Training Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

These Frequently Asked Questions have been formulated to assist potential applicants in understanding the intent and requirements of PAR-20-296. Additional FAQs may be added as staff receive and respond to additional questions.

What is an R25 award?

The NIH R25 award is a mechanism to support education projects.

What is the expected educational product?

Within a 2-year timeframe, these R25 awards are expected to produce, pilot and disseminate one or more exportable training modules. It is expected that the proposed training modules will be made available to the scientific community at no cost and a link posted on the NIGMS Clearinghouse website.

What is a module?

Modules are relatively short units of sufficient depth and coverage to achieve the training objective.

What is the maximum budget allowable for these awards?

Applicants may request up to $250,000 in direct costs to cover the entire period of the award. Award periods of up to three years may be requested.

If modules are expected to be available within the first 2 years, why are award periods of up to 3 years offered?

The additional period of support allows for further evaluation, updates and maintenance for the training module.

Will the extra funds be awarded to allow grantees to attend the required PD/PI meeting held by the NIGMS Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity?

No. Travel costs for this meeting must be included in the budget requested in the application.

Are multi PI proposals allowed?

Yes.

Would organizing a workshop or series of workshops meet the goals of this program?

These R25 educational resources are meant to be widely available to various audiences. Workshops would not meet the goals of the program, though they might be an element in developing a training module.

Would organizing a Webinar or series of Webinars meet the goals of this program?

If the Webinars or series of Webinars were readily accessible, they would meet the technical requirement of the product. However, to be competitive they would need to be engaging and likely interactive.

Would on-site, hands-on training experiences meet the goals of this program?

Instructor-led training would be limited in audience reach and timeliness and thus do not meet the goals of this program. Instructor-led discussion may be used in the development of the modules or to augment the modules as part of a training program.

Are grantees responsible for hosting the modules, or maintaining them after the award period has ended?

NIH is planning to host the modules when they are first ready to be utilized, including being 508 compliant. Grantees wishing to maintain, update and host their own modules are free to do so as long as they remain readily accessible to the research training community and NIH can link directly to them from its Web site. NIH will provide continued access to the modules when grantees do not wish to or are unable to host them beyond the period of support.

Can you develop tools, such as software, as part of this grant?

No, these awards are to support education/training, not research or tool development.

Can you hold workshops to develop standards for best practices using grant funds?

Workshops held as part of developing a module and with the purpose of defining standards or best practices in the area of the training module are allowable.