ELSI Congress Pre-Application Webinar FAQ
On September 23, 2024, The NHGRI ELSI Program hosted a pre-application webinar to provide an overview of a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the ELSI Congress to support the organization of the next series of ELSI Congress meetings in 2026, 2028 and 2030.
The following questions were answered during the webinar.
The funding opportunity states that $350K direct costs is the budget limit during the year in which the conference is held. But planning for the conference will need to begin the year before. How should this be addressed in the application?
The applications will be reviewed in March 2025 and discussed at the NHGRI Council meeting in May 2025. An award will be made during the summer of 2025. The first meeting organized under this award should occur during the first year of the project. If the first conference was planned for spring or summer of 2026, then planning could start as soon as the award was issued which would likely allow at least 9 months of planning.
In terms of the budget, direct costs may only be awarded and spent during the budget year(s) of the grant when the conference is actually being held. Please note that this funding opportunity is for a biennial meeting held every other year. In award periods in which a meeting is not held, please enter either $0 or $1 in the budget section. In addition, please note that conference grants do not allow for Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs, also known as indirect costs. Please note, pre-award spending in anticipation of an award is allowed with caveats.
See NIH Grants Policy StatementWhat should be included in the one-page Diversity Plan? How should applicants from states that have restrictions on diversity statements approach the Diversity Plan?
The Diversity Plan is required for all NIH conference grant applications. Applications that do not include a Diversity Plan will be withdrawn prior to peer review and not considered for funding. Please note that consistent with NIH practice and applicable law, funded programs may not use the race, ethnicity, or sex of prospective program participants as an eligibility or selection criteria. The race, ethnicity, or sex of participants will not be considered by NIH in the application review process or when making funding decisions.
Per the funding opportunity instructions in Section IV, the Diversity Plan must specifically describe plans to enhance diversity by broadening the participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups (e.g., underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and women) in the selection of and/or the makeup of the ELSI Congress meeting:
- Organizing committee
- Speakers
- Invited attendees (e.g., plenary speakers, panel discussants, etc.)
- In-person and remote audiences
Applicants should consider the geographical conference area from where anticipated attendees will come, the expected size and composition of the audience, as well as the methods of selection in describing efforts under the Diversity Plan and how these efforts will be assessed afterwards. Where applicable, applicants should describe the success of previous strategies to enhance diversity in the planning and implementation of conferences.
What information is required to obtain the permission-to-submit letter?
A permission-to-submit letter is required for all NIH conference grant applications. Applications that do not include the required permission-to-submit letter will be withdrawn prior to review and will not be considered for funding. Please contact Nicole Lockhart at lockhani@mail.nih.gov by 10/8/24 with the following information to receive a permission-to-submit letter:
- Name of the planned Principal Investigator
- Name of the Applicant Institution
- Brief description (1 paragraph or less) of the conference
Once this information is received, Nicole Lockhart or a designee from NHGRI will provide the permission-to-submit letter that must be included as a cover letter within the application.
What key details should I keep in mind if I would like to apply for the ELSI Congress funding opportunity (RFA-HG-24-028)?
Before deciding to apply and submit, please make sure you read the entire funding opportunity! Please contact Nicole (lockhani@mail.nih.gov) no later than 10/8/24 to obtain a permission-to-submit letter. Applications for the ELSI Congress must include a cover letter containing the permission-to-submit letter, a 1-page Diversity Plan, and a 1-page Dissemination plan. Feel free to set up a call with Nicole to discuss and get feedback on your specific aims. Applications are due November 19, 2024.
Who should I contact with questions about this funding opportunity (RFA-HG-24-028)?
Please contact Nicole Lockhart (lockhani@mail.nih.gov) with any questions that are programmatic or scientific in nature.
Please contact Deanna Ingersoll (Deanna.Ingersoll@nih.gov) about financial or grants management questions.
Please contact Rudy Pozzatti (pozzattr@exchange.nih.gov) with questions related to peer review.
Last updated: October 11, 2024