PLANNING GRANT FOR INTERNATIONAL CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON COMPLEMENTARY AND
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (PICRC)
RELEASE DATE: December 2, 2002
RFA: AT-03-002
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
(http://nccam.nih.gov/)
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
(http://www.nih.gov/fic)
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: February 28, 2003
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: March 28, 2003
THIS REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
o Purpose of This RFA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanism of Support
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible To Become Principal Investigators
o Special Requirements
o Where To Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Supplemental Instructions
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations
o Summary of the Phase II Initiative
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
NCCAM wishes to enhance the understanding of complementary and alternative
(CAM)/traditional medical (TM) systems. Many CAM/TM practices originate or are
traditional in other countries. An international scope is therefore critical
for all areas of NCCAM's strategic plan (available at
http://nccam.nih.gov/about/plans/fiveyear/index.htm). NCCAM is thus committed
to the study of CAM both in its native setting, with the cooperation and
collaboration of indigenous peoples and practitioners, and among minority
populations in the U.S, some of which have brought these healing traditions to
the U.S. where, over time, the practices may have been modified. It is NCCAM's
belief that the optimal means of conducting such studies at this time is through
collaborations between experienced investigators in U.S. institutions and
scientists and practitioners in foreign countries. This RFA outlines a
mechanism to facilitate such collaborative efforts.
Alternative medical systems are complete systems of theory and practice that
have evolved independently of, and often prior to, current conventional
biomedical approaches. Examples of alternative medical systems include, but are
not limited to, Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, and the
traditional medical systems that have been developed by African, European,
Middle-Eastern, Asian, and Central and South American cultures. Components that
might be studied include, but are not limited to, diet, meditation and/or the
medical use of herbal preparations.
Global studies of alternative medical systems and practices can serve a dual
purpose: 1) They can establish which CAM/TM interventions, as practiced in their
countries of origin or as assimilated in the U.S. as a result of immigration or
globalization, can benefit health and well being; and 2) They can facilitate the
integration of these practices into conventional health care, especially into
programs designed to address the health needs of minority populations.
NCCAM intends to address the above issues by establishing partnerships and
cross-cultural exchange through which foreign and U.S. institutions and
investigators collaborate to design and implement research on CAM/traditional
indigenous medical systems or components thereof in the cultures and/or
environments in which they originated by supporting International Centers for
Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICRC). The ICRC will
provide conventional investigators (both U.S. and foreign) with a unique
opportunity to study traditional medical systems and practices on their native
grounds in collaboration with indigenous practitioners. The conventional
researchers would then be uniquely positioned to examine how CAM/TM practices
may be changed when they are imported to the U.S. The ICRC should benefit
scientists in the foreign country(ies) by enhancing their skills in the design
and implementation of cutting-edge research through collaboration with U.S.
scientists. Both U.S. and foreign CAM/TM researchers should also benefit from
the development of institutional and regional research infrastructure in the
foreign country(ies), and from enhanced opportunities for career training and
development. It is the hope that infrastructure and other enhancements
resulting from the initial ICRC funding will make the participating institutions
centers of excellence in rigorous CAM/traditional medicine research in their
geographical areas, and that the resulting research will benefit health in all
participating countries.
Because the applications for the ICRC will require documentation of the
structure and infrastructure of a complex, international, multidisciplinary,
multi-site center comprising three synergistic, exploratory/developmental
research projects and at least one core, including formulation of details of
research plans, subcontracts, etc., the overall initiative will use a two-phase
approach. This RFA solicits applications for the prerequisite Phase I of the
future ICRC initiative. The Phase I ICRC (PICRC) initiative provides support
for organization, planning, preparation and assembly of a full-fledged Phase II
ICRC application. The two-year planning grants funded within the PICRC
initiative, like the more extensive grants to be awarded in Phase II, should be
focused on studies of CAM/TM, or components thereof, in their areas and
populations of origin. NCCAM intends to issue an RFA for the Phase II ICRC
initiative in 2004. NCCAM does not currently expect to fund more than one Phase
II ICRC.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Background: The NCCAM Centers Program
Despite the widespread use of CAM/TM therapies, there are, in general,
insufficient scientific data on the efficacy and safety of CAM/TM therapies.
NCCAM intends to support rigorous research on CAM/TM and to disseminate
information to the public and professionals on the efficacy and safety of CAM/TM
therapies. Among the means NCCAM has adopted to achieve these goals is the
creation of a centers program to bring together the resources necessary for the
multidisciplinary scientific investigation of CAM/TM. The specialized research
centers introduced in 1998 allowed NCCAM to cultivate research, scientific
resources, and new investigators simultaneously. With more than a dozen NCCAM-
funded CAM Research Centers approaching the end of their initial project
periods, NCCAM convened an Expert Panel on NCCAM Research Centers in June 2002
to assess the status of current CAM Centers and make recommendations regarding
future directions for the NCCAM Centers Program. Several new NCCAM initiatives
are based upon recommendations provided by the expert panel as outlined their
report, "The NCCAM Centers Expert Panel Report" available at
http://nccam.nih.gov/about/plans/centers/index.htm. The NCCAM Centers
Initiatives are described on the NCCAM Centers website:
http://nccam.nih.gov/training/centers/index.htm.
The objective of this RFA is to support the development/enhancement of the
collaborations and resources necessary to assemble applications that will
compete successfully as an ICRC in Phase II of this initiative, which is
expected to be released, and applications processed, in time to provide for
seamless funding for the successful awardees. An outline of the ICRC (Phase II)
follows at the end of this document. Awardees of this planning grant who do not
receive ICRC funding may apply for subsequent funding through mechanisms for
individual (non-center) grant awards (e.g., R21, R01).
The PICRC application must include at least two investigators, one from the
U.S., and one from a foreign country. The applicants should propose specific
milestones and a timeline to meet their collaborative, resource development and
scientific goals. The Phase I award will provide support for the applicant to:
o Further define the research to be proposed in the subsequent ICRC (or other)
application;
o Develop and solidify collaborative relationships and understandings between
the partners in the participating countries;
o Assess current resources and needs, e.g., the need for an Institutional Review
Board for studies involving human subjects;
o Develop and initiate a plan to address these needs, so that the research to be
proposed in Phase II can be successfully and ethically conducted;
o Identify appropriate training and other capacity-building activities to be
incorporated into the research application;
o Initiate cross-disciplinary training of the collaborators where necessary for
the research to be proposed; and
o Initiate pilot studies that could form the basis for fuller investigations
that would be supported through the ICRC or other grant mechanisms.
Applicants should describe their plan to consolidate partnerships, obtain
necessary permits, and establish contract elements in preparation for an
application for an ICRC award. Applicants must also clearly explain how the
two-year developmental award will enhance the successful implementation of the
envisioned research program. The emphasis of this initiative is on establishing
a partnership between U.S. and foreign researchers and practitioners rather than
on the development of foreign infrastructure, although the latter is encouraged
where it is required for the research to be proposed. The ability to utilize
existing NIH-funded programs and resources in the participating foreign
country(ies) will greatly enhance the likelihood that this planning process will
be successful.
Some potential collaborating countries may require compliance with additional,
country-specific requirements. Applicants should check
http://www.nih.gov/fic/regional/CountryInstructions.html for such special
considerations.
Relevant host country governmental, non-governmental and community organizations
should be consulted during the planning stage to ensure that research and
development plans are compatible with national and local objectives, and to
identify potential barriers to implementation early on. Public meetings or
workshops in the foreign country(ies) are recommended early in the development
of the program, to gain early feedback on working plans and broad-based support
for the research program. Such consultations should be well-documented, and may
involve, as appropriate:
o individuals from local communities, including community leaders,
o individuals from the local research and clinical communities,
o respected local non-governmental organizations, and
o the relevant national and regional governments.
Seeking the advice or participation of social scientists and development
organizations with local expertise is advisable during this process.
Eligible areas of research for the ICRC
Research related to alternative/traditional medical systems or component
practices that are endemic to the region of the foreign institution(s) are
eligible for consideration. Traditional medical systems from Asia, Europe,
Africa, the Middle East and South or Central America are examples of such
systems. Some additional eligible topics are described in the NCCAM Strategic
Plan, http://nccam.nih.gov/about/plans/fiveyear/fiveyear.pdf, Appendix I, pages
27 through 29. These lists should not be considered to be comprehensive,
restrictive, nor in priority order. Eligible projects may span the continuum
from basic, through translational, to clinical (including Phase I and Phase II,
but NOT Phase III clinical trials) and behavioral research. Applicants planning
to propose research involving human subjects should refer to the NCCAM Terms of
Award for Clinical Trials, available on the web at
http://nccam.nih.gov/research/policies/terms-of-awards.htm. Additionally,
special attention should be paid to establishing locally relevant but
internationally respected standards and procedures for verifying informed
consent.
Applicants planning to propose research on botanicals or other complex natural
products should refer to the Policy of NCCAM on Botanicals Research, posted on
the NCCAM website at
http://www.nccam.nih.gov/research/policies/naturalproducts.htm.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
This RFA (the PICRC) will use the NIH R21 award mechanism. As an awardee you
will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed
project. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. Future unsolicited, competing-
continuation applications based on this project will compete with all
investigator-initiated applications and will be reviewed according to the
customary peer review procedures.
This RFA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular budgeting format.
(see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm).
FUNDS AVAILABLE
The participating Institutes and Centers intend to commit approximately $900,000
in FY 2003 to fund up to six new grants in response to this RFA. An applicant
may request a project period of up to two years and direct costs of up to
$150,000 for any single year. The total cost (direct and indirect costs) for
the two-year project period however, cannot exceed $275,000. Because the nature
and scope of the proposed activities will vary from application to application,
it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary.
Although the financial plans of the participating IC's provide support for this
program, awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of
funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. At
this time, it is not known if this RFA for the Phase I planning grants will be
reissued.
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS
You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the following
characteristics:
o For-profit or non-profit organizations;
o Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and
laboratories;
o Units of state and local governments;
o Eligible agencies of the Federal Government;
o Domestic
o Offers, or is affiliated with, accredited institutions that offer, Ph.D.,
M.D., D.O., D.C., N.D. and/or equivalent doctoral degrees.
o Faith-based or community-based organizations
INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
The P.I. must have the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out
the proposed research. Individuals from under-represented racial and ethnic
groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply
for NIH programs.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
This application must include at least one investigator from a foreign country.
The application must clearly delineate the contributions of each investigator to
the pilot projects, planning, training and other activities proposed.
Applicants must outline the research program envisioned for the Phase II ICRC
(which is summarized at the end of this document), and clearly explain how the
two-year developmental award will enhance the successful implementation of the
research program envisioned for Phase II. The emphasis of this initiative is on
establishing partnerships between foreign and U.S. researchers and
practitioners, and between conventional and CAM/TM researchers and
practitioners. Applicants must delineate which personnel will be responsible
for which aspects of the pilot projects and planning activities, and indicate
expected responsibilities of the proposed PICRC personnel and of prospective
additional personnel in the Phase II activities. Applicants must also detail
specific timelines for meeting the goals of the application, including goals for
each activity (research, training, planning, infrastructure development, etc.)
during each year of the award.
Pilot projects may include Phase 1 clinical studies to test feasibility, dosing,
outcome instruments, etc., for studies to be proposed for a subsequent award.
Phase 2 and 3 clinical studies will not be funded through this RFA.
More than 50% of the direct costs requested must be used at foreign institutions
for planning, developmental or capacity-building activities expected to be
critical to the success of the Phase II proposal. Applicants should provide a
detailed assessment of the capacity-building and training needs in the foreign
country(ies) that must be addressed to support the proposed research, and a
detailed plan for addressing these needs.
If enhancement of scientific infrastructure is proposed, the applicant must
specifically consult with the relevant participating developing country
officials to assure that the enhanced research capabilities can be sustained by
the host country after completion of the award.
WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES
Inquiries may fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and
financial or grants management issues. We strongly encourage inquiries
concerning this RFA and strongly advise potential applicants to contact the
coordinator of the NCCAM Centers for Research on CAM Program during the planning
phase of the application.
Direct inquiries about scientific/research issues to:
Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D.
Coordinator, Centers for Research on CAM Program
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Blvd., Ste. 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Telephone: (301) 402-1030
FAX: (301) 480-3621
Email: goertzc@mail.nih.gov
Direct inquiries about peer review issues to:
Martin Goldrosen, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Scientific Review
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Ste. 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Telephone: (301) 594-2014
FAX: (301) 480-2419
Email: goldrosm@mail.nih.gov
Direct questions about financial or grants management matters to:
Victoria Carper, MPA
Grants Management Officer
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Ste. 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Telephone: (301) 594-9102
FAX: (301) 480-1552
Email: vp8g@nih.gov
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the
following information:
o Descriptive title of the proposed research,
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator,
o Names of other key personnel,
o Participating institutions,
o Number and title of this RFA.
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter
into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains
allows staff of the participating IC's to estimate the potential review workload
and plan the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning of this
document. The letter of intent should be sent to:
Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D.
Coordinator, Centers for Research on CAM Program
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Ste. 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
FAX: (301) 480-3621
Email: goertzc@mail.nih.gov
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). The PHS 398 is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive
format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, telephone (301) 710-0267,
FAX (301) 480-0525, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS
Applications responding to this RFA must present a description of the
anticipated longer-term goals of the collaboration, and the specific roles to be
played by each investigator and site in achieving those goals. They should
provide a clear plan for conducting pilot projects, as well as for capacity
building, development/enhancement of collaborations and development of the full-
fledged ICRC application. This plan should include a detailed assessment of the
specific research issues and capacity-building/training needs in the foreign
country that the proposed activities will address. The plan should include a
timeline specifying goals for each year of the award. Capacity-building
activities may include training of investigators, technicians, practitioners
and/or administrative personnel, informal meetings, workshops or small
conferences, use of appropriate consultants, and analyses of extant data sets
using new methodologies or approaches. Travel among sites for these purposes
may be proposed. This RFA will not allow applications that are exclusively for
meetings/travel and that do not have as their main goal the development of
collaborations and the resources needed to support them, and the development of
the collaborative research proposal to be submitted for Phase II. Pilot
projects may include Phase 1 clinical studies to test feasibility, dosing,
outcome instruments, etc., in preparation for studies to be proposed for a
subsequent award. Phase 2 and 3 clinical studies will not be funded through
this RFA.
A maximum of 15 pages are allowed for items a-d of the research plan.
USING THE RFA LABEL
The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) application form must be
affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Type the RFA number
on the label. 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. In addition, the RFA title and number must be typed on line 2 of the
face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label
is also available at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and three photocopies, in one package to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be sent
to:
Martin Goldrosen, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Scientific Review
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite. 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Telephone: (301) 594-2014
FAX: (301) 480-2419
Email: goldrosm@mail.nih.gov
APPLICATION PROCESSING
Applications must be received by the application receipt date listed in the
heading of this RFA. If an application is received after that date, it will be
returned to the applicant without review.
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in
response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending
initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The CSR
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.
PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and
responsiveness by the participating IC's. Incomplete applications will be
returned to the applicant 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 NCCAM in
accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit
review, all applications:
o receive a written critique,
o undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest
scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will
be discussed and assigned a priority score,
o receive a second level review by the National Advisory Council for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
REVIEW CRITERIA
Reviewers of the PICRC applications will be required to judge the likelihood
that the proposed activities will support the submission of subsequent
competitive research proposal(s) to the NIH. Because this R21 application for
Phase I of the ICRC initiative is designed to support the development of
innovative, multidisciplinary, international collaborative research, preliminary
data as evidence of feasibility of the research are not required. It is useful,
however, to include or cite pilot data where relevant and available. The
applicant is, in any case, responsible for presenting the relevant background
literature, and for developing a rigorous plan.
The following aspects of the PICRC will be evaluated:
A) Pilot Projects
B) Collaboration and Institutional Environments
C) Planning
D) Training
A) PILOT PROJECTS
The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. In the
written comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects of
your application in order to judge the likelihood that the pilot study(ies)
proposed in the current application will facilitate the pursuit of these goals:
o Significance
o Approach
o Innovation
o Investigators
o Environment
Note that the project does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged
likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score.
For example, you may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is
not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.
(1) SIGNIFICANCE: Do(es) your study(ies) address (an) important problem(s)? If
the aims of your application are achieved, how do they advance scientific
knowledge? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods
that drive this field?
(2) APPROACH: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses
adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the
project(s)? Do you acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative
tactics? Is the plan to build capacity for rigorous CAM/TM research adequate
and appropriate to local and international scientific needs beyond the specific
targets of the proposed work?
(3) INNOVATION: Does your project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods?
Are the aims original and innovative? Does your project challenge existing
paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
(4) INVESTIGATOR: Are you and the other participating investigators
appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work
proposed appropriate to your experience level as the Principal Investigator and
to that of other researchers? Do you and the other investigators have
appropriate administrative experience and competence in the development,
implementation and management of comprehensive domestic and international
research programs?
(5) ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which your work will be
done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take
advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful
collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support for, and
commitment to, the proposed activities? Is the extent and level of non-U.S.
participation and support appropriate and sufficient? Is there sufficient
evidence of the availability and competence of the institutions involved to
carry out all required legal, fiscal and policy responsibilities?
B) COLLABORATION AND INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS
The following will be evaluated:
o Strength of the evidence that the U.S. and foreign researchers and faculty
worked closely together in the preparation of the application;
o Likelihood that this planning activity will result in ongoing collaborative
relationships between the partners in the participating countries;
o As applicable, the degree to which the letters of support from senior faculty
and/or institutional/center leaders address the need for mentoring of
inexperienced Principal Investigators or for specific institutional/center
commitments to ensure the success of the collaboration;
o As applicable, the adequacy of provisions made for day-to-day oversight,
coordination, support and logistical services needed to make the collaboration
successful;
o The degree to which the foreign institutions are likely to improve their
capacity and ability to address important issues in CAM/TM research, develop
independently supported research and capacity development programs and obtain
financial support nationally and internationally, and the ways in which this
will occur.
C) PLANNING
The following will be evaluated:
o The adequacy of the different planning methods proposed to ensure highly
interactive and integrated efforts between individual U.S. and foreign
researchers and practitioners, and between conventional researchers and CAM/TM
researchers and practitioners;
o The appropriateness and adequacy of the specific researchers and practitioners
identified from the U.S. and foreign institutions to contribute effectively to
each aspect of this planning effort;
o The relevance of the plans to develop resources/infrastructure to research to
be proposed subsequently;
o Likelihood that a successful planning effort will result in the submission of
subsequent competitive, collaborative CAM/TM research applications;
o As appropriate, the extent to which the local community will be involved in
the planning process.
D) TRAINING
In the context of the PICRC, training may include instruction of students,
fellows, interns, residents and other clinical and research personnel in CAM/TM
concepts and methodologies and in conventional research methodology (which may
include analytical methods, molecular biological methods, clinical trial
planning, statistical methods, ethical practices, grant writing and
understanding of the U.S. research funding system). Training and career
development activities may also include development of mechanisms to allow for
regular professional networking of investigators with their international peers.
The training and career development program should also include appropriate
training of administrative personnel. The following will be evaluated:
o Feasibility of training programs to augment existing curriculum or aid in the
development of new curricula at the U.S. and foreign institutions;
o Likelihood that the proposed training will increase the pool of researchers
conducting rigorous scientific research on CAM/TM in all participating
countries;
o The appropriateness of training and other capacity-building activities to the
personnel involved and to the research to be proposed subsequently.
ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, the application
will also be reviewed with respect to the following:
o PROTECTIONS: The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals, or
the environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project
proposed in the application.
o INCLUSION: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all
racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the
scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of
subjects will also be evaluated. (See Inclusion Criteria included in the section
on Federal Citations, below).
o DATA SHARING: The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data.
o BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of
support in relation to the proposed planning process.
RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 28, 2002
Application Receipt Date: March 28, 2003
Peer Review Date: June/July 2003
Council Review: September 2003
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 15, 2003
AWARD CRITERIA
Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:
o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review);
o Availability of funds;
o Programmatic priorities;
o Geographic balance.
REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS
MONITORING PLAN AND DATA SAFETY AND MONITORING BOARD: Research components
involving Phase I and II clinical trials must include provisions for assessment
of patient eligibility and status, rigorous data management, quality assurance,
and auditing procedures. In addition, it is NIH policy that all clinical trials
require data and safety monitoring, with the method and degree of monitoring
being commensurate with the risks (NIH Policy for Data Safety and Monitoring,
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12, 1998:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH: It is the policy of the
NIH that women and members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be
included in all NIH-supported clinical research projects unless a clear and
compelling justification is provided indicating 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 clinical research should read the AMENDMENT "NIH
Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts on October 9, 2001 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-OD-00-048.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are
available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm. The
amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical research;
updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB standards;
clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials
consistent with the new PHS Form 398; and updated roles and responsibilities of
NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy continues to require for
all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all applications or
proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans to conduct
analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender and/or
racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) investigators
must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses, as appropriate,
by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS: The
NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This
policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates
after October 1, 1998.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion of children as participants in
research involving human subjects that is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm.
REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS: NIH policy
requires education on the protection of human subject participants for all
investigators submitting NIH proposals for research involving human subjects.
You will find this policy announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: The
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to provide
public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a project that is
supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and
officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has the force and
effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed through FOIA. It is
important for applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment. NIH
has provided guidance at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this RFA in a public archive,
which can provide protections for the data and manage the distribution for an
indefinite period of time. If so, the application should include a description
of the archiving plan in the study design and include information about this in
the budget justification section of the application. In addition, applicants
should think about how to structure informed consent statements and other human
subjects procedures given the potential for wider use of data collected under
this award.
URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and proposals for
NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless
otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not
be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are
under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution
reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an
Internet site.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010: The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving
the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA is related to
one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of
"Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance No. 93. 213, and is not subject to the intergovernmental
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
Awards are made under authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health
Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and administered under NIH grants
policies described at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm and under
Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free
workplace and discourage the 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.
SUMMARY OF THE ANTICIPATED PHASE II ICRC INITIATIVE
The currently envisioned research objectives, structure of, and review criteria
for the Phase II ICRC are summarized on the NCCAM website at
http://nccam.nih.gov/training/centers/planned/.