Department of Health and Human Services


Part 1. Overview Information
Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH formerly NCCAM)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Eye Institute (NEI)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Funding Opportunity Title

Behavioral and Social Science Research on Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities (R01)

Activity Code

R01 Research Project Grant

Announcement Type

Reissue of PAR-10-136

Related Notices

  • NOT-OD-16-004 - NIH & AHRQ Announce Upcoming Changes to Policies, Instructions and Forms for 2016 Grant Applications (November 18, 2015)
  • NOT-OD-16-006 - Simplification of the Vertebrate Animals Section of NIH Grant Applications and Contract Proposals (November 18, 2015)
  • NOT-OD-16-011 - Implementing Rigor and Transparency in NIH & AHRQ Research Grant Applications (November 18, 2015)
  • June 4, 2014 - Notice NOT-14-074 supersedes instructions in Section III.3 regarding applications that are essentially the same.
  • August 21, 2013: Removed reference to ASSIST in section IV.3, since ASSIST is currently only available for multi-project applications.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number

PA-13-292

Companion Funding Opportunity

PA-13-288, R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant

Number of Applications

See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

93.866; 93.173, 93,273; 93.121; 93.399; 93.396; 93.395; 93.394; 93.393; 93.865; 93.847; 93.242; 93.213; 93.867; 93.879; 93.113; 93.837; 93. 279; 93.361; 93.846

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The purpose of this FOA is to encourage behavioral and social science research on the causes and solutions to health and disabilities disparities in the U. S. population. Health disparities between, on the one hand, racial/ethnic populations, lower socioeconomic classes, and rural residents and, on the other hand, the overall U.S. population are major public health concerns. Emphasis is placed on research in and among three broad areas of action: 1) public policy, 2) health care, and 3) disease/disability prevention. Particular attention is given to reducing health gaps among groups. Applications that utilize an interdisciplinary approach, investigate multiple levels of analysis, incorporate a life-course perspective, and/or employ innovative methods such as systems science or community-based participatory research are particularly encouraged.

Key Dates
Posted Date

August 2, 2013

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

September 5, 2013

Letter of Intent Due Date(s)

Not Applicable

Application Due Date(s)

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Standard AIDS dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Scientific Merit Review

Standard dates apply

Advisory Council Review

Standard dates apply

Earliest Start Date

Standard dates apply

Expiration Date

September 8, 2016

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement


Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issues this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to encourage research project grant applications (R01) employing behavioral and social science theories, concepts, and methods (1) to improve understanding of the causes of disparities in health and disability among the various populations of the United States and (2) to develop and test interventions for reducing and eventually eliminating health disparities. The goal is to move beyond documenting the existence of health and disability disparities to addressing causes and solutions.

Definition of Health Disparities

Public and private agencies provide various definitions of a health disparity for their program-related purposes, but these definitions tend to have several aspects in common. In general, health disparities are defined as significant differences in health status and outcomes between one population and another (See Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000, which authorizes several HHS programs, describes these disparities as differences in " the overall rate of disease [or disability] incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality or survival rates as compared to the health status of the general population." Although many different populations experience health disparities, this FOA is restricted to health disparities among populations defined by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and/or rural-urban residence.

Fuller Understandings of Causes and Implications for Solutions

Scientific research supported by the NIH has been of great benefit to the health of the population in the United States. Research to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention has led to advances in health for most Americans and significant declines in disability, morbidity, and mortality from numerous diseases and conditions. As a result, the population can expect to live longer, be more productive and enjoy a higher quality of life. However, these gains have not affected all segments of the population equally. Examples of persistent health disparities include:

In sum, U.S. populations defined by lower socioeconomic status, certain racial/ethnic backgrounds, and rural residence continue to experience substantial disparities in the burden of disease and death when compared to the U.S. population as a whole or to European Americans.

Research Objectives

Given the extensive scientific literature documenting health inequities, this announcement calls for research to address and to improve understanding of the causes of health disparities. In so doing, the announcement stresses the explicit employment of concepts and models from the behavioral and social sciences to guide applications in basic social and behavioral, and applied social and behavioral research by focusing on three action areas: public policy, health care, and disease/isability prevention. It emphasizes (1) basic social and behavioral research acting with or through biological pathways that give rise to disparities in health and (2) applied or translational research on the development, testing, adaptation, and delivery of interventions to reduce disparities. It encourages a multi-level analytic framework (i.e., ranging from individuals to societies) in investigating public health issues and their interactions (e.g., multiple morbidities rather than single illnesses) as well as attention to risk factors or causal processes common to various health conditions (e.g., smoking, diet, exercise, environmental risk, and access to health care).

Moreover, this announcement encourages research on the causes of and solutions to the health differences between a focus-population group and a reference-population group. By definition, health disparities refer to the health of a group in comparison to that of other groups. Although improving the absolute level of a group’s health is a laudable goal, it may not result in changing the group’s relative level of health. The reference population’s health might also improve, thereby maintaining or widening the gap. The study of a single population group, in order to elucidate the circumstances that may contribute to health disparities or to test an intervention targeting a particular group, may be included under this announcement; however, the relevance to disparities must be addressed explicitly.

While understanding the causes of poor health in a given population may be necessary to explaining differences in health between groups, it is not sufficient to be considered health disparities research for the purposes of these announcements. That is, the same cause may depress the health of both groups equally and may not be a source of one group’s having poorer health than the other. One intention of this FOA is to stimulate research on the fundamental causes of health differentials between groups.

Similarly, applied research under this FOA should be aimed at narrowing the differential between groups by targeting interventions at the causes or consequences of health disparities. Applicants should justify their proposed interventions by citing previous basic and applied research on the causes or consequences of the health disparity.

Areas of Action Affecting Health Disparities

This FOA focuses on three broad areas of action influencing health disparities: public policy, healthcare, and disease/disability prevention. For the purposes of this FOA, these action areas are defined as:

PUBLIC POLICY: Public policy may be defined as the means employed by governments and other institutions to influence the function and well-being of individuals, groups, communities, and society as a whole. Some public policies at the national, state, and local levels are designed explicitly to affect health and may have direct impacts on health disparities. Examples include medical insurance programs for the elderly, disabled, and poor; alterations in health programs to contain costs; occupational safety regulations; and regulation of environmental hazards.

In addition, policies with no explicit health focus may affect health disparities indirectly. For example, laws prohibiting discriminatory housing practices or providing housing subsidies may reduce health disparities by ameliorating exposures to environmental toxins among poor and ethnic/racial populations. The provision of child-care centers in workplaces may increase breastfeeding. Income maintenance programs may help to reduce stress and improve diets. Whereas such effects are plausible given known pathways linking socioeconomic disadvantage and racial/ethnic status to health, research evidence documenting their existence and strength is largely lacking.

Advancing knowledge about the potential for reducing health disparities through policy mechanisms requires a broad set of research studies, including both basic and intervention research. Further, interdisciplinary efforts are needed to bridge the many different kinds of economic, social, and behavioral processes involved in translating public policy into public health. Examples include research on:

HEALTH CARE: Health-care is defined as the timely delivery of care and/or medical/dental services by general or specialty providers to persons in need for the purpose of diagnosis, assessment, or treatment in order to improve or protect health status. Differences in the quantity and quality of health care targeted to and received by members of population groups are critical to understanding disparities in health.

Increased conceptual and empirical efforts are needed to identify and understand the processes leading to inequities in health care and to develop intervention strategies. Note that merely documenting or comparing utilization rates is not compliant with this FOA. Explanatory analyses of the origins of differential rates or evidence-based interventions to reduce health disparity rates are the focus of this FOA.

Disparities in the quantity and quality of health care may result from the interaction of several factors. Among these are, but not limited to:

DISEASE/DISABILITY PREVENTION: Prevention research encompasses investigations designed to yield results directly applicable to identifying and assessing risk, and to developing interventions for reducing risk and increasing health-promoting behaviors and reducing the occurrence of disease/disorder/injury or the progression of detectable but asymptomatic disease. Prevention research also includes studies to develop and evaluate disease/disability prevention, health promotion recommendations and public health programs:

While interventions to improve health-enhancing behaviors in the areas of smoking and other environmental exposures, drinking, physical activity, and diet have been developed, there has not been extensive testing of the effectiveness of these interventions in diverse population groups. Similarly, theoretical models of health behavior change have not been applied extensively to diverse populations. In addition, gaps remain in the development and testing of community level interventions to reduce health disparities. Also needed is research on personal, cultural, and institutional barriers to intervention availability, delivery and effectiveness, as well as the mechanisms of intervention that work best to prevent disease in population groups experiencing health disparities.

CROSSING BOUNDARIES: The boundaries between these three broad topics are arbitrary and permeable. For example, policy is often directed explicitly at health care or prevention. Similarly, how health care is provided influences prevention (and vice versa). These categories are provided as heuristics for organizing topics. This FOA encourages research on topics falling within more than one of these categories or on the interplay among the categories.

Research Perspectives and Themes

To achieve the twin goals of a more comprehensive understanding of the causes of health disparities and to design and implement effective interventions to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities, this FOA encourages the application of several research perspectives and themes. The NIH believes these approaches may move current research efforts to the next level of accomplishment. Applicants are not required to incorporate all of the below themes into their research applications ; however, applicants should explicitly address at least one.

Interdisciplinary collaborations. Addressing health disparities requires an understanding of the factors that determine health - biological, medical, behavioral, social, and environmental and of their complex interrelationships. In many instances, a single research discipline is best suited to tackle specific health problems. However, it is increasingly recognized that many problems may require a more comprehensive approach, possibly including sectors outside of health. New discoveries and innovative solutions are possible when researchers meet at the interfaces and frontiers of different disciplines to pool their diverse knowledge. Interdisciplinary collaborations refer to scientific endeavors in which investigators from a variety of disciplines work together closely from the outset to form a shared conceptual framework to address a problem. Interdisciplinary research is distinct from multidisciplinary research in that the latter refers to a process in which researchers in different disciplines work relatively independently, each from his/her own disciplinary perspective with limited direct interaction and little cross-fertilization among disciplines. This FOA encourages interdisciplinary studies that cross the traditional boundaries within and between biological, behavioral, and social sciences.

Levels of Analyses. A variety of scientists have offered the concept of levels of analysis to capture the distinct but interdependent levels at which health, and the determinants of health, can be understood. One schema identifies five major levels of analysis in health research: social/environmental, behavioral/psychological, organ systems, cellular, and molecular. Most research focuses on a specific level, which roughly corresponds to the domain of specific scientific disciplines. A variety of conceptual models exist to address the linkages among levels of analysis, from the macro-societal levels to the biology of a disease, but they have not been uniformly accepted or systematically applied in empirical studies of health. One framework links social structure or social position (e.g., class, age, gender, race, ethnicity), environmental context or place (e.g., geographic location, housing conditions, access to services), lifestyles (e.g., smoking, physical activity), and physiology (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity). Such models help to guide the development of multi-level research.

They also illustrate how such research can inform public knowledge about health policy, organizational- and community-level primary and secondary interventions. Models that integrate, for example, factors operating at the social and cultural levels with those operating at the psychological and biological levels are especially encouraged. Many multi-level studies are also multi-method studies that integrate quantitative and qualitative data and thus strengthen measurement validity while retaining the capacity for statistical inference.

A concern for health at the population rather than the individual level underscores the need to take social and cultural processes into account. An understanding of current and changing population rates of morbidity, survival, mortality, and use of health services requires that we consider the demographic, social, economic, and cultural features of the population. Needed is the investigation of the social, economic, and cultural systems as well as the individuals who participate in them.

Systems Science Methodologies. Systems science methodologies are specific methodological approaches that have been developed to understand connections between a systems structure and behavior over time. Systems science methodologies is an umbrella term referring to a variety of methodologies including (but not limited to), agent-based modeling, micro-simulation, system dynamics modeling, network analysis, discrete event analysis, Markov modeling, many operations research and engineering methods, plus a variety of other modeling and simulation approaches.

A system, in this context, refers to the particular configuration of all relevant entities, resources, and processes that together adequately characterize the problem space under study. Importantly, a system is defined by the boundaries that stakeholders use to determine which acts/observations are relevant for their inquiry as well as the interpretations/judgments that they use to guide decisions or actions. Systems science methodologies are valued for their ability to address the complexity inherent in behavioral and social phenomena; for example, they excel at identifying non-linear relationships, threshold phenomena, bi-directional relationships (aka, feedback loops), long delays between cause and effect, emergent properties of the system, and oscillating system behavior. Systems approaches offer insights into the nature of the whole system that often cannot be gained by studying the component parts in isolation.

Applicants are encouraged to learn more about systems methodologies and their role in behavioral and social science research at NIH by visiting the OBSSR Systems Science and Health webpage at http://obssr.od.nih.gov/scientific_areas/methodology/systems_science/index.aspx

Life-course Perspective. Cumulative processes over the life course across multiple life domains at the individual and community levels are of central importance for understanding health disparities. For example, racial/ethnic status influences fetal and early life conditions that may be linked with later life expectancy and disease risks. Consequently, integrated investigation of psychosocial and physiological interrelationships over the life course and at critical developmental transitions are required in order to more fully understand the contemporaneous and cumulative impact of differential life experiences that underlie health disparities. Specifically, normative transitions (e.g., birth of a child, beginning school, emerging adulthood, retirement) often represent periods of increased vulnerability to health problems and unique opportunities for intervention. For example, the early adolescent period involves a combination of biological (e.g., puberty), social (e.g., increased role of peers), ecological (e.g., middle school), and cognitive (e.g., increasing capacity for abstract thinking) changes as well as increased risk for depression and substance use. Yet, our understanding of the role of such developmental processes in the emergence, maintenance and potential alleviation of health disparities is limited. Thus, focusing attention on transitions across the lifespan and associated risk and protective factors is needed for the ultimate development and testing of innovative interventions. Such an approach emphasizes the fact that early life disadvantage need not lead to later negative outcomes, provided there are compensating experiences in the intervening years. Attention should be given to the positive aspects of people’s lives (e.g., positive social or family relationships, education) that may buffer the effects of adversity.

Community-based Participatory Research/Community-engaged Research. Community-engaged research is an approach that calls for conducting research in a collaborative manner that involves community and academic partners. The premise is an exchange of expertise between academics, as scientific experts, and communities, as local and cultural experts, to foster bi-directional learning that increases impact. Engaging communities for research entails dialogue, as well as the formation of dynamic relationships and partnerships between researchers and communities.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is defined as scientific inquiry conducted in communities and in partnership with researchers. Inclusion of key community members in research through CBPR promises to deepen our scientific base of knowledge in the areas of health promotion, disease/disability prevention, and health disparities. Community-engaged and community-partnered research processes offer the potential to generate better-informed hypotheses, develop more effective and sustainable interventions, and enhance the translation of the research results into practice.

Prejudice and Discrimination. Disparities in health exist for many reasons, but prejudice and discrimination whether intentional/ conscious or unintentional/unconscious on the basis of race/ethnicity, gender, social class, sexual orientation, etc. appear to contribute significantly to differences in health care (also see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-162.html). For example, a study of factors that contribute to differences in diagnosis and treatment demonstrated that racial bias is a significant influence on recommendations for cardiac catheterization for patients with chest pain.

Bias, discrimination and prejudice are hypothesized to contribute to disparities in health through increased exposure and susceptibility to: 1) Economic and social deprivation; 2) toxic substances and hazardous conditions; 3) socially inflicted mental and physical trauma, either directly experienced or witnessed; 4) targeted marketing of potentially harmful commodities such as tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs; and 5) inadequate or degrading medical care.

Perceived (e.g., stereotype threat ) prejudice and discrimination also can be sources of acute and chronic stress, which have been linked to cardiovascular disease and alcohol abuse. Discrimination can restrict the educational, employment, economic, residential and partner choices, affecting health through pathways linked with human or social capital. Environmental influences from industry, toxic waste disposal sites, and other geographic aspects linked with poverty and racial/ethnic status can result in serious disadvantages to a population groups' health.

Evidence is insufficient to evaluate the magnitude of the relationship among prejudice, discrimination, and health. In addition, much of the empirical work investigating the effects of prejudice and discrimination on health has focused on African Americans. Few studies have addressed how these affect others such as Native Americans, Asian Americans and Latinos or other socially-defined populations. Prejudice and discrimination have helped shape the social position of each racial and ethnic group in the U.S. and, consequently, they may have unique associations with health for each group. Finally, an insufficient focus on societal forces has hindered our ability to understand and effectively address the influence of prejudice and discrimination on health disparities. The growing evidence that health, socioeconomic status, and macro-economics are inextricably linked emphasizes the importance of research to examine the influence of bias in the context of the other factors thought to affect racial/ethnic health.

Social Context. The social environments in which processes affecting health and health disparities play out are often referred to as social context. These include familial, demographic, economic, political, legal, organizational, physical environmental, and cultural factors that affect the resources available to individuals. Applicants are encouraged to conceptualize and measure social contexts in order to specify which particular aspects of social context are factors in the production or maintenance of the health disparity under examination. They are also encouraged to conceptualize and measure the social processes that operate within and across social contexts and between social contexts and individuals.

Social context can be roughly divided into four inter-related domains: families and households; social networks; neighborhoods; and formal institutions. Economic, social, and cultural processes interweave all of these domains.

Examples of Research Topics

Applications should be relevant to both the objectives of the FOA and to at least one of the participating Institutes and Centers' research interests. Researchers are strongly encouraged to review the general research interests of the participating ICs and the examples of topics of interest specific to health/disabilities disparities, which are posted at http://obssr.od.nih.gov/Content/Health_DisparitiesPAR_R01.htm.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

NCCAM is particularly interested in supporting research in the following categories: 1) Utilization of systems of healing and health practices outside the conventional medical care by populations affected by health disparities; 2) Extent and use of self-care and health practices, integrative health practices, conventional medical care, or a combination of the two in these populations. Specific areas of focus include symptoms management (pain, HIV/AIDS), and special populations (older adults, military/veterans). All applications must be aligned to NCCAM’s mission, research priorities and strategic plan (http://nccam.nih.gov/). Applicants are encouraged to establish research collaborations with NCCAM-funded investigators as well as NCCAM’s Research Center Programs (http://nccam.nih.gov/research/centers). Below are examples of potential research areas:

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Much of research generally in the area of social determinants of health (SDOH) focuses on delineating differences among racial/ethnic groups and understanding the barriers in prevention and care for specific underserved populations; and the subsequent development of behavioral interventions for these groups. In general, these interventions have only been partially successful by targeting individual behaviors and barriers but have not consistently sought to change the conditions in which people live, work, and play. Despite the growing evidence of the effects of SDOH on both short term and long term health outcomes, there is little emphasis on developing theory and evidence based multilevel, multifactorial, and population (e.g. community, policy) interventions, that target both structural and individual factors. For these interventions to be effective, it necessitates the development of new measures on inequity, social environment; the adaptation of existing measures of SDOH; and a comprehensive understanding of the pathways by which the social context affects health.

Areas for further exploration:

A. Measurement

B. Social Context

C. Multilevel interventions

Promoting Prevention

What are the key factors (including psychological, social, environmental, and policy-level) influencing cancer prevention strategies? How do interventions, particularly multilevel and multifactorial approaches, addressing cancer-relevant behaviors effect health disparities and underserved populations? How can these multilevel interventions be scaled to be cost effective and sustainable in real-life contexts? What factors within the social context and the intervention development process influence potential for sustainability?

How can we design and implement culturally appropriate interventions among indigent and medically underserved populations (including cancer survivors) to improve the health and quality of life of these populations? For example:

Sustaining Interventions

To what extent are clinical and community-based intervention programs designed to address cancer disparities informed by evidence from science, practice, and policy?

National Eye Institute (NEI)

The NEI supports basic, translational and clinical research with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, preservation of sight, mechanisms of normal visual function, and the special health problems and requirements of individuals with impaired vision. The NEI also supports the development of new technologies, strategies, and research tools that can be applied to basic and translational research which will benefit vision health.

Specific areas of research interest include studies of glaucoma, myopia, and diabetic retinopathy with special emphasis on Hispanic, Native American, and African-American populations. Other areas are investigations of health services, in order to determine the number of Americans with eye disease and visual impairment; to measure the associated medical and societal costs; and to identify factors associated with the most effective delivery and use of vision care services.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will only support research projects (R01) that test interventions, not observational studies. Projects may investigate interventions to reduce health disparities at the individual, community, health care provider, or policy levels, employing randomized designs. Outcome measures must be pre-specified and may include heart, lung, blood or sleep disorders, or intermediate outcomes that show evidence of having a causal relationship to these conditions.

Examples of such studies include the following:

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The National Institute on Aging especially encourages applications for:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIAAA is interested in several research priorities that could have significant impact on understanding and addressing health disparities in special populations:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) supports behavioral, and biopsychosocial research to develop pioneering strategies and/or interventions for the elimination of health disparities and the improvement of health outcomes for minority and underserved populations with rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and skin diseases.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

The NICHD has an interest in basic and applied/intervention research on the causes of, and means of addressing, disparities in health, disability, and developmental outcomes from the pre-conception period into adulthood. Applicants responding to this FOA are encouraged to include a cover letter with their application that describes the scientific expertise needed to review the application and suggests review group(s) with the appropriate expertise to review the application.

Examples of topics of interest to NICHD that would be appropriate for this FOA include research on:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

HIV/AIDS and other medical consequences of drug use continue to increase among African Americans, approximately 13% of the U.S. population, who comprised 44% of the new HIV infections among adults and adolescents in 2010. The rate for Hispanics is also disproportionately high (19% of new diagnoses of HIV in 2009). Limited epidemiologic data on Asian Americans exist, but some local data and the reports of clinicians and service providers working in those communities suggest that drug use and addiction are a hidden and growing problem. Moreover, the problem varies by ethnicity/country of origin within the broader racial/ethnic classification of Asian American/Pacific Islander.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is interested in research projects that address drug abuse and addiction and health disparities. Priority areas in health disparities research include:

Areas of research interest include but are not limited to:

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Disparities in the identification and treatment of communication disorders (i.e., disorders of hearing, balance/vestibular, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language) in diverse populations result in a disproportionate burden of these disorders among groups of lower socioeconomic status and selected racial/ethnic backgrounds. For example, outcomes (communicative, academic, and psychosocial) in children with mild to severe hearing loss are affected by health disparities. Applications addressing this concern should be multidisciplinary and have a primary focus on determining the impact of intervention, child, and family factors on communicative, educational and social development outcomes in children with mild to severe hearing loss. The intent is to consider more than auditory, speech and linguistic capabilities of children, but all factors influencing the child as a whole , such as family, cultural, demographic, and individual child characteristics.

Many other examples of differential impact on outcomes due to health disparities can be found across the lifespan in the seven different mission areas of NIDCD. Please contact the NIDCD program officer for more information.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research is committed to reducing the disproportionate burden of oral diseases experienced by vulnerable segments of society. The diseases that are the focus of NIDCR’s health disparities efforts are caries including Early Childhood Caries, oral and pharyngeal cancer, and periodontal disease. Interdisciplinary research teams and the full participation of the community are viewed by NIDCR as essential components of any health disparities research.

NIDCR has particularly interest in studies that will provide essential information in preparation for interventions, and research that evaluates or informs clinical practice, public health policy, health care provision, community and/or individual action. Studies with strong conceptual models or that are grounded in behavioral and social science theory are needed. Examples of health disparities research of interest to the NIDCR include but are not limited to:

Applications that are limited to the assessment of disease prevalence or explore a limited range of potential determinants will be considered non-responsive to this FOA.

NIDCR supports health disparities intervention research designed to have a meaningful impact on caries, oral and pharyngeal cancer, periodontal disease, or oral health related quality of life and that influence action. Please note that the NIDCR does not accept applications that include clinical trials in response to trans-NIH-FOAs. Applicants proposing health disparities clinical trials should refer to the following NIDCR websites: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/ and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-338.html.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the health disparities program official.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Many diseases and disorders that disproportionately impact the health of high risk populations in the US are a priority at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) such as diabetes, obesity, nutrition-related disorders, hepatitis C, gallbladder disease, H. Pylori infection, sickle cell disease, kidney diseases, and complications from infection with the human immunodeficiency virus.

NIDDK seeks behavioral and social science research to improve understanding of the causes of disparities in health and disability in the United States and to develop and test more effective interventions for reducing/eliminating health disparities directly related to the scientific areas within the mission of the NIDDK http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Research/ScientificAreas/default.htm.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

The mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. NIEHS recognizes that environmental exposures often disproportionately affect minority, rural and low income populations and may have an even greater effect on the most vulnerable individuals within these communities, such as children and the elderly. Such disproportionate affects are known as environmental health disparities.

NIEHS primary interests are to support research projects that focus on the underlying causes of EHD. Of particular interest are projects that engage communities in the design and conduct of research and the translation of findings in culturally appropriate formats, and that promote approaches for addressing EHDs that are broadly applicable. An additional interest is in projects that address EHD in underserved regions where the environment, and it’s potential relation to negative health outcomes, is relatively unknown and unexplored.

Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is interested in applications relevant to understanding and reducing health disparities in both non AIDS-related and AIDS-related mental health conditions within the U.S. population. Examples of specific areas of interest for NIMH are included below. NIMH recommends, for both non-AIDS- and AIDS-related studies , that applications proposing an adaptation to existing interventions should provide an empirical rationale for the need for and focus of the adaptation, consistent with NAMHC Workgroup Report recommendations on intervention adaptation (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/advisory-boards-and-groups/namhc/reports/fromdiscoverytocure.pdf) and consult with relevant Institute Program Staff.

Non-AIDS

AIDS

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) is interested in applications leading to interventions that promote and improve the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations. Specific topics that would be appropriate to this FOA and of interest to the NINR include, but are not limited to:

Elucidate mechanisms underlying health disparities and design interventions to eliminate them, with particular attention to issues of geography (rural and remote settings), minority status, underserved populations, and persons whose chronic or temporary disabilities limit their access to care.

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

The National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) specific interests are in supporting research in biomedical informatics where it intersects with behavioral and social science research on understanding and reducing health disparities. NLM defines biomedical informatics as the intersection of computer and information sciences with an application domain such as health care, public health, basic biomedical research, or clinical translational research. We are particularly interested in the role informatics could play in helping those segments of the population experiencing health disparities find, understand, and use information to help alleviate health disparities. Examples of health disparities research of interest to NLM include but are not limited to:

Research on developing and testing informatics approaches for discovering causal relationships using large datasets from multiple sources (e.g. EMR, GPS, environmental, behavioral, socio-economic, and longitudinal) related to the identification, elimination, and prevention of health disparities.

Section II. Award Information
Funding Instrument

Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New
Renewal
Resubmission
Revision

The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget

Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

Award Project Period

The total project period may not exceed 5 years.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Section III. Eligibility Information


1. Eligible Applicants


Eligible Organizations

Higher Education Institutions

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

For-Profit Organizations

Governments

Other

Foreign Institutions

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant Organizations

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account and should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate an existing account with the applicant organization’s eRA Commons account. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

2. Cost Sharing

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility


Number of Applications

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed within the past thirty-seven months (as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), except for submission:

Section IV. Application and Submission Information


1. Requesting an Application Package

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Required and Optional Components

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, required and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.

SF424(R&R) Cover

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

SF424(R&R) Other Project Information

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

R&R or Modular Budget

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

PHS 398 Cover Letter

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

PHS 398 Research Plan

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

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.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Foreign Institutions

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions described throughout the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

4. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

5. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

6. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.

Important reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH. See Section III of this FOA for information on registration requirements.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.

Requests of $500,000 or more for direct costs in any year

Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year (excluding consortium F&A) must contact NIH program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the application and follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Post-Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.

Section V. Application Review Information

Important Update: See NOT-OD-16-006 and NOT-OD-16-011 for updated review language for applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2016.



1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Investigator(s)

Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?

Innovation

Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?

If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?

Environment

Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?

Additional Review Criteria

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Resubmissions

For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.

Renewals

For Renewals, the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.

Revisions

For Revisions, the committee will consider the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application that was not recommended for approval by the committee, then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are clearly evident.

Additional Review Considerations

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.

Applications from Foreign Organizations

Reviewers will assess whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. resources.

Select Agent Research

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Resource Sharing Plans

Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).

Budget and Period of Support

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by the Center for Scientific Review, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

Appeals of initial peer review will not be accepted for applications submitted in response to this FOA.

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the appropriate national Advisory Council or Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VI. Award Administration Information


1. Award Notices

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, SAM Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

Not Applicable

3. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the annual Non-Competing Progress Report (PHS 2590 or RPPR) and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Application Submission Contacts

eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons registration, submitting and tracking an application, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, post submission issues)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

Web ticketing system: https://public.era.nih.gov/commonshelp
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and application packages)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone: 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Lanay M. Mudd, PhD, FACSM
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Telephone: 301-594-9346
Email: lanay.mudd@nih.gov

Michael Spittel, Ph.D.
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
Telephone: 301-451-4286
Email: Michael.Spittel@mail.nih.gov

Shobha Srinivasan, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6938
Email: ss688k@nih.gov

Cheri Wiggs, Ph.D.
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Telephone: 301-451-2020
Email: wiggsc@nei.nih.gov

Josephine Boyington, Ph.D., M.P.H.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301- 435-0446
Email: boyingtonje@nhlibi.nih.gov

John Haaga, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-496-3131
Email: John.Haaga@nih.gov

Judith A. Arroyo, Ph.D.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Telephone: 301- 402-0717
Email: jarroyo@mail.nih.gov

Phil Tonkins, Dr.PH.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Telephone: 301-594-4979
Email: tonkinsw2@mail.nih.gov

Regina Bures, Ph.D.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301- 496-9485
Email: regina.bures@nih.gov

Dionne Jones, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-402-1984
Email: djones1@nida.nih.gov

Howard Hoffman, M.A.
National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Telephone: 301-402-1843
Email: hoffmanh@nidcd.nih.gov

Ruth Nowjack-Raymer, MPH, PhD
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-594-5394
Email: Ruth.Nowjack-Raymer@nih.gov

Christine Hunter, Ph.D., ABPP
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Telephone: 301-594-4728
Email: hunterchristine@niddk.nih.gov

Symma Finn, Ph.D.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Telephone: 919-541-4258
Email: finns@niehs.nih.gov

Charlene Le Fauve
National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-435-4582
Email: Charlene.lefauve@nih.gov

David M. Stoff, Ph.D. (AIDS applications)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-6100
Email: dstoff@mail.nih.gov

Mary C. Roary, Ph.D.
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 301-594-6908
Email: roarymc@mail.nih.gov

Alan VanBiervliet, Ph.D.
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Telephone: 301- 594-4882
Email: alan.vanbiervliet@nih.gov

Peer Review Contact(s)

Examine your eRA Commons account for review assignment and contact information (information appears two weeks after the submission due date).

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Shelley Carow
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Telephone: 301-594-3788
Email: CarowS@MAIL.NIH.GOV

Crystal Wolfrey
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6277
Email: wolfreyc@mail.nih.gov

William Darby
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Telephone: 301-451-2020
Email: darbyw@nei.nih.gov

Tammi Simpson, M.A., M.B.A.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-0150
Email: tammi.simpson@nih.gov

John Bladen
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-496-1472
Email: bladenj@nia.nih.gov

Judy Fox
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Telephone: 301-443-4704
Email: jfox@mail.nih.gov

Gail Hamilton
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Telephone: 301- 594-3506
Email: hamiltog@mail.nih.gov

Bryan Clark, M.B.A.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-435-6975
Email: clarkb1@mail.nih.gov

Edith Davis
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-443-6710
Email: edavis1@nida.nih.gov

Chris Myers
National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Telephone: 301-402-0909
Email: myersc@nidcd.nih.gov

Dede Rutberg, M.B.A.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-594-4798
Email: Rutbergd@mail.nih.gov

Robert Pike
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Telephone: 301-594-8854
Email: pikera@niddk.nih.gov

Molly Puente, Ph.D.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Telephone: 919-541-1373
Email: puentem@mail.nih.gov

Rebecca Claycamp, M.S., CRA
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-2811
Email: rclaycam@mail.nih.gov

Judy Sint
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 301-402-6959
Email: sintj@mail.nih.gov

Arnita Miles
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Telephone: 301-496-4221
Email: milesar@mail.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Authority and Regulations

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92 .


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