Full Text PAR-96-036
 
DEVELOPMENTAL GRANTS FOR MINORITY COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 10, March 29, 1996
 
PA NUMBER:  PAR-96-036
 
P.T. 34, FF

Keywords: 
  Alcohol/Alcoholism 
  Behavioral/Social Studies/Service 
  Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl 

 
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
 
PURPOSE
 
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is
seeking applications for exploratory/developmental (R21) grant
applications for collaborative research projects to encourage new or
strengthen existing cooperative relationships between established
alcohol research scientists and scientists in minority and/or
predominantly minority institutions.  Awards under this program are
intended to enhance and extend the alcohol research activities of
minority scientists.  It is expected that projects will be mutually
beneficial to the collaborating scientists and to the advancement of
research on alcoholism and alcohol abuse.  Exploratory/developmental
grants (R21) are intended to develop new research activities that
could serve as the foundation for the development of more intensive
and larger research studies.  Grants supported under this program
announcement will be limited to a two-year effort and a maximum of
$70,000 in direct costs per year.
 
The issues related to alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and reduction of
alcohol-related problems are complex.  The NIAAA supports alcohol
relevant basic and applied research involving a wide array of health
science fields and related academic disciplines.  Because the United
States is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic nation with wide diversity
in the patterns, trends, and practices around alcohol use and abuse,
much can be gained from research partnerships in this field.
 
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000
 
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This program
announcement, Developmental Grants for Minority Collaborative
Projects, is related to the priority areas of alcohol abuse reduction
and alcoholism treatment.  Potential applicants may obtain a copy of
"Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or
Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800).
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Applications for exploratory/developmental (R21) research grants may
be submitted by domestic non-profit and for-profit, public and
private, institutions such as a university, college, hospital,
laboratory, units of State and local government; and eligible
agencies of the Federal government.  One scientist must apply as
principal investigator with a colleague from a laboratory or research
site in the collaborating institution.  It is recognized that
scientific opportunities may arise that warrant a formal
collaborative effort between the principal investigator and
individuals from more than one institution.  The collaborator must
hold a position at a public or private non-profit institution that
will allow him or her adequate time and provide appropriate
facilities to conduct the proposed research.  The linkages for
collaborative efforts must be between institutions in the United
States.  Simultaneous submissions of both an
exploratory/developmental and a regular research grant (R01)
application on the same topic will not be accepted.  Racial/ethnic
minority individuals, women and persons with disabilities are
encouraged to apply as principal investigators.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
Research support mechanisms are limited to exploratory/developmental
grants (R21) for up to $70,000 in direct costs per year for up to two
years.  Awards are made to the applicant institution to support a
collaborative research project that will be performed, in part, at
the collaborator's research site.  Funds may be included to purchase
supplies for the collaborator's laboratory and to support travel for
the collaborators as justified by the needs of the research proposed.
Annual awards will be made subject to continued availability of funds
and progress achieved.
 
FUNDS AVAILABLE
 
While an award may be up to $70,000 in direct costs per year for two
years, the NIAAA estimates that most of the awards will be smaller.
It is estimated that in Fiscal Year 1997 approximately four awards
will be made depending on the quality of applications, program
priorities, and the availability of funds.  Second year budgets
should conform to current NIH cost-containment policy of a four
percent increase for recurring costs.  Support for subsequent years
may be requested through the regular research grant programs of
NIAAA.  Although the financial plans of NIAAA provide for the support
of this program, the award of grants pursuant to this program
announcement is contingent upon the availability of funds for this
program.
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 
The purpose of this program announcement is to encourage
exploratory/developmental studies that will complement and enhance
existing alcohol research efforts.  The establishment of this program
will provide opportunities for attracting additional scientists to
the alcohol field.  This program will establish a process for making
the accumulated knowledge and experience of alcohol investigators
available to colleagues in historically and predominantly minority
institutions to address relevant issues and problems.  The number of
scientists who are identified as members of underrepresented minority
groups and who are engaged in alcohol research is extremely small.
Clearly there is a need to develop ways to assist and encourage
minority scientists to become active in the conduct of studies that
can advance the rapidly growing knowledge base in the alcohol field.
It is anticipated that this program will provide support to enhance
research capabilities in research oriented minority institutions; to
collaboratively pilot test a hypothesis before a larger more complex
project is developed; to develop new technology or methodologies to
facilitate the study of appropriate research problems; and to create
opportunities for collaborating scientists to acquire knowledge and
skills that enable them to submit competitive research grant
applications.  The intent is to advance understanding, contribute
meaningfully to the literature, and to significantly advance alcohol
research efforts in minority institutions.  Minority investigators
may also apply directly for an exploratory/developmental grant from
NIAAA.
 
It is anticipated that collaborative efforts established through this
program will:
 
a) facilitate development of alcohol relevant epidemiologic,
biomedical, behavioral, treatment, prevention, and policy research
activities in minority institutions;
 
b) provide opportunities to scientifically explore biological,
behavioral and socio-cultural phenomena that may help to explain
differing degrees of severity and disease progression of alcohol
induced adverse effects observed among and within minority groups and
subgroups;
 
c) enhance development of talent, scientific expertise and resources
capable of making unique contributions to the field;
 
d) stimulate development of alcohol focused research training
programs in schools of medicine and other doctoral degree programs in
minority and predominantly minority institutions; and
 
e) facilitate development of the foundation for the coordinated
conduct of scientifically sound studies and interventions on a broad
and inclusive basis that reflects the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural
heterogeneity of the U.S. population.
 
Applications may be made for support of research in any scientific
area relevant to alcohol abuse.  While applications may involve a
wide variety of biomedical, biobehavioral, or clinical disciplines,
relevance to the mission of the Institute must be clear.
Applications for studies aimed at problems outside these areas will
be returned without review.
 
Areas of interest to NIAAA are described in program announcements
that can be obtained on the Internet (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov) or
from the:
 
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
P.O. Box 2345
6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 468-2600
 
Potential applicants with questions concerning acceptability of the
topic of their proposed study should contact NIAAA staff listed under
INQUIRIES.
 
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN
SUBJECTS
 
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups
and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported
biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects,
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided
that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the
subjects or the purpose of the research.  This new policy results
from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law
103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies
(concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations), which have
been in effect since 1990.  The new policy contains some provisions
that are substantially different from the 1990 policies.
 
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the
Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and reprinted
in the NIH guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11,
March 18, 1994.
 
Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program
staff listed under INQUIRIES.  Program staff may also provide
additional relevant information concerning the policy.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS
398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted at the standard application
deadlines as indicated in the application kit.  Applications kits are
available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may
be obtained from the Grants Information Office, Office of Extramural
Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health,
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone
301/710-0267, email:  ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov.  The title and
number of the program announcement must be typed in section 2 on the
face page of the application.
 
The completed original application and five legible copies must be
sent or delivered to:
 
DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and
technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the
NIAAA in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures.  As
part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a
written critique and undergo a process in which only those
applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally
the top half of applications under review will be discussed, assigned
a priority score, and receive a second level review by the
appropriate national advisory council.
 
Review Criteria
 
Criteria to be used in the scientific and technical merit review of
exploratory/developmental (R21) applications will include the
following:
 
1.  The scientific, technical, health or medical significance, and
originality of the proposed research.
 
2.  The innovativeness or promise of the research proposed.
 
3.  The degree to which the proposed collaboration presents
opportunities for furthering research programs in minority
institutions.
 
4.  The potential of the proposed study as a building block in the
development of future research.
 
5.  The appropriateness and adequacy of the research design and
methodology proposed to implement the research plan.
 
6.  The adequacy of the qualifications (including level of education
and training) and relevant research experience of the principal
investigator, key personnel and the ability of the collaborator to
undertake the research activities proposed in the project.
 
7.  The availability of adequate facilities, general environment for
the conduct of the proposed research and other resources and
collaborative arrangements.
 
8.  The appropriateness of budget estimates and time frame in
relation to plans for the research.
 
9.  Adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and
their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will
also be evaluated.
 
The initial review group will also examine the provisions for the
protection of human and animal subjects and the safety of the
research environment.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
Applications recommended for approval by the National Advisory
Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will be considered for
funding on the basis of the overall scientific and technical merit of
the proposal as determined by peer review, NIAAA program needs and
balance, and the availability of funds.
 
INQUIRIES
 
Inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any issues or
questions from potential applicants is welcome.
 
Direct inquiries regarding potential research to:
 
Ernestine Vanderveen, Ph.D.
Division of Basic Research
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402
Bethesda, MD  20892-7003
Telephone:  (301) 443-1273
FAX:  (301) 594-0673
Email:  tvanderv@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
 
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
 
Ms. Linda Hilley
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6000 Executive Boulevard MSC 7003
Bethesda, MD  20892-7003
Telephone:  (301) 443-0915
FAX:  (301) 443-3891
Email:  lhilley@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance, No. 93.273.  Awards are made under the authorization of
the Public Health Service Act, Sections 301 and 464H, and
administered under the PHS policies and Federal Regulations at Title
42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is not subject to
the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 of
Health Systems Agency review.
 
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of 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 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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