Funding Opportunity:  2021 NIH Administrative Supplements (2022 NIH Administrative Supplement FOA will be made available around March 2022.)

Concept Proposals Due: March 8, 2021 

NIH has released an announcement regarding the availability of FY21 CFAR Administrative Supplements.  The purpose of this supplement opportunity is to support innovative research projects, inter-CFAR meetings, and shared instrumentation that address key gaps in HIV/AIDS and will advance the field.  This opportunity should build research capacity and be consistent with the NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities. Please keep in mind that for this supplemental opportunity the PI/Project directors are restricted to early career investigators who have never received an R-series, R01 equivalent or P, U-series research grant. Established investigators in non-HIV fields who have never received an R01 in HIV/AIDS are also eligible.  Established investigators are eligible to apply for equipment and interCFAR supplements (#9, #10).

This funding opportunity requests proposals within 10 research topics: 

1. Uptake and retention for long-acting HIV prevention and treatment
2. Interactions and effects of the microbiome and metabolome on comorbidities and co-infections in people with HIV
3. Disparities in Treatment and Outcomes in People with HIV with multiple comorbidities and co-infections 
4. Impact of HIV infection and HIV-associated comorbidities, coinfections and complications on hemophiliacs and the hematopoietic system 
5. Intersectional Stigma and its Effect on HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care 
6. Increasing the Integration of Substance Abuse Services and HIV Prevention and Care 
7. Understanding HIV Reservoir Establishment, Maintenance, Control, and Clearance 
8. Natural History of Reservoir Establishment in Infants 
9. Equipment for CFAR Core(s) - only one/CFAR (established investigators eligible to apply)
10. Inter-CFAR Meeting - should be an established interCFAR working group

The Providence/Boston CFAR is eligible to submit 4 proposals in categories 1-8 so we will be initiating the Concept Proposal mechanism to determine the best proposals to move forward.  Concept proposals are due on or before March 8^th  and must include the following:

• Topic/proposed title
• Research area to be addressed in proposal (categories 1-10)
• Brief description of the proposal (abstract) including how supplement will address a scientific gap and/or development of new strategies and degree of innovation in project selection and experimental design
• Proposed collaborators and collaborating institutions
• Description of how the proposal is consistent with the NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities
• Description of how CFAR Core resources will be utilized to accomplish the aims of the study (projects that utilize the CFAR Cores will be prioritized)

In addition to the concept proposal, the PI/Project leader’s biosketch and other support documentation must be forwarded so we can determine eligibility.

Deadlines:

• March 8^th   – concept proposals due to CFAR@lifespan.org by 5:00pm EST
• March 12^th  – notification of accepted concept sheets
• April 12^th   – full proposal due to CFAR@lifespan.org by 5:00pm EST
• April 19^th  – proposals due to NIH

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.