Funding-NIH Millennium Promise Awards:  Non-communicable Chronic Diseases Research Training Program; June 22, 2009

 

NIH is accepting applications for an annual international training program designed to build research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the fields related to cancer, cerebrovascular disease including stroke, lung disease including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and environmental factors including indoor air pollution, and obesity and lifestyle factors related to these conditions as well as genetics of non-communicable diseases.  The institutions applying can be domestic or foreign, but have to exhibit the ability to do such training, and must exhibit that they have existing research programs in these fields.

 

Each research training program application could incorporate an appropriate mix of long-, intermediate- and short-term training opportunities in a wide range of relevant disciplines and skills necessary to advance the study of chronic diseases.  It is expected that the proposed training would strengthen sustainable research and core research support capacity at the foreign site and could include advanced in-country research at the end of training.  Training may take place at the U.S. or foreign sites and training-related research should be carried out mainly in the country of the foreign institution(s).  Training is encouraged to take place at the foreign site.  While a range of short-, intermediate- and long-term training is allowable, emphasis will be on intermediate- to longer-term training, including mid-career training.  In the context of this funding announcement, “trainees” are scientists from the LMIC country identified in the application.

 

The applicant must have strong chronic non-communicable disease research and research-training program experience, and the requisite faculty and facilities to carry out the proposed research training activities.  The PI and/or key personnel listed on the application must be designated as the PI of at least one active (with at least 18 months of support remaining at the time of application) chronic, non-communicable disease-related research award, directly relevant to the research training proposed and, within 2 years of the award from this program, at least a portion of that research must be performed at the foreign site.  The research grants may be funded by the NIH or by other national or international organizations or foundations.  The applicant must have ongoing research in the area of science described in the application and some existing collaboration with the foreign site which can be of an educational nature.

 

NIH anticipates funding 7 new awards per year; total costs are up to $220,000 per year for up to 5 years.  An institution may submit only one application per year.

 

The application guidelines for the Millennium Promise Awards: Non-communicable Chronic Diseases Research Training Program (NCoD) (D43) contain examples of types of training that might be included and are available at:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-175.html

 

Because NIH limits an institution to one application per year, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.  Individuals interested in submitting a proposal should send the following information electronically to the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Monday, June 22, 2009:

 

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.)

 

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submission in time for the August 31, 2009 letter of intent and the September 29, 2009 deadline.