NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program (T37 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program is a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and Fogarty International Center, that funds research training programs focused on minority health and health disparities.

The program (T37 activity code) supports international minority health and health disparities research training grants at academic institutions and research organizations. Awards of approximately $250,000 support the development of research capacity in health disparities, with a focus on training the next generation of researchers.

Eligible applicants include academic institutions and organizations with research and training expertise in health disparities. This specific funding notice (RFA-MD-25-001) has expired.

Expired RFA-MD-25-001: NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program (T37 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) This notice has expired. For NIH, in limited situations, applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis for a short period after expiration to accommodate NIH late or continuous submission policies . Contact the eRA Service Desk for any submission issues.

Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices. Department of Health and Human Services Part 1.

Overview Information Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) Components of Participating Organizations National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities ( NIMHD ) Fogarty International Center ( FIC ) All applications to this Notice of Funding Opportunity should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers listed above.

Funding Opportunity Title NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program (T37 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) T37 International Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training Grants January 8, 2025 - Notice of Change to Extend the Application Receipt and Review Dates for RFA-MD-25-001 "NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program (T37 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).

See Notice NOT-MD-25-008 . December 17, 2024 - Notice of Correction to RFA-MD-25-001 "NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program (T37 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See Notice NOT-MD-25-007 .

November 26, 2024 - Notice of Pre-Application Webinar for RFA-MD-25-001 NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program (T37). See Notice NOT-MD-25-005 . October 26, 2022 - Reminder: FORMS-H Grant Application Forms & Instructions Must be Used for Due Dates On or After January 25, 2023 - New Grant Application Instructions Now Available.

See Notice NOT-OD-23-012 . August 8, 2022 - New NIH "FORMS-H" Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2023. See Notice NOT-OD-22-195 .

Funding Opportunity Number (FON) Companion Funding Opportunity See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Assistance Listing Number(s) Funding Opportunity Purpose The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support research training activities in minority health and health disparities research for individuals from diverse backgrounds, which may include, for example, individuals from groups underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences research based at domestic institutions.

Research training experiences would be at domestic institutions and/or at specified international low and middle income country (LMIC) locations for eligible undergraduate students, postbaccalaureate students, graduate students, clinical residents, research fellows, and postdoctoral trainees.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow appointed Trainees to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow them to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) Letter of Intent Due Date(s) Dates in bold and italics reflect changes per NOT-MD-25-008 .

Renewal / Resubmission / Revision (as allowed) AIDS - New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision, as allowed All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. No late applications will be accepted for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

New Date March 01, 2025 per issuance of NOT-MD-25-008 . (Original Expiration Date: January 11, 2025) Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the Training (T) Instructions in the How to Apply Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply Application Guide, and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply Application Guide, as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply 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 Other Award Budget Information Section III.

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

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

Full Text of Announcement Section I. Funding Opportunity Description This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow appointed Trainees to lead an independent clinical trial but does allow them to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.

NIH strongly supports training towards a career in clinically relevant research and so gaining experience in clinical trials under the guidance of a mentor or co-mentor is encouraged. The NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program supports research training activities that are consistent with the mission of NIMHD.

The goals of the NIMHD MHRT program are to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's need to advance scientific research to improve minority health and reduce health disparities.

These awards will support programs offering research training opportunities at a domestic and/or specified international low- and middle-income country (LMIC) sites to eligible undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, graduate, clinical resident, research fellow, or postdoctoral trainees in the health-related sciences from diverse backgrounds, which may include, for example, those from groups underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, social sciences, and clinical research.

Every facet of the United States scientific research enterprise from basic laboratory research to clinical and translational research to policy formation requires intellect, creativity and a wide range of skill sets and viewpoints.

NIH's ability to help ensure that the nation remains a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation is dependent upon a pool of highly talented scientists from diverse backgrounds who will help to further NIH's mission. Research shows that diverse teams working together and capitalizing on innovative ideas and distinct perspectives outperform homogeneous teams.

Scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems.

There are many benefits that flow from a diverse NIH-supported scientific workforce, including: fostering scientific innovation; enhancing global competitiveness; contributing to robust learning environments; improving the quality of the researchers; advancing the likelihood that underserved or health disparity populations participate in, and benefit from training in health research; and enhancing public trust (See, NOT-OD-20-031 ).

In spite of tremendous advancements in scientific research, information, educational and research opportunities are not equally available to all. NIMHD Interest in Diversity The NIMHD supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to minority health and health disparities.

This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) seeks to support the research training of students and other investigators from diverse backgrounds, which may include, for example, those from groups underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social sciences research to facilitate improvement in minority health and reduce health disparities.

As the Nation becomes increasingly diverse, there is a critical need for trained researchers in several health areas that disproportionately affect health disparities and underserved populations .

Published reports from the Association of American Medical Colleges the National Academy of Sciences, the American Federation for Medical Research, the National Science Foundation and others provide evidence that there is a need to replenish and diversify the U.S. workforce in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences, whose small numbers are insufficient to meet the increasing needs for health sciences research ( https://ncses.

nsf. gov/pubs/nsf23315/ ).

In addition to domestic research training, international research training in countries with high immigration to the U.S. also supports this goal, as it can further the understanding of the health of immigrant populations in the U.S. Programmatic Considerations The applicant institution must have a strong and high-quality research program, in collaboration with LMIC sites where applicable, in some area(s) proposed under this NOFO.

The applicant institution must have the requisite faculty and staff to serve as U.S. mentors, potential trainees, and facilities at the U.S. and partnering LMIC sites to conduct the proposed institutional program.

In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed program will complement other ongoing research training programs occurring at the applicant institution and that a substantial number of program faculty (including at partnering foreign sites, where applicable) will have active research projects in which participating trainees may gain relevant experiences consistent with their research interests and goals.

Training grants through the MHRT Program are intended to introduce trainees to research that would not otherwise be available through their regular course of study. The research training experiences should be tailored to the individual to meet his/her training goals. Didactic instruction must include training in the responsible conduct of research.

Recipient organizations may provide training to eligible students enrolled at other institutions through a partnership or consortium structure. Consortia should be well justified to enhance the goals and objectives of the training program. Consortium partners will be identified by the applicant organization, and each partner institution must identify faculty at their location who have agreed to serve as mentors.

The training program must be in behavioral, social, population, and/or clinical research aspects of the health-related sciences and should be of sufficient depth to enable selected trainees, upon completion of the program, to have a thorough exposure to the principles underlying the conduct of research. Community-engaged research experiences are encouraged.

The proposed institutional research training program may complement other ongoing research training and career development programs at the applicant institution, but the proposed research training experiences must be distinct from those research training programs currently receiving Federal support. MHRT programs are expected to accommodate at least eight to ten trainees per year.

The training should occur in a single full-time session anticipated to be 10 to 12 weeks in duration during the summer or for one semester during an academic year. MHRT programs may accept applications from eligible students from non-recipient institutions, including from low resource institutions.

Low resource institutions are defined as a domestic institution located in the United States and its territories which: Has received an average of less than $50 million per year of NIH support for the past three fiscal years; and Has a documented historical mission to educate students from any of the populations that have been identified as underrepresented in biomedical research as defined by the National Science Foundation NSF, see http://www.

nsf.

gov/statistics/wmpd/ ) (i.e., African Americans or Blacks, Hispanic or Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, U.S. Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities) or (1) has a documented historical commitment to recruiting, training and/or educating, and graduating underrepresented students as defined by NSF (see above) who pursue biomedical research careers and, (2) for institutions that deliver health care services, has a record of providing clinical services to medically underserved communities.

These institutions have played an important role in supporting scientific research, particularly on diseases or conditions that disproportionately impact racial/ethnic minorities and other U.S. populations that experience health disparities, however, they often lack sufficient capacity to conduct and sustain cutting-edge health-related research.

Postbaccalaureate students accepted into graduate programs are eligible to participate in the summer after graduation, prior to their initiation of graduate studies. Post-baccalaureates are considered graduate students for the purposes of percent allocation of trainees.

Applicants must provide a description of the proposed program incorporating the elements listed below including projected timelines for the program, expected outcome(s), and methodology for the assessment of the effectiveness of the training. Trainees may be involved in primary data collection and/or secondary data analysis.

Trainees cannot be assigned routine clinical or laboratory work that is not directly in support of their training. Consistent with NIH practices and applicable law: Funded programs may not use the race, ethnicity, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender status) of a trainee or faculty candidate as an eligibility or selection criteria.

NIMHD and FIC do not use the race, ethnicity, or sex of trainee candidates, trainees, or faculty in the application review process or funding decisions. At the same time, there are many permissible activities to strengthen the research training environment and to promote broad participation in the minority health and health disparities research workforce by expanding the pool of well-trained students.

For example: Outreach activities to foster awareness of research training opportunities for potential trainees from all backgrounds. Targeted recruitment activities to diversify program applicant pools.

Program admissions processes that consider factors beyond grade point average and standardized test scores – such as how a trainee candidate’s lived experiences and perspectives further their commitment to program goals and a biomedical research career.

Efforts to create and sustain inclusive research training environments for trainees from diverse backgrounds, for example strengthening faculty skills to work effectively with trainees from various cultural and neurodiverse groups. Updating curricula, pedagogy, and academic supports to enhance student success and engagement. Expanding mentoring, networking, and skills development opportunities, and financial support for trainees.

Utilizing data to identify, and as appropriate, feasibly address biases and barriers in the research training environment that impede trainee success. Applicants and award recipients are encouraged to consult with their General Counsel to ensure all applicable laws and regulations are being followed in program design and implementation. Training may take place at domestic sites and/or at foreign sites in LMIC ( https://data.

worldbank. org/income-level/low-and-middle-income ) from which a significant proportion of immigrants come to the United States given the relevance of research in these countries to advancing domestic minority health and health disparities research. These locations include sites located primarily in Latin America (Mexico, Central and South America); the Caribbean; Sub-Saharan and West Africa; and Southeast Asia.

Training at international sites in LMICs allows programs to offer valuable immersive research experiences. The programs should discuss how the international sites also benefit from participating in the training program. Training sites in LMICs are expected to have the existing capacity to provide a solid research training experience.

Each LMIC research training site is expected to have capacity for strong ethical review and oversight of research, committed interest and expertise in mentoring trainees, and appropriate research facilities. Applicants are encouraged to consider including LMIC institutions and/or research project sites that hold grants supported by the NIH participating components on this NOFO.

Training MHRT trainees in experimental research design, procedures for analyzing and interpreting data, the use of current scientific literature and analytical methods, and the responsible conduct of research. The training experience must include trainee activities conducted at the foreign or domestic site. Familiarizing MHRT trainees with the scientific literature associated with their individual research projects.

Addressing cultural, linguistic and ethical appropriateness and related issues affecting professionals who are engaged in scientific, public health and/or other research focused on minority health and health disparities at the foreign or domestic site. Opportunities to interact with members of the scientific community at appropriate scientific meetings and workshops.

Mentoring MHRT trainees to promote retention in their current academic degree programs and pursuit of advanced degrees in biomedical or behavioral health fields. The duration of training, the transition of trainees to individual support mechanisms, and their transition to the next career stage are important considerations in MHRT training programs.

PDs/PIs should limit trainee selection to eligible individuals who are committed to a research career. Clinical, population and behavioral research and the resulting scientific knowledge are increasingly complex and multidisciplinary in nature.

Applicants are encouraged to develop institutional training programs that will expose trainees to a broad array of scientific approaches, systems for study, research approaches, and tools and technologies. Partnerships with other institutions (e.g., limited-resourced institutions) may be warranted depending upon the goals of the proposed training program.

The career outcome goals for individuals supported by MHRT training programs is to remain in health sciences-related research, particularly with respect to diseases that disproportionately impact health disparity populations.

This will include both research-intensive careers in academia and industry and research-related careers in various sectors, e.g., academic institutions, government agencies, for-profit businesses, and private foundations.

Training programs should make available structured, career development mentoring and learning opportunities (e.g., workshops, discussions, Individual Development Plans) to provide trainees knowledge of various potential career directions and the steps needed to transition to the next stage of their chosen career. MHRT research training grants must be used to support a program of full-time research training.

Within the full-time training period, trainees must devote their time to the proposed research training and must confine clinical duties to those that are an integral part of the research training experience. The program may not be used to support research studies leading to the MD, DDS, or other clinical, health-professional training.

Training is not intended, and may not be used, to support activities that would ordinarily be part of a research degree program; residency training of physicians or other health professionals; activities for which Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) support is provided under 42 USC 288; or for compensation for employment or for the performance of personal services by individuals receiving training and instruction.

NIMHD Specific Areas of Interest Areas of specific research interests include, but are not limited to, the following: Development of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic healthcare interventions that can contribute to improving minority health and reducing health disparities. Population-level gene-environment interaction studies. Behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental influences on disease risks and outcomes.

Epidemiological, behavioral, social applied and surveillance research to understand the impact of social determinants on community health and population well-being. Integrating the multiple determinants of health at the biologic, behavioral, and contextual levels and their interactions. Informing and establishing community- and population-level and public health practices that improve population health and reduce health disparities.

Research in clinical settings that addresses access to health care, improvement of patient safety, reduction of medical errors and healthcare delivery costs, coordination of care, impact of health -information technology on coordination and quality of care, shared decision-making on patient satisfaction and health outcomes, patient-clinician communication and quality of health care.

Mechanisms through which genomic and epigenomic risk and protective factors influence the development of adverse health conditions. Effects of chronic stress on physiological functioning (e.g., allostatic load) across the life course. Mechanisms through which behavioral risk and protective factors influence the development of adverse health conditions.

Individual-level strategies and interpersonal relationships for coping with adversity and chronic stress. Impact of discrimination on health behavior and strategies to ameliorate their effects. Mechanisms underlying health literacy and health numeracy and their influence on health-seeking or health-harming behaviors.

Research informing and establishing community- and population-level and public health. FIC Specific Areas of Interest The mission of the Fogarty International Center is to support and advance research that addresses priority health challenges in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) through the development and strengthening of research capacity and partnerships that meet future and evolving global health needs ( http://www. fic.

nih. gov/About/Pages/Strategic-Plan. aspx ).

FIC seeks to further promote diversity in the future U.S. workforce of global health researchers by supporting training programs that introduces the field of global health and research in LMIC settings to individuals from a variety of backgrounds at all educational levels, but particularly undergraduate and postbaccalaureate. See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. Application Types Allowed The OER Glossary and the How to Apply Application Guide, provide details on these application types.

Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO. Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials. Note: Appointed Trainees are permitted to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial? Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards The Issuing IC and partner components intend to commit an estimated total of $3,250,000 in FY 2025. Application budgets are limited to $250,000 in annual direct costs.

Recipients are expected to be familiar with and comply with applicable cost policies and the NRSA Guidelines ( NIH Grants Policy Statement - Institutional Research Training Grants ).

Funds may be used only for those expenses that are directly related to and necessary for the research training and must be expended in conformance with OMB Cost Principles, the NIH Grants Policy Statement , and the NRSA regulations, policies, guidelines, and conditions set forth in this document. The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years.

Other Award Budget Information Stipends, Tuition, and Fees Kirschstein-NRSA awards provide stipends as a subsistence allowance to help defray living expenses during the research training experience. NIH will contribute to the combined cost of tuition and fees at the rate in place at the time of award.

Stipend levels, as well as funding amounts for tuition and fees and the institutional allowance are announced annually in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, and are also posted on the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) webpage .

Personnel Costs and Participant Costs Trainee Stipends: Trainees (but not employees) may be paid a monthly stipend to help defray living expenses during the research training experience based on Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend levels according to their academic professional level experience. Trainees are not viewed as employees of either the Federal government or the recipient institution.

Grant funds may not be requested or expended for compensation for employment or for the performance of personal services by individuals receiving training and instruction. The current NRSA stipend levels are described in NOT-OD-24-104 . Post-baccalaureate trainees may receive a stipend of $1,928 monthly.

Tuition and Fees: Funds for tuition and fees associated with the research experience may be requested up to a maximum level of $2000 per trainee annually, regardless of academic professional level. Tuition at the U.S. institution or bench fees at a foreign institution during a research training period will be allowed only if such charges are required of all persons in similar training status at the applicant or host institution.

Tuition for specific coursework related to the project, such as language courses at the U.S. or foreign institution can be supported. The program may provide funds to cover fees for visas required for trainee participation at foreign sites in the program. All expenses in this category of tuition and fees should be itemized and justified for each site.

Transportation: Airfare and local ground transportation to each research training site, if applicable, may be requested for trainees and U.S. faculty mentors. Foreign site housing and living expenses (included within per diem costs) of up to $2400 per month may be requested for trainees and U.S. faculty mentors (when appropriate and supported by applicant's program plan).

The program may cover travel and per diem expenses for trainees from other institutions to attend orientation, responsible conduct of research training, and post-travel activities associated with the MHRT program at the PD/PI’s institution or a designated collaborating site designated by the PD/PI.

The program may provide funds to help defray other travel related expenses directly related to the trainee's research project, such as trainee visas. This expense must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution.

Scientific Meetings: Trainee travel to attend scientific meetings and workshops that the institution determines to be necessary for the individual's research training experience is an allowable trainee expense for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees.

Training Related Expenses NIH will provide funds to help defray other research training expenses, such as health insurance, staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and faculty/staff travel directly related to the research training program. The most recent levels of training related expenses are announced annually in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, and are also posted on the Ruth L.

Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) webpage . Program Administration : The applicant institution may request up to $50,000 cumulatively annually in salary support for the PD/PI(s), other administrative personnel, or other administrative costs related to the MHRT program.

The administrative duties and responsibilities and time commitments for personnel receiving salary support should be thoroughly described and justified in the application. Insurance: The applicant institution must ensure that all trainees have comprehensive medical and international travel insurance for the duration of the trainees’ international research experiences.

If institutional or personal medical insurance does not adequately cover trainees during foreign travel, self-only medical insurance may be charged to the grant only. Faculty Salary Support: Salary support for U.S. faculty mentors may be requested up to 3 person months combined annually.

Salary levels must be commensurate with the salary structure and benefits at the institution where they are employed and within the limits described at https://grants. nih. gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.

htm. U.S. faculty salary support may be requested only if no institutional or federal salary support is available during the research training period as documented by the applicant institution administrative official, and such practice is consistent with institutional policy. Applicants can request support for a maximum of two U.S. faculty mentors for up to 3 person months in two countries annually (including the U.S.) combined.

The 3 person months of salary support may be used for multiple faculty mentors if a single mentor is not able to remain at the site for the duration of the training program. Foreign Site Support: Applicants may request funds to cover expenses related to hosting the training program at the foreign site, including administrative expenses. Foreign site support must not duplicate costs included in student bench fees or tuition.

Trainee Research Costs: Funds to help support items such as research/lab supplies, computer access, interpreters, and faculty/staff travel directly related to the research training program may be requested for up to a maximum level of $1000 per month per trainee, regardless of academic professional level.

These expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution. Additional funds may be requested to cover other expenses directly related to the MHRT program activities, including program and cultural orientation, and responsible conduct of research training. Each cost must be itemized in the budget justification section.

These expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution. Other Travel: Funds may be requested to support faculty/staff travel when appropriate and aligned with the program plan. U.S. faculty mentors from other institutions also may be supported for travel and per diem expenses to attend training advisory committee meetings.

Travel and per diem expenses may be requested for short-term (less than 1 month stay) visits by foreign faculty mentors to the U.S. applicant institution to participate in MHRT program associated student training activities and/or training advisory committee meetings. The PDs/PIs are encouraged to attend the annual NIMHD Grantees Meeting, held at or near NIH, Bethesda, MD.

Co-Investigators or other members of the project team may also attend as warranted. Funds for travel to this meeting should be included in the budget request.

Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs (exclusive of tuition and fees, consortium costs in excess of $25,000, and expenditures for equipment), rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement. NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO. Section III.

Eligibility Information Higher Education Institutions Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education Private Institutions of Higher Education The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education: Hispanic-serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program.

Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program. The applicant institution must have a strong and high-quality research program in the area(s) proposed under this NOFO and must have the requisite faculty, staff, potential trainees and facilities on site to conduct the proposed institutional program.

In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed program will complement other ongoing research training programs occurring at the applicant institution and that a substantial number of program faculty will have active research projects in which participating trainees may gain relevant experiences consistent with their research interests and goals. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide , to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted.

Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2. 3.

9. 2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information. System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually .

The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code. NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code – Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)- A UEI is issued as part of the SAM. gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well