Fundamentals of the NIH Grants Process

George Gardner Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration October 28, 2008

OPERA

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This Morning’s Topics

• •

Introduction to the NIH

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History

– –

Mission & Organization Funding Facts Fundamentals of the Grants Process

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Grant Mechanisms

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Submission and Review of Grant Applications

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Grants Management Issues and Requirements

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NIH Campus -- 1947

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NIH Campus Today

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NIH in 2008

One agency of 11 within U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Comprises 27 Institutes and Centers (IC)

U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Administration on Aging (AoA) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 6 Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Indian Health Services (IHS) National Institutes Administration (SAMHSA) of Health (NIH) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

NIH Organizational Structure

Office of the Director National Institute on Aging National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Cancer Institute National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Eye Institute National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Human Genome Research Institute National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Nursing Research 7 National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine NIH Clinical Center Fogarty International Center National Center for Research Resources Center for Information Technology National Library of Medicine Center for Scientific Review National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering No funding authority

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NIH Mission

NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation Our mission:

to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability … …

from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold

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NIH Gets

1%

of U.S. Budget

$2,941 NIH Rest of U.S. Budget $29.5

10 $24.7

What Stays at NIH? What Goes Elsewhere?

Total FY 2008 Budget: $29.46 Billion $4.7

84% Outside NIH > 325,000 Scientists > 3,000 Organizations Worldwide 16% Inside NIH $2.9 B Intramural Research (10%) $1.2 B Staff & Buildings (4%) $0.6 B Other (2%) Spending at NIH Spending Outside

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NIH Grant Statistics

• • •

Fiscal Year 2007 Approx.

80,000 grant applications received (all mechanisms) 47,243 research grants awarded

($20.35 billion)

79% of NIH extramural awards go to institutions of higher education

Fundamentals of the Grants Process

Grant Mechanisms OPERA

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What’s the Difference Between Grants and Contracts?

GRANT Assistance CONTRACT Acquisition Government is Patron or Partner Purpose: to support and stimulate research Benefit a public purpose Government is Purchaser Purpose: to acquire goods or services The direct benefit and use of the government Government initiated Investigator initiated

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Award Mechanisms: Research Project Grants

• •

Traditional –

R01

Exploratory/Development Grants –

R03/R21/R33/R34

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Program Project –

P01

• •

Research Center Grants –

P50

Small Business –

R41, R42, R43, R44

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Research Training and Career Awards

• Training Grants –

T

– Institutional – Predoctoral and Postdoctoral – Trainees must be U.S. citizens • Fellowships (U.S. Domestic only) – – Individual • Predoctoral – • Postdoctoral – F31 F32

F

– Fellows must be U.S. citizens • Career Development Awards –

K

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Cooperative Agreements

(U)

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Specialized Grant mechanism

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Substantial NIH staff involvement in program and science

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Typically initiated by NIH

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Cooperative Agreement Kiosk

Fundamentals of the Grants Process

Submission and Review of Grant Applications OPERA

Writing a Grant Application

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• Components of successful applications – Strong Idea – Strong Science – Strong Presentation • Match idea/science to the right NIH Institute – Every IC has specific mission • Hone high-quality grantwriting skills – Communicate scientific content compellingly – Follow all the instructions

Writing a Grant Application

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• Research plan answers 4 essential questions – What do you intend to do?

– Why is the work important?

– What has already been done?

– How are you going to do the work?

• Successful applications typically are: – Well-focused and explicitly written – Not overly ambitious – Understandable by a naïve reader

Review Issues Specific to Foreign Applicants

• Applications from foreign institutions will be assessed by two additional review criteria not applied to applications from domestic institutions: – Whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talents, resources, populations or environmental conditions not available in the U.S. or the augment existing U.S. resources, and – Whether the project has the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences in the United States and the health of the people of the United States.

20 More at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-010.html

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2 Level System for Application Review

1 st Level Scientific Review Group (SRG)



Independent outside reviewers



Evaluate scientific merit & significance



Recommend length and level of funding 2 nd Level

   

National Advisory Council Assesses Quality of SRG Review Makes Recommendation to Institute Staff on Funding

Evaluates Program Priorities and Relevance Advises on Policy

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Who Reviews Grant Applications?

• Scientist peers with appropriate expertise - recruited by the Scientific Review Officer • Assigned to specific applications based on content • 4 year term typical • Temporary reviewers sought as needed

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1

st

Level Review

• Standing study section typically has 12-24 members • 3 face-to-face meetings each year • Review 60 - 100 applications at each meeting

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2

nd

Level Review

• National Advisory Council or Board assesses quality of 1 st level review – Concurs with or modifies action of Scientific Review Groups – Reads summary statements only • Can also designate application as “High” or “Low” program priority

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Who Makes Actual Funding Decisions?

The Institute Director!

• Factors Considered: – Scientific Merit – Contribution to Institute Mission – Program Balance – Availability of Funds

Fundamentals of the Grants Process

Grants Management Issues and Requirements OPERA

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Typical Grant Funding Process

• Projects are programmatically approved for support in their entirety (project period) but are funded in annual increments (budget periods) • Total project period = initial competitive segment + additional competitive segments + extensions • Amounts shown for subsequent years in a competitive segment represent projections

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Typical Grant Funding Process

• Future funding is contingent on satisfactory progress, availability of funds, and the continued best interest of the Federal government • No legal obligation to provide funding beyond the ending date of the current budget period on the NoA • The decision to fund the next budget period is formalized by the issuance of an NoA

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Cost Principles

• The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has created government-wide principles on what allowable costs may be paid for with government grant funds.

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OMB Circular A-21

- Educational Institutions

OMB Circular A-122 –

Non-Profits – – – –

OMB Circular A-87 – 45 CFR Part 74, Appendix E 48 CFR Subpart 31.2 (FAR) – Foreign

State/Local Governments Hospitals For-profits institutions comply with the applicable cost principles depending on the type of organization

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars /

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Administrative Standards

• OMB has also issued administrative requirements for grantees.

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OMB Circular A-110

- Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Universities, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations (domestic and foreign) –

OMB Circular A-102

– Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments

Grants Management Issues Specific to Foreign Grantees

• Financial and Budgetary Issues: – Construction costs are not allowable but minor alterations and renovations (under $500,000 are allowable) – Payment is made by U.S. Treasury check on a quarterly advance basis.

– Detailed budgets are required in all grant applications – Customs fees, import duties, and currency fluctuation payments are not allowable – Limited F&A costs (8%) are provided to support the costs of complying with NIH and DHHS requirements

31 More at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-010.html

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NIH Administrative and Fiscal Monitoring Requirements

• NIH requires grantees to submit the following documents to ensure successful operation and compliance with grant terms and conditions: – Annual Progress Report (PHS 2590) – Annual Financial Status Reports (FSR) – Invention Reporting – Yearly Audits (as applicable) – Final Closeout Reports

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Audit Requirements

• In general, grantees that

expend $500,000 or more per year

under Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and/or procurement contracts to have an annual audit by a public accountant or a Federal, State, or local government audit organization.

• Foreign and Commercial (for-profit) organizations are subject to audit provisions contained in 45 CFR 74.26 (d) and the NIH Grants Policy Statement

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Human Subjects Protection

• • •

Safeguarding the rights and welfare of individuals who participate as subjects in research based on DHHS regulations and established, internationally recognized ethical principles.

DHHS Office of Human Subjects Research Protections (OHRP) oversees all issues for Federally-funded research involving people Refer to website for information and resources

www.hhs.gov/ohrp

Humane Animal Research

• • •

Grantees are responsible for the humane care and treatment of animals under NIH-supported activities.

NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) oversees policies for humane animal care and use.

Refer to website for information and resources 35

grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw

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Corrective Actions/Enforcement

• Technical Assistance first!

• Failure to comply with Terms and Conditions of Award may result in enforcement actions – Examples: modification of terms, more frequent financial reporting, suspension, withholding of support, termination • Special terms and conditions to protect the Government’s interests and effect positive change

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Reports Required to “Close Out” a Grant

• Final Financial Status Report (FSR) • Final Invention Statement and Certification • Final Progress Report Closeout reports are due within 90 days of project period end date

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Thank You!

Any Questions?