# Presentation: 505055

## NIBIB – HHMI Interfaces Initiative for 

**Illustration: Randy Lyhus**
**Channel image: Courtesy of Rapoport Laboratory**

**NIBIB**** ****– HHMI ****Interfaces Initiative for **
**Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Training**
**Applicant Teleconference **

**May 1, 2008**

## NIBIB-HHMI Interfaces Initiative

-  Recognize importance of interdisciplinary research for the advancement of biomedical science and health care.
-  Facilitate development of new training opportunities in emerging interdisciplinary research environments.
-  Train
- _biologists_ to appreciate the power and limitations of tools from physical sciences and engineering.
- _physical scientists and engineers_ to appreciate the nature and breadth of biological questions.
-  Transform domestic institutional programs to support interdisciplinary research training.
-  Increase number of researchers working at the intersection of the biological and physical sciences.

## Interfaces Initiative Transition Plan

- _Phase I (3+ years)_
- 	Establish new interdisciplinary training programs.
- January, 2005 – Program Announcement
- November, 2005 – Phase I Awards
- _Phase II (5 years)_
- 	Support recently established interdisciplinary training programs.
- May 19, 2008 – Letter of Intent
- June 17, 2008 – Applicant Receipt
- September/October, 2008 - Scientific Review
- January, 2009 – Advisory Council Review
- March/April, 2009 – Phase II Awards

## Phase I and Phase II Goals

- 	Phase I - Reduce existing barriers to interdisciplinary education:
-  Promote academic and administrative institutional change that facilitates interdisciplinary education.
-  Develop interdisciplinary coursework, laboratory research, and community-building activities appropriate for trainees from different scientific backgrounds.
-  Identify and disseminate ‘best practices’ that support interdisciplinary research training.

- Phase II – Support interdisciplinary training programs.
- Continue academic and institutional changes begun in Phase I (or equivalent) period.
- Provide student support for recently established interdisciplinary training programs.

## Responsiveness Criteria

- Programs that have not yet been implemented are _*not*_ responsive to this RFA, i.e. they must have achieved the objectives of the Phase I Interfaces Initiative: _[http://www.hhmi.org/grants/pdf/comp_annc/2005_nibib_program.pdf](http://www.hhmi.org/grants/pdf/comp_annc/2005_nibib_program.pdf)_
- Programs must be recently established (3-5 years)  research training programs.
- Programs must propose and achieve _*interdisciplinary*_, not multi-disciplinary, research training.
- Programs do _*not *_need to have applied to or been funded by the Phase I initiative.

## Eligibility Criteria

- Domestic public or private institutions that grant doctoral degrees in science and/or engineering are eligible to apply to this RFA.
- Although institutions may submit more than one application to this RFA, it is _*strongly encouraged*_ that various schools of multi-component institutions join together in the submission of a single application.
- Institutions with active research training grants (e.g., an NIH T90 or an NSF IGERT award) are eligible only if grants are non-overlapping or the new application is significantly different than the current program(s).

## Application Guidelines

- Applicants must propose _*predoctoral*_ research training programs.
- Institutions may apply alone or as a multi-institutional consortium. For multi-institutional applications, the applicant must be the lead institution.
- Institutions may designate multiple PDs but may _*not*_ split training resources between program directors.
- Applicants may request support for up to five years.
- Applicants may _*not*_ request more than $500K in direct costs or more than 10 trainee slots for any grant year.
- Renewal and resubmission applications are _*not*_ allowed under this RFA. Successful programs will submit renewal applications to the standard T32 program.

## Review Criteria

- Applications will be reviewed on the following elements:
- Institutional History and Impact
- Research Training Program
- Training Program Director(s)
- Faculty Mentors
- Trainee Recruitment, Selection and Retention
- Institutional Environment, Resources, and Commitment
- Evaluation and Tracking Plan
- Dissemination Plan

## Program Contact 

- Richard A. Baird, PhD
- Director, Division of Interdisciplinary Training
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging
-       and Bioengineering
- Democracy II, Suite 200
- 6707 Democracy Boulevard
- Bethesda, MD   20892
- (301) 496-7671  Office
- bairdri@mail.nih.gov

## Important Web Links

-  NIBIB Internet link
- 		http://www.nibib.nih.gov/HomePage
- Phase II Program Correction
-  	http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-EB-08-003.html
-  Phase II Program Announcement
- 	_[http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-08-003.html](http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-08-003.html)__ _
-  Phase I Funded Programs
- 	http://www.hhmi.org/news/112205.html
-  Phase I Program Announcement
- 	http://www.hhmi.org/grants/pdf/comp_annc/2005_nibib_program.pdf