Programs for Inclusion and Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE) Coordination Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. ALL FAQs
   1. Applying to the FOAs
   2. Budget-related Questions
2. Summer Institute (SI) Programs (R25) RFA-HL-24-004
3. Coordinating Center (CC) (U24) RFA-HL-24-003
4. Small Research Projects (SRP) (Admin Supplements) NOT-HL-22-039

I. All FAQs

A. Applying to the Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs)

1. Q: What is the purpose of the PRIDE FOAs: RFA-HL-24-004 and RFA-HL-24-003?
   
   A: The overall purpose of the PRIDE program is to support mentoring and research education activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce. The major goal of the R25 program or the Summer Institutes (SIs) is to establish long-term mentoring that will enable junior faculty and transitioning postdoctoral scientists from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences (see, e.g., NOT-OD-20-031), to develop a research program and work with their home institutions to obtain NIH funding. The goal of the Coordinating Center is to provide programmatic support for the PRIDE program overall and to complement the activities of the SIs as specified in the FOA.
    
2. Q: Is it anticipated that only those proposals funded under a prior PRIDE program will be funded through these FOAs?
   
   A: These current FOAs invite open competition from all eligible institutions. Up to 11 Summer Institute awards and 1 Coordinating Center award is planned for funding. All applications will be judged independently, regardless if an institution has held a prior PRIDE award.
    
3. Q: Can applicants apply for both the PRIDE R25 (RFA-HL-24-004) and the Coordinating Center (RFA-HL-24-003)? Can the same institution apply to both FOAs?
   
   A: Yes, the same institution may apply for both. However, a separate/distinct Project Director (PD) or Principal Investigator (PI) is required for each FOA.
    
4. Q: Can an individual participate or collaborate on more than one application?
   
   A: Yes, there are many roles that an investigator can take within a Summer Institute or CC application – for example, the overall PD/PI team, as a mentor, or training instructor. Investigators can participate on more than one application, but cannot submit more than one application as the overall PD/PI.
    
5. Q: Do all the leadership positions need to be part of the primary award or can leadership positions be held by subcontractors?
   
   A: The leadership can be provided by various members of the proposed team, including key personnel in any subcontracts. However, the PI/PD of the Summer Institute (or the contact PI/PD on multiple-PI arrangement) should be from the primary institution where the summer program will be physically located. Applicants should describe how such leadership will be provided and integrated across the program.
    
6. Q: Can we propose more than one PI/PD or multiple PIs/PDs for the R25 SI or CC application?
   
   A: Yes, multiple PI/PD teams are permissible for both the R25 SI and the CC applications. It is recommended that this approach be justified and that applicants provide the additional information as outlined in the RFA. In a multiple PI/PD arrangement, the physical location for the SI should be at the contact PI’s institution.
    
7. Q: How critical is it that the PI have a history of funding through NHLBI?
   
   A: A track record of success in receiving independent funding including from other NIH ICs or other research organizations (e.g., VA, AHA, etc.), publications, and success in mentoring trainees/early career individuals toward research independence are likely to be reviewed favorably.
    
8. Q: Does the PRIDE program qualify as Human Subject research?
   
   A: Yes, both the R25 and U24 would qualify as Human Subjects research because they have evaluation components of the mentees’ experiences and productivity, which would be considered Human Subjects research. When completing the application, applicants will need to check YES to human subjects to receive the correct components of the application.
    
9. Q: For existing PRIDE programs, are the submissions are considered renewals or should they be submitted as new grants?
   
   A: Applications from existing PRIDE programs should be submitted as renewals. Please follow the instructions for renewals specified in the RFA-HL-24-004 or RFA-HL-24-003.
    
10. Q: Can applicants with a “Continuing Submission” status use a delayed submission for applying to RFA-HL-24-004 or RFA-HL-24-003?
    
    A: No, this is an RFA with one receipt date, therefore the “Continuous Submission” policy for those who are on peer review panels does not apply. Please also see NOT-OD-20-060. Per the policy, Continuous Submission does not apply to “Applications submitted in response to RFAs and PARs with non-standard receipt dates”.
     
11. Q: Is there more information about NIH’s Interest in Diversity and how it applies to research training programs such as PRIDE?
    
    A: Please review the NIH’s Research Training and Career Development FAQ, Section VI. Diversity.

B. Budget-related Questions

1. Q: Does the budget cover effort of mentees?
   
   A: The effort expectation for mentees is intended to convey the expected amount of protected time needed for the mentees to fully participate in the program. Per the FOA, stipend, tuition and salary are not allowed. Mentees in the program may receive funds to defray travel, meals, lodging expenses.

2. Q: In year 1, should we cover % effort for mentors since they devote time to identifying mentees, planning for the Summer Institutes, and other activities?
   
   A: The only individuals who can receive salary support are those who are completely involved in the planning, design, development and implementation of the research education program. See also Personnel Costs under Other Award Budget Information indicated in RFA-HL-24-004: Salaries requested may not exceed the levels commensurate with the institution's policy for similar positions and may not exceed the congressionally mandated cap. If mentoring interactions and other activities with mentees are considered a regular part of an individual's academic duties, then any costs associated with the mentoring and other interactions with mentees are not allowable costs from grant funds. Mentors from the applicant’s institution should not be counted as personnel with levels of effort on the application. However, mentors from an outside Institution can be included as consultants and their compensation can be listed under “other program related expense and must be well justified.
    
3. Q: Can mentors be paid a portion of their salary for the time they spend mentoring participants?
   
   A: Mentors from the applicant institution can be paid salary support for their time spent mentoring the mentees if it's not part of their academic duties as specified above. If mentors are from the applicant institution, this could be included as percent effort on the grant. If the mentors are from outside of the applicant institution, they can be paid as consultants.
    
4. Q: Do we allocate funds for evaluation costs in the R25 SI application or will all evaluation costs be covered by the Coordination Center?
   
   A: The SIs should budget for their own site-specific evaluation with a supporting evaluation plan. Following award, the CC will work with all the SIs to facilitate common evaluative protocols and measures, when appropriate, as well as data collection methods. The CC will develop an evaluation protocol for current and past mentees up to 5 years out from program completion.
    
5. Q: Does the new NIH "data sharing and dissemination plan" apply, and if so, how should it be budgeted?
   
   A: The new NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (NIH DMS Policy), which became effective on January 25, 2023, applies to all NIH research projects that generate scientific data, including intramural projects, grants, contracts, and other transactions funding. Scientific data is defined as data commonly accepted in the scientific community as being of sufficient quality to validate and replicate the research findings. Please see the complete list of NIH activity codes subject to the DMS Policy. This list includes the U24 mechanism. All costs for data management and sharing activities, including personnel costs as part of DMS activities, should be included. The policy also notes that for other activity codes subject to the DMS Policy that also include a training or infrastructure development component, applicants are only expected to address in Plans the sharing of scientific data generated in the course of their research. Applicants are not expected to address in their Plans the sharing of scientific data generated during training or infrastructure development. Please also see NIH DMS Policy FAQs.
    
6. Q: Our application has multiple PIs/PDs. For the R25 application (RFA-HL-24-004), is the minimum effort (1.8 person months during the academic year and 1.5 to 2.25 person months during the summer) per person or is the minimum for all PIs/PDs combined?
   
   A: The minimum effort of 1.8 person months during the academic year and 1.5 to 2.25 person months during the summer is per a PI/PD. Please note that this minimum effort is not relevant to the faculty mentors; it is only relevant to the program PI/PD(s). Additional clarification on faculty mentors in RFA-HL-24-004, in The Research Education Program Plan section, the last sentence under Program Faculty states the following: “A minimum commitment of at least 5% effort is expected for faculty mentors”. This statement was included in the FOA and can be disregarded when completing the application. There is no minimum commitment required from the faculty mentors under RFA-HL-24-004.

II. Summer Institute Programs (R25) RFA-HL-24-004 Questions

1. Q: What should be the goal of each Summer Institute?
   
   A: To provide an intensive mentorship and research-skills enhancing experience focused on only one main or crosscutting NHLBI mission area (Heart, Lung, Blood, Sleep Disorders or Implementation Science) to cohorts of nationally recruited junior faculty from diverse backgrounds so as to equip them to successfully compete for HLBS scientific research funding.
    
2. Q: Who are the beneficiaries of the PRIDE Summer Institutes?
   
   A: The beneficiaries are junior faculty and Postdoctoral scientists transitioning into academic research positions from under-represented backgrounds as defined by NOT-OD-20-031). For this program, transitioning means that the candidate must have a letter of appointment for an academic position at the time of enrollment into the PRIDE summer institute program.
    
3. Q: What is meant by “mentees”?
   
   A: Mentees refers to the enrolled SI participants- that is junior faculty and transitioning postdocs with academic appointments, from backgrounds under-represented in the biomedical scientific workforce
    
4. Q: What is meant by “mentors”?
   
   A: Mentors are advanced faculty members who are skilled in mentoring junior faculty investigators from under-represented backgrounds. NHLBI strongly recommends that applicants target mentors with expertise in HLBS areas. These mentors may or may not be a part of the core faculty participating in the delivery of the SI program.
    
5. Q: How should a “Summer Institute” be defined or designed?
   
   A: The design of the Summer Institute is left to the discretion of the PD/PI. However, the core elements envisioned for this program include three components: an initial summer session, year-round mentoring and a mid-year meeting, and a final summer session. Please refer to the timeline in RFA-HL-24-004. Additionally, 4 cohorts of participants are to be recruited across the 5-year funded period, with each cohort experiencing 2 consecutive summer experiences. Each cohort should be provided continual mentoring and networking activities throughout their 2-year term of participation.
    
6. Q: Are current K-awardees eligible to participate as scholars?
   
   A: The PRIDE summer institute does not provide salary support to mentees; therefore, mentees who are currently funded through a K award could participate. Individuals supported by NIH training and career development mechanisms (K, T, or F awards) may receive, and indeed are encouraged to receive, educational experiences supported by an R25 program as mentees, but may not receive salary or stipend supplementation from a research education program. However, PRIDE grantees will need to be careful in selecting and appointing mentees in the NIH tracking system (xTrain), since it does not allow an overlap in effort even though no salary support will be received from this R25 program. This is particularly relevant to mentees who are appointed to institutional K award programs (e.g., KL2, K12). Start and end dates of the new appointment cannot be within the start and end date of an existing appointment for the trainee.
    
7. Q: Do all/any faculty mentors need to be identified in the application? In some areas of the RFA, it reads as though all faculty should be identified in the award (which is understandable); however, in other areas there is mention that “SI applicants are expected to work with the CC to identify and recruit mentors nationally.”
   
   A: It is recommended that “core” faculty who will be involved with delivering the content of the Summer Institutes be identified in the application; and then to the extent possible, provide a roster of “prospective” mentors that could be invited to serve as mentors for the mentees should their interests/availability align with the mentees who are ultimately selected to participate.
    
8. Q: Are biosketches of mentors required?
   
   A: Unless the FOA states otherwise, NIH requires submission of a biosketch for each proposed senior/key personnel and other significant contributor on a grant application. Mentors are not considered key personnel unless they are also core faculty participating in the delivery of the SI program. Therefore, biosketches of mentors are optional, and if included, should be included in the main application and not as “other attachment”. Please see the following for biosketch details and instructions.
    
9. Q: Is it ok to have a virtual Summer Institute, rather than have all the investigators for the institute located at the same institution?
   
   A: It is important that there be a physical location for the mentees to gather for the Summer Institute held at the PD/PI’s institution or contact PI’s institution in a multiple PD/PI arrangement. However, technological advances may allow for enhancement of the Summer Institute with experts throughout the country who may “virtually” contribute to the Summer Institute.
    
10. Q: Can we opt out of the annual meetings and other group activities summer institutes?
    
    A: Summer Institutes are expected to propose and conduct independent summer institute programs. However, the PRIDE program has been successfully conducted as a collaborative program over the past several years. Mentees of the program benefit from cross-site interactions, which enhances opportunities for networking and mentoring. As such, applicants are expected to participate in the Annual Meeting and other cross-site activities that will enhance the value of the program to their intended targets.
     
11. Q: Please provide some guidance as to proportion of internal vs. external vs. Coordination Center evaluation.
    
    A: All Summer Institutes must provide a protocol for how they will evaluate their mentees and individual Summer Institute program. The Coordination Center will coordinate the overall evaluation for the overall program for the awarded grants and for previous PRIDE program participants.

III. Coordinating Center-related (U24) RFA-HL-24-003 Questions

1. Q: For the Coordination Center what specific meetings should we budget for in our application?
   
   A: Monthly teleconference meetings with Summer Institute sites and project office; Periodic telephone contacts with mentors and mentees; Planning and travel to 1 meeting annually in Bethesda, MD; Travel for coordination center personnel and facility costs for PRIDE Program annual meetings; evaluation costs, etc.
    
2. Q: Please provide some guidance as to proportion of internal vs. external vs. Coordination Center evaluation
   
   A: All Summer Institutes must provide a protocol for how they will evaluate their mentees and individual Summer Institute program. The Coordination Center will coordinate the overall evaluation for the overall program for the awarded grants and for previous PRIDE program participants.
    

IV. Small Research Projects (Admin Supplements) NOT-HL-22-039 Questions

1. Q: How many SRP supplements are allowed per R25 parent grant? Is the SRP supplement submitted for the entire cohort at once or for individual mentees? Will all SRP-Administrative Supplement requests be submitted by the R25 institution’s grants office followed by a subcontract to disburse SRP funding to each mentee at the home institution?
   
   A: The R25 awardee will submit one SRP administrative supplement annually on behalf of the cohort that has completed their first summer institute. Upon award, the R25 institution will disburse SRP funds per their desired business process (e.g., subcontracts, invoicing) to the mentees’ home institutions.
    
2. Q: How are the SRP applications reviewed?
   
   A: The CC provides a pre-submission review of the mentee SRP proposals. The NHLBI program office will conduct the administrative review, consulting the PRIDE CC as needed.
    
3. Q: What is the page limit for SRP Research Plan Form? Any other details available?
   
   A: Please see NOT-HL-22-039 , which was published concurrently with the PRIDE FOAs to allow R25 and U24 applicants to understand the full program. It will use PA-20-272 (or its reissue) Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) and the page limits described therein. SRP administrative supplement requests are to be submitted for mentees after they have completed the first summer institute, which would be in Summer 2024 for the first mentee cohort.
    
4. Q: Is the “August 1 to November 1” SRP deadline for submission of grant to the PRIDE CC or to NHLBI through the RPPR online system?
   
   A: The SRP admin supplement is a supplement award to the R25 parent award. Those dates are the application window during which SRP admin supplement applications will be accepted for receipt by NHLBI.
    
5. Q: Does the Mentee Eligibility Statement come from the R25 institution or the mentee’s home institution?
   
   A: The mentee eligibility statement should come from the applicant organization (the R25 awardee).
    
6. Q: Who is responsible for the research and the financial aspects of the SRPs?
   
   A: The R25 SI and the awarded mentee institutions are responsible for the scientific and financial oversight of the SRP.
    
7. Q: What role does the R25 SI have in the SRP projects?
   
   A: The SI will provide mentorship in the development of SRP projects; submit the SRP proposal application to the CC for review and merit determination; submit an SRP administrative supplement application to NHLBI for each mentee cohort; and provide scientific and budgetary oversight of the awarded SRPs.
    
8. Q: What role does the CC have in the SRP projects?
   
   A: The CC will provide pre-submission review of the mentee SRP proposals; provide letter of support for the R25’s administrative supplement application to NHLBI; and facilitate and conduct the long-term evaluation of the overall SRP component of the PRIDE program.
    
9. Q: Where is the mentee SRP “Final Progress Reports” submitted?
   
   A: Progress reports for awarded supplement(s) will be submitted as a part of the parent R25 award’s Annual Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR); specifically, item B3. “For this reporting period, is there one or more Revision/Supplement associated with this award for which reporting is required?”.
    
10. Q: What is the Direct Costs cap for the SRPs?
    
    A: Each SI site may request up to $113,636 in direct costs plus 8% Facilities and Administrative costs per a cohort.