Funding-Limited Submission - Research Education Program for Laboratory Animal Medicine Veterinarians; April 8, 2010

The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), solicits Research Education Grant (R25) applications to provide research education for veterinarians interested in pursuing a career in Laboratory Animal Medicine.  The objective is to prepare veterinarians to be competent and proficient in the field of Laboratory Animal Medicine in support of biomedical investigations with emphasis on performing collaborative research, and development and maintenance of animal models in support of translational research activities. The existing institution’s laboratory animal training programs must be at least 3 years in length and include a research education component to be eligible for funding of additional participants under this FOA. . In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed research education program will complement ongoing research training occurring at the applicant institution and that a substantial number of program faculty will have active research projects in which participants may gain relevant experiences consistent with their research interests and goals. Institutions with existing Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (e.g., T32) or other federally funded training programs may apply for a research education grant provided that the proposed educational experiences are distinct from those training programs receiving NIH support.  Moreover, the R25 mechanism is not intended to support long-term training by NRSA-eligible individuals and may not be used to circumvent or supplement Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA research training mechanisms. 

A comprehensive and complete research education program should be proposed by the applicant. The proposed program supplements an existing program that must be approved by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM). Each participant position will be funded for two years of a three year program and each participant is expected to receive supervised didactic and practical experience in all aspects of veterinary medical management of laboratory animal research colonies and resources. A participant is defined as a veterinarian who graduated from an AVMA accredited or AVMA listed school or college of veterinary medicine, who is accepted by the eligible institution to receive experience in laboratory animal medicine. The Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) must be a veterinarian with laboratory animal medicine training and experience and at least one PI must be board certified by ACLAM.  The qualifications and experience of the PD/PI must be adequately described in the application. Funds from this program are restricted to support participants, PI/PD veterinarians and other authorized personnel participating in this education initiative. The total direct cost per participant shall not exceed $112,000/year (includes PD/PI and participant/  compensation and benefits up to $50,000, other support, and participant travel; participant travel may not exceed $1200/ participant.  Up to $40,000/year total costs is authorized for compensation for participating /PD/PI and other faculty serving as educators/trainers).  Applicants may request 1-3 participants based upon factors such as recruitment potential, capacity, past record of providing educational opportunities or training for veterinarians in LAM, and success passing ACLAM Specialty Boards.

Complete Guidelines: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-10-002.html

Because the NIH limits an institution to one application, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in responding to this solicitation are to send the following information electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Thursday, April 8, 2010:

1. Names and departments of the Project Director and key personnel

2. Overview of the Research Education Program (2 pages) – objectives, activities, proposed participants, diversity recruitment, and evaluation

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University submission. The NIH deadline is May 13, 2010.

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).