# Presentation: 267445

## Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award

## “ONES” Program

- Context
- NIH priority on nurturing and increasing the number of new investigators
- NIEHS priority on increasing the number of new investigators in environmental health sciences

## NIH “Pathways” Awards: K99/R00

- Goal:  Provide an opportunity for promising postdoctoral scientists to receive both mentored and independent research from the same award

## NIEHS 2006-2011 Strategic PlanNew Frontiers in Environmental Sciences and Human Health 

**NIEHS 2006-2011 Strategic Plan**New Frontiers in Environmental Sciences and Human Health

## GOAL VI: Recruit and train the next generation of environmental health scientists.Increase recruitment of talented students into environmental health sciences.Engage the broader biomedical community in environmental health

**GOAL VI:** Recruit and train the next generation of environmental health scientists.Increase recruitment of talented students into environmental health sciences.Engage the broader biomedical community in environmental health

## In response,  NIEHS has created the Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award!

## Who does this program target?

- Highly selective for most talented new scientists
- Long term commitment to Environmental Health Sciences research
- < 8 years postdoctoral experience
- Assistant, Research Asst. Prof.
- Evidence of independent productivity and facilities
- No prior R01 support
- Research oriented towards specific human disease/dysfunction/ pathophysiologic condition or biological process and using environmentally-relevant toxicants

## What are the unique features?

- Statement of Career Goals
- Discussion of research experience and achievements
- External Advisory Committee
- Institutional Commitment to PI (minimum 80% research time)
- Separate budget for equipment and career enhancement

## What do we mean by “commitment to environmental health research?”

- Future Goals and Objectives Section
- Research focus on human disease, defined impact in environmental health research
- Minimum 50% commitment
- Travel to NIEHS for research forums, seminars in years 3-5.
- Research presentations to meetings with specific EHS focus

## What challenges have we faced?

- We are dealing with new investigators who need lots of “hand-holding” by staff
- Staff must be consistent in interpretation of eligibility criteria
- Review is complicated by virtue of the breadth of science proposed

## Review Challenge:  Selection of Appropriate Reviewers

- Established, broad-thinking scientists (Directors, Deans, MDs and PhDs)
- Involved in training and recruitment/ hiring of junior faculty
- Committed to understanding and buy-in of goals set forth in the new NIEHS vision
- Possessing appropriate scientific expertise for each application

## Review Challenges, cont’d.

- Selection of chairperson
- Orientation of reviewers prior to and at meeting
- Streamlining

## Post-review Interviews

- 70 applications/61 responsive/28 scored
- Face-to-face interviews of top 10
- Interview panel:  Members of the National Advisory Council, institute deputy director, scientific director, extramural director, senior intramural and extramural staff
- Impressions from the interviews

## Final Outcome of Review

- Council concurrence of all actions
- 8 of top 10 chosen for funding
- Meeting of grantees scheduled for October with objective of forming ties with NIEHS leadership, extramural and intramural staff

## Program areas represented in top 10 applications

- Neuroscience (1)
- Ion Channel Function in Sensory Neurons
- DNA Damage and Repair (3)
- Roles of methyltransferases in DNA Damage Response
- Telomeric DNA Loss and Repair
- DNA Translesion sythesis by polymerase eta
- Carcinogenesis (1)
- Role of Nrf2 in Arsenic Induced Toxicity

## Program Applications (cont’d)

- Air Pollution (5)
- Mortality and Morbidity effects of ozone
- Mechanisms of Pulmonary Lymphocyte Activation
- Particulate Matter and Predisposition to Asthma
- Particulate matter and Thrombosis
- Role of Diet in Ozone-related Signaling

## Can “ONES” become an NIH-wide mechanism?

- Meets objective of creating a mechanism targeted towards helping young investigators with a tenure-track appointment get established
- Can create a special relationship with an IC that will enhance probability of the PI continuing in the field, especially in areas that need targeting
- Uses the R01 mechanism with special features
- Is selective for PIs with high probability of success for competitive renewal
- Review can be challenging if the scientific areas are very broad
- CSR study section review would be possible for expertise coverage, but could be problematic in terms of understanding of reviewers of IC objectives/priorities