Minority International Research Training Grant in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences (93.106)
Program
93.106 Minority International Research Training Grant in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
Federal Agency
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Sections 301 and 405, 42 U.S.C. 241 and 284.
Program Number
93.106
Last Known Status
Deleted 06/30/2004 (Program elements consolidated into 93.989)
Objectives
(1) To enable qualified minority undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members to participate in international biomedical and behavioral research programs; (2) to acquaint minority students and scientists with the full range of career opportunities in biomedical and behavioral research; (3) to strengthen teaching programs at U.S. institutions; and (4) to strengthen ties with research institutes abroad.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Each training grant may include the three following components: (1) The undergraduate program for training minority students abroad for 8 to 12 weeks to include language training and a research experience; (2) The predoctoral component which will support minority students seeking a graduate research degree (Ph.D. or D.Sc.) for 3 to 12 months while abroad at a major international research center, or unique study population site; and (3) 3-12 months of support for faculty mentors providing guidance to undergraduates in (1) above. Grants may support stipends, travel, health insurance, foreign living expenses, tuition and fees, and other educational expenses at the foreign institutions. Stipends are $800 per month for undergraduates, $1,225 per month for graduate students, and $1,250 per month for faculty mentors. Requests may be made for health insurance, foreign tuition, and fees. Foreign living expenses will be a maximum of $1,000 per month for undergraduate and graduate students and $2,000 for faculty mentors. Research training support for each participant may be requested for use at the foreign institution for up to $600 per month. Travel expenses from the home institution to and from the foreign training site may be requested. Also, domestic administrative expenses of up to 10 percent of total direct costs may be requested.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
The applicant institution and its associated consortia institutions must be U.S. colleges or universities that offer baccalaureate degrees in fields relevant to biomedical and behavioral sciences. Each training grant may include any or all of the three following components: (1) The undergraduate program for training minority students abroad for 8 to 12 weeks to include language training (if necessary) and a research experience; (2) The post-baccalaureate component which will support minority students seeking a graduate research degree (M.S., Ph.D. or D.Sc.) for 3 to 12 months while abroad at a major international research center, or unique study population site; and (3) the faculty mentor program to provide 3-12 months of support to provide guidance to undergraduates in (1) above. Grants may support stipends, travel, health insurance, foreign living expenses, tuition and fees, and other educational expenses at the foreign institutions. Stipends are $800 per month for undergraduate, $1,225 for graduate students and $1,250 per month for the faculty member. Requests may be made for health insurance, foreign tuition and fees. Foreign living expenses will be $1,000 per month for undergraduate and graduate students and $2,000 for faculty members. Research training support for each participant may be requested for use at the foreign institution for up to $600 per month. Travel expenses from the home institution to and from the foreign training site may be requested. Also, domestic administrative expenses of up to 10 percent of total direct costs may be requested.
Beneficiary Eligibility
African American, Hispanic American, Native American, and Pacific Islander undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Applications are to be submitted on the institutional training grant application form PHS 398 (Rev. 04/98). Application kits are available at most institutional business offices or may be obtained from: Division of Extramural Outreach and Information, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910. Telephone: 301/435-0714, e-mail grantsinfo@nih.gov. The title and number of the announcement must be typed in Section 2a on the face page of the application. Completed applications should be sent to the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health.
Award Procedure
Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by an NIH initial review group, followed by a second level review by the Fogarty International Center National Advisory Board.
Deadlines
An application deadline date will appear in the Request for Applications (RFA) for each competition. Contact Headquarters Office listed below for information on when RFAs may be published.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
A principal investigator (P.I.) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his or her application by communicating with the staff of the Center. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH home page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-232.html.
Renewals
Competing renewal applications from funded grantee institutions may be submitted in response to a Request for Applications (RFA) from the Fogarty International Center.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are made for a period of 4 years. Funds are allocated annually based on availability of funds and progress in the preceding year. Assistance is awarded by an electronic transfer system.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual progress report is required before disbursement of funds for the next budget period. A financial status report is required not later than 90 days from the end of each budget period. Final progress and financial status reports are required within 90 days of termination of the project.
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. 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 expenditure report for the report period.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2001, 28 continuation awards.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0819-0-1-552.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 01 $5,456,000. Now consolidated into 93.989.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Approximately $200,000 per year to the grantee institution.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92; NIH Guide TW-00-001, November 22, 1999; NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Dr. Barbara Sina, Division of International Training and Research, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Building 31, Room B2C39, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220. Telephone: (301) 496-1653. Grants Management Contact: Mr. Bruce Butrum, Grants Management Officer, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Building 31, Room B2C39, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220. Telephone: (301) 496-1670. Use the same numbers for FTS.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
The MIRT program at Cornell University brings students to the Yutaje field site of the Institute Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas in the Amazon rain forest to collect and screen samples of ethnomedical value for potential as new drugs. Students from Hampton University in Virginia work on similar projects at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. The MIRT students from the University of Michigan participate in studies examining how children's health problems relate to psycho-educational function in Chile, China, Costa Rica, India and South Africa. Students in the University of New Mexico MIRT program perform biochemical studies to determine how nutrition affects a variety of diseases in Northern Nigeria. MIRT students from the University of Pittsburgh are trained in epidemiological methods and participate in studies on diabetes in minority populations at sites in the Caribbean.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
(1) Contribution of proposal to achievement of program's objectives; (2) scientific and technical merit of the application as determined by peer review; and (3) availability of funds.
