The Diversity Program Consortium (DPC) Dissemination and Translation Awards (DaTA) initiative is designed to broaden the consortium’s national impact. The DPC DaTA initiative provides an opportunity for institutions not currently part of the DPC to apply for funding to take a rigorous scientific approach to understanding the effectiveness of a biomedical research training, mentoring, or research capacity building intervention by employing DPC experimental methods (see DPC data elements/survey instruments and hallmarks of success).

Funded programs must:

• Conduct hypothesis-driven research;
• use rigorous DPC methods for evaluation (e.g., the use of matched controls and/or comparison groups); and,
• disseminate the results to inform the biomedical community on what factors enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce and why those factors have an influence.

Research results are expected to move beyond participation satisfaction, self-reporting of perceived skills gained, or self-reporting of effectiveness. Accordingly, the interventions are to be centered not only on psychosocial factors but also on outcomes.

The interventions should:

• Inform the field about the effectiveness of the duration, frequency, and intensity of the intervention and whether those effects can be enhanced by reinforcement sessions;
• provide the scientific community with sound evidence of short-, medium-, and long-term effects of the efficacy of the interventions; and,
• be cost-effective, practical, realistic, scalable, and sustainable at a broad range of institutions.

NIH intends to fund primarily undergraduate institutions with a commitment to providing educational opportunities to research-oriented students from diverse backgrounds (see NIH’s Interest in Diversity). Eligible institutions are expected to be:

• Domestic associate’s degree-granting and/or baccalaureate degree-granting colleges/universities that received an average of NIH research project grant funding of less than $7.5 million total costs per year over the past 3 fiscal years; and,
• have at least 25 percent of undergraduate students supported by Pell grants.

These awards will be cooperative agreements, which means that there will be substantial federal scientific or programmatic involvement. NIH scientific and/or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in the project activities.

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 3 years. The DPC DaTA program is not intended for professional schools or Phase I awardees of the DPC. Application budgets are limited to $250K with no funds allowable for alterations and renovations, large equipment, and student financial support.

For more information about the DPC DaTA program, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, RFA-RM-19-003, or contact Dr. Anissa J. Brown at anissa.brown@nih.gov.

Additional information can be found in the RFA available at RFA-RM-19-003.

On July 17, NIGMS staff will offer a webinar to provide an overview of the program and explain application expectations and requirements for the upcoming Oct. 8, 2019 receipt date.