Staff Council Interventions Supporting New Investigators

1
Staff / Council Interventions Supporting New
Investigators

• Craig A. Jordan, Ph.D.
• Director, DEA, NIDCD

2
NIDCD Efforts

• F31 Initiate a predoctoral fellowship program.
  (2000)
• F31 F32 Conduct peer review of fellowships
  within NIDCD SRB and coordinate expedited
  review/funding. (2000)
• R03 use the Small Grant mechanism exclusively
  for unestablished investigators. (1990)
• R01 New Investigator letters may result in
  funding the application with a score beyond the
  payline, avoiding the time and effort associated
  with an amended application. (2000)

3
NIDCD Efforts

• F31 Initiate a predoctoral fellowship program.
  (2000)
• F31 F32 Conduct peer review of fellowships
  within NIDCD SRB and coordinate expedited
  review/funding. (2000)
• R03 use the Small Grant mechanism exclusively
  for unestablished investigators. (1990)
• R01 New Investigator letters may result in
  funding the application with a score beyond the
  payline, avoiding the time and effort associated
  with an amended application. (2000)

4
NRSA for Individual Predoctoral FellowsJuly 25,
2000 (PA-00-125)

• NIAAA, NIDCD, NIDA, NIMH, NINDS
• Successfully completed their comprehensive
  examinations
• Receipt Dates Apr 5, Aug 5, Dec 5
• NIDCD
• Adds predoctoral fellowship mechanism
• Expedited review and award of pre- and
  postdoctoral Fs
• Goal of 4 months for submission to award (3.5
  months for Summary Statements)

5
NIDCD Fellowship Review

• Existing Review Committee (w/ Ad Hocs)
• Meeting dates in advance
• Special Emphasis Panel for conflicts
• Late mailing to reviewers
• 2nd round of CDs and assignments
• Expedited Summary Statements (staff)
• Expedited Training Board (staff)
• Expedited Pay Memos (staff)
• Customized Award processing (staff)

6
Predoctoral - Actual Fellowship Timeline
cohort funded as soon as 8/08/03
7
NIDCD Fellowships
Program initiated during FY2001 _at_ Some FY2005
funding decisions still pending. Note
Applications are assigned to FY based on their
Council dates.
8
NIDCD Efforts

• F31 Initiate a predoctoral fellowship program.
  (2000)
• F31 F32 Conduct peer review of fellowships
  within NIDCD SRB and coordinate expedited
  review/funding. (2000)
• R03 use the Small Grant mechanism exclusively
  for unestablished investigators. (1990)
• R01 New Investigator letters may result in
  funding the application with a score beyond the
  payline, avoiding the time and effort associated
  with an amended application. (2000)

9
NIDCD R03 Program

• Nov. 1990 solely for New Investigator
• 25,000 (DC) 2 years
• Goal is to reach R01/R29 support
• Oct. 1995 ? to 35,000
• Nov. 1996 ? to 3 years
• June 1999 ? to 50,000 modular budget
• June 2000 add concurrent or pre-K award
• Add individual transitioning from postdoc

10
The NIDCD R03 Small Grant Program New Awards
estimate
11
NIDCD Efforts

• F31 Initiate a predoctoral fellowship program.
  (2000)
• F31 F32 Conduct peer review of fellowships
  within NIDCD SRB and coordinate expedited
  review/funding. (2000)
• R03 use the Small Grant mechanism exclusively
  for unestablished investigators. (1990)
• R01 New Investigator letters may result in
  funding the application with a score beyond the
  payline, avoiding the time and effort associated
  with an amended application. (2000)

12
Report of the NIH Working Group on New
InvestigatorsJune 4, 1997

• The R29 mechanisms should be abolished and
  replaced by an R01 application that clearly
  identifies on the face page that the applicant
  is a new investigator...
• The Working Group recommends that the number of
  awards to new investigators be made at levels no
  less than the numbers required to replace
  investigators leaving the research
  systemhistoricallyabout 9 .

13
NIH Definition

• New investigators are defined as
• principal investigator (PI) on a competing
  R01/R29 award who has not been a PI on any prior
  NIH research grant (except K01, K08, K22, K23,
  R03, R15, R21).

14
NIDCD Definition

• New investigators are defined as
• - Principal investigator (PI) on a competing R01
  award who has not been a PI on any prior NIH
  R01/R29.
• - Within 10 years of terminal degree (excluding
  clinical training)

15
NIH Wide Efforts

• All investigators should be evaluated in a manner
  appropriate for the present stage in their
  careers. (PHS 398 New Investigator check box )
• Approach assessment of feasibility should be
  based more on rationale and training than on
  preliminary experimental data.
• Investigators more emphasis should be placed on
  training and research potential than on track
  record and number of publications.
• Environment there should be evidence that the
  necessary space, equipment, and time to perform
  the research are available.

16
NIDCD EFFORTS

• Criterion for High Program Priority
• Coding and Tracking
• Protection from cuts in time or amount
• Special Council attention
• May save investigator effort of amending and
  delay of additional review cycle

17
New Investigator Letters

• Review and coding of all New Investigator R01s
• List (scores) of all New Investigators, per
  Council
• Program Officers contact all New Investigators
• Explain New Investigator process
• 3 possible recommendations
• 5 page limit
• Letters provided Council members assigned
• Discussions at Council meeting
• Outcomes (HPP or not)

18
NIDCD New Investigator R01s
-Council letter process for New Investigators
began FY01 TBD -To Be Determined
19
Success versus NIH new R01s
-Council letter process for New Investigators
began FY01