Full Text DK-97-004
 
DIABETES ENDOCRINOLOGY RESEARCH CENTERS
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 39, November 15, 1996
 
RFA:  DK-97-004
 
P.T. 04

Keywords: 
  Diabetes 
  Endocrinology 

 
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  February 12, 1997
Application Receipt Date:  March 12, 1997
 
PURPOSE
 
The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK) supports six Diabetes Endocrinology Research Centers (DERCs).
These Centers are part of an integrated program of diabetes-related
research support within the NIDDK.  Centers have provided a focus for
increasing the efficiency and collaborative effort among groups of
successful investigators at institutions with established
comprehensive diabetes research bases.  The NIDDK invites
applications for funding of three DERC grants to be competitively
awarded in Fiscal Year 1998.
 
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000
 
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA,
Diabetes Endocrinology Research Centers, is related to the priority
area of diabetes mellitus.  Potential applicants may obtain a copy of
"Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or
Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402-9325 (telephone: (202) 512-1800).
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit
organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges,
hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and
eligible agencies of the Federal government.  Racial/ethnic minority
individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to
apply as principal investigators.  Foreign institutions are not
eligible to apply.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
This RFA is a one time solicitation.  Support of this program will be
through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) center core grant
(P30) award.  Awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as
stated in the PHS Grants Policy Statement. Responsibility for the
planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be
solely that of the applicant.  The total requested project period for
an application submitted in response to the RFA may not exceed five
years.  The maximum dollar request is limited to $750,000 in direct
costs for the initial budget period. Budget escalations of four
percent may be requested for future years up to the $750,000 limit.
The earliest anticipated award date is December 1, 1997.
 
FUNDS AVAILABLE
 
The NIDDK anticipates awarding three DERC Grants in Fiscal Year 1998
on a competitive basis.  The receipt of three competing continuation
applications is anticipated, which will be in competition together
with the other applications received in response to this RFA.  The
anticipated award will be contingent upon the availability of
appropriated funds.  Requests for support must be limited to no more
than $750,000 in direct costs per year.  Any application exceeding
the direct cost amount indicated will be returned to the applicant.
The NIDDK has allocated $2,830,000 in total costs to support this RFA
for Fiscal Year 1998.
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 
The objectives of the DERCs are to bring together investigators from
relevant disciplines in a manner that will enhance and extend the
effectiveness of research related to diabetes and its complications.
A diabetes center must be an identifiable unit within a single
university medical center or a consortium of cooperating
institutions, including an affiliated university.  The overall goal
of the DERC is to bring together clinical and basic science
investigators in a manner which will enrich the effectiveness of
diabetes research. Accordingly, the applicant must clearly state the
considerations for center membership.
 
An existing program of excellence in biomedical research in the area
of diabetes and related metabolic and endocrine disorders is
required.  This research should be in the form of NIH-funded research
projects, program projects, or other peer-reviewed research that is
in existence at the time of submission of a center application.
Close cooperation, communication, and collaboration among all
involved personnel of all professional disciplines are ultimate
objectives. Applicants should consult with NIDDK staff concerning
plans for the development of a center.
 
The DERCs are based on the core concept.  Cores are defined as shared
resources that enhance productivity or in other ways benefit a group
of investigators working in diabetes or diabetes-related areas to
accomplish the stated goals of the center.  These centers also
support a pilot and feasibility program and an enrichment program.
 
The pilot and feasibility program provides modest support for new
diabetes initiatives or feasibility studies. This program is directed
at new investigators or for established investigators in other
research disciplines whose expertise may be applied to diabetes
research.  The Center grant may also include limited funds for
program enrichment such as seminars, visiting scientists,
consultants, workshops, etc.
 
Although funds are not provided directly for training purposes, the
core laboratories and program enrichment activities should provide
training opportunities for center members.
 
Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research
Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research
Resources may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for reaching
the goals and objectives of the DERC.  If so, a letter of agreement
from either the GCRC program director or principal investigator
should be included with the application.
 
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN
SUBJECTS
 
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups
and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported
biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects,
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are
provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health
of the subjects or the purpose of the research.  This new policy
results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of
Public Law 103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous
policies (Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and
Concerning the Inclusion of Minority in Study Populations) which have
been in effect since 1990. The new policy contains some new
provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies.
 
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the
Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513), and reprinted
in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS of March 18, 1994, Volume
23, Number 11.
 
Investigators may obtain copies from these sources or from the
program staff or contact person listed below. Program staff may also
provide additional relevant information concerning the policy.
 
LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by February 12, 1997, a
letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed
research, the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal
Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating
institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to
which the application may be submitted.
 
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 NIDDK staff to estimate the
potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest in the
review.
 
The letter of intent is to be sent to:
 
Chief, Review Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 Center Drive, Room 6AS 37-F, MSC-6600
Bethesda MD  20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-8885
FAX:  (301) 480-3505
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used
in applying for these grants.  Applications kits are available at
most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained
from the Grants Information Office, Office of Extramural Outreach and
Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge
Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267,
email:  ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov.
 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to request a copy of "Guidelines
for Diabetes Endocrinology Research Centers." These guidelines
contain important suggestions and information on the format, content,
and review of applications and review criteria.  Prospective
applicants may obtain guidelines from the program official listed
under INQUIRIES.
 
The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) application form
must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.
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.
 
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including
the Checklist, plus three signed photocopies, in one package to:
 
DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
 
At time of submission, two additional copies of the application must
be sent to:
 
Chief, Review Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 CENTER DRIVE, Room 6AS 37-F - MSC 6600
BETHESDA MD 20892-6600
 
Applications must be received by March 12, 1997.  If an application
is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant
without review.  The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not
accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially
the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the
applicant withdraws the pending application.  The DRG will not accept
any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.
This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of
applications previously reviewed, but such applications must include
an introduction addressing the previous critique.
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be
evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer
review group convened by the NIDDK in accordance with NIH peer review
procedures.  As part of the initial merit review, all applications
will receive a written critique and may undergo a process in which
only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit
will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second
level review by the national advisory council.
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH:  Scientific excellence of the Center's research
base that must have a broad and central focus in diabetes and may
extend to related research in metabolism and endocrinology.  The
relevance of the separately funded research to the DERC objectives
(see above) and the likelihood for meaningful collaboration among
Center investigators must be demonstrated.
 
Potential of the cores for contribution to ongoing research, their
appropriateness and relevance, their modes of operation and,
suitability of facilities. Renewal applications must include the use,
utility, quality control, cost effectiveness, and demonstrated
progress of any developmental research in the shared resources.
 
For new applications, the pilot and feasibility program is judged on
the basis of:  (1) scientific merit of the studies as submitted and
(2) the merit of the administrative process for selecting subsequent
studies. In competitive renewal applications, emphasis is placed on
the program as a whole, including past track record and management of
the program.
 
RESEARCH TRAINING:  Although the Center does not specifically support
research training, demonstration of accomplishments and future plans
related to the training of investigators necessary to conduct
research in diabetes and related metabolic and endocrine disorders
will be considered in assessing the potential to meet Center
objectives.  The integration of these efforts into the overall
Center, including core facilities is of particular importance.
 
ADMINISTRATION:  The scientific and administrative leadership
abilities of the DERC Director and Associate Director and their
commitment and ability to devote adequate time to the effective
management of the DERC program.
 
The appropriateness of the DERC budgets for the proposed and approved
work to be done in core facilities, for pilot and feasibility
studies, and for enrichment in relation to the total Center program.
 
Efficiency and effectiveness of use and/or planned use of enrichment
funds.
 
Institutional commitment to the program, including lines of
accountability regarding management of the DERC grant and a
commitment to establish new positions as necessary.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
The earliest anticipated date of the award is December 1, 1997.
Applications will compete for available funds with all other
applications submitted in response to this RFA and recommended by
peer review.  The following will be considered in making funding
decisions:
 
o  Quality of the proposed Center as determined by peer review
o  Availability of funds
o  Program priorities
 
INQUIRIES
 
Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.  The opportunity to
clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.
 
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
 
Dr. Sanford A. Garfield
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
 
45 CENTER DRIVE, Room 5AN 24-B, MSC-6600
BETHESDA MD  20892-6600
Telephone: (301) 594-8803
FAX: (301) 480-3503
E-mail: GarfieldS@ep.niddk.nih.gov
 
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal and administrative matters to:
 
Linda Stecklein
Grants Management Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 CENTER DR MSC 6600
BETHESDA, MD 20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-8847
E-mail: SteckleinL@ep.niddk.nih.gov
 
Schedule
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:    February 12, 1997
Application Receipt Date:         March 12, 1997
Initial Review Dates:             June-July 1997
Second Level Review Dates:        September-October 1997
Earliest Anticipated Award Date:  December 1, 1997
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.847. Awards are made under authorization of the
Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as
amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered
under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45
CFR Part 74.  This program is not subject to the intergovernmental
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency
review.
 
The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco
products.  In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any
portion of a facility) in which regular or routing education,
library, day care, health care or early childhood development
services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS
mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the
American people.
 
.

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