Changes to Eligibility | FAQs | Inquiries
Changes to Country Eligibility for Training Grants
As outlined in the May 11, 2012 NIH Notice of Change in Country Eligibility for Fogarty International Training Grants (NOT-TW-12-011), Fogarty has historically limited eligibility for research training grants to institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), as defined by the World Bank. With the rapid growth of research training opportunities funded by national governments in emerging economies around the world, this broad categorization today has become less meaningful in the context of Fogarty's biomedical research capacity-building goals. In particular, many countries in the Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) bracket today have large and growing national research training programs and fellowship opportunities of their own. As a result, Fogarty is revising its eligibility criteria in our research training programs for a subset of these nations, such that their participation is consistent with the traditional eligibility rules for Upper Income Country Institutions. That is, they may participate as training partners, but may not receive support for their own trainees.
Beginning with receipt dates after January 1, 2013, the following change in eligibility will take effect for competing and re-competing research training grant applications (D43, D71, U2R mechanisms) to Fogarty: With the exception of Sub-Saharan African countries, Fogarty will no longer accept research training applications from, or research training applications that involve training of scientists from UMICs that are also members of the G20 major economies.
Based on the classifications above, this change currently applies to the following countries:
- Argentina, Brazil, China, Mexico, Russia and Turkey
- Upper Middle Income European Union member countries Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania
This list may change over time as countries change categories within these classifications.
- This change does not preclude involvement of G20 UMIC countries as partners in Fogarty research training programs where the goal is to train scientists from eligible LMICs and to build research capacity at the LMIC institutions.
- This change would not apply to a D43 application submitted in follow up to a successful planning grant application that had been received prior to January 1, 2013.
- This change does not affect eligibility for Fogarty research grant programs (generally R and U mechanisms).
- This change does not affect the eligibility rules for any other grant from any other component of the National Institutes of Health.
- This does not preclude UMIC G20 country trainees from eligibility for Fogarty research training programs if their participation is specifically outlined in a bi-lateral agreement between Fogarty and international partner funding organizations for cooperative funding of such activities. Such agreements will be identified specifically in relevant funding opportunity announcements.
Frequently Asked Questions about Country Eligibility for Training Grants
Review answers to frequently asked questions about changes to country eligibility for Fogarty training grants.
- Are there any Fogarty funding opportunities open that can include the restricted G20 UMICs?
Yes, Fogarty supports several other funding opportunities that are not research training programs and consequently do not use the D43, D71 or U2R mechanisms. See the list of upcoming Fogarty Funding Opportunities - Dates and Deadlines.
- What happens when the list of eligible countries changes in the future?
It is possible that currently eligible non-sub-Saharan African countries may move to the World Bank UMIC list and become members of the G20 after January 1, 2013. Fogarty will not issue a new official Notice each time this happens. Applicants should review updates to the World Bank Country and Lending Groups and G20 Members before beginning work on new applications.
- Concerning the AITRP/ICOHRTA transition plan: The new funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) for the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program include a restriction on when institutions with active awards under Fogarty's AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) and International Clinical, Operations, and Health Services Research Training Award for AIDS and TB (ICOHRTA AIDS TB) are eligible to apply. How will this new eligibility policy be applied for institutions that are not eligible to apply until after January 1, 2013?
The new country eligibility policy applies to all applications to the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program. After January 1, 2013, no new applications will be accepted under the announcements PAR-12-069 (G11) and PAR-12-070 (D71) from institutions that are not eligible.
The only exception: new applications under PAR-12-068 (D43) will be accepted from G20 UMIC institutions that receive a planning grant award under PAR-12-070 (D71) in 2013.
- The Notice about the change in country eligibility for Fogarty international research training grants states, "This change does not preclude involvement of G20 [upper-middle-income] countries as partners in Fogarty research training programs where the goal is to train scientists from eligible [low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)] and to build research capacity at the LMIC institutions. " What does it mean to be a "training partner"?
G20 UMIC institutions and scientists can participate as training sites or as faculty, mentors and advisors for training LMIC scientists in U.S.-LMIC research training programs. However, grant funds cannot support the training of G20 UMIC scientists as part of these training programs.
- Are resubmission (A1) applications involving the excluded G20 UMICs submitted after January 1, 2013, still eligible?
No, resubmissions of applications from G20 UMICs will not be eligible after the January 1, 2013 receipt date.
- Are applications that were submitted before January 1, 2013, but are re-reviewed after appeal and involve the excluded G20 UMICs eligible for funding?
Yes, re-reviewed applications remain eligible for funding if the application under re-review was submitted before this date.
- Are competitive or administrative supplements to funded grants that include G20 UMICs eligible for funding after January 1, 2013?
Yes, all funded grants remain eligible to request and receive competitive or administrative supplements.
- Are the G20 UMICs still eligible for funding from other NIH Institutes and Centers?
Yes, the restriction only applies to Fogarty research training grant programs at this time.
- Will Fogarty provide co-funding to grants from other NIH Institutes and Centers involving the excluded G20 UMICs?
Fogarty will not provide co-funding to other D43, D71 and U2R research training grants supported by other Institutes and Centers at NIH, but may co-fund all other types of grants.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Dr. Joshua Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Division of International Training and Research (DITR)
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Email: FICENQ@mail.nih.gov
Updated August 24, 2012