Application and Review Procedures for Diversity and Re-entry Research Supplements

This information applies to applications requesting Diversity and Re-entry Research Supplements to active National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grants via funding opportunity announcements:

• Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research 
• Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers  (NOT-OD-23-170 )

Who is eligible for a diversity or re-entry supplement?

NIMH will support supplement applications for re-entry and re-integration only.

Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will enhance diversity on a national basis. To be eligible for a diversity or re-entry supplement, a Principal Investigator (PI) must:

• have an active NIMH grant, typically with at least two years remaining at the time of expected award.
• plan to serve as mentors for the candidates nominated for support.

Documentation of racial, ethnic, disability, or disadvantaged status for a diversity supplement

The institution must provide a signed statement providing clearly presented information on the nature of the candidate’s disability, circumstances, background, or characteristics that make them eligible for this program. Institutions should use to the guidelines below when documenting eligibility for this program.

Racial and Ethnic Minorities

The candidate must voluntarily self-identify as a member of a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research at the national level . Such underrepresented groups include, but are not limited to, Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. For more information on racial and ethnic categories and definitions, see NOT-OD-20-031 .

Individuals with Disabilities

The candidate must self-identify as an individual with a disability, defined as a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended . According to a survey by the National Science Foundation , among people with a doctorate in the sciences and engineering, individuals with disabilities are underrepresented.

Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds

Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the criteria described in category C, see NOT-OD-20-031 .

Eligibility of candidates currently receiving Public Health Service (PHS) support

Re-entry supplements: Generally, a candidate already receiving PHS support cannot receive support from a re-entry supplement. The re-entry program was designed to support those returning to research. This program is not intended to provide an alternative or additional means of supporting individuals who already receive support from an NIH research grant, an NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA), or any other HHS or PHS funding mechanism. Re-entry Supplement candidates are considered on a case-by-case basis, if the individual meets the other criteria.

Diversity supplements: Individuals may be supported by the parent grant for short periods, at the recipient’s risk, pending NIMH’s decision on the supplement application. (See “Pre-Award (Pre-Agreement) Costs” in Section 7.9.1 of the NIH Grants Policy Statement for further information.)

What grants are eligible for a diversity or re-entry supplement?

The activities proposed in a diversity or re-entry supplement application must both advance the objectives of the parent grant and support the research training and career development of the candidate.

The following grant types are eligible for Diversity or Re-entry Supplement funds:

What is the timeframe for a diversity supplement?

At the time of submission, the proposed supplement activities must occur within the approved project period for the parent award. For phased awards (i.e., R21/R33, R61/R33, UG3/UH3), the administrative supplement must be limited to the currently approved project period phase at the time of submission. The duration of the proposed supplement should be long enough to provide a meaningful career development experience for the candidate, and the duration must be fully justified.

For high school or undergraduate students, the period of supplement support may be as short as a summer experience or one academic year. A two-year supplement period is typically appropriate for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and investigators.

Parent grants with less than two years remaining

In some circumstances, less than two years might be accommodated, but potential applicants considering a supplement period less than two years at the graduate student, postdoctoral, and investigator career stage would require a detailed explanation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with NIMH staff prior to submission.

How do I prepare to submit a supplement application?

Contact your parent grant PO as soon as possible when preparing a supplement application. You may wish to consider discussing the following critical issues with the PO:

• Candidate eligibility
• Research development and mentoring plan activities and objectives
• Potential of the candidate to successfully continue their research career
• Whether the supplement activities match NIMH research priorities
• Appropriate supplement duration for the proposed candidate

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to also work with a Training Program Officer to receive specialized technical assistance on preparing the Diversity Supplement. The parent grant PO can help with identifying the Training Program Officer, or you can reach out directly to a Training Contact If you have concerns regarding eligibility, please email Tatiana Meza-Cervera in the Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity.

Applicants should carefully follow the submission instructions in the funding opportunity announcement. All forms should be completed for the supplemental activities only and should not reflect funding or activities for the previously awarded parent award. 

What should be included in a supplement application?

A complete Diversity or Re-entry Supplement request package must include:

1. A brief proposal describing the project and training and career experience (not to exceed six pages), including:
   • Brief summary of the funded grant and description of the proposed supplement project.
   • Training and career development plan for the candidate, which may include such things as coursework, conference attendance, grant-writing workshops, presentation opportunities, etc.
   • Mentoring experience of the PI and description of how the mentor(s) will interact with the candidate (for example, commitment, level of involvement, any other specific activities)
   • A plan and timeline for the research and career development experiences proposed
2. A candidate statement (not to exceed three pages) that includes the signature of the candidate.
3. Statement of eligibility (not to exceed one page). The application should include a signed statement from the PI and an Authorized Signing Official establishing the eligibility of the candidate for support under this program. The statement must include:
   • Clearly presented information on citizenship
   • Information on the nature of the candidate's disability, circumstances, background, or characteristics that confer eligibility under this program;
   • For Diversity Supplements, a convincing description of how the appointment of this specific candidate will address the issue of diversity within the national scientific workforce or within the workforce or the relevant population at the grantee institution; and,
   • A description of any current or previous Public Health Service (PHS) research grant support the candidate has received, including start and end dates. State if the candidate has received any current or previous PHS support; if the candidate has, include the grant number and inclusive dates of support.
4. A proposed budget.
5. Biographical sketch of the candidate.
   • Candidate transcript for candidates at the predoctoral level or below
6. Biographical sketch of investigators who will contribute to the research mentoring.
7. Human subjects/vertebrate animal documentation (if applicable).
8. If the candidate is a student at another institution (other than the grantee institution), the application must include an appropriately signed letter from a responsible official at the institution of matriculation indicating that participation at the stated level of effort is approved and will not detract from or interfere with the student's course of studies.
9. If any of the research is to be conducted at a site other than the grantee institution, an appropriately signed letter from the institution where the research is to be conducted must be submitted. The request must be signed by the candidate, the PI, and the appropriate Authorized Signing Official (affiliated with the candidate institution).
10. If the request is for a supplement based on disability, the institution should indicate what, if any, reasonable accommodations the institution has supported or plans to provide along with a full description of how any additional support for accommodation that might be used. The relationship of the proposed accommodation to the proposed project must be described.

How are applications reviewed and evaluated?

Supplement applications are reviewed internally based on scientific merit and training potential. Award decisions are based on the merit of the research training potential of the application, the application's relevance to the candidate's career objectives, and the relationship of both of these elements to the research priorities of the NIMH as exemplified in the NIMH Strategic Plan for Research.

Applications are evaluated on a regular schedule, but funding decisions can be influenced and delayed by other factors, including the availability of funds. Therefore, applicants should consult with the NIMH Program Official (PO) assigned to the parent grant and Tatiana Meza-Cervera prior to submitting a request for a supplement application.

Submission, review, and award dates

Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year and are reviewed on a monthly rolling basis. Investigators are encouraged to submit applications at least four months prior to the requested start date.

Applications received after April 1 will be processed and considered for funding in the next fiscal year; that is, after October 1, with December 1 as the earliest possible start date.

Applications for summer-only research appointments are considered on a shorter timeframe and should be submitted at least 10 weeks prior to the requested start date.

See the table below for information about submission deadlines, review dates, and start dates.

Although we make every effort to follow the timeline presented in the table above, applications received after April 1 may not be funded before December 1. This is due to the NIH budgetary cycle and is the reason why the NIMH rarely makes supplement awards in October or November.

Applications not selected for funding

An application may not be resubmitted once it has been reviewed by the Diversity and Re-entry Supplements Committee. However, your Program Official may ask you to revise before the Committee reviews your application.

If you are unsure about whether your application is eligible for revision, contact your NIMH Program Official, or the Diversity and Re-entry Supplements Administrator (email: nimhodwd@nih.gov; phone: 301-437-0670).

Program Director
Tatiana Meza-Cervera, Ph.D.
Tatiana.Meza-Cervera@nih.gov
Diversity Supplements and
Youth Mental Health Disparities Research
Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity
6001 Executive Boulevard
301-437-0670