Genome Sequencing and Analysis Centers (U54)

Genome Sequencing and Analysis Centers (U54) is sponsored by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). This solicitation seeks renewal of the National Human Genome Research Institute's large-scale sequencing program. While broad, it emphasizes applying high-throughput sequencing to challenging questions, including inherited diseases, which could encompass PGT-A related research.

Expired RFA-HG-10-015: Genome Sequencing and Analysis Centers (U54) This notice has expired. Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices.

Department of Health and Human Services Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) Components of Participating Funding Opportunity Title Genome Sequencing and Analysis Centers (U54) U54 Specialized Center - Cooperative Agreements This is a re-issue of RFA-HG-06-001 January 28, 2011 - See Notice NOT-HG-11-012 The purpose of this Notice is to modify the information in the FOA regarding permitted cost caps.

January 20, 2011 - See Notice NOT-HG-11-011 The purpose of this Notice is to correct the fiscal year in Part 2: Section II Award Information.

January 11, 2011 - See Notice NOT-HG-11-010 Notice to remind potential applicants who plan to submit applications in response to this FOA that they are also required to submit companion applications that encourage diversity training using the funding opportunity announcement: Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics (R25) PAR-09-245 .

December 21, 2010 - See Notice NOT-HG-11-007 Information Teleconference and Webinar for Applications to NHGRI Sequencing and Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) FOAs. Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number see Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics (R25) http://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-245. html ; RFA-HG-10-016 ; RFA-HG-10-018 ; RFA-HG-10-019 Only one application per institution is allowed Section III. 3.

Additional Information on Eligibility . Catalog of Federal Domestics Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) This solicitation seeks renewal of the National Human Genome Research Institute’s large-scale sequencing program.

This program has successfully completed the human genome sequence and the genomic sequences of many organisms of importance for biomedical research and comparative genomics, characterized detailed genetic variation in human populations, and initiated many medical sequencing projects to identify genomic changes implicated in inherited disease and cancer.

NHGRI intends to renew its large-scale sequencing program, continuing its record of increasing production and decreasing costs over time, which will allow application of high throughput sequencing to increasingly challenging questions, for example the basis for complex inherited disease. The program will continue its emphasis contributing to understanding the underlying role that DNA-based changes contribute to biological systems.

The renewed program will also emphasize the increasingly challenging issue of identifying and designing new project types that address the most compelling new questions that can be answered as high throughput sequencing continues to evolve, and also the increasingly challenging bioinformatics and integration issues that attend such studies.

During the next four years, NHGRI anticipates that the type and number of important large-scale sequencing products will continue to expand, requiring new flexibility from the components of the program. Applicants to this program are required to submit a parallel application to the Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics (R25) http://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-245. html Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) Letter of Intent Due Date AIDS Application Due Date(s) Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the PHS398 Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. While some links are provided, applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV . When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. Part 1. Overview Information Part 2.

Full Text of Announcement Section I. Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III.

Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Section V. Application Review Information Section VI.

Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information Part 2.

Full Text of Announcement Nature of Research Opportunity and Background. This solicitation seeks applications for support of genomic sequencing and analysis centers, which will constitute the renewal of the NHGRI large-scale sequencing program. In the last five years the NHGRI’s large-scale sequencing program (for a program description see http://www.

genome.

gov/10001691 ) has made major contributions to a broad range of activities and biomedical questions that can be addressed by high-throughput sequencing, including: continuing the sequencing of reference genomes of many organisms for example for adding value to important biomedical model organisms; for comparative genomics to annotate the human genome; for understanding human pathogens and their vectors; and for understanding genetic variation and adaptation in natural and laboratory populations cataloging human variation (1000 Genomes Project) medical sequencing to understand the genomic basis of inherited elucidating the genomic changes that underlie cancer contributing to the understanding of the human microbiome pursuing creative applications of sequencing beyond genomic sequencing, eg.

RNA sequencing and epigenetic modifications of genomes. This range of activities was enabled over the last four years by startlingly rapid increases in sequencing efficiency and throughput, enabled by next generation sequencing platforms. In the last four years the annual throughput of the NHGRI program rose from 150 Gbases to over 35,000 Gbases, under roughly constant levels of funding (~$120M per year).

In addition to marked increases in efficiency of data production, at least three other factors were essential to the success of the Project design: Increased understanding about how to apply sequencing capacity to a range of important biomedical problems, including cancer and complex disease studies.

Data analysis: Increased understanding about how to analyze sequence data in new project types, for example to find well-validated variants associated with phenotypes. Together with the above, development of informatics including infrastructure and software tools required for analysis, from LIMS systems to tools for basecalling, sequence alignment, identification of variants and analysis of metagenomic data.

Thus, over the last five years, the useful outputs of the large-scale sequencing program--from project designs through sequence production and data analysis--have broadened, become more integrated, and their value has increased for addressing significant biomedical questions.

NHGRI expects that this trend will continue in the next four years, across a similarly broad range of applications, though concentrating largely on the identification of genomic changes implicated in heritable disease and the elucidation of the genetic changes associated with cancer.

Another development over the last five years is that many more scientific groups outside the large centers have access to significant sequencing capacity, both because of the demonstrated value of sequence data, and the increased capacity of the newer sequencing platforms.

This places additional importance on the idea that the NHGRI program must continue to improve and define the state-of-the-art in both data production and in what can be called sequencing know-how the development of project designs, analysis methods and tools, which can then be disseminated to the wider community that is increasingly undertaking sequencing projects at all scales. Scientific Knowledge to be Achieved.

This discussion highlights what NHGRI seeks in its renewal of the large-scale sequencing State-of-the-art sequencing capacity that is flexible and which can be rapidly adapted to address many different kinds of projects Continuing gains in efficiency through incremental improvements, scale, and the inevitable introduction of newer sequencing platforms The ability to conceive of, design, and carry out well-justified, highly significant, and integrated projects that take best advantage of high-throughput sequencing to answer important biomedical questions, and which will be early examples of types of project that are likely to be widely adopted in the future The ability to analyze data from these projects, and to develop analysis methods and informatics tools that will be of general use in other More generally, to lead the field of sequence-based biology.

Each of these will be discussed in detail below. Sequencing Project Target Selection. During the past five years, the specific sequencing targets addressed by the NHGRI program have been chosen in several ways.

Initially, organismal targets and some medical sequencing targets were recommended to the NHGRI and the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research (NACHGR) by working groups composed of members of the research community.

However, as sequencing capacity and analysis capabilities grew, this mechanism was not optimal considering the rate of change in sequencing and the new types of project and project designs that were thus becoming possible, and to foster collaborations, sometimes including additional funds, with other NIH institutes.

As a result, additional mechanisms were required to identify compelling new projects that were appropriate for the program capabilities. For example, The Cancer Genome Atlas ( http://cancergenome. nih.

gov/ ) was conceived of as a collaboration between NHGRI and the National Cancer Institute, with subsequent sequencing project design carried out by project working groups, with ongoing management in order to ensure that the project design evolved together with the technology.

Similar collaborations include a medical sequencing project on autism developed with the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), with NIMH providing funding (through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) to peer-reviewed applications, and NHGRI providing genome sequencing capacity; the Human Microbiome Project, a trans NIH project supported by the NIH Common Fund and NHGRI’s sequencing program, proposed by program and approved by the NIH centrally and medical sequencing projects identified through a collaboration with the Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI), again with GEI using peer review to identify projects and NHGRI providing matching sequencing capacity.

The 1000 Genomes project ( http://www. 1000genomes. org/page.

php ) was identified, and an initial design proposed by international collaborators including NHGRI, at a joint workshop held in 2007; the concept was approved at NHGRI in consultation with the NACHGR. As with other large projects, 1000 Genomes requires ongoing project management and a project design that evolves with improving technology and analysis results.

Finally, during the last award period, NHGRI provided for Center Initiated Projects (CIP s) in which the sequencing centers themselves identified projects. These projects generally are expected to be scientifically compelling, unlikely to be identified through other available means, and are intended to encourage and test state-of-the-art applications (new technologies, analyses, designs, etc.).

CIPs are reviewed by NHGRI staff, in conjunction with the Scientific Advisory Panel for the sequencing program cooperative agreements (see Section VI. 2 of this document).

In the next award period, NHGRI expects to continue to require this variety of mechanisms for selecting new sequencing targets, given the new compelling scientific opportunities, the need for developing sequence resources to serve the broad interests of the NIH community, the range of different project types, designs, and scales, and the continuing rapid evolution of sequencing technology.

NHGRI remains committed to undertaking high-quality projects proposed by communities of investigators, so these target selection mechanisms will include a community-driven component. Development of this FOA was informed by discussions raised at an Institute-sponsored workshop on the future of genomic sequencing, (see http://www. genome.

gov/Pages/Research/DER/DERReportsPublications/SeqPlanWkshopReportFinal. pdf), by the National Council for Human Genome Research, and by other scientists involved in the NHGRI sequencing program (both current grantees and advisors). These considerations were also discussed in the context on NHGRI’s current panning process (http://www.

genome. gov/10001307).

It is important to note that the resulting recommendations included soliciting a renewal of the NHGRI large-scale sequencing program, but also encouraged the creation of smaller sequencing centers focused on specific questions to take increased advantage of the dispersal of sequencing capabilities and community creativity; and the development of sequencing informatics tools and infrastructure to further the use of sequence data in many settings.

Solicitations addressing these recommendations will be released at the same time as this FOA (please see RFA-HG-10-016 Mendelian Disease Sequencing Center; RFA-HG-10-017 Clinical Sequencing Exploration Centers; and RFA-HG-10-018 and RFA-HG-10-019 Informatics Tools for High-Throughput Sequence Data Analysis). Objectives.

This FOA seeks applications for research applicationapplications to implement genome sequencing centers that maintain and extend the state of the art for high throughput, low cost genomic sequence data.

However, excellence in producing high quality whole genome shotgun sequence data in a highly efficient manner, while a requirement, will not be sufficient for receipt of an award as an NHGRI genome sequencing and analysis center in the next project period. Two additional features are required.

First, centers must be scientifically flexible and creative enough to identify, design, and carry out a wide variety of sequencing projects, from those of established design and of compelling scientific importance, to those that develop novel applications of sequencing enabled by new technologies and methods.

Moreover, the flexibility must extend to many different types of biomedical questions of broad interest to NIH, including medical sequencing and organismal sequencing.

Second, NHGRI intends that the participants in the sequencing program contribute deliverables beyond production of data and community resource projects, for example the program must identify and address highly significant biomedical questions that can be informed by high-throughput sequence data, and provide sequencing know-how to the community in the form of knowledge about how to design a project, analysis methods and tools, and informatics tools for sequencing thus serving as intellectual resources in this critical area for the scientific community, and to stimulate further the adoption of high-throughput sequence approaches in the wider community.

State-of-the-art, flexible genome sequencing centers. A cardinal accomplishment of the NHGRI large-scale sequencing program has been the substantial improvement in the state of the art for large-scale sequencing. In responding to this FOA, the applicant should provide plans for how s/he will continue to drive the state of the art and continue to obtain gains in the efficiency of genomic and other sequencing.

In setting technology improvement as a continuing goal of the program, NHGRI recognizes that the renewal of its genomic sequencing program comes at a time when several different sequencing platforms are operating at scale in production pipelines. It is clear that still other technologies will be tested, and some adopted, during the next four years.

Experience shows that introduction of new technologies, while providing a benefit, entails significant challenges, including implementing the new platforms in production, understanding the characteristics and best uses of the data, and integration into the pipeline, from sample preparation through analysis of data and validation (including considerable changes to informatics pipelines).

In renewing the sequencing program, NHGRI intends to provide adequate funding to encourage sequencing centers to explore further development of the present technologies, and, as appropriate, adoption of the new technologies.

Therefore, the applicant should discuss how the center will remain at the state of the art across multiple different project types, how center activities will improve existing platforms and/or adopt new technologies, and what considerations are critical in deciding to use a specific platform or mix of platforms for different project types likely to be done over the award period.

As part of this discussion, the applicant should address his/her past record of technology development and implementation, including experience in implementing new sequencing platforms. Continuing gains in efficiency.

The applicant should also include a discussion of how sequencing costs and data characteristics can be expected to change over the term of the award, in the context of what kinds of projects can be undertaken, and how they will affect projects that are already ongoing. If realized, cost decreases will undoubtedly lead to changes in the scientific opportunities afforded by sequence data.

Projects once seen as important but too expensive will become reasonable, and entirely new kinds of highly significant projects will become possible. Such changes will be reflected in the targets addressed by the NHGRI sequencing program over time.

Applicants should discuss cost and other improvements in relation to the range of project types currently underway within the NHGRI program e.g., medical sequencing to elucidate the basis for inherited disease; cancer genome sequencing; cataloging variation; metagenomic sequencing; organismal sequencing; non-genomic (RNA, epigenomic) sequencing--- with reference to ongoing projects that are good examples of appropriate use of capacity, project design, and compelling science.

In addition to currently feasible project types, applicants to this FOA are expected to contribute to identifying these new opportunities, and should discuss continuing gains in efficiency in relation to what new questions and project designs are likely to present themselves in the The ability to conceive of, design, and carry out well-justified, highly significant, and integrated projects.

Applicants must provide evidence for their ability to undertake sequencing projects across the broad range of current NHGRI interests. Applicants should discuss the full range of activities associated with a project, for example from sample acquisition, sample preparation, sequencing, initial analysis, validation, data deposition, and interaction with the relevant communities.

While most of the future emphasis will be on medical and cancer sequencing, NHGRI expects activities to continue across a range of topics, including: Medical sequencing. Finding sequence variants that underlie inherited diseases.

NHGRI is currently engaged in multiple medical sequencing projects in both Mendelian and complex disease, ranging from deep sequencing of small numbers of loci, to whole exome sequencing, to whole genome sequencing. For some projects, designs may include sequencing to understand transcriptomes or epigenomes. As capacity and analysis capabilities improve, these projects will become more numerous and ambitious.

Medical sequencing may also extend beyond understanding disease phenotypes, to phenotypes generally Cancer sequencing. The highest profile NHGRI efforts in cancer sequencing have been in conjunction with TCGA.

It is anticipated that cancer sequencing will continue, both as part of the TCGA effort to participate in a comprehensive survey of cancer types, and to explore cohorts/samples in that can address more detailed questions (for example resistance to treatment or relapse; surveying transcriptomes). Cataloguing human variation.

The 1000 Genomes project will be largely completed by the start of the term of award of this FOA, yet much work remains to be done, either in exploring rarer variation, or in expanding the number of populations that are sampled. NHGRI is likely to be significantly involved in cataloguing human variation in the future.

In addition to making comprehensive catalogues to aid interpretation of medical sequencing studies, understanding human variation is also essential to understanding of many basic issues in population genetics of relevance to human health, including recent adaptations in human populations (in response e.g. to climate, geography, diet, and pathogens).

Metagenomic sequencing of the human microbiome: The Human Microbiome Program will complete its five year term as a trans-NIH and NHGRI supported project in FY 13.

The HMP is of finite scope but there remain many other interesting approaches possible, such as: improving the catalog of human microbes, exploring changes in the human microbiome under numerous environmental and medical conditions, correlating human microbiome content with Organismal sequencing.

Notably, the new short read sequencing platforms have not been as successful for whole genome assembly projects for large genomes, as they have for re-sequencing projects over the last five years. Thus the need for improvements in organismal sequencing remains.

Compelling projects are likely to arise in any one of the following Comparative sequencing has been shown to be one of the most efficient and powerful means to delineate important functional features in genomes (including our own) and to provide insight into major biological innovations. While much has been accomplished, a great deal remains to be learned.

For example, it would be very attractive to sequence the primate lineage in more detail, in order to identify lineage-specific elements and to highlight the genomic differences between ourselves and our closest relatives.

In addition, we do not yet have a sufficient amount of comparative data to reliably delineate all of the conserved functional elements in the human genome---including cis-regulatory sequences, microRNA genes and target sites, splice enhancers/inhibitors, constrained regions of proteins, and others---to the desired resolution.

Comparative genome sequencing can also help inform our understanding of how genomes evolve, including understanding of genome duplication, evolution of gene regulatory pathways, and speciation. Basic knowledge in population genetics to inform understanding of human population genetics, including the genomic basis for rapid adaptation within populations. Eukaryotic pathogen and vector genomes.

NHGRI plans to continue to devote a portion of its sequencing capacity to additional human New model systems.

While many of the major model systems have been sequenced, NHGRI is still approached by model organism communities about sequencing the genomes of the organisms that they are In addition to demonstrating an ability to carry out projects of the kind that are currently underway, applicants should propose new areas, and/or new or significantly modified approaches to current project types (see Target Selection and Prioritization, below).

These ideally should be well-justified, highly significant, integrated projects that take best advantage of high-throughput sequencing to answer important biomedical questions, and which will be examples of types of sequencing project that are likely to be widely undertaken. Target selection and Prioritization. New sequencing targets will be added over the course of the award period.

Overall and long-term priorities will be determined by the NACHGR and NHGRI staff.

As discussed above, NHGRI anticipates that it will use a range of mechanisms to approve and prioritize specific sequencing projects within center pipelines, including NHGRI-initiated projects and collaborations with other institutes and other funding agencies, including international collaborations, projects proposed by the community to be approved by a number of mechanisms including standing working groups, and center-initiated projects approved by NHGRI staff in conjunction with the Scientific Advisors to the program.

Applicants are expected to identify initial center-initiated projects in their applications, which should, in combination with any ongoing NHGRI-funded projects, occupy the first twelve to eighteen months of anticipated center capacity. This FOA does not limit the capacity that may be devoted to center-initiated projects.

However, NHGRI anticipates that at least 50% of program capacity will be required for NHGRI- and community initiated projects over the course of the award period, and will prioritize those projects. The target selection mechanisms will be evaluated on an ongoing basis by NHGRI, the Sequencing Advisory Panel (SAP), and the NACHGR, and modified if warranted. Note on ongoing projects/maintenance of NHGRI sequencing resources.

Successful grantees will be expected to contribute to ongoing NHGRI projects that will not be completed by the time of the new award, including for example completing NHGRI commitments for ongoing improvements in organismal reference sequences. One important NHGRI activity is its participation in the Genome Reference Consortium ( http://www. ncbi.

nlm. nih. gov/projects/genome/assembly/grc/ ).

Applicants may request funds for this activity (and must then include a discussion of activities to be carried out), but only a single applicant will The ability to analyze data from these projects. Applicants should discuss their analysis pipelines, including plans for how analysis methods and tools will keep pace with changes in sequencing throughput increases, new technologies and new projects types or designs.

Analysis is meant here in its broadest sense, to include e.g., validations and/or the ability to productively interact or collaborate with the scientific community that may have specific expertise in, for example, organismal biology, metagenomics or population genetics, in order to maximize the contribution of the sequence data produced by the centers. Provide leadership.

As stated above, NHGRI intends to expand the explicit deliverables of the program beyond the production of sequence datasets to include the dissemination of sequencing know-how , including recognizing compelling new applications for large-scale sequencing, developing new project designs and analysis methods that will be generally useful for additional studies of the same type, and developing informatics tools for, e.g., medical sequencing.

Applicants should therefore discuss their past record in this regard and how their center will contribute to these deliverables.

More generally, applications will be judged in part on the likelihood that the resulting centers will be community leaders in sequence-based biomedical studies, during a time when sequencing expertise and capacity is likely to become more dispersed, and to be applied to many new In summary, this solicitation seeks applications for genome sequencing and analysis centers that will operate at and extend the state of the art of large-scale genomic sequencing with respect to cost, throughput, and quality, and which will contribute significantly to addressing the many questions where high-throughput sequence data is essential.

The successful applicant will have a proven track record for producing high quality genome projects.

As guidance in preparing an application, NHGRI considers the current state of the art for a genome sequencing centers to encompass most or all of An automated production pipeline with a throughput of on the order of 8 Tb of sequence data per year or more An overall total cost of production of $1 or less per megabase for whole genome shotgun data, including all overhead (indirect) and amortized equipment A record of reducing costs and increasing efficiency, and a forward-looking plan to continue to do so; An ability to efficiently produce the variety of types of data required to undertake the range of sequencing projects discussed in this FOA; The ability to assemble genomic sequence at all scales, including the ability to produce a high quality assembly of whole genome shotgun data; The ability to use multiple genome sequencing strategies and the ability to adapt and modify approaches as the technology and demands on the Integrated bioinformatics capabilities to support production, including systems and database administration, laboratory information management, and data handling and deposition; The ability to perform analysis, validation and/or annotation of genomic sequence data to maximize its utility for the biological community; A technology development capability focused on developing and integrating technology improvements (e.g., robotics, chemistries, protocols) that lead to increased efficiency and decreased costs; A proven track record in rapidly and efficiently releasing both sequence and trace data to public repositories; and A high degree of flexibility and a strong track record of interacting with other publicly funded large-scale sequencing centers, public databases, genome analysis experts, investigator communities, and other In addition to maintaining and defining state-of-the-art capability, this FOA seeks applications for centers that will be flexible enough to be rapidly responsive to the new scientific and technological opportunities discussed above.

Fundamentally, this solicitation seeks large-scale sequencing centers that can address the most important scientific opportunities, while consistently improving the state-of-the-art in all production areas.

Beyond sequence production, this FOA seeks centers that can contribute to sequencing know how for example by identifying the most compelling projects that are appropriate for high-throughput sequencing and which will be examples of project types likely to be useful to many investigators, by developing useful analysis methods and sequence informatics tools, and finally by addressing compelling questions in all of the areas discussed in this solicitation, including cancer and complex disease genetics, metagenomics and organismal biology.

Training Objectives: Diversity Action Plan (DAP). Applicants to the large-scale sequencing program are required to submit a parallel application to the Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics (R25) http://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-245. html. There is abundant evidence that the biomedical and educational enterprise will directly benefit from broader inclusion of groups traditionally under-represented in genomic research.

Recent studies have supported the argument that diversity enhances the quality of education in multiple settings. Studies have suggested that racially and culturally concordant scientific staff may be more successful in recruiting individuals from minority groups into clinical trials.

Racially similar physician-patient dyads also may be related to greater patient satisfaction in ways that could enhance communication and participation in clinical research settings. There is no question that the need for a diverse workforce permeates all aspects of the nation's health-related research The very nature of genome and ELSI research demands the inclusion of a diversity of points of view and scientific interests.

One of the major emphases of genomics is to investigate how DNA sequence variation affects phenotypic differences, especially differences in susceptibility to disease among various groups. The significant societal ramifications of this research will also need to be addressed.

It is clearly desirable to have individuals involved who bring diverse perspectives to this research, including an interest in understanding diseases that disproportionately affect medically underserved populations. Genome research will affect all populations and thus all groups need to participate in setting the research agenda and examining the broader issues raised by it.

The NHGRI wants to ensure that the next generation of genome scientists will have representation from populations that are currently underrepresented in genomic science as researchers in genomic science, including American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The large-scale sequencing program is among the initiatives that have been identified as preferred incubators for research education and training in genomics. Initiatives targeted to those at the undergraduate level and/or beyond, including the faculty level, are encouraged and will be given the highest priority.

The main focus should be on ensuring that individuals: (a) successfully transition to the next career level; (b) remain in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field; (c) pursue doctoral degrees or advanced training in fields relevant to genomics; and (d) pursue careers in genomics.

Examples of how these objectives can be accomplished include, but are not limited to, academic enhancement programs, appropriate laboratory experience; mentoring adequate for the career level; career development activities; enhancements in writing scientific papers and fellowship/grant applications; and developing scientific presentation and interviewing skills.

The duration of the research education and training program must coincide with that of the parent grant application.

The types of research experiences that can be supported under this award include, but are not limited to: (1) short-term research experiences for undergraduate and graduate students; (2) up to two years of post baccalaureate research and academic support with the objective of transitioning to a F31 support for graduate school; (3) up to 24 months of graduate school support with the objective of transitioning to a F31; (4) up to 24 months of postdoctoral fellowship support with the objective of transitioning to a F32; and (5) research experiences for faculty to provide preliminary data for research grant applications.

Exceptions to accommodate research experiences for high school students will only be made for competing continuations of the parent grant that have in the past supported such students. In such cases, support of high school students must represent less than 10 percent of total support requested.

The proposed research education and training initiative may complement other ongoing research training and education programs at the applicant institution, but the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those research training and research education programs currently receiving federal support and provide added value. The R25 is not a substitute