NOT-RM-16-015: Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Ethical, Legal, and Societal Issues (ELSI) Collaborative Centers (U54)

Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Ethical, Legal, and Societal Issues (ELSI) Collaborative Centers (U54)

Notice Number: NOT-RM-16-015

Key Dates
Release Date: May 13, 2016

Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: July 2016
First Estimated Application Due Date: November 2016
Earliest Estimated Award Date: July 1, 2017
Earliest Estimated Start Date: July 1, 2017

Issued by
Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund)
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Purpose

The Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund), with the National Human Genome Research Institute, intends to promote a new initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications from foreign institutions in African countries to conduct investigator-initiated H3Africa ELSI Collaborative Centers. Each H3A ELSI Collaborative Center should consist of at least three collaborating projects. International collaborations within Africa are encouraged. The H3Africa ELSI Collaborative Center should include comprehensive, sustained, trans-disciplinary approaches to address a cohesive research endeavor around an ELSI issue that is relevant, or even unique, to the study or application of genomics in communities in Africa.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects and to complete the required institutional registrations necessary to be able to submit an application to the NIH.

The FOA is expected to be published in Summer 2016 as part of the H3Africa initiative (see h3africa.org) with an expected application due date in Fall 2016.

This FOA will utilize the U54 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

This Notice encourages African investigators to begin to consider applying for this new FOA; applicants with expertise and insights into the ethical, legal, and societal issues related to genomic research in Africa should particularly consider applying. H3Afria ELSI Collaborative Centers should bring together different areas of expertise, different research approaches, and/or different African contexts that will provide synergy and will seek to understand ethical, legal and societal issues that affect multiple communities on the continent of Africa. Areas of investigation that will be considered include, but are not limited to ethical, legal and societal issues pertaining to: genomic research, genomic health care, societal beliefs and policies, and legal, regulatory and public policy.

Investigators involved in H3Africa ELSI Collaborative Centers will be expected to participate in H3Africa activities and abide by H3Africa guidelines, policies, and procedures (see h3africa.org).

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Ebony Madden, Ph.D.
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Telephone: 301-503-5620
Email: ebony.madden@nih.gov