General Information
Progress reports are required to continue support of a PHS grant and for NIH grantees. MARC U-STAR progress reports are due November 1, annually using the PHS 2590 (forms and instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm). In addition to the PHS 2590 instructions, follow the guidelines below to prepare the progress report.
The reporting period for all MARC U-STAR programs is November 1 to October 31 of the following year. Note that since all MARC U-STAR grants are awarded in June, the first year of the report will be abbreviated from June to October 31 of that year. The remaining years of the 5-year award will each be reported from November 1 to October 31 of the following year.
Where to Send the Report:
All progress reports must now be submitted to the centralized mailing address:
Division of Extramural Activities Support, OER
National Institutes of Health
6705 Rockledge Drive, Room 2207, MSC 7987
Bethesda, MD 20892-7987 (for regular or US Postal Service Express mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for other courier/express mail delivery only)
Phone Number: 301- 594-6584
Specific Instructions
The instructions for completing form PHS 2590 included in the form booklet should be followed except where modified below. The MARC U-STAR non-competing continuation grant application should be organized in the order shown below:
I. Face Page (Page 1 from PHS 2590)
II. Detailed Budget for Next Budget Period (NRSA Additional Page 2)
III. Budget Justification (Form Page 3)
IV. Biographical Sketch (Form Page 4)
V. Progress Report Summary (Form Page 5 – NRSA Additional Page Summary of Trainees)
VI. Checklist (Form Page 6)
VII. Key Personnel Report (Form Page 7)
Follow the instructions listed in the PHS 2590 booklet shown at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm
1. Face Page (Form Page 1)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590-fp1.doc
Follow instructions given in PHS 2590 to answer all the items. Use the pre-printed face page supplied by NIH.
2. Detailed Budget for the Next Budget Period (Form Page 2)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590-NRSAaddfp2.doc
Use the NRSA Additional Page 2 instead of Form Page 2 in PHS-2590. Enter details on the number of trainees, stipend amount for each trainee, their tuition, fees, health insurance, travel and training-related expenses. Follow the instructions shown on PHS-2590 booklet.
3. Budget Justification (Form Page 3)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590-fp3.doc
Relating to the current budget period, report on the number of trainees, their stipend levels and related expenses. Explain any estimated unexpended balances. Note that the unexpended balances at the end of the current budget period cannot be obligated or carried forward by the institution without prior approval from grant administration officials.
4. Biographical Sketch (Form Page 4)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/biosketch.doc
Provide biographical sketches for professionals/mentors newly added in the current fiscal year only.
5. Progress Report Summary
The entire progress report summary should be no more than 10 pages long. Use http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590-fp5.doc along with the continuation page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/continuation.doc. Please number the pages sequentially (1, 2, 3, etc.) and do not use 5a, 5b, etc.
Complete Form Page 5 – NRSA Additional Page Summary of Trainees
In addition to a list of trainees who completed or left the training during the reporting period and their current status, provide information on the degrees earned, their scholarly accomplishments and special training or enrichment activities in a tabular form using Sample Format Table 1. You may choose not to use this suggested table format, however the information requested must be presented in some fashion in your progress report. Describe the special training and/or training-related enrichment activities implemented by each of the participating departments separately even if the same cohort of students take part in these activities.
- Describe briefly any new scholarly activities implemented in the current reporting period, identify the professional who conducted the activity and its duration, and provide information on the number and the academic level of the students participating in each of the scholarly activities. State briefly the objectives of the activity, the methods used for evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities and the evaluation outcomes. Report any problems faced in implementing the activities. This information may be summarized in a table using Sample Format Table 2. Again, you may choose not to use the suggested table format; however the information requested must be presented in some format in your progress report.
- Comment on any improvements or modifications of previously implemented training related activities. The need for the change and the rationale for the change should also be briefly discussed.
- Include in the progress report a brief account of proposed changes to the training or training related activities, if any, that the institution plans to implement in the next budget period.
- Report on the overall effects of all the training related activities. Numerical data on recruitment, retention, GPA and GRE scores and graduation rates of the U-STAR students as compared to those of other minority and non-minority students in the department should be provided in the narrative section or in an easily accessible tabular form. Indicate whether there is an increase in the number of honors science undergraduates and in the number of qualified applicants for MARC U-STAR training. In addition, state the MARC trainees’ interest in careers in research, preparedness for graduate work, student perception of the value of the enrichment activities should also be included in the report. Include a brief account of the methods of evaluation performed to obtain the non-numerical data regarding the overall effects of the training related activities.
- Publications and Presentations: See PHS-2590 for instructions. Submit one reprint of each publication by U-STAR trainees and both BOLD and UNDERLINE the trainee’s name(s). Do not list any publications which are not authored or co-authored by U-STAR trainees. Use Sample Format Table 3 to list MARC trainee publications and scientific presentations. Again, you may choose not to use the suggested table format; however the information requested must be presented in some format in your progress report.
6. Checklist (Form Page 6)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590-fp6.doc
Follow instructions for PHS 2590. The first section on “Program Income” does not apply for U-STAR grantees; simply write N/A.
7. Key Personnel Report (Form Page 7)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590-fp7.doc
List all key personnel for the current budget period. Follow instructions for PHS 2590.
Appendix
The appendix must include the annual evaluation report as well as student appointment forms (Statement of Appointment Form PHS 2271 [PDF, 624KB]) for each program participant supported by the program during the reporting period.