Procedures and Supplementary Information for Preparation, Submission, and Review of Applications for Diversity and Reentry Research Supplements for NIMH Grantees
This supplementary information applies to applications requesting selected research supplements to active National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grants. Its purpose is to clarify the application process for NIMH grantees and is not intended to substitute for the specific program announcements. These are: “Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research” (PA-08-190) and “Supplements to Promote Reentry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers” (PA-08-191).
These research supplements may be requested by Principal Investigators (PIs) of active NIMH grants who plan to serve as mentors for candidates nominated for support. The activities proposed in a supplement application must both advance the objectives of the parent grant and support the research training and career advancement of the candidate. Award decisions are based on the merit of the research training potential of the applications and on relevance of the candidate’s career potential in relation to the research priorities of the NIMH as exemplified in the NIMH Strategic Plan.
At the time of a supplement application submission there must be a reasonable period of time remaining on the parent grant such that the supplement could provide an optimal career development experience for the candidate. A reasonable period for a career development experience varies by level of training and must be justified in the application. A minimum of two years is appropriate for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and investigators. For high school or undergraduate students this period may be as short as a summer experience or one academic year. Prior to submission of an application, it is imperative that the Principal Investigator (Applicant) contact the Supplements Coordinator in the Office for Special Populations to discuss the appropriate supplement duration for the proposed candidate.
The administrative and programmatic evaluation of research supplement applications at NIMH follows a standard procedure and timeframe. Applications are evaluated on a regular schedule but funding decisions can be influenced and delayed by other factors, including the availability of funds. Therefore, consultation with the NIMH Program Official (PO) assigned to the parent grant and NIMH Office for Special Populations (OSP) program staff prior to submission of a request for a supplement application is highly advisable. While applications may be submitted throughout the year, requests for support that would commence in the summer (May/June) of the current year should be submitted no later than February 1. Applications received after June 1 may not be considered for funding until the next fiscal year (i.e., after October 1, with December 1 as the earliest possible start date).
Program Guidance in Development of the Application and the Career Development/Mentorship Plan
Diversity and Reentry Supplement awards cannot be used to expand the scope of the parent grant. All applications are reviewed by program staff to assess the scope of the planned activities and evaluate their scientific merit and training potential. It is imperative that prospective applicants contact the PO assigned to the parent grant during initial preparation of a supplement application and prior to its submission to discuss their goals and objectives. Critical issues to be discussed with the PO may include, but are not limited to, the research development and mentoring plan activities and objectives, the potential of the candidate to successfully continue their research career and the match of the supplement objectives and the research priorities of the NIMH. Each application must include the following elements:
- Summary of the Funded Grant or Project
- Career Development Plan
- Mentoring Experience of the PI
- Candidate Statement
Summary of the Funded Grant or Project
A brief “plain language” description of the Parent Grant’s specific aims, research model and approach must be provided. The description must also address the relevance of the funded research project to the mission and strategic objectives of the NIMH.
Career Development Plan
An appropriate career development/mentorship plan for the candidate must be included in the application. The expectation is that the PI will prepare a detailed career development/mentorship plan that will include objectives and associated timelines for helping the candidate make the transition to the next stage of his/her research career.
The Program Announcement requires that the PI describe how the mentored research experiences will expand and foster the research capabilities of the candidate and how they relate to the research goals and objectives of the parent grant. Required components of the career development plan include:
- Details of mentor-candidate interactions. The plan should go well beyond simple laboratory assignments and supervision plans or stating that the candidate will attend seminars or lab meetings.
- The development/mentorship plan should be structured, specific and stage-appropriate for the candidate and include parameters such as the frequency of meetings, topics to be discussed, and how progress will be monitored. Plans for transition to the next stage in the career path should be described. Regardless of the candidate’s career stage, mentoring in the preparation of research grant applications for submission to NIMH is an expected component of the career development plan.
- The plan should present evidence that the proposed experience is appropriate for the stage of the individual’s research development, and that it will significantly enhance the individual’s research potential, while furthering the individual’s ability to pursue a mental health research career.
- For basic science trainees, the training plan should include exposure to clinical concepts related to mental health (e.g., lectures, readings, courses, grand rounds) and to translational research (see also http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not-mh-05-001.html). The PI should integrate discussion of the clinical relevance of his/her research into regular discussions with the candidate.
- For behavioral, clinical, and services trainees, the training plan should include didactic and/or research experiences that introduce the candidate to the basic biological sciences relevant to mental health research. This may include a curriculum of study, seminar(s), and/or colloquium series that emphasize neuroscience, genetics, pharmacology, molecular biology, etc. (see also http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not-mh-05-001.html). The PI should integrate discussion of the biological implications of his/her research into regular discussions with the candidate.
- The PI must describe how he/she will assist the candidate in achieving the objectives and goals they have described in their candidate statement (see below).
- The plan should take into account the typical barriers and impediments encountered by all trainees, as well as the unique challenges that individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds encounter in gaining entry and progressing in the biomedical, behavioral and social, or clinical research career tracks.
- A time line for the research and career development activities is required for investigators, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, post baccalaureate students and undergraduates receiving support for more than 3 months.
Mentoring Experience of the PI
All applicants should describe their experience and track record as a mentor.
- The PI should provide evidence of mentoring experience and success (e.g., a list of past trainees and their current positions). If the PI is a junior faculty member, it may be appropriate to include an experienced co-mentor in the development plan.
- If the PI has previously been awarded one or more research supplements, he/she must describe: a) the outcome of the previous supplement(s) including the current status of the candidate(s) (e.g., title of current position and name of institution); b) the outcomes of the prior development/mentorship plan; c) any unexpected positive or negative occurrences that affected specific aspects of the development/mentorship plan or success of the candidate(s); and d) how these prior experiences influenced the development/mentorship plan proposed for the current candidate(s).
- The role of other investigators who will contribute to the research mentoring should be described in the application and their biosketches must be included with the application.
Candidate Statement
As required by the Program Announcement, the candidate must provide a signed statement outlining short- and long-term research objectives and career goals. In this statement the candidate must describe how the planned activities are related to or will facilitate achievement of their career goals. Candidates are expected to submit career stage-appropriate grant applications during or at the end of the period of support. Thus a candidate’s statement should include plans for the development and submission of such applications.
Page Guidelines
The career development/mentorship plan may not exceed 6 pages. Applications exceeding the page limit will not be accepted for consideration. The plan must include: a summary of the funded grant or project; a plan and timeline for the research and career development experiences; a description of how these experiences will expand and foster the candidate’s research capabilities; a description of how the proposed experiences relate to the specific research goals of the parent grant; and a description of the mentorship to be provided. The candidate statement is separate from and is not included in the page guidelines for the career development/mentorship plan; the candidate statement should be limited to 3 pages.
Submission and Receipt of Applications
NIMH strongly encourages electronic submission of the completed supplement request, including all appropriate signatures and supporting documents, to be submitted as a single PDF document. The subject line of the email should contain only the phrase, “NIMH DIVERSITY (or REENTRY) SUPPLEMENT APPLICATION PDF”, in all caps.
Please submit the completed application to the email address below:
Paper applications will also be accepted. The application and all supporting documentation for a Diversity or Reentry Research Supplement to NIMH should be addressed to:
Research Supplements Coordinator
Office for Special Populations
National Institute of Mental Health
Neuroscience Center, Room 8125
6001 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892
Rockville, MD 20852 (courier only)
Please note: Applications may be submitted at any time. Requests for support that would commence in the summer (May/June) of the current year must be submitted prior to February 1. Applications received after June 1 will be processed and considered for funding in the next fiscal year, that is, after October 1, with December 1st as the earliest possible start date.
Review and Award of Applications
The administrative review of the application package is managed by the Supplements Coordinator in the Office for Special Populations (OSP). Eligible applications are forwarded to the NIMH grants management staff and program staff for evaluation of the budget and scientific merit. The applications are then reviewed by the NIMH Supplements Committee, which consists of representatives from the OSP and each NIMH Scientific Division. The Committee evaluates all supplement applications, rating each application based on scientific merit and training potential. Final funding decisions are made in the NIMH Office of the Director. Funding decisions are dependent on: (1) the merit of the application and the proposed project activities (i.e., the career development/mentorship plan and relevance to NIMH’s research training priorities, mission, and strategic objectives); (2) the potential for continued research progress of the candidate to the next level of mental health research career development; and (3) the availability of funds.
