Mapping your career with NIH

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Mapping your career with NIH

• Michael Sesma, Ph.D., NIMH
• Milton J. Hernández, Ph.D., DLR, OEP
• NIH

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Basic Advice for Mapping Your Career with NIH

• Understand the NIH application process including
  the review process
• Understand the ICs and their goals
• Each IC has a research training and career
  development program
• Identify the grant programs offered by each IC
• Make early contact with program officers
• Find Mentors and Collaborators
• Study successful grant applications
• Only propose your best, creative ideas
• Appropriate number of goals
• Impact now more important than ever
• Include preliminary data if you have it
• You wont get a grant if you dont apply

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R03
Diversity Supplements
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Training Grants (Ts)

• NRSA- National Research Service Award
• Legislated, program began in 1974 (P.L. 93-348)
• Multi-slot awards
• Domestic institutions only
• Fund training programs for pre- and postdocs in
  any scientific area within our scientific mission
• Can be basic or clinical
• Trainees work in a mentors lab
• MDs, PhDs, DVMs
• Awards go the best training programs in the Nation

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Fellowships (Fs)

• NRSA- National Research Service Award
• Legislated, program began in 1974 (P.L. 93-348)
• Individual awards under a mentor
• Training can be at domestic or foreign
  institutions
• Fund pre- and postdoc trainees in any scientific
  area within our scientific mission
• Can be basic or clinical - most are basic
• Most awardees are for Ph.D.s
• F Kiosk http//grants.nih.gov/training/F_files_nr
  sa.htm

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Career Development Awards (Ks)

• Individual awards
• Mechanisms for Basic and Clinical Investigators
• Designed as awards for faculty investigators
• Some mentored others not
• Newer programs (K22 and K99/R00) are transition
  awards- these are for MDs and PhDs
• K Kiosk http//grants.nih.gov/training/careerdeve
  lopmentawards.htm

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Training Grants

• Some all predoc/some all postdoc
• Most are a mixture of slots
• Funds are mostly for tuition and trainees
• Training Related Expenses may be used to defray
  costs such as staff salaries, equipment, research
  supplies, and other expenses directly related to
  the training program
• Costs
• Tuition- 60 of requested tuition, capped at
  16,000 (21K for MD-PhD programs)
• Stipends- 20,772 pre/ postdoc 36,996 (level
  0)-51,036 (level 7)
• Training Related Expenses- 4,200 pre/7,850
  (post) both include health insurance
• Travel- 400-1000
• FAs- 8

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F30s and F31s- Predoc Fellowships

• Individual awards
• Cannot change the scope, move fellowship, or
  change mentor without prior NIH approval! (They
  do anyway)
• Predoctoral NRSA awards limited to 5 years total
• Tuition- 60 of requested tuition, capped at
  16,000 (21K for MD-PhD programs)
• Stipends- 20,772 pre
• Training Related Expenses- 4,200 includes health
  insurance
• Travel- 400-1000
• FAs- 8

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F32sPostdoc NRSA Fellowships

• Postdoc only
• Individual award
• Cannot change the scope, move fellowship, or
  change mentor without prior NIH approval! (They
  do anyway)
• NRSA Support for up to 3 years total
• Stipends- 36,996 (level 0)-51,036 (level 7)
• Training Related Expenses- 7,850 includes
  health insurance
• Travel- 400-1000
• FAs- 8

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F33sSenior Postdoc Fellowships

• Not for postdocs who have been postdocs a long
  time
• Used for associate or full professors who want
  support for a sabbatical
• For MDs or PhDs
• Few applicants - too little money
• Stipend 51,036
• Training Related Expenses - 7,850 includes
  health insurance
• Travel- 400-1,000

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Fellowship Review Criteria

• In addition to an Overall Impact score there are
  5 Core Review Criteria for Fellowships. These
  are distinct from R-type award Core Criteria
  criterion scores will be provided by the
  reviewers (1-9)
• Fellowship Applicant
• Sponsors, Collaborators, and Consultants
• Research Training Plan
• Training Potential
• Institutional Environment Commitment to
  Training

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K01Mentored Research Scientist Development Award

• Support development experiences leading to
  research independence, training in new field or
  following hiatus in a research career (varies by
  IC)
• MDs or PhDs
• 3-5 years
• Salary Cap varies by IC FBs
• Research Support up to 50,000/yr (varies by IC)
• FAs 8
• IC contacts and policies
• http//grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10
  -056.html

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K02Independent Scientist Award

• Often called Mid-career award Best candidate is
  a senior assistant professor or junior
  associate professor
• Close to or recently promoted and tenured
• Must have independent grant support as PI, e.g.,
  R01
• MDs (very few) and PhDs
• Salary support only
• Salary Cap varies by IC FBs for up to 5 years
• Gives up salary support from all other NIH
  grants!
• Relatively few applicants
• FAs 8
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent
  _K02.html

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K08- Mentored Clinical Scientist Development
AwardK23- Mentored Patient-Oriented Research
Career Development Award

• K08 - supports didactic study and mentored
  research for individuals with clinical doctoral
  degrees
• K23 - for clinical/patient-oriented project
• 3-5 yr award, varies by IC
• Salary cap varies by IC FBs
• Research Support up to 50,000/yr (varies by IC)
• FAs 8
• For IC Contacts and policies
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent
  _K08.html
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent
  _K23.html

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K24Mid-Career Investigator Award in
Patient-Oriented Research

• Purpose to provide support for clinician
  investigators to allow them protected time to
  devote to patient-oriented research (POR) and to
  act as research mentors primarily for junior
  clinicians
• 3-5 years
• Typically MDs
• Salary cap varies by IC FBs
• Research Support 25,000 - 50,000 (varies by IC)
• FAs 8
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent
  _K23.html

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K25Mentored Quantitative Research Development
Award

• For individuals from a quantitative background
  (e.g., mathematics, statistics, economics,
  computer science, imaging science, informatics,
  physics, chemistry, and engineering) who want to
  apply their expertise to a biomedical problem and
  are not already working in a health or disease
  related topic
• 3-5 years
• Salary cap varies by IC FBs
• Research Support 20,000 - 50,000 (varies by
  IC)
• FAs 8
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent
  _K25.html

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K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award

• Supported by almost all ICs with variations
• Transition award for postdocs moving to assistant
  professor positions (tenure track or equivalent)
• No Citizenship/Green Card requirement
• K99 mentored phase (up to 2 years)
• R00 independent phase (up to 3 years 75 effort)
• Requires mentor(s)
• Up to 90,000/yr total cost for K99 phase 8
  FA
• 249,000/yr total cost for R00 phase
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent
  _K99_R00.html

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K22 Research Scholar Development Award

• Offered by NCI, NHLBI, NIAID, NIAAA, NINR
• Transition award for postdocs moving to positions
  of assistant professor
• Two-phased application
• Phase 1
• Scientific merit
• No institution yet
• If applicant gets a fundable score, they have a
  year to find a position as assistant professor
• Phase 2
• Assistant Professor
• Own lab
• Significant start-up funds
• Little teaching/ no administrative
  responsibilities
• FAs 8

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K22 and the K99/R00 Award Main features

• K22
• Transition award (postdoc-to-asst. professor)
• 2 yr award
• No mentored phase
• Awardee gets funds at the time of becoming asst.
  professor
• 250K 8 FA costs
• Total Cost 270K

• K99/R00
• Transition award (postdoc - to asst. professor)
• 3 year award only
• 2 yr mentored phase (90K/yr TC)
• Awardee becomes asst. professor- R00 not peer
  reviewed
• 3 yr independent R phase (249K/yr TC)
• Total Cost 574K but note TC in R00 phase

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Career Award Review Criteria

• In addition to an Overall Impact score there are
  5 Core Review Criteria for K-award applications
  that are distinct from R-type award Core
  Criteria criterion scores will be provided by
  the reviewers (1-9)
• Candidate
• Career Development Plan/Career Goals
  Objectives/Plan to Provide Mentoring
• Research Plan
• Mentor(s), Consultants(s), Collaborator(s).
• Environment and Institutional Commitment to the
  Candidate

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New NIH PolicyEncourage New Investigator
Applications for the R01
In recent years the use of Small Grants (R03) and
the NIH Exploratory /Developmental Research Grant
(R21) has increased New
Investigator policies are limited to applications
for Traditional Research project grant (R01)
support. Accordingly, the NIH is strongly
encouraging New Investigators, particularly Early
Stage Investigators, to apply for R01 grants when
seeking first-time NIH funding.
First-Time Investigators
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Why an R01?It is the Gold Standard Grant!

• The Research Project Grant (R01) is the original
  and historically oldest grant mechanism used by
  NIH. The R01 provides support for health-related
  research and development based on the mission of
  the NIH.
• R01s can be investigator-initiated or can be in
  response to a program announcement or request for
  application.
• The R01is an award made to support a discrete,
  specified, circumscribed project to be performed
  by the named investigator(s) in an area
  representing the investigator's specific interest
  and competencies, based on the mission of the
  NIH.

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Are You a New Investigator?

• Definition New Investigator (NI) is a PD/PI who
  has not yet competed successfully for a
  substantial NIH research grant (Except for R03,
  R15, R21 or mentored K awards)
• Definition Early Stage Investigator (ESI) is a
  NI who is within 10 years of completing the
  terminal research degree or is within 10 years of
  completing medical residency (or equivalent)
• NI/ESI receive special considerations during peer
  review and IC funding decisions
• Resource web site with further information

grants1.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators grants.ni
h.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-121.html
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New/Early Stage Investigators
Identification of NI/ESI Applicants

• PURPOSE
• Encourage and accelerate earlier transition to
  research independence (i.e., first R01)
• Counter trend of increasing time spent in
  training phase of career
• Strongly encourage New Investigators,
  particularly ESIs, to apply for R01 grants when
  seeking first-time NIH funding 

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New/Early Stage Investigator
New and Early Stage Investigator Policies

• ESI/NI Applications will be identified to
  reviewers so that appropriate consideration of
  career stage can be applied during review.
• Apprise NIH staff of ESI/NI status, which will be
  considered when applications are selected for
  award
• Support New Investigators (majority expected to
  be ESIs) at success rates equivalent to that of
  established investigators submitting new
  applications 
• For multiple PD/PI applications, all PD/PIs must
  meet requirements for ESI status to receive
  consideration during review
• ESIs/NIs are eligible for the Shortened Review
  Cycle option
• (http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/N
  OT-OD-07-083.html )

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New/Early Stage Investigators
Information Sources

• NOT-OD-08-121 (09/26/2008) - Encouraging Early
  Transition to Independence Identifying ESIs
• http//grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/
  not-od-08-121.html
• NOT-OD-09-013 (09/31/2008) Revised New and
  Early Stage Investigator Policies
• http//grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/
  NOT-OD-09-013.html
• NOT-OD-09-034 (12/31/2008) ESI Policies
  Requesting an Extension of the ESI Period
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/
  NOT-OD-09-034.html
• FAQs http//grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigato
  rs/investigator_policies_faqs.html

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Other NIH Awards for New Investigators
http//nihroadmap.nih.gov/newinnovator/

• Support exceptionally innovative research with
  potential for significant impact
• Launched in 2007
• Open to new investigators within ten years of
  their terminal degree
• Appointment at US institutions
• Commit at least 25 effort
• Up to 1.5 million over 5 years (direct costs)
• Abbreviated application
• Preliminary data optional
• Review focus on innovation and creativity,
  scientific impact
• Number of Applications and awards
• 2007 2150 30
• 2008 579 31
• 2009 419 ? ARRA

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Loan Repayment Programs An Overview Division of
Loan Repayment (DLR) Office of Extramural
Research/Office of Extramural Programs National
Institutes of HealthU.S. Department of Health
and Human Services
Milton Hernández, Ph.D.
Director NIH Division of Loan Repayment, OEP
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Program Overview

• NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs)
• Vital component of our Nation's efforts to
  attract and retain highly qualified health
  professionals
• Working in priority areas
• To build a research workforce that will meet our
  future national needs

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Loan Repayment Programs
Intramural Programs (1989 to Present) AIDS
Research LRP (1989) Clinical Research LRP for
Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
(1994) General Research LRP (1996) Extramural
Programs (2001 to Present) Contraception
Infertility Research LRP (1997) Health
Disparities Research LRP (2001) Clinical Research
LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged
Backgrounds (2001) Clinical Research LRP
(2002) Pediatric Research LRP (2002)
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LRPs- How do they work?

• Up to 35,000 per year in loan repayment
  depending on debt level
• Coverage of Federal, state and local taxes
  resulting from the NIH LRP
• 2 year initial contracts with 1 2 year
  competitive extension contracts

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Individual LRP Funding History FY 2002 thru FY
2008
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Educational Debt, by Degree Type
Trends Analysis, FY03-FY07
Among LRP applicants, academic doctorates have
a higher debt load than recent PhD graduates, and
physician doctorates have a lower debt load than
recent MD graduates.
MD MD PhD PhD
LRP All LRP All
No Debt n/a 17 n/a 50
lt40K 10 13 38 40
gt40K 90 73 62 10
Average Debt 114K 97K 62K 20K
Source Survey of Graduates, American
Association of Medical Colleges (2001).
Source Survey of Earned Doctorates, National
Science Foundation (2003).
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LRP Evaluation Conclusions

• LRPs attract young scientists early in their
  careers- average age is 35
• Applicants have considerable educational debt
• Women, MDs, and PhDs are adequately represented
  in applicant and awardee pools
• LRP awardees receive more RPGs than unsuccessful
  applicants
• But LRP awardees are not quite as successful as K
  awardees in receiving RPGs