Full Text PAR-97-033
 
HIV, AIDS AND RELATED ILLNESSES COLLABORATION AWARD
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997
 
PA NUMBER:  PAR-97-033
 
P.T. 34

Keywords: 
  AIDS 

 
Fogarty International Center
 
PURPOSE
 
The Fogarty International Center (FIC) is expanding its AIDS
International Research and Training Program to provide small
individual research grants for collaboration between U.S. and foreign
scientists in any country, consistent with U.S. foreign policy
considerations.  Support is available for research on human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) and for research related to AIDS.
 
Up to $20,000 per year for a maximum of three years is available for
U. S. investigators and their foreign collaborators to conduct
research mainly at the foreign site.  U.S. investigators holding
currently active NIH grants for research related to HIV infections,
AIDS and other related health problems are eligible to apply with
their foreign collaborator for the AIDS Fogarty International
Research Collaboration Award (AIDS-FIRCA).  A similar  program of
Fogarty International Research Collaboration Awards (FIRCA) is
available in all non-AIDS biomedical sciences research subjects for
collaborative projects involving U.S. scientists and investigators in
developing countries: see program announcement number PA-95- 011.
 
AIDS-FIRCA grants will provide funds to the foreign collaborator,
through the U.S. grantee institution, for supplies at the foreign
institution; for expenses incurred at the U.S. institution to support
the collaboration; and for research- related travel and subsistence
expenses for both the U.S. and foreign investigators. If the foreign
collaborator is in a developing country, applicants may also request
funds for small pieces of equipment necessary to the AIDS-FIRCA
project at the foreign site.  For the purpose of this program,
developing countries are considered to include those in the following
regions: Africa, Asia (except Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South
Korea and Taiwan), Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the
Middle East (except Israel and the Persian Gulf states), and the
Pacific Ocean Islands (except Australia and New Zealand).
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Applications may be submitted by U.S. non-profit organizations,
public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals,
laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible
agencies of the Federal government.  Racial/ethnic minority
individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to
apply as principal investigators.
 
To be eligible for the AIDS-FIRCA program, the following conditions
must be met:
 
- The proposed U.S. Principal Investigator must be the Principal
Investigator (Project Director) of an NIH-sponsored AIDS or
AIDS-related research grant project (R, P, or U-01 series) that will
be active and funded during the proposed grant award period (up to
three years).  Under exceptional circumstances, after consultation
with program officials, some research contracts (N01 series) may be
eligible "parent" funding for the AIDS-FIRCA.  On submission of an
application, at least 18 months of active research support must
remain on the listed parent grant.  Investigators may request the
full three years of support in the FIRCA application in cases where
less than three future years remain on the parent grant, presuming
that the renewal application will be submitted and awarded.
 
- The foreign collaborator must hold a position at an institution in
a foreign country that will allow him or her adequate time and
provide appropriate facilities to conduct the proposed research.
 
- The application must demonstrate that the award will enhance the
scientific contributions of both the U.S. and foreign scientists and
will enhance or expand the contribution of the NIH-sponsored research
project (parent grant).
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
The small grants (R03) will provide up to $20,000 per year in direct
costs for up to three years.  Funds may be used for materials and
supplies necessary to conduct the collaborative research in the
foreign scientist's research laboratory or site, and for costs
related to the AIDS-FIRCA project at the U.S. institution.  Equipment
requests are limited to items for use in the AIDS-FIRCA project at
foreign institutions in developing countries.
 
Travel and subsistence-related expenses may be requested for the U.S.
Principal Investigator, the foreign collaborator, and/or their
colleagues for visits directly related to the subject of the
collaborative research.  All proposed expenditures must be well
justified and clearly related to the research objectives of the
proposed project.
 
Applicants should request support to conduct research not already
being supported by the U.S. investigator's parent grant; however, the
research proposal must be an extension of or related to the research
project currently funded by the NIH.  The awards will be made to U.S.
institutions which will be responsible for the expenditures.  The
minimum FIRCA project period will be for one year, the maximum will
be for three years.  Continuation of the FIRCA project depends upon
research progress, availability of funds, and continuation of
appropriate NIH support of the Principal Investigator's AIDS-related
research.
 
Since the research supported under this award is mainly to occur at
the foreign site, indirect costs will be calculated on the basis of
the off-site rate of the U.S. sponsoring institution.
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 
The main objective of this AIDS-FIRCA program is to facilitate unique
and highly promising collaborative basic and applied research efforts
between U.S. and foreign scientists that will both expand and enhance
the HIV- and AIDS-related NIH-supported research program of the U.S.
Principal Investigator and benefit the scientific interests of the
collaborating foreign scientist.  All areas of research directly and
indirectly related to HIV infection and AIDS are eligible for
consideration. Examples of topics include but are not limited to:
 
- Research related to the development of HIV/AIDS vaccines;
 
- Research on antiviral and other interventions for HIV/AIDS;
 
- Research on HIV and infection by the virus;
 
- Research on other retroviruses related to HIV;
 
- Studies of maternal/pediatric HIV infections;
 
- Cofactors involved in HIV infection;
 
- Studies on the spread of HIV infection and AIDS into new locales;
 
- The natural history of HIV infection;
 
- Research on opportunistic infections and other disorders that
result from immunosuppression by the AIDS virus;
 
- Studies of emerging/reemerging microbes and diseases linked to
factors known or suspected to relate to the spread of HIV; and
 
- Research on the social and behavioral factors that affect HIV risk
and transmission.
 
Applicants should be aware that applicable provisions for protection
of human research subjects and laboratory animals must be met in both
domestic and foreign settings.  See Title 45 CFR, Part 46, for
information concerning the Department of Health and Human Services
regulations for the protection of human subjects and the PHS Policy
on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.  These are available
from the Office for Protection from Research Risks, National
Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7507, Suite 3B01,
Rockville, MD, 20892- 7507.  Information on these assurances is
included in the special application instructions available from FIC
(address below).
 
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 policy results from
the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law
103-43).
 
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the
Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (59 FR 14508-14513) and printed in
the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March
18, 1994.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
- Special application instructions are required and are available
from the International Research and Awards Branch, FIC (address
below).
 
- The application consists of a portion to be completed by the U.S.
Principal Investigator, and a separate portion to be completed by the
foreign collaborator. Both portions of this application must be
submitted as a single package, by the U.S. grantee institution.
 
- Applications must be submitted by the U.S. Principal Investigator
on standard form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95), which is available from most
U.S. institutional offices of sponsored research and from the
Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National
Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD
20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email:
ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov.  Receipt dates for completed applications
are September 1, January 2 and May 1.  If the deadline falls on a
weekend or a holiday, it is automatically extended to the following
workday.  Applications received on these dates will be reviewed using
the mandated AIDS-Expedited Review schedule.
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
Applications will be assigned to the Fogarty International Center.
Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by
the AIDS and Related Research Initial Review Group in the Division of
Research Grants (DRG), NIH. Following scientific-technical review,
the applications will receive a second level review by the Fogarty
International Center Advisory Board.
 
As part of the initial merit review, a process may be used by the
initial review group in which applications will be determined to be
competitive or non-competitive based on their scientific merit
relative to other applications received in response to the program
announcement.  Applications judged to be competitive will be
discussed and be assigned a priority score.  Applications determined
to be non-competitive will be withdrawn from further consideration
and the Principal Investigator and the official signing for the
applicant organization will be notified.
 
Review Criteria
 
- likelihood that the proposed research extends or enhances the
ongoing funded research of the U.S. Principal Investigator;
 
- ability of the foreign collaborator to undertake and direct the
foreign research efforts;
 
- appropriateness of  the proposed collaborative effort as a format
for accomplishing the stated aims;
 
- appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to
the proposed research;
 
- scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of
proposed research;
 
- appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and
methodology proposed to carry out the research;
 
- availability of the resources necessary to perform the research;
 
- and conformance with  NIH Guidelines for the Inclusion of Women and
Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved
applications assigned to the Fogarty International Center.  The
following will be considered in making funding decisions:  quality of
the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of
funds, and program priority.
 
INQUIRIES
 
Inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any issues or
questions from potential applicants is welcome.  Special application
instructions are necessary to apply for this program.  To obtain
further information write, fax or phone the Fogarty International
Center.
 
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
 
Dr. Jean Flagg-Newton
Division of  International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C39
31 CENTER DRIVE MSC 2220
BETHESDA MD  20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-1653
FAX: (301) 402-0779
Email:  flaggnej@ficod.fic.nih.gov
 
For grants management and fiscal matters, contact:
 
Ms. Susan Bettendorf
Grants Management Specialist
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C39
31 CENTER DRIVE MSC 2220
BETHESDA  MD  20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-1653
FAX: (301) 402-0779
Email:  bettends@ficod.fic.nih.gov
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.934.  Awards are made under authorization of the
Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as
amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered
under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45
CFR Part 74.  This program is not subject to the intergovernmental
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency
review.
 
The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco
products.  In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any
portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education,
library, day care, health care or early childhood development
services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the PHS
mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the
American people.
 
.

Return to PA Index

Return to NIH Guide Main Index


Office of Extramural Research (OER) - Home Page Office of Extramural
Research (OER)
  National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Home Page National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Home Page Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
  USA.gov - Government Made Easy


Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files.