and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Participating Organization(s) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) |
|
Funding Opportunity Title |
Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS) (R01) |
Activity Code |
R01 Research Project Grant |
Announcement Type |
Reissue of RFA-MH-11-050 |
Related Notices |
|
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number |
RFA-MH-13-110 |
Companion Funding Opportunity |
None |
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) |
93.242 |
Funding Opportunity Purpose |
The Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS) award is intended to support the research and research career development of outstanding scientists who are in the early, formative stages of their careers and who plan to make a long term career commitment to research in specific mission areas of the NIMH. This award seeks to assist these individuals in launching an innovative clinical, translational, basic or services research program that holds the potential to profoundly transform the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of mental disorders. Each year the BRAINS program will focus on a specific area of research and/or research career development need. For FY 2013 and FY 2014, the BRAINS program will focus on the research priorities and gap areas identified in the NIMH Strategic Plan (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml) and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/rdoc/index.shtml). |
Posted Date |
June 18, 2012 |
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) |
September 23, 2012 |
Letter of Intent Due Date |
September 23, 2012, September 23, 2013 |
Application Due Date(s) |
(Extended to November 1, 2013 per NOT-OD-14-003), Originally October 23, 2012; October 23, 2013, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. |
AIDS Application Due Date(s) |
Not Applicable |
Scientific Merit Review |
February 2013, February 2014 |
Advisory Council Review |
May 2013, May 2014 |
Earliest Start Date(s) |
July 1, 2013; July 1, 2014 |
Expiration Date |
(Extended to November 2, 2013 per NOT-OD-14-003), Originally October 24, 2013 |
Due Dates for E.O. 12372 |
Not Applicable. |
Required Application Instructions
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission
Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information
Research Scope and Goals
To support its mission, NIMH has formulated a Strategic Plan with the following four overarching objectives:
1. Promote discovery in the brain and behavioral sciences to fuel research on the causes of mental disorders: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml#strategic-objective1
2. Chart mental illness trajectories to determine when, where, and how to intervene: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml#strategic-objective2
3. Develop new and better interventions that incorporate the diverse needs and circumstances of people with mental illnesses: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml#strategic-objective3
4. Strengthen the public health impact of NIMH-supported research: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml#strategic-objective4
These four Strategic Objectives can be viewed as a cumulative progression that begins with promoting discovery in the brain and behavioral sciences in order to better understand the workings of the brain that can be translated to the study of mental disorders. In effect, our efforts to understand how changes in the brain can lead to mental illness will inform (and be informed by) fundamental research to understand the trajectories of mental illnesses across the lifespan and across diverse populations. By learning more about the trajectories by which mental illnesses develop, we hope to stimulate innovative psychosocial and biomedical approaches that can preempt or change these trajectories before mental illness occurs. Finally, we will retain a strong focus on public health impact and create better methods for ensuring that our research reaches all whose lives are affected by mental illness, as well as those who are dedicated to their care.
In order to identify outstanding basic, translational and clinical investigators at the formative stages of their careers and assist them in launching innovative research programs with the potential to transform our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of mental illness and develop innovative treatments and prevention strategies, the NIMH has established this program of R01 research grants intended for early career researchers who have not received their first R01 research grant and are also Early Stage Investigators (ESI) according to NIH policy (NOT-OD-09-013). This program is expected to be highly competitive, and only a limited number of grants will be awarded per year.
Research programs supported by this funding opportunity seek to promote career advancement of the most highly creative and promising new scientists who are committed to enabling NIMH to fulfill its mission and can bring innovative, ground-breaking, and potentially risky research initiatives and thinking to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses. Special emphasis will be placed on multi-disciplinary research approaches, utilizing humans and/or model organisms that directly address the four objectives of the NIMH Strategic Plan. NIMH also strongly encourages the submission of applications that translate findings from basic science into new treatments addressing fundamental mechanisms that cut across current diagnostic categories as outlined in the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project. Please refer to the information on the RDoC website for further information about this project: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/rdoc/index.shtml. Research that incorporates approaches to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying sex and/or gender differences in mental disorders is also encouraged.
Examples of research topics that address priorities, gaps and opportunities consistent with the four NIMH Strategic Objectives include, but are not limited to:
The applications in this program are distinguished from most other research grants in that the applications: 1) incorporate a statement of career goals relevant to the mission of the NIMH, 2) include active participation of an external advisory committee, and 3) require demonstration of the commitment by the institution to actively support the research program development of the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s). Research projects proposed in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will be expected to directly address the objectives and sub-objectives of the NIMH strategic plan and to have a defined impact on our understanding of the pathophysiology, trajectories, effective treatment and/or prevention of psychiatric diseases. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIMH program staff prior to submission to determine if their project meets the goals of the BRAINS program.
It is anticipated that the BRAINS program would be evaluated on a continuing basis by NIMH program staff to assess the impact of the program on the portfolio of the NIMH, as well as on the progression of the awardees' careers. Metrics to be used include, but are not limited to: publications (both numbers and impact factors); academic promotion of Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s; awards; invited talks at national/international symposia; students and postdoctoral fellows trained in the Principal Investigator's laboratory; honors received by Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s); committee service of Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s); and subsequent grant support awarded. Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) of awarded BRAINS grants will be requested to provide information for the evaluation and any subsequent program evaluations for a period of up to ten years after the award.
Funding Instrument |
Grant |
Application Types Allowed |
New The OER Glossary and the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. |
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards |
NIMH intends to commit approximately $5,000,000 in FY 2013 and FY2014 to fund 7-10 new awards in response to this FOA in both FY2013 and FY2014. Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations. |
Award Budget |
An applicant may request a budget for direct costs up to $1.625 million dollars with no more than $400,000 in direct costs for any single year. Although requested as direct costs, consortium F&A does not count toward the direct cost cap. |
Award Project Period |
The total project period for an application submitted in response to this FOA may not exceed five years. |
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.
Higher Education Institutions
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are
not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations
as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply
for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following
registrations.
All Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s))
must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons
or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons
account of the applicant organization.
All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant
organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at
least 4-6 weeks prior to the application due date.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal
Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization 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.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement will not utilize the multiple PD(s)/PI(s) option.
Applicants must be designated Early Stage Investigators (ESI) by NIH as defined in NOT-OD-09-013. In addition, applicants must have faculty appointments which are tenure track or equivalent, generally at the level of Assistant Professor or equivalent, and have a research or health professional level degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent) at the time of application. If the applicant is at an institution/organization that does not have a tenure track, he or she should hold an equivalent appointment and must have demonstrated support from the institution. Individuals must show that they have established research independence from a mentor, and have dedicated independent laboratory and research resources available to conduct the research proposed in the grant application.
Applicants will be expected to devote at least 6, and preferably up to 9, person months of effort to the award and have a long-term commitment to research relevant to the mission of NIMH. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.
Applicants must have a research career and a long-term commitment to a career in research on the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses consistent with the core mission areas of the NIMH. The NIMH will decline applications not considered central to either the mission or the research priorities of the NIMH as part of the initial evaluation for responsiveness. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their research plans with an NIMH Program Officer prior to submission to ensure eligibility.
This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.
NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application.
Resubmission applications are not permitted in response to this FOA. Previously unfunded applications submitted in response to RFA-MH-11-050, RFA-MH-10-060 or RFA-MH-09-100 may not be revised and resubmitted. Applicants who previously applied to RFA-MH-11-050, RFA-MH-10-060 or RFA-MH-09-100 and are still eligible as an NIH-defined Early Stage Investigator may submit a new application for a different project in response to this FOA. Renewal applications are not permitted in response to this FOA.
Applicants may submit more than one application, provided each application is scientifically distinct.
Applicants may not simultaneously submit identical/essentially identical applications under both this FOA and another PHS funding opportunity announcement. Investigators who have another scientifically distinct R01 application pending at the time of the BRAINS receipt deadline are eligible to submit a BRAINS application for a different project. However, since the BRAINS award is designed for Early Stage Investigators who do not have R01 support, individuals who receive a fundable score and accept funding for the regular R01 prior to the award of the BRAINS grant are not eligible to receive the BRAINS award.
Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
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.
By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
The letter of intent should be sent to:
Kathleen C. Anderson, Ph.D.
Division of Developmental Translational Research
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Blvd, Room 6189 MSC 9617
Bethesda, MD 20892-9617
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 443-5944
FAX: (301) 480-4415
Email: kanders1@mail.nih.gov
The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, mandatory and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.
All page limitations described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
The Research Plan should follow SF424(R&R) Application Guide for font size, type density and margins. In the Research Strategy applicants must address the following topics as they pertain to the research project proposed:
Significance:
Innovation: State clearly and concisely what makes your project unusually innovative.
Approach: How will you attempt to verify the novel hypothesis, or solve the problem? Provide enough information so that reviewers can determine what you are proposing to do. If your methodology is standard, what is unconventional and exceptionally innovative about your approach? How does your approach differ from what other investigators have attempted to do? If the approaches entail a high degree of risk, what will you do if these approaches are unsuccessful and how do the potential benefits/rewards outweigh the risks? If you are including collaborators on the project for aspects of the project that are not within your expertise, please describe their roles and how they will contribute to the success of the project and the career development of the PD/PI.
Also Include:
Advisory Committee
The Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) is expected to form an external advisory committee. Names of Advisory Committee members should not be listed in the application. This FOA uses the just-in-time concept for the External Advisory Committee members. The application should indicate the areas of scientific expertise and anticipated input, and any critical considerations in the selection of members, at the time of submission. The Advisory Committee is expected to meet at least annually to provide ongoing assessment of the progress of the research; to discuss future research goals, aims, and ideas; and to provide research career guidance to the awardee during the five years of the grant.
NIMH suggests an Advisory Committee structure such as the following: At least three scientists, two of whom are external to the Department, (one external to the University or Institution). One member should have research expertise similar to that of the Principal Investigator, and one should be an individual who is expert in human or clinical studies and who can provide input into the translation of the research. A copy of the minutes of meetings of the Advisory Committee should be provided to the NIMH as part of the annual progress report of the grant.
A description of the role of the Advisory Committee (but not names of potential members) should be included as an attachment in Item 12, Other Attachments.
Institutional Support
The Chair of the Department where the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) holds the primary academic appointment should provide a letter (attached as a letter of support in the PHS398 Research Plan Component of the SF424 application, Item 14) describing any tangible research support that has been committed to the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s). This may include start up packages provided to the investigator, salary commitment, protected time for research, space and equipment allocations, core facilities that will be made available without charge-back, specialized training and mini-sabbatical experiences to promote career enhancement, etc. In addition, the letter should discuss the departmental commitment to protected research time for the applicant. The department is encouraged to provide release time so that the applicant will be able to devote at least 6, and preferably up to 9 person months (75%) of his/her professional effort to research (See Section III - Eligible Individuals (Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s)). The strength of the institutional support will be considered a factor in the review of the application.
If a previous postdoctoral or research mentor remains in the same Institution as the Program Director/Principal Investigator, a letter (attached as a letter of support, in the PHS398 Research Plan Component of the SF424 application, Item 16) should be included in the application and outline the respective roles of the Program Director/Principal Investigator and the research mentor in the design and conduct of the proposed research. The research mentor should also indicate how the proposed research program is expected to be independent from the research directions of his/her laboratory.
Future Goals and Career Objectives and Biography
Two narrative presentation sections, Future Goals and Objectives and Personal Statement should be included in the application. The Future Goals and Objectives should be included as an attachment (item 12, under Other attachments). The Future Goals and Career Objectives section (one page maximum) should briefly describe the career track and long-term research interests/objectives of the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) with emphasis on how these interests/objectives relate to the mission of NIMH. The Personal Statement section, which is part of the expanded 4 page biographical sketch, should clearly describe the applicant s scientific development from graduate school, the postdoctoral experience(s), through the present faculty position. Provide evidence to support your claim of innovation and creativity in your research. For example, which experiences demonstrate your inclination to challenge paradigms and take intellectual risks, develop unique collaborations, integrate diverse sources of information, or develop novel approaches when new challenges or opportunities arise?
Budget
Applicants may request up to five years and up to $1.625 million in total direct costs to be allocated according to the research needs of the PD/PI but not to exceed $400,000 in direct costs in any single year. These funds can be used for research-related expenses and salary support. The PD/PI is encouraged to budget sufficient travel costs to present the results of the research at a variety of high-caliber technical meetings, at least one of which is devoted directly to mental health research and is widely attended by other NIMH grantees. A portion of the budget could include travel for external members of the advisory committee to meet yearly, in (See Grants Policy Statement). In addition, the PD/PI should budget for travel to the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD each year in years 3-5 to present a seminar or participate in a research symposium. While requested as direct costs, consortium F&A does not count toward the direct cost cap.
Applicants are expected to devote at least 6 person months (50%) effort to the grant. However, after three full years of funding for this grant, should the PD/PI be successful in obtaining funding through another R01 or similar award, the effort on the BRAINS award may be negotiated with the NIMH program staff down to no less than 3.6 person months, (30%), if adequate progress has been made on the aims of the BRAINS award. In addition, the awardees' departments are encouraged to provide an additional 3-3.6 person months (25-30%) release time from clinical, teaching, and administrative duties in order to allow the awardee to devote a larger amount of time to research efforts.
Project Effort for mentored K-awardees
Mentored K awardees are encouraged to seek R01 or equivalent funding to support their research programs. Therefore, NIMH expects that such awardees may be particularly interested in seeking support through the BRAINS R01 program. Such PD/PIs are encouraged to consult with their mentored K Program Official at NIH prior to submission to ensure that the large effort commitments of both awards are feasible for their individual circumstance. However, since the BRAINS program requires a minimum of 6 person months per year, K-Awardees should not apply unless they will be in the final two years of the K-Award at the time of a BRAINS award, in light of NIH policy limiting reduction in minimum required percent effort for K recipients (see NIH Guide NOT-OD-09-036).
Resource Sharing Plan
Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Appendix
Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit in advance of the deadline to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.
Organizations must submit applications via Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.
Applicants are responsible for viewing their application in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.
Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.
For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.
Important
reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the
Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF
424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and
to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the
successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.
The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the
application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA
Commons and for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional information
may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
See more
tips for avoiding common errors.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by NIMH, NIH. Applications that are incomplete and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.
In order to expedite review, applicants are requested to notify the NIMH Referral Office by email at NIMHReferral@mail.nih.gov when the application has been submitted. Please include the FOA number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.
Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
Significance
Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Is the potential significance of the proposed research exceptional, in terms of the magnitude of the impact and the size of the community affected? If the applicant is attempting to verify a novel hypothesis, is it critical, for the field, that the hypothesis be verified or disproved? Is the work paradigm shifting or if no paradigm exists will this project create one? If the proposed work is successful does it have the potential to transform our understanding of the origins of mental illness, prevent their onset, improve diagnostic accuracy, and/or create cures?
Investigator(s)
Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project? Do the past achievements of the PD/PI suggest that the investigator is exceptionally innovative and likely to make paradigm-shifting, high-impact discoveries relevant to mental illness? If the PD/PI does not have a history of doing exceptionally innovative, high-impact research, does the logic of the experimental plan suggest that there is some likelihood of success? Is there potential for the investigator to profoundly transform our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of mental illness or translate into the development of effective interventions, preventions or cures for mental disorders?
Innovation
Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area? Is the project original and innovative? Is the hypothesis and/or the proposed methodology unconventional and exceptionally innovative?
Approach
Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses
well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project?
Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success
presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the
strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed? Does the information in the timeline inspire confidence that the PD/PI will be able to
document progress in each year of the award and either complete the project or
demonstrate that it is not feasible, despite good-faith efforts, during the
term of the award? If the approach involves a high degree of risk, has the
applicant adequately explained what he/she will do if the approach is
unsuccessful?
If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of
human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members
of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms
of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?
Environment
Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements? Is the strength of the Institutional support to the career advancement of Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) evident?
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.
Protections for Human Subjects
For research that involves human subjects but does
not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR
Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human
subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their
participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to
subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the
subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data
and safety monitoring for clinical trials.
For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or
more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46,
the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human
subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For
additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to
the Human
Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children
When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.
Vertebrate Animals
The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.
Biohazards
Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
Resubmissions
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Revisions
Not Applicable.
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.
Applications from Foreign Organizations
Not Applicable..
Select Agent Research
Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).
Resource Sharing Plans
Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).
Budget and Period of Support
Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by the NIMH, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Review assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:
Appeals of initial peer review will not be accepted for applications submitted in response to this FOA.
Applications will be assigned to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Mental Health Council. lThe following will be considered in making funding decisions:
After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD(s)/PI(s) will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.
Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH
will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as
described in the NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided
to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by
the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via
email to the grantee’s business official.
Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. 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.
Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS,
CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award
Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.
Participants may be contacted after the completion of this
award for periodic updates on various aspects of their employment history,
publications, support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards,
professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact
of the program.
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 and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.
Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award
Not Applicable.
When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Participants may be contacted after the completion of this award for periodic updates on various aspects of their employment history, publications, support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.
We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
Grants.gov
Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission, downloading or navigating forms)
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov
GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and
process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov
eRA Commons Help Desk (Questions regarding eRA Commons
registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov
Kathleen C. Anderson, Ph.D.
Division of Developmental Translational Research
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6189, MSC 9617
Bethesda, MD 20892-9617
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 443-5944
FAX: (301) 480-4415
Email: kanders1@mail.nih.gov
David Armstrong, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6138, MSC 9606
Bethesda, MD 20892-9606
Telephone: (301) 443-3534
FAX: (301) 443-4720
Email: armstrada@mail.nih.gov
Rebecca Claycamp, CRA
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room, 6122, MSC 9605
Bethesda, MD 20892-9605
Telephone: (301) 443-2811
FAX: (301) 443-6885
Email: rclaycam@mail.nih.gov
Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
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 Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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