Biomedical Research and Research Training (93.859)
Program
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training
Federal Agency
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Authorization
Section 301 and Title IV of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.
Program Number
93.859
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To support basic biomedical research that is not targeted to specific diseases or disorders. Because scientific breakthroughs often originate from such untargeted studies, NIGMS-funded work has contributed substantially to the tremendous progress that biomedical research has made in recent years. The Institute's training programs help provide the most critical element of good research: well-prepared scientists.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Training Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
NIGMS has three divisions that support research and research training in basic biomedical science fields. The key areas in which these divisions fund research are listed below. Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics: analytical and separation techniques; biomedical instrumentation; cell organization, motility, and division; lipid biochemistry; membrane structure and function; molecular biophysics; spectroscopic techniques; structural biology; and structural genomics. Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology: cell growth and differentiation; chromosome organization and mechanics; complex biological systems; control of gene expression; control of the cell cycle; developmental genetics; extrachromosomal inheritance; mechanisms of mutagenesis; neurogenetics and the genetics of behavior; population genetics, evolution, and the genetics of complex traits; replication, recombination, and repair of genes; RNA processing and transcription; and protein synthesis. Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry: anesthesiology; biochemistry; bioenergetics; bio-organic and bio-inorganic chemistry; biotechnology; glycoconjugates and glycobiology; medicinal chemistry; molecular immunobiology; pharmacogenetics; pharmacology and clinical pharmacology; physiology; synthetic chemistry; trauma and burn injury; and wound healing. The Institute has a Division of Minority Opportunities in Research that contains two branches and several special initiatives designed to increase the number of underrepresented minority biomedical/behavioral scientists. The Minority Access to Research Careers Branch supports research training at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty levels. The Minority Biomedical Research Support Branch funds faculty-initiated research projects and student development grants at educational institutions with significant underrepresented minority student enrollments. These grants help strengthen the institutions' biomedical research capabilities and develop the research competitiveness of the participating faculty. In addition to these divisions, the Institute has a Center for Bioinformatics and Computational that supports research and research training in areas that join biology with the computer sciences, engineering, mathematics, and physics. The center also oversees NIH's Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative (BISTI) through its management of the BISTI Consortium. The goal of this initiative is to make optimal use of computer science and technology to address problems in biology and medicine.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
NIGMS trainees must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Any nonprofit or for-profit organization, company, or institution engaged in biomedical research.
Credentials/Documentation
Each applicant for research projects must present a research plan and furnish evidence that scientific competence, facilities, equipment, and supplies are appropriate to carry out the plan.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Application forms (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, Bethesda, MD 20892, and must be submitted to the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 for assessment by a scientific review committee. The standard application forms, as furnished by PHS and required by 45 CFR, Part 92 for state and local governments, must be used for this program (these forms are available online at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm). This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR, Part 92 for state and local governments and 45 CFR, Part 72 for other organizations, as appropriate.
Award Procedure
All accepted applications are reviewed for scientific merit by an appropriate initial review group and by a national advisory council. National Research Service Award (NRSA) applications for the support of individual fellows and other applications requesting less than $50,000 direct costs per year are not reviewed by the council.) All approved applications compete for available funds on the basis of scientific merit and program emphasis.
Deadlines
A list of NIGMS application receipt dates is available online at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/funding/appdate.html.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
A principal investigator 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 Web site at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-232.html.
Renewals
Renewal grants are generally made prior to the expiration of any current award.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Almost all awards are made for at least 1 year, with additional support (up to 4 more years) depending on the recommendation of the scientific review group, the national advisory council, successful annual performance, and availability of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual progress and selected financial status reports for continuing projects and final progress and financial reports on all projects upon conclusion are required. Recipients of NRSAs are required to file termination reports to ascertain compliance with the service and payback provisions.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 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. Audits of profit making organizations are addressed in 45 CFR Part 72 (Subpart C, Section 74.26). 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.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2003, the Institute's budget was $1.84 billion. The vast majority of this money goes to fund grants to scientists at universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country. At any given time, NIGMS supports over 4,500 research grants--about 10 percent of the grants funded by NIH as a whole. NIGMS also supports 45 percent of the predoctoral trainees and 28 percent of all the trainees who receive assistance from NIH.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0897-0-1-552.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $1,660,641; FY 03 est $1,801,805; and FY 04 est $1,850,152.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$20,000 to $7,500,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
45 CFR 16 Procedures of the Departmental Grant Appeals Board; 45 CFR 74; 45 CFR 92; NIH Extramural Programs brochure; miscellaneous program literature from Headquarters Office. Grants will be available under the authority of and administered in accordance with the NIH Grants Policy Statement and Federal regulations at 42 CFR 52 and 42 USC 241; Omnibus Solicitation of the Public Health Service for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant and Cooperative Agreement Applications. Omnibus Solicitation of the National Institutes of Health for Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant Applications.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 45 Center Drive MSC 6200, Bethesda, MD 20892-6200, Division Contacts: Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Dr. James C. Cassatt, Director, 301-594-0828; Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Dr. Marcus M. Rhoades, Acting Director, 301-594-0943; Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry, Dr. Michael E. Rogers, Director, 301-594-3827; Division of Minority Opportunities in Research, Dr. Clifton A. Poodry, Director, 301-594-3900; Division of Extramural Activities, Dr. Norka Ruiz Bravo, Director, 301-594-3910; Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Dr. Eric Jakobsson, Director, 301-594-5236; Grants Management Contact: Mr. Joe Ellis, Chief Grants Management Officer 301-594-5135.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
NIGMS supports a wide array of grants supporting both research and training in areas described in paragraph 50. Examples of these grants are available in the Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP) database at http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
For an overview of NIGMS grant application and review, including funding policy, see http://www.nigms.nih.gov/research/grant_application_review.html.
