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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.989:  Senior International Fellowships

Objectives:  (1) To promote the exchange of ideas and information about the latest advances in the biomedical and behavioral sciences between U.S. biomedical scientists and those of other nations of the world; and (2) to bring to the foreign and U.S. institutions the knowledge and professional scientific background that will lead to improvement in the biomedical research potential of both institutions.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

93.989 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Applicants for Senior International Awards must be U.S. citizens, or have been admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. and possess a permanent visa at the time of award; have at least 5 years of experience in biomedical research, teaching, or other relevant professional experience in the medical and biological sciences beyond the doctorate or an equivalent professional medical degree; hold a full-time appointment on the staff of a U.S. institution, which must be a nonfederal or private nonprofit research, clinical or educational institution; be invited by a nonprofit foreign institution; not have received more than one Senior International Fellowship previously; and not be employed by the Federal government.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Scientists and researchers are eligible.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applicants who are permanent residents of the United States must submit a notarized statement that they have a visa for permanent residence prior to award.

93.989 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Applications are submitted on PHS 416-1 using special instructions available from the Fogarty International Center (FIC). The applicant must also submit a letter of invitation and curriculum vitae from the foreign host. Applicants should send this material to the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:  All accepted applications are evaluated by an appropriate initial review group (Study Section). Applications which rank in about the upper half of scored applications receive a final, secondary review by the Fogarty International Center Advisory Board. Staff informs applicants of the results of the review. If support is contemplated, staff initiates preparation of awards.

Deadlines:  April 5, August 5, and December 5.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  A minimum of 7 months.

Appeals:  A principal investigator (P.I.) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff of the Center. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH home page grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-232.html.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: the scientific merit of the collaborative research plan; the significance and scientific merit of the proposed study and its objectives; the competency of the proposed investigator and the foreign collaborator to successfully pursue the project; the adequacy and availability of proposed facilities and resources; the likelihood that the project will be completed in the time proposed; the potential for broad scientific interchange; and the benefits that will accrue to the United States. Selections will also be limited by the availability of funds.

Examples of Funded Projects:  A scientist from the University of California, San Diego, working with colleagues at the University of Cambridge, England is evaluating the possibility that rats raised in isolation exhibit behavioral abnormalities that may model deficits observed in schizophrenic patients. A change in their startle reflex was detected under certain conditions. Presently, the only such animal model depends on the administration of drugs. Pharmacologic experiments have begun to confirm the predictive value of the model which may be useful in identifying efficacious antipsychotic drugs having novel mechanisms of action. Two peer-reviewed publications resulted from this fellowship. A scientist from the University of Washington, working with officials at the Ministry of Health in Thailand, has analyzed data on the incidence since 1989 of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and HIV infection in the Bangkok region, and compared these data with earlier studies of dengue epidemics. DHF/DSS has spread to rural areas and the incidence there may be higher than in the cities. The South, which previously had little experience of dengue, had major epidemics in the 1990s. DHF/DSS is now present even in the cold season. Age distribution remains constant with the highest incidence among children 5 to 10 years old. No interaction between DHR/DSS and HIV infection has yet been noticed by practitioners, but clinicians have been made aware of possible interaction and asked to monitor the clinical course in the dually infected. Two manuscripts resulted from this brief fellowship.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The range is from $9,500 to $46,000; $27,000.

93.989 RELATED PROGRAMS:

93.989 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

93.989 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $505,000; FY 00 est $500,000; and FY 01 est $300,000.

Budget Account Number:  75-0819-0-1-552.

Authorization:  Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C 241 and 284.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR parts 74 and 92; NIH Grants Policy Statement grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/.

93.989 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Program Contact: Dr. Kathleen Michels, Division of International Training and Research, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room B2C39, 31 Center Drive MSC 2220, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220. Phone: (301) 496-1653. Grants Management Contact: Ms. Silvia Mandes, Grants Management Officer, Division of International Research and Training, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room B2C39, 31 Center Drive MSC 2220, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220. Phone: (301) 496-1653. Use the same numbers for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.989 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  From 3 to 12 months of support are awarded with no extensions beyond the total of the 12-month fellowship. Assistance is awarded by an Electronic Transfer System.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Fellowships may support stipends, foreign living allowance, travel and minimal incidental research supplies as required to perform the research effort in the foreign laboratory from 3 to 12 months. Restrictions are imposed against the use of funds for entertainment, general-purpose equipment, alterations and renovations, and other items not regularly required for the performance of research.

93.989 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  A final progress report is required within 30 days of termination.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records:  Expenditures and other financial records must be retained for 3 years from the day on which the grantee submits the last expenditure report for the report period.