Vision Research - Training, Individual

The mission of the National Eye Institute is to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research. To achieve this mission, NEI provides leadership to: 1) Drive innovative research to understand the eye and visual system, prev

The mission of the National Eye Institute is to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research. The goal is to drive innovative research to understand the eye and visual system, prevent and treat vision diseases, and expand opportunities for people who are blind or require vision rehabilitation. Institutional Training, 1) support eye and vision research projects that address the leading causes of blindness and impaired vision in the U.S. These include, but are not limited to, retinal diseases; corneal diseases; cataract; glaucoma and optic neuropathies; strabismus; amblyopia; and low vision and blindness rehabilitation. 2) To increase understanding of the normal development and function of the visual system in order to better prevent, diagnose, and treat sight-threatening conditions; and, to enhance the rehabilitation, training, and quality of life of individuals who are partially-sighted or blind. 3) To encourage research training and career development in the sciences related to vision; provide mentored research experience to students and scientists at various stages of their careers.

Description of who is eligible to apply will be published in the NOFO. Institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other institutions and organizations, both nonprofit and for-profit, seeking to establish, continue, or enlarge programs consistent with the objectives of the program. Applicants for NRSA must be citizens of the United States or be admitted to the United States for permanent residency. Applicants must be nominated and sponsored by a public or private nonprofit institution with staff and facilities suitable for the proposed research training. Nonprofit domestic organizations may apply for the institutional NRSA. Research Career Development: Applications may be submitted on behalf of candidates by domestic, nonfederal organizations, public or private institutions of higher education.

Description of how funding may be used can be found in the NIH Grants Policy Statement at https://grants.nih.gov/policy-and-compliance/nihgps, the NOFO, and the NIH Research and Career Development website at https://grants.nih.gov/funding/funding-categories/research-training-and-career-development.

The following consideration will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Applicant's potential for a productive independent scientific research career (2) Adequacy of the sponsor's expertise, experience and mentoring plan (3) Technical merit of the proposed research project and how the completion will contribute to the candidate's development as a research scientist; (4) Likelihood the award will enhance the Principal Investigator's advancement to the next career stage in the biomedical research workforce (5) Adequacy of Institutional resources, facilities, and commitment to the PIs research training plan (6) Availability of funds; and (7) Relevance to program priorities.

All applications are evaluated by scientific authorities for scientific and technical merit. Applications must also be reviewed by the National Advisory Eye Council. All competitive applications compete for available funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit, program relevance, and program balance.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

Renewals are determined at the level of the NOFO.

A principal investigator may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff of the Institute. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH homepage http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-11-064.html