Mechanisms Funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences

NIA funds or co-funds with the NIGMS projects relevant to aging research under the following mechanisms:

Support of Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE)

The SCORE Program is a developmental program that seeks to increase the research competitiveness of investigators at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) with 50% or more enrollment from students from groups underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research, and the research capabilities of these institutions. To better achieve these objectives, the existing SCORE (S06) program has been revised so that separate funding opportunities exist for individual investigator-initiated research awards and for a stand-alone institutional award. The mechanisms used for these funding opportunities are the SC1 (PAR-06-491), SC2 (PAR-06-492) and SC3 (PAR-06-493) awards for individual investigators and the S06 award for institutions (PAR-06-490). Research proposed under any of the investigator-initiated SCORE award mechanisms must fall within the scope of the NIH mission, which is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

For additional information about SCORE awards, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, July 21, 2006 or visit the MORE website at www.nigms.nih.gov/Minority or call Dr. Hinda Zlotnik at 301-594-3900.

MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U*STAR) Awards

MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U*STAR) Awards (T34) provide support for students who are members of minority groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences to improve their preparation for graduate training in biomedical research. The program can also support efforts to strengthen the faculty, science course curricula, and biomedical research training programs and infrastructure at institutions with significant enrollments of minority students.

Awards are made to colleges and universities that offer the baccalaureate degree. Only one grant per eligible institution will be awarded. The institutions select the trainees to be supported. Trainees must be honors students majoring in the sciences who have an expressed interest in a biomedical research career and who intend to pursue postgraduate education leading to the Ph.D., M.D.-Ph.D., or other combined professional degree-Ph.D. The period of appointment to the MARC U*STAR Program is 2 years at the junior/senior level. All programs are expected to provide trainees with a summer research experience outside the home institution and with research opportunities during the academic year at the home institution or at another institution to which the U*STAR Program has established linkages. The summer research experience may be in a NIA Intramural Research Program laboratory. See the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts (PAR-07-037) or contact Dr. Adolphus Toliver at 301-594-3900. Click here for a list of MARC U*STAR institutions.