Application and Review Procedures for Diversity and Re-entry Research Supplements

This information applies to applications requesting Diversity and Re-entry Research Supplements to active National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grants via funding opportunity announcements:

• Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research 
• Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers  (NOT-OD-23-170 )

Who is eligible for a diversity or re-entry supplement?

Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will enhance diversity on a national basis. To be eligible for a diversity or re-entry supplement, a Principal Investigator (PI) must:

• have an active NIMH grant, typically with at least two years remaining at the time of expected award.
• plan to serve as mentors for the candidates nominated for support.

NIMH will support supplement applications for diversity, re-entry, and re-integration only.

Documentation of racial, ethnic, disability, or disadvantaged status for a diversity supplement

The institution must provide a signed statement providing clearly presented information on the nature of the candidate’s disability, circumstances, background, or characteristics that make them eligible for this program. Institutions should use to the guidelines below when documenting eligibility for this program. For more information regarding the categories that are considered underrepresented groups, please visit the Research Training and Career Development FAQ Page .

1. Racial and ethnic minorities:

   The candidate must voluntarily self-identify as a member of a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research at the national level . Underrepresented groups include, but are not limited to , Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. For more information on racial and ethnic categories and definitions, see NOT-OD-20-031 .

2. Individuals with disabilities:

   The candidate must self-identify as an individual with a disability, defined as a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended . According to a survey by the National Science Foundation , among people with a doctorate in the sciences and engineering, individuals with disabilities are underrepresented.

3. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds:

   Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the criteria described in category C, see NOT-OD-20-031 .

Eligibility of candidates currently receiving Public Health Service (PHS) support:

• Re-entry supplements: Generally, a candidate already receiving PHS support cannot receive support from a re-entry supplement. The re-entry program was designed to support those returning to research. This program is not intended to provide an alternative or additional means of supporting individuals who already receive support from an NIH research grant, an NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA), or any other HHS or PHS funding mechanism. Re-entry Supplement candidates are considered on a case-by-case basis, if the individual meets the other criteria.
• Diversity supplements: Individuals may be supported by the parent grant for short periods, at the recipient’s risk, pending NIMH’s decision on the supplement application. (See “Pre-Award (Pre-Agreement) Costs” in Section 7.9.1 of the NIH Grants Policy Statement for further information.)

What grants are eligible for a diversity or re-entry supplement?

The activities proposed in a diversity or re-entry supplement application must both advance the objectives of the parent grant and support the research training and career development of the candidate.

The following grant types are eligible for Diversity or Re-entry Supplement funds:

What is the timeframe for a diversity supplement?

1. Project period alignment:

   The proposed supplement activities must fall within the approved project period of the parent award. For phased awards (e.g., R21/R33, R61/R33, UG3/UH3), the supplement must align with the currently approved phase of the project period at the time of submission.

2. Duration justification:

   The duration of the supplement should be sufficient to offer a meaningful career development experience for the candidate. The proposed duration must be fully justified.

3. Supplement duration by career level:

   Career Level	Timeframe
   High school or undergraduate	As short as a summer experience or one academic year
   Graduate student, postdoc, and investigators	Two-years (The timeline should align with the budget timeline of the parent grant)

4. Parent grants with less than two years remaining:
   • Supplement periods of less than two years may be considered in some cases. However, for applicants at the graduate student, postdoctoral, or investigator stages, a detailed explanation is required if the supplement is shorter than two years.
   • Consultation: Applicants are encouraged to consult with NIMH staff before submission if considering a supplement period of less than two years.

How do I prepare to submit a supplement application?

1. Contact your parent grant PO to discuss critical issues, such as:
   • Candidate Eligibility: Confirm the candidate’s eligibility for the supplement.
   • Research Development and Mentoring Plan: Review the proposed activities and objectives.
   • Candidate's Research Career Potential: Assess the candidate’s likelihood of continuing a successful research career.
   • Alignment with NIMH Research Priorities: Ensure the supplement activities match NIMH priorities.
   • Appropriate Duration: Determine a suitable supplement duration for the candidate.

2. Consult a training program officer:

   Receive specialized assistance: For technical help with the Diversity Supplement, consider working with a training program officer. Your parent grant PO can help identify this person, or you can email a Training Contact directly.

3. Eligibility concerns:

   Contact: Tatiana Meza-Cervera in the Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity to discuss eligibility.

4. Submission instructions:

   Forms and documentation: Carefully follow the submission instructions in the funding opportunity announcement. All forms should be completed for the supplemental activities only and should not reflect funding or activities for the previously awarded parent award.

What should be included in a supplement application?

A complete Diversity or Re-entry Supplement request package must include:

1. A brief proposal describing the project and training and career experience (not to exceed six pages), including:
   • Brief summary of the funded grant and description of the proposed supplement project.
   • Training and career development plan for the candidate, which may include such things as coursework, conference attendance, grant-writing workshops, presentation opportunities, etc.
   • Mentoring experience of the PI and description of how the mentor(s) will interact with the candidate (for example, commitment, level of involvement, any other specific activities)
   • A plan and timeline for the research and career development experiences proposed
2. A candidate statement (not to exceed three pages) that includes the signature of the candidate.
3. Statement of eligibility (not to exceed one page). The application should include a signed statement from the PI and an Authorized Signing Official establishing the eligibility of the candidate for support under this program. The statement must include:
   • Clearly presented information on citizenship
   • Information on the nature of the candidate's disability, circumstances, background, or characteristics that confer eligibility under this program;
   • For Diversity Supplements, a convincing description of how the appointment of this specific candidate will address the issue of diversity within the national scientific workforce or within the workforce or the relevant population at the grantee institution; and,
   • A description of any current or previous Public Health Service (PHS) research grant support the candidate has received, including start and end dates. State if the candidate has received any current or previous PHS support; if the candidate has, include the grant number and inclusive dates of support.
4. A proposed budget.

5. Biographical sketch of the candidate.

   Provide candidate transcript for candidates at the predoctoral level or below.

6. Biographical sketch of investigators who will contribute to the research mentoring.
7. Human subjects/vertebrate animal documentation (if applicable).
8. If the candidate is a student at another institution (other than the grantee institution), the application must include an appropriately signed letter from a responsible official at the institution of matriculation indicating that participation at the stated level of effort is approved and will not detract from or interfere with the student's course of studies.
9. If any of the research is to be conducted at a site other than the grantee institution, an appropriately signed letter from the institution where the research is to be conducted must be submitted. The request must be signed by the candidate, the PI, and the appropriate Authorized Signing Official (affiliated with the candidate institution).
10. If the request is for a supplement based on disability, the institution should indicate what, if any, reasonable accommodations the institution has supported or plans to provide along with a full description of how any additional support for accommodation that might be used. The relationship of the proposed accommodation to the proposed project must be described.

How are applications reviewed and evaluated?

1. Review process:

   Supplement applications are reviewed internally for scientific merit and training potential.

2. Evaluation criteria:
   • Scientific merit: Evaluated based on the merit of the research training proposed.
   • Training potential: Evaluated based on how well the supplement aligns with the candidate’s career goals.
   • Relevance to NIMH priorities: Evaluated based on how well the scientific merit and training potential fits NIMH research priorities as outlined in the NIMH Strategic Plan for Research.
3. Evaluation and funding timeline:
   • Supplements are evaluated on a regular schedule
   • Funding decisions can be influenced and delayed by other factors, including availability of funds.

4. Consultation:

   Applicants are encouraged to consult with the NIMH Program Official (PO) assigned to the parent grant and Tatiana Meza-Cervera prior to submitting a request for a supplement application.

Submission, review, and award dates

Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year and are reviewed on a monthly rolling basis. Investigators are encouraged to submit applications at least four months prior to the requested start date.

Applications received after April 1 will be processed and considered for funding in the next fiscal year; that is, after October 1, with December 1 as the earliest possible start date.

Applications for summer-only research appointments are considered on a shorter timeframe and should be submitted at least 10 weeks prior to the requested start date. The PI should inform the Training PO that they are submitting a summer-only supplement.

See the table below for information about submission deadlines, review dates, and start dates.

*Although we make every effort to follow the timeline presented in the table above, applications received after April 1 may not be funded before December 1. This is due to the NIH budgetary cycle and is the reason why the NIMH rarely makes supplement awards in October or November. The dates provided above are best-case scenarios and actual funding decisions may not follow the timeline provided.

Applications not selected for funding

An application may not be resubmitted once it has been reviewed by the Diversity and Re-entry Supplements Committee. However, your Program Official may ask you to revise before the Committee reviews your application.

If you are unsure about whether your application is eligible for revision, contact your NIMH Program Official, or the Diversity and Re-entry Supplements Program Director (email: Tatiana.Meza-Cervera@nih.gov; phone: 301-437-0670).

Program Director
Tatiana Meza-Cervera, Ph.D.
Tatiana.Meza-Cervera@nih.gov
Diversity Supplements and
Youth Mental Health Disparities Research
Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity
6001 Executive Boulevard
301-437-0670