NINDS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENTS FOR RESEARCH ON HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

Release Date:  December 18, 2001

NOTICE:  NOT-NS-02-007

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
 (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) announces 
a program for administrative supplements to foster basic and applied research 
on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and to allow investigators not 
currently working on hESCs to join the field.  This supplemental funding 
initiative is issued in response to recommendations from DHHS Secretary 
Thompson calling for funding studies to compare the behavior of hESCs with 
that of other human stem cells, and stem cells from non-human species.  This 
program is intended to facilitate research within ongoing, peer-reviewed 
projects that have Specific Aims on stem cell biology, or Specific Aims that 
may translate to the use of stem cells in pre-clinical studies of 
neurological dysfunction. These one-time supplements are intended to help 
NINDS grantees develop preliminary data for new applications to NINDS.  
Principal Investigators (PIs) funded by NINDS with Research Project (R01), 
Exploratory/Developmental (R21), Phase II SBIR (R44), Program Project (P01), 
and Specialized Center (P50 or U54) grants are eligible to apply.  To be 
eligible, projects must have a Project Period End Date of April 30, 2003, or 
later (a no-cost extension beyond that date does not confer eligibility).  
Only research using hES cell lines registered in the NIH Registry will be 
eligible for funding.  Each approved cell line is specifically identified in 
the Registry, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the 
official identifier(s) for their hESC lines as found in the NIH Registry 
(http://escr.nih.gov/).  Applications that do not provide this information 
will be returned without review.

Evidence should be presented that the results of the supplemental assistance 
will enhance the pursuit of the Specific Aims of the research project, 
without constituting an expansion of scope.  Supplements are one-time awards 
and will not extend to subsequent budget periods.  

Specific examples of supplemental requests that may be considered include, 
but are not limited to:

o Studies on the basic cellular and molecular biology of hESCs within the 
framework of the existing project.

o Analysis of hESCs behavior in animal models of injury or disease in the 
nervous system. Examples of these conditions include stroke, spinal cord and 
traumatic brain injury, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, 
Ataxia Telangiectasia, and Multiple Sclerosis. 

o Requests within existing grants on the development of biomarkers or genetic 
tools for identifying, harvesting, purifying, and expanding hESCs and/or 
their differentiating progeny.

How to Apply: Submission of requests should be made electronically.  Send an 
email message to:  ehscsupplement@ninds.nih.gov with the PI's name (last, first) 
and grant number on the subject line.  Include the following items in an 
attached file in MSWord, WordPerfect, or PDF format.  Please note:  the e-mail 
address is case sensitive; use lower case only. 

1) A cover page citing this NOTICE and requesting an administrative 
supplement. Include the PI name, grant number and title, amount requested, 
name and title of the institutional official, and phone, email, and address 
information for the PI and institutional official.  For P01s, P50s, and U54s 
the overall project PI must submit the request for a supplement. 

2) A letter (5-page limit) describing the proposed experiments and their 
relationship to the original project Specific Aims, a brief discussion of the 
significance of the proposed research, and a budget with justifications.

In addition, an original cover letter signed by the PI and countersigned by 
the institutional official should be submitted by mail.  The requested letter 
is not the cover page of the original grant, but is specific for this 
supplemental application.  This documentation is required for the issuance of 
an award, and should be sent to Dr. Arlene Chiu, listed at the end of this 
notice.  The application should be formatted as a memo or letter and provide 
the information listed above.  PIs should not submit a request electronically 
until the institutional business office has reviewed and approved the 
request.  Applicants unable to submit electronic applications should submit a 
complete written application addressed to the same NINDS contact.

Budget Information:  For FY 2002, the NINDS will commit $1 million (total costs) 
to fund applications for supplements submitted in response to this Notice.  The 
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation will commit $250,000, and the ALS 
Association and the A-T Children’s Project each will commit $50,000.  Although 
the financial plans of the NINDS and the Foundations provide support for this 
program, awards pursuant to this Notice are contingent upon the availability 
of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of applications high scientific 
merit.

Supplements will be awarded as TOTAL COSTS, and are one-time awards. Any 
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs should be included in the modular 
request, and may not be added to it.  For R01s, R21s, and R44s the maximum 
request is $50,000.  For P01s, P50s, and U54s the maximum is $100,000.  
Although the awarded budgets will be modular, applicants should provide budget 
justification that details the budget items requested, including F&A costs.

Review Procedures:  Requests will be reviewed administratively.  Review 
criteria will include the scientific significance and relevance to program 
priorities of the institute. 

Post-Award Requirements: A short, 1-page progress report addressing the 
results of the supplement will be required.  It should be included as an 
addition to the next progress report of the parent grant, submitted after the 
one year supplement.

Receipt Date:         February 15, 2002
Earliest Award Date:  May 15, 2002

Inquiries:  A website with Frequently Asked Question's about the program 
has been provided at:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/stem_cell_faqs.htm.

Direct inquiries regarding scientific issues to: 

Dr. Arlene Y. Chiu
Program Director, Repair and Plasticity Program
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd. NSC Rm. 2205
Bethesda, MD  20892
Tel:  (301) 496-1447
Fax:  (301) 480-1080
Email:  chiua@ninds.nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding application issues to:

Dr. Meredith Temple
Program Analyst, Repair and Plasticity Program
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd. NSC Rm. 2227
Bethesda, MD  20892
Tel:  (301) 496-1447
Fax:  (301) 480-1080
Email:  templem@ninds.nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: 

Rita Sisco
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 
6001 Executive Blvd., NSC 3290 
Bethesda, Maryland  20892 
Tel:  301-496-9231
Fax:  301-402-0219
Email:  rr46w@nih.gov

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