Senior International Fellowships (93.989)

Program

93.989 Senior International Fellowships

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: National Institutes of Health

Authorization

Public Health Service Act, Sections 301 and 405, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 241 and 284.

Program Number

93.989

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The John E. Fogarty International Center (FIC) supports research and research training to reduce disparities in global health and to foster partnerships between U.S. scientists and their counterparts abroad. FIC supports basic biological, behavioral, and social science research, as well as related research training. The research portfolio is divided into several programs that support a wide variety of funding mechanisms to meet programmatic objectives.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS; TRAINING

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants and Research Training Grants provide funds for salaries, equipment, supplies, travel, tuition, and other expenses associated with research training and scientific investigation concerning global health issues. These grants are awarded to universities; colleges; medical, nursing and dental schools; hospitals; and other non-profit and for-profit institutions. Awards include grants, cooperative agreements, international research training grants, and career development awards.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

In general, universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, Federal institutions and other public or private non-profit and for-profit domestic and foreign institutions, and State and local units of government are eligible to submit applications for research grants, research training grants, cooperative agreements, and career development awards. The grantee institution must agree to administer the grant in accordance with prevailing regulations and policies. The eligibility requirements may differ amongst FIC programs, based on the eligibility section found in our Requests For Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs) at: http://www.fic.nih.gov/funding/index.htm .

Beneficiary Eligibility

Any non-profit or for-profit organization, company or institution engaged in health and biomedical research.

Credentials/Documentation

Applications for research grants must present the objectives, methodology, and resources for the specific research project, and must demonstrate the applicant's competence and interest. For training grants, the applicant's academic record, research experience, and the proposed area and plan of training must be included in the application. The applicant institution must present the objectives, training program, and resources for the research-training program, the research qualifications and experience of directing staff in training students (the criteria to be used in selecting individuals for awards), a detailed budget, and justification for the amount of grants funds requested. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-21 - Cost Principles for Educational Institutions, Circular A-110 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, OMB Circular A-122 for Nonprofit Organizations, Circular A-102 - Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments, and Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments. For-profit organizations' costs are determined in accordance with Subpart 31.2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. For other than State and local government grantees, costs will be determined by Health and Human Services (HHS) Regulations 45 CFR, Part 74, Subpart Q. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Standard application forms, as required by 45 CFR, Part 74 and 92, must be used for this program. Detailed instructions for submitting applications to our programs are provided in our Requests For Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs) at: http://www.fic.nih.gov/funding/index.htm.

Award Procedure

Applications are reviewed initially for scientific and technical merit. This is followed by a second level review by the Fogarty International Center's Advisory Board.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Grants: From six to nine months.

Appeals

A Principal Investigator (PI) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the initial scientific review of his or her application by communicating with FIC staff.

Renewals

Non-competing renewal applications may be made for all multi-year awards. Applicants must submit their request on form PHS 2590 two months before the end of the last budget period. Competing renewal applications may be submitted only if allowed in the RFA or PA.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Approval of a project includes determination of support for the authorized project period (not to exceed five years). Awards to support the project are made on an annual basis. At the time of initial award, the grant provides funds for the conduct of the project during the first budget period (usually 12 months) and the Notice of Grant Award (Form PHS-1533) indicates the support recommended and expected to be made available for the remainder of the project beyond the approved project period. Funds are disbursed via the PMS Electronic Transfer System for domestic grantees, and by U.S. Treasury Check or Direct Deposit for foreign grantees. Loan Repayment Program Awards are for two years with the opportunity for renewal. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. Cash reports are not applicable. The grantee is responsible for annual progress reports. These reports are required for program analysis as part of all continuation applications. In addition, a final report must be filed within 90 days of the termination of the grant. The final report includes an account of progress made toward achievement of the originally stated aims; a list of the significant results; and a list of publications resulting from the projects. For most projects, a financial status report must be filed 90 days after each competitive segment. Reports must be provided to FIC staff in accordance with the CFR Title 42 Part 52 - Grants for Research Projects and the CFR Title 45 Part 74 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for grants and cooperative agreements. Annually for training grants, research grants, direct foreign awards not under SNAP. SNAP grantees guidelines requires a final projects report at the end of the project period. Performance is monitored annually by the NIH/Fogarty Center program staff.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133, but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office (GAO).

In accordance with 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 74.26, for-profit (commercial) organizations are subject to audit requirements for a non-Federal audit if, during it s fiscal year, it expended $500,000 or more under HHS awards and at least one award is a HHS grant or subgrant. The regulation incorporates the thresholds and deadlines of OMB Circular No. A-133, but provides for profit organizations with two options for the type of audit that will satisfy the audit requirement:
1.a financial related audit of the HHS awards in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, or
2.an audit that meets the requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133.

In accordance with NIH grants policy, Foreign grantees are subject to the same audit requirements as for-profit (commercial) organizations.

Records

Grantees generally must retain financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records that are required by the terms of a grant, or may reasonably be considered pertinent to a grant, for a period of 3 years from the date the annual FSR is submitted. For awards under SNAP (other than those to foreign organizations and Federal institutions), the 3-year retention period will be calculated from the date the FSR for the entire competitive segment is submitted. Those grantees must retain the records pertinent to the entire competitive segment for 3 years from the date the FSR is submitted to NIH. Foreign organizations and Federal institutions must retain records for 3 years from the date of submission of the annual FSR to NIH. See 45 CFR 74.53 and 92.42 for exceptions and qualifications to the 3-year retention requirement (e.g., if any litigation, claim, financial management review, or audit is started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims, or audit findings involving the records have been resolved and final action taken). Those sections also specify the retention period for other types of grant-related records, including F&A cost proposals and property records. See 45 CFR 74.48 and 92.36 for record retention and access requirements for contracts under grants.
In accordance with 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 74.53(e), the HHS Inspector General, the U.S. Comptroller General, or any of their duly authorized representatives have the right of timely and unrestricted access to any books, documents, papers, or other records of recipients that are pertinent to awards in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts, transcripts, and copies of such documents. This right also includes timely and reasonable access to a recipient�s personnel for the purpose of interview and discussion related to such documents. The rights of access are not limited to the required retention period, but shall last as long as records are retained.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: AIDS International Training and Research Program: 27 awards
Brain Disorders in the Developing World: 9 awards
Ecology of Infectious Diseases Program: 6 awards
Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars Resource and Support Center:
Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award: 87 awards
Framework Programs for Global Health: 19 awards
Global Health Research Initiative Program for New Foreign Investigators: 37 awards
Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program: 11 awards
Informatics Training for Global Health Program: 48 awards
International Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Award: 14 awards
International Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Award for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis: 15 awards
International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups Program: 17 awards
International Malaria Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research Training Program Planning Grants:
International Research Ethics Education and Curriculum Development Award: 15 awards
International Research Scientist Development Award: 10 awards
International Tobacco and Health Research and Capacity Building Program: 8 awards
International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health Program: 15 awards
International Training and Research in Population and Health Program: 10 awards
Bioengagement: 1 award
International Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Award:: 1 award
International Studies on Health and Economic Development: 1 award. Fiscal Year 2009: AIDS International Training and Research Program: 27 awards
Brain Disorders in the Developing World: 9 awards
Ecology of Infectious Diseases Program: 2 awards
Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award - Basic Biomedical: 19 awards
Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award - Behavioral and Social Sciences: 5 awards
Framework Programs for Global Health: 19 awards
Global Health Research Initiative Program for New Foreign Investigators: 6 awards
Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program: 5 awards
Informatics Training for Global Health Program: 7 awards
International Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Award: 2 awards
International Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Award for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis: 2 awards
International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups Program: 2 awards
International Malaria Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research Training Program Planning Grants:
International Research Ethics Education and Curriculum Development Award: 15 awards
International Research Scientist Development Award: 10 awards
International Tobacco and Health Research and Capacity Building Program: 8 awards
International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health Program: 15 awards
International Training and Research in Population and Health Program: 10 awards
Bioengagement: 1 award
Millennium Promise Awards: Non-communicable Chronic Diseases Research Training Program: 8 awards. Fiscal Year 2010: Fogarty expects to continue to operate on a �Zero Based budget.� Our plans are to award at the same funding as we did in FY 2009.

AAIDS International Training and Research Program: 27 awards
Brain Disorders in the Developing World: 9 awards
Ecology of Infectious Diseases Program: 2 awards
Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award - Basic Biomedical: 19 awards
Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award - Behavioral and Social Sciences: 5 awards
Framework Programs for Global Health: 19 awards
Global Health Research Initiative Program for New Foreign Investigators: 6 awards
Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program: 5 awards
Informatics Training for Global Health Program: 7 awards
International Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Award: 2 awards
International Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Award for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis: 2 awards
International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups Program: 2 awards
International Malaria Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research Training Program Planning Grants:
International Research Ethics Education and Curriculum Development Award: 15 awards
International Research Scientist Development Award: 10 awards
International Tobacco and Health Research and Capacity Building Program: 8 awards
International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health Program: 15 awards
International Training and Research in Population and Health Program: 10 awards
Bioengagement: 1 award
Millennium Promise Awards: Non-communicable Chronic Diseases Research Training Program: 8 awards.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0819-0-1-552.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $66,912,000; FY 09 est $68,691,000; FY 10 est $69,227,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The grant program legislation and program regulations cited in the Notice of Grant Award, the restrictions on the expenditure of Federal funds in appropriations acts, to the extent those restrictions are pertinent to the award, 45 CFR Part 74 or 45 CFR Part 92, as applicable, the NIH Grants Policy Statement, including addenda in effect as of the beginning date of the budget period, and the terms and conditions on the notice of grant award. Information regarding FIC programs can be found at: http://www.nih.gov/fic/programs.html.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Kathleen M. Blair, M.A., Fogarty International Center, Division of International Training and Research, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2022, Building 31, Room B2-C39 , Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2022 Email: blairk@nih.gov Phone: (301) 451-9713. Fax: (301) 402-0779

Web Site Address

http://www.fic.nih.gov .

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Given the interdisciplinary nature of global health challenges, the FIC systematically seeks alliances with other Federal agencies, international organizations, development agencies, and non-government organizations. The AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP), led by FIC and in partnership with nine NIH institutes, supports research training that is critical to advancing the AIDS research agenda abroad. For example, with FIC support, investigators at the University of Nairobi and University of Washington have evaluated the rates of HIV transmission to infants through breastfeeding. In the new study, pregnant HIV-infected women joined groups that would either breastfeed or formula feed their infants. Among infants born to mothers in the breast-feeding group the risk of becoming HIV-infected increased by 76% in contrast to the formula fed group. Overall, 44 % of the HIV infections in infants born to mothers in the breastfeeding group were due to breast milk. This study clearly shows the need to prevent breast milk transmission and has major implications for development and deployment of public health interventions in resource-poor settings. Additional studies are now underway to address the related and complex social and economic implications on infant feeding. The International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG) program is a unique effort, administered by the FIC, to integrate improvement of human health through drug discovery, incentives for ecological conservation, and new models of sustainable economic activity that focus on the environment, health, and equity. This program is based on the belief that the discovery and development of pharmaceutical and other useful agents from natural products can, under appropriate circumstances, promote sustained economic growth in developing countries while conserving the biological habitats from which these products are derived. The ICBG program is a partnership amongst nine Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Seven ICBGs are currently working in nine countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia, building research capacity in more than 16 different institutions and training hundreds of individuals. To date, over 5,000 species of plants, animals and microorganisms have been examined for biological activity in more than 22 different therapeutic areas. Numerous publications in chemistry, biodiversity policy, conservation and ethnobiology have emerged from the funded ICBG groups. An example of such accomplishment includes efforts by researchers at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research to characterize a new mode of action for treatments against leishmaniasis and related parasitic diseases, and isolate promising lead compounds for this and other areas from traditional plant use in West Africa. Another example can be found in the stimulus and coordination of efforts for a new marine and terrestrial national park in Panama to protect 2600 square kilometers containing high biodiversity and many endemic species that will preserve the habitat for research projects like the ICBG, as well as other non-destructive activities. ICBG research and conservation initiatives are partially credited for this government's decision to establish Coiba National Park. In 2005, this park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. FIC established an interagency, interdisciplinary research program in FY 2000 on ecology and infectious diseases. The first 12 projects supported by this interdisciplinary program will assess how large-scale man-made environmental events, such as habitat destruction, urban sprawl, water pollution, introduced species and agricultural intensification, all contribute to the emergence and spread of emerging infectious diseases in animals and humans. With FIC support, scientists at Case WesternReserveUniversity and the Institute of Medical Research in Papua New Guinea have discovered a new mutation in a gene for the Duffy blood group that reduces susceptibility of red blood cells to malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax (P.vivax). This parasite must interact with the Duffy blood group factor on cells in order to infect them. Genetic epidemiologists have demonstrated that individuals with two copies of the mutant gene are resistant to P.vivax infection. Targeting the parasite's Duffy-binding protein and its interaction with the Duffy blood group may be a productive strategy for developing a vaccine for vivax malaria. The insights from this study not only suggest that it is feasible, but represent a conceptual model for addressing the more virulent malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Fiscal Year 2009: Funded projects for FY 2009 provided important support to the following goals in the Fogarty International Center's Strategic Plan for 2008-2012. " Goal I: Mobilize the scientific community to address the shifting global burden of disease and disability.� �Goal II: Bridge the training gap in implementation research.� �Goal III: Develop human capital to meet global health challenges.� �Goal IV: Foster a sustainable research environment in low- and middle-income countries.� and �Goal V: Build strategic alliances and partnerships in global health research and training.�. Fiscal Year 2010: Examples of funded projects for FY 2010 will focus on projects which provides important support to the following goals in the Fogarty International Center's Strategic Plan for 2008-2012. " Goal I: Mobilize the scientific community to address the shifting global burden of disease and disability.� �Goal II: Bridge the training gap in implementation research.� �Goal III: Develop human capital to meet global health challenges.� �Goal IV: Foster a sustainable research environment in low- and middle-income countries.� and �Goal V: Build strategic alliances and partnerships in global health research and training.�.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessment of: (1) the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study or research training program 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 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 the announced program objectives. All pertinent evaluation criteria are provided in the RFAs and PAs.