Institutional letter of Support

Many new and renewal NIH training applications require a combined Institutional Letter of Support signed by the Executive Vice Chancellor that describes all institutional resources supporting the planned training program and its trainees as well as how the program strategically fits within the overall training grant landscape of campus. This single institutional support letter replaces the former process of collecting multiple letters of support from across campus.

To obtain the most current version of the Institutional Letter of Support template, please complete this brief form and the current template will be emailed to you as a GoogleDoc link within 10 business days. This will kick off the collaborative editing process within the GoogleDoc, where the PI/PD and staff will make edits and add detailed program information directly into the shared document.

At least four weeks prior to the submission deadline, once the PI/PD has tailored the letter to their specific program (no longer than 10-pages), tag Jill Vampola jweller@ucsd.edu in the GoogleDoc or email the link back to us. The letter then will be reviewed, approved, routed for signature, and then returned to the PI/PD and staff for inclusion in the proposal.

Depending on program particulars, the review process may involve the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, Department Chairs, School Deans, and the appropriate sponsored projects office prior to routing to the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor for final signature.

Institutional Support Letter – (not to exceed 10 pages). A signed letter on institutional letterhead from a President, Provost, Dean or key institutional leader that describes the activities and resources provided by the institution that will ensure the success of the planned training program and its trainees. Organizational Support Letter Template Request Form

Institutional commitment to the following areas should be described in the letter:

Developing and promoting a culture in which the highest standards of scientific rigor, reproducibility and responsible conduct are advanced.
Ensuring sufficient resources and support will be available to the training faculty and trainees, for example, to permit early stage faculty to participate in training and trainees to continue in training if their mentors experience a hiatus in research funding.
Supporting core facilities and technology resources and describing how they can be used to enhance training.
Providing adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources to the planned program.
Supporting the PDs/PIs and other key staff associated with the planned training program; ensuring faculty have protected time available to devote to mentoring, training and research; considering activities integral to excellent training (such as teaching and mentorship) in tenure and promotion decisions.
Promoting safe and supportive research training environments at all levels (trainees, staff, faculty, and leadership); ensuring the research facilities and laboratory practices promote the safety of trainees (see The NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 4 regarding NIH recipient institutions expectations to provide safe and healthful working condition for their employees and foster work environments conducive to high-quality research.
Ensuring that proper policies, procedures, and oversight are in place to prevent discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices and to appropriately respond to allegations of such discriminatory practices, including providing any required notifications to NIH (NOT-OD-19-056) or OCR (e.g., see NOT-OD-15-152).
Providing the types and levels of support necessary for trainees to successfully complete the research training program.
Supporting evaluation of the training program and procedures for responding to evaluation findings.

Resources

PAR-19-102
NOT-GM-19-017

Got Questions?

Contact UCSD Training Grant Office