Full Text PA-93-068

THE HUMAN BRAIN PROJECT:  PHASE I FEASIBILITY STUDIES

NIH Guide, Volume 22, Number 13, April 2, 1993

PA NUMBER:  PA-93-068

P.T. 34

Keywords: 
  Brain 
  Neuroscience 
  Information Science/Systems 


National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Science Foundation
National Institute on Aging
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Center for Research Resources
National Library of Medicine
Office of Naval Research
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  April 19, 1993
Application Receipt Date:  June 15, 1993

PURPOSE

The Human Brain Project is a broadly based federal research initiative,
supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Science
Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
(NIDCD), the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), the
National Library of Medicine (NLM), and the Office of Naval Research
(ONR).  In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) will make available to Human Brain Project research its
supercomputer and other resources of the Biocomputation Center.

The general purpose of this initiative is to encourage and support
investigator-initiated basic and clinical neuroscience research and
investigator-initiated research on informatics resources that could be
used to facilitate neuroscience research.  Particular emphasis is
placed on research on computer storage and manipulation of neuroscience
information, network systems, and associated tools that will give
neuroscientists access to the stored information.  The networks will
also provide electronic channels of communication and collaboration to
geographically distant laboratories.  Emphasis will also be placed on
collaborations that result in new experimental technologies or new
mathematical paradigms linked to empirical research.  To optimize the
utility of these technologies to neuroscience researchers, they will be
developed in the context of specific neuroscience research.  It is
important to emphasize that the scientific question being addressed is
as important as the technology being developed.

Neuroscience is a vigorous, multidisciplinary field that has grown
tremendously in the last two decades.  This progress has, to a large
extent, been fueled by information from many disciplines and across
many levels of neural organization.  An explosion of information at
each of these levels, from gene to behavior, makes it increasingly
difficult for individual neuroscientists to keep up with developments
in their own circumscribed areas of interest.  It is more difficult
still for investigators to relate their findings to an integrated
understanding of the nervous system.  Yet it is precisely such
integration that is necessary for the generation of meaningful
hypotheses and continued rapid scientific progress.

Limitations in the ability of scientists to manage and integrate
information are forcing a return to the fragmented view of neuroscience
that existed 30 years ago.  Fortunately, computer, information, and
telecommunication sciences offer solutions to this problem.  The Human
Brain Project will research these informatics solutions in the context
of neuroscience research projects.  Human Brain Project research will
thus augment the ability of neuroscientists to integrate and synthesize
information across disciplinary and geographic boundaries.

In 1989, NIMH, NIDA and NSF requested the National Academy of Science's
Institute of Medicine (IOM) to establish a Committee on a National
Neural Circuitry Database.  The Committee's charge was to consider the
desirability, feasibility, and possible ways of implementing a family
of resources, both electronic (e.g., computer networks) and digital
(e.g., databases), for the enhancement of neuroscience research.  After
deliberations spanning almost two years and involving more than 150
scientific consultants, the IOM endorsed the concept of mapping the
brain and its functions and issued several specific recommendations
(Mapping the Brain and Its Functions:  Integrating Enabling
Technologies into Neuroscience Research, 1991, Institute of Medicine,
National Academy Press).

Among these recommendations is that this initiative should be
implemented in several phases by the research community.  Phase I will
consist of research feasibility studies that researchers will then
refine and extend in Phase II.  The participating agencies, institutes
and center are requesting research grant applications for Phase I of
the Human Brain Project.  This ongoing program announcement pertains
only to Phase I activities.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 2000, a
PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This program
announcement, The Human Brain Project:  Phase I Feasibility Studies, is
related to the priority area of mental health and mental disorders.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full
Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary
Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325
(telephone 202-783-3228).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, public and
private, non-profit and for-profit organizations such as universities,
colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local
governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government.  Women
and minority investigators are encouraged to apply.

MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT

Anticipated maximum annual budgets (direct and indirect costs) at time
of award are $230,000 for the R01 mechanism and $1.1 million for the
P20 mechanism.  Support may be requested for a period of up to five
years for R01 and P20 grant mechanisms (foreign grants are limited to
three years duration).

It is estimated that approximately $4 to 5 million will be available to
support new grants under this announcement in fiscal year 1993.  The
exact amount of funding available will depend on appropriated funds,
the quality of applications, and program priorities at the time of
award.

This program will use research project grant (R01) and Exploratory
Grant (P20) mechanisms.  Listed below are opportunities and
requirements which differ between these grant mechanisms:

Research Project Grants (R01).  The R01 mechanism will be used for
research project grants, which will allow investigators to work on
highly focused projects related to the integration of neuroscience and
informatics research.  The R01 mechanism can be used for collaborative
research initiation grants that will be directed towards fostering the
interactions of computer and mathematical scientists or engineers and
neuroscientists to design and implement novel technological solutions
to particular neuroscience questions.  Applications may include support
for expenses for travel and per diem expenses to several laboratories
to initiate or to explore the possibility of setting up a
collaboration.  It is essential that the scientific questions to be
pursued and the unique contribution of each potential group member
should be explicitly stated.

Exploratory Grants (P20).  These awards will provide the opportunity
for several investigators using different approaches to focus on a
common problem.  Exploratory Grants (P20) will facilitate coordinated
communication across disciplinary and geographic boundaries.

o  Director.  Each Exploratory Grant (P20) will have a Director with a
demonstrated ability to organize, administer, and direct the grant.
The Director must commit at least 25 percent effort to the grant and be
Principal Investigator on one of the projects.

o  Focus of research.  The Exploratory Grants (P20) will combine
informatics and neuroscience research components in an effort to
develop novel approaches for managing and distributing neuroscience
information.  Each Exploratory Grant (P20) will focus on a specific
research issue in neuroscience and will include investigations at
several levels of neural organization (e.g., molecular, cellular, and
systems levels) and/or using different methodological approaches (e.g.,
electrophysiological, anatomical and behavioral), thereby facilitating
the integration of different types of neuroscience information.

Exploratory Grants (P20) are characterized by the synergy of their
constituent projects.  Each such grant application must, therefore, not
only demonstrate the interrelationship of its constituent projects but
also indicate how the inclusion of each project will enhance the
overall goals of the grant.

o  Group members.  Each Exploratory Grant (P20) will comprise several,
probably from three to five, laboratories or projects.  It is expected
that the Principal Investigators of the constituent laboratories or
projects will be regarded as leaders in their respective fields.

o  Information sharing.  In research funded by this mechanism, digital
and electronic communication, especially via computer networks, will be
established among different laboratories or projects within a given
Exploratory Grant (P20) group.  An important goal of each Exploratory
Grant (P20) will be to develop the technology that will allow databases
and computer network systems to handle and integrate data generated by
all of the laboratories or projects supported by that grant.

Communication among different Exploratory Grant (P20) groups will
promote the compatibility of the various technologies developed by each
group.  Therefore, digital communication, especially via computer
networks, will be encouraged among different such groups.
Investigators working on problems at the same level of neural
organization, or using the same methodologies, are prime candidates for
such interaction.  Additionally, because of the pivotal role that
computer networks will play in this initiative, laboratories
participating in a given Exploratory Grant (P20) group need not all be
at the same geographic location.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Phase I of the Human Brain Project will support the research related to
the development, storage, management, analysis, integration and
dissemination of neuroscience information.  This initiative will
incorporate cutting-edge informatics research with neuroscience
research in order to facilitate the integration of neuroscience
information and to promote communication and collaboration across
scientific disciplines and geographic locations.

Consistent with the goal to integrate neuroscience information, the
Human Brain Project research will lead to three-dimensional
computerized maps and models of the structures, functions,
connectivity, physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and molecular
biology of human, monkey, and rat brains.  Other mammalian, as well as
nonmammalian vertebrate and invertebrate species, are also appropriate
for study.  It is expected that these maps and models will ultimately:
span different developmental stages of organisms; reflect both normal
and disease states; include numeric, textual, graphic, and image data;
and be available via computer networks.

Broad research objectives appropriate to the Human Brain Project
include, but are not limited to, the following:

o  Storage and manipulation of neuroanatomical, neurochemical,
neurophysiological, and other data that are portable at the source
code, user interface, and platform levels

o  Network transmission of neuroscience data at varying levels of
confidentiality

o  Ways to integrate neuroanatomical data, neurochemical data,
neurophysiological data, and behavioral data

o  Approaches that permit access to and integration of information
related to different areas of neuroscience (e.g., molecular biology,
electrophysiology, and behavior)

o  Visualization of data related to the structure and function of the
nervous system

o  Approaches for the intelligent navigation through a range of types
of neuroscience information in heterogeneous environments over networks

o  Probabilistic, population-based anatomic atlases of brain images of
normal subjects matched for handedness, age, and gender.

o  Approaches for the analysis of intersubject variability of
structural and functional image data for circumscribed subject
populations

o  Approaches for compression of neuroimaging data

o  Shared data resources and repositories for neuroscience data
generated by the Human Brain Project

o  Ways to provide interactions between the Human Brain Project
neuroscience information and pertinent national informational
resources, such as those associated with the Human Genome Project

o  Approaches for electronic collaboration of neuroscientists

o  Assessment of behavior and ontogenetic brain changes in infants,
children, and adolescents, particularly in populations at risk for
consequently developing specific medical or behavioral disorders

o  Analysis and display techniques for optimizing functional brain
imaging by integrating images from several modalities, e.g., EEG, MRI,
PET, functional MRI

o  Ways to use neurobiologically realistic information and algorithms
to guide implementation of Very Large Scale Integrated chip
technologies

o  Use of intelligent control or neuroengineering paradigms to explain
neurobiological results

o  Interactive graphics systems to facilitate real-time imaging

o  Approaches to allow interaction with stored neurobiological
information to provide biological constraints on computational models

o  Qualitatively new types of biological sensors and sensor data
processing systems

o  Massively parallel virtual supercomputing based on networks of small
computers in multiple geographic locations to facilitate modeling of
information processing in neurobiological systems.

o  Ways to interface humans with computers

o  Computerized search strategies for stored neuroscience information

This list of broad objectives is meant to be illustrative and is not
exclusive of other objectives appropriate to Phase I of this
initiative.

The Human Brain Project encourages informatics research carried out in
concert with neuroscience research.  This initiative will provide
support either for an informatics component that is carried out with
ongoing peer-reviewed neuroscience research or for both the informatics
and the neuroscience components.  In the former case, the funding of
the neuroscience component may come from any source.

Each project will be accountable for the attainment of proposed
specific aims through progress reports and the timely publication and
dissemination of results, including software, database designs, and
source codes.

Phase I projects will be investigator-initiated and can use the R01 or
P20 mechanism, explained below.

As Phase I evolves, digital and electronic communication among projects
will be supported.  Supplemental funds may be competitively awarded to
projects to support such interactions after they have been in existence
for 3 years and have demonstrated the requisite capabilities within
their own projects.

A listing of investigators participating in Phase I, and the types of
data, software, or other information that is available from or through
them will be created to minimize scientifically unnecessary duplication
of effort in Phase I.  This list will indicate from whom particular
data might be obtained.  Grantees will be invited to contribute to this
list and to participate in semiannual meetings of Human Brain Project
investigators.  These meetings will promote communication among
different groups of investigators.

Availability of Computational Resources

The choice of computational resources to be used in Human Brain Project
research is entirely that of the applicant, and the range of
appropriate resources extends across the entire spectrum of computer
technology.  Nevertheless, some investigators may be interested in
using, or collaborating with those using, supercomputers, massively
parallel computers, and other advanced technology that may not be
available at their institution.  To facilitate such use and
collaboration, the following information is provided.

o  The NSF supports High Performance Computer Centers and Science and
Technology Centers.  Individuals considering applications for
supercomputer use should contact these centers early in the proposal
development process.

Linda Callahan
Cornell Theory Center
514 Engineering and Theory Center Building
Ithaca, NY  14853-3801
Telephone:  (607) 254-8610
Internet:  [email protected]
Bitnet:  cal@CRNLTHRY

National Center for Atmospheric Research, Scientific Computing Division
Visitor/User Information
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO  80307
Telephone:  (303) 497-1225
Internet:  [email protected]
Bitnet:  scdinfo@ncario

Scott Lathrop
National Center for Supercomputing Applications
605 East Springfield Avenue
Champaign, IL  61820-5518
Telephone:  (217) 244-1099
Internet:  [email protected]
Bitnet:  ul3006@ncsagate

Robert B. Stock
Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center
4400 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA  15213
Telephone:  (412) 268-4960
Internet:  [email protected]
Bitnet:  stock@cpwpsca

Mark Sheddon
San Diego Supercomputer Center
P.O. Box 85608
San Diego, CA  92186-9784
Telephone:  (619) 534-5130
Internet:  [email protected]
Bitnet:  sheddon@sdsc

o  The ONR also supports a variety of supercomputer facilities.  Those
interested in these resources for Human Brain Project Research should
contact the ONR contact listed at the end of this announcement early in
the process of application development.

o  In addition, NASA will make available computational resources of the
Biocomputation Center (BC) at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,
California.  These resources include computer-controlled transmission
electron microscopy for semiautomated 3 dimensional reconstruction of
neural tissue, virtual environments, high-performance workstations,
supercomputers, and massively parallel computers.

A scientist interested in using the BC as part of Human Brain Project
research will submit a written request for facility use to the BC
Director prior to submitting an application to the Public Health
Service.  This request will state the objectives of the intended work
and the approaches to be used.  This request will also provide enough
information to allow BC staff to assess whether or not the intended use
is within the capability of the BC.  In addition, this request will
provide information necessary to allow BC staff to determine the amount
of time the proposed work will require.

On review of the request for BC use, the BC staff will provide the
inquiring scientist with an itemized estimate of the costs for BC
resources needed to achieve the stated objectives.  The scientist will
use this estimate as part of the budget justification in the Public
Health Service application for funds to support the Human Brain Project
research.

Requests for BC use are to be sent to:

Dr. Muriel Ross
Director, Biocomputation Center
MS 261-2
Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA  94035-1000

STUDY POPULATIONS

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH
POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL
RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS

Applications for grants that involve human subjects are required to
include minorities and both genders in study populations so that
research findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the
disease, disorder or condition under study; special emphasis should be
placed on the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of
diseases, disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect
them.  This policy applies to all research involving human subjects and
human materials, and applies to males and females of all ages.  If one
gender and/or minorities are excluded or are inadequately represented
in this research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a
clear compelling rationale for exclusion or inadequate representation
should be provided.  The composition of the proposed study population
must be described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group, together
with a rationale for its choice.  In addition, gender and racial/ethnic
issues should be addressed in developing a research design and sample
size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study.

Applicants are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including
the broadest possible representation of minority groups.  However, it
is recognized that it may not be feasible or appropriate in all
research projects to include representation of the full array of United
States racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., American Indians or
Alaskans Natives, Asians or Pacific Islanders, Blacks and Hispanics).
Investigators must provide the rationale for studies on single minority
population groups.

Applications for support of research involving human subjects must
employ a study design with minority and/or gender representation (by
age distribution, risk factors, incidence/prevalence, etc.) appropriate
to the scientific objectives of the research.  It is not an automatic
requirement for the study design to provide statistical power to answer
the questions posed for men and women and racial/ethnic groups
separately; however, whenever there are scientific reasons to
anticipate differences between men and women, and racial/ethnic groups,
with regard to the hypothesis under investigation, applicants should
include an evaluation of these gender and minority group differences in
the proposed study.  If adequate inclusion of one gender and/or
minorities is impossible or inappropriate with respect to the purpose
of the research, because of the health of the subjects, or other
reasons, or if in the only study population available, there is a
disproportionate representation of one gender or minority/majority
group, the rationale for the study population must be well explained
and justified.

The funding components will not make awards of grants, cooperative
agreements or contracts that do not comply with this policy.  For
research awards which are covered by this policy, awardees will report
annually on enrollment of women and men, and on the race and ethnicity
of subjects.

Protection of Human Subjects

The Department of Health and Human Services has regulations for the
protection of human subjects and has developed additional regulations
for the protection of children.  A copy of these regulations (45 CFR
46, Protection of Human Subjects) and those pertaining specifically to
children are available from the Office of Protection from Research
Risks, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892,
telephone (301) 496-7041.  Specific questions concerning protection of
human subjects in research may be directed to NIMH staff listed under
INQUIRIES.

LETTER OF INTENT

It may be beneficial for applicants to contact the appropriate program
official(s) listed below and submit a letter of intent.  The letter
should include a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name,
address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator (or
Director), names of other key personnel, and participating
institutions.

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does
not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information
that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications.
The letter is to be submitted to Dr. Michael F. Huerta at the address
listed under Inquiries.  Each letter of intent will be distributed to
all of the sponsoring agencies, institutes and center.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants are to use the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91).
The number and title of the program announcement, "PA-93-068 THE HUMAN
BRAIN PROJECT: PHASE I" must be typed in item number 2a on the face
page of the PHS 398 application form.  The mechanism, either R01 or
P20, must be typed in item 2b on the face page of the PHS 398
application form.  When applicable,  consultant/collaborator
information should be provided in section 7, and consortium/contractual
arrangements should be provided in section 8 of the PHS 398 application
form.  This form may be obtained from business offices or offices of
sponsored research at most universities, colleges, medical schools, and
other major research facilities; from the Office of Grants Inquiries,
Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood
Building, Room 449, Bethesda, MD, telephone 301/710-0267; and from the
program officials listed under INQUIRIES.  Applications must be
received by June 15, 1993.

Research Project Grants (R01).  For the R01 mechanism, applicants must
follow the instructions provided in grant application form PHS 398
(rev. 9/91).

Exploratory Grants (P20).  The application must describe the specific
research hypotheses to be tested and how they relate to the overall
research issue addressed by the  grant.  In addition, the application
should clearly articulate the manner in which technological components
relate to neuroscience components.  For the Exploratory Grant (P20)
applications only, the Research Plan Section of form PHS 398 (Specific
Aims, Background and Significance, Progress Report/Preliminary Studies,
and Research Design and Methods) should be replaced by the following.

o  General Description of the Overall Project (Not to exceed 10 pages).
The applicant must provide an overview of the overall proposed project
and its central theme and goals, describe the general objectives, and
explain the proposed contribution of each of the individual projects
and cores in achieving these objectives.  Furthermore, the
administrative arrangements and support necessary to effect the
research should be carefully described in the application.  In
particular, when multiple institutional sites are involved, a detailed
description and supporting documentation for the administrative
arrangements should be included.  Detailed information on
collaborations, recruitment, facilities, and resources should also be
provided.

o  Cores (Not to exceed 5 pages for any one core).  The applicant must
describe how each core will contribute to the goals of the overall
project as well as how each individual project will draw upon a
particular core.  The description of each core should clearly indicate
the facilities, resources, services and professional skills that the
facility will provide.

o  Individual Projects (Not to exceed 15 pages for any one project).
The applicant must describe the major objectives and goals of each
individual project and its relationship to the effort of the entire
group of constituent projects.  In addition, detailed descriptions
should be provided on the following:

o  Research Plan:  The questions to be addressed and the hypotheses to
be tested by the proposed research should be highly focused and fully
explained.  Full discussion is required on the status of current
research efforts, the limitations of existing approaches, and how the
research questions posed relate to the objectives of the Human Brain
Project.  In addition, the relationship between the neuroscience and
the technological components should be made explicit.

o  Experimental Plan:  The description of the experimental design
should provide the specific strategies proposed to accomplish the
specific aims of the project and should include a discussion of the
innovative aspects of the approach.  Nevertheless, the experimental
procedures need not be spelled out in great detail if those procedures
have already been extensively published and accepted by the scientific
community.  New methodology and its advantage over existing
methodologies should, however, be fully described.  Furthermore, the
feasibility of the proposed experiments, the potential pitfalls,
alternative approaches, and relevance to the goals of the project as a
whole should be fully discussed.  The methods to be used should be
cited and referenced.  It should be emphasized that these reduced
requirements necessitate the inclusion of investigators that are
considered to be leaders in their fields.

o  Operational Plan:  A description of the resources and working
arrangements required to implement the research plan should be fully
elaborated.  If a project includes a clinical component, attention
should be devoted to a description of the clinical populations, tissue
resources, etc.  A distinction must be made between those resources
that are already in place (including staff) and those resources which
must be added to carry out the proposed research.

The signed original and five legible copies of the completed
application must be sent to:

Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**

Dates for the submission of Phase I Human Brain Project applications
for Fiscal Year 1993 and review cycles are:

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  April 19, 1993
Application Receipt Date:       June 15, 1993
Administrative Review:          June 1993
Scientific Review:              July/August 1993
Advisory Council Review:        September 1993
Earliest Starting Date:         September 1993

In subsequent years, the dates for the submission of Phase I Human
Brain Project applications and review cycles will be:

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  July 1
Application Receipt Date:       October 15
Administrative Review:          October
Scientific Review:              February/March
Advisory Council Review:        May/June
Earliest Starting Date:         July

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications will be assigned to the appropriate agencies, institutes
and centers according to their goals and designs and in accordance with
standard referral guidelines.  Those deemed by the Division of Research
Grants to be appropriate for this program announcement will be reviewed
for scientific and technical merit by a special review committee (SRC)
composed primarily of non-Federal scientists.  The members of this
committee will be determined by the participating agencies, institutes,
and centers. Summaries of SRC recommendations will be sent to
applicants as soon as possible after the meeting of the SRC.
Subsequent processing of the application will follow the procedures of
the respective agency, institute and/or center to which it has been
assigned.  For applications assigned to a Public Health Service (PHS)
institute or center, the application will receive further review by the
appropriate National Advisory Council.  By law, only projects
recommended for approval by Council may be considered for PHS funding.
All successful projects will be identified as "A Unit of the
NIH/NSF/ONR/NASA Human Brain Project."

Criteria for review of applications will include the following:

o  Scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of
proposed research

o  Appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and
methodology proposed to carry out the research

o  Qualifications and research experience of the Principal Investigator
and staff, particularly but not exclusively in the area of the proposed
research

o  Availability of resources necessary to perform the research

o  Appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to
the proposed research

o  Likelihood that the work will lead to significant integration of
informatics and neuroscience research, to new discoveries, and/or to
new technological developments

o  Feasibility and adequacy of the organizational and administrative
plans

o  Mechanisms to evaluate the progress of the project

o  Adequacy of the project's plans for the protection of human and
animal subjects

AWARD CRITERIA

Criteria for grant awards include the following:

o  Intrinsic interest of the neuroscience problem

o  Scientific merit of the proposed research

o  Responsiveness to the objectives outlined in this announcement and
relevance of the research to the mission of the Human Brain Project

o  Availability of research funds and competing demands of other
research funding requirements

Annual awards will be made subject to continued availability of funds
and progress achieved.  A competing supplemental application may be
submitted during an approved period of support to expand the scope of
a project during the approved period.  A competing continuation (i.e.,
renewal) application may be submitted before the end of an approved
period of support to continue a project.

INQUIRIES

The following representatives from each of the participating agencies,
institutes and center can be contacted for further information or
clarification.  Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact
the agency or institute representative to discuss their plans prior to
preparing an application.

Michael F. Huerta, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11-95
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-3948
FAX:  (301) 443-4822
E-mail:  [email protected]

Christine R. Hartel, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-31
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-1887
FAX:  (301) 227-6043
E-mail:  [email protected]

Christiana Leonard, Ph.D.
National Science Foundation
1800 G Street, NW, Room 321
Washington, DC  20550
Telephone:  (202) 357-7041
FAX:  (202) 357-7846
E-mail:  [email protected]

Deborah Claman, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Room 3C307
7201 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20872
Telephone:  (301) 496-9350
FAX:  (301) 496-1494
E-mail:  CLAMAN@NIHNIAGW

Norman Krasnegor, Ph.D.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Building, Room 4B05
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-6591
FAX:  (301) 402-2085

Judith Cooper, Ph.D.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Executive Plaza South, Room 400B
6120 Executive Boulevard
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 496-5061
FAX:  (301) 402-6251

Charles L. Coulter, Ph.D.
National Center for Research Resources
Westwood Building, Room 8A15
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-7934
FAX:  (301) 594-9187
E-mail:  [email protected]

Peter A. Clepper
National Library of Medicine
Building 38A, Room 5S518
Bethesda, MD  20894
Telephone:  (301) 496-4221
FAX:  (301) 402-0421
E-mail:  [email protected]

Terry Allard, Ph.D.
Office of Naval Research
800 N. Quincy Street, Room 1142
Arlington, VA  22217-5660
Telephone:  (703) 696-4502
FAX:  (703) 696-1212
E-mail:  [email protected]

Frank M. Sulzman, Ph.D.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Code SBM, NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC  20546
Telephone:  (202) 358-2359
FAX:  (202) 358-4168
E-mail:  [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Diana Trunnell
Assistant Chief, Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-23
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-3065

Shirley Denney
Chief, Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8A54
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-6710

Jean Feldman, Policy Officer
Division of Grants and Contracts Policy Office
National Science Foundation
1800 G Street, NW, Room 1140
Washington, DC  20550
Telephone:  (202) 357-7880

Joseph Ellis
Office of Extramural Affairs
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Room 2N210
7201 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20872
Telephone:  (301) 496-1472

Doug Shawver
Office of Grants and Contracts
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 8A17
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 496-1303

Sharon Hunt
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 400-B
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 402-0909

Paul Karadbil
Office of Grants and Contracts Management
National Center for Research Resources
Westwood Building, Room 849
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-7955

Shelly Carow
Office of Extramural Programs
National Library Medicine
Building 38A, Room 5N517
Bethesda, MD  20894
Telephone:  (301) 496-4195

Willard Vaughan, Ph.D.
Cognitive and Neural Sciences Division
Office of Naval Research
800 N. Quincy Street, Room 823
Arlington, VA  22217-5660
Telephone:  (703) 696-4505

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and
the National Eye Institute (NEI), while not cosponsors of this Program
Announcement, have continuing interest in the scientific areas related
to the Human Brain Project.  NINDS and NEI will continue to fund
research on these topics through applications received through the
regular receipt and referral processes of the Division of Research
Grants.  Applicants should contact the relevant NINDS or NEI program
staff for further information.

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic
Assistance Nos. 93.242 (NIMH), 93.279 (NIDA), 47.074 (NSF), 93.866
(NIA), 93.865 (NICHD), 93.173 (NIDCD), 93.371 (NCRR), 93.879 (NLM) and
12.300 (ONR).  Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health
Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public
Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants
policies and Federal regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR part 74.
Applications submitted in response to this announcement are not subject
to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372
as implemented through Department of Health and Human Services
regulations at 45 CFR part 100 or Health Systems Agency Review.

.

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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)