Limited Competition: John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Program (S21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

As authorized under section 464z-3(h) of the Public Health Service Act, the purpose of the John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Program is to strengthen the research infrastructure and training capacity at eligible institutions of higher education to facilitate health disparities research. Specific strategic objectives include: 1) improving the institutional physical infrastructure and acquisition of research equipment, 2) developing research-enabling technical expertise, 3) expansion of academic science programs relevant to scientific research, and 4) merit-based recruitment of highly accomplished researchers for open faculty positions. The John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Program does not directly support research projects. This is a Forecast for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Eligibility Section for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.

Pursuant to Public Health Service Act section 464z-3(h), 42 USC 285t(h), as amended by Public Law 117-104, applicants for this program must include eligible public/private institutions of higher education that have current or former HRSA Centers of Excellence awards under Section 736 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act and current or former NIMHD Centers of Excellence awards under Section 464z-4 of the PHS Act. Eligible institutions must have an endowment that is equal to or less than 50 percent of the national median of endowment funds at institutions that conduct similar biomedical research and training of health professionals.

The major elements in evaluating all new grant and renewal grant applications include assessments of the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; and the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project and the relevance and importance to the announced program objectives. SBIR and STTR grants: For Phase I grant applications, the criteria used are the soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; the technological innovation of the proposed research; the potential of the proposed suitability of the facilities and research environment; and where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for safeguarding human or animal subjects and/or protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. For Phase II grant applications, the criteria used are the degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; the scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase II objectives; the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff and consultants; the technological...