Funding-Limited Submission - Planning Grants for the NIH National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) (P20) – RFA-RM-13-002; March 28, 2013

The NIH has issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to encourage organizations with experience in the mentorship of individuals underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce to submit six month planning grant applications to support the preparation of a multi-year NIH National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN). The NRMN will establish a nationwide consortium to provide networking and mentorship experiences for individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research from the undergraduate to junior faculty level. Planning grant applications must propose a plan to develop the partnerships and infrastructure needed to be competitive for the NRMN initiative. The NIH plans to issue the NRMN multi-year FOA in the fall of 2013. The competition for the multi-year NRMN award will be open to all eligible applicants and not limited to recipients of this P20 planning grant FOA.

The NIH anticipates awarding up to 5 planning grants; the project period is six months and award budgets may not exceed $130,000 in direct costs.

Guidelines and additional information are in the complete FOA: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-13-002.html.

Because the NIH limits an institution to one proposal, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to send the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at limitedsubmissions@uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Thursday, March 28, 2013:

· The names and departments of the Project Director and key personnel

· An overview of proposed planning grant activities (1-2 pages) including the overall approach, the vision for the NRMN, and the mentoring experience and qualifications of the team in addressing the specific RFA requirements

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review the material and make recommendations as to the University’s applicant. The NIH deadlines are April 10, 2013 for an optional letter of intent and May 10, 2013 for the complete application.

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.)