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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

NCATS CTSA Program FAQs for NCCIH Administrative Supplements

Eligibility

  • Who is eligible to be supported by a National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) administrative supplement?
    • Eligible scholars must have a doctoral, clinical complementary and integrative health degree (e.g., D.A.O.M., D.C., D.O., D.P.T., and/or N.D.). Please contact NCCIH program staff if you are unsure your degree qualifies.
  • Is the program eligible to submit an application? We are in a renewal cycle and would be submitting a KL2 supplemental application for a scholar when we have only 1 year left. Are we eligible?
    • No, KL2 programs must have at least 2 years of funding remaining at the time of the supplemental application submission.
  • Do potential scholars need to have a full-time appointment at the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) institution to be eligible?
    • All CTSA hub institutions and partner institutions are eligible to select full-time appointment candidates for this solicitation.
  • How long is the appointment?
    • The requested length of the appointment may be for a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 4 years. Additionally, the appointment must be the same as the typical length of appointments in the parent KL2 program (i.e., if the program typically appoints scholars for 3 years, then the administrative supplement application must include a 3-year research appointment plan).
  • Is my proposed research area of interest?
    • Scholar candidates may propose to conduct basic, mechanistic, clinical, or observational research on a natural product or mind and body approach.
    • Areas must align with the NCCIH Strategic Plan.
    • Top scientific priorities include:
      • Nonpharmacologic Management of Pain
      • Neurobiological Effects and Mechanisms
      • Innovative Approaches for Establishing Biological Signatures of Natural Products
      • Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Across the Lifespan
      • Clinical Trials Utilizing Innovative Study Designs To Assess Complementary Health Approaches and Their Integration Into Health Care
      • Communications Strategies and Tools To Enhance Scientific Literacy and Understanding of Clinical Research

Budget

  • What are the allowable costs for awardees?
    • Salary: up to $100,000 for salary, plus fringe benefits in accordance with the salary structure of the grantee institution. The scholar must devote a minimum of 9 person-months (75 percent of full-time professional effort) to the KL2 appointment. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time staff appointment.
    • Research and Career Development: Additional funds of up to $25,000 may be requested for (a) tuition and fees for career development, (b) research expenses, (c) travel to scientific meetings and workshops, and (d) statistical services.
    • Mentor Support: up to $10,000 per year in associated laboratory or other research-related expenses. Salary and travel support for mentors is not allowable.
  • How should a candidate be supported once the supplement ends?
    • KL2 Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) PD(s)/PI(s) should encourage scholars to submit applications for fellowships, individual career development awards, research grants, and other sources of independent support before the supplement period ends.

Application

  • What should be included in the PI’s/mentor’s biographical sketch?
    • Include a biographical sketch of the KL2 PD(s)/PI(s) and of each individual who will compose the scholar’s mentoring team. Additionally, the personal statement of the scholar’s biographical sketch should include a description of his/her specific role in mentoring the scholar.
  • What should be included in the candidate’s biographical sketch?
    • The personal statement of the scholar’s biographical sketch should include a description of their research objectives and career goals, and why their experience and qualifications make them particularly well-suited to receive an NCCIH KL2 supplement award. Relevant factors include previous training and research accomplishments in complementary and integrative health research and any source(s) of current funding.
  • Who submits the application, the person to be supported or the PI of the grant?
    • Candidates are selected at the discretion of the CTSA KL2 PD/PI. The CTSA KL2 PD/PI and the grantee institution must submit the application on behalf of the candidate.
  • When should an application be submitted?
    • Applications are due October 1, 2021; and October 3, 2022; by 5 p.m. local time of applicant organization.
  • How should an application be submitted?
    • Applicants are encouraged to follow the submission instructions as described in the funding opportunity announcements. Each CTSA Program hub is allowed to submit up to two supplements/applications. However, there should be only one candidate for each application. Use the NCATS-specific guidance in developing your application. Applicants are encouraged to alert the NCCIH PD and grants management specialist once the application has been submitted.

Human Subjects and Vertebrate Animals

  • Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
    • Yes. The supplement adheres to the same National Institutes of Health (NIH)/NCATS policies for human subjects research and vertebrate animals as the parent grant. If the scholar will design and conduct their own independent human subjects research, they will need to complete the Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form. Approval by the reviewing Institutional Review Board is required prior to award.
    • NCCIH will not support applications proposing efficacy, effectiveness, or “preliminary efficacy” trials through this program. Additional information about NCCIH’s approach to clinical trial research is available at https://www.nccih.nih.gov/grants/funding/clinicaltrials. Scholars interested in proposing a clinical trial are encouraged to contact NCCIH program staff to discuss the scope of their applications prior to submission.
  • Is research with human subjects or vertebrate animals allowed under this funding opportunity?
    • Yes. The supplement adheres to the same NIH policies for human subjects research and vertebrate animals as the parent grant. The scholar will need to complete the Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form, and the Vertebral Animal Section (as applicable).

Review and Funding

  • What is the timeline for decisions?
    • Applications will be reviewed within 2 to 3 months following submission. Funding decisions will be finalized and awards will be released in alignment with the parent KL2 award.
  • How are supplement applications reviewed?
    • Applications are reviewed administratively by NCCIH/NCATS program staff. Program staff will evaluate supplement applications to determine the overall merit using the review criteria outlined in the funding opportunity announcements. Program staff will look at the appropriateness of the research project for the candidate’s goals. In addition, emphasis is placed on the quality of the mentoring and training plan and the likelihood that the candidate will be successful at the next stage of their career.