individual fellowship awards.

Stipend Supplementation, Compensation, and Other Income.  An 
institution is permitted to provide funds to a fellow in addition to 
the stipend paid by the NIH.  Such additional amounts may be in the 
form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or compensation for 
services.

Supplementation.  Supplementation or additional support to offset the 
cost of living may be provided by the training institution, but must 
not require any additional effort from the fellow.  Federal funds may 
not be used for supplementation unless specifically authorized under 
the terms of both the program from which such supplemental funds are to 
be received and the program whose funds are to be supplemented.  Under 
no circumstances may PHS grant funds be used for supplementation.

Compensation.  An institution may provide additional funds to a fellow 
in the form of compensation (as salary and/or tuition remission) for 
services, such as teaching or research.  Compensation for services is 
not considered stipend supplementation.  A fellow may receive 
compensation for services as a research assistant or in some other 
capacity on a Federal research grant, including a PHS research grant.  
However, compensated services must occur on a limited, part-time basis 
apart from the normal training activities, which require a minimum of 
40 hours per week.  In addition, compensation may not be paid from a 
research grant supporting research that is part of the F34 research 
training experience.

Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation or 
the services provided for compensation interfere with, detract from, or 
prolong the fellow's approved NRSA training program.  Additionally, 
compensation must be in accordance with institutional policies applied 
consistently to both federally and non-federally supported activities 
and supported by acceptable accounting records determined by the 
employer-employee relationship agreement.

Educational Loans or G.I. Bill.  An individual may make use of Federal 
educational loan funds and assistance under the Veterans Readjustment 
Benefits Act (G.I. Bill).  Such funds are not considered 
supplementation or compensation.  

Concurrent Awards.  An F34 may not be held concurrently with another 
Federally sponsored fellowship or similar Federal award that provides a 
stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of the NRSA.  

Tax Liability.  The Internal Revenue Code, Section 117, applies to the 
tax treatment of all scholarships and fellowships.  Degree candidates 
may exclude from gross income reported for tax purposes any amount used 
for tuition and related expenses, such as fees, books, supplies, and 
equipment, required for courses of instruction at a qualified 
educational organization.

The taxability of stipends, however, in no way alters the relationship 
between NRSA fellows and institutions.  NRSA stipends are not 
considered salaries.  NRSA fellows are not considered to be in an 
employee-employer relationship with the NIH or with the institution at 
which they are pursuing their degree.

The interpretation and implementation of the tax laws are the domain of 
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the courts.  The NIH takes no 
position on the status of a particular taxpayer, and it does not have 
the authority to dispense tax advice.  Individuals should consult their 
local IRS office about the applicability of the law to their situation 
and for information on the proper steps to be taken regarding their tax 
obligations.

The business office of the sponsoring institution is responsible for 
the annual preparation and issuance of IRS Form 1099 (Statement of 
Miscellaneous Income) for fellows paid through the institution.  NIH 
will issue the form for all fellows training at Federal or foreign 
laboratories and receiving a stipend check from the U.S. Treasury.

Payback.  As required by the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, 
postdoctoral fellows in their first year of NRSA support incur a 
service obligation of one (1) month for each month of support.  Thus, 
MARC Faculty Predoctoral fellows are expected to comply with this 
requirement by returning to their home institution upon completion of 
their Ph.D. or equivalent training. 

Leave.  Predoctoral fellows may continue to receive stipends during 
periods of vacation and holidays available to individuals in comparable 
training positions at the sponsoring institution.  Also, predoctoral 
fellows may continue to receive stipends for up to 15 calendar days of 
sick leave per year.  Sick leave may be used for the medical conditions 
related to pregnancy and childbirth.  Fellows may continue to receive 
stipends for up to 30 calendar days of parental leave per year for the 
adoption or the birth of a child when those in comparable training 
positions at the grantee or sponsoring institution have access to paid 
leave for this purpose and the use of parental leave is approved by the 
sponsor.  A period of terminal leave is not permitted and payment may 
not be made from grant funds for leave not taken.  Individuals 
requiring extended periods of time away from their research training 
experience must seek approval from the NIGMS for an unpaid leave of 
absence.

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage your inquiries concerning this PA and welcome the 
opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries 
may fall into three areas: scientific/programmatic, peer review, and 
financial or grant management issues. 

Direct your questions about programmatic issues to:

Adolphus P. Toliver, Ph.D.
Chief, Minority Access to Research Careers Branch 
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 2AS.37, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-3900
FAX:  (301) 480-2753
Email:  tolivera@nigms.nih.gov

Hinda Zlotnik, Ph.D.
Program Director, Minority Access to Research Careers Branch
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 2AS.37, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-3900
Email:  zlotnikh@nigms.nih.gov 

Direct your questions about the peer review issues to:

Richard I. Martinez, Ph.D.
Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN.12B, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-2781
Email:  martinezr@nigms.nih.gov

Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:

Ms. Antoinette Holland
Grants Management Officer
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 2AN.50B, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-5132
FAX:  (301) 480-2554
E-mail:  hollanda@nigms.nih.gov 

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION to NIH. Submit a signed, typewritten (single-
sided) original of the application (including the checklist, personal 
data form, at least three sealed reference letters, and all other 
required materials), and one signed photocopy in one package to:

Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)

At the same time, an additional  copy should be sent under separate 
cover to:

Chief, Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN.12, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200

APPLICATION PROCESSING:  Applications submitted in response to this 
program announcement will be accepted at only two of the standard 
application deadlines, i.e., April 5 and December 5.  Standard 
application deadlines are available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/dates.htm.  Application deadlines are also 
indicated in the PHS 416-1 application kit.

Applications must be mailed on or before the receipt dates listed on 
the first page. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept 
any application in response to this PA that is essentially the same as 
one currently pending initial review unless the applicant withdraws the 
pending application.  The CSR will not accept any application that is 
essentially the same as one already reviewed.  This does not preclude 
the submission of a substantial revision of an application already 
reviewed, but such application must include an Introduction addressing 
the previous critique. 

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Applications will be assigned to NIGMS. Applications will be evaluated 
for the merit of the overall research training by the MARC review 
subcommittee composed primarily of non-government scientists selected 
for their competence in research and research training, which is 
convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. 

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

o Receive a written critique
o Receive a second level review by the NIGMS Fellowship Oversight Group 
(FOG), comprised of NIGMS professional staff.

REVIEW CRITERIA  

In the written comments, the reviewers will be asked to discuss the 
following aspects of the application in order to judge the likelihood 
of successful completion of the proposed research training leading to a 
research doctoral (Ph.D. or equivalent) degree by the applicant, and 
achievement of the goals of this PA.  The review criteria focus on four 
main components: 

o  Candidate
o  Sponsor and Training Environment
o  Research Proposal
o  Training Potential

The Scientific Review Group (SRG) will address and consider each of 
these criteria in assigning the application's overall score, weighting 
them as appropriate for each application.  The application need not be 
strong in all categories to be judged likely to have an important 
training impact and thus to deserve a high priority score.  
(1)  CANDIDATE:  An assessment of the applicant's qualifications and 
potential for a career as a researcher and teacher, based on past 
accomplishments, such as scholastic record and scholastic honors, 
career goals, scientific publications and/or presentations (if any), 
professional honors and awards and letters of recommendation.

(2)  SPONSOR AND TRAINING ENVIRONMENT:  An assessment of the 
qualifications of the sponsor as a mentor for the proposed research 
training program and of the quality of the training environment.

(3)  RESEARCH PROPOSAL:  The quality and appropriateness of the 
proposed training, including the merit of the scientific proposal and 
its relationship to the candidate's career plans. 

(4)  RESEARCH TRAINING POTENTIAL:  An assessment of the value of the 
proposed research training in preparing the candidate for quality 
research and teaching.

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications submitted in response to this PA will compete for 
available funds with all other recommended applications for MARC 
Faculty Predoctoral Fellowship Awards.  The following will be 
considered in making funding decisions:

o Scientific and technical merit of the application as determined by 
peer review

o The eligibility of the applicant

o The availability of funds

o Relevance to program priorities.  For example, among the highly 
qualified applicants, the MARC professional staff may give preference 
to those who demonstrate a strong commitment to research and teaching 
at a minority/minority serving institution and those who receive strong 
support from the home and training institutions, including the research 
training sponsor.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUPPORT 

Fellowships must be administered in accordance with the current NRSA 
Policy Guidelines for Individual Awards and Institutional Grants (see 
the NIH Website at 
http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsaguidelines/nrsa_toc.htm), the 
current NIH Grants Policy Statement (see the NIH Website at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm), and any terms and 
conditions specified on the Notice of Research Fellowship Award. 

ACTIVATION.  No funds may be disbursed until the fellow has started 
training under the award and an Activation Notice (PHS 416-5) has been 
submitted to the NIGMS.

An awardee has up to six months from the issue date on the Notice of 
Research Fellowship Award to activate the award.  Under unusual 
circumstances, NIGMS may grant an extension of the activation period 
upon receipt of a specific request from the fellow.

CERTIFICATION AND REPORTING PROCEDURES.  No application will be 
accepted without the applicant signing the certification block. 
Individuals admitted to the United States, as Permanent Residents must 
submit notarized evidence of legal admission prior to the award.  At 
completion of the training, the fellow must submit a Termination Notice 
(PHS 416-7) to the NIH. Forms will be provided to awardees by the NIH 
awarding component.  Forms may also be found on the NIH Website at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.

INVENTIONS AND DATA COLLECTION:  Fellowships made primarily for 
educational purposes are exempted from the NIH invention requirements.  
F34 awards will not contain any provision giving PHS rights to 
inventions made by the award recipient.  

DATA SHARING:  NIH policy is to make available to the public the 
results and accomplishments of the activities that it funds.  
Therefore, fellows are encouraged to publish the results and 
accomplishments of their F34 activities in the journals of their 
choice.  Awarding unit support must be acknowledged in the 
publications.  There are no restrictions on the publication of results 
in a timely manner.

COPYRIGHTS:  Except as otherwise provided in the terms and conditions 
of the award, when publications, data, or other copyrightable works are 
developed in the course of work under a NIH grant-supported project or 
activity the recipient is free to arrange for copyright without 
awarding unit approval. Any such copyrighted or copyrightable works 
shall be subject to a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable 
license to the Government to reproduce them, translate them, publish 
them, or otherwise use them, and to authorize others to do so for 
Federal Government purposes.

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS: 
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups 
and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported 
biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, 
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided 
indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health 
of the subjects or the purpose of the research.  This policy results 
from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 
103-43). 

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should 
read the AMENDMENT "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and 
Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research – Amended, October 2001," 
published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on October 9, 2001 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a 
complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.
The amended policy incorporates:  the use of an NIH definition 
of clinical research; updated racial and ethnic categories in 
compliance with the new OMB standards: clarification of language 
governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials consistent with the new 
PHS Form 398; and updated roles and responsibilities of NIH staff and 
the extramural community.  The policy continues to require for all NIH-
defined Phase III clinical trials: a) all applications or proposals 
and/or protocols to provide a description of plans to conduct analyses, 
as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender and/or 
racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) all 
investigators to report accrual, and to conduct and report analyses, as 
appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN 
SUBJECTS: The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals 
under the age of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, 
conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and 
ethical reasons not to include them.  This policy applies to all 
initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates after October 
1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should 
read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines on the inclusion of children as 
participants in research involving human subjects" that is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm.

REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS:  
NIH policy requires education on the protection of human subject 
participants for all investigators submitting NIH proposals for 
research involving human subjects.  You will find this policy 
announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Announcement, 
dated June 5, 2000, at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.  

HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (hESC):  Criteria for federal funding of 
research on hESCs can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/stem_cells.htm 
and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html.
Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the 
NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal 
funding (see http://escr.nih.gov) .  It is the responsibility of the 
applicant to provide the official NIH identifier for the hESC line(s) 
to be used in the proposed research.  Applications that do not provide 
this information will be returned without review.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: 
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been 
revised to provide public access to research data through the Freedom 
of Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances.  Data that are (1) 
first produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with 
Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency 
in support of an action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a 
regulation) may be accessed through FOIA.  It is important for 
applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment.  NIH has 
provided guidance at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.

Applicants may wish to place data collected under this PA in a public 
archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the 
distribution for an indefinite period of time.  If so, the application 
should include a description of the archiving plan in the study design 
and include information about this in the budget justification section 
of the application.  In addition, applicants should think about how to 
structure informed consent statements and other human subjects 
procedures given the potential for wider use of data collected under 
this award.

URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and 
proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page 
limitations.  Unless otherwise specified in a NIH solicitation, 
internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information 
necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to 
view the Internet sites.  Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their 
anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet 
site.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010: The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to 
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of 
"Healthy People 2010", a PHS-led national activity for setting priority 
areas.  This PA is related to one or more of the priority areas.  
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at 
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople. 

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.233, 
39.272,03.278.93.282, 93.306, 93.361, 93.398, 93.821, 93.837-93.839, 
93.846-93.849, 93.853-93.856, 93.859, 93.862-93.867, 93.880, 93.894, 
and 93.929, and is not subject to the intergovernmental review 
requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.  
NRSA awards are made under the authority of Section 487 of the Public 
Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 288) and Title 42 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, Part 66.   Fellowships must be administered in 
accordance with the current NRSA Guidelines for Individual Awards and 
Institutional Grants, the current NIH Grants Policy Statement, and any 
terms and conditions specified on the Notice of Research Fellowship 
Award.  

The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and discourage the use of all tobacco products.  In 
addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits 
smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a 
facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, 
health care or early childhood development services are provided to 
children.  This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and 
advance the physical and mental health of the American People.

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