Expired RFA-OD-02-002: SPECIALIZED CENTERS OF RESEARCH ON SEX AND GENDER FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN'S HEALTH

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)

NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health^®

This notice has expired. Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices.

EXPIRED

SPECIALIZED CENTERS OF RESEARCH ON SEX AND GENDER FACTORS AFFECTING
WOMEN'S HEALTH

Release Date: December 18, 2001

RFA: RFA-OD-02-002 (This RFA has been reissued, see RFA-OD-06-003)

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
(http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
(http://www.niams.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
(http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
(http://www.nidr.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
(http://www.niddk.nih.gov/)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
(http://www.nida.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
(http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
(http://www.fda.gov/womens/default.htm)

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 14, 2002
Application Receipt Date: March 14, 2002

PURPOSE

The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) serves as a focal point
for women's health research at the NIH. The ORWH promotes, stimulates,
and supports efforts to improve the health of women through biomedical
and behavioral research. ORWH works in partnership with the NIH
institutes and centers to ensure that women's health research is part
of the scientific framework at NIH and throughout the scientific
community.

The ORWH now seeks to establish a new program, Specialized Centers of
Research on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women's Health. These
centers will provide new opportunities for interdisciplinary approaches
to advancing studies on how sex and gender factors affect women's
health. Each SCOR should develop a research agenda bridging basic and
clinical research on sex/gender factors underlying a priority health
issue. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases (NIAMS) will be the service center for the administration
of this program.

The ORWH has published "An Agenda for Research on Women's Health for
the 21st Century" that provides at outline of research needs identified
through national taskforces. The executive summary of this report is
available at the following URL: http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/research.html.
This web site also provides the FY 2001 research priorities identified by the
Institutes and Centers at NIH working with the ORWH.

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 Request for
Applications (RFA), SPECIALIZED CENTERS OF RESEARCH ON SEX AND GENDER
FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN'S HEALTH, 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/.

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. Foreign institutions are
not eligible for center grants. Racial/ethnic minority individuals,
women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as
Principal Investigators. Established research programs in areas
related to the SCOR theme must be present.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) P50 award
mechanism. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution
of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The
total project period for an application submitted in response to this
RFA may not exceed 5 years. This RFA is a one-time solicitation.
Future unsolicited competing continuation applications will compete
with all investigator-initiated applications and be reviewed according
to the customary peer review procedures. The anticipated award date is
September 1, 2002.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The ORWH intends to commit approximately $10 million in FY 2002 to fund
9 - 10 new grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may request a
project period of up to 5 years and a budget for direct costs of up to
$750,000 in the first year. Although the financial plans of the ORWH
provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this RFA are
contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a
sufficient number of meritorious applications. At this time, it is not
known if this RFA will be reissued.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background
The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) and cosponsors seek to
promote interdisciplinary research in sex/gender factors through
Specialized Centers of Research (SCOR). Each SCOR will promote
interdisciplinary collaborations and develop a research agenda bridging
basic and clinical research on sex/gender factors underlying a priority
health issue. The SCOR program will complement other Federally
supported programs addressing women's health issues. Such programs
include the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's
Health (BIRCWH, see http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/bircwh.html), The
Women's Reproductive Health Research Career Development Centers
(http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/sept99/nichd-13a.htm) and numerous NIH
RFAs and PAs (see http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/res2.html).

Description of a SCOR

Guidelines have been developed to assist in developing a SCOR
application. These guidelines are available at the following URL:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/grantapps/Guide_pre_grants_app/guide_grant_app.htm#specific

The objective of the SCOR program is to expedite interdisciplinary
development and application of new knowledge to human diseases, to
learn more about the etiology of these diseases, and to foster improved
approaches to treatment and/or prevention.

Each SCOR should have a central theme related to the disease area to
which individual projects relate and which serves as an integrating
force. The SCOR must provide an interdisciplinary approach utilizing
both laboratory and clinical research to focus on a particular health
problem and provide for a mutually supportive interaction between basic
scientists and clinical investigators. Emphasis in proposed projects
should be on interdisciplinary development of innovative approaches,
elaboration of new and significant hypotheses, and generation of
improved strategies for approaching current issues relating to the
disease area addressed. Collaboration among institutions is encouraged
within a given SCOR to share scarce patient resources.

A SCOR consists of at least three individual, but interrelated,
research projects, each with high scientific merit and clear research
objectives and, in the aggregate, devoted to a specific major health
area. Both basic and clinical research must be present. An
administrative core must be proposed to coordinate the research
program, providing intellectual leadership as well as basic management
functions. Funding may also be requested for one or more core
resources. A core is defined as a resource shared by multiple
investigators that enhances research productivity and increases the
functional capacity of the SCOR.

NIH defines human clinical research as: (1) Patient-oriented research.
Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin
such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an
investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects.
Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human
tissues that cannot be linked to a living individual. Patient-oriented
research includes: (a) mechanisms of human disease, (b) therapeutic
interventions, (c) clinical trials, or (d) development of new
technologies, (2) Epidemiologic and behavioral studies, (3) Outcomes
research and health services research.

Support for large clinical trials or for applications that contain
exclusively clinical or exclusively basic studies will not be provided
within this SCOR program.

Applicants from institutions which 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 conducting the proposed
research. Details of the interactions of the SCOR staff with the GCRC
staff and research personnel may be provided in a statement describing
the collaborative linkages being developed. A letter of agreement from
the GCRC Program Director must be included with the application.

In summary, a SCOR must include a:

1. broad interdisciplinary theme capturing an important issue in
sex/gender factors in a priority health issue (See Research Scope,
below);

2. Administrative Core with a Center Director, Associate Director and
executive committee with outstanding interdisciplinary credentials for
advancing the research theme; and

3. minimum of three highly meritorious interdisciplinary research
projects, representing both basic and clinical research.

Additional core(s) supportive of two or more of the proposed projects
may also be requested.

Research Scope

The research scope for the SCOR program derives from three sources:

1. The Institute of Medicine report, "Exploring the Biological
Contributions to Human Health, Does Sex Matter?" defined the use of
"sex" and "gender" (p. 8 and 176) as follows. In the study of human
subjects, the term "sex" should be used as a classification, generally
as male or female, according to the reproductive organs and functions
that derive from the chromosomal complement. In the study of human
subjects, the term "gender" should be used to refer to a person's self-
representation as male or female, or how that person is responded to by
social institutions on the basis of the individual's gender
presentation. In most studies of nonhuman animals, the term "sex"
should be used. (See http://www.nap.edu and
http://www.iom.edu/IOM/IOMHome.nsf/Pages/does+sex+matter+summary).

2. The intellectual background for establishing SCORs in sex/gender
factors is also presented in the ORWH publication, "An Agenda for
Research on Women's Health for the 21st Century". This outline
represents the recommendations from three national topic meetings
examining research needs for women's health: (1) Scientific Areas, (2)
Sex and Gender Perspectives Throughout the Life Cycle; and (3)
Differences Among Populations of Women Throughout the Life Cycle. The
executive summary of these outcomes is available at the following URL:
http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/research.html. The research areas
identified through these meetings overlap and the SCOR program will
address them through the perspective of sex/gender factors.

3. Current research priorities have been identified by the Institutes
and Centers at NIH working with the ORWH and are found at the following
URL: http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/FY01Respriorities.html. The following
research areas are examples of selected priority research areas. They
should by no means be viewed as exhaustive, and are intended only as
examples of those that may be most amenable to a theme relating to
sex/gender factors in women's health:

o Conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, or
autoimmune diseases, which may be chronic and/or multi-systemic.

o Influence of toxic environmental factors on women's health.
Examples include, but are not limited to, role of gender in biologic
response, metabolism and disease patterns resulting from exposure to
toxic agents found in the environment, including products used by
women; action of environmental estrogenic compounds; biomarkers of
exposure and disease in women;
gene-environmental interactions, such as environmental exposures, diet,
and environmental tobacco smoke, in diseases that particularly impact
women; differences in susceptibility to environmental carcinogens;
critical exposure windows during sexual development and aging; role of
maternal exposure to toxicants in fetal development, disease, and
pregnancy outcomes.

o Allergic, immune, and autoimmune diseases, in particular,
resistance/susceptibility genes, environmental influences, mechanisms
of sex and/or gender factors, immunological mechanisms, target organ
influence, role of innate immunity, development of surrogate markers,
and immune therapy.

o Neurological diseases, in particular, the influence of sex and/or
gender factors, the effect of life events such as pregnancy and
menopause on neurological disease, the roles of hormonal, genetic, or
environmental factors in etiologies and outcomes of neurological
diseases, and development of animal models. Sex and/or gender factors
in acute and chronic pain conditions or syndromes, the perception of
pain, and analgesic response.

o Kidney disorders including the impact of pregnancy, diabetes, and
hypertension on renal function; preeclampsia; causes of altered renal
hemodynamics during pregnancy; sex and/or gender factors in renal
transplantation, dialysis, and acute renal failure; mechanisms of
analgesic nephropathy; effect of hormones and the menstrual cycle on
renal function and drug pharmacokinetics; and the effect of collagen
vascular diseases on the kidney.

o Urologic and urogynecologic disorders including recurrent and
chronic urinary tract infections; vesicoureteral reflux during
pregnancy; effect of hormones on bladder function; interstitial
cystitis; pelvic floor disorders encompassing genital prolapse and
consequent urinary incontinence; sexual dysfunction; impact of bladder
physiology of childbirth, exercise, diet, obesity, and hormone
deficiency; and outcome measures for surgical, medical, and behavioral
treatment of urinary incontinence, bladder dysfunction and pelvic floor
disorders..

o Gastrointestinal and digestive health and diseases, including the
effect of hormones and the menstrual cycle on the digestive system;
irritable bowel syndrome; functional bowel disorders and gut motility.

o Addiction and Mental Health: Biological and behavioral risk
factors, including sex and/or gender factors, in the development of
mental disorders, including addictive behaviors, schizophrenia, mood,
anxiety, and eating disorders. Adverse health consequences of alcohol
and tobacco, licit and illicit drug use, addiction, trauma, and abuse,
including the role of sex and/or gender factors, and interactions with
HIV/AIDS and cancer.

o Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics, including
hormone and drug interaction, in drug-drug interactions, drug-
supplement interactions, and in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
during pregnancy.

o Oral health research as related to sex and/or gender factors in
disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involving orofacial pain
and tenderness localized to the masticatory muscles or the TMJ.

o Developmental biology of the vascular system and role of the fetal
environment in programming lifelong cardiovascular function. Molecular
and physiological mechanisms of hormone action in the cardiovascular
system. Cardiovascular complications of diabetes and obesity.
Prevention, detection, and management of cardiovascular disease in
high-risk populations, such as octogenarian and older women from racial
and ethnic minorities. Impact of patient and health care professional
behaviors on cardiovascular disease developments and prevention in
women.

o Natural history of menopause and its endocrinological, biological,
psychosocial, cultural, lifestyle, and environmental determinants,
concomitants, and/or sequelae; role of menopause in the chronic
diseases of aging; menopause-related pathophysiology; effects of
hormone replacement therapy and/or selective estrogen receptor
modulators as preventives and their potential role in cancer etiology;
and the development of new strategies, including dietary supplements
and complementary and alternative medicine, for alleviating the short-
term, clinical problems of the peri- and postmenopausal periods and the
prevention of menopause-related diseases of old age.

o Ophthalmic diseases, including dry eye with and without rheumatic
disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The director and co-director should budget for an annual one day
meeting in Bethesda, MD with ORWH staff. The director should be
prepared to devote at least 15 percent effort as the director and 20
percent effort as a project PI. Each project and core PI should be
prepared to devote at least 20 percent effort.

To be funded, a SCOR must include at least three highly meritorious
projects approved for five years. One of these must have the SCOR
director as the principal investigator, and the highly meritorious
projects must include both basic and clinical research.

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
clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling justification
is provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to
the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy
results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public
Law 103-43).

All investigators proposing clinical research should read the AMENDMENT
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide
for Grants and Contracts on October 9, 2001
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are 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 RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age
of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or
supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons
not to include them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1)
applications submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the Inclusion of Children as
Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects that was published in
the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available
at the following URL address:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.

Investigators also may obtain a copy of this policy from the program
staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide
additional relevant information concerning the policy.

REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS

NIH policy requires education on the protection of human subject
participants for all investigators submitting NIH proposals for
research involving human subjects. This policy announcement is found
in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Announcement dated June 5,
2000, at the following website:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.

URLS IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES

All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained
within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an
NIH solicitation, internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to
provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under
no obligation to view the Internet sites. Reviewers are cautioned that
their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an
Internet site.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been
revised to provide public access to research data through the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are (1)
first produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with
Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency
in support of an action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a
regulation) may be accessed through FOIA. It is important for
applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment. NIH has
provided guidance at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.

Applicants may wish to place data collected under this RFA in a public
archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application
should include a description of the archiving plan in the study design
and include information about this in the budget justification section
of the application. In addition, applicants should think about how to
structure informed consent statements and other human subjects
procedures given the potential for wider use of data collected under
this award.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit 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 IC staff to
estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. Julia Freeman by February 14, 2002.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev.
5/2001) at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html must
be used in applying for these grants. This version of the PHS 398 is
available in an interactive, searchable format. For further assistance
contact GrantsInfo, Telephone 301/710-0267, Email: [email protected].

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) application form
must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.
Type the RFA number on the label. Failure to use this label could
result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not
reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA
title and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the
application form and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also
available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.

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
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application
must be sent to:

Dr. Tommy L. Broadwater
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Natcher Building, Room 5AS.25U - MSC 6500
Bethesda, MD 20892-6500
Bethesda, MD 20814 (for express/courier service)

Applications must be received by March 14, 2002. If an application is
received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without
review.

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application
in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently
pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending
application. The CSR will not accept any application that is
essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude
the submission of substantial revisions of applications already
reviewed, but such applications must include an Introduction addressing
the previous critique.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR
and responsiveness by the NIAMS. Incomplete and/or non-responsive
applications will be returned to the applicant without further
consideration.

Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be
evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer
review group convened by the NIAMS in accordance with the review
criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, all
applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in
which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific
merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be
discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review
by the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Advisory Council.

Site visits will not be made.

Review Criteria

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health.
In the written comments reviewers will be asked to discuss the
following aspects of the application 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 the 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.

Review Criteria

Major factors to be considered in evaluation of applications will
include:

1. How the proposed SCOR combines basic and clinical research into the
scientific goals and research theme;

2. If a competing continuation application, the quality and
significance of the progress made in the previous funding period;

3. Scientific merit of each proposed project. [Each project will
receive a priority score. This score reflects not only the feasibility
of the project and adequacy of the experimental design, but also the
design of the project to advance both the theme of the SCOR and the
interaction between basic research and clinical investigation];

4. Scientific merit of combining the component parts into a SCOR;

5. Technical merit and justification of each core unit;

6. Competence of the investigators to accomplish the proposed research
goals, their commitment, and the time they will devote to the research
program;

7. Adequacy of facilities to perform the proposed research, including
laboratory and clinical facilities, instrumentation, and data
management systems, when needed;

8. Adequacy of plans for interaction among investigators, and the
integration of the various projects and core units;

9. Qualifications, experience and commitment of the SCOR Director and
his/her ability to devote time and effort to provide effective
leadership;

10. Scientific and administrative structure, including internal and
external procedures for monitoring and evaluating the proposed research
and for providing ongoing quality control and scientific review;

11. Institutional commitment to the program, and the appropriateness
of resources and policies for the administration of a SCOR;

12. Adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their
subgroups and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will
also be evaluated.

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review). The primary factors
determining the award will be the priority score, the overall balance
of meritorious projects (clinical and basic research) within the
application relative to the disease area. Since the ORWH is
interested in funding only the best research, individual projects or
cores of lesser quality may not be funded, even if approved, under the
"umbrella" of the SCOR mechanism.
o Availability of funds.
o Programmatic priorities.

Schedule

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 14, 2002
Application Receipt Date: March 14, 2002
Peer Review Date: April/May 2002
Council Review: September 2002
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 2002

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to
clarify any issues or answer questions from potential applicants is
welcome.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Dr. Julia B. Freeman
Centers Program, EP
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Natcher Building, Room 5AS.19F - MSC 6500
Bethesda, MD 20892-6500
Bethesda, MD 20814 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 594-5052
FAX: (301) 480-4543
Email: [email protected]

Copies of the guidelines for the ORWH SCOR on Sex and Gender Factors
Affecting Women's Health may be obtained from the internet at the
following site:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/grantapps/Guide_pre_grants_app/guide_grant_app.htm#specific.

Contact information for program staff in participating Institutes:

Estella Parrott, M.D., M.P.H.
Program Director, Reproductive Medicine Gynecology
Reproductive Sciences Branch, Center for Population Research
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 8B01
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Telephone: (301) 496-6515
Fax: (301) 496-0962
Email: [email protected]

Patricia S Bryant, Ph.D.
Program Director, Behavior and Health Promotion Research
Division of Population and Health Promotion Studies
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
45 Center Dr, Bldg 45, Rm 4AN24E
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-2095
Fax: (301) 480-8318
Email: [email protected]

Josie Briggs M.D.
Director, Kidney, Urology, Hematology Division
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Building 31 C, Rm 9A17
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
Telephone: (301) 496-6325
Fax: (301) 402-4874
Email: [email protected]

Cora Lee Wetherington, Ph.D.
Women & Gender Research Coordinator
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4282, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
Telephone: (301) 445-1319
Fax: (301) 594-6043
Email: [email protected]

Michael E. McClure, Ph.D.
Chief, Organs and Systems Toxicology Branch
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
111 T.W. Alexander Boulevard, MD-EC-23
Building 101, Room EC 3417
Research Triangle Park, NC
Telephone: (919) 541-5327
Fax: (919) 541-5064
Email: [email protected]

Mary C. Blehar Ph.D.
Chief, Women's Mental Health Program
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8125, MSC 9569
Bethesda MD 20892-9659
Telephone: (301) 443-2847
Fax: (301) 443-8022
Email: [email protected]

Susan F. Wood, PhD
Director, Office of Women's Health
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
5600 Fishers Lane, HF-8
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 827-0350
Fax: (301) 827-0926
Email: [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Melinda Nelson
Chief Grants Management Officer, Extramural Program
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Natcher Building Room 5AS.49F - MSC 6500
Bethesda, MD 20892-6500
Telephone: (301) 594-3535
FAX: (301) 480-5450
Email: [email protected]

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
No. 93.121(NIH). Awards are made under authorization of Title III,
Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act (Public Law 78-410, as
amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241). The Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 42 Part 52, and Title 45 Part 74, are applicable to
this program. 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 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 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.

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices