Funding Opportunity: 2023 NIH Administrative Supplements 

Concept Proposals Due: March 7, 2023

NIAID invites FY23 CFAR Supplement applications (see attached announcement).  The purpose of this administrative supplement opportunity is to support innovative research projects (#1-3), pathway programs for URM/BIPOC trainees (#4), and inter-CFAR meetings (#5) that address key gaps in HIV/AIDS and will advance the field. This opportunity should build research capacity and be consistent with the recent NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities (NOT-OD-20-018).

Research involving populations experiencing health disparities is encouraged (African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, less privileged socioeconomic groups, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities).

Each active CFAR can submit a maximum of two supplement applications for topics #1-3 (one year awards with maximum funding up to $150,000).

This funding opportunity requests proposals within 4 research topics: 

1. Formative, intervention, and implementation research to explore delivery of long-acting PrEP in populations who may benefit

This topic encourages research ranging from qualitative/quantitative formative inquiries with populations of interest, through intervention/implementation research where a setting has been identified and an approach for the long-acting PrEP delivery merits testing.

2. HIV and co-morbidities: Identification of mechanisms and strategies for optimal care that also reduce disparities

Integration of prevention and/or care for HIV and its co-morbidities needs further multidisciplinary attention (e.g., epidemiological, clinical, services research).

3. Community-led research topic

The goals of this supplemental topic are to promote equitable research partnerships between community-based researchers and CFAR investigators by providing supplements to support studies that address the needs outlined by the community and include a strong community component where a community member will co-lead the project.

Each CFAR can submit a maximum of one supplement application for the CDEIPI topic (Topic #4 – one year award with maximum funding of $100,000).

4. CFAR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative

The overarching goal of the CFAR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative (CDEIPI) is to increase the number of Underrepresented Minorities (URM)/Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) trainees who engage in HIV science and help develop pathways for successful careers in science and medicine.

Each inter-CFAR working group (WG) is permitted to submit one meeting application (Topic #5 – maximum funding $40,000) even if there are multiple inter-CFAR WGs led by a CFAR

5. Inter-CFAR Meeting

The application should describe the objectives, specific program, and logistical arrangements for the meeting.

As noted above, the Providence/Boston CFAR is eligible to submit a limited number of proposals, therefore, we will be initiating a one-page Concept Proposal mechanism to determine the strongest proposals to move forward.  

Concept Proposals must include the following:

·      Proposed title

·      Topic number/category to be addressed in proposal

·       List of investigators/proposed collaborators

·      Aim(s)/objective(s)

·      Brief summary of rationale and approach

·      Description of how CFAR Core resources will be utilized to accomplish the aims of the study

Application Timeline:

• Submission of Concept Proposal to Providence/Boston CFAR
  • no later than Tuesday, March 7 (email to LBazerman@Lifespan.org)
• Concept Proposal decisions rendered and communicated to PIs
  • no later than Friday, March 10
• Submission of all Administrative Supplement application materials to Providence/Boston CFAR:
  • no later than Monday, April 3
• Submission to NIH:
  • no later than Monday, April 17

Please contact Lauri Bazerman (LBazerman@Lifespan.org) with any questions.

Why should I consider a diversity supplement?

Supplements are a WIN for investigators who have eligible “parent grants” because their research team/scope can be extended via a supplement. Supplements must support work within the scope of the original project, but not overlap. Diversity supplement applications also tend to have a high rate of success and are on a short review cycle.

Is my grant eligible?

Determine if you have an eligible grant. Eligible grants vary by institute.

• Typical grants include: R34, R01, P, and U grants
• Parent award must have > 2 years remaining; supplement duration typically 2-3 years

The Process

• Step #1: Examine parent announcement to make sure information detailed here has not changed.
• Step #2: Determine due dates. Due dates vary by institute. Due dates usually do not align to standard review dates.
• Step #3: Formulate an initial idea. Speak with the program officer of your parent grant.
• Step #4: Then contact the diversity program officer at the target institute before applying (details for contact person found here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/PA-15-322_contacts.html).  Institutes, program and diversity supplement staff review and rank idea according to I/C mission and priorities.
• Step #5: The PI must initiate the application. Some but not all unique elements of the diversity supplement application include:
  • Letter from PI that candidate is eligible, plans to engage in a research career, will help to diversify the scientific workforce; co-signed by PI and OSP
  • Research Plan: what the candidate will do, how the activities will advance the candidate’s research training and skills AND advance objectives of parent grant
  • Supplement activities must be consistent with but not redundant with Aims of the parent project
  • For students and trainees:
    • Mentoring Plan: objectives to prepare candidate for next step of research career; timeline of activities (e.g., PhD program milestones, seminars/colloquia/workshops, conferences,  ~2 publications per year); end project = a stage-appropriate grant; outline nature of mentor-candidate interactions (e.g., individual or lab meetings, writing together), and PI’s previous mentoring experience
    • Training under supplement must augment current training opportunities
    • Candidate statement and biosketch (include manuscripts in preparation, specify commitment to research relevant to I/C)
    • Transcripts for students
  • Budget and justification; Application budgets are limited to no more than the amount of the current parent award, and must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project (usually <25% of parent grant budget). Direct costs for individual administrative supplements vary from less than $5,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the career level of the candidate. Administrative supplements end with the competitive cycle of the parent grant. Any cost increases need to result from making modifications to the project that would increase or preserve the overall impact of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes. There is NO additional support for PI/mentor. For supplements that are for investigators, short term supplements can cover three to five months each year during the summer or another portion of the academic year, over a maximum period of four years; long term supplements provide support for up to two years at a minimum of 9 person months (equivalent to 75% effort) during each 12-month period.
• Step #6: Response usually occurs in 6-8 weeks. Receipt of award occurs as an administrative supplement. 

Why should I apply for a diversity supplement? Supplements are a WIN for students, trainees, early faculty who want to pursue careers as research scientists. Diversity supplement applications also tend to have a high rate of success. We need YOUR talent in the scientific field.  In 2019, NIH significantly expanded their definition of diversity which opens up new opportunities for those who may now qualify for these funding opportunities.

Am I eligible?

Stage of training: undergraduate students, Bachelor or Master's degree holders interested in pursuing graduate or medical school, doctoral students, postdoctoral trainees, early investigators

1. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis. Currently the supplement announcement defines current underrepresented racial and ethnic groups eligible for this supplement as Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be demonstrated convincingly to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in NIH programs to enhance diversity.
2. Individuals with disabilities: defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. 
3. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds that meet two or more eligibility criteria - please review NOT-OD-20-031 for detailed categories.
4. Literature shows that women from the above backgrounds face particular challenges at the graduate level and beyond in scientific fields.

Candidates must be a US citizen or permanent resident and cannot be supported on an NIH grant and time of new diversity supplement award date (if the supplement candidate is on a training award that is ending, depending on timing of the end of the training award, they may still be eligible.)

• Step #1: Explore plans to apply for a diversity supplement with your current research mentor to determine if they have eligible NIH funded grants. Otherwise, identify possible investigators (Principal Investigator or PI) with eligible parent grants.
• Step #2: Formulate an initial idea in collaboration with the investigator who has an eligible parent grant.
• Step #3: Work with that investigator to contact the project officer of their parent grant.
• Step #4: Then contact the diversity program officer at the target institute before applying (details for contact person found here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/PA-15-322_contacts.html).  Institutes, program and diversity supplement staff review and rank idea according to I/C mission and priorities.
• Step #5: Prepare the application for the PI to submit. If possible reach out to other successful recipients of diversity supplement and mentored awards to secure examples. Your diversity supplement application must be submitted by the PI who holds the parent grant.