Funding-Limited Submission - NIH Limited Competition: Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars (Global Health Fellows) (R25); September 14, 2011

Limited Submission – NIH Limited Competition:  Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars (Global Health Fellows) (R25) – RFA-TW-11-001

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) outlines an opportunity for eligible institutions to apply to become Fogarty Global Health Program Support Centers under the Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars (Global Health Fellows) Program to meet the following objectives:

• Provide focused mentoring for participants (post-doctorates and doctoral students from the U.S. and low-and middle-income countries [LMICs] in global health research at established research sites in LMICs.
• Provide 11-month research education/experience opportunities in diverse areas of research for participants at those research sites
• Enhance the global health research career trajectory potential of the participants.
• Strengthen global health research networks among the alumni and mentors across institutions in the U.S. and LMICs.
• Strengthen global health programs at U.S. academic institutions and help to sustain global health research at institutions in LMICs.

These awards may be used to strengthen existing (and in some cases develop new) partnerships between U.S. and LMIC research institutions that will contribute to global health research capacity building and the use of research to improve treatment, identify preventive measures, and groom future generations of health scientists who can ultimately improve the health outcomes related to these areas in the applicant’s community and country (both U.S. and LMIC). Although not required, applicants are encouraged to form a consortium that may include up to 4 complementary US academic/training institutions. 

Applicants are encouraged to:

• Develop and implement a strategic five-year global health research education/experience program.
• Develop strategic partnerships with established research,  research training and research education/experience sites (preferably long-standing NIH-funded programs) in LMICs.
• Develop and implement a system for recruitment, selection (including selection criteria for participants) and placement of participants every year (for U.S. post-doctorates, LMIC post-doctorates, U.S. doctoral students and LMIC doctoral students).
• Develop and implement mentoring and support plans for the participants at LMIC sites.
• Enhance research opportunities for participants in diverse global health priority areas such as chronic non-communicable diseases (i.e., malignancy, cardiovascular, hematology, mental health, metabolic diseases, etc.), women’s health, child health and developmental health, genetics, injury, communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and vaccine-preventable diseases, and/or other health priorities (please refer to the objectives section of this FOA) which significantly impact morbidity and pre-mature mortality in LMICs.

NIH intends to commit annually up to an estimated $4 million for up to 4 awards.  See the complete RFA for guidelines and additional information:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-TW-11-001.html

Because NIH limits an institution to only one application, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program 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 Wednesday, September 14, 2011:

· Names and departments of Project Director and other key personnel

· Names of participating LMIC(s) and US academic/training institutions (if applicable)

· Project overview (2 pages) – Provide an overview of the research education plan and the qualifications of the proposed education sites in the participating LMIC(s).

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submission. The NIH deadline for the complete application is October 14, 2011.

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.)