Notice Number: NOT-DA-15-073
Key Dates
Release Date: June 12, 2015
RFA-DA-15-007
Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Purpose
The purpose of this Notice is to modify the instructions for providing information about a Program Director/Principal Investigator's (PD/PI's) accomplishments and biographical sketch to align with the requirements for the new biographical sketch format that was effective as of May 25, 2015 (see NOT-OD-15-032).
Current language
Part 2. Section IV.2 Instructions for Application Submission
SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Profile - Project Director/Principal Investigator Field - Attach Biographical Sketch: Attach the biographical sketch of the PD/PI using the sample format on the Biographical Sketch Format Page shown in the Application Guide, omitting Section A (Personal Statement) and Section D (Research Support). No biographical sketches of potential collaborators or other key personnel are to be submitted and will not be accepted.
Profile - Project Director/Principal Investigator Field - Current and Pending Support: Attach a list of Current and Pending Support from all sources, including current year direct costs and percent effort devoted to each project. A statement must be included that, if chosen to receive an award, the applicant will commit a minimum of 25% of his/her research effort to the project supported by the Avant-Garde Award Program for HIV/AIDS Research.
Profile - Senior Key Person 1: Do not use. Submit information only for PD(s)/PI(s). Information on collaborators or other key personnel is not required but may be included in the Essay.
Revised language
Part 2. Section IV.2 Instructions for Application Submission
SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Profile - Project Director/Principal Investigator Field - Current and Pending Support: Attach a list of Current and Pending Support from all sources, including current year direct costs and percent effort devoted to each project.
Profile - Senior Key Person 1: Do not use. Submit information only for PD(s)/PI(s). Information on collaborators or other key personnel is not required but may be included in the Essay.
Current Language
PHS 398 Research Plan
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Research Strategy: Upload Essay here. Submit an essay that addresses (1) the significance and potential impact of the project to open new areas of HIV/AIDS research and/or lead to new avenues for treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS among substance abusers and, (2) what makes the approaches exceptionally innovative and how the applicant will address risks and challenges, and (3) the applicant’s qualifications for this award. The description of the scientific plan should be written with a level of detail appropriate for reviewers who are broadly knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse but who may not be directly involved in the proposed area of research. To focus the essay on the goals of the Avenir Award program and the review criteria for applications, presentation of the proposed research as a series of specific aims is discouraged. Preliminary data are allowed but not required. The essay should include the following sections within the page limit, in the following order, with the headings shown:
Project Description: Describe the scientific problem that you propose to address, its importance, and how solving this problem would have a major impact on HIV/AIDS prevention and/or treatment in substance using populations. Why is the planned research uniquely suited to the Avenir Award program, rather than a traditional grant mechanism? How is this project distinct from other research that may be supported in your laboratory or research group?
Innovativeness: The essay should describe the individual's view of the major challenges in HIV/AIDS biomedical or behavioral research to which he/she can make seminal contributions. State clearly and concisely what makes your project unusually innovative. If the approaches entail a high degree of risk, what will you do if these approaches are not successful?
Investigator Qualifications: Provide evidence to support your claim of innovativeness and creativity in your research. For example, which personal qualities and experiences demonstrate your inclination to challenge paradigms and take intellectual risks, develop unique collaborations, integrate diverse sources of information, or develop novel approaches when new challenges or opportunities arise?
Note: Information on collaborations may be included in the essay. Bibliographic citations are not required but if included must fit within the page limit. Figures and illustrations may be included but must also fit within the page limit. Do not include links to websites to provide further information. No animations (movies) are allowed in any documents.
Letters of Support: Provide letters of support from significant collaborators for the Avenir Award project.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:
Generally, Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and GWAS Sharing Plan) are expected, but for this FOA, the resource sharing plans will be requested as just-in-time information if an award is being considered.
Appendix: Appendix materials are not allowed
Revised language
PHS 398 Research Plan
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Research Strategy: Upload Essay here. Submit an essay that addresses (1) the significance and potential impact of the project to open new areas of HIV/AIDS research and/or lead to new avenues for treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS among substance abusers and, (2) what makes the approaches exceptionally innovative and how the applicant will address risks and challenges, and (3) the applicant’s qualifications for this award. The description of the scientific plan should be written with a level of detail appropriate for reviewers who are broadly knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse but who may not be directly involved in the proposed area of research. To focus the essay on the goals of the Avenir Award program and the review criteria for applications, presentation of the proposed research as a series of specific aims is discouraged. Preliminary data are allowed but not required. The essay should include the following sections within the page limit, in the following order, with the headings shown:
Statement of research effort commitment: A statement must be included that, if chosen to receive an award, the applicant will commit a minimum of 25% of his/her research effort to the project supported by the Avenir Award Program for HIV/AIDS Research. Applications without such a statement will be considered incomplete.
Project Description: Describe the scientific problem that you propose to address, its importance, and how solving this problem would have a major impact on HIV/AIDS prevention and/or treatment in substance using populations. Why is the planned research uniquely suited to the Avenir Award program, rather than a traditional grant mechanism? How is this project distinct from other research that may be supported in your laboratory or research group?
Innovativeness: The essay should describe the individual's view of the major challenges in HIV/AIDS biomedical or behavioral research to which he/she can make seminal contributions. State clearly and concisely what makes your project unusually innovative. If the approaches entail a high degree of risk, what will you do if these approaches are not successful?
Investigator Qualifications: Provide evidence to support your claim of innovativeness and creativity in your research. For example, which personal qualities and experiences demonstrate your inclination to challenge paradigms and take intellectual risks, develop unique collaborations, integrate diverse sources of information, or develop novel approaches when new challenges or opportunities arise?
Note: Information on collaborations may be included in the essay. Bibliographic citations are not required but if included must fit within the page limit. Figures and illustrations may be included but must also fit within the page limit. Do not include links to websites to provide further information. No animations (movies) are allowed in any documents.
Letters of Support: Provide letters of support from significant collaborators for the Avenir Award project.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:
Generally, Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and GWAS Sharing Plan) are expected, but for this FOA, the resource sharing plans will be requested as just-in-time information if an award is being considered.
Appendix: Appendix materials are not allowed.
All other aspects of this FOA remain the same.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Lynda Erinoff, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-402-1972
Email: lerinoff@nida.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
