ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING MINORITY RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT 
PROGRAM (M-RISP) APPLICATIONS – PAR-01-029

RELEASE DATE:  May 2, 2003

NOTICE: NOT-MH-03-005

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
 (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this notice is to describe in greater detail, the appropriate 
content, format, and organization of applications submitted for the Minority 
Research Infrastructure Support Program (M-RISP) (PAR-01-029).  For specific 
information, including eligibility requirements, see the M-RISP program 
announcement (PAR-01-029; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/
PAR-01-029.html).

Clarification of Instructions for New, Competing Continuation, Revised, and 
Supplemental Applications

The M-RISP Program Announcement (PAR-01-029) should be consulted when preparing 
an M-RISP application.  Except where modified below, the applicant must follow 
the specific instructions for completing the Form PHS 398 (Rev 5/01).  
Applicants are reminded to carefully follow requirements for minimum font size 
and page margins, as noted in the PHS 398 instructions, and page limits, as 
noted in PAR-01-029.  Applications that fail to follow the requirements and 
format will be returned without review.

An M-RISP application must: 1) describe current institutional and faculty 
capacity to conduct mental health-related research, 2) identify unmet needs, 
and 3) describe activities that will be undertaken to develop and strengthen 
the institutional research infrastructure.  The M-RISP plan should include both 
an Institutional Research Development Plan (Infrastructure Core) and 2 or more 
Individual Investigator Research Projects.  The plan should cover a period of 3 
years (new applications) or 5 years (competing renewals) and indicate how the 
capacity to conduct mental health research will be improved significantly in 
this time period.  For competing renewals, the progress and current status of 
all faculty and students (including any current grant support) supported during 
the previous award period must be included.  (The latter information for 
competing renewals should be included as Appendix 1.)

Clarification of Format for New or Competing Renewal Application

The M-RISP application should be structured according to the order below.  The 
application can be divided into four sections.  Section 1 will include the face 
page through the table of contents; the overall summary budget; the individual 
Infrastructure Core budget, biosketches, and resources; and the Infrastructure 
Core plan.  Section 2 should include two or more Individual Investigator 
Research Projects, formatted as noted below.  Section 3 should include the 
PHS 398 Checklist.  Section 4 should include any and all Appendices.  For 
Sections 1-3 the pages should be numbered consecutively at the bottom 
throughout the application.  Each appendix should have a cover sheet 
identifying the appendix content with appendix pages numbered consecutively.  
Specific PHS form pages are listed and other form pages should be used where 
appropriate.

SECTION 1: 

o  Face Page (Form Page 1), Please note "PAR-01-029" on line 2

o  Description, Performance Sites, and Key Personnel for entire program (Form 
Page 2)

o  Research Grant Table of Contents for the entire application (Form Page 3)

o  Overall Summary Budget: Overall Summary Budget page for entire grant period 
(Form Page 4, 5)

o  Infrastructure Core Budget
- Detailed Budget page, budget justification for Infrastructure Core (Form 
Page 4)
- Budget page for Infrastructure Core for entire grant period (Form Page 5)

o  Biographical Sketch of Program Director

o  Resources

o  Narrative Section: Infrastructure Core  (Use PHS 25 page limit for Items A-E)
The narrative should:

a.  Describe the specific aims for the M-RISP.
b.  Summarize the relevant ongoing mental health research effort at the 
applicant institution.  If a competing renewal, progress on the program aims 
and the individual projects during the previous period of support must be 
described.
c.  Provide an assessment of the institutional capacity to conduct state-of-the 
art research on mental health issues and identify gaps or deficiencies that 
M-RISP is intended to address.
d.  Identify the proposed program director or co-program director and describe 
their track record of directing research programs, mentoring undergraduate/
graduate students, directing training or health services programs, record of 
mental health related publications, and commitment to increasing diversity in 
the national pool of mental health researchers. 
e.  Describe the design and procedures to be used to accomplish the specific 
aims of the research infrastructure development plan over the time period of 
the proposed project (3 years for new applications, up to 5 years for 
competitive renewal applications), including plans for the administrative 
structure, recruitment and retention of persons skilled in mental health 
research, staff training and mentoring, statistical and other consultation and 
data management, and collaboration with other institutions. 
f.  Describe the need and extent to which current research resources (e.g., 
equipment, space, facilities) will be developed or enhanced with M-RISP support. 
g.  Describe the institutional financial commitment to support the proposed 
minority mental health research infrastructure development.
h.  Plan for the protection of human subjects, if applicable.
i.  Plan for the protection of vertebrate animals, if applicable.
j.  Consultants and collaborators (describe roles and need for expertise).
k.  Consortium/contractual arrangements (need must be justified).
l.  Literature cited.

SECTION 2:  M-RISP Individual Investigator Research Projects.
Format for each research subproject or pilot project (numbered consecutively, 
continuing from the last page of Section 1.)

o  M-RISP face page for each project: new page that includes the project title, 
project investigator with degree, title, department

o  Project description, performance site, key personnel (Form Page 2)

o  Detailed Budget page, budget justification for project (Form Page 4)

o  Budget page for Entire project (Form Page 5)

o  Biographical sketch for project investigator: The project investigator MUST 
be identified.  Applications listing the principal investigator as TBA or TBD 
will be returned without being reviewed.

o  Resources for project

o  Research Plan Narrative (15 page limit for items A-D)

a.  Specific aims of the investigator's research project Linkages to overall 
institutional capacity development plan.
b.  Background and significance, including review of literature relevant to the 
proposed research project.
c.  Preliminary studies and progress report if currently supported.
d.  Research plan, including experimental design, methods and timetable.
e.  Plan for the protection of human subjects, where applicable.
f.  Plan for the protection of vertebrate animals, if applicable.
g.  Consultants and collaborators (describe roles and need for expertise).
h.  Consortium/contractual arrangements (need must be justified).
i.  Literature cited.

SECTION # Checklist (PHS Checklist Form Page)

SECTION 4 Appendix

o  For competing renewals, the progress and current status of all faculty and 
students (including any current grant support) supported during the previous 
award period must be included as Appendix 1.

o  Multiple appendices should be numbered consecutively and if linked to a 
specific program element or project, should be identified as such.

BUDGET LIMITATIONS AND ALLOWABLE COSTS

The maximum direct cost allowed for the M-RISP grant is $400,000 per year, plus 
negotiated Facilities and Administrative Costs (F&A)-- formerly known as 
indirect costs.  The Infrastructure Core component of M-RISP grants averages 
$100,000 per year in direct costs.  Individual Developmental Investigator 
projects average $60,000 per year in direct costs.  Support is limited to 3 
years for a first-time application.  The Infrastructure Core component of an 
M-RISP grant is renewable for intervals of up to 5 years, provided that junior 
investigators are continuing and/or new junior investigators are selected.  
Note that individual investigators who participate in subprojects will not be 
supported more than a total of 6 years through the M-RISP program.

All Budget items must be justified within the context of the goals of M-RISP 
infrastructure development or specific research projects.  Allowable direct 
costs include salary support based on effort and institutional salary levels 
for persons engaged on the project (normally includes the principal 
investigators (PIs) or individuals directing initial or developmental research 
projects, co-investigators, data analysis and essential technical staff, etc.).  
Limited administrative or clerical salaries may be considered direct charges to 
the grant only when the duties are specifically identified and justified as 
reflecting significantly greater effort than the level of such services 
routinely provided.  In some cases, the application may also request support 
for research assistantships for students to work with faculty members who have 
mental health related research funding through another NIH mechanism of support 
(R01, R03, P01, etc.).  Institutions are encouraged to use funds under M-RISP 
to increase availability of research assistants on these projects, but funds 
are not to be used to replace any research assistant positions supported by 
other Federal or non-Federal awards, nor may trainees supported by National 
Research Services Awards (NRSA) be selected until the research training 
programs are completed.

The M-RISP PA provides general rather than specific guidance as to the types of 
development activities appropriate under M-RISP.  Support may be requested for, 
but is not limited to, the following:

o  Specialized research training for junior investigators (e.g., selected 
courses related to enhancing capability to conduct research such as advanced 
seminars, instruction on scientific technique)

o  Scientific and statistical consultation, including expenses incurred by a 
scientific advisory committee

o  Biostatistical and data management services

o  Research technicians and assistants

o  Research instrumentation

o  Small, project-specific equipment and supplies

o  Pilot and feasibility studies

o  Research subject costs

o  Data acquisition and statistical analysis costs

o  Travel to scientific meetings for the PI and individual investigators

Clarification on the Preparation of a Revised Application, or a Competitive 
Supplement Application to Expand an M-RISP Grant

Refer to the PHS 398 instructions for Revised and Supplemental Applications.  A 
revised application must include an Introduction that responds to issues and 
criticisms raised in the previous review.  A Competitive Supplement Application 
(Type 3) may be submitted to expand the scope of a current M-RISP grant by 
adding new individual developmental investigator project(s), extending the aims 
of an Individual Investigator Research project, or submitting amended Individual 
Investigator Research Projects from the parent grant that were not funded.  The 
supplemental application may only be submitted if the parent M-RISP has been 
awarded, i.e., a Notice of Grant Award has been received by the applicant 
institution, and only in the first year of an initial grant period or in the 
first two years of a renewal grant period.  In addition, the supplemental 
application may not request funding beyond the term of the current grant or 
request funds that, when added to the parent award, would exceed the program 
direct costs maximum amount allowable for an M-RISP grant ($400,000).  The 
June 1 submission date for regular applications also applies to revised and 
supplemental applications.

With the exceptions noted the format for the supplemental application is 
identical to the format and organization for new and competing renewal 
applications described in this notice.  

Section 1 of a revised application must include an Introduction (3 pages or 
less), preceding the narrative section that addresses criticisms and issues 
raised in the previous summary statement.  The Introduction should also 
summarize the changes made in the Infrastructure/Core plans and M-RISP program 
in response to the previous review.  The changes in the application must be 
clearly marked unless the changes are so extensive as to include most of the 
text. This exception should be explained in the Introduction.  For a 
supplemental application the Introduction must summarize how the expanded 
scope (i.e., additional new or revised projects) is related to the original
aims of the parent M-RISP grant.  This section must contain sufficient 
information from the parent grant application to allow evaluation of the 
proposed supplement in relation to the goals of the original application, 
including how the supplement will influence the specific aims, experimental 
design, and methods of the current grant.  Any proposed changes in the 
allocation of funds within and among budget categories for the remainder of the 
project period of the current M-RISP grant must be discussed in the budget 
justification.  

Section 2 will include new and/or revised Individual Investigator Research 
Projects.  For Revised projects the required Introduction must provide 
responses to the criticisms in the prior summary statement, and revisions made 
in the research plan must be clearly summarized in the introduction.  The 
applicant must also incorporate in the Preliminary Studies component of the 
application any work performed since the prior version was submitted.  The 
Introduction for a revised project may not exceed 3 pages, and is not included 
in the 15-page limit of the Research Plan narrative.  The Introduction should 
precede the Research Plan narrative.

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH:  Submit a signed, typewritten original of 
the application, including the checklist and supporting documentation, and 
three signed photocopies 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 time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be 
sent to:

Jean Noronha, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6154 MSC 9609
Bethesda, MD  20892-9609

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

Applicants with inquiries concerning this Notice and the M-RISP PA are 
encouraged to contact NIMH Program Staff to clarify specific questions or 
issues.  

o  For overall NIMH policy with regard to M-RISP, direct your questions to:

Robert A. Mays, Jr., Ph.D.
Office for Special Populations
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8125, MSC 9659
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 443-2847
FAX:  (301) 443-8022
Email:  rmays@mail.nih.gov 

o  Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Joy R. Knipple
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6115, MSC 9605
Bethesda, MD  20892-9605
Telephone:  (301) 443-8811
FAX:  (301) 443-6885
Email:  jk173r@nih.gov

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	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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