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Applications to PAR-24-230 must propose to test interventions to enhance research-oriented individuals' interest, motivation, persistence and preparedness for careers in the biomedical research workforce. Applications without a plan to provide a training, mentoring, or networking service without a testable hypothesis, intervention framework, and/or a clearly articulated population with the appropriate controls or comparison group(s) will be considered non-responsive and will be administratively withdrawn. See PAR-24-230 for additional non-responsive criteria.
This NOFO allows investigators to conduct secondary data analysis of rigorous interventions, leveraging existing intervention cohorts, using new or advanced methods of analysis of rigorous intervention datasets, or general novel combinations and integration of rigorous intervention datasets for analysis.
Research with scientific analyses pertaining to the biomedical research enterprise that do not propose an intervention framework could be appropriate for the SCISIPBIO program.
Refer to PAR-24-230 for some possible areas of study, including training and mentoring, psychosocial factors, navigation of critical transition points, and institutional factors and culture.
Interventions must target individuals in or potentially seeking careers in biomedical research. This does not include biomedical-related professionals or practitioners that are not engaged in research.
Proposals can focus on only one or more than one discipline of biomedical research. NIGMS does not restrict or confine research topics. Rather, it is up to the investigators to make the case for the significance and importance of their selection.
A proposed intervention does not need to target multiple career stages, but it could address multiple stages as appropriate.
Not necessarily. Funded projects should enhance the evidence base for effective, high-impact, scalable interventions, and to improve our understanding of the elements contributing to the advancement of individuals pursuing biomedical research careers. NIGMS strives to ensure that future generations of researchers will be drawn from the entire pool of talented individuals, bringing different aptitudes, perspectives, interests, and experiences to address complex scientific problems.
NIGMS recognizes that there is a need for more hypothesis-driven research to test interventions for efficacy and replicability across career stages and at a range of institution types, and to provide empirical evidence of the factors contributing to success. Interventions tested via this funding opportunity could be newly or previously implemented.
This funding opportunity is not designed to support evaluation of an existing or planned program(s), nor is it intended to support a training program, curriculum development, or other activity disguised as an experiment. Projects are expected to include the use of robust experimental designs, including randomized control trial approaches, case controls, matched pair design or other rigorous designs appropriate to the research questions.
There is no requirement to include preliminary data. As with most research grant applications, preliminary data could be useful to the premise for the intervention, demonstrate feasibility, need for an intervention, etc. as appropriate.
Self-reported measures can be used, but they should be collected using validated instruments, those that have been determined to actually measure what they presume to measure. In addition, projects should include outcomes beyond participant satisfaction, self-reporting of perceived skills gained, or self-reporting of effectiveness.
Depending on the health-related biomedical or behavioral outcome, NIH might define the study as a clinical trial. The B-INSIPRE R01 does not allow Clinical Trials. Investigators are encouraged to review NIH’s Definition of a Clinical Trial and to contact Dr. Shakira Nelson or Dr. Joyce Stamm.
NIGMS strongly encourages a collaborative effort, when necessary, among biomedical researchers, program administrators, educators, psychologists, sociologists, statisticians, and/or economists, as appropriate. Collaborations should bring complementary and integrated expertise to ensure rigor, validity, generalizability, and integration of the research elements.
The NIH definition of a clinical trial is, in part, "a research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes". Applications appropriate for the Research on Interventions program typically are not intended to have health-related outcomes, and therefore are unlikely to meet the definition of an NIH clinical trial.
The B-INSPIRE NOFO allows New and Renewal applications. If the initial application is not recommended for payment, the application will need to be submitted as a new application. This NOFO does not allow resubmissions.
If you are a PI of an R01, the Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) (R35) funding opportunity might be an option. Please contact the program officers listed in the B-INSPIRE NOFO for more information.
Renewal applications are required to include a progress report that is to be incorporated under the Research Strategy of the application which has a 12-page limit. Review committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.
Use the Progress Report section to discuss, but not duplicate information collected elsewhere in the application. The Progress Report should:
Do not include a list of publications, patents, or other printed materials in the Progress Report. That information is to be included in the "Progress Report Publication List" attachment.
Per the NOFO, only limited Appendix materials are allowed. No publications or other material, except for blank questionnaires or blank surveys, may be included. Applicants are to follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the How to Apply — Application Guide.
Application will be withdrawn and not reviewed if the appendix requirements are violated.
Yes, the B-INSPIRE NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP). PEDP is to be no more than two pages. The document should be entitled as "Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives" and should be uploaded under "Other Attachment."
Applications that do not include this attachment will be considered incorporated incomplete and will not be considered.
The PEDP will be assessed as part of the scientific and technical peer review.
For further information, please see PEDP guidance materials.
For budget requests of $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year (excluding consortium F&A), applicants must contact a Scientific/Research Contact at least 6 weeks before submitting the application and follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Yes, there are no restrictions on the number of institutions involved.
Yes, there is no limit to the number of applications an institution can submit to PAR-24-230.
No, as with any proposal, applicants should demonstrate the team's suitability to conduct the work planned. Investigators with or without NIH R01 awards are eligible to apply as long as other eligibility criteria are met.
If an investigator meets the eligibility criteria for the NIGMS MIRA program, research on interventions as described in PAR-24-230 could be an appropriate research area for the NIGMS MIRA as it falls within the NIGMS mission. Refer to the NIGMS MIRA website for more information.
If a PI has an R35 from NIGMS they may not serve as a PI for an application in response to this NOFO, nor may they receive direct grant support from an application funded by this NOFO. A MIRA supported investigator has the flexibility to explore research questions within the NIGMS research mission.
Yes. All potential applicants are highly encouraged to contact the program officers well in advance of applying, for feedback on whether their project could potentially fit with the objectives of the program. In addition, please submit a letter of intent no later than 30 days before the application due date. Refer to PAR-24-230 for the content of the letter of intent.
