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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

GRANT PURPOSE AND TARGET: - To support innovative educational activities that equip the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce with essential technical, operational, or professional skills. - Target recipient types are organizations with the capacity to run educational programs for a broad range of individuals from undergraduates to professionals. - This grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC. - Geographic scope: Primarily U.S.-based organizations. Programs should be open to the broader biomedical community, with a strong preference for national participation. Regional focus requires strong justification. - Key filtering criteria: Must be an educational program for the biomedical workforce, not a clinical trial, not project-based research for discovery, and must demonstrate innovation. - Grant frequency: Recurring R25 Education Projects, reissued from PAR-21-196.

Financial Structure

FINANCIAL STRUCTURE: - Award budget is limited to $500,000 per year in direct costs. - The maximum project period is 5 years. - No matching funds or cost-sharing is required. - Eligible costs include: - Salary and fringe benefits for individuals designing, directing, and implementing the program, commensurate with institutional policy and not exceeding the congressionally mandated cap. - Participant costs: compensation for activities specifically required by the program (if justified), per diem (with strong justification), and partial tuition/other education-related expenses. - Other program-related expenses: consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel for key personnel, and other justified program-specific expenses that do not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution. - Ineligible costs include: - Mentoring interactions and other activities considered a regular part of an individual's academic duties. - Salary or stipend supplementation from the R25 program for individuals already supported by NIH training and career development mechanisms (K, T, or F awards). - Costs to support full-time participants (40 hours/week for a continuous, 12-month period). - Indirect Costs (Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. Modified total direct costs exclude tuition and fees, expenditures for equipment, and consortium costs in excess of $25,000. - Financial reporting requirements include annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) and financial statements. A final RPPR and expenditure data are required for closeout.

Eligibility Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Organizational Type

Eligible organizations include:
- Higher Education Institutions (Public/State Controlled, Private)
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (other than Higher Education Institutions)
- Local Governments (State, County, City/Township, Special District, Federally Recognized Indian/Native American Tribal, Other Indian/Native American Tribal)
- Federal Governments (U.S. Territory or Possession)
- Other: Independent School Districts, Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities, Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Faith-based or Community-based Organizations, Regional Organizations
Must be a U.S. domestic organization; non-domestic entities or foreign components are not eligible.
The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program, including adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources.
Institutions with existing federally funded training programs (e.g., NRSA, T32) may apply if the proposed educational experiences are distinct from those currently receiving federal support.

Registration & Compliance

Must complete and maintain active registration in System for Award Management (SAM).
Must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) registered in SAM.
Must register with eRA Commons (organization and Program Director/Principal Investigator accounts).
Must register with Grants.gov.
All required registrations must be completed prior to application submission.

Programmatic Eligibility

Proposed activities must include at least one of the following: Courses for Skills Development, Curriculum or Methods Development, or Mentoring Activities.
The proposed program must be distinct from ongoing research training and education programs currently receiving federal support at the applicant organization.
Programs must be open to the broader biomedical research community and not restricted to participants from a single organization.
For applicants with related previous or current NIGMS IPERT R25 or R13 support, the new application must strongly justify the need and include new elements that significantly differ from or expand upon the previously funded program(s). Simply adding virtual access or expanding geographic region is generally not considered a significant difference.

Exclusion Criteria

Applications proposing clinical trial(s) are not allowed.
Applications proposing project-based research experiences where the primary purpose is novel discovery (traditional mentored research) are not allowed as integral to the IPERT program, unless the research experience's primary purpose is educational or skills training within a course.
Applications proposing programs aimed at participants in a single organization will be administratively withdrawn.
Renewal applications for previously funded IPERT R25 programs are not accepted.
Programs that function as a substitute for or circumvent Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) programs are not allowed.
Costs to support full-time participants (40 hours/week for a continuous, 12-month period) are not allowable.

Application Process

APPLICATION PRACTICAL INFORMATION: Key Dates & Deadlines

Earliest Submission Date: September 17, 2024
Application Due Dates:
- New applications: October 17, 2024
- New applications: October 15, 2025
- New applications: October 14, 2026
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) expires on October 15, 2026.
If a submission date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.
Scientific Merit Review: Expected in March of the following year for each due date (e.g., March 2025 for Oct 2024 submissions).
Advisory Council Review: Expected in May of the following year for each due date (e.g., May 2025 for Oct 2024 submissions).
Earliest Start Date: Expected in July of the following year for each due date (e.g., July 2025 for Oct 2024 submissions).

Application Submission

Applications must be submitted electronically through one of the following platforms:
- NIH ASSIST system
- An institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution
- Grants.gov Workspace
Required Documentation and Materials:
- Standard SF424(R&R) forms (Cover, Project/Performance Site Locations, Other Project Information, Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded, R&R Budget).
- PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement.
- PHS 398 Research Plan: This section must be used to upload the "Research Education Program Plan".
- The "Research Education Program Plan" must include: Proposed IPERT Program (covering rationale, objectives, scientific focus, innovation, results from related NIGMS support, program activities, ongoing engagement, learning environment, timeline), Program Leadership Structure, Program Participants, Evaluation Plan, and Dissemination Plan.
- Organizational Support Letter: This is a mandatory attachment describing the availability of staff, facilities, and educational resources, and institutional commitment. Applications lacking this letter will not be reviewed.
Optional Documentation:
- Advisory Committee (maximum 1 page), if an advisory committee is intended.
- Research Education Activities (maximum 10 pages), such as syllabi or outlines of training activities.
- Other Letters of Support (e.g., from partner organizations) are permitted.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time for corrections if errors are found during the submission process.
All necessary registrations (SAM, UEI, eRA Commons, Grants.gov) must be completed and active before submitting the application.

Post-Award & Reporting

The maximum project period for an award is 5 years.
Recipients are required to submit a Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) annually.
A dedicated section within the annual RPPR must detail progress toward goals and measurable objectives from the Evaluation Plan.
A final RPPR and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for grant closeout.
Programs are expected to conduct ongoing evaluations to monitor success and track outcomes, including participant data.
A specific plan for national dissemination of findings and materials developed under the program is required.
Applicants should describe plans for continuing IPERT activities and tracking outcomes beyond the award period, including strategies to secure other funding, as renewal applications are not accepted.

Evaluation Criteria

EVALUATION CRITERIA: Applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit, with an "Overall Impact" score reflecting the likelihood of advancing research education by fulfilling the program's goals. Separately scored criteria contribute to the Overall Impact, while additional criteria are considered but not scored. Scored Review Criteria

Significance: Assesses whether the program effectively reaches an audience in need of its offerings and whether it develops or utilizes innovative approaches and best practices to improve knowledge/skills.
Investigator(s): Evaluates the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) expertise and ability to organize, administer, monitor, disseminate, and evaluate the program, including sufficient time commitment. For multiple PD/PIs, assesses complementary expertise and leadership.
Innovation: Determines if the proposed work applies novel concepts, methods, or technologies, or uses existing ones in novel ways, to enhance the project's overall impact. For applicants with prior NIGMS support, evaluates the extent to which the new program significantly differs from or expands upon previous funding, and assesses the success of previous activities.
Approach: Examines if the program has clear, measurable short-term and long-term objectives rooted in sound educational concepts. Evaluates the soundness, rigor, and utility of the evaluation plan. Assesses the adequacy of participant recruitment, retention, and follow-up plans. Considers if activities complement participant training, if planning and implementation are logical/feasible, and if the timeline is reasonable. Evaluates plans for ongoing participant engagement, and whether learning environments are safe and supportive. Reviews the soundness and accessibility of the dissemination plan, especially post-grant.
Environment: Assesses if the scientific and educational environment contributes to program goals and if plans leverage this environment effectively. Evaluates tangible evidence of organizational commitment and support (staff, resources) and evidence of collaboration among participating entities.

Additional Review Criteria (Considered but Not Separately Scored)

Protections for Human Subjects: Applies if human subjects are involved, assessing justification, protection against risks, benefits, and data safety monitoring.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Individuals Across the Lifespan: Evaluates proposed plans for inclusion or exclusion based on sex, race, ethnicity, and age (if human subjects/clinical research).
Vertebrate Animals: Assesses the description of procedures, justification for species, and interventions for animal welfare (if applicable).
Biohazards: Reviews potential hazards and proposed protections for research personnel/environment.
Training in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility: If applicable (e.g., research skill training), evaluates the instruction plan's coverage of principles like scientific premise, experimental design, biological variables, data/material sharing, and transparency. Assesses integration and consistent teaching across stages/formats.
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR): If applicable, evaluates the adequacy of RCR training based on format, subject matter, faculty participation, duration, and frequency. Rated as acceptable or unacceptable.

Compliance & Special Requirements

COMPLIANCE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Regulatory Compliance

All awards are subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Recipients must comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200).
Compliance with all applicable nondiscrimination laws is required, and recipients must submit an Assurance of Compliance (HHS-690).
All relevant federal statutes and regulations pertaining to federal financial assistance apply.

Data & Ethical Standards

If the program involves human subjects research, the recipient institution must ensure protocols are reviewed and approved by their Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Independent Ethics Committee (IEC).
Data collection and storage methods used by the program must be safeguarded and preserved.
The 2023 NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing is not applicable to this specific funding opportunity (PAR-24-252).
If applicable (e.g., for proposed courses involving research skill training), instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is required, covering topics like conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects/animal use, laboratory safety, research misconduct, and research ethics.
Programs are expected to promote learning environments that are supportive and safe for all program personnel and participants.

Intellectual Property & Technology

If software or similar materials are developed, the dissemination plan should allow users to modify source code, permit commercialization of enhanced versions, and ensure the software is transferable for continued development.

Special Considerations

Innovation is central: The proposed program must apply novel concepts, methods, or technologies, or use existing ones in novel ways. Simply continuing previously implemented activities without significant new elements is generally not considered innovative or aligned with program goals.
Accessibility: Funded activities are encouraged to explore innovative methods to enhance the accessibility of materials for all members of the biomedical research workforce, ensuring programs are open to scientists from all backgrounds and abilities.
Non-Responsive Activities: Programs primarily focused on traditional project-based research for discovery (where the main goal is to find new information) are explicitly excluded. Programs restricted to participants from a single organization are also excluded.
Pre-Application Communication: Potential applicants are strongly recommended to communicate with the designated NIGMS Scientific/Research Contact(s) before writing an application to confirm whether their proposed efforts are appropriate for the IPERT program.

Grant Details