Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (Admin Supp) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers" opportunity?

It is an NIH administrative supplement program offered by the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) together with participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The supplement is designed to support individuals who previously had an active research trajectory, stepped away due to family responsibilities or other qualifying life circumstances, and now have strong potential to return to biomedical or behavioral research.

Is this a stand-alone grant or an add-on to an existing grant?

This is not a stand-alone, new research grant. It is an administrative supplement that adds funds to an already-funded, active NIH research award (the "parent" award). The supplement request is submitted to support the re-entering individual on the funded project.

What is the central purpose of this supplement program?

The central purpose is to provide practical, mentored support for a re-entry candidate to rebuild research momentum, refresh and update skills, re-establish day-to-day research competencies, and restore a competitive research profile while contributing to the scientific aims of the parent NIH-funded project.

Who is this program intended to help?

It is intended for people who were previously on an active research path and then experienced a career interruption because of family responsibilities or other qualifying life circumstances, and who are now positioned to return and contribute meaningfully to biomedical or behavioral research.

Does the program require the research topic to be focused on women's health?

No. Although ORWH is a key sponsor, the program is not limited to women's health topics. The supplement can support re-entry work in essentially any NIH-supported biomedical or behavioral research area, as long as it aligns with the parent grant's scientific aims and the mission of the participating NIH Institute or Center.

What kinds of research areas can be supported?

The scope is broad and is intended to align with NIH program missions. The re-entry work may fall within any NIH-supported biomedical or behavioral research domain, provided it fits within the scientific goals of the parent award and the mission of the relevant participating Institute or Center.

What does it mean that the supplement "rides on" an existing award?

It means the parent NIH research grant must already be active. The supplement request is submitted as an addition to that existing award to provide support specifically for the re-entering individual to work on the parent project.

Can the re-entry candidate be supported part-time, or must it be full-time?

The program allows support for either full-time or part-time research engagement. This flexibility can be important for individuals transitioning back into research who may need adaptable schedules.

What types of activities does the program emphasize for the returning researcher?

The program emphasizes updating research skills and knowledge. This typically includes retooling in current methods, re-engaging with the literature and evolving best practices, rebuilding publication activity, and restoring daily research competencies in a modern laboratory or research environment.

How does the supplement help the re-entry candidate rebuild a competitive research profile?

By providing structured, mentored time on an active NIH-funded project, the supplement supports the returning individual in generating updated accomplishments such as data contributions, abstracts, manuscripts, and new technical proficiencies, helping position them for longer-term career steps after the supplement period ends.

What costs can the supplement support?

In practical terms, the program supports salary and research-related costs needed for the returning individual to contribute to the parent project's aims while regaining up-to-date expertise and research independence.

Is mentoring or an integration plan expected as part of the supplement approach?

The supplement framework encourages a mentoring and integration plan within the existing research team so the re-entry candidate can re-establish recent experience and contribute effectively to the project while rebuilding skills and productivity.

Who applies for this supplement: the returning individual or an organization with an active NIH grant?

Because this is an administrative supplement to an existing NIH award, it is submitted in connection with an already-funded NIH research grant held by an eligible organization. The supplement request is tied to that active parent award and provides support for the re-entering individual to work on the project.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply (as listed in the opportunity information provided)?

The listed eligible applicants include: state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional organizations as permitted under NIH rules (per the opportunity's additional eligibility text).

What is the key practical eligibility constraint for organizations?

The key practical constraint is that the organization must already have an eligible, active NIH research grant that can serve as the parent award to which the administrative supplement would be attached.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided is PA-16-289.

When was this opportunity posted, and what closing date is shown in the provided record?

The provided record states that it was posted on May 25, 2016, and shows an original and current closing date of September 29, 2019.

Which agency is listed as the sponsor in the provided information?

The sponsoring agency is listed as HHS-NIH11.

Why are there many CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers across a wide range of NIH programs, which underscores that the supplement can apply broadly across NIH scientific areas, so long as the re-entry activities fit the parent award and the participating Institute or Center mission.

Does the opportunity specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The supplied fields do not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. This can be common for supplement programs because amounts and counts can depend on available funds, institute participation, and the needs of the proposed supplement relative to the parent award.

What makes this opportunity "workforce-oriented" based on the description provided?

It is described as workforce-oriented because it is designed to remove barriers to re-entry after career disruptions and to provide structured, well-supported time for returning scientists to rejoin active research, update skills, and rebuild productivity within an existing funded research environment.

How does this supplement relate to the aims of the parent grant?

The returning scientist is supported to work on the funded project, and the supplement is meant to fit within the scientific aims of the parent grant. The re-entry candidate contributes to those aims while rebuilding research capabilities and momentum.