Notice Number: NOT-DK-09-002

Key Dates
Release Date:  January 27, 2009

Issued by
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/ )

Purpose

Background

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), intends to promote a new initiative by publishing a Request for Applications (RFA) to solicit applications for P30 Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORC). The Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition (DDN) of the NIDDK will combine two existing centers programs, Clinical Nutrition Research Units (CNRUs) and Obesity Nutrition Research Centers (ONRCs) into one centers program titled Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs).  NORCs will use the P30 core center grant mechanism which provides support for shared resources termed “cores” that enhance productivity and benefit a group of investigators working to accomplish the stated goals of the center

The NORC guidelines will be broad and encompass scientific areas previously supported by the CNRU and ONRC programs.  A NORC can be established to support mainly nutritional sciences research without an obesity research program; a NORC can have a research concentration in the area of obesity research; or a NORC can support a combination of both nutritional sciences and obesity research. NORCs are not intended to support research programs that meet guidelines of other ongoing NIDDK centers programs, including the NIDDK Diabetes Centers Program (Diabetes Endocrinology Research Centers , Diabetes Research and Training Centers) or the NIDDK Digestive Diseases Centers.

This notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. 

The RFA is expected to be published in May 2009 with an expected receipt date in November 2009.

This RFA will utilize the P30 mechanism. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights in the areas of nutrition and/or obesity to begin to consider applying for this new RFA.  NORCs are intended to integrate, coordinate, and foster interdisciplinary basic and clinical research by a group of established investigators actively conducting programs of important, high-quality research that is related to a common nutritional sciences and/or obesity theme. NORCs are also intended to improve the quality and multidisciplinary nature of research in nutritional sciences and/or obesity by providing shared access to specialized technical resources and expertise. These centers provide increased, cost effective, collaboration among multidisciplinary groups of investigators at institutions with an established, comprehensive research base in nutritional sciences and/or obesity and related areas.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Interested parties may contact:

Carolyn W. Miles, Ph.D.
Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Room 665
Bethesda, MD 20892-5450
Telephone (301) 451-2759
FAX: (301) 480-8300
Email: cm 294e@nih.gov

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
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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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