Notice of Intent to Publish Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Research Projects FOA

Notice Number: NOT-RM-12-025

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

• August 22, 2012 - See Issuance of RFA-RM-12-007, Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): H3Africa Research Grants (U01).

Release Date: May 25, 2012

RFA-RM-12-004

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund)

The NIH Common Fund, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust, will shortly be funding the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative which was launched in 2010. H3Africa was designed to facilitate a contemporary research approach to the study of the genomic and environmental determinants of common diseases in Africa, with the goal of improving the health of African populations. The goals of H3Africa are to enhance the necessary genomic expertise among African scientists, and to establish networks of African investigators by supporting infrastructure development and research projects to address health inequities in both communicable and non-communicable diseases that will eventually lead to health benefits in Africa. More information about the H3Africa initiative and a white paper with recommendations for the program can be found at www.h3africa.org.

In 2011, four H3Africa NIH Funding Opportunities Announcements (FOA s) were published: 1. RFA-RM-11-008, Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Collaborative Centers; 2. RFA-RM-12-004 Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Research Grants; 3. RFA-RM-12-003 Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): H3Africa Biorepository Grants; and 4. RFA-RM-11-010, Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Bioinformatics Network. Applications received in response to these FOAs will be funded by August/September 2012.

This is a Notice of intent to reissue RFA- RM-12-004, Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Research Projects with modifications by summer 2012. Applicants interested in submitting applications for the H3Africa Research Projects (U01s) should refer to the RFA- RM-12-004 for further information about it by using the link given above. The overall goals of the modified FOA will remain the same but will include important in new format instructions and other new requirements. An important modification to the Research Projects (U01) FOA will be that collaboration with an existing grant will not be required. It will be critical that applicants read the revised FOA when it is published and before they submit their applications.

Finally, it is critical that all parties interested in applying for this H3Africa FOA complete the required registrations now in order to be ready to submit an application when the FOA is published. The following registrations must be completed before an application can be submitted to NIH: Data Universal Numbering System ( DUNS) http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/index.jsp , NATO Commercial and Government Entity Code (NCAGE Code) http://www.dlis.dla.mil/Forms/Form_AC135.asp, Central Contractor Registration (CCR) https://bpn.gov/ccr/international.aspx , eRA Commons https://public.era.nih.gov/commons/commonsInit.do and Grants.gov http://grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp . There is no monetary fee for any of the registrations. Applicants must allow at least 8 weeks for the completion of all the required registrations. Applicants already registered should verify that the principal investigator is registered in eRA Commons and is affiliated with the institution and should ensure that the institution's CCR registration, which must be renewed every 12 months, is up to date. Additionally all institutions should ensure that the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official has delegated signatory authority to several institutional officials in order to assure access to all required application systems throughout the application process. Applicants who encounter difficulty during any of the registrations should contact H3Africa staff immediately at H3Africa@nih.gov for assistance. After successful completion of all required registrations applicants should plan to begin the electronic submission at least one week prior to the deadline in the FOA or if the application must be submitted on paper must allow adequate time in order to ship it to the United States to allow it to arrive by the deadline stated in the FOA. Applicants should be aware of the timelines involved, late applications WILL NOT be accepted, no exceptions will be made.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Please direct all inquiries to:

Jane L Peterson, Ph.D.
Mark S. Guyer, Ph.D.
H3Africa Program Staff
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
National Institutes of Health
Email: H3Africa@nih.gov