NIH Research Training Grants (T32 Type Grant) June 26,2003 3:00 p.m-5:00p.m. Schleman B-38

NIH Research Training Grants (T32 Type Grant) Becky White Assistant Director Leslie Vogel Account Manager Selena McNeal Administrative Assistant

Today’s Agenda Overview of type T32 training grants SPS best practices Business Office round table discussion Questions

Information Sites NIH Grants Policy Statement Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Training Grant and Fellowship Guidelines Administrative Information NRSA Program Announcements

Information Sites NRSA Stipend Increases & Other Policy Announcements NRSA T32 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Overview Name change Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards Awarding Agencies Supported by 22 of the 24 awarding NIH Institutes The NIH Budget for Training Grants Currently $750,000

Institutional NRSA Training Grants Purpose: To develop or enhance research training opportunities for individuals, selected by the institution who are training for careers in specified areas Trainees must have opportunity to carry out supervised biomedical or behavioral research with the goal of developing or extending their research skills and knowledge

Eligibility Application submitted by an Institution (not an individual) Domestic, non-profit public or private institutions Research training must fall within the mission of the NIH awarding components

Eligibility Applicants must have Strong research program in the proposed area(s) Requisite staff & facilities to carry out the proposed program Program Director (PI) will be responsible for Overall Direction of the training Selection and appointment of NRSA eligible trainees

Eligibility Citizenship Requirements Must have been admitted as a permanent resident at the time of appointment Degree Requirements Predoc: Must have a baccalaureate degree & be enrolled in a doctoral program leading to a Ph.D., comparable research doctoral degree, or dual research/clinical doctorate like the MD/Ph.D Postdoc: Must have a Ph.D. or M.D. or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution

NRSA Limitations Duration of Support Predoc: 5 year limitation Postdoc: 3 year limitation Waiver request requires the NIH prior approval

Period of Support/Appointments Trainees are considered full-time participants in the training program 9-12 month appointments Less than 9 months are not allowed unless completing a planned training program Appointment may begin anytime during the budget period

“Overlapping” Appointment An appointment period may overlap budget periods Year 9Year 10 7/1/02-6/30/037/1/03-6/30/04 Appointment Period 1/1/03-12/31/03* *Stipend & Tuition $$ come out of year 9 (6-months reported as unliquitated obligation) Stipend level will stay at the year 9 level

Stipends Subsistence allowance to help defray living expenses during the period of training Not a salary, not considered employees of either the Government or the Institution NIH publishes the stipend levels in the NIH Guide when increases are approved

Stipends NRSA Stipends – FY 2003 PREDOC One stipend level for all individuals, regardless of years of experience $19,968 POSTDOC Dependent on # of years of relevant experience (0-7) Once level is set at the time of appointment, no change in level can occur mid-year Subsequent year based on initial level + 1

Stipends Years of Relevant Experience/FY03 Level 0 = $34,200 1 = $36,108 2 = $40,920 3 = $42,648 4 = $44,364 5 = $46,404 6 = $48,444 7 = $50,808

Stipend Supplementation Grantees may supplement stipends Amount determined according to formally established policies applied to all in similar training status Non-Federal Funds Without additional effort or obligation to the trainee

Compensation Trainees may receive compensation for services associated with employment Examples: Teaching assistant, Lab assistant In these cases, the individual receives a salary, and it is not considered stipend supplementation Can compensation be provided from a NIH research grant? YES, on a limited and part-time basis It is up to the grantee institution to set reasonableness May not be the same research that is part of the training experience (The PI approves this, NOT the NIH) May not interfere with, detract from, nor prolong the approved the NRSA training.

Employee Benefits Since stipends are not provided as a condition of employment, it is inappropriate and unallowable to charge the NRSA grants for employee benefits FICA Workman’s compensation Unemployment Insurance Etc…

Leave Vacations and Holidays Both Predoc and Postdoc trainees may receive same vacations and holidays available to individuals in comparable training positions at the grantee or sponsoring institution. The individual will continue to receive stipends. Sick Leave Paid according to University Policy May continue to receive stipends up to 10 calendar days of sick leave

Leave Leave of Absence Approval for the leave of absence must be requested in advance from the awarding agency Trainees must be terminated and reappointed once they return from the leave of absence Stipends may not be reimbursed during the leave of absence

Part-time Training Allowed in unusual and pressing personal circumstances Medical conditions Disablility Child or Elder Care Not just part time so he/she can work at another job Must receive NIH prior approval

Part-time Training The Program Director (PI) must submit a written request, countersigned by the trainee & the authorized institutional official The trainee must continue to be at lease 50% effort on the grant. Less than 50% would require a leave-of-absence from the NRSA grant.

Costs: Stipends, Tuition, Fees and Health Insurance Stipends at rates previously discussed Grantees request full amount for tuition, fees and health insurance Health Insurance OK if applied consistently (Family Health Insurance is allowable) Formula is applied to the combined cost of tuition, fees and health insurance and used for award calculation only Per trainee basis: 100% of first $3K, 60% of costs > $3K. No escalation in future years Grantees are reimbursed as needed

Costs: Trainee Travel Usually per/trainee formula based for award calculation Varies greatly among Institutes Check with grant management specialist at the awarding institute for guidelines Scientific meetings – OK Travel from residence to institution – Not allowable Training experiences away from institution – OK, but requires the NIH approval

Costs: Training Related Expenses (TRE) Formula based: $2,200/Predoc $3,850/Postdoc Formula is Per Trainee

Costs: Training Related Expenses (TRE) Training Related Expenses can be used for the following: Staff Salaries Consultant Costs Equipment Research Supplies Staff Travel Other expenses directly related to the training program

Costs: F&A 8% Rate Base = TDC less tuition & fees Health insurance is also excluded from the base since it is considered a fee This requires a manual adjustment performed in SPS every six months (June and December)

Rebudgeting No prior approval (unless other wise restricted) for: Stipends: Into Tuition & Fees only Tuition: Into Stipends only Trainee travel: any category Training Related Expenses: any category Prior approval required to rebudget stipends and/or tuition into travel or training related expenses

Statement of Appointment Form (PHS 2271) Revised version available since 4/2002 Available in PDF-fillable format on web: Includes new ethnicity/race breakouts & Field of Training codes Mandatory use of new form as of appointments beginning on/after 6/1/02

Statement of Appointment Form (PHS 2271) Due on or before the start of the appointment period No stipend or other allowace may be paid until submitted Delinquent forms (> 30 days) may result in disallowance

Electronic 2271 Now “X-Train” Electronic submission of 2271 data is available through “X-Train”, and application in the NIH eRA Commons “X-Train” remains in limited deployment Will eventually be open to all Commons- registered institutions May open up in the next year

Termination Notice (PHS 416-7) Required at time an appointment is ending Reflects total period of support & NIH stipend only (do not include any supplementation) If there was a hiatus of support, report only current period Do not include support already reported on a prior Term Notice Available in PDF format on web:

Financial Status Report (SF 269) Required annually within 90 days of budget end date Unliquidated obligations can be used to report any stipends and tuition charges for “overlapping” appointments Automatic Carryover of unobligated balance is not generally allowed but awards are footnoted either way

Progress Reports Progress Reports: Progress reports must be submitted with the noncompeting continuation applications. For individual awards, a final progress report is required as part of the Termination Notice. A separate final progress report is not required.

Changes in Project A transfer of the award to another institution or a change in Sponsors requires the approval of the NIH awarding component. Should consult with the NIH ASAP. Any proposed change in the individual’s area of research training must be approved by the awarding component.

Questions