and Human Services (HHS)
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Alzheimer's Disease Pilot Clinical Trials
PA Number: PAR-05-021
Part I Overview InformationDepartment of Health and Human Services
Participating Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)
Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute on Aging (NIA), (http://www.nia.nih.gov)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)
Announcement Type
This is a reissue of PA-99-038 which was previously released January 14, 1999.
Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.866
Key Dates
Release Date: November 23, 2004
Application Receipt Dates(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Peer Review Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Council Review Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Expiration Date for R01 Non-AIDS Applications: November 2, 2006
Expiration Date for R01 AIDS and AIDS-Related Applications: January 3, 2007
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Executive Summary
In 1999, at the direction of Congress, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), in conjunction with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) embarked on the Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Prevention Initiative, which encompasses a number of interrelated efforts including basic, epidemiological, behavioral, and clinical research. An important part of the AD Prevention Initiative is to quicken the pace for translating basic science findings into clinical trials to evaluate treatment and prevention strategies. This Program Announcement (PA) focuses on AD pilot clinical trials while another PA is targeted to AD drug discovery.
In this Program Announcement the NIA and NIMH invite qualified investigators to submit research grant applications for pilot clinical drug trials directed toward the prevention and treatment of the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). NIA is interested in supporting exploratory studies to obtain preliminary data and conduct studies to support the rationale for a subsequent full-scale clinical drug trial of an intervention to delay the onset of or prevent Alzheimer's disease and age-associated cognitive decline, to slow, halt, or reverse the progressive decline in cognitive function, and/or to modify the cognitive and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. NIMH is particularly interested in similar exploratory, pilot or proof-of-concept studies of medications that may effectively treat or prevent the behavioral and psychiatric symptoms that often accompany Alzheimer's disease.
Investigators whose pilot trials are successful may follow up with an NIH Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34) application (PA-04-008) (NIA participates in this program but NIMH does not participate in it) or with an R01 application for a larger trial.
Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936
Table of Contents
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates
A. Receipt and Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Sending an Application to the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
3. Merit Review Criteria
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative Requirements
A. Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award
1. Principal Investigator Rights and Responsibilities
2. NIH Responsibilities
3. Collaborative Responsibilites
4. Arbitration Process
3. Award Criteria
4. Reporting
Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations
Part II - Full Text of Announcement1. Research Objectives
Research and Scope
The objective of the Alzheimer's Disease Pilot Clinical Trials initiative is to improve the quality of clinical research designed to evaluate interventions for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease and age-associated cognitive decline by stimulating applications for pilot clinical drug trials to test interventions aimed at delaying the onset of or preventing AD and age-associated cognitive decline, slowing, halting, or, if possible, reversing the progressive decline in cognitive function, and modifying the cognitive and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. The goal is not to duplicate or compete with pharmaceutical companies but to encourage, complement, and accelerate the process of testing new, innovative, and effective treatments.
The pilot research project application should directly address how it will inform and advance the design of a subsequent full-scale clinical trial. The application should also address the intrinsic scientific merit of the pilot trial itself.
The Alzheimer's Disease Pilot Clinical Trials application may include the following: studies to refine the intervention strategy (e.g. drug dosage, duration, delivery system); studies to define and refine the target population and ensure adequate enrollment, protocol adherence and subject retention; collection of preliminary data for establishing measures of clinical efficacy including clinical/neuropsychological measures, neuroimaging measures, and other biological measures in blood and cerebrospinal fluid; assessment of efficacy (including primary and secondary outcome and assessment measures for both patients and caregivers); and studies of safety.
Background
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most persistent and devastating dementing disorders of old age, because it eventually leads to a complete loss of memory and of the ability to function independently. It is estimated that up to four and one-half million people in the United States have AD in its various stages at an estimated cost to society of up to $100 billion per year, and it is projected that up to 14 million people and their families could be affected by Alzheimer's disease by the middle of this century if no new treatments are developed.
In AD, connections among nerve cells are lost and specific neuronal populations die or are compromised and aberrant proteins are formed in brain regions associated with memory and other behavioral symptoms of AD such as agitation and psychosis. Many neurobiological processes are involved in the development and progression of AD, and these provide a variety of targets for therapeutic development and testing.
At present the few agents that are currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of AD have demonstrated only modest effects in modifying the clinical symptoms for relatively short periods, and none has shown a clear effect on disease progression. Until very recently, the majority of the compounds considered candidate drugs have been designed to affect the synthesis, release, or degradation of neurotransmitters. Most of the agents available thus far have been targeted towards the cholinergic system which is an especially vulnerable neural population in persons with AD and cognitive dysfunction as well as a recently approved compound which targets a glutamate receptor. However, new types of agents are being developed which are directed at targets in the pathways leading to neuronal dysfunction and death which will hopefully slow or stop the initiation and progression of AD pathology including the vaccine approach with beta amyloid as well as drugs to inhibit beta and gamma secretases, increase alpha secretase, inhibit beta amyloid aggregation, inhibit the formation of tangles, inhibit inflammation and oxidative damage, maintain neuronal viability and connections, and stop neuronal cell death.
The NIA and other NIH Institutes currently support extramural and intramural projects for the study of the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AD through a variety of grant and contract mechanisms. To capitalize on these efforts, investigators in all relevant scientific disciplines and organizations are invited to discover and test compounds and strategies for the prevention and treatment of the disease. Although agents are still required which can lessen the symptoms of the disease, new and novel efforts need to be focused on developing and testing compounds which can slow the disease progression, reverse the disease process, and delay the onset of or prevent AD and age-associated cognitive decline entirely.
Section II. Award Information1. Mechanism(s) of Support
This funding opportunity will use the NIH R01 mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, directing, and executing the proposed project.
The mechanism of support for the Alzheimer's Disease Pilot Clinical Trials initiative is the individual research project grant (R01). It is expected that most grants will not exceed $400,000 per year in direct costs (exclusive of indirect costs for subcontracts to additional clinical sites) for up to 3 years. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The award cannot be renewed.For applications up to $250,000 in direct costs per year, specific application instructions have been modified to reflect "MODULAR GRANT" and "JUST-IN-TIME" streamlining efforts being examined by NIH. Complete and detailed instructions and information on Modular Grant applications can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.
This funding opportunity uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular as well as the non-modular budget formats (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm). Specifically, if you are submitting an application with direct costs in each year of $250,000 or less, use the modular budget format described in the PHS 398 application instructions. Otherwise follow the instructions for non-modular research grant applications.
2. Funds Available
Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received. Although the financial plans of NIA include support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Section III. Eligibility Information1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
You may submit (an) application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:
1.B. Eligible Individuals
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution 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 programs.
2. Cost Sharing
This program does not require cost sharing, cost participation of matching as defined in the current grant policy statement at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/nihgps_Part2.htm#matching_or_cost_sharing.
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
This announcement does not restrict the numbers of applications an investigator may submit.
1. Address to Request Application Information
The PHS 398 application instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001; 9/2004 version after May 10). Applications must have a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com. The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form.
See Section VI.2. for additional information.
The title and number of this funding opportunity must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be checked.
3. Submission Dates
Applications must be mailed on or before the receipt date described below (Section IV.3.A).
3.A. Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
Application Receipt Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Peer Review Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Council Review Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
Not Applicable
3.B. Sending an Application to the NIH
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms as described above. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and three signed photocopies in one package to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 (U.S. Postal Service Express or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS service)
In order to facilitate the review of applications, at the same time, mail or deliver the two signed photocopies of the application to:
Mary Nekola, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Office
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2C212, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Email: Mary_Nekola@nih.gov
3.C. Application Processing
Applications must be submitted on or before the application dates described above (Section IV.3.A.) and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/dates.htm.
The NIH will not accept any application in response to this PA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of a substantial revision of an application already reviewed, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the previous critique.
Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within eight (8) weeks.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
5. Funding Restrictions
All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm (See also Section VI.3. Award Criteria)
6. Other Submission Requirements
The following need to be addressed in the application:
Special Requirements
1. The scientific basis for the proposed intervention including discussion of current practice and alternative interventions.
2. Potential impact of the proposed intervention on health care and quality of life.
3. Study Design and Procedures.
a. Sequence of clinical studies, including the proposed pilot study, which will result in a definitive clinical trial.
b. Translation of the clinical question into a hypothesis.
c. Selection of outcome measure(s).
d. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.
e. Secondary questions (including capacity for post hoc analyses).
f. Detailed protocol with standardized procedures that will be used for this pilot study.
g. Ethical and safety issues and quality control procedures.
4. Data Analysis. Specific methods to be used for data analysis. Adequacy of sample size to detect a treatment effect. The sample size for the pilot study may not be adequate to detect any but the largest treatment differences or statistical trends; however, the data from this study should provide a basis for providing sample size estimates for future trials.
5. Training and expertise of the investigators in Alzheimer's disease and the proposed intervention as well as training and expertise in clinical trials in general. Any issues related to potential conflict of interest (e.g., patent holdings, equity interests, etc.) of the investigators and consultants should be addressed.
NIA Requirements for Human Intervention
Studies NIA has specific requirements for human intervention studies that need to be addressed in the grant application. These requirements are directed toward protecting the safety of participants in intervention studies and assuring that trials are soundly conducted and analyzed, http://www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/FundingAndTraining/Policies/HumanIntervention.htm.
In addition, NIH has published a series of policy guidelines related to clinical trials which are relevant to this PA. These include the following: "NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring," http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html; Guidance on Reporting Adverse Events to Institutional Review Boards for NIH-supported Multicenter Clinical Trials, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not99-107.html; Further Guidance on a Data and Safety Monitoring for Phase I and Phase II Trials, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-038.html; Required Education in the Protection of Human Research Participants, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.htm.
Specific Instructions for Modular Grant applications:
Applications requesting up to $250,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a modular budget format. The modular budget format simplifies the preparation of the budget in these applications by limiting the level of budgetary detail. Applicants request direct costs in $25,000 modules. Section C of the research grant application instructions for the PHS 398 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step-by-step guidance for preparing modular budgets. Additional information on modular budgets is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.
Specific Instructions for Applications Requesting $500,000 (direct costs) or More per Year:
Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year must carry out the following steps:
1) Contact the IC program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the application, i.e., as you are developing plans for the study;
2) Obtain agreement from the IC staff that the IC will accept your application for consideration for award; and,
3) Include a cover letter with the application that identifies the staff member and IC who agreed to accept assignment of the application.
This policy applies to all investigator-initiated new (type 1), competing continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended or revised version of these grant application types. Additional information on this policy is available in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, October 19, 2001 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-004.html.
Plan for Sharing Research Data
The precise content of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and how the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants who are planning to share data may wish to describe briefly the expected schedule for data sharing, the format of the final dataset, the documentation to be provided, whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided, whether or not a data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and whether or not any conditions will be placed on their use), and the mode of data sharing (e.g., under their own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data on their institutional or personal website, through a data archive or enclave). Investigators choosing to share under their own auspices may wish to enter into a data-sharing agreement. References to data sharing may also be appropriate in other sections of the application.
Applicants requesting more than $500,000 in direct costs in any year of the proposed research must include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data sharing policy, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing.
The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data may be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
Sharing Research Resources
NIH policy requires that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication. NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm and http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/rt_guide_final.html. Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
The adequacy of the data sharing plan and the resources sharing plan will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report. (PHS 2590). See Section VI.3. Award Criteria.
Section V. Application Review Information 1. Criteria
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications submitted for this funding opportunity will be assigned to a Scientific Review Group on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. Appropriate scientific review groups convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures (http://www.csr.nih.gov/refrev.htm) will evaluate applications for scientific and technical merit.
As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:
3. Merit Review Criteria
The goals of NIH supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following criteria 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 assigning the overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that an application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For example, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.
1. Significance. Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
2. Approach. Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
3. Innovation. Is the project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?
4. Investigators. Are the investigators 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? Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?
5. Environment. Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
3.A. Additional Review Criteria:
In addition to the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score:
Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk: The involvement of human subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be assessed (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).
Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children in Research: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).
Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If vertebrate animals are to be used in the project, the five items described under Section F of the PHS Form 398 research grant application instructions will be assessed.
3.B. Additional Review Considerations
Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the budget.
3.C. Sharing Research Data
1. Data Sharing Plan: The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data may be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data sharing policy. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing
3.D. Sharing Research Resources
NIH policy requires that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication. NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm and http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/rt_guide_final.html. Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a sharing research resources plan addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing is not possible
The adequacy of the resources sharing plan will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. Program staff may negotiate modifications of the data and resource sharing plans with the Principal Investigator before recommending funding of an application. The final version of the data and resource sharing plans negotiated by both will become a condition of the award of the grant. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report. (PHS 2590). See Section VI.3. Award Criteria.
Section VI. Award Administration Information1. Award Notices
After the peer review of the application is completed, the Principal Investigator will also receive a written critique called a summary statement.
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of award will be provided to the applicant organization. The notice of award signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document.
Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NGA (Notice of Grant Award) are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.
NGAs are sent via e-mail to the office of the Administrative Official named in item 12 on the Face Page of the PHS 398 application form.
2. Administrative Requirements
All NIH Grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the notice of grant award. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm.
2.A. Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award
Not Applicable
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
4. Reporting
Awardees will be required to submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, Form 2590 annually: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Section VII. Agency ContactsWe encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management issues:
1. Scientific/Research Contacts:
Neil S. Buckholtz, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 350, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: (301) 496-9350
FAX: (301) 496-1494
Email: Buckholn@nia.nih.gov
Jovier D. Evans, Ph.D.
Chief, Geriatric Psychopharmacologic Intervention and Geriatric Translational Neuroscience Programs
Geriatrics Research Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7160 MSC 9635
Bethesda, MD 20892-9635
Telephone: (301) 443-6328
FAX: (301) 594-6784
Email: jevans1@mail.nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Mary Nekola, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Office
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2C212, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Email: nekolam@nia.nih.gov
3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
Linda Whipp
Grants and Contracts Management Office
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2N212, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: (301) 496-1472
FAX: (301) 402-3672
Email: whippl@nia.nih.gov
Joy Knipple
Division of Extramural Activities
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
Neuroscience Center/Room 6115/MSC 9605
6001 Executive Boulevard
Telephone: (301) 443-8811
FAX: (301) 443-6885
E-mail: knipplej@mail.nih.gov
Required Federal Citations
Human Subjects Protection:
Federal regulations (45CFR46) require that applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained. http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm.
Data and Safety Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety monitoring is required for all types of clinical trials, including physiologic toxicity, and dose-finding studies (phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II) efficacy, effectiveness and comparative trials (Phase III). Monitoring should be commensurate with risk. The establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risks to the participants. (NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12, 1998: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing Research Data:
Investigators submitting an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing
Investigators should seek guidance from their institutions, on issues related to institutional policies, local IRB rules, as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority score.
Sharing of Model Organisms:
NIH is committed to support efforts that encourage sharing of important research resources including the sharing of model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-042.html). At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm). All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal beginning with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
Inclusion of Women And Minorities in Clinical Research:
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling justification is provided indicating 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 103-43). All investigators proposing clinical research should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm. The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials consistent with the new PHS Form 398; and updated roles and responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
Required Education on The Protection of Human Subject Participants:
NIH policy requires education on the protection of human subject participants for all investigators submitting NIH applications for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Public Access to Research Data through the Freedom of Information Act:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to provide public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed through FOIA. It is important for applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment. NIH has provided guidance at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm. Applicants may wish to place data collected under this PA in a public archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include information about this in the budget justification section of the application. In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider use of data collected under this award.
Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002 . The Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions about applicability and implementation of the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR web site (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review, funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.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. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.
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 is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
Authority and Regulations:
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. 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 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and discourage the 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.
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NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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