Notice Number: NOT-DA-10-007

Key Dates
Release Date:  January 26, 2010
Receipt Date: April 2, 2010
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: June 1, 2010

Issued by
National Institutes of Health Blueprint for Neuroscience Research (http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://www.NCCAM.gov)
National Center for Research Resources (http://www.NCRR.gov)
National Eye Institute (http://www.NEI.gov)
National Institute on Aging (http://www.NIA.gov)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (http://www.NIAAA.gov)
National Institute on Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (http://www.NIBIB.gov)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (http://www.NICHD.gov)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (http://www.NIDA.gov)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (http://www.NIDCD.gov)
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (http://www.NIDCR.gov)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (http://www.NIEHS.gov)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (http://www.NIGMS.gov)
National Institute of Mental Health (http://www.NIMH.gov)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (http://www.NINDS.gov)
National Institute of Nursing Research (http://www.NINR.gov)
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (http://obssr.od.nih.gov)

Purpose

The National Institutes of Health Blueprint for Neuroscience Research announces an administrative supplement program of $600,000 in Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 to provide funds to Blueprint Institute-supported research education projects (see Eligibility section below).
The purpose of this program is to create and broadly disseminate materials/programs to inform students and teachers in kindergarten-12th grade about the field of neuroscience.

Background

The NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research (http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/) is a collaborative framework that includes the NIH Office of the Director and the NIH Institutes and Centers that support research on the nervous system. By pooling resources and expertise, the Blueprint identifies cross-cutting areas of research, and confronts challenges too large for any single Institute or Center. Since its inception in 2004, the Blueprint has supported the development of new tools, training opportunities and other resources to assist neuroscientists. In 2009, the Blueprint Grand Challenges were launched to catalyze research with the potential to transform our basic understanding of the brain and our approaches to treating brain disorders. 

In addition to promoting cutting edge neuroscience research, the Blueprint recognizes the importance of improving science education in order to maintain U.S. competitiveness and meet future demands in the international technology marketplace.  In order for NIH to fulfill its mission, there is a need to ensure that adequate numbers of students are entering science education tracks and eventually pursuing careers in biomedical sciences.  This science literacy should not only include basic science knowledge, but also an understanding of the process of biomedical research and an ability to evaluate the quality of research studies that are reported in the media.

It is also important to the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research that all members of society understand the role of science, biology, and technology as they relate neuroscience. There is a lack of public understanding of research in general, including the role of research in improving health.  By educating school children, it is likely that we will reach the adults in their lives as well.

To address these areas, this initiative provides Administrative Supplement support for innovative and novel activities that will promote neuroscience learning in the kindergarten-12th grade through NIH funded R25 grants, including the Science Education Drug Abuse Partnership Award (SEDAPA) and Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA).

Eligibility

The current announcement is for supplements to NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Institutes R25 science education grants.

To be eligible, the parent grant must be active, and the science education project proposed in the supplement must be accomplished within the competitive segment. The proposed supplement MUST be within the general scope of the peer-reviewed activities and aims approved within the parent grant, including projects on a no-cost extension; while supplemental funds may be awarded to grants during a no-cost extension, the period of support cannot extend beyond the award period for the additional time that was granted.  Note that while NIH recommends that a no-cost extension already be in place before an administrative supplement request is submitted, this is not a requirement for all administrative supplement requests.

Institutions may submit more than one supplement request but only one supplement will be funded for each NIH funded R25 grant.

IMPORTANT:  The research proposed by the NIH grantee in the supplement application must be within the original scope of the NIH-supported grant project.  The funding mechanism being used to support this program, administrative supplements, can be used to cover cost increases that are associated with achieving certain new research objectives as long as they are within the original scope of the project.  Any cost increases need to result from making modifications to the project in order to take advantage of opportunities that would increase the value of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes.

The funding method being used to support this program, administrative supplements, can be used to cover cost increases that are associated with increasing the speed of projects funded under the parent grant and/or achieving certain new science education objectives as long as they are within the scope of the parent project.  Some examples of the types of supplements that could be appropriate include, but are not limited to, hiring additional personnel or funding investments in equipment and technology to leverage the goals of the project or to enhance energy efficiency of the conduct of the project. Any cost increases need to result from making modifications to the parent project in order to take advantage of opportunities that would increase the value of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes or to accelerate the tempo of science education activities.   

Areas of Interest

NIH intends to accept applications for supplements under this notice in order to promote science education in the field of neuroscience for children in grades K-12.  Examples of responsive projects include, but are not limited to:

• Support specific neuroscience focused components to curricula developed through an NIH R25 grant such as a SEPA/SEDAPA.  
• Develop neuroscience education programs for low literacy students.
• Develop new or expand existing Teacher Professional Development programs for neuroscience content and pedagogy. 
• Develop interactive and inquiry-based neuroscience curricula for elementary school students.
• Develop web based education material or educational games for middle and/or high school students based on neuroscience.
• Expand the content of existing SEPA/SEDAPA-funded science museum exhibits or develop traveling versions of their existing SEPA/SEDAPA exhibits to include neuroscience related topics.

Submitting an Administrative Supplement Request

To be considered for an administrative supplement, submit a request in writing to the Institute/Center, not to the Division of Receipt and Referral, Center for Scientific Review. The request must be signed by the authorized Business Official and describe the need for additional funding and the categorical costs.

Requests under this notice should use the PHS 398 forms; available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html) and include the following elements in the request packet. 

1) Cover Letter - Citing this Notice (NOT-DA-10-007), specify a request for a NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Administrative Supplement for R25 Science Education, and the following information:

• Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) name;
• Parent grant number and title;
• Amount of the requested supplement;
• Name and title of the institutional official; and
• Phone, email, and address information for both the PD/PI and institutional official. 

The cover letter must be signed by the authorized organizational representative/institutional official.

2) PHS 398 Form Page 1 (Face page)

• The title of the project (Box 1) should be the title of the parent award.
• This Notice (number and title, “Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for R25 Science Education Grants) should be cited in Box 2, and the “yes” box should be checked.
• The Project Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PDs/PIs) must be the same as the PD/PI on the parent award.  
• The remaining items on the face page should be filled out in accordance with the PHS 398 application instructions.

3) PHS 398 Form page 2
Note: The project “summary” is that of the administrative supplement, not the parent grant.

4) A brief proposal describing the project, including:

a) Scope of the overall project and the anticipated contribution of the requested supplement (not to exceed five pages). Provide a brief description of the scope of the overall project on which the supplemental request is based.  This section should include a description of the supplement’s purpose, including proposed science education activities and how they improve neuroscience education/knowledge.  Describe the relationship of the supplement request to the parent grant. 

b) Budget for the supplement with a justification that details the items requested, including Facilities and Administrative costs.  See Budget and Funding Information below.

c) Biographical Sketch for all new key personnel (those who are additions on the supplemental project)

d) Human Subjects/ Vertebrate Animal documentation (if applicable). Include a current Human Subjects/IRB or Vertebrate Animals/IACUC approval letter, if available. Otherwise, this will be required at the time of funding. All appropriate IRB and IACUC approvals must be in place prior to a supplement award being made. 

Any differences in the involvement or use of human subjects or specimens, or use of vertebrate animals, between the administrative supplement activity and the parent grant should be noted.  When appropriate, details should be provided on the protection of human subjects and inclusion of women, children, and minorities.  Additional guidance on Human Subjects Research and Vertebrate Animals is provided under Part II of the PHS 398 instructions (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html).  

e) PHS 398 Checklist Form

Selection Factors

Administrative supplement requests will be reviewed administratively by NIH Program and Grants Management staff with expertise relevant to the supplement request.  Awards will be determined on the basis of the merit of the supplement request, its applicability to the goals of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience, and the availability of funds. Awards will be determined by a review committee convened by the Blueprint institutes. Applicants will be notified regarding the review outcome.  Selection factors will include the following:

• Relevance of the proposed activities to the parent grant.
• Adequate progress of the parent grant appropriate to the current stage of the project.
• Appropriate and well-described plan to accomplish the goals within the timeframe proposed.
• Expertise of the education/scientific team proposed to conduct and achieve the goals the supplemental study.
• Relevance to target areas/priorities of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research.

While geographic variation will be considered in awarding supplemental funding, a proposal’s educational/scientific merit will always be the prevailing criterion.

Budget and Funding Information

For FY 2010 and FY 2011 $600,000 will be available for administrative supplements to existing research projects.  The administrative supplements are limited to no more than 25 percent of the Council-approved direct costs for the current budget year of the project, up to a maximum of $75,000. Supplements may be requested for up to two years but may not extend beyond FY 2011.  It is anticipated that supplemental funding will begin in FY 2010.

How to Apply

This is a one-time announcement.  Applications must be received on or before April 2, 2010.  Do not send applications to the NIH Center for Scientific Review.  Submit one original, hard copy of the request packet (with original signatures of the authorized business official) to the Grants Management Specialist noted on the Notice of Award of the parent grant.

In addition, applicants are encouraged to send an electronic copy of the submitted supplement request as an e-mail attachment in PDF format to the program and grants management contacts listed below under “Inquiries.”

Inquiries

Inquiries and discussion of plans for responding to this Notice are strongly encouraged.

Cathrine Sasek, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
Address: 6001 Executive Blvd
Bethesda, MD 20892-9591
EXPRESS/COURIER:  Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (301); 443-6071 Fax: (301) 443-6277
Email: csasek@nih.gov    

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	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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