and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Department of Health and Human Services
Participating Organizations
National Institutes of
Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)
Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), (http://www.niddk.nih.gov)
Title: George M. O Brien Urology Research Centers (P50)
Announcement Type
This is a reissue of RFA-DK-02-032,
released May 8, 2002
Update: The following updates relating to this announcement have been issued:
Due Dates
for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Additional Overview
Content
Executive Summary
The purpose of this program is to establish
George M. O Brien Urology Research Centers to create a research community
for major urologic diseases and syndromes within the NIDDK mission interests.
The broad objectives of these centers are to: 1) provide an interdisciplinary
and multidisciplinary foundation and resource for collaboration among basic,
translational, and clinical researchers in the field of urologic disease; 2)
attract established investigators with unique scientific expertise and new
investigators to study urological diseases and disorders within NIDDK mission
interests, and 3) integrate urologic research into the surrounding institution.
Table of Contents
Part I
Overview Information
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity
Description
1. Research Objectives
Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility
Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application and
Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application
Information
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt and Review and
Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of
Intent
B. Sending an Application to
the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements
Section V. Application Review
Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review
Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award
Dates
Section VI. Award Administration
Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
3. Reporting
Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information
- Required Federal Citations
Part II
- Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Nature of the
research opportunity:
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) invites applications for George M. O Brien Urology Research Centers to:
A Center will also support pilot and feasibility studies to develop and test innovative approaches to therapy, tools, or improve diagnoses; as well as develop an Educational Enrichment Program. Furthermore, Centers collaboration and interactions will be enhanced by frequent conference calls. A national, in-person meeting of all the funded Centers will be scheduled twice in year one and then annually thereafter.
Each Center must include:
Close collaboration and interactions among Centers will be enhanced with regularly scheduled conference calls and in-person meetings.
Background:
The first solicitation of the O Brien Urology Research Centers occurred in 1987. In February 2007, the NIDDK sponsored the Workshop on Advancing Urologic Science and Career Development. Summary of this meeting can be located through a link at the Website: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Research/Centers/CenterPrograms/OBrien_Updates.htm. From this meeting, the NIDDK now seeks to enhance this program to potentially allow for regional, national and even international collaborations. Like many surgical specialties, the field of urology has changed significantly with advancing technology in diagnostic and therapeutic options for non-malignant urologic diseases over the past two decades. Minimally invasive surgeries and procedures have changed the clinical management of these patients. However, millions of Americans are afflicted with urologic disorders and diseases including urinary tract infections, urolithiasis, lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, urinary incontinence, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and interstitial cystitis. The annual cost of treatment of these illnesses is at least 11.5 billion dollars per year.
Despite advances, basic, clinical, and translational research is still needed to successfully reduce its burden in the U.S. population. Examples of gaps in our understanding include lack of objective diagnostic criteria/tests to identify diseases and disorders, inadequate phenotyping, and lack of information on the epidemiology and natural history for many of these illnesses. In addition, there are few useful experimental models, either animal or computer generated phantoms, to aid in translating results to humans. Translational tools, such as imaging techniques and biomarkers need to be developed and applied to these illnesses if significant advances are to be made in the coming years. Basic research expertise in disciplines such as cell and molecular biology, genomics and proteomics, biochemistry, physiology, developmental biology, tissue engineering, immunology, pathology, neurobiology, and microbiology remain as the essential foundation of urologic research. Expertise in the physical sciences such as physics, bio-engineering, chemical and mechanical engineering as well as in other clinical sciences such as neurology and neurobiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, endocrinology, anesthesiology, and radiology will be extremely helpful and critical to help advance these fields of urology.
Research Goals and Scope:
The goals of the George M O Brien Urology Research Centers are to 1) provide an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary foundation for communication and collaboration between basic, translational, and clinical researchers in the field of urologic disease that will ultimately improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of urologic disorders and diseases, 2) attract new scientific expertise and new investigators to study urological diseases and disorders, and 3) integrate urologic research into the surrounding institution. Research with translational potential is strongly encouraged. Centers will provide shared resources to enhance the efficiency of research and foster collaborations within and among institutions with strong existing bases of urologic disease research. Centers should be located in a single institution but may have participation and sharing of resources by multiple institutions with complementary research bases through subcontracts. Sharing research bases in other institutions may be at the local, regional, national, or even international levels.
Research at each George M. O Brien Urology Center must be centered on a single major urologic disease or disorder relevant to NIDDK mission interests, which will serve as a central theme for individual research projects and the biomedical core(s). The Center must provide an interdisciplinary approach utilizing basic laboratory, translational, and clinical research.
The scope of these projects should be on genitourinary urologic disorders and diseases relevant to NIDDK mission interests. For detailed listing of NIDDK mission interests, see the link at the Website at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Research/Centers/CenterPrograms/OBrien_Updates.htm. An applicant whose focus is on malignant urologic diseases will be deemed non-responsive to this RFA. Representative areas of research appropriate for investigation include, but are not limited to:
Project Organization
Each Center will consist of the following key components, described below:
At least three individual, but interrelated, research projects, each with high scientific merit and clear research objective must be devoted to a specific major urologic disorder or disease within NIDDK mission interests. The combined efforts of these projects should aid the development of fundamental knowledge leading to the understanding of urologic disease processes and the design of treatment or preventative strategies. Within each Center, at least two out of the three types of research in 1) clinical or patient-oriented studies (such as genetics, epidemiology, natural history of a disease), 2) translational (such as tools development, imaging, or diagnostic tools development), or 3) basic laboratory science must be reflected in the projects.
Each individual project must clearly specify the clinical impact of the research goal of the project. In addition, each project must have multidisciplinary component of at least two different fields. Examples are different basic science fields, different clinical specialties, an engineering science with clinical specialty, or any such combination.
Projects may be proposed which use resources from NIDDK sponsored studies and databases, such as from the Urological Diseases in America Project (UDA), Boston Area Community Health Survey (BACH), NIDDK Data Repository, Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms Study (MTOPS), and other such studies.
Biomedical Research Core:
A biomedical research core is defined as a shared resource that provides essential services, techniques, or instrumentation to Center participants, enabling them to conduct their funded individual research projects more efficiently and/or more effectively. Cores provide specialized technologies and expertise needed to accomplish the stated goals of the Center. Minimum usage for the Biomedical Research Core is use by two or more main projects. Cores should aim to increase multidisciplinary interactions at the institution through cross-project/laboratory exchange, and sharing of specialized tools, technologies and expertise between collaborating investigators. Each core should provide services to multiple funded research projects. Centers may propose either Institutional Cores or Regional/National/International Cores. Whereas Institutional Cores support research at a single institution or a set of cooperating institutions, Regional/National/International Shared Resources serve specific scientific communities on a regional, national, or international level. A new category of research base for cores that are used as a regional, national, or international resource should be considered the "extended research base". The extended research base for a regional, national or international core could include all investigators who might expect to use the core in some way. The list could include investigators who use the core services but otherwise have no collaborative interactions with other Center investigators. The extended research base should be defined as an entity separate from the institutional research base. For review purposes, it will be evaluated as part of the core, in order to distinguish it from the local institutional research base.
Examples of types of biomedical core resources that would be considered responsive to this Request for Applications include, but are not limited to:
Administrative Core:
Applicants must describe an administrative core which will provide intellectual leadership and serve as a foundation for synergistic activities for the Center, and be responsible for allocation and distribution of resources within the Center and to Center participants. Additionally, the administrative core will include the Pilot and Feasibility Program, the Educational Enrichment Program, and will provide travel funds for core personnel.
The Center Director must be an established investigator in urologic research and will be responsible for scientific and administrative leadership. The Center Director is expected to commit 20% overall effort to the Center. One or more Associate Directors should be named as well. Total directorship efforts combined should not exceed 50% effort. The Center administration may also wish to include an administrative assistant.
While a Center’s administrative framework for management is left up to each Center (subject to NIH peer review), it is expected that the administrative organization of the Center will include a supportive structure, such as an internal executive committee. Together, the major responsibilities of the Director, Associate Director(s), and the committee include:
A record of actions by this committee must be documented and be available if requested by the initial review group. In the case of renewal applications, all applicants should describe the effectiveness of the previous governess structure, and what has been changed.
External Advisory Committee Although optional, the use of an External Advisory Committee is highly advisable. The members must not be named in the grant application; however, the process under which members are selected must be described in detail. This group, comprised of 3-5 members, may advise the Center Director(s) and internal executive committee in the areas of budget, policy, collaborations, or other areas and may provide another level of scientific review for the Pilot and Feasibility program.
The Administrative Core must include a cohesive Pilot and Feasibility Program that seeks to develop new research directions or provide an opportunity for new investigators or established investigators to enter the field of urologic research. This Program should be integrated into the overall research goals of the Center and make use of the resources provided by the cores. The application should describe how the Center will oversee the solicitation, review and selection of the pilot projects. A Pilot and Feasibility project is intended to provide modest support that will allow an investigator the opportunity to develop sufficient preliminary data as a basis for an application for independent research support. Pilot and Feasibility projects are not intended to support or supplement ongoing research of an established investigator. Pilot and Feasibility projects could include clinical projects to investigate basic research findings in a clinical setting. Each Core Center application must include a minimum of two up to a maximum of four pilot projects. In the application, each project description (encompassing research goals, design, and method) should not exceed 8 pages. Each pilot project may request a maximum of $60,000 direct costs per year (excluding Facility and Administrative costs) (NOT-OD-04-040) for up to two years. Institutional supplementation of this program is strongly encouraged as it is permissible for Center Institutions to co-fund the activities of the Pilot and Feasibility Program.
After the initial review of Pilot and Feasibility proposals as described above, all responsibility for review and funding during the remainder of the project period will reside within the Center itself. This approach provides each Center with the needed flexibility for effective and efficient management of the program.
Pilot & Feasibility Program in competing renewal applications:
The review of this program will be based on the past track record, the management of the program, and an assessment of overall potential needs and opportunities. In general, a competing renewal application will include: (1) an historical overview; (2) a description of Center management of the program; (3) a description of the method for solicitation for pilot and feasibility projects and the number of respondents received for each solicitation; (4) a listing of all previous, ongoing and approved proposed Pilot and Feasibility studies with reports on those which were supported by the Center during the last project period; and (5) a statement relating to benefits of the program to the Center as well as the contribution of the uniqueness of the Center environment to the program. Further details can be found at the O Brien’s Urology Center Web site at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Research/Centers/CenterPrograms/OBrien_Updates.htm
On renewal applications, funding levels for the Pilot and Feasibility program is described as follows. The format for renewal of pilot and feasibility programs will depend on whether the applicant is requesting: (1) a number of pilot projects less than or equal to that for the previous project period, or (2) an increase in the number of pilot projects. If the applicant wishes to maintain the same number of pilot projects in a renewal application, the recommendation of the initial review group will be based on the overall performance of the Center's Pilot and Feasibility program as documented in the application. This recommendation will be based on: (1) the extent to which awarded funds were fully utilized during the previous project period; (2) awards were made to investigators who fully met the eligibility criteria for pilot and feasibility support as outlined above; (3) Center-relatedness; and (4) success of previously supported pilot and feasibility studies (e.g., publications, subsequent independent R01 or other peer-reviewed support, and/or attraction of new investigator into Center related research).
Conversely, should the applicant institution feel that an increased level of funding for the pilot and feasibility program is justified, new pilot and feasibility studies, over and above the number currently awarded, must be submitted with the competing renewal applications. These proposals would be reviewed by the initial review group in a fashion similar to the review of pilot and feasibility studies during the initial review. The initial review group would assess the new proposals, along with the overall performance of the program during the previous grant period to arrive at a recommendation for a possible increased pilot and feasibility funding level.
The Administrative core will be responsible for an Educational Enrichment Program that should further the overall aims and objectives of the Center. The Educational Enrichment Program may consist of seminar series, guest lectures, workshops, mentor-training courses, symposia, adult learning experiences, mini-sabbaticals, or other instructional opportunities. Students, fellows, and junior faculty should be encouraged to take full advantage of all Educational Enrichment Program events. Although funds are not provided directly for training purposes, the program enrichment activities should provide funding for specific training opportunities for Center members. For example, limited travel support is allowable for center investigators to travel to present scientific findings, learn new laboratory techniques, develop new collaborations, or engage in scientific information exchange. It is permissible for Center Institutions to co-fund the activities of the Educational Enrichment Program. Centers are encouraged to take advantage of other NIDDK teaching resources such as the NIDDK Multidisciplinary K12 Urologic Research (KURe) Career Development Program.
Each Center is expected to participate in two in-person national meetings the first year of funding and then annually thereafter. The meetings will be organized and convened by the DKUHD-NIDDK. The purpose of these meetings are to share research experiences with other Centers, assess progress, identify new research opportunities, share materials, enhance and further the potential impact of the Centers. Travel funds for the Principal Investigator and selected O Brien Urology Research Center investigators and collaborators are to be budgeted for these purposes. The meetings will be held in the Washington, D.C. region.
Initial Site Visit: DKUHD-NIDDK will conduct an administrative site visit to each center in the first year of the grant with the purpose to view the organizational set up and working dynamics of each center.
Follow Up Site Visits: Each center should expect site visits from DKUHD-NIDDK during the course of the grant.
Special Considerations:
While each Center will be expected to develop its own program in accordance with local expertise, interests, and resources; each must be responsive to national needs to develop therapies for urologic diseases and disorders and must be willing to work with the NIDDK and other Federal and national organizations in furthering the overall goals of the George M. O Brien Urology Research Center Program. In this regard, the Center Director and selected other Center participants may be invited to meet periodically with NIDDK staff and its consultants to review progress, identify emerging needs and opportunities, and plan approaches for future investigations.
Within the context of these guidelines, potential applicants for Center grants are encouraged to exercise the flexibility necessary to utilize the strengths of their particular institutions in preparing a plan which will eventually cover the spectrum of required activities. While types of activities which should be included are indicated in the guidelines, specific approaches for their accomplishment are left to the individual applicant.
Because of resource limitations and in light of the size of the Center grants, it is unlikely that NIDDK will be in a position to provide hardship allowances in the event that an application for renewal of Center support is not funded.
The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) supports General Clinical Research Centers (GCRC) nationwide, which provide services and resources to enhance clinical research (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/clinical_research_resources/resource_directory/general_clinical_research_centers/program_information/). Research Centers supported by the NIDDK are encouraged to collaborate with GCRCs to avoid duplication of effort and enhance utilization of services and resources. Additionally, the NCRR has established a new consortium via Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) to aid in the conduct of clinical and translational research (http://ctsaweb.org/). Applicants are encouraged to form collaborations with these centers where appropriate.
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
This funding opportunity
will use the P50 award mechanism(s).
As an applicant, you
will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed
project.
This funding opportunity
uses the just-in-time budget concepts. It also uses the non-modular budget
format described in the PHS 398 application instructions (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html).
A detailed categorical budget for the "Initial Budget Period" and the
"Entire Proposed Period of Support" is to be submitted with the
application.
2. Funds Available
NIDDK intends to commit approximately up to $5 million dollars in FY 2008 to fund up to five new and/or competing continuation grants in response to this RFA.
An applicant may request a project period of up to five years and a budget for direct costs up to $750,000 dollars per year.
Equipment costs may be included in the first year of the grant and will be included in the direct costs cap of the grant application.
Anticipated start dates of the projects are from September 2008.
Because
the nature and scope of the proposed research 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 IC(s) provide support for this
program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the
availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious
applications.
Facilities and
administrative costs requested by consortium participants are not included in
the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
You may submit (an)
application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:
To be considered eligible, applicant organizations must have: (1) a statement of institutional commitment that addresses how the institution will incorporate the O Brien Urology Research Center high within its institutional priorities. Specific institutional support should be included in this statement. Examples of tangible institutional support for the O Brien’s Urology Center include protected investigator time, facilities support, co-funding (e.g. sponsorship of pilot and feasibility projects, additional support of educational enrichment activities, additional cores, projects, etc.) (2) a diverse research base of research projects involving at least two out of three categories of basic, translational, or clinical sciences, and (3) appropriate shared resources to support the proposed research of the O Brien Urology Research Center.
Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization; however, consortia subcontract agreements with foreign institutions are permitted.
1.B.
Eligible Individuals
Any individual with the
skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research
is invited to work with their institution to develop an application for
support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as
individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
This RFA does not require
cost sharing as defined in the current NIH Grants Policy Statement.
The most current Grants
Policy Statement can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/nihgps_Part2.htm#matching_or_cost_sharing
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Applicant organizations may
not submit more than one application.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Information
The PHS 398 application
instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. Applicants must use the currently approved version of
the PHS 398. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301)
710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
Telecommunications for
the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Applications must be
prepared using the most current PHS 398 research grant application instructions
and forms. Applications must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for Federal grants or
cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866)
705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com/us/.
The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398
form.
The title and number of this funding opportunity must
be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box
must be checked.
Special Program Requirements:
The NIH recognizes that individual institutions will be able to respond in different ways to the opportunities presented by this RFA. An informational, pre-submission telephone conference will be held to help with the application submission. Details will be posted on the O Brien s Urology Center Web site at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Research/Centers/CenterPrograms/OBrien_Updates.htm. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIH program staff early in the application process and they should have a thorough understanding of the intent and expectations of this RFA before developing an application.
Content Order for Applications
Section 1: Relevant Background
Face Page: The RFA label must be affixed to the bottom of the face page and the title, George M. O Brien Urology Research Centers, the RFA number must be typed on line 2, and the YES box must be marked.
Description and Key Personnel
Table of Contents
Budgets
Biographical Sketches for all Center participants beginning with Center Director and Associate Director and the rest in alphabetical order
Distribution of Professional Effort on this Center application
General description of the proposed or established Center
For Renewals: Changes from the original Center design should be highlighted
Section 2: Administrative Component
Section 3: Biomedical Research Component
Overview of ongoing research and impact of Center on this research.
For Renewals: Progress Report including description of significant findings, new participants and new funding
For Renewals: Publications Citing Support from this Center
Biomedical research cores (present each core separately)
Pilot and Feasibility Program
Educational Enrichment Program
3. Submission Dates and Times
Applications must be
received on or before the receipt date described below (Section
IV.3.A). Submission times N/A.
3.A.
Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
Letter of Intent Receipt
Date: February 13, 2008
Application
Receipt Date: March 13, 2008
Peer Review
Date(s): June-August 2008
Council Review
Date: August 2008 (New Date October 2008 per NOT-DK-08-011)
Earliest
Anticipated Start Date: September 2008
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
Prospective applicants
are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
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 IC staff 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:
Francisco O. Calvo, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases
6707 Democracy Boulevard,
Room 752
Bethesda, MD 20892-5452 (courier Zip Code 20817)
Telephone: (301) 594-8897
FAX: (301) 480-3505
Email:fc15y@nih.gov
3.B. Sending an
Application to the NIH
Applications must be
prepared using the research grant applications found in the PHS 398
instructions for preparing a research grant application. Submit a signed,
typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and three signed photocopies in one
package to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 (U.S. Postal Service Express
or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service;
non-USPS service)
Personal deliveries of
applications are no longer permitted (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-040.html).
At the time of
submission, two additional copies of the application and all copies of the
appendix material must be sent to:
Francisco O. Calvo, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases
6707 Democracy Blvd, Room 752
Bethesda, MD 20892-5452 (courier Zip Code 20817)
Telephone: (301) 594-8897
FAX: (301) 480-3505
Email: fc15y@nih.gov
Using the RFA Label: The RFA label available in
the PHS 398 application instructions 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: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/labels.pdf.
3.C. Application
Processing
Applications must be received on or before the
application receipt date(s) described above (Section IV.3.A.).
If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the
applicant without review. Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for
completeness by the CSR and responsiveness by the NIDDK. Incomplete and non-responsive
applications will not be reviewed.
The NIH will not accept
any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the
same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws
the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded application,
originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be
submitted in response to a funding opportunity, it is to be prepared as a NEW
application. That is, the application for the funding opportunity must not
include an Introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the
text must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded
version of the application.
Information on the status of an application should be
checked by the Principal Investigator in the eRA Commons at: https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is not
subject to intergovernmental
review.
5. Funding Restrictions
All NIH awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can
be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
Pre-award costs are
allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur
obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning
date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award if
such costs: are necessary to conduct the project, and would be allowable under
the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures
would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval
before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be
incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget
period of a new or competing continuation award.
The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a
competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make
the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made
for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award
costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs
result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not
impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the
approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project.
See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.
6. Other Submission Requirements
Not
applicable.
Plan for Sharing Research
Data
All applicants must
include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The data sharing
policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing.
All investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a
description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data
sharing is not possible.
The reasonableness of
the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
Sharing Research Resources
NIH policy expects that
grant recipients make unique research resources readily available for research
purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after
publication (NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any
related data sharing plans will be considered by Program staff of the funding
organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The
effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the
administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm).
See Section VI.3. Reporting.
Section
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Only the review criteria
described below will be considered in the review process.
The following will be
considered in making funding decisions:
2. Review and Selection Process
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 NIDDK in accordance with the review
criteria stated below.
As part of the initial
merit review, all applications will:
The
goals of NIH supported research are to advance our understanding of biological
systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their
written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following
criteria in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have
a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will
be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as
appropriate for each application. Note that an application 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, an investigator may
propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is
essential to move a field forward.
Significance: Does this Center address an
important urologic problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how
will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the
effect of the Center activities on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments,
services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? What is the relevance of the
separate research projects and cores to the Center objectives? What is the
potential of the cores for contribution to ongoing research, including their appropriateness,
impact, relevance, uniqueness, modes of operation, and suitability of
facilities? Do renewal applications document the use, impact, quality control,
and cost effectiveness of each core, and demonstrate progress of the Pilot and
Feasibility research projects? In the Educational Enrichment Program, is there
a significant commitment to education, training, and career development of
future research scientists?
Approach: Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? Is there synergy among the research projects and the biomedical and administrative cores? Does the Center have diversity of research types? Are at least two out of three types of research in clinical, translational, or basic science reflected in its proposed research projects? Does each individual project promote multidisciplinary interactions and research to solve a common research question? Does each project have a minimum of investigators from two different fields working together? Does each Biomedical Research Core have at a minimum two documented main project users? Is there efficient and effective use of the limited pilot and feasibility funds and educational enrichment funds, including the contribution of these activities in enhancing the objectives of the Center?
Innovation: Are the Center projects and cores original and innovative? For example: Do the projects and cores challenge existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Do the projects and cores develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area? Are two to four Pilot & Feasibility (P&F) studies submitted for evaluation as part of the review of the P&F program? Are the P&F applicants eligible and is there an adequate selection process by which the individual studies were selected? For competing continuation applications, are data supplied on the success of previously funded P&F projects in obtaining outside support?
Investigators: Are the investigators appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the Center’s principal investigators and other researchers? Does the Center investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)? What is the likelihood for meaningful collaboration among Center investigators? Are the Center investigators willing to interact and synergize with each other and contribute to the overall objectives of the O Brien Center, and with other O Brien Urology Centers? What are the scientific and administrative leadership abilities of the proposed Center Director and Associate Director and their commitment and ability to devote adequate time to the effective management of the program? Does the Center Director have a minimum 20% time commitment to the Center? Is appropriate administrative organization proposed for the following: (a) Coordination of ongoing research between the separately funded projects and cores and the Center, including mechanisms for internal monitoring; (b) Establishment and maintenance of internal communication and cooperation among the Center investigators; (c) Mechanism for selecting and replacing Center professional or technical personnel; (d) Mechanism for reviewing the use of and administering funds for the Pilot and Feasibility program and the Educational Enrichment program; (e) Management capabilities that include fiscal administration, procurement, property and personnel management, planning, budgeting, and other appropriate capabilities?
Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? Is there an institutional commitment to the Center, including clear evidence of institutional support (space, protected time, and/or additional financial support for co-funded activities such as P& F and Enrichment Educational Program)? Are there defined lines of accountability regarding the internal management of the Center, interactions within the institution, and interactions with other O Brien Urology Centers? Is there a suitable environment for interaction and cross fertilization with scientists from other departments, fields of expertise, and institutions?
2.A. Additional Review
Criteria:
In addition to the above
criteria, the following items will continue to be considered in the determination
of scientific merit and the priority score:
Protection
of Human Subjects from Research Risk: The involvement of human subjects and protections from
research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be
assessed (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form
398).
Inclusion
of Women, Minorities and Children in Research: 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 will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects
will also be evaluated (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in
the PHS Form 398).
Care and
Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If vertebrate animals are to
be used in the project, the five items described under Section F of the PHS
Form 398 research grant application instructions will be assessed.
Biohazards: If materials or procedures
are proposed that are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the
environment, determine if the proposed protection is adequate.
2.B. Additional Review
Considerations
Budget: The reasonableness of the
proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed
research. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the
budget.
2.C. Sharing Research Data
Data Sharing Plan: The reasonableness of the
data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data may be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data sharing
policy. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing.
2.D. Sharing Research
Resources
NIH policy expects that
grant recipients make unique research resources readily available for research
purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after
publication (See the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/part_ii_5.htm#availofrr and http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/rt_guide_final.html). Investigators responding to
this funding opportunity should include a sharing research resources plan
addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing
is not possible.
Program staff will be
responsible for the administrative review of the plan for sharing research
resources.
The adequacy of the
resources sharing plan will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization
when making recommendations about funding applications. Program staff may
negotiate modifications of the data and resource sharing plans with the awardee
before recommending funding of an application. The final version of the data
and resource sharing plans negotiated by both will become a condition of the
award of the grant. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated
as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress
Report (PHS 2590). See Section VI.3. Reporting.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Not Applicable.
Section
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
After the peer review of
the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her
Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.
If the application is under consideration for funding,
NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details,
applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and
Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm).
A formal notification in the form of a Notice
of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA
signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all
administrative and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be
generated via email notification from the awarding component to the grantee
business official (designated in item 12 on the Application Face Page). If a
grantee is not email enabled, a hard copy of the NoA will be mailed to the
business official.
Selection of an application for award is not an
authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the
NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the
extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See Also Section
IV.5. Funding Restrictions.
2. Administrative and National
Policy Requirements
All NIH grant and
cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of
the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II:
Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm)
and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and
Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm).
3. Reporting
Awardees will be
required to submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, Form 2590
annually (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm)
and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
We
encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the
opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall
into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants
management issues:
1. Scientific/Research Contacts:
Debuene Chang, M.D.
Division of Kidney, Urology and Hematology
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases
Democracy 2, Room 613
6707 Democracy Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-5458
Telephone: (301) 594-7717
FAX: (301) 480-3510
Email: dc475y@nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Francisco O. Calvo, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
Division
of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and digestive and Kidney
Disease
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Room 752
Bethesda , MD 20892-5452
Telephone: (301) 594-8897
FAX: (301) 480-3505
Email: fc15y@nih.gov
3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
William Etti, M.B.A.
Grants Management Specialist
Division
of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases
6707 Democracy Boulevard ,
Room 722
Bethesda, MD 20892-5456
Telephone: (301) 594-7451
FAX: (301) 594-9523
Email: we20o@nih.gov
Section VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Use of Animals in
Research:
Recipients of PHS
support for activities involving live, vertebrate animals must comply with PHS
Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf)
as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm),
and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm)
as applicable.
Human Subjects
Protection:
Federal regulations
(45CFR46) require that applications and proposals involving human subjects must
be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of
protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the
subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained
(http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Data and Safety
Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety
monitoring is required for all types of clinical trials, including physiologic
toxicity and dose-finding studies (phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II);
efficacy, effectiveness and comparative trials (Phase III). Monitoring should
be commensurate with risk. The establishment of data and safety monitoring
boards (DSMBs) is required for multi-site clinical trials involving
interventions that entail potential risks to the participants (NIH Policy for
Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing Research
Data:
Investigators submitting
an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year
are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not
possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing).
Investigators should seek guidance from their
institutions, on issues related to institutional policies and local IRB rules,
as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy
Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the
plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority score.
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 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 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this funding opportunity 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.
Sharing of Model
Organisms:
NIH is committed to
support efforts that encourage sharing of important research resources
including the sharing of model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm).
At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to
elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding
pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm).
All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning
with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the
application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will
permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public
funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a
cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications
where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
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
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.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 Clinical Research:
The NIH maintains a
policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included
in all clinical research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are
scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.
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 (http://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 applications for research involving human subjects and
individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Human Embryonic Stem
Cells (hESC):
Criteria for federal
funding of research on hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html.
Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic
Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility
of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the
application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC
line(s)to be used in the proposed research. Applications that do not provide
this information will be returned without review.
NIH Public Access
Policy:
NIH-funded investigators
are requested to submit to the NIH manuscript submission (NIHMS) system (http://www.nihms.nih.gov) at PubMed Central
(PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript upon acceptance
for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or in part with
direct costs from NIH. The author's final manuscript is defined as the final
version accepted for journal publication, and includes all modifications from
the publishing peer review process.
NIH is requesting that
authors submit manuscripts resulting from 1) currently funded NIH research projects
or 2) previously supported NIH research projects if they are accepted for
publication on or after May 2, 2005. The NIH Public Access Policy applies to
all research grant and career development award mechanisms, cooperative
agreements, contracts, Institutional and Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein
National Research Service Awards, as well as NIH intramural research studies.
The Policy applies to peer-reviewed, original research publications that have
been supported in whole or in part with direct costs from NIH, but it does not
apply to book chapters, editorials, reviews, or conference proceedings.
Publications resulting from non-NIH-supported research projects should not be
submitted.
For more information
about the Policy or the submission process please visit the NIH Public Access
Policy Web site at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/ and
view the Policy or other Resources and Tools including the Authors' Manual (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/publicaccess_Manual.htm).
Standards for Privacy
of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS) issued final modification to the "Standards for
Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information", the
"Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002 . The Privacy Rule is a federal
regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually identifiable health
information, and is administered and enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil
Rights (OCR).
Decisions about applicability and implementation of
the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR
website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/)
provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text
and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information
on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and
research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
URLs in NIH Grant
Applications or Appendices:
All applications and proposals
for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. For
publications listed in the appendix and/or Progress report, internet addresses
(URLs) must be used for publicly accessible on-line journal
articles. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation,
Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide any other information necessary for 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 at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is
not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order
12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the authorization
of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241
and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other
considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants
Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
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.
Loan Repayment
Programs:
NIH encourages
applications for educational loan repayment from qualified health professionals
who have made a commitment to pursue a research career involving clinical,
pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health disparities related areas.
The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the next
generation of researchers by providing the means for developing a research
career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is
not required for eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications
are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing
the LRP recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP
awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week
based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research. For further
information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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