FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Health Service Act, Sections 413 and 487, as amended, Public Law 100-607, 42 U.S.C. 285a, 42 U.S.C. 288.

OBJECTIVES:

To make available support to nonprofit and for-profit institutions interested in providing biomedical training opportunities for individuals interested in careers in basic, clinical, and prevention research important to the National Cancer Program.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The Research Manpower program provides support for research training in all scientific fields related to cancer. National Research Service (NRSA) Individual Fellowship Awards are made directly to individuals for research training in biomedical sciences areas. In addition, grants may be made to institutions to enable them to make NRSAs to individuals selected by them. Each individual who receives a postdoctoral NRSA is obligated upon termination of the award to comply with certain service and payback provisions. Cancer Education Grants are designed to promote education programs carried out by organizations engaged in health-related education, research, or training and located in the United States, its possessions, or territories. Various Career awards are designed to sponsor the development of independent scientists. Individual short-term support for students is available under the Cancer Education Program.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   University, college, hospital, public agency, or nonprofit research institution for institutional grants and individuals for fellowships. The applicant institution must be able to provide the staff and facilities and be responsible for the selection of trainees and overall direction of the training. Selected awardees must be citizens of the United States or be admitted to the United States for permanent residency. Career and Cancer Education awards may be given to for-profit institutions.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   University, college, hospital, public agency, nonprofit research institution or for-profit institution.

Credentials/Documentation:   (1) Individual NRSAs: The applicant's academic record, research experience, citizenship, institutional sponsorship, and the proposed area and plan of training must be included in the application. (2) Institutional NRSAs: Applicants must show the objectives, methodology, and resources for the training program, the qualifications and experience of directing staff, the criteria to be used in selecting individuals for award and a detailed budget and justification for the amount of grant funds requested. (3) Institutional Cancer Education Grants: Applicants must describe the organization and administration of the proposed program, list and define institutional objectives, methodology, resources and techniques of evaluation, as well as a justification of proposed expenditures. (4) For Career awards, the applicant must provide documentation on the candidate, sponsor, career development plan, research proposed, and institutional commitment.

Pre-application Coordination:   Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Application forms for Individual or Institutional NRSAs and information concerning the areas of science being supported may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910. Telephone (301)435-0714; E-mail ASKNIH@odrockml.od.nih.gov. Application Form PHS 398 (rev. May l995) for Cancer Education and Career grants may also be obtained from the above address and from the offices of sponsored research at most academic institutions. Completed applications should be submitted to the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.

Award Procedure:   Applications are reviewed for scientific merit by an appropriate study section, committee, or advisory council. If recommended for approval and a decision to make award is made, a formal award notice will be sent to the applicant.

Deadlines:   All new and renewal applications: Individual NRSA's: April 5, August 5, and December 5. Institutional NRSA's: January 10, May 10, and September 10. All new Cancer Education and Career applications: February 1, June 1, and October 1. All renewal, amended and supplemental Cancer Education and Career applications: March 1, July 1, and November 1.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Approximately 10 months.

Appeals:   A principal investigator (P.I.) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff of the Institute. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH home page www.nih.gov/1997/97.11.21/n2.html.

Renewals:   Cancer Education Grants may be made for periods of up to 5 years and renewals may be submitted when appropriate. Research training grants may be renewed for additional project periods of 5 years. Career awards are not renewable after a 5-year project period.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Up to 5 years.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Progress reports are required each year. An annual financial status report is required 90 days after the end of the budget period. Special reports may be requested by the grantor. Terminal reports are required 6 months after the end of a project.

Audits:   "In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133." In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records:   Expenditures and other financial records must be retained for 3 years from the day on which the grantee submits the last financial status report for the report period.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-0849-0-1-552.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 est $130,843,000; FY 02 est $145,861,000; and FY 03 est $164,923,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Range: $2,778 to $1,393, Average: $143,417.

In fiscal year 2001 Individual 180 awards were made and 81 were competing awards totalling $2,987,000; 1,412 Institutional awards were made and 309 were competing awards totalling $11,149,000; 358 Career awards were made totalling $51,175,000; 91 Cancer Education awards were made totalling $21,740,000. In fiscal year 2002, it is estimated that 2,126 Manpower award will be made. In fiscal year 2003, it is estimated that 2,294 Manpower awards will made. It is estimated that between fiscal year's 1998 and 2003, the training and career development activities of the National Cancer Institute will double, resulting in a program that supports over $160 million in NRSA Awards and Career Awards. During this period, the NCI has been implementing a new strategic plan that places greater emphasis on protecting the time and stabilizing the careers of M.D.s in research and prevention and control scientists; nearly all of the growth in the program has focused on these two fields. Both of these fields are threatened by either managed care medicine or academic culture and they are both critical to the translational research success of the NCI in the future.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

42 CFR 6; 42 CFR 66; 45 CFR 74; Application kit, National Institutes of Health; PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1, 1994.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  
See Regional Agency Offices. None.

Headquarters Office:   Catherine M. Battistone 9609 Medical Center Drive Seventh Floor, West Tower, 7W532, MSC 9750, Rockville, Maryland 20850 Email: battistc@mail.nih.gov Phone: 240-276-6443 Fax: 240-276-7682

Web Site Address:  
http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/training

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

(1) Individual Fellowship: Neutrophil Cytotoxicity - Model of Tumor Cell Resistance; (2) Institutional Training: Development and Neoplasia (Tumor Biology); (3) Cancer Education: Breast Education Through Adult Literacy Programs, and (4) Career: Targeted Immunotherapies in Cancer.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

The major elements in evaluating proposals include the assessment of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives.