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Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists' Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR)

This page provides guidance and FAQs for researchers interested in applying to the Grantes for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists' Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) program

Final

Issued by: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dgcg/grants-early-medical-surgical-specialists-transition-aging-research-gemsstar

Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists' Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR)

RFA-AG-20-018 is now closed. Information about the next GEMSSTAR competition is expected by Summer 2020. Below are frequently asked questions about GEMSSTAR. For further questions, please contact NIAGEMSSTAR@mail.nih.gov.

OVERVIEW

Goal

The overall goal of the GEMSSTAR program is to provide support for early career physician-scientists trained in medical or surgical specialties and early career dentist-scientists to launch careers as future leaders in aging- or geriatric-focused research. The GEMSSTAR award is targeted to early faculty members who have recently completed their medical, surgical, or dental training in any specialty or discipline and are embarking on a career in clinical aging research in their specialty area. The award is intended to offer support in a particularly vulnerable time in a new clinical faculty member’s career.

Background

The 2008 Institute of Medicine report “Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce” emphasized the critical need for additional health care personnel to address the medical needs of a growing population of older Americans with complex medical problems. Effective approaches to this impending health care crisis involve not only increasing the number of practicing clinicians trained in geriatrics and in specialty fields related to the health problems of elders, but also fostering the development of the next generation of clinician-scientists whose clinical research will lead to improved care and more effective treatment options for older patients with complex medical conditions.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applying to the GEMSSTAR program involves submission of one application to the NIA for a small research project using the R03 mechanism, that is due by the receipt date noted in the RFA. As part of the R03 application, investigators are strongly encouraged to include a Professional Development Plan (PDP) to run concomitantly with the R03 award and supported by non-R03 sources (described further below). Please send any questions regarding the GEMSSTAR program or your GEMSSTAR application to niagemsstar@mail.nih.gov.

Professional Development Plan

An important goal for successful GEMSSTAR awardees is to acquire training in techniques and skills specific to aging research and/or clinical care of older adults. As such, applicants should ensure that they have a supportive research environment to launch a research career in an aging- or geriatrics-focused area of their specialty/discipline. Thus, whereas the NIA funded R03 award supports the research project component, non-R03 sources may be secured to support a candidate’s Professional Development Plan (PDP), a set of candidate-selected activities and experiences that run concurrently with the R03 award and provide the requisite supportive research environment. Applicants are encouraged to have commitments of such support in place at the time of R03 application, in which case official documentation of the commitment should be included in the application as letters of support. Applicants who intend to apply for PDP support, but who will not know the results prior to submitting the R03 application, should describe their plans to seek additional support within the PDP portion of their application. It is very important to initiate the process of applying for PDP funding early—ideally during preparation of the R03 application—because some PDP funders have established review and award timelines.

Components of the PDP

The specific time commitment and components of the applicant’s PDP will be dictated by the candidate’s background, research goals, and career goals. The GEMSSTAR RFA describes the importance of conveying the specific elements of a supportive environment in an applicant’s PDP in Part 2, Section I: Program Description, and in Section IV. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission, Facilities and Other Resources. The support secured for the PDP may be funds, protected time, or a combination commensurate with the activities proposed. Possible suggested PDP components include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Senior collaborator(s) with expertise in research and clinical facets of aging/geriatrics who can provide guidance in specific areas of knowledge and/or expertise that the GEMSSTAR applicant is lacking
  2. Pursuit of an advanced degree; e.g., PhD, MPH, MS
  3. Coursework
  4. Defined training plan with milestones; e.g. publications, presentations, abstracts, grant proposals
  5. Participation in CTSA training, K12 or R25 programs, Older Americans Independence Center (Pepper Center) activities, or other NIH-supported programs
  6. Exposure to geriatrics-related activities: clinics, conferences, assessments, involvement in training activities
  7. Protected time consistent with the proposed professional development activities. Please note that a minimum level of protected time is not specified; rather, the amount of protected time should be commensurate with the candidate's professional development needs and proposed activities.

Resources for PDP Funding

  1. Applicant’s institution or affiliated Veterans Administration hospital
  2. Institutional career development or research education awards (e.g., K12, KL2, R25)
  3. Specialty societies, such as those listed on the American Geriatrics Society (AGS - Jahnigen Career Development Award) website and/or others which may be contacted directly.
  4. Training or research education components within NIA-funded research centers:
    • Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC)
    • Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMARs)
    • Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging
    • Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translation Research in the Behavioral and Social Sciences of Aging
    • Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs)
    • Nathan Shock Centers
  5. Other public or private sources

TIMELINE/DEADLINES

The following table is provided as a summary of the timeline and important dates throughout the GEMSSTAR application process.

Task/Event DATE
Letter of Intent to potential funder(s) of PDP
as early in the application process as possible
Letter of Intent due to NIA (strongly encouraged)
September 2, 2019
R03 Application Due Date (includes Evidence of Supportive Environment attachment (PDP), intended PDP funding source, and PDP-related letters of support)
October 2, 2019
R03 Scientific Peer Review
February 2020
R03 Summary Statements Released
Within 6 weeks after 03 Scientific Peer Review
Applicants notify NIA of Other Support obtained before or after R03 submission (including PDP funding if relevant)
In Just-In-Time submission – requested after Summary Statements posted
Notification of Grant Awards Released (Beginning of Funding)
July – August 2020

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Eligibility

What do you mean by ‘specialist’?

Any physician who has completed residency and/or fellowship training is considered a specialist. Specialties include, but are not limited to, the traditional medical and surgical specialties, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family medicine, general internal medicine, general surgery, geriatrics, hospital medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, palliative medicine, physiatry/rehabilitation medicine, and psychiatry. Those who are trained in general dentistry, or any of the dental specialties (oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, etc.), are also considered specialists.

Are geriatricians eligible to apply?

Yes. Physicians trained in geriatric medicine, alone or in combination with another specialty, are eligible.

Do I need to be board-eligible or board-certified in my specialty to apply?

NIA does not require board certification to apply; however, it is expected that candidates who have completed their clinical specialty training will be at least board-eligible in their specialty.

Is there a time limit after completion of training during which I must apply?

While there is no specific time limit, we expect that the vast majority of candidates will be within a few years of completion of their training. In unusual circumstances, candidates may be more advanced chronologically; however, they should still be early in their careers with respect to aging-related research.

I have been a Principal Investigator on an NIH grant focusing on aging research. Can I apply to the GEMSSTAR program?

The GEMSSTAR award is intended for early career physician- or dentist-scientists aiming to get a "foot in the door" in research related to aging in their clinical specialty area. This award is not intended for candidates who have already received funding as a principal investigator on a NIH aging-related research award (such as individual K awards, R01, P01). However, candidates who have received support through institutional awards, such as KL2, R25, or Older Americans Independence Center awards, may apply. Please contact niagemsstar@mail.nih.gov if you have questions about eligibility in the setting of other awards.

I have been a Principal Investigator on an NIH grant for research unrelated to aging. Can I apply to the GEMSSTAR program?

In unusual circumstances, early career clinician-scientists who have had previous funding in a non-aging-related field may wish to refocus their research efforts on aging-related science. Such candidates must provide a strong and clear explanation for how their proposed research will entail a meaningful shift towards aging-related science within their clinical specialty. The R03 application and the Professional Development Plan should demonstrate how the GEMSSTAR award will allow the candidate to bridge his/her clinical specialty and aging/geriatric science. Merely supplementing one’s current research efforts with aging-related science would not be considered a meaningful shift. The R03 application and Professional Development Plan proposal will be reviewed closely for substantial evidence of a commitment to aging research.

I have been a Principal Investigator on a grant from a non-NIH source. Can I apply to the GEMSSTAR program?

Yes, as long as other eligibility criteria are satisfied.

Can I apply for a mentored K award at the same time that I apply for a GEMSSTAR award?

In certain circumstances, applicants may wish to apply for both a GEMSSTAR award and a mentored K award (e.g., K01, K08, K23, K76) at the same time. This is permissible as long as the applications do not have overlapping or duplicate aims. Moreover, NIH policies for mentored K awards stipulate that 1) any effort outside the mentored K award should be devoted to research pursuits and activities consistent with the objectives of the mentored K award; and 2) a mentored K awardee may not supplement his/her salary with other Federal funds, such as a GEMSSTAR award. Please note: in general, applicants may not receive a GEMSSTAR award if they have already received an independent K, R01, or similar award from NIA. As the GEMSSTAR program is intended to provide a first independent award in aging research, a candidate who competes successfully for such awards from NIA would generally be considered beyond the stage of GEMSSTAR support. If you have questions about eligibility in the setting of other awards, please contact niagemsstar@mail.nih.gov.

I am in the last year of my residency/fellowship training. Can I apply to the GEMSSTAR program?

Yes, as long as you will have a faculty appointment by the start of the GEMSSTAR award. Official documentation of this appointment must be included in your R03 application. A faculty appointment that is conditional on receiving a GEMSSTAR award is not acceptable.

The professional society that represents my clinical specialty does not appear to be involved in GEMSSTAR. Does that mean that I should not apply?

Specialty societies represent only one of many possible sources of funding for the PDP part of the GEMSSTAR program. If your specialty society does not appear to be involved, we encourage you to investigate other potential funders, such as your department chair or other individuals within your institution, foundations, or other public or private sources. In addition, we encourage you to contact your specialty society. The American Geriatrics Society maintains a list and contact information of specialty societies that may support GEMSSTAR PDPs.

Can non-physicians or non-dentists apply?

No. This program is intended for physicians or dentists who have received an M.D., D.O., M.B.B.S., D.D.S., D.M.D or other physician- or dentist-equivalent degrees.

I do not have a medical or dental license. Am I ineligible?

A medical or dental license is not required to apply.

Are foreign medical or dental graduates eligible?

Yes, as long as other eligibility criteria are satisfied.

Are clinician-scientists in other countries eligible?

No. Only candidates at U.S. institutions are eligible.

R03 Application Specifics

What type of budget format should I use?

Please use the Modular Budget format. You can request annual direct costs in multiples of $25,000 up to $100,000.

How should I budget for the GEMSSTAR grantees’ meeting?

Starting in 2015, the NIA began hosting biennial meetings for past and current GEMSSTAR grantees to help promote research career advancement and provide scientific networking opportunities. GEMSSTAR grantees are expected to attend this meeting either in the first or second year of their R03 award. At this point, it is unclear whether the meeting will be held biennially or annually. Therefore, applicants should budget for travel to the meeting in both years of their application. There is no specific line item in which to list travel costs in the Modular Budget format; however, the proposed travel should be included in the budget justification section.

Can I include salary support for me in the budget?

Yes, you can receive salary support from a GEMSSTAR award as long as 1) there is no significant budget or scientific overlap with any concurrent source of funding, and 2) you are not also receiving an NIH mentored K or other award that prohibits salary supplementation from Federal sources.

You say that senior collaborators should have significant experience in aging research. What do you mean by that?

The GEMSSTAR award offers an opportunity for investigators without substantial aging research experience to gain the necessary skills, exposure and pilot data in aging or geriatrics-related research. To achieve this goal, there should be at least one senior research collaborator with such complementary aging research experience as documented through aging-related publications, funding, and resources to be made available to the GEMSSTAR candidate. This information should be conveyed in the senior collaborator’s biographical sketch.

What is the difference between a Letter of Support and a Biographical Sketch, and when should I obtain each of them for the R03 application?

Senior/Key Personnel and Other Significant Contributors on the GEMSSTAR R03 application should provide a Biographical Sketch. The Biographical Sketch should describe each individual’s role and goals in the R03 project, research background, scientific resources to be made available to the GEMSSTAR project, and other pertinent information. For individuals who are not Senior/Key Personnel or Other Significant Contributors but who may have input into the application, a Letter of Support is encouraged. For example, the Division/Department Chair or other Institutional leader may submit a Letter of Support outlining available resources or commitments of protected time for the proposed research. In cases where the applicant is in his/her last year of training, the Department Chair or other Institutional leader must provide a Letter of Support confirming that the applicant has a faculty position beginning no later than the GEMSSTAR award start date (typically July 1). Letters of Support from individuals/mentors involved in the PDP should be included in the ‘Letters of Support’ section of the R03 application, rather than with the PDP.

When does the review take place and when will I hear about my score?

A special emphasis panel of peers selected to review GEMSSTAR applications will convene according to the timeline above. The date of the review and reviewer roster will be available in eRA Commons before the review. Priority scores for the GEMSSTAR applications are typically released within one week after the review, and summary statements of reviewer critiques will be available within 6 weeks after the review. Reviewers will discuss applications in approximately the top 50 percent of preliminary scores, as well as those outside this range that they deem deserving of discussion. All applicants receive a summary statement containing the written critiques of usually 3 reviewers, regardless of whether the application is discussed or not. Applicants are welcome to contact their Program Officer to discuss their application review AFTER their summary statement is released, but information regarding a funding decision will not be available until at least a month after the National Advisory Council on Aging meets.

What are some examples of appropriate research projects?

The following list includes some examples of aging-related research, but it is neither exclusive nor exhaustive:

  1. Characterization of an aging-related disease, condition, syndrome, or phenomenon relevant to a clinical specialty
  2. Pilot investigation of a specialty-related intervention in older adults
  3. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying specialty-related diseases in older age
  4. Identification of predictors and/or outcomes of specialty-related interventions specific to older populations
  5. Development of strategies to address and/or integrate important complexities common in older patients including multiple chronic conditions, polypharmacy, palliative care, multi-specialty guideline integration, and/or preservation of function, cognition and independence for patients within one's clinical specialty.
  6. Multidisciplinary care strategies, including transitions across care settings, to improve outcomes in older patients

Professional Development Plan (PDP)

How does the Professional Development Plan (PDP) relate to the R03 award?

A PDP is an optional, but strongly encouraged, aspect of the GEMSSTAR application. A PDP allows the applicant an opportunity to design a personalized, concurrent training plan in clinical and research aspects of aging/geriatrics that will further enrich his/her growth as a specialist focused on this important niche of his/her field. This separately funded PDP should be complementary to the applicant’s R03 research plan. It is included in the R03 application in the “Facilities and Other Resources” attachment as described in the RFA. Support for a PDP is not included in the NIA R03 budget, but instead should be secured separately by the applicant as described below. PDP support should begin at the start of R03 funding and run concurrently with the 2 year award. Although it is unlikely that applicants’ will have PDP funding secured by the time of R03 submission, applicants should list the potential PDP funding sources they are seeking in their PDP applications. Collaborators and mentors who play a role in an applicant’s PDP should submit a Letter of Support to be included with the R03 application. See the following table comparing the PDP with the remainder of the R03 application:

PDP Portion of the R03 Application Remainder of R03 Application
General description Individualized professional development plan to enhance aging research and/or geriatrics clinical skills. May involve formal coursework, mentorship, conferences, geriatrics clinical exposure, etc. Proposed research project.
Requirement Strongly encouraged Mandatory
Format Placed in the Facilities & Other Resources attachment as a section up to 5 pages titled “Evidence of a Supportive Environment.” Per SF424 Instructions.
Support/Funding Applicant-identified and -secured. May be from a variety of sources. Amount of funding and/or protected time commensurate with proposed plan. Indicate confirmed or proposed sources of PDP support/funding in the PDP portion of the R03 application. Up to $100,000 per year in direct costs for 2 years from NIA
Other personnel Mentorship should be included in needed areas. Mentor(s) could be included as senior/key personnel on the R03 project if appropriate. Senior/key personnel should provide complementary expertise. At least one senior collaborator should have aging-related research expertise.
Letters of Support (LOS)/Biosketches Include LOS from PDP mentor(s) in LOS section of R03 application. Senior/Key personnel should describe roles in Biosketch. LOS are welcome from senior/key personnel to describe support beyond Biosketch, and from department/division Chair and other individuals.
Review Reviewed by NIA staff as part of funding decision. Peer reviewers may also review and comment, but their review should not factor into the R03 priority score. Peer review by GEMSSTAR Special Emphasis Panel, resulting in a priority score with critiques in the summary statement.
Duration, timing 2 years, concurrent with R03 project 2 years
Due Date

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