Expired PAR-13-374: Modeling Social Behavior (R01)

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s)	National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Components of Participating Organizations	National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH formerly NCCAM) Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)
Funding Opportunity Title	Modeling Social Behavior (R01)
Activity Code	R01 Research Project Grant
Announcement Type	New
Related Notices	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) July 17, 2015 - Notice of NIGMS' Withdrawal from Participation in PAR-13-374. See Notice NOT-GM-15-120. September 4, 2014 - Notice of OBSSR's Participation in PAR-13-374. See Notice NOT-OD-14-123. June 4, 2014 - Notice NOT-14-074 supersedes instructions in Section III.3 regarding applications that are essentially the same.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number	PAR-13-374
Companion Funding Opportunity	None
Number of Applications	See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	93.865; 93.273; 93.213; 93.121; 93.113; 93.286; 93.242; 93.399
Funding Opportunity Purpose	This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for developing and testing innovative theories and computational, mathematical, or engineering approaches to deepen our understanding of complex social behavior. This research will examine phenomena at multiple scales to address the emergence of collective behaviors that arise from individual elements or parts of a system working together. Emergence can also describe the functioning of a system within the context of its environment. Often properties we associate with a system itself are in actuality properties of the relationships and interactions between a system and its environment. This FOA will support research that explores the often complex and dynamic relationships among the parts of a system and between the system and its environment in order to understand the system as a whole. To accomplish the goals of this initiative, we encourage applications that build transdisciplinary teams of scientists spanning a broad range of expertise. Minimally this team should include investigators with expertise in the behavioral or social sciences as well as in computational and systems modeling (computer science, mathematics, engineering, or other systems sciences). Applications should demonstrate bridge-building between disciplines, scales and levels.

Key Dates

Posted Date	October 17, 2013
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)	January 5, 2014
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. 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.
Scientific Merit Review	Standard dates apply
Advisory Council Review	Standard dates apply
Earliest Start Date	Standard dates apply
Expiration Date	January 8, 2017
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

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is a follow-on to RFA-GM-13-006, Modeling Social Behavior. The goal of this prior FOA was to build an extramural research program in computational social sciences to increase our understanding of basic behavioral and social phenomena and processes and ultimately improve human health.

Models help explain observations, understand system dynamics, illuminate uncertainties, offer options for interventions, set boundaries of parameters and outcomes, discipline our thinking, and identify new questions. These are valuable, tangible results of applying modeling, especially mathematical and computational modeling to social behavior research.

This FOA encourages applications for developing and testing innovative theories and computational, mathematical, or engineering approaches to deepen our understanding of complex social behavior. This research will examine phenomena at multiple scales to address the emergence of collective behaviors that arise from individual elements or parts of a system working together. Emergence can also describe the functioning of a system within the context of its environment. Often properties we associate with a system itself are in actuality properties of the relationships and interactions between a system and its environment. This FOA will support research that explores the often complex and dynamic relationships among the parts of a system and between the system and its environment in order to understand the system as a whole.

To accomplish the goals of this initiative, we encourage applications that build transdisciplinary teams of scientists spanning a broad range of expertise. Minimally this team should include investigators with expertise in the behavioral or social sciences as well as in computational and systems modeling (computer science, mathematics, engineering, or other systems sciences). Applications from cross-trained investigators with expertise in complex systems and computational thinking and approaches (such as computational neuroscientists, computational sociolinguists, computational anthropologists, computational epidemiologists, etc.) are encouraged. Applications should demonstrate bridge-building between disciplines, scales and levels.

This FOA encourages small research projects focusing on theory building and testing, development and testing of innovative methods or methodological approaches, as well as small infrastructure projects focusing on development and testing of shared resources (for the last, generally applicable to broadly defined domains in systems and computational biology, behavioral or social sciences, or human health and in the context of a driving biological, behavioral or social, or human health issue). This FOA also encourages larger and more integrative research projects focusing on the modeling of complex social behavior.

Applications submitted to this FOA may propose exploratory or hypothesis-generating studies, or a combination of both; it is not necessary that proposed research be solely hypothesis-driven. Studies using system science approaches to knowledge discovery are encouraged.

Applications may use real, empirical data as well as synthetic data or a combination of both to meet the aims of the proposed project. Model testing and validation are encouraged, especially when only synthetic data are used in simulations. Inclusion of preliminary data is not a requirement.

It is not the intent of the FOA to fund projects whose sole purpose is to collect and analyze original data. However, funds can be requested for this purpose within the larger context and goal of building and evaluating theories or models or the development, implementation, and evaluation of shared resources.

Proposed research may involve model organisms or humans or both. Projects that integrate research using animal models and humans are encouraged.

NIGMS is interested in mathematical and computational systems modeling of behavioral and social phenomena and processes. Specific content areas of research interest include but are not limited to:

Emergence of new functionality from simple behaviors;
Influence of interrelationships between affect and cognitive processing on collective behavior;
Role of resilience (the ability of a system at the individual, community, population, and society level to recover from a perturbation or crisis) in collective behavior;
Use of social media and internet-based communities and other dynamic social networks to understand principles of collective behavior (e.g., effect of narratives on collective human behavior) and improve human health (e.g., making social networks more robust and sustainable);
Use of geocoded data in modeling and role in helping understand and influence collective behavior at multiple scales;
Use of Big Data and new technologies for research into collective behavior and for monitoring and intervening to improve public health.

Specific infrastructure development focus areas of interest to NIGMS include but are not limited to:

Common modeling/computational environments;
Shared data sets or other research resources (e.g., animal models, human laboratory data, ecological momentary assessment data, etc.);
Interoperable toolkits (containing reusable and standardized measures, research protocols, data collection instruments and procedures, analytical and evaluation tools, algorithms, software programs/code, sourcebooks, executables, etc.) and enabling technologies.

NIAAA encourages basic and applied research on systems-based modeling approaches to advance understanding of behavior, decision-making, and interventions pertaining to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related outcomes. Examples of research topics appropriate to this FOA and of interest to the NIAAA include but are not limited to:

Modeling the role of social interactions and social context in moderating or amplifying risky drinking behaviors and associated adverse outcomes;
Modeling decision-making processes in social contexts as they pertain to alcohol-related behaviors and outcomes;
Modeling social determinants of effectiveness in preventive or treatment interventions for alcohol-related outcomes and alcohol use disorders;
Modeling interactions between social and life-cycle influences and associated risk and protective factors on drinking trajectories and alcohol-related outcomes.

NICHD is interested in basic and applied research on models of behavior and social processes associated with health, disability, and developmental outcomes from the pre-conception period into adulthood. See: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/about.

Applications that make use of computational, mathematical, or engineering methods to deepen our understanding of the following topics would be of interest to the NICHD:

Models of the complex relationships between demographic and environmental factors and their effects on health and population processes, including fertility, family formation, population distribution and immigration;
Child, maternal, reproductive and population health models utilizing multi-level perspectives. Of particular interest are models that are able to address behaviors in childhood and adolescence or sexual behaviors and contraceptive use from early adolescence through the reproductive years;
Models that address the complex factors affecting intellectual, behavioral and physical disability outcomes, rehabilitation outcomes, and long-term impacts of disability on individuals and families;
Models that address developmental issues over the life course. For example, models that link characteristics of early childhood development with later health trajectories or disability;
Models that address policy resistant health problems such as the connections between sexually transmitted diseases and/or chronic disease risk factors (including childhood obesity) within individuals and communities.

NIDCR particularly encourages projects that help develop and test causal explanations of oral health behavior across complex social systems and/or multi-level causal explanations of oral health. For social behavior research related to oral health, note that the NIDCR does not accept applications that include clinical trials in response to trans-NIH FOAs. Applicants proposing a clinical trial to the NIDCR should refer to the following websites; http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/, https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DE-11-002.html, and https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-338.html.

NIEHS is interested in supporting research in the following specific content areas:

The use of visual analytic software, such as Social Network Analysis software, to model collective behavior and group dynamics and/or to identify individuals and communities demonstrating resilient attributes in the context of environmental exposures and negative social factors;
The development of models that situate individual behaviors within the context of community exposures what role do culture and beliefs play in understanding risk and behavior change when individual beliefs differ from community values;
The development of models that integrate variance in the level of risk associated with multiple stressors (i.e., environmental exposures, low SES, and the social context) or the combined impact of chronic and multiple exposures across the lifespan;
The development of approaches to integrate data from either wearable devices informing on personal environment (environmental exposures or lifestyle factors) and/or databases of geospatial distributions of ambient pollutant levels into computational models of risk.

NIMH is interested in supporting applications that propose: 1) integrative approaches to understanding the neurobiological systems governing social behavior and cognition in humans and animals, and 2) the development of realistic models for understanding brain function and the combination of mathematical and computational tools with neurobiological techniques. NIMH is particularly interested in applications to this FOA that seek to build transdisciplinary teams that can apply appropriate modeling techniques to multidimensional social neuroscience data.

Examples of topics and approaches of interest to NIMH include, but are not limited to, the following:

Explanatory, predictive and informative models and simulations of normal and abnormal structures and functions of the nervous system relevant to social behavior and cognition;
Mathematical, statistical and other quantitative analyses of research related to social neuroscience;
Theoretical and computational approaches to delineate and understand the structures and functions of neural circuits relevant to social behavior and cognition;
Theoretical and computational approaches that relate nervous system processes to social learning, representations of social context, social inference, and social information integration and consolidation;
Theory and algorithms for designing experiments and integrating and analyzing data related real-time dyadic interactions;
Mathematical, statistical, and modeling approaches related to social communication
Theoretical and computational methods that can be applied to common pathways, circuits, and mechanisms underlying disrupted social cognition and behavior seen in multiple mental illnesses.

Applicants with interests in these areas are encouraged to refer to the NIMH programs in Affect, Social Behavior and Social Cognition and/or Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/dnbbs/behavioral-science-and-integrative-neuroscience-research-branch/index.shtml.

NCCAM is interested in applications proposing studies which utilize information shared through social media or geocoded data to:

Better understand the drivers of use of complementary health approaches;
Better understand the patterns of purchasing of complementary health products;
Better understand or model complementary health practitioner utilization;
Better understand or model how access to medical care influences utilization of complementary health approaches, or vice versa.

Applications submitted to this FOA should adhere to the following definitions:

"Modeling" is defined as the use of a simplified abstraction or representation of a system in time or space to enable and promote understanding of the real system. "Systems modeling" refers not only to systems dynamics, agent-based modeling, and network analysis, but also includes all other appropriate and applicable computational, mathematical, or engineering approaches.

"Social behavior" is defined as emergent collective behavior arising from the behaviors of individuals in a population. Exploring interactions and emergent behaviors should include study of the context in which the behaviors and the system exist. A broad range of theoretical frameworks is encouraged.

For other relevant definitions of "behavior" and "social" and research in these areas, see: http://obssr.od.nih.gov/about_obssr/BSSR_CC/BSSR_definition/definition.aspx#def

"Transdisciplinary research" is defined as research efforts conducted by investigators from different disciplines working jointly to create new conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and translational innovations that integrate and move beyond discipline-specific approaches to address a common problem. One resource of tools to foster transdisciplinary team science can be found at: https://www.teamsciencetoolkit.cancer.gov/public/home.aspx?js=1

"Systems biology" is a conceptual framework for the analysis of complex biological and behavioral systems. Such systems derive from interactions among many distinct components, in varying contexts. These systems exhibit properties, such as nonlinear dynamics and emergent behavior that cannot easily be inferred from studies of components in isolation. Systems biology often uses mathematical methods and computational models along with data to test hypotheses and design experiments. The demands of the approach often require high-throughput data acquisition technologies and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Iteration between theory and experimentation is critical. When applied to human health, systems biology can be a powerful tool to test hypotheses relevant to health and disease, particularly the results of therapeutic interventions.

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 Renewal Resubmission Revision 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	Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
Award Project Period	The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years for New and Early Stage Investigators and 4 years for established investigators.

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)

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

For-Profit Organizations

Small Businesses
For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)

Governments

State Governments
County Governments
City or Township Governments
Special District Governments
Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
U.S. Territory or Possession

Other

Independent School Districts
Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
Regional Organizations
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions)

Foreign Institutions

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are 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 Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) 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(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization 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 support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

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.

Instructions for Application Submission

The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this FOA.

SF424(R&R) Cover