Proposed Review Criteria for Grants for the National Research Service Awards: Primary Care Research for Fiscal Year 1998

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

Proposed Review Criteria for Grants for the National Research

Service Awards: Primary Care Research for Fiscal Year 1998

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National

Research Service Awards: Primary Care Research (NRSA) institutional

training grants (T32) are provided to accredited public or private

nonprofit schools of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, or a public or

private nonprofit hospital or other entity which is affiliated with an

entity that has received grants or contracts under section 747, 748, or

749 of the PHS Act, agrees to use the funding for research in primary

medical care, and is located in a State. The NRSA program is authorized

by Title IV, Section 487(d)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act.

Proposed Review Criteria

The following criteria are proposed for National Research Service

Awards in primary care research:

1. Program Characteristics

Objectives, design, and direction of the research training

program--including the probability of achieving stated goals.

Substantive and methodological content of the proposed program and

its relevance to the Program Objectives noted above, including relevant

descriptions of courses and experiential opportunities offered and/or

required.

The extent to which proposed approaches address areas in need of

research given changes in the health care delivery system.

2. Program Support and Organizational Structure and Plans

The institutional training environment, including the level of

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institutional commitment, quality of the facilities, availability of

appropriate courses, and availability of research support.

Caliber of preceptors as researchers, including successful research

support.

Organizational structure of the proposed training program,

including delineation of administrative responsibilities for planning,

oversight, and evaluation.

Demonstration of cooperation by any proposed collaborating

facilities, institutions, or departments in providing research

experiences and/or sites for trainees, including (where applicable)

documentation of mechanisms by which trainees will be integrated into

the ongoing primary medical care research activities of other entities.

When appropriate, the concomitant research training of health-

professional postdoctorates (e.g., individuals with the M.D., D.O.,

D.D.S./D.M.D., etc.) with basic science postdoctorates (e.g.,

individuals with a Ph.D., etc.) or linkages with basic science

department.

Demonstration of extent to which and ways in which HRSA support

will be (has been in the past) leveraged through the use of other

Federal and private resources to maximize primary medical care research

training within the institution.

Availability of other relevant support.

3. Trainee Recruitment & Retention Plans

Recruitment and selection plans for trainees and the availability

of high-quality candidates, including minority trainees (see below for

details).

When appropriate, record of the research training program in

retaining health-professional postdoctoral trainees for at least 2

years in research training or other research activities.

4. Program Record and Evaluation Plans

Past research training record of both the program and the

designated preceptors as determined by the success of former trainees

in seeking further career development and in establishing productive

scientific careers. Evidence of further career development can include

receipt of fellowships, career awards, a prestigious training

appointment, and similar accomplishments. Evidence of a productive

scientific career can include a record of successful competition for

individual research grants, receipt of special honors, a record of

publications, receipt of patents, promotion to prestigious positions in

academe, industry, or health policy and any other appropriate measure

of success consistent with the nature and duration of the training

received.

Record of the research training program in recruiting and retaining

trainees, noting past annual success rates in filling committed slots.

Proposed methods for monitoring and evaluating performance of

trainees and the overall program, record of trainees in obtaining

individual research awards or fellowships following training, and in

establishing careers in primary medical care research.

5. Budget

Reasonableness of the proposed budget, including number and levels

of trainees, in relation to the research training.

An announcement will be made in the HRSA Preview for the

competitive cycle in FY 1998.

The comment period is 30 days. All comments received on or before

October 22, 1997 will be considered before the final review criteria

are established. Written comments should be addressed to: Enrique

Fernandez, M.D., Division of Medicine, Bureau of Health Professions,

Health Resources and Services, Administration, Parklawn Building, Room

9A-20, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301)

443-1467, FAX: (301) 443-8890.

All comments received will be available for public inspection and

copying at the Division of Medicine, at the above address, weekdays

(Federal holidays excepted) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00

p.m.

Dated: September 15, 1997.

Claude Earl Fox,

Acting Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97-25018 Filed 9-19-97; 8:45 am]

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