These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.
Overview:
VUMC may submit one application to the NIH Mentored Research Experiences for Genetic Counselors (R25) program.
The over-arching goal of this National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) R25 Research Education program is to support educational research activities that promote the entry of genetic counselors into the genomics research workforce. Support is specifically for individuals who have graduated from an accredited master’s degree in genetic counseling program. Current students and genetic counselors with considerable research experience are not eligible.
To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on Research Experiences. The program needs to provide research experiences with the intention to extend the skills, experiences, and knowledge of genetic counselors. The program should provide experiences that allow the genetic counselors to enhance skills necessary to formulate and conduct genomic research independently and that is not available through other formal NIH training mechanisms. Research experiences should be in one or more of the areas relevant to NHGRI’s research programs – genome sciences, genomic medicine, and ethical, legal, and social implications in genomics research.
The nature of the research experiences should be tailored to the needs of the participants. It is expected that mentoring will be provided in conjunction with a planned research experience. Programs are required to have an individual development plan (IDPs) for each trainee that is compatible with their needs and prior experience. The programs should provide educational/research experiences that enhance the participation and productivity of participants from diverse backgrounds, including participants from underrepresented groups. Research on NHGRI mission-relevant health disparities is also encouraged.
In addition to hands-on research experiences, programs are expected to include complementary activities that support the participants’ scientific development, such as scientific writing, presentation skills, grantmanship, etc.
About the NIH R25 Program
The NIH (R25) supports research educational activities that complement other formal training programs in the mission areas of the NIH Institutes and Centers. The overarching goals of the NIH R25 program are to: (1) complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs; (2) encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research; (3) help recruit individuals with specific specialty or disciplinary backgrounds to research careers in biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences; and (4) foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications.
Award Budget:
Application budgets are limited to $250,000 direct cost. The maximum project period is five years. Indirect Costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs (exclusive of tuition and fees and expenditures for equipment), rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement.
Eligibility:
PD/PI: The PD/PI should be an established investigator with funded research in fields of genomics such as genomic medicine, ethical, legal, and social issues in genomics, genomic epidemiology, etc. can provide both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program.
Participants: This FOA is explicitly intended to support the entry of genetic counselors into the genomics research workforce.
- Participants must have graduated from an accredited master’s degree in genetic counseling program. This program does not support doctoral students.
- Genetic counselors with considerable research experience cannot be supported under this announcement.
- Programs are encouraged to build a diverse participant team with participants from diverse backgrounds (NIH’s Interest in Diversity).
- Participants must have graduated from an Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling accredited master’s degree genetic counseling program and have limited experience in genomic research.
- It is hoped that this experience will encourage participants to pursue a career in a field of genomics research such is genomic medicine, genetic epidemiology, ethical, legal, and social issues of genomics, etc.
- Unless strongly justified on the basis of exceptional relevance to NIH, research education programs should be used primarily for the education of U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Program Activities:
- Research experiences should be in one or more of the areas relevant to NHGRI’s research programs – genome sciences, genomic medicine, and ethical, legal, and social implications in genomics research.
- The programs should provide educational/research experiences that enhance the participation and productivity of participants from diverse backgrounds, including participants from underrepresented groups. Research on NHGRI mission-relevant health disparities is also encouraged.
- Research education programs may complement ongoing research training and education occurring at the applicant institution, but the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those training and education programs currently receiving Federal support. R25 programs may augment institutional research training programs (e.g., T32, T90) but cannot be used to replace or circumvent Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) programs.
See the FOA for more information.
Internal Application Process:
Anyone interested in being considered to submit VUMC’s proposal must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on March 10:
- Brief project description including summary budget (2 page max);
- Letter of support from department chair/center director;
- NIH Biosketch
Full applications are due to NIH by May 25, with an LOI requested 30 days prior. Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.