NIDCD SMALL GRANT PROGRAM Release Date: June 22, 2000 PA NUMBER: PAR-00-110 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Application Receipt Dates: August 24, 2000; December 22, 2000; April 20, 2001 and August 24, 2001 THIS PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT (PA) USES "MODULAR GRANT" AND "JUST-IN-TIME" CONCEPTS. IT INCLUDES DETAILED MODIFICATIONS TO STANDARD APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS THAT MUST BE USED WHEN PREPARING APPLICATIONS IN RESPONSE TO THIS PA. PURPOSE This Program Announcement (PA) supersedes all previous announcements of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) Small Grant (R03) Program for support of pilot research that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research project grant (R01) application. The research must be focused on one or more of the areas within the biomedical and behavioral scientific mission of the NIDCD: hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. The Small Grant Program is designed to support basic and clinical research of scientists who are in the early stages of establishing an independent research career. The R03 may be used to support individuals transitioning from postdoctoral status to their first independent research position. In addition, the R03 may be used by early-stage clinician-scientists planning to make future application for an NIDCD mentored research career development award (K-award) to demonstrate the feasibility of the research to be proposed in their K-award application. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS- led national activity for setting priority areas. This PA, NIDCD Small Grant Program, is related to several priority areas applicable to human communication. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/. 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 on behalf of eligible investigators. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Foreign institutions and United States organizations located in foreign countries are not eligible to apply for this program. The R03 Program supports the research of scientists who are in the early stages of establishing an independent research career in the basic and clinical sciences of human communication, including individuals transitioning from postdoctoral status to their first independent research position. Applicants are not required to have their own independent research space or equipment. It is intended that an R03 grant will enable such individuals to obtain preliminary data that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research project grant (R01) application. The NIDCD encourages early-stage clinician-scientists planning to make future application for an NIDCD mentored research career development award (K- award), such as the Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (K08) or Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards (K23), to consider applying for one year of support through an NIDCD R03 award, if needed to demonstrate the feasibility of the research to be proposed in their K08 or K23 application. In addition, recipients of NIDCD K08 and K23 awards may hold an R03 award concurrent with the K-award, providing the aggregate number of years of R03 support (prior to and during the K-award) does not exceed three years and that the R03 does not provide the K-awardee with additional salary support. The purpose of such an R03 award is to provide the mentored K-awardee with additional needed resources for the transition to independence. The research specific aims (SAs) of the R03 application should expand upon the SAs of the K08 or K23 award, rather than duplicate the SAs of the K-award. In this case, the concurrent professional effort associated with these awards is considered overlapping rather than additive. Former recipients of Federally-funded National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowships and traineeships or mentored career development awards are eligible for this Small Grant Program. Individuals who have served as Principal Investigators on any NIH research grant (including subprojects of program project and center grants) or other Federally-funded research grants are not eligible for the NIDCD R03 mechanism. Other questions about eligibility may be directed to one of the program officials listed under INQUIRIES. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Applications for the Small Grant Program use the NIH Modular Grant format (see NIH Guide, Notice of Modular Grant Application and Award, December 15, 1998) in preparing the budget. Complete and detailed instructions and information on Modular Grants can be found at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm. Small grants may be submitted for up to 2 modules of $25,000 each ($50,000 Direct Costs per year), for up to three years of support. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral research protocols involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 10.1-43). All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994, (FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994, available on the web at the following URL address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html. INCLUSION OF CHIDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html. URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The PHS 398 grant application form is to be used to submit the R03 grant. The form may be downloaded from the NIH Home Page at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm. Application kits are also available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC-7910, Bethesda, MD 20892- 7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email GrantsInfo@nih.gov. The specific R03 guidelines listed below (e.g., page limitations, number of copies, application dates) supersede the PHS 398 instructions. FACE PAGE: Item 2, type "Small Grant Program NIDCD" in "Title" box, and check the "YES" box, indicating the application is in response to a Program Announcement. For revised/amended applications, an introduction (not to exceed one and one- half pages) in addition to the research plan is required. This introduction should respond to the comments and concerns of the Initial Review Group delineated in the summary statement. The research plan should not exceed eight pages. Information regarding specific aims, background and significance, preliminary studies/progress report, research design and methods are all included in this eight-page limit (Section C-9, a-d, page 15 of the PHS 398 instructions). If human subjects are included in the proposed research, applicants must address the recruitment and inclusion of women, minorities and children, as it impacts study design, within the eight-page research plan (page 16 of the PHS 398 instructions). Tables, figures and photographs are also included in the eight-page limit. Detailed descriptions of protocols for the proposed involvement of human subjects and/or vertebrate animals, literature cited, consortium/contractual arrangements and consultant letters, are not included in the eight-page limit (Section C-9, e-i, pages 17 and 18 of the PHS 398 instructions). Up to three publications, submitted manuscripts, or abstracts may be included as Appendix material. (Please refer to PHS 398 application for additional Appendix guidelines.) Letters of support may also be included in the Appendix. Applications that exceed the page limit or requirements for type/font size and margins may be returned to the investigator. (Please refer to PHS 398 application for details.) Use the mailing label in the application kit to mail the original and three copies of the application (less Appendices) to: CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, SUITE 1040 - MSC-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) To ensure that the application is received in sufficient time for the review, please send an additional two copies and five sets of Appendices to: Chief, Scientific Review Branch Division of Extramural Research National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Room 400-C, MSC 7180 Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service) The submission, review, and award schedule for the Small Grant Program through August 24, 2001 is: Application Receipt Dates: Dec 22 Apr 20 Aug 24 NIDCD Committee Review: Feb/Mar Jun/Jul Oct/Nov Council Review: May Oct Jan Earliest Funding: Aug Jan May If the receipt date falls on a weekend, it will be extended to the following Monday; if the date falls on a holiday, it will be extended to the following business day. Only one Small Grant application may be submitted by a Principal Investigator per receipt date. Applicants may not submit an R01 application on the same topic concurrently (to be considered at the same National Advisory Council meeting) with the submission of a Small Grant application. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit in accordance with the standard NIH procedures by an initial review group (IRG) convened by the NIDCD. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will be discussed, assigned a priority score and receive a written critique. The second level of review is conducted by the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council. Review Criteria The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance the understanding of biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. In the written review, comments on the following aspects of the application will be made in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will be addressed and considered in the assignment of the overall score. (1) Significance. Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field? (2) Approach. Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? (3) Innovation. Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or method? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies? (4) Investigator. Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers (if any)? (5) Environment. Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? The initial review group will also examine the provisions for protection of human and animal subjects, the safety of the research environment, and conformity with the NIH Guidelines for the Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children as Subjects in Clinical Research. Applications will be subsequently reviewed by the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council. AWARD CRITERIA The awarding of grant funds is contingent on: (1) the receipt of applications of high scientific merit; (2) responsiveness to this Program Announcement, including the eligibility of investigators; (3) relevance to the mission of the NIDCD; and (4) the availability of funds. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Hearing Dr. Thomas Johnson Telephone: (301) 402-3461 Email: Thomas_Johnson@nih.gov Balance Dr. Daniel Sklare Telephone: (301) 496-1804 Email: Daniel_Sklare@nih.gov Smell/Taste Dr. Rochelle Small Telephone: (301) 402-3464 Email: Rochelle_Small@nih.gov Dr. Barry Davis Telephone: (301) 402-3464 Email: Barry_Davis@nih.gov Voice/Speech/Language Dr. Judith Cooper Telephone: (301) 496-5061 Email: Judith_Cooper@nih.gov Research Training and Career Development (across NIDCD program areas) Dr. Daniel Sklare Telephone: (301) 496-1804 Email: Daniel_Sklare@nih.gov The address and FAX number for the above-named persons are: Scientific Programs Branch Division of Extramural Research National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Room 400C, MSC-7180 Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 FAX: (301) 402-6251 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Sharon Hunt Grants Management Office Division of Extramural Research National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Room 400B, MSC-7180 Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 Telephone: (301) 402-0909 Fax: (301) 402-1758 Email: sh79f@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.93.173. Awards are made under authorization of sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.
Return to NIH Guide Main Index
Office of Extramural Research (OER) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892 |
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
||||||||