CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY RESEARCH CENTERS

NIH GUIDE, Volume 22, Number 21, June 11, 1993



PA NUMBER:  PA-93-092



P.T. 04



Keywords:

  Child Psychology/Development 

  Psychopathology 

  Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl 



National Institute of Mental Health



PURPOSE



The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) seeks to expand the

Nation's scientific capacity to conduct research on child and

adolescent mental disorders by fostering the evolution of Child and

Adolescent Development and Psychopathology Research Centers (CADPRC).

These Centers are essential to enable the development of new

approaches and research strategies to address key scientific problems

that have heretofore impeded progress in the child and adolescent

mental health/mental disorders field.  Thus, this program

announcement represents a major NIMH commitment to the advancement of

the scientific understanding of the causes, consequences, prevention,

and treatment of child and adolescent mental disorders.



This announcement focuses on the development of research centers

whose main goal is to bridge basic science, state-of-the-art

methodologies, and clinical research approaches, in order to address

pressing child psychopathology-related research problems that cannot

otherwise be adequately addressed by less integrated research

strategies.  As such, this announcement is the second part of a

two-pronged approach outlined under "The National Plan for Research

on Child & Adolescent Mental Disorders."  While the previously

released program announcement, "Implementation of the National Plan

for Research on Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders," outlines

major areas of research focus and opportunities, this announcement

focuses on the creation of necessary research centers to develop the

research infrastructure and to advance the knowledge base in critical

problem areas.



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, Child and Adolescent Development and Psychopathology

Research Centers (CADPRC), is related to the priority areas of

suicide and mental disorders in children and adolescents.  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) 783-3238.



ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS



Applications may be submitted by domestic, for-profit and non-profit

organizations, public and private, 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.



MECHANISM OF SUPPORT



The NIMH will support a maximum of two Centers in each of the first

three years of the program.  Funding for a Developing CADPRC (P20)

(described below under RESEARCH OBJECTIVES) is for a single five-year

period only. Funding for Mature Centers (P50) (described below) can

be for a maximum project period of five years.  Funds may be

requested for core support related to the research program of the

Center and for specific research and research training activities,

including inpatient bed costs, outpatient costs, subject incentive

fees, pilot studies, and costs of specialized consultation such as

statistical and/or computer science.  Training costs and service

costs not related to the research program are not covered under

Center grants.  Actual amounts and years of support that may be

approved and awarded will depend on the appropriate level of support

necessary for the scientifically meritorious work that is proposed.



RESEARCH OBJECTIVES



A CADPRC provides research resources that are to be used by a

multidisciplinary, cooperating group of researchers as the foundation

for a major research program organized around a significant research

question or theme.  This theme should be directed toward a pressing

research question that juxtaposes two or more alternative research

paradigms and traditions (e.g., genetic versus environmental

contributions to the development of a disorder or subclinical

condition; categorical versus dimensional taxonomic approaches;

preventive versus promotive interventions, etc.).  These

multidisciplinary teams should draw upon an expert cadre of

researchers across both basic and clinical research disciplines in

order to build optimal conceptual and methodologic bridges to address

pressing (sometimes controversial and hotly disputed) research

questions.  Thus, a CADPRC's multidisciplinary team as a rule will

consist of researchers from the basic sciences (e.g., developmental

psychology, behavioral neuroscience, molecular genetics, etc.) and

scientists from more applied, clinical research areas

(psychopharmacology, child psychiatry, pediatrics, neuropsychology,

clinical psychology, epidemiology, prevention, neuroimaging).



Priority will be given to the creation of multidisciplinary research

centers devoted to key problem areas of child and adolescent

psychopathology research.  In all instances, the CADPRC's main goal

is to bridge state-of-the-art theories and methods from the basic

sciences with pressing, clinically relevant research problems, in

order to address child psychopathology research questions that could

not otherwise be adequately addressed.  Pilot studies pertaining to

the etiology, epidemiology, development, diagnosis and

classification, prevention, treatment, outcome, and rehabilitation of

child and adolescent mental disorders may be supported as a part of a

CADPRC, if these studies are clearly related to the thematic focus of

the Center.



There are two categories of grant applications under the CADPRC

program: applications for "Developing Centers" and applications for

"Mature Centers."  The intent of these two categories is to encourage

the development of research centers across a wide range of

institutions at varying stages of research capacity development.

Although there is no absolute criterion to distinguish who should

apply in which category, the following guidelines apply:



o  The category of "Developing Centers" (P20) is appropriate for

departments or other entities that aspire to and are in the process

of developing the critical mass of research scholars necessary to

conduct state-of-the-art research on child and adolescent development

and psychopathology.  Applicants in this category do not necessarily

have strong track records in research but do show promise by virtue

of the commitment of institutional resources, recruitment of research

scholars to develop into fully functioning research centers.  The

funding cap for grants in this category is $300,000 per year, plus

negotiated institutional indirect costs.  This award is not

renewable.



o  "Mature Centers" (P30) are fully developed entities or have the

capacity to rapidly become mature, state-of-the-art research centers

by virtue of previous commitments of institutional resources,

recruitment and/or development of an existing critical mass of

research scholars, the presence of substantial recent publications in

peer-reviewed research journals, active research grants, etc.  The

funding cap for CADPRCs in this category is $1,000,000 per year, plus

negotiated institutional indirect costs.  Any Center application

requesting more than the cap will be returned to the applicant

without review.



STUDY POPULATIONS



SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH

POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL

RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS



NIH policy is that applicants for NIH clinical research grants and

cooperative agreements are required to include both women and

minorities in study populations, so that research findings can be of

benefit to all persons at risk of the diseases, disorder, or

condition under study; special emphasis must be placed on the need

for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases,

disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect them.  This

policy is intended to apply to males and females of all ages.  If

women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in

clinical research, particularly in proposed population-based studies,

a clear compelling rationale must be provided.



The composition of the proposed study population must be described in

terms of gender and racial/ethnic group.  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.  This information must be included in the form PHS 398

(rev. 9/91) in Sections 1-4 of the Research Plan AND summarized in

Section 5, Human Subjects.  Applicants are urged to assess carefully

the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of

minority groups.  However, NIH recognizes 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., Native Americans (including American Indians or Alaskan

Natives), Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics).  The rationale

for studies on single minority population groups must be provided.



For the purpose of the policy, clinical research is defined as human

biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology,

prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of

diseases, disorders, or conditions, including but not limited to

clinical trials.



The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also

apply.  Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues

cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded.  However,

every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and

racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of

the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants.

If the required information is not contained within the application,

the review will be deferred until the information is provided.



Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in

the application conforms to these policies.  If the representation of

women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the

scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the

selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a

scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be

reflected in assigning the priority score to the application.



All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required

to address these policies.  NIH funding components will not award

grants that do not comply with these policies.



APPLICATION PROCEDURES



Preapplication Consultation.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to

contact the Centers program staff very early in the planning process.

Telephone conversations and meetings with NIMH staff can be

especially helpful in the development of a competitive application.

It is often of value to the potential applicant to send a preliminary

plan, no longer than 12 pages, to the program at least 90 days prior

to initial submission of an intended Center grant application.  The

plan should summarize the present state of planning and development

for establishing the proposed Center.



Applicants are to use the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91).

The number and title of this Program Announcement, "Child and

Adolescent Development and Psychopathology Research Centers, PA-93-

," must be typed in item number 2a on the face page of the PHS 398

application form.  PHS regulations concerning application page-length

apply to CADPRC applications.  In general, 25 pages of text are

allowed for each core and research component of the Center.



Application kits containing the necessary forms and instructions may

be obtained from business offices or offices of sponsored research at

most universities, colleges, medical schools, and other major

research facilities.  If such a source is not available, the

following office may be contacted for the necessary application

material:



Grants Management Branch

National Institute of Mental Health

5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-05

Rockville, MD  20857

Telephone:  (301) 443-4414



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**



REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS



The Division of Research Grants, NIH, serves as a central point for

receipt of applications for most discretionary PHS grant programs.

Applications received under this announcement will be assigned to an

Initial Review Group (IRG) in accordance with established PHS

referral guidelines.  The IRGs, consisting primarily of non-Federal

scientific and technical experts, will review the applications for

scientific and technical merit.  Notification of the review

recommendations will be sent to the applicant after the initial

review.  Applications will receive a second-level review by the

appropriate National Advisory Council whose review may be based on

policy considerations as well as scientific merit.  Only applications

recommended for approval by Council may be considered for funding.



Receipt Dates



Applications will be reviewed according to the following regular

schedule:



New, Competing                             National

Continuation, &           Scientific/      Advisory

Revised Applications      Technical        Council/Board

Approximately

Receipt Date              Merit Review     Review            Start

Date



Feb 1                     May/Jun          Sep/Oct           Dec 1

Jun 1                     Sep/Oct          Jan/Feb           Mar 1

Oct 1                     Jan/Feb          May/Jun           Jul 1



Applications received after the above receipt dates are subject to

assignment to the next review cycle or may be returned to the

applicant.



AWARD CRITERIA



Applications received in response to this announcement will compete

with others submitted for funding. In granting awards, the following

criteria are considered:



o  Program relevance and balance

o  Quality of application as documented by IRG and Council

recommendations

o  Availability of funding

o  Institute priorities



INQUIRIES



Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to

clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.



Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:



Peter S. Jensen, M.D, Chief

Division of Clinical and Treatment Research

National Institute of Mental Health

Parklawn Building, Room 10-104

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD  20857

Telephone:  (301) 443-5944



For information regarding fiscal or grants management issues,

applicants may contact:



Diana Trunnell

Grants Management Branch

National Institute of Mental Health

5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-15

Rockville, MD  20857

Telephone:  (301) 443-3065



AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS



This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance 93.242, Mental Health Research Grants.  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.  This announcement is not

subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive

Order 12372, as implemented through DHHS regulations at 45 CFR Part

100, or Health Systems Agency review.



The National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

also funds basic and clinical research concerning the etiology,

diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurodevelopmental disorders.

For further information contact:



Giovanna M. Spinella, M.D.

Federal Building, Room 820

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-5821



.

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