Full Text AG-95-004 ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CORE CENTER GRANTS NIH GUIDE, Volume 24, Number 14, April 14, 1995 RFA: AG-95-004 P.T. 04 Keywords: Senile Dementia Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl Etiology Pathogenesis Diagnosis, Medical Treatment, Medical+ National Institute on Aging Letter of Intent Receipt Date: August 1, 1995 Application Receipt Date: September 15, 1995 PURPOSE The National Institute on Aging (NIA) invites applications from qualified institutions for support of Alzheimer's Disease Core Centers (ADCC) that are designed to serve as shared research resources to facilitate research in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The NIA Alzheimer's Disease Centers program is authorized by the Public Health Service Act, Section 445, and includes fourteen Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRC) and fourteen ADCCs. ADCCs expand the capacity of the applicant institution to conduct basic and clinical research in AD by increasing the available research resources. ADCCs are expected to provide core resources that will enhance ongoing research by bringing together biomedical, behavioral, and clinical science investigators in a manner that will enrich the effectiveness of research on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of AD, and ultimately improve health care delivery. The ADCC will also foster the development of new lines of research and provide a suitable environment for fellows and junior faculty to acquire research skills and experience in Alzheimer's disease research. An ADCC is required to include administrative, clinical, neuropathological, and information transfer cores. Other cores can be proposed. Each ADCC will fund at least two pilot research projects per year. The ADCCs will provide well-characterized patients, patient and family information, and tissue and other biological samples for use in research projects. Research activities that use ADCC core resources will be supported through the usual NIH and other federal agency mechanisms for the funding of investigator-initiated applications in addition to non-federal funding sources. 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 Request for Applications (RFA), Alzheimer's Disease Core Center Grants, is related to the priority area of chronic disabling conditions. 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 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and 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. No foreign or international components will be considered in this RFA. Applications from racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged. At the time of award, the applicant institution cannot have another Alzheimer's Disease Center funded by the NIA. Institutions eligible for Core Center Grants (P30s) are those at which there are (1) at least five principal investigators with any PHS agency research grant or comparable peer reviewed research project (including those funded by State governments or private foundations) related to neurodegenerative diseases, each with at least two years of committed support remaining at the time of application or (2) one or more program project (P01) grants related to neurodegenerative diseases, which also have at least two years of committed support remaining. If P01 grant(s) exist there should be no overlap of the P01 cores with the P30 cores. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The support mechanism for this program will be the NIH Core Center Grant (P30). Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed center will be solely that of the applicant. Investigators may request up to five years of support. The anticipated award date is July 1, 1996. FUNDS AVAILABLE The award of grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. The intent is to fund up to eight new and/or competing renewal ADCC grants in Fiscal Year 1996. The specific number will depend upon the merit of the applications received and the funds available. These applications do not compete for funding within the general pool of dollars available for investigator-initiated research proposals. Only applications of sufficiently high merit will be funded. The direct costs requested for new applications for each ADCC may not exceed $600,000 for the first year. Competing renewal applications may not request more than a ten per cent increase of direct costs over the final year of funding in the current award or $600,000, whichever is higher. Direct cost requests for subsequent years may increase above the prior year direct cost award no more than 4%. Awards made in response to this RFA are renewable through the submission of a competing continuation application. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) may presently affect up to 4 million older people in the United States. Although it is occasionally identified in patients in their forties and fifties, it is most frequently associated with advancing age. It doubles in prevalence with every five years past the age of 60; thus, extending life by ten years quadruples the probability of the disease. Alzheimer's disease is the most frequent cause of institutionalization for long-term care, and it destroys the active, productive life of its victims and devastates their families financially and emotionally. In 1993, it was estimated that the United States spent as much as 100 billion dollars/year for the direct and indirect costs of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Federal Government have expressed concern about the enormity of the problem posed by this disease. Congressional concern about Alzheimer's disease has focused on funding for research on the causes and treatment of the disease, and on the cost of care. Congress directed the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in particular the National Institute on Aging (NIA), to foster further research related to Alzheimer's disease. The long-range development plans for AD research have included several strategies. One of the most prominent was the development of a cadre of Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) in major university medical centers. The ADRC program was designed to support a multi-faceted approach to AD including clinical and other core services, basic and clinical research, and other professional and public information and education activities. Alzheimer's Disease Core Center (ADCC) grants complement the ADRCs. ADCCs provide core support to their respective research communities upon which meritorious research programs can be constructed or expanded. The research will be supported through the usual NIH and other investigator initiated funding mechanisms. The ADCCs provide to the university investigators and research groups well characterized patients, patient and family information, and tissue and biological specimens for use in research projects. While each ADCC will develop in accordance with local talents, interests, and resources, each should be responsive to national needs related to Alzheimer's disease. ADCCs should be willing to work with other Federal agency-supported Alzheimer's disease programs in furthering mutual goals. Potential applicants are encouraged to utilize the strengths of their particular institutions in preparing a plan that will cover the spectrum of required activities. While types of activities that should be included are indicated in these guidelines, specific approaches for their accomplishment are left to the applicant. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS An Alzheimer's Disease Core Center will be an identifiable organizational unit formed by a single institution or a consortium of cooperating institutions. Such a center will involve the interaction of broad and diverse elements. Therefore, lines of authority and sanction by the appropriate institutional officials must be clearly specified. Each applicant institution will name an ADCC Director who will be the key figure in the administration and management of the ADCC grant. The Director will be responsible for the organization and operation of the ADCC. The Director should be experienced and respected and must be able to coordinate, integrate, and provide guidance in the establishment of new programs in Alzheimer's disease research and allied areas. A significant time commitment must be made by the Director. The Director must be demonstrably capable of providing leadership in the coordination of the ADCC. An Associate Director may be named who will be involved in the administrative and scientific efforts of the Center. The required elements of an ADCC for which funding is available through the P30 mechanism are the administrative, clinical, neuropathological, education and information transfer cores, and pilot projects. Additional cores may be proposed and justified as required to advance the local research effort. Cores A core is a shared central laboratory or clinical research facility, service, or resource. Each core is directed by an investigator with substantial expertise related to the core, usually a faculty-level individual. Core facilities may be proposed that will enhance productivity or in other ways benefit a group of investigators to accomplish the stated goals. Two important and related considerations are the degree to which currently funded investigators will use and will benefit from core resources and, the degree to which the resources will promote new and/or expanded AD research efforts. Applicants should document and describe briefly the projects, both existing and planned, which will depend upon resources provided by the cores (clinical and neuropathology cores, in particular). The ADCC cores support resources that allow or provide for the following: the acquisition of subjects for research; the evaluation and treatment of patients; the design and support of research protocols; the neuropathological diagnosis of the disease; documentation of the cognitive, behavioral and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease; data collection and analysis; and training and outreach programs related to Alzheimer's disease. Consequently, each application should demonstrate the presence of, or propose methods to achieve, the above capabilities. Required Cores Administrative Core While the final administrative structure of the ADCC will, for the most part, be left to the discretion of the applicant institution, NIA's experience has demonstrated that the effective development of Center programs requires interaction among the Director, the principal investigators of the cores, the principal investigators of research projects using the cores, appropriate institutional administrative personnel, the staff of the awarding agency, and the members of the community in which the Center is located. The success of the ADCC is dependent upon the involvement of scientific and professional personnel representing a variety of disciplines and subspecialities who must be willing to relate to each other in order to facilitate the development of new knowledge. An executive committee should be established to assist the Director in making the scientific and administrative decisions relating to the Center. In addition to coordination of the ADCC, the Director, with his or her executive committee, will be responsible for allocation and monitoring of ADCC funds and the identification and selection of key personnel. It is essential that there be appropriate plans for removing core support from projects that are no longer related to the objectives of the ADCC. The executive committee should be encouraged to seek outside advice and consultation in its review of the scientific content of the program. In addition to the executive committee, it will be necessary to establish an ad hoc review committee advisory to the ADCC Director. The committee should be composed of scientists from outside the ADCC with expertise relevant to the programs and interest of the ADCC. The responsibility of this group will be to review the applications for pilot studies. An external advisory committee should also be established of scientists from outside of the institution. Unless already appointed, members should not be recruited until the NIH grant review is complete. This committee will be used to evaluate the programs of the ADCC, the effectiveness of communications within the ADCC, and any other activities in which problems arise for which outside expertise is required or desirable. The committee should meet at least once annually. However, the nature of its responsibilities may require occasional ad hoc meetings or teleconferences. A member of the NIA extramural program staff is to be invited to attend each meeting as an observer. The administrative requirements of the ADCC will necessitate the assistance of an administrator with business management expertise. It is important that such an official be identified and directly involved with the fiscal and administrative aspects of the ADCC application and grant. The administrator should be a member of the executive committee. While budget formulation and planning will undoubtedly begin with the Director in collaboration with the scientific staff, the administrator must be involved in the process and provide consultation in matters of fiscal administration and evaluate such things as equipment on hand versus that requested for the core facilities. The administrator should attend the annual ADCC Director's meeting and funds may be requested for this purpose. It is expected that the ADCC administrative structure will facilitate the following: o coordination and integration of ADCC components and activities; o review of utilization of funds, including funds for pilot studies; o support and advice for the ADCC Director in his/her efforts to oversee the activities of the Center; o interaction with the scientific and lay communities to develop relevant goals for the ADCC within the immediate environment of the Center. To facilitate communication between the ADCC and NIA, the NIA will designate one member of its extramural program staff to work closely with and act as a resource for the ADCC. This individual will be in a position to advise the director and/or administrator on policy issues. The ADCC application should include funds for travel of director to at least one of the semiannual meetings of all Center Directors, to provide an opportunity for coordination and exchange of information. Clinical Core The clinical core serves the functions of patient registry, patient coordination and follow-up, evaluation, clinical and laboratory data gathering, and data coordination. A clinical core may perform a limited amount of developmental work, but may not engage in research per se. The developmental work allowable in a clinical core must be directly related to the function of the core. It may be directed toward improving and expanding the core functions, e.g., improvement of existing, or development of additional, methodologies, techniques or services. Proposed developmental work should be described as completely as possible in the application. Planning for patient recruitment should include sensitivity to research design including population-based epidemiological research. Efforts to recruit diverse population subgroups should be outlined. Also include a description of the types (with specific examples) of research projects that will use the core and what benefits will obtain to other research activities from the existence of the clinical core. Neuropathology Core This core will provide post mortem diagnosis on cases enrolled in the clinical core and from other well documented Alzheimer cases. Procedures and facilities should be described related to criteria for diagnosis, and the collection, storage, and distribution of brain tissue and other biological samples. The procedure for prioritizing the use of tissues and other biological samples should be discussed along with a description of the research projects that will use material from this core. Data gathering and storage activities should be well coordinated with those of the clinical core. Education and Information Transfer Core This core will support both the development of professional staff to improve clinical and research skills related to Alzheimer's disease and outreach programs that will publicize the ADCC and educate families and other caregivers. The methods and techniques to be employed for information dissemination and the audience targeted should be defined. Attention should be directed to issues of cultural sensitivity and, where appropriate, the information should be structured so that it can effectively reach minority populations, including non-English-speaking people. Clearly stated objectives and a systematic plan as to how these objectives will be met are required. Specific assessment methodology is also required. Other Cores The NIA, through the ADCC, will support additional cores that seem likely to result in scientific accomplishments beyond those attainable solely through support of the mandatory cores. It is important to note that support is not allowed for cores that only replace or centralize resources supported on individual project grants. In a Core Center Grant application, it is not sufficient for the principal investigator merely to identify such centralized resources. Rather, it must be demonstrated exactly how each core would augment or enhance the present capabilities of the investigators and make possible new activities. There should be a thorough discussion of the projects that will use core resources. Pilot Studies A plan to support pilot studies for biomedical, epidemiological, or behavioral research should be included and budgeted in the application. The description of the plan to solicit, review and administer pilot grants should be included in the Administrative Core but a separate budget including the total request for pilots should be submitted. These funds may be used for new investigators, investigators from other fields willing to bring their research expertise to Alzheimer's disease, and investigators whose proposed research would constitute feasibility testing. This funding mechanism is intended to provide modest support that will allow an investigator the opportunity to develop preliminary data sufficient to provide the basis for an application for independent research support through conventional granting mechanisms. Pilot studies are typically limited to a one-time nonrenewable award for a maximum of one year of support. In very special circumstances, which must be described and well justified, two years of support may be requested. Any one investigator is eligible only once for pilot support, unless the additional proposed pilot study constitutes a real departure from his or her ongoing research. Pilot study support is not intended for large undertakings of established investigators for which it would be appropriate to submit separate research grant applications. Pilot funds are not intended to support or supplement ongoing-supported research of an investigator. Since eligibility for pilot studies is difficult to define, some examples may be helpful: o A study proposed by an established investigator who has experience in areas other than clinical research, and who wants to work in the Alzheimer's disease research field; or study by an established clinical investigator who wants to try a new hypothesis, method, or approach that is not an extension of ongoing research. o A study proposed by a new investigator, with an interest in research in Alzheimer's disease, before the study has developed to the point of being suitable to apply for individual grant support. o A study to determine the availability of sufficient subjects with specific characteristics, needed for a study of importance in Alzheimer's disease research, for which conventional funding would be sought if the study is deemed to be feasible. Each pilot project is limited to no more than $20,000 direct costs. If the pilot project is requested and justified for two years, the direct costs are limited to $20,000 per year. No pilot applications should be submitted with the ADCC application but, instead, the number requested for each year (2 minimum) and the plans for soliciting pilot proposals should be described. A plan must also be presented within the administrative core for peer review of the pilot studies including the structure and composition of the review panel. Budget Considerations All ADCC applications should request and provide justification for five years of support. The direct costs requested for new applications for each ADCC may not exceed $600,000 for the first year. Competing renewal applications may not request more than a ten per cent increase of direct costs over the final year of funding in the current award or $600,000, whichever is higher. Direct cost requests for subsequent years may increase above the prior year direct cost award no more than four percent. The total direct costs are to be distributed approximately as follows: (This proposed distribution is intended only as a general guideline and proportions may vary if needed and justified. If additional cores are proposed based on local needs, the distribution may be adjusted accordingly.) o Administrative Core (including salary support) ..........15 percent o Pilot Studies ............................................10 percent o Clinical Core ............................................50 percent o Neuropathology Core ......................................15 percent o Education and Information Transfer Core ..................10 percent Support for secretarial and administrative staff may be provided to the extent that their activities relate to administrative management of the ADCC activities, providing these costs have not been included in the institution's indirect cost pool. Where large items of equipment are requested, the application must document what is already available and provide clear justification in terms of use by core staff and how they relate to research projects dependent on the core. General purpose equipment needs should be included and justified only after surveying the availability of such items within the institution. Expenditures for major equipment are not discouraged when well justified. Research patient care costs (both inpatient and outpatient expenses) will be considered in the context of other existing institutional clinical resources. Attempts should be made by the applicant institution to utilize existing clinical facilities, such as General Clinical Research Centers and individually supported beds. Costs relating to the clinical efforts of the ADCC may be funded through the ADCC, provided there is no overlap of funding. Only those research patient costs directly related to ADCC activities may be charged to the ADCC. Domestic and foreign travel of project personnel directly related to the core activities of the ADCC is allowable. Plans should be included for travel and lodging for at least one annual meeting of the Center Directors and administrators. Cost for consultant services (consultant fees, per diem, travel) may be included when the services are required for the ADCC. Costs associated with consultation for technical assistance or for evaluation of ADCC activities, including costs for external reviewers, are allowable. Evidence must be presented that the services are essential, are directly applicable to the objectives of the ADCC, and cannot be provided by persons otherwise compensated under the ADCC. Costs directly related to the activities of the cores and their administration may be requested and should be justified by the particular circumstances of the applicant group. However, such items as telephone charges, postage, photocopying costs, memberships, computer time, shop charges, and secretarial or administrative services will undergo careful scrutiny. Requests and commitments for pilots in competing applications (new and renewal) will be budgeted, as a separate line in the "composite" budget at $20,000 per pilot per year (without escalation). They should not be included in the Administrative Core or elsewhere in the application. A brief description of the pilot research and detailed pilot budgets for the first year of funding will be due shortly before the award of competing applications. Indirect costs will be provided in accordance with these budgets. Pilot grants are allowed for consortium arrangements but direct cost should not exceed $20,000 with total consortium cost budgeted not to exceed $25,000 for each pilot. No indirect costs will be provided to the grantee for pilot projects conducted by consortia. If consortium arrangements are contemplated, the following information should be provided in the application: o A list of all proposed performance sites both at the applicant institution and at the collaborating institutions. o A separate, detailed budget for the initial and future years for each institution and, where appropriate, for each unit of activity at each institution. o A composite budget for all units of activity at each institution for each year, as well as a composite budget for the total proposed budget for each year. o An explanation of the programmatic, fiscal, and administrative arrangements made between the grantee institution and the collaborating institutions. 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, and Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities 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. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by August 1, 1995, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address, and phone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel including leadership of the cores, and the number and title of this RFA. A letter of intent is not an absolute requirement, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications. The information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of the applications. It allows NIA staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflicts of interest in the selection of reviewers. The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. Creighton Phelps at the address listed under INQUIRIES. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The application should be prepared using instructions in this RFA and those in supplementary instructions for preparation of multi-component applications available from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Prior to submission of the formal application, consultation with NIA program staff concerning the technical aspects of preparing the application is strongly encouraged. The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Office of Grants Information, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood Building, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone (301) 710-0267. To identify these applications as being in response to the RFA, check "YES" on item 2a of page 1 of the application and enter the title: "ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CORE CENTER GRANT" and the RFA number. In item 2b enter P30. The RFA label available the application form PHS 398 must be affixed to the bottom of the face page. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. Submit a signed, original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, exact photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE ROOM 1040 MSC 7710 BETHESDA MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA MD 20817 (for courier service) The entire address should appear in UPPER CASE letters without punctuation to allow optical scanners to read and sort mail. At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be sent to: Michael Oxman, Ph.D. National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 2C212 7201 Wisconsin Avenue MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Applications must be received by September 15, 1995. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. Page Limitation: Applications may not exceed a total of twenty-five (25) pages for parts 1-4 of each core. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG and responsiveness by NIA. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. If NIA staff find that the application is not responsive (those that fail to include all required components, request amounts that exceed allowable limits, or are not directed to the goals of this RFA) it will be returned without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIA. As part of this merit review, a triage process may be used 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 RFA. Applications judged to be competitive will be reviewed in detail by an initial peer review group and also receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Council on Aging. Applications determined to be "non-competitive for funding" will be so designated, and an abbreviated summary report noting the major weaknesses will be sent to the principal investigator and the application withdrawn. The factors to be considered in the evaluation of the merit of each application will be those used in the review of the cores in standard multi-project research grant applications. Applicants should clearly demonstrate the ways in which the ADCC will build the local research program, will support on-going projects and will attract both senior and new investigators to AD research. Each application must be thorough and complete enough to stand on its own and should be prepared as if no site visit will occur. Additional materials or revisions will not be accepted after the receipt date. It is strongly recommended that Institutional Review Board (IRB) and, if appropriate, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval be secured before the application is submitted. Otherwise, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure these certifications are sent to the Scientific Review Office, NIA, within 60 days of the receipt date. Applications failing to comply with this requirement will be returned without review. There will be no further notifications on this issue. Review Criteria Listed below are the major review criteria to be used in the evaluation of the ADCC applications; these criteria will be applied to competing continuations by evaluating progress and to new applications by evaluating preliminary work and plans for implementation of the new program. Research o The overall purpose of an ADCC is to increase the quantity and quality of research in Alzheimer's disease within an applicant institution. The expected effect of the ADCC on the capacity of the institution to conduct AD research and to secure extramural funding will be a factor in review. o A base of ongoing high quality research dependent on core resources and the potential to launch additional appropriate research activities is a prerequisite for the establishment or continuation of an ADCC and is an important component of the review. o The merit of the pilot grant program proposed in new applications and the quality of pilots funded in the previous award period for competing continuations will be the main criteria for evaluating the pilot programs . Administration o The scientific and administrative leadership ability of the ADCC Director and his/her staff, and their commitment and ability to devote adequate time to the management of the ADCC program. o The proposed administrative organization. o Coordination of ongoing research and its use of the ADCC. This includes various mechanisms for internal monitoring. o Procedures for internal communication and cooperation among the investigators involved in the ADCC. o Procedures for allocating the resources of the ADCCs in response to requests made by investigators. o Mechanisms for selecting or replacing professional or technical personnel within the ADCC. o Mechanisms for reviewing the use of, and administering funds for, pilot projects. o Management capabilities that include fiscal administration, procurement, property and personnel management, planning, budgeting, etc. o For competing continuation applications, composition of the advisory board. Is it appropriate? Will it have regularly scheduled meetings? Are its responsibilities defined? o The appropriateness of the ADCC budgets for the core resources. Institutional Commitment o The institutional commitment to the program, including the lines of reporting for the ADCC, and the institution's contribution to the management capabilities of the ADCC. o The academic environment and resources in which the activities will be conducted, including the availability of space, equipment and facilities, and the potential for interaction with scientists from other departments and components. o The institutional commitment to provision of adequate staffing. o The institutional commitment to helping recruit individuals responsible for conducting essential ADCC functions. Investigators o What are the qualifications of the participants? What are their academic credentials and their research records? o What evidence is there of collaboration among the participants in the ADCC? o Does the group have stability? Facilities o Are available facilities adequate? Are they reasonably contiguous or physically separated? o If funds for renovation are requested, do these seem appropriate in terms of available resources, including space and its utilization? o Will requested changes in facilities fit in satisfactorily with available ones? Cores o How does each proposed core fit into the overall research program? Will it enhance collaborative and/or interdisciplinary research? o How many NIH-funded investigators will be using each core, for what purpose, and to what extent? What is the anticipated future use? o Would the proposed core(s) duplicate existing resources or services? If so, are the requested new resources justified? Do other grant funds already provide any of the requested capabilities? AWARD CRITERIA The anticipated date of award will be July 1996. Funding criteria will be scientific merit (based on the review criteria listed above), availability of funds, and programmatic priorities. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Inquiries regarding programmatic issues, letters of intent, and requests for supplementary guidelines may be directed to: Dr. Creighton H. Phelps Dementias of Aging Branch National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 3C307 7201 Wisconsin Avenue MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9350 FAX: (301) 496-1494 Email: phelps%nihniagw.bitnet@cu.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Linda Whipp Grants Management Office National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 2N-212 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-1472 FAX: (301) 402-3672 Email: whipp%nihniagw.bitnet@cu.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.866. 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 routing 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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