Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research for Individuals in Postdoctoral Training

The postdoctoral research supplement enables principal investigators with eligible NHLBI research grants/contracts to include postdoctoral individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and/or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds in their projects. Nationally, underrepresented groups in biomedical research careers include but are not limited to African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

The research proposed for the individual is expected to have a defined research project which must be a logical extension of the parent grant/contract. The individual must be given opportunities to interact with other researchers on the grant/contract, to contribute intellectually to the study, and to enhance his or her ability to compete for independent grant/contract support.

The postdoctoral supplement provides research support to permit individuals in the postdoctoral phase of their training to participate in ongoing research projects. This experience must serve as a means of assisting the postdoctoral fellow's development into a productive researcher in biomedical, behavioral, biometric, clinical, nursing or social sciences.

The individual may be affiliated with the principal investigator's institution or another institution. Only under extraordinary circumstances, which must be well justified in the application, would it be acceptable for the postdoctoral candidate to work with her/his former predoctoral mentor.

Supplements are available for a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of four years full-time research effort (at least 40 hours a week) is required. However, individuals with clinical, other research, or teaching responsibilities may request a minimum of 50% research effort. Cumulative Postdoctoral research experience must not exceed 6 years (i.e., Individuals with 2 years prior postdoctoral research training on another training support mechanism may request up to 4 years of supplement support). Individuals with prior postdoctoral research experience must provide justification for the additional training requested.

Appointment of more than one postdoctoral supplement to a research grant, subproject of a program project grant (P01), or contract will depend on the nature of the parent grant/contract, the circumstances of the request, and the program balance of the NHLBI. A separate application must be submitted for each candidate provided adequate laboratory space and mentorship are assured.

Before submitting a supplement application, individuals and their mentors should explore new and existing training and career development programs at their institution which also provide research training opportunities (e.g., F31, F32, K08, K23, K01, T32, and T35).

 Research Supplements to Promote Diversity Web links:

Program Announcement (PA-08-190) Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

For additional information specific to the NHLBI, please see the NHLBI Guidelines for the Applicant-Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research.

The NHLBI Website also lists training programs under the category Request for Applications/Proposals & Program Announcements with the application receipt date.

Who is eligible? All principal investigators at U.S. institutions with eligible NHLBI research grants/contracts. The parent grant/contract should have 18 months or more remaining at the time the supplement is awarded.

The opportunities? Research training

Duration of support? Requires a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of 4 years of support.

Where? At the principal investigator's institution or another institution.

Applications due? Applications should arrive at least three months before the requested start date, to allow time for review, as awards are made four times per year (December, March, June, and September). Principal Investigators are strongly encouraged to synchronize the requested start date for the supplement award and the budget start date for the parent grant (this does not apply to contracts) for postdoctoral and investigator level supplements. The NHLBI may synchronize the requested start date if it is within three months of the budget start date of the parent grant to eliminate more than one award being made in a single fiscal year.

Note: Applications requesting support by the end of the fiscal year have an early June receipt date. Please check the Guidelines.

Salary: Up to $50,000 per year for salary and fringe benefits plus up to $6,000 per year may be requested for supplies and travel. Up to $1,000 per year of this amount should be for travel to scientific meetings. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment.

Reasonable Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities: As a part of this award, funds may be requested to make changes or adjustments in the research setting that will make it possible for an otherwise qualified employee with a disability to perform the essential functions associated with his/her role on the project. The accommodations requested under this program must be DIRECTLY related to the performance of the proposed role on the research project and must be appropriate to the disabilities of the individual.

How to apply: Principal investigators should contact the NHLBI program administrator who administers the parent grant/contract or:

Nara Gavini, Ph.D.
Office of Research Training and Minority Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 9184, MSC 7913
Bethesda, MD 20892-7913
Phone: (301) 451-5081
Fax: (301) 480-0862
Email: gavininn@nhlbi.nih.gov

Revised November 2011