Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know about Research

Grant Supplements

National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse

May 22, 2003

Richard A. Millstein, J.D.

Deputy Director, NIDA

NIH, DHHS

Supplements…

• Occasions arise when investigators believe that their approved budgets are not sufficient. NIH has a process that allows consideration for existing budgets to receive additional funds, a “supplement”.

• There are two types of supplements– Competitive Supplements– Administrative Supplements

Competitive Supplements

• “A request for an increase in support in a current budget period for expansion of the project’s approved scope of research protocol” (NIH Grants Policy Statement)

• Applicant initiates and submits on PHS 398 for peer review

• Expands beyond scope of “parent grant” but work is closely tied to it.

Changes in Scope

• Change in specific aims• Change from the approved use of animals

or human subjects• Shift of research emphasis from one disease

area to another• Transfer of substantive programmatic work

to a third party

[examples from NIH Grants Policy Statement]

Administrative Supplements

• “A request for additional funding for a current budget period to meet increased costs that are within the scope of the approved application but that were unforeseen…” (NIH Grants Policy Statement)

• Applicant initiates and submits for internal review

Examples of unforeseen costs

• Salary increases• Loss of equipment originally available from

other sources (a facility closes, earthquake damage)

• Correcting errors in recommendations or awards

• Orderly termination• Bridge Funding

Administrative Supplements for Special Purposes

• NIH allows use of Administrative Supplements to achieve special purposes

• NIDA uses Administrative Supplements for these NIH-wide purposes, as well as for on-going programs and one-time applications.

NIH-wide Administrative Supplement Programs

• Underrepresented Minorities

• Individuals with Disabilities

• Re-entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers

These provide supplies, salary, and travel to allow research directly related to on-going research of parent grant.

NIDA Administrative Supplements

• AIDS Supplements

• Methamphetamine

• Animal Models

• Health Disparities

• International Collaborations

• South Africa Initiative

• World Trade Center Disaster

NIDA Dollars: “Special Supplement Programs”

NIDA Dollars for “Regular” Administrative Supplements

NIDA Dollars for Supplements FY 2000-2002

Council’s Role

• Consider competitive supplements along with competing grant applications

• Advise and approve administrative supplements

• Delegated authority for some administrative supplements to NIDA staff

Council’s Delegations: Subject to budget thresholds, staff may

approve--• Increases of salary & fringe benefits• Replacement of lost or broken equipment• Correction of errors or oversights in

applications, study section recommendations, or awards

• Orderly termination & bridge funding• Some modifications in scope to take

advantage of opportunities

Council Delegations: Council Reserved Its Approval for---

• Any supplement for 25% or more of the direct costs for the year to which the supplement is attached

• Any supplement of $100,000 or more in direct costs for any year

Electronic Tracking

Updating Supplement: DESPR/PRB DA R01 12345-01

% of parent grant: ___

Take Home Messages

• Supplements serve a range of purposes• Administrative and competitive

supplements are distinct• NIDA is implementing more systematic

tracking, analysis, and oversight of the supplement award process

• Relevance to budget scenarios in the post-NIH doubled budget years.