NIH Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Centers (T42)

WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the NIH Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Centers (T42)

WHO: Texas A&M University faculty. TAES, TEES and TTI personnel may wish to submit internal proposals through their own agency.

WHY: Applicants may request awards up to $1,800,000 per year in total costs. New awards may be only for a maximum of three years, while renewal and continuing awards may be for a maximum of five years.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of August 7, 2006.

HOW: Faculty should submit internal proposal to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.

THE FINE PRINT:

Details available below and online at http://vpr.tamu.edu/osp/limited.html

The funding agency, NIH, has limited the number of proposals to one per institution.

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The NIH Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Centers (T42) Program is designed to continue existing or establish new Education and Research Centers (ERCs) that are focused on occupational health and safety. ERCs are academic institutions that provide interdisciplinary graduate training and continuing education in the core occupational safety and health areas of industrial hygiene (IH), occupational health nursing (OHN), occupational medicine residency (OMR), occupational safety (OS) and other fields closely related to occupational safety and health ( OSH). Core programs in two of these four areas are required for an ERC.

Training programs may support masters, doctoral and postdoctoral training. Each of the four core area programs curriculum should include courses that fully prepare trainees to move into and/or advance in the occupational safety and health work community. Pre-doctoral training must lead to the Masters degree. An education and research center is encouraged to provide masters, doctoral and postdoctoral trainees instruction in: responsible conduct of research (required for masters, doctoral and postdoctoral trainees), how to write research grant proposals (optional) and how to manage research laboratories (optional).

In addition, an ERC must include a continuing education program for OSH that provides training courses for physicians, nurses, industrial hygienists, safety engineers and other occupational safety and health professionals, paraprofessionals and technicians, including personnel from labor-management health and safety committees in the geographical region in which the ERC is located.

There are also a number of requirements for center-wide activities, such as: administrative core, center director’s meeting, board of advisors and executive committee, outreach to occupational health community/research to practice, diversity recruitment plan and interdisciplinary coordination.

Applicants may request awards up to $1,800,000 per year in total costs. New awards may be only for a maximum of three years, while renewal and continuing awards may be for a maximum of five years. The indirect rate is 8%. In general, funds for renovation of existing facilities or to purchase substantial amounts of equipment will not be allowed. Further, there are restrictions regarding trainee stipends, tuition and fees, other trainee costs and trainee related expenses, depending on the discipline.

More information can be found at:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-485.html

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

August 4, 2006: Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project. Send email of intent to osppc@tamu.edu

August 7, 2006: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee. The internal proposal should include:

• An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NIH program announcement;
• Summary budget;
• Project and Management Plans (including team members);

The form for completing the internal proposal is at: http://vpr.tamu.edu/osp/internalselectionlspform.pdf

This completed form should be submitted electronically to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-485.html

Selection of a proposal will be based on NIH guidelines. The needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments. They may also request additional information from PIs.

August 11, 2006: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

September 13, 2006: Deadline for full proposal.