Expired PAR-13-182: Drug Abuse Dissertation Research (R36)

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s)	National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Components of Participating Organizations	National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Funding Opportunity Title	Drug Abuse Dissertation Research (R36)
Activity Code	R36 Dissertation Award
Announcement Type	Reissue of PAR-10-020
Related Notices	September 22, 2016 - This PAR has been reissued as PA-16-443. March 15, 2016 - Notice to Extend PAR-13-182. See Notice NOT-DA-16-019. NOT-OD-16-004 - NIH & AHRQ Announce Upcoming Changes to Policies, Instructions and Forms for 2016 Grant Applications (November 18, 2015) NOT-OD-16-006 - Simplification of the Vertebrate Animals Section of NIH Grant Applications and Contract Proposals (November 18, 2015) NOT-OD-16-011 - Implementing Rigor and Transparency in NIH & AHRQ Research Grant Applications (November 18, 2015) June 3, 2014 - Notice NOT-14-074 supersedes instructions in Section III.3 regarding applications that are essentially the same. August 21, 2013: Removed reference to ASSIST in section IV.3, since ASSIST is currently only available for multi-project applications. May 30, 2013 (NOT-OD-13-074) - NIH to Require Use of Updated Electronic Application Forms for Due Dates on or after September 25, 2013. Forms-C applications are required for due dates on or after September 25, 2013. April 12, 2013 - See Notice NOT-DA-13-023. Notice to Amend Section IV. Application and Submission Information.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number	PAR-13-182
Companion Funding Opportunity	None
Number of Applications	See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	93.279
Funding Opportunity Purpose	The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to invite applications for support of drug abuse doctoral dissertation research.

Key Dates

Posted Date	April 5, 2013
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)	May 16, 2013
Letter of Intent Due Date(s)	Not Applicable
Application Due Date(s)	Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
AIDS Application Due Date(s)	Standard AIDS dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
Scientific Merit Review	Standard dates apply
Advisory Council Review	Standard dates apply
Earliest Start Date	Standard dates apply
Expiration Date	New Date September 8, 2016 per issuance of NOT-DA-16-019. (Original Expiration Date: May 8, 2016)
Due Dates for E.O. 12372	Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

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

Table of Contents

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

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announces the availability of NIH Dissertation Award grants (R36) to support drug abuse doctoral dissertation research in NIDA areas of priority (http://www.drugabuse.gov/funding/funding-priorities ). Areas of focus include research on basic and clinical neuroscience and behavior, developmental trajectories, epidemiology, prevention, treatment, services, and/or women and sex/gender differences. Grant support is designed to encourage doctoral candidates from a variety of academic disciplines and programs to conduct research in these areas of interest to NIDA. It is hoped that this program will ultimately facilitate the entry of promising new investigators into the field of drug abuse research and promote transdisciplinary collaborations.

Accordingly the NIH continues to encourage institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations and thus to increase the participation of individuals currently underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences such as: individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds that have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in health-related research. Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will increase diversity on a national or institutional basis. The NIH is particularly interested in encouraging the recruitment and retention of the following classes of candidates:

A. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see data at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27 and the most recent report on Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be convincingly demonstrated to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in this program.

B. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

C. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who are defined as:

1. Individuals who come from a family with an annual income below established low-income thresholds. These thresholds are based on family size; published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census; adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index; and adjusted by the Secretary for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary periodically publishes these income levels at HHS - Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement. For individuals from low income backgrounds, the institution must be able to demonstrate that such participants have qualified for Federal disadvantaged assistance or they have received any of the following student loans: Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL), Loans for Disadvantaged Student Program, or they have received scholarships from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Scholarship for Individuals with Exceptional Financial Need.

2. Individuals who come from a social, cultural, or educational environment such as that found in certain rural or inner-city environments that have demonstrably and recently directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.

Recruitment and retention of individuals from disadvantaged background (C1 and C2) are most applicable to high school and perhaps undergraduate candidates, but would be more difficult to justify for individuals beyond that level of achievement.

Recent national data on doctorates earned by underrepresented minority U.S. citizens and permanent residents demonstrates a coninuing need to enhance diversity (http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/sed/2011/start.cfm ).

Research Objectives

NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. Research supported by NIDA encompasses basic, behavioral, and applied sciences related to the underlying mechanisms and health effects of drugs of abuse. This FOA is to provide students with grant-in-aid support to perform drug abuse dissertation research on a topic related to the study of development, epidemiology, prevention, treatment, services, or women and sex/gender differences, and thereby increase the pool of highly talented drug abuse scientists who conduct research in these areas.

The descriptions below are examples of the research foci of this grant program and are provided to guide potential applicants to determine whether a given scientific topic may be appropriate for this initiative. These descriptions are not intended to be comprehensive. In addition, given the complexity of drug abuse research, it is permitted to conduct the proposed dissertation research in conjunction with an ongoing research study or to use extant data. Research studies focused on HIV/AIDS and Health Disparities are encouraged.

Development and Epidemiology:

Studies of multiple factors that influence drug use outcomes. That is, studies that examine genetic, neurological, biomedical, familial, behavioral, environmental, social, cultural, developmental, psychopathological, and psychological factors, their interactions, and mediating characteristics.

Studies of the underlying physiological and psychosocial mechanisms associated with the transition from lower to higher levels of drug involvement and from higher levels of drug involvement to dependence and addiction.

Development and improvement of techniques for studying drug abuse, including enhancements in measurement, development of improved sampling procedures, and refinement of analytic methods for diverse populations across human development.

Development of innovative approaches to identify both physical (ecological) and social environmental/contextual characteristics of local communities that influence drug use, emerging drug use patterns, and adverse drug-related outcomes.

Delineation of the underlying dynamic causal mechanisms associated with drug use patterns and adverse drug-related outcomes by integrating individual, family, peer and community level factors. Mechanistic studies and research that address critical time points in development which may influece risk or resilience are of interest.

Studies of emerging trends (e.g., club drugs, illicit prescription drug abuse, tobacco and other smoke products, etc.), including studies that relate these trends to influences such as changes in social attitudes, new drugs of abuse, new patterns of social interaction and social media, new technologies, new drug trafficking patterns, and similar macro-level changes.

Research on drug use and drug-related consequences among racial/ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations. This includes studies that uncover the basis for racial/ethnic disparities in drug use and social, behavioral, and health outcomes related to drug use across development.

Research to assess the impact of mental health interventions in childhood on subsequent drug abuse.

Studies to assess the nature, scope, and consequences of drug-related trauma, violence and crime including violent and nonviolent crime, interpersonal violence, and substance abuse and other comorbid physical and mental health problems.

Research to assess the impact of drug use on adverse behavioral, social, and health consequences (e.g., trauma, violence, educational attainment, HIV) as well as the role of adverse consequences on further drug involvement.

Prevention:

Studies that apply insights from genetics, neurobiology, neurocognition, and physiology to inform prevention interventions and test the effects of prevention interventions.

Studies on the efficacy and/or effectiveness of drug abuse prevention programs and strategies that are widely used but largely untested.

Studies to develop and test the efficacy/effectiveness of interventions adapted for different contexts, for example health care settings and schools.

Methodological research to improve the analysis of complex prevention trial data for example, statistical modeling for multi-level data, analysis of longitudinal data, and research examining complex interactions between qualitative and quantitative outcome data.

Studies on the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based drug abuse prevention interventions, including analysis of process data to determine factors that account for quality of implementation and outcomes, or program sustainability.

Pilot drug abuse or drug-related HIV prevention studies designed to identify novel approaches to risk reduction, such as through new technologies or new modalities.

Research aimed at developing improved alcohol and drug abuse prevention strategies for high risk populations such as subgroups with elevated rates of substance use, children of substance users, and underage drinkers.

Treatment:

Behavioral and integrative treatment research at NIDA is guided by a stage model of therapy development. For a detailed description of this model, as well as NIDA's therapy development and testing priorities, please see the Behavioral Therapies Development Program Announcements at: (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-13-078.html; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-13-077.html; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/PA-files/PA-13-079.html).

Examples of behavioral treatment research appropriate for this announcement include, but are not limited to the following:

Utilizing genetic, neurobiological, neuropsychological, behavioral, or other diagnostic data to tailor treatment to specific subgroups.

Utilizing relevant research from the animal model literature (e.g., avoidance and impulsivity paradigms) to develop or improve treatments/interventions.

Utilizing relevant research from the developmental (e.g., basic research on familial and peer influences during adolescence) or social psychology (e.g., basic research on stereotyping) literatures to improve treatments.

Stage I studies developing or adapting behavioral interventions that promote adherence to drug and alcohol abuse pharmacotherapy.

Adapting/modifying evidence-based treatments for use in non-traditional and community settings, into community-friendly formats (e.g., individual to group, briefer formats, less intensive delivery, computer-assisted delivery, etc.), and evaluating their resulting potency.

Developing sleep hygiene modules for incorporation into drug abuse treatment protocols for drug abusers with insomnia.

Developing and assessing treatment provider training procedures for evidence-based treatments (e.g., computerizing training procedures; this can include initial training as well as supervision requirements).

Developing interventions to promote adherence to medical treatment regimens in HIV+ drug users.

Computerizing, or partially computerizing evidence-based treatments for substance abuse disorders, as well as for HIV prevention interventions for individuals in drug abuse treatment

Developing interventions to reduce pain in individuals addicted to prescription drugs, non-drug abusing populations, or individuals with chronic pain.

Research involving secondary analyses of existing behavioral treatment research data sets to identify predictors, moderators, or mediators of treatment outcome, mechanisms of action of treatment, or secondary effects of treatment on participants in various contexts (e.g., peer group, school, work, family) or on participants' family members (e.g., children).

Conducting secondary analysis of combined behavioral and pharmacological treatment clinical trials.

Research on instrument development and/or psychometric analysis of tools for the clinical assessment of drug abuse, treatment efficacy, treatment fidelity, and HIV risk, or for constructs believed to be related to mechanisms of action of behavioral treatment efficacy.

Research to develop and test a therapy module to be added to an existing therapy to address targeted issues (e.g., adding an HIV risk reduction module to a family therapy for drug-abusing adolescents).

Research to integrate innovative health technologies into new or existing behavioral and integrative treatments.

Research testing a principle of behavior change among drug-abusers in treatment (e.g., by adding more frequent or multi-method assessments to an existing study in order to track behavior change over time).

Development of improved medication compliance markers.

Development of medications to treat Substance Related Disorders, including medications for smoking cessation.

Studies of the neurodevelopmental differences among adolescents in the neurobiological processing of drug-related information, as well as differences in general reward valuation, and reinforcement (both positive and negative) in laboratory decision-making or imaging paradigms relevant to treatment development.

Studies of developmental cognitive processes of rewards, losses, social cues in decision-making, and value incentives that are relevant to treatment and integration of relevant developmental cognitive processes into the development of treatments.

Studies to inform our understanding of how peer influence contributes to decision making processes in group treatment settings.

Studies that use neuroimaging and other techniques to characterize specific neurobiological circuitry during adolescence to inform treatment development (e.g., to determine incentive-motivational circuitry that can be are involved in emotional regulation, drug seeking, addiction, reward, relapse, and maintenance of behavioral change).

Services:

Studies to assess the impact of financing and organizational and managerial factors on access to and use, quality, efficiency, costs, and outcomes of prevention and treatment services.

Research to measure the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and cost-benefits of drug abuse prevention and treatment services.

Drug abuse service delivery systems and models, such as continuity of care, development of therapeutic rapport, service linkages and integration models.

Studies that advance the adoption and implementation of evidence-based drug abuse prevention and treatment interventions into service delivery systems (e.g., specialty care, primary care, criminal justice, child welfare).

Drug abuse treatment and prevention services for HIV seropositive patients and for those at risk of HIV infection and other diseases that are a consequence of drug abuse.

Studies focusing on management strategies (e.g., work team models, quality management) and business practices aimed at improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of drug abuse treatment and prevention services.

Research focusing on the development or improvement of research methods---including but not limited to study design, measurement, data collection, and analytic procedures---for studying the societal impact of drug abuse and/or the delivery, quality, outcomes, and economics of drug abuse prevention or treatment services.

Women and Sex/Gender Differences:

Through this dissertation award program, NIDA seeks to foster research on females (both humans and in animal models) and sex/gender differences in all areas of drug abuse research. From basic cellular and genetics research to epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and services research, investigators are encouraged to explore the possible importance of sex/gender differences in their chosen area of study and to explore drug abuse issues specific to females. Examples of research areas include, but are not limited to the following:

Sex/Gender differences in the basic behavioral, physiological, neurobiological and genetic mechanisms underlying drug abuse and addiction; and laboratory (both human and animal), clinical, and epidemiological studies of sex/gender differences in the determinants of initiation, progression, maintenance of drug use and addiction, and responsiveness to treatment.

Laboratory (both human and animal), field, and clinical research aimed at: (1) identifying sex/gender differences in the consequences of drug use, abuse, and addiction following acute use, chronic use, as well as residual effects following prolonged abstinence, and (2) examining drug-related consequences that are unique to females.

Clinical studies aimed at characterizing sex differences in the effects of drug exposure on the developing brain, or studies aimed at detecting sex differences in acute and chronic drug use effects (and abstinence effects) on the brains of children, adolescents and adults.

The application of sex/gender-specific theories and empirical research on the origins, pathways, and risk and protective factors related to drug use, progression/transition, and maintenance, to the design, development, and testing of gender-sensitive prevention and treatment strategies and interventions to determine effectiveness and efficacy.

The development and testing of theoretically-based drug treatment approaches (including behavioral treatment and pharmacotherapies) that address sex/gender-specific topics related to the effective and efficient delivery of drug abuse treatment services.

The development and evaluation of sex/gender-specific interventions directed at preventing HIV infection and treating HIV/AIDS among drug using populations.

For additional background and research areas of interest dealing with women and sex/gender differences, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-047.html.

Questions on the relevance of a particular research topic to NIDA's scientific mission and other questions about this FOA should be addressed to the program contact listed under INQUIRIES. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their application with the appropriate program contact.

Special Considerations

HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Policy for the National Institute on Drug Abuse: In light of recent significant advances in rapid testing for HIV and in effective treatments for HIV, NIDA has revised its 2001 policy on HIV counseling and testing. NIDA-funded researchers are strongly encouraged to provide and/or refer research subjects to HIV risk reduction education and education about the benefits of HIV treatment, counseling and testing, referral to treatment, and other appropriate interventions to prevent acquisition and transmission of HIV. This policy applies to all NIDA funded research conducted domestically or internationally. For more information see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-07-013.html.

National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse Recommended Guidelines for the Administration of Drugs to Human Subjects: The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA) recognizes the importance of research involving the administration of drugs with abuse potential, and dependence or addiction liability, to human subjects. Potential applicants are encouraged to obtain and review these recommendations of Council before submitting an application that will administer compounds to human subjects. The guidelines are available on NIDA's Web site at

http://www.nida.nih.gov/about/organization/nacda/CouncilStatement.html.

Points to Consider Regarding Tobacco Industry Funding of NIDA Applicants: The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA) encourages NIDA and its grantees to consider the points it has set forth with regard to existing or prospective sponsored research agreements with tobacco companies or their related entities and the impact of acceptance of tobacco industry funding on NIDA's credibility and reputation within the scientific community. Please see (http://ww2.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/nacda/points-to-consider.html) for details.

Data Harmonization for Substance Abuse and Addiction via the PhenX Toolkit: NIDA strongly encourages investigators involved in human-subjects studies to employ a common set of tools and resources that will promote the collection of comparable data across studies and to do so by incorporating the measures from the Core and Specialty collections, which are available in the Substance Abuse and Addiction Collection of the PhenX Toolkit (www.phenxtoolkit.org). Please see NOT-DA-12-008 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-12-008.html) for further details.

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument	Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.
Application Types Allowed	New Resubmission The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards	The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Award Budget	Grants to support dissertation research will provide no more than $50,000 in direct costs per year.
Award Project Period	The maximum period is two years, with the possibility of extension without additional funds for up to 12 months.

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

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Higher Education Institutions

Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
Private Institutions of Higher Education

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

Hispanic-serving Institutions
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

Foreign Institutions

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant Organizations

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

Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) - All registrations require that applicants be issued a DUNS number. After obtaining a DUNS number, applicants can begin both SAM and eRA Commons registrations. The same DUNS number must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.
System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly CCR) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.
NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
eRA Commons - Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the eRA Commons registration. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.gov registration. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
Grants.gov Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)

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

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the NIH-funded biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences workforce. NIH expects efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups; improve the quality of the educational and training environment; balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nation's capacity to address and eliminate health disparities.

Accordingly the NIH encourages institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations and thus to increase the participation of individuals currently underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences such as: individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds that have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in health-related research. Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will increase diversity on a national or institutional basis.

For the purpose of this announcement, institutions are encouraged to identify applicants who will increase diversity on a national basis. As indicated in Section I, the NIH is particularly interested in encouraging the recruitment and retention of the following classes of candidates:

A. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see most recent data and report at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

B. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

C. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who are defined as:

Individuals who come from a social, cultural, or educational environment such as that found in certain rural or inner-city environments that have demonstrably and recently directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.

The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree and be enrolled in a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-degree program (e.g., Dr. PH., D.NSC. and Sc.D.), a formally combined M.D. /Ph.D. program or other combined professional/clinical and research doctoral program in the biomedical, behavioral and social, and clinical sciences at an accredited domestic institution.

2. Cost Sharing

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

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

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

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

To an RFA of an application that was submitted previously as an investigator-initiated application but not paid;
Of an investigator-initiated application that was originally submitted to an RFA but not paid; or
Of an application with a changed grant activity code.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

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

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

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

Page Limitations

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

Required and Optional Components

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

SF424(R&R) Cover