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FIRCA Frequently Asked Questions for New Applicants

Please read and follow the instructions in the FIRCA Program Announcement, which can be found in the NIH Guide. This should be reviewed for eligibility requirements and other information prior to preparing the application to avoid delays and to assist in the review of your application. These Frequently Asked Questions are to clarify the PHS Form 398 instructions and special requirements for the FIRCA program.

Questions and Answers

1. Must I apply online through www.grants.gov?

Yes.

2. Do I need human subjects or vertebrate animals assurances at the U.S. site if all the work will be done at the foreign site?

If human subjects and/or vertebrate animals will be used in the FIRCA project at the foreign site, appropriate approvals must be obtained from both the U.S. and foreign institutions. Assurances from the latter are not required at the time of submission, however. More information regarding Federalwide Assurances for approved use of human subjects can be found at the Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP) website. Please also read about the Requirement for Education on the Protection of Human Subjects. For information about vertebrate animal assurances, please see the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare website.

3. What are the page limitations for the Research Plan? Are they different from the generic R03 instructions?

Research Plan, Special Instructions: Follow the instructions in the SF424 Application Guide except as described below and note that for the FIRCA the research plan must not exceed 11 pages for items 2-5, (excluding the Introduction for revised applications):

• FIRCA application Research Plans should begin with a one-page or less description section in which the nature of the proposed collaboration should be described. Also discuss any relevant previous collaborative arrangement(s). For cases in which the PI has previously served as a mentor to the Foreign Collaborator, address the independence of the Foreign Collaborator in regards to the proposed FIRCA research. In particular, address the respective contributions to the preparation of the research protocol.



• Specific Aims Section: List the specific aims of the parent grant exactly as written in the parent grant. If these are longer than one page, you may summarize them and indicate that you have done so. If the FIRCA is more closely related to another funded (but not FIRCA-eligible) grant, please be sure to give the specific aims of that grant here also. Then, list the specific aims to the FIRCA proposal. Finally, discuss how the specific aims of the FIRCA relate to the aim(s) of the parent grant, and/or other relevant grant, if applicable.



• Research and Design Methods Section: Prepare in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. However, at the end of this section, outline the proposed contributions of the NIH-funded investigator and the Foreign Collaborator/Foreign PI to the study. Describe exactly where and when each aspect of the work is to be carried out and by whom the work will be done. This will allow reviewers to assess the contributions of each laboratory and predict the likelihood of success. Where appropriate, the design of projects should take into account potential sex and gender differences that may affect the questions asked and the analyses performed. These might include different responses to and impacts of health interventions, differences in physiology, and different behavioral bases for disease prevention strategies.

Page Limitations and Content Requirements for the FIRCA




1. Am I eligible to apply if my parent grant is not from a participating NIH Institute or Center?

Grants from all NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) are welcomed as parent grants for the FIRCA as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria. FIC funds all meritorious applications within its budget regardless of parent grant IC. Only NIH institutes currently committed to formally co-funding FIRCAs relevant to their interests are listed on the PA. However, In some cases other NIH ICs have co-funded FIRCAs as well, and applicants may want to inform their parent grant program officers that they are applying for a FIRCA.

2. Can F&A (8%) costs be charged to the grant for the foreign institution?

Yes if you do a subcontract with the foreign institution if the grant is from the foreign institution directly.

Inquiries

Kathleen Michels, PhD

Program Director
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
Telephone: (301) 496-1653
FAX: (301) 402-0779

For grants management and fiscal matters, contact:

Angela Smith

Grants Management Specialist
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C39
31 Center Drive MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-5710
FAX: (301) 594-1211