Full Text NR-92-04 SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR NURSING AND BIOLOGY INTERFACE NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 15, April 17, 1992 RFA: NR-92-04 P.T. 34 Keywords: Nursing Nutrition/Dietetics Biology, Behavioral Instrumentation, Biological Biology, Molecular Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl National Center for Nursing Research Letter of Intent Receipt Date: June 1, 1992 Application Receipt Date: August 24, 1992 PURPOSE The Small Grants Program of the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) provides limited support for meritorious research to develop and test innovative biological techniques for solving nursing problems and answering nursing clinical questions. The goal of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to facilitate incorporation of innovative biological techniques into nursing research for the purpose of answering clinical questions critical to nursing practice. 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, Small Grants Program for Nursing and Biology Interface, is related to the priority area of physical activity, nutrition, and chronic disabling conditions. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001- 00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS The research proposed must utilize state-of-the-science bioinstrumentation or biotechnology and be an integral part of a major on-going program of research by a nurse scientist that is or has been sponsored by NIH or other extramural funds. the ongoing research must address a clinical issue relevant to the advancement of the practice of nursing. The applicant Principal Investigator (PI) must have a Ph.D., or the equivalent, and a R.N. license. If the applicant PI is not actively involved in a biological science laboratory, collaboration with a biological scientist is required. The applicant PI and/or collaborators on the proposed research must have formal, or the equivalent of, postdoctoral experience in biological or biobehavioral science. The purpose of these requirements is to increase the numbers of mid-career and senior nurse researchers using state-of-the-science biological technology to answer clinical nursing questions. Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State or local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Applications from women and minority individuals are encouraged. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institute of Health (NIH) Small Grants (R03) Program mechanism. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. Awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement (October 1, 1990). The NCNR may reissue this RFA in fiscal year 1993. FUNDS AVAILABLE It is estimated that $250,000 will be committed to fund applications submitted in response to this RFA. It is expected that five applications will be funded. This funding level is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit and the availability of funds. The project period may be up to two years. Each grant is limited to $50,000 in total project costs. The Small Grants Program is a non-renewable award. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background An important focus of nursing research in the improvement of patient care is the interaction of biological factors associated with acute and chronic illness, health promotion, and disease prevention. This Small Grants Program is designed to assist in the integration of advanced biological instrumentation into nursing research and clinical practice. Recognizing the rapid changes that are taking place in the biomedical sciences and the effect these changes will have on nursing research and practice, the biological content of NCNR's portfolio was analyzed. A Nursing Biological Task Force recommended strategies to integrate nursing research with state-of-the-art biological science. These recommendations were approved by the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research (NACNR). A long-range plan for implementing the Task Force's recommendations includes research, career development and training initiatives to increase the interface of biological sciences with nursing research as a basis for clinical practice. The first step of this plan was to increase opportunities for research training and career development in the biological sciences (PA: PA-92-35, Training & Development: Nursing and Biology Interface). The second step of this plan targets research initiatives and its purpose is three-fold: (1) to facilitate the use of innovative biological technology in nursing research; (2) to link the biological underpinnings of nursing research and clinical practice in specified areas of biomedical clinical research; and (3) to interweave nursing research and behavioral research with new areas of biomolecular medicine, such as structural and molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. Targeted Aims This RFA has two distinct aims: 1. To stimulate nurse investigators to explore innovative, state-of-the-science research using biological technology, when the successful outcome of such research would rapidly advance the following nursing research areas: studies linking basic biological sciences with (1) nursing clinical questions and (2) nursing studies having a biological focus. 2. To facilitate use of state-of-the-science biological techniques by nurse researchers. The validation of nursing practice by the application of biological science into nursing research requires investigators to have the ability to use new techniques of structural and molecular biology, genetics, biophysics, and immunology. This program will facilitate translation of basic scientific technology into a basis for future measurements in nursing research. Example of Appropriate Biotechnology and Research Topics The following is an illustrative and non-exhaustive listing of biotechnology and topics appropriate to the objectives of this solicitation: Biotechnology: recombinant DNA, gene mapping and/or sequencing, signal transduction, crystallographic analysis, peptide/protein modeling and molecular dynamics simulation, in vitro or in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy or imaging, positron emission tomography, isotopic scanning, monoclonal antibodies, high pressure liquid/gas chromatography, and spectrophotometry. Topics: o A nurse scientist whose research is interventions to treat pain might be interested in measuring gene expression in the dorsal root ganglia, in which the amount of messenger RNA changes after tissue and nerve injury. o A nurse scientist whose research is interventions to treat and prevent lead poisoning in school age children might be interested in identifying blood cell markers as an immunological component of the health assessment in this population. The biotechnology might include biological and biochemical cellular markers to identify lead poisoning. o A nurse scientist whose basic science research involves identifying homeostatic mechanisms for regulating calcium ion concentration in cardiac cells might choose to study the control of ionic flux in the degeneration of cell function. o A nurse scientist whose clinical research is symptom management of complications arising from type II diabetes and obesity might be interested in the biochemical characterization of insulin resistance seen in these disorders. Working with a molecular biologist in the laboratory, the purpose of the R03 application might be to study an aspect of insulin function at the molecular level. o A nurse scientist whose clinical research is the quality of life after organ transplantation might be interested in evaluating immunologic indices of patient outcomes after bone marrow transplants. Collaborating with an immunologist in the laboratory, the purpose of the R03 application might be to study monoclonal antibodies produced by hybridomas in bone marrow transplants. Methodological Issues A wide spectrum of research designs and analyses are acceptable under this solicitation. In preparing the application, the nurse investigator must develop specific hypotheses or research questions that apply biotechnology to clinical nursing research questions. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS NIH and ADAMHA policy is that applicants for NIH/ADAMHA clinical research grants and cooperative agreements are required to include minorities and women in study populations so that research findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or condition under study; special emphasis should be placed on the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect them. This policy is intended to apply to males and females of all ages. If women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear compelling rationale should be provided. The composition of the proposed study population must be described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and racial/ethnic issues must be addressed in developing a research design and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study. This information must be included in the form PHS 398 in Section 2, 1-4 of the Research Plan AND summarized in Section 5, Human Subjects. Applicants/offerors are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of minority groups. However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in all research projects to include representation of the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., Native Americans [including American Indians or Alaskan Natives], Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics). The rationale for studies on single minority population groups should be provided. For the purpose of this policy, clinical research is defined as human biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of disease, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to clinical trials. The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply. Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded. However, every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants. If the required information is not contained within the application, the application will be returned. Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and reflected in assigning the priority score to the application. All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required to address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit by June 1, 1992, 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 is being submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. It allows NCNR staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Ethel B. Jackson, D.D.S. Chief, Office of Scientific Review National Center for Nursing Research Building 31, Room 5B19 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-0472 FAX: (301) 480-4969 APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most institutional business offices and from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone 301/496-7441. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 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 2a of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The following supplemental instructions are given: (1) Background and Significance: The applicant must be explicit in describing the interface of the chosen biological technique with clinical nursing research questions. (2) Progress Report/Preliminary Studies: Since this award mechanism intends to fund innovative technology, preliminary data are not required. (3) The entire application is limited to 15 pages. (4) Do not submit an Appendix. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must also be sent to: Ethel B. Jackson, D.D.S. Chief, Office of Scientific Review National Center for Nursing Research Building 31, Room 5B19 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 Applications must be received by August 24, 1992. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant. 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 already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by NCNR staff for completeness and responsiveness. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications may be triaged by an NCNR peer review group on the basis of relative competitiveness. The NIH will withdraw from further competition those applications judged to be non-competitive for award and notify the applicant Principal Investigator and institutional official. Those applications judged to be competitive will undergo further scientific merit review. Those applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below for scientific/technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NCNR. The second level of review will be provided by the NCNR advisory council. Review criteria for RFAs are generally the same as those for unsolicited research grant applications. o scientific and technical significance and originality of proposed research; o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; o qualifications and research experience of the Principal Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research; o availability of resources necessary to perform the research; o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research. o the potential impact of the biological technique on nursing research and its ability to strengthen a subsequent R01 application. AWARD CRITERIA The anticipated date of award is March 1993. Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applictions assigned to that ICD. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer reivew o Availability of funds o Program balance among research areas of the announcement INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged and should be directed to the following individual. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic and scientific issues to: Hilary D. Sigmon, Ph.D., R.N. Nurse/Health Scientist Administrator Acute and Chronic Illness Branch National Center for Nursing Research Westwood Building, Room 754 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-0523 Direct inquiries regarding budgetary and administrative matters to: Sally A. Nichols Grants Management Officer National Center for Nursing Research Westwood Building, Room 748 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-0237 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.336, Nursing Research. 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. .
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