**Pan American Fellowship Program (PAF) Guidelines**

**[History and Rationale]{.underline}**

In 1995, the Mexican Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) and
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the Pan American
Fellowship Program to support post-doctoral research and training for
Mexican scientists in NIH intramural laboratories. This program has
brought scientists into the NIH community to work and train on
collaborative projects on a vast range of fields including cellular and
molecular biology, tuberculosis, human genetics, immunology,
neurochemistry, etc. Based on this success, the Fogarty International
Center, working with the NIH intramural community, has reformulated the
PAF such that it may be open to participation from different Latin
American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. The main objective of this
program is to encourage cooperation in the biomedical and behavioral
sciences, while supporting the attainment of domestic and international
health goals including economic and social development.

As part of NIH interest in continuing its tradition of research
cooperation with the countries of the Americas, one response to these
challenges is the expansion of the Pan American Fellowship Program to
other countries of the Latin American and Caribbean region. This can be
accomplished by strengthening current relationships with the ministries
of health and science and technology, and by developing alliances with
other regional and international organizations, as well as government
and non-governmental organizations including foundations and
universities throughout the region.

**Goals and Objectives**

The PAF goals and objectives are to:

-   Encourage and increase cooperation in the biomedical and behavioral
    and social sciences between NIH intramural scientists and the
    scientific community from different countries in the LAC region;

-   Provide a framework for the exchange of scientists and the support
    of cooperative biomedical and behavioral research and training
    consistent with the scientific and technical interests represented
    by all participants;

-   Enhance scholarly interaction between U.S. and LAC scientists;

-   Develop scientific cooperation that will strengthen scientific
    linkages between all parties involved, while supporting the
    attainment of domestic and international health goals including
    economic and social development.

## 

## **[Eligibility]{.underline}**

-   The PAF program is open to all NIH labs and, on an exceptional basis
    other NIH offices, and to other qualified science and technology
    funding agencies, universities, research institutes and other
    foundations and organizations (including regional and international)
    in Latin America and the Caribbean.

-   All PAF fellows candidates must have a doctoral degree or equivalent
    professional experience and must be a citizen or permanent resident
    of the United States or participating country.

-   Potential fellows from LAC must meet specific eligibility criteria
    established by their sponsoring agency or institution and be
    accepted by the chief of the host laboratory or Center at NIH.

-   Potential NIH researchers must meet specific eligibility criteria
    established by the NIH institute or center and be accepted by the
    chief of the LAC host laboratory or Center.

-   Cooperation may address any branch of biomedical or behavioral
    science, including epidemiological studies, normally supported by
    the NIH as long as advancement of scientific knowledge or
    methodology is anticipated.

### **Logistics**

-   *Planning and Review*

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-   The coordinator for implementing this initiative for NIH is the
    Director of FIC and the contact point is the Program Director for
    the Americas at the Division of International Relations of the
    Fogarty International Center (FIC). The mailing address is:

> National Institutes of Health
>
> Fogarty International Center
>
> Division of International Relations
>
> Attn: Kevin Bialy, Acting Program Officer for the Americas
>
> Building 31, Rm. B2C11
>
> Bethesda, MD, 20892-2220, U.S.A.

Phone (301) 496-6273

Fax (301) 480-3414

E-mail: bialyk@mail.nih.gov

-   The point of contact for participating LAC institutions will be
    identified by the Director of the respective organization.

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-   The coordinators will plan and review activities under the PAF
    program on a mutually agreeable schedule.

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-   The contact points will also exchange information about
    opportunities for cooperative activities.

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-   *Operation of PAF*

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-   NIH and participating institutions agree to select an agreed upon
    number of junior, mid-level, or senior scientists annually, not to
    exceed more than ten in one calendar year, for the duration of the
    program to receive one or two years of research and advanced
    training at NIH.

-   The number of LAC scientists eligible for this program may be
    modified at any time by mutual agreement.

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-   *Fiscal Responsibilities*

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-   NIH and participating LAC organizations will contribute to the
    yearly minimum stipend of USD 30,000 per PAF fellow. NIH and the
    participating LAC institution will each contribute a minimum of USD
    15,000. This amount may be changed by mutual agreement.

-   NIH host lab or Center assumes full costs for space, equipment,
    supplies, and support services, as well as pays the cost of health
    insurance for the PAF and accompanying family members.

-   LAC institutions will cover transportation costs for Pan American
    Fellows to arrive and depart from NIH.

-   Coordinators will encourage U.S. scientists to travel abroad under
    the program based on the availability of funds.

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-   If the PAF is receiving funding from any other program at the time
    of PAF nomination and approval, then the PAF fellow and the
    participating LAC organization will confirm the funding source and
    amount of stipend at the time of PAF nomination and approval and
    prior to the PAF fellow's arrival at NIH

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-   *Application Process*

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-   The participating LAC institution will nominate the PAF fellow and
    provide necessary documentation in support of the candidate's
    qualifications to the FIC which will communicate with one or more
    appropriate NIH laboratories for potential placements. PAF
    Applicants are encouraged to identify and to contact possible host
    labs. If no laboratory is identified by the LAC institution or the
    applicant, then FIC, along with the Office of Intramural Research,
    will seek to determine appropriate placement, with no guarantees of
    eventual placement.

-   The FIC will then notify the LAC participating organizations of NIH
    decisions.

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-   *Renewal Process*

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-   If the NIH host lab or Center chief would like to extend the PAF
    into the second year, he or she must contact FIC with details about
    the work the PAF has completed, a future work plan and expected
    outcomes, plus the amount of annual funding the NIH Institute has
    approved for the second year of participation in the PAF Program.

-   The LAC institution should also send a letter to the contact point
    at FIC confirming the renewal and the amount of annual funds
    assigned to each PAF fellow for the second year.

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-   *Duration of Program*

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-   This program is to continue for a period of time stipulated in the
    exchange of letters between FIC and the participating LAC
    institution. The program may be renewed by agreement of both
    parties.