Funding-Limited Submission – National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities Centers of Excellence; February 24, 2011

The NIH National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) plans to fund 16-18 Comprehensive NCMHD Centers of Excellence to support infrastructure and capacity building, building and sustaining novel partnerships, research training, innovative basic biomedical and behavioral clinical, or population-based research and intervention and prevention studies contributing to either the improvement of minority health, the elimination of health disparities, or both. that contribute to either the improvement of minority health, the elimination of health disparities, or both.  Direct costs may not exceed $950,000 per year for a period of up to five years. 

Criteria for Award Eligibility - awards under this program may only be made to institutions of higher education that meet the following criteria:

· Had a significant number of members of health disparity populations enrolled as students in the institution, including individuals accepted for enrollment in the institution.  Health disparity populations are defined as African Americans,  American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiians and other  Pacific Islanders, low socioeconomic status, and rural populations,  

· Been effective in assisting students from health disparity populations to complete a program of study or training and receive the advanced degree(s) offered.

· Made significant efforts to recruit and enroll health disparity population students into and graduate from the institution, which may include providing means-tested scholarships and other financial assistance as appropriate.

· Made significant recruitment efforts to increase the number of members of health disparity populations serving in full-time faculty or administrative positions at the institutions

Each Center must include an administrative core and cores for research, research training/education, and community engagement/outreach.  The research core includes a maximum of three research subject projects, each of which must address a significant issue in minority health or health disparities.  Details and application guidelines are available in the complete announcement: 

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MD-11-003.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 Thursday, February 24, 2011:

· Names and departments of Project Director, key personnel, and any collaborating institutions

· Overview of the proposed Center and cores for research, research training, and community engagement/outreach (2 pages)

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submission.  NIH requests letters of intent March 14, 2011 and a full application April 14, 2011.

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan2@email.uky.edu  or 257-1663).