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Introduction |
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Release Date: April 9, 2001. This program is active until a new program announcement is issued. Please see extended expiration date for more information.
PA NUMBER: PA-01-080
National Institutes of Health |
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Scope and Priorities |
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Purpose
The President's Task Force on Women, Minorities, and the Handicapped in Science and Technology has documented a very low participation rate for Americans with disabilities in the science and engineering work force. To address this problem for the biomedical and behavioral research workforce, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its awarding components have developed an initiative that is designed to extend opportunities to individuals with qualifying disabilities who are capable of entering or resuming research careers.
Objectives
Under this initiative the NIH will offer supplemental awards to certain ongoing research grants to encourage individuals with disabilities to pursue biomedical, behavioral, clinical or social science research careers. It is hoped that the availability of support for research experiences at several different stages in a research career will substantially increase the number of individuals with disabilities in the health-related sciences. The NIH hereby notifies principal Investigators holding certain NIH research grants of the availability of funds for administrative supplements to existing grants for the support and recruitment of scientists and students with disabilities into research careers. In addition, this program will provide support to accommodate the disabilities of established investigators who become disabled. |
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Eligibility |
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Eligible Awards
Principal Investigators at domestic institutions who hold an active R01, R10, R18, R22, R24, R35, R37, P01,P20, P30, P40, P41, P50, P51, P60, U01, U10, U19, U41, U42 or U54 grants are eligible to submit a request for an administrative supplement to the awarding component of the parent grant for any of the supplemental programs offered here. Principal Investigators holding an active Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15), an Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21), or a Small Grant Award (R03) Also may apply for a supplement under this program. Grantees with support from these mechanisms MUST check with the appropriate awarding component before an application for a supplement is submitted. Awardees of R03, R15, and R21 grants may apply only when the candidate with a disability is a high school or an undergraduate student. However, exceptions to these rules may be made. Applicants should check with their awarding component. Supplements to grant mechanisms such as the R15, and R03 awards may provide support above the established dollar limits. The P20, P30, and P60 award mechanisms are eligible for supplements only when they contain research components.
In all cases, the parent grant must have support remaining for a reasonable period at the time of a supplemental award (usually two years or more). Usually, each parent grant may have only one supplement for a person with a disability. Appointment of more than one individual to a single grant depends on the nature of the parent grant, the circumstances of the request, and the program balance of the awarding component. Supplemental awards under these programs do not preclude a separate supplement to support an underrepresented minority.
Eligible Individuals
Supplemental awards are available to support individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated an aptitude and interest in the health-related sciences. Although additional eligibility information is provided later in the announcement, individuals with disability in each of the following career levels are generally considered eligible:
- High School Students.
- Undergraduate Students in health-related sciences.
- Post-Baccalaureate Students and Post-Master’s Degree Students who wish to pursue (additional) graduate level training in health-related sciences.
- Graduate Students in health-related research training.
- Individuals in Postdoctoral health-related training.
- Investigators developing independent research careers in the health-related sciences.
- Established Investigators Who Become Disabled.
This program will provide additional support for established NIH investigators and project leaders on components of program projects and center grants who become disabled. The additional support may be requested for assistants or special equipment that will facilitate a continuing contribution to the goals of the parent grant. Because this program differs in substantial ways from the other supplemental awards listed here, it is described in a separate section below.
Awards will be limited to citizens, non-citizen nationals of the United States,
and individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e.,
in possession of an Alien Registration Receipt Card) at the time of application.
Other specific eligibility requirements relative to each type of award are set
forth in the individual program descriptions below. Individuals with disabilities
may receive support under these programs on only one grant at any time, but may
be supported by more than one grant during the development of their research
careers. Support under the supplement programs is not transferable to another
individual. The research supplement programs for individuals with disabilities
have been designed to attract individuals with disabilities into research careers
and are not intended to provide an alternative means of supporting disabled individuals
who already receive support from a research grant or a research training grant
or any other DHHS funding mechanism. Graduate students or individuals in postdoctoral training who are supported by a National Research
Service Award (NRSA) research training grant may not be transferred to supplemental
support prior to the completion of their appointed period of training. Individuals
may not be transferred to supplemental support simply to increase the availability
of funds to the parent grant for any other uses.
Definition Of Disability:
For the purpose of this announcement, the definition of disability in the Americans
with Disabilities Act will be used. An individual with a disability is one who
has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major
life activities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are those who, with
reasonable accommodation for their disability, are capable of entering a research
career after appropriate experience and training. A list of disabilities that
might confer eligibility for supplemental awards under this program includes,
but is not limited to, the following: total deafness in both ears, visual acuity
less than 20/200 with corrective lenses, speech impairment, missing extremities,
partial paralysis, complete paralysis, convulsive disorders, mental or emotional
illness, learning disabilities, kidney dialysis, and severe distortion of limbs
and/or spine. In all cases, individuals supported under this supplement program
must, with reasonable assistance, be able to contribute to the research supported by the parent grant. |
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Mechanism |
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The research experiences supported under this program must be an integral part of the approved, ongoing research of the parent grant for all of the supplemental programs listed above. Also, with the exception of the supplemental program for Established Investigators Who Become Disabled, individuals with disabilities must be given the opportunity to interact with individuals on the parent grant and to contribute intellectually to the research, and to enhance his/her research skills and knowledge. Furthermore, the Principal Investigator must demonstrate a willingness and understanding that the purpose of the award is to enhance the research capability of the student or faculty member with a disability, and that the research experience is intended to provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop into productive, competitive research investigators. All awards made under these programs will be consistent with the goals of strengthening the existing research program and the overall programmatic balance and priorities of the funding component at the NIH. Awards will be made according to the policies and provisions stated in this announcement. The award limits listed in this document for each career level represents the support NIH will provide and does not preclude the institution's use of funds from other sources to supplement the award. Applicants are encouraged to contact the NIH institute staff identified in the INQUIRIES section below prior to submission in order to obtain specific information about application characteristics and requirements. It is also recognized that individual circumstances vary and, for unusual situations, NIH program administrators should be consulted for a determination of eligibility.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: As a part of these awards, funds may be requested to make changes or adjustments in the research setting that will make it possible for an otherwise qualified employee with a disability to perform the essential functions associated with his/her role on the project. The accommodations requested under this program must be DIRECTLY related to the performance of the proposed role on the research project and must be appropriate to the disabilities of the individual. Some types of accommodations that might be provided under these awards include: specialized equipment, assistive devices, and personnel such as readers, interpreters, or assistants. In all cases, the total funds for accommodations requested from the supplement must be reasonable in relationship to the direct costs of the parent grant and the nature of the supplemental award. address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html |
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Description Of The Individual Research Supplement Programs |
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1. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
The purpose of this program is to provide high school students with disabilities who have demonstrated an interest and an aptitude for scientific pursuits with a meaningful experience in various aspects of health-related research to stimulate interest in a career in science.
ELIGIBILITY
Any qualified high school student with a disability who is enrolled in good standing at a local high school and is interested in the health-related sciences is encouraged to participate in this program.
PROVISIONS
This supplement is not to exceed $3,000 in direct costs, including supplies, during a summer research experience. A part-time experience during the regular school year would be reimbursed at the same hourly rate ($6.25). Funds over and above this $3,000 limit may be requested to permit accommodation to the research environment. This may include research equipment if it is directly related to both the project and to accommodating the disabilities of the student. In all cases, equipment may only be purchased with prior approval of the NIH awarding component.
Students are expected to devote sufficient effort to the research project and related activities during the period of support to gain insight into the process of scientific discovery. Support may be for a minimum of three months during any one year which may include a mixture of full-time summer experience and part-time experience during the school year. Principal Investigators are encouraged to seek high school students who will devote at least two years to this program (i.e., equivalent to two three-month, full- time, periods). Exceptions to the latter will be considered, depending on the circumstances of the applicant, the parent grant, and the specific request.
See below for information about application procedures, review criteria, and award criteria.
2. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
This supplemental program provides an opportunity for any qualified undergraduate student with a disability, who is interested in biomedical, behavioral, clinical or social science research, to participate in a research project at a research institution during the summer months and/or during the school year. This experience will be separate and apart from any requirement of the regular academic program.
ELIGIBILITY
The student may be affiliated with either the applicant institution or any other academic institution. Any qualified undergraduate student with a disability who is interested in health-related research is encouraged to participate in this program.
PROVISIONS
The salary for an undergraduate student should be consistent with the institutional salary policies. Institutional rates for undergraduate salaries that exceed $8 per hour must be justified. An additional amount of $200 per month for supplies and travel may also be requested. Funds over and above this limit may be requested to permit accommodation to the research environment. This may include research equipment, but only if it is directly related to both the project AND accommodating the disabilities of the student. In all cases, equipment may only be purchased with prior approval of the NIH awarding component.
Students are expected to devote an equivalent of at least three months full- time effort to the research project and related activities in any one year, and in most cases the period of support for any individual should last at least two years. Exceptions to the latter will be considered, depending on the circumstances of the applicant, the parent grant, and the specific request. See the GENERAL PROVISIONS section (above) for information about application procedures, review criteria, and award criteria.
3. POST-BACCALAUREATE AND POST-MASTER’S DEGREE STUDENTS
The objective of this program is intended to provide opportunities for recent graduates who wish to spend up to two years engaged in health-related research while applying for graduate or medical school. The duration of the program is normally one year, but the research experience can be extended for an additional year if evidence is provided to show that the candidate is actively pursuing entry into graduate or health profession school. This program is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the candidate and is not viewed as a source of additional technical support for NIH-supported investigators.
ELIGIBILITY
Any student with a disability who has recently earned a bachelor or master’s degree in the health-related sciences is eligible for consideration. Students who plan to attend medical, dental or other professional schools are encouraged to use this program to gain research experience.
PROVISIONS
The salary for students at the postbaccalaureate and postmaster levels should be reasonable and consistent with the institutional salary policies and can not exceed the amount allowed for graduate students. Additional funds up to $3,000 per year may be requested for supplies and travel. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment.
4. GRADUATE STUDENTS
The objective of this program is to offer additional encouragement to graduate students with disabilities who have the potential to become researchers in the health-related sciences and give them an opportunity to develop further their research capability. Students who are supported on research or training grants may not be supported on research supplements.
ELIGIBILITY
Any graduate student with a disability who is enrolled in a master’s or a doctoral degree program in biomedical, behavioral, clinical or social sciences is eligible for consideration.
PROVISIONS
The NIH will provide salary support in addition to other necessary expenses, such as supplies and travel, to enable the individual to participate as a graduate research assistant in funded research projects. As in the past, the NIH will continue to consider the compensation for the personal services of graduate students and other employees rendered to an NIH research project to be allowable as long as the compensation is reasonable and (1) conforms to the established, consistently applied salary and wage policies of the institutions and (2) reflects the percentage of time actually devoted to the PHS-funded project. For graduate students this compensation may include tuition remission paid as, or in lieu of, wages provided that the student is in a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the institution for the work performed, and payment is conditioned explicitly on the performance of necessary work. The total amount requested for salary, tuition and fringe benefit must not exceed the amount allowable for a first year postdoctoral level staff member at the same institution performing comparable work (see NIH Guide announcement, Vol. 25, No. 8, March 15, 1996). Additional funds up to $4,000 per year may be requested for supplies and travel. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment. Funds may also be requested to permit accommodation to the research environment. This may include research equipment, but only if it is directly related to both the project AND accommodating the disabilities of the student. In all cases, equipment may only be purchased after obtaining approval from the NIH awarding component.
See below for information about application procedures, review criteria, and award criteria.
5. INDIVIDUALS IN POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
These supplements provide support to individuals with disabilities in the postdoctoral phase of training to participate in ongoing research projects that will assist in the development of a career in health-related research. Postdoctoral fellows who are supported on research or training grants may not be supported on research supplements. Toward the end of the supplement award, candidates should be encouraged to apply for fellowships, research grants, and other sources of independent support.
ELIGIBILITY
The individual in postdoctoral training may be affiliated with either the applicant institution or any other institution. Only under extraordinary circumstances, that must be well justified in the application, would it be acceptable for the candidate to continue working with his/her former predoctoral mentor.
PROVISIONS
Support will be provided for a salary in addition to other necessary expenses, such as supplies and travel, to enable the individual to participate as a postdoctoral research assistant in funded research projects. The requested salary and fringe benefits must be in accordance with the salary structure of the grantee institution, consistent with the level of effort, and may not exceed $40,000 per year. Additional funds up to $6,000 may be requested for supplies and travel. Funds may also be requested to permit accommodation to the research environment. This may include research equipment, but only if it is directly related to both the project AND accommodating the disabilities of the individual. In all cases, equipment may only be purchased with prior approval of the NIH awarding component.
See below for information about application procedures, review criteria, and award criteria.
6. INVESTIGATORS DEVELOPING INDEPENDENT RESEARCH CAREERS
These supplements provide either short or long-term research support for staff or faculty members with disabilities to enhance their research skills leading to an independent research career.
o Short-term Investigator Research Supplement. This supplement provides short-term support for staff or faculty members to conduct full-time research for three to five months each year during the summer or another portion of the academic year, over a maximum period of four years.
o Long-term Investigator Research Supplement. This supplement provides long-term research support for staff or faculty members to conduct research in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical or social sciences. Support is provided for up to four years at a minimum of 30 percent effort during each 12-month period.
ELIGIBILITY
The investigator with a disability may be affiliated with either the applicant institution or another institution. The investigator must have a doctoral degree, be beyond the level of a research trainee, be a member of the staff or faculty, and have at least one year of postdoctoral experience. The investigator may have received prior research or research training support from the NIH or support under the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Program, Minority-Research Infrastructure Support Program (M- RISP), Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program, Career Opportunities in Research Education and Training (COR), Small Grants (R03), or Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program. However, an individual who has received independent research support as a Principal Investigator on an individual research grant (e.g., R01, R29), or as a project leader on a program project or center grant (e.g., P01, P50), or as a Principal Investigator on an individual research career award (e.g., K01, K02, K07, K08, and K12) is not eligible for support under this program.
PROVISIONS
The requested salary and fringe benefits for an investigator must be in accordance with the salary structure of the grantee institution, consistent with the level of effort. Additional funds of up to $10,000 may be requested for supplies and travel. Funds may be requested to permit accommodation to the research environment. This may include research equipment, but only if it is directly related to both the project AND to accommodating the disabilities of the investigator. In all cases, equipment may only be purchased after obtaining approval from the NIH awarding component. The maximum period of support for any investigator is four years.
See below for application procedures, review criteria, and award criteria.
7. SUPPLEMENTS FOR ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORS WHO BECOME DISABLED
Established investigators on NIH research, program project, or center grants who become disabled during the current project period may request funds for special accommodations to permit completion of the currently funded research project.
ELIGIBILITY
Any currently funded Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator or other senior staff (hereinafter referred to as Established Investigator) on an NIH research project grant, program project grant, or center grant may request support for special equipment, an assistant, or other modifications to facilitate accommodation to a disabling injury or illness that has occurred during the current project period.
PROVISIONS
Support will be limited to items that will permit the investigator to complete the remaining years of a currently funded research project. This might include: salary support for an individual who can assist the Established Investigator in meeting the goals of the research project, specialized equipment such as computers, or modifications of the working environment. In all cases, the requested support must be consistent with the type of disability and the nature of the approved research. The total amount of support requested under this supplement must be reasonable in relationship to the direct costs of the parent award and the Established Investigator's role and effort on the project. In future competing applications, funds for continuation of the accommodations provided under this supplement must be requested in the parent grant application and may NOT be requested as a research supplement. |
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Review Criteria |
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The staff of the particular awarding component will review requests for supplements using the following general criteria:
1. The qualifications of the candidate including career goals, prior research training, research potential, and any relevant experience.
2. The plan for the proposed research experience in the supplemental request and its relationship to the parent grant.
3. The appropriateness of the proposed accommodations for the candidate and his/her role on the research project. The appropriateness of the costs of the proposed accommodations to be paid from the supplement relative to the cost of the parent project and the nature of the requested supplemental award. Evidence that the proposed accommodations, including those provided by the grantee institution, will be sufficient to enable the candidate to adapt to the research environment.
4. Evidence from the Principal Investigator that the experience will enhance the research potential, knowledge, and/or skills of the candidate, and that adequate mentorship will be provided.
5. Evidence from the Principal Investigator that the activities of the candidate will be an integral part of the project.
6. Evidence of educational achievement and interest in science if the candidate is a student. Additional criteria related to the specific programs may also apply and are described below. |
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Award Criteria |
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The decision to fund a supplement will take approximately eight weeks from receipt of a complete application. Applicants for summer-only research appointments must be submit early enough to ensure that funding and accommodations are in place by the time the summer experience is scheduled to begin. In most cases, during the first budget period, funds will be provided as an administrative supplement to the parent grant. In subsequent years, continued funding for the supplement is contingent on continued funding of the parent grant and cannot extend beyond the current competitive segment of the parent grant and availability of funds.
Continuation of support for the candidate in the remaining years of the competitive segment of the grant will depend upon a satisfactory review by the NIH awarding component of progress on both the parent grant and the supplemental project, the research proposed for the next budget period, and the appropriateness of the proposed budget for the proposed effort.
In non-competing applications, the progress report and budget for the candidate must be clearly delineated from the progress report and budget for the parent grant. The progress report in both non-competing and competing applications must include information about the research activities supported by the supplement even if support for future years is not requested.
In future competing applications, funds for continuation of support of the candidate will depend on the successful renewal of the parent grant and will be handled as follows:
o For students who have not yet completed their research experience, funds for the continuation of support must be requested as a research supplement to ensure continued tracking of the individual supported. The request for continued support should not be included in the competing renewal, but instead, should be prepared as a letter with information on research progress and accomplishments of the candidate. The request must be addressed to the program administrator of the parent grant and must be submitted promptly in anticipation of a renewal award to avoid an interruption of support. Support to individual students by this mechanism will be limited to five years. Additional time may be considered, but must be well justified.
o Funds for the continuation of support for a postdoctoral fellow or an investigator with a disability must be requested by name in the parent grant application at the time of renewal and may not be requested as a research supplement. Postdoctoral fellows and investigators are expected to be fully integrated in the research laboratory when considered for continuation of support. |
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Application and Process |
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A request for a supplement may be submitted at any time. In making requests, the grantee institution, on behalf of the principal investigator of the parent grant and in cooperation with the individual with a disability, MUST SUBMIT THE REQUEST FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS DIRECTLY TO THE AWARDING COMPONENT THAT SUPPORTS THE PARENT GRANT. The request is not to be submitted to the NIH Center for Scientific Review. Principal Investigators are encouraged to obtain the address for submission from the NIH program administrator of the parent grant.
The request for a supplemental award must include the following:
1. A completed face page (with appropriate signatures) from Grant Application Form PHS 398. Include the title and grant number of the parent grant on line 1 and the type of supplement being requested on line 2.
2. A brief three to four page description, prepared by the Principal Investigator of the parent grant, that includes:
a. A summary or abstract of the funded grant or project.
b. A description of the research experience proposed for the candidate.
c. A description of how the research experience will expand and foster the training or independent research capabilities of the candidate and how the research experience will relate to the specific research goals and objectives of the parent grant.
3. A signed statement from the candidate with a disability outlining his/her research objectives and career goals.
4. A biographical sketch of the candidate that includes evidence of scientific achievement or interest. The source of current funding should be listed.
5. Social Security Number of the candidate. (The PHS requests the Social Security Number for the purpose of accurate identification, referral, review, and efficient management of PHS grant programs. Although provision of the Social Security Number is voluntary, it will facilitate the processing of applications for supplements.)
6. A signed statement from the Principal Investigator establishing the eligibility of the candidate for support under this program including information on citizenship, and a description of any previous PHS research grant support the candidate has received. This must include information certifying the individual's citizenship, the nature of the disability, any occupational limitations associated with the disability, and the types of accommodations that will permit the candidate to undertake the proposed research experience. Also, the institution must indicate its contribution to aid accommodation of the candidate to the research environment.
7. A proposed budget entered on budget pages from Grant Application Form PHS 398, related to the percent effort (where appropriate) for the research experience in the first and future years. All special accommodations requested must be detailed and justified in the budget section. If the initial budget period requested is less than 12 months, the budget should be prorated accordingly.
8. Documentation, if applicable, that the proposed research experience was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or human subjects Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the grantee institution must be provided. Adherence to the NIH policy for including women and minorities in clinical studies must also be insured if additional human subjects' involvement is planned for the supplement component.
9. A copy of the most recent official transcript if the candidate is a high school, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, post-master’s or graduate student.
10. If the candidate is a student at another institution, the application also must include an appropriately signed letter from a responsible official at the institution of matriculation indicating that participation at the stated level of effort is approved and will not detract from or interfere with his/her course of studies.
11. If any of the research is to be conducted at a site other than the grantee institution, an appropriately signed letter from the institution where the research is to be conducted must be submitted. The request must be signed by the candidate, principal Investigator, and the appropriate institutional business official. |
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Contact Information |
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Principal Investigators interested in participating in these programs are encouraged to contact NIH staff administering the parent grant. For general information about the Research Supplements for Individuals with Disabilities, contact the following staff person in the appropriate awarding component:
Valerie Florance, PhD
Extramural Programs
National Library of Medicine
Rockledge 1, Suite 301
6705 Rockledge Drive MSC 7968
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-4882
FAX: (301) 402-2952
Email: floranv@mail.nih.gov
Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ |
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