Full Text TW-96-003 INTERNATIONAL TRAINING AND RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 8, March 15, 1996 RFA: TW-96-003 P.T. 34 Keywords: Occupational Health and Safety Environmental Health Fogarty International Center National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 12, 1996 Application Receipt Date: June 18, 1996 PURPOSE The Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), invites applications from non-profit private or public U.S. institutions with interest in developing international training and research programs related to environmental health for foreign health scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, toxicologists, engineers, industrial hygienists, chemists, and allied health workers from developing countries and emerging democracies. New applications are invited for institutional grant programs in both general environmental health and occupational health. In FY 1995, seven awards were made as a result of this RFA and based on available resources. Due to an increase in funds for this program in FY 1996 the RFA is being posted again. These changes address mainly the solicitation of applications that include developing countries in Africa, the Americas including the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia including Oceania. This new program is named in honor of the late Dr. Irving Selikoff of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Dr. Norton Nelson of New York University, in recognition of their lifelong commitment to the training of health professionals in the occupational and environmental health sciences. Dr. Selikoff was internationally recognized and an exceedingly strong proponent of international cooperation in the health sciences. These awards acknowledge the pivotal role of Dr. Selikoff as a founder of the Collegium Ramazinni and its Institute and build upon these efforts to promote international cooperation and collaboration in the fields of occupational and environmental health. Dr. Norton Nelson was internationally recognized for his leadership in the environmental health sciences. He was instrumental in efforts to establish both NIOSH and NIEHS and was widely sought for his advice and expertise. As we look toward the future, it is clear that environmental and worker safety and health research are becoming more and more dependent upon international collaboration. Because of the global magnitude of environmental and occupational health problems, a broad based program of international training and research in environmental and occupational health sciences would have significant benefits both locally in the collaborating countries as well as globally. Such a program is envisioned to cover general environmental health issues such as air and water pollution, hazardous wastes and injury control, as well as issues related to occupational safety and health. Global concerns such as climate change and ozone depletion could also be included among the various curricula offered. A major goal of the International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health Program is to train scientists of other countries to deal effectively with environmental and occupational health through epidemiologic research, environmental monitoring, engineering control and prevention research programs. This program will help to (1) establish the necessary epidemiologic and related research, including engineering and industrial hygiene and medical expertise needed in countries affected by environmental or occupational health problems and facilitate new research efforts which supplement or complement U.S. research and (2) establish cooperative relationships between U.S. and foreign research groups and support cooperation, for example, between U.S. academic research centers and foreign scientists. Collaborations established through this effort will help to facilitate standardized assessment and monitoring of environmental and occupational health hazards and problems and prepare for the coordinated conduct of scientifically valid and ethically sound studies and interventions on an international basis. Applicants are encouraged to relate training to ongoing research efforts in collaborating countries. In this program substantial emphasis will be placed on chronic disease prevention and the control of injuries. Subjects to be introduced as part of the environmental and occupational health training and research will, for example, include epidemiology, biomechanics, industrial hygiene, planning, design and engineering aspects of worker safety and health, air and water quality engineering, atmospheric chemistry, toxicology, risk assessment, hazardous waste disposal, environmental and occupational health organization and management, delivery of environmental and occupational health services, and evaluation of efficacy and effectiveness of intervention measures. Establishment of this program will allow the accumulated knowledge and experience of U.S. environmental and occupational health experts to be available to assist and work with their colleagues on a global basis to address common global problems. While the major linkages under this program are expected to be between institutions in the U.S. and those in developing countries and emerging democracies, within allowable limits, research collaborations can include other industrialized nations in addition to the U.S. The FY 1995 awards included activities with the following countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico, Nicaragua, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Thailand, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam). It is expected that expansion of the program will emphasize involvement of other countries, although this is not an absolute requirement. 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, International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health, is related to the priority areas of environmental health and occupational safety and health. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS The grantee institution must be a U.S., non-profit private or public institution. Although most applications will be from academic institutions, a non-academic, non-profit institution may apply. Questions about eligibility and partnerships with colleagues and institutions in the U.S. and overseas me be directed to the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Only one application from any U.S. institution will be allowed under this program. Institutions funded under the previous competition are not eligible to apply under this RFA. While the major linkages under this program are expected to be between institutions in the U.S. and those in developing countries and emerging democracies, within allowable limits, research collaborations can include other industrialized nations in addition to the U.S. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Grants will be made as international training grants in epidemiology (D43) institutional awards for a total project period of five years. Continued support depends on satisfactory performance as judged by annual progress reports, site visits, and meetings of program directors. Types of Training: 1. Training, for example, in epidemiology concepts and methods, environmental monitoring, industrial hygiene, field studies and other research related to environmental and occupational health that will lead to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree for individuals with previous field research experience; 2. Training, for example, in epidemiology, field studies, environmental monitoring, industrial hygiene, and research related to environmental and occupational health that will lead to the M.S. degree for individuals without prior field research experience; 3. Short-term comprehensive courses in epidemiology, toxicology, chemistry, industrial hygiene and environmental and safety engineering, with an emphasis on control of occupational injuries and illnesses, for health and safety professionals to be given in the U.S.; 4. Training in laboratory procedures and research techniques related to environmental and occupational health for individuals with the M.S. or Ph.D. degree to be given in the U.S.; and 5. Postdoctoral research training for foreign scientists who want to expand their abilities in the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of environmental and occupational disease and injury. Postdoctoral training can take place both in the U.S. and in foreign countries. Three other types of training should be offered in-country: 1. Practical and applied short-term training related to environmental and occupational health for professionals, technicians and allied health professionals, including worker health and safety representatives, faculty of worker training facilities and other safety health trainers; 2. Advanced research training for selected current and former trainees to enable them to continue this advanced training in their home country and to participate in in-country research projects. While applicants can plan to include such training (estimated to be of about two years duration) as part of competing applications, individual appointments must be approved in advance as a reprogramming request and be under the guidance of the program director and his or her faculty colleagues. 3. Support to enable U.S. faculty to be involved in advanced research and in training activities conducted in-country. Trainees: Trainees must be foreign nationals who are not permanent U.S. residents and who are involved in or are expected to be involved in environmental or occupational health research and prevention activities in their home country. The following categories of individuals are eligible for training: 1. Health professionals (M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent); 2. Individuals with a bachelors or masters degree in a basic, physical, engineering or health science; 3. Technicians, worker safety and health specialists, and health care workers; 4. Professionals such as engineers, chemists and industrial hygienists; and 5. Current or former trainees involved in advanced research training in their home countries. Allowable Costs: U.S. investigators may request funds to support research projects in the trainees' home country that emanate from the M.S. and Ph.D. epidemiological and related training program. The research supported (1) must be one of the requirements in fulfillment of an M.S. or Ph.D. degree or part of research training, (2) be relevant to an environmental or occupational health problem in the trainee's country, and (3) may form the basis for a long term collaboration funded by future research grant support. The following cost categories are eligible for reimbursement under this program. It should be noted that the following stipends and allowances are maximums and applicant institutions are encouraged to design the most cost-effective programs generally at lesser amounts: o Living allowance (stipend) comparable to trainee's professional level and compatible with established NIH guidelines, but not to exceed $45,000 per annum while undergoing training in the U.S.; o Living allowance (stipend) while conducting in-country dissertation research or in-country advanced research training at a level comparable to that received by similar professionals in-country, but also not to exceed $45,000 per annum; o Tuition and fees at the U.S. university; o Round trip economy class air fare between the U.S. and home country (two trips for M.S. or Ph.D. candidates and advanced research trainees, one for all others); o Allowance for the grantee institution of up to $600 monthly per trainee to cover health insurance, travel to scientific meetings, and incidental research expenses; o Additional research support of up to $15,000 per trainee to facilitate the conduct of advanced research training in the home country conducted by current or former trainees; the program director is expected to have projects submitted for this funding peer reviewed by the U.S. institution; o Support of up to $10,000 for in-country field research in partial fulfillment of the M.S. or Ph.D training program; o Travel and per diem for the program director and U.S. faculty colleagues to provide guidance to students conducting dissertation-related field studies or advanced research training in their home countries; o Program director's salary (up to 10% of annual salary or $10,000, whichever is smaller); o Travel and per diem for U.S. faculty presenting short-term, in-country courses; o Support (travel, per diem and pro-rated salary, up to 10 percent of annual salary or $10,000, whichever is less), to enable U.S. faculty to be involved in advanced research training activities conducted in-country; and o In keeping with the intent to maintain a flexible program, requests for an administrative supplemental budget will be considered for increases of up to 20 percent of funded levels in a given budget year for the expansion of prior approved activities to meet special needs and take advantage of unusual opportunities. Such requests will be reviewed by program staff and support will depend upon availability of funds. For administrative expenses: o Administrative expenses at the U.S. institution (secretarial expenses, etc.) not to exceed 10 percent of the direct costs of this award. While a portion of salary (up to 10 percent) for the program director for the purpose of administering this award is allowable, it is encouraged that this be provided for under related grants or awards funded by the NIH and CDC. For related activities with other industrialized nations: o Support for travel and subsistence of U.S. or foreign investigator(s), and the exchange of data, materials and supplies, not to exceed 10 percent of direct costs of this award unless prior approval is secured from the FIC. As a condition of this special expenditure, the applicant must indicate that some form of cost-sharing will be provided by the counterpart institution in an industrialized nation. Grantee institutions may request an indirect cost allowance based on eight percent of the total allowable direct costs exclusive of tuition and related fees and expenditures for equipment. The total allowable cost (direct and indirect) per grant for the first year of this five year award must not exceed $150,000. Applicants should assume a budget increase of four percent per year for each succeeding year. While applicants may develop programs at or close to these limits, they are strongly encouraged to pursue the most cost-effective approaches for implementing these programs. The intent is to award three grants depending upon the quality of the approved grant applications and the availability of funds. Before any funds can be expended from this award, the grantee institution must show evidence of approval for collaborative research between the U.S. and foreign countries and institutions included in the program through an endorsement from the appropriate government officials as well as from the collaborating institutions. FUNDS AVAILABLE Approximately $400,000 (total costs, contingent upon resources) will be available for this program in FY 1996, reflecting support from the FIC, the NIEHS, and the NIOSH. An estimated three awards will be made depending upon the quality of approved applications. It is anticipated that other public and private sector organizations will become collaborators in support of these programs. All collaborators would be so recognized for their contributions which could increase the number of awards made. The total (direct and indirect) cost per grant for the first year must not exceed $150,000. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objectives of this program are to train scientists from developing countries and emerging democracies to deal effectively with environmental and occupational health problems through epidemiologic research, environmental monitoring, engineering control, and prevention research. The original RFA encouraged collaborations with developing countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America. The current RFA allows such collaborations, particularly in countries not included in the first funding cycle. This RFA especially encourages applications that include additional countries in Africa, the Americas including the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia including Oceania. The program is intended to support collaborative research between U.S. and foreign scientists who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in the epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention of environmental and occupational health problems and to stimulate scientists from nations affected by such problems to cooperate and to share research and practical knowledge in combating this global problem. This program is intended to complement ongoing environmental and occupational health research and training efforts of the NIH and other agencies of the Public Health Service and the U.S. government. Emphasis will be given to the development of human resources in those countries having or likely to have severe general environmental and occupational health problems. Specifically the program is designed to: - Increase expertise in epidemiology, engineering, and other components of environmental and occupational health through short-and long-term training at U.S. institutions, which may lead to M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in epidemiology, engineering, toxicology, and other related areas; - Increase laboratory expertise of technical assistants in foreign countries who are engaged in epidemiological and other studies related to environmental and occupational health through in-country, short-term, didactical, and technical training; and - Expand ongoing collaborative training and research in environmental or occupational health between U.S. and foreign scientists. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS The primary effort of the program should be directed toward developing countries and emerging democracies that have, or are likely to have, population groups with a significant incidence of environmentally- and occupationally-related diseases and injuries. Countries in Africa, the Americas including the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia including Oceania, as well as countries in Central and Eastern Europe are eligible to participate. The majority of candidates for training will be selected from those countries where the U.S. program director and colleagues either have well established in-country research efforts or a significant potential to develop such collaborative relationships as, for example, through a history of joint collaborations or publications. This does not preclude establishing new collaborative arrangements, for example, in countries or areas where environmentally- and occupationally-related diseases and injuries have not yet developed epidemic proportions. Trainees from industrialized countries may be allowed into the program only under special, well justified circumstances and with prior approval by the FIC as a reprogramming request to meet special training needs to support unique collaborative relationships. As part of proposed training programs, the applicants must describe their training in the responsible conduct of research, consistent with NIH policy (NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992) to be part of the programs. An award will not be made unless such a description is included. Before any funds can be expended from this award, the grantee institution must show evidence of approval for collaborative research between the U.S. and foreign countries and institutions included in the program through an endorsement from the appropriate government officials as well as from the collaborating institutions. These approvals should be included in the application. The applicant institution must include a plan describing the recruitment and selection procedures for trainees as well as plans for continued collaboration with former trainees. Protection of human subjects and laboratory animals: Applicable provisions for the protection of human research subjects and laboratory animals in research and training activities must be met in both domestic and foreign settings. Title 45 CFR, Part 46, provides guidelines concerning Department of Health and Human Services regulations for the protection of human subjects and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. These are available from the Office for Protection from Research Risks, National Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3B01, Rockville, MD 20892. 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 subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects,unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This new policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies (Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations), which have been in effect since 1990. The new policy contains some provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (59 FR 14508-14513) and printed in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by April 12, 1996, 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 NIH and CDC (NIOSH) staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest in the review as well as provide important information to prospective applicants. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Dr. Joel Breman Division of International Training and Research Fogarty International Center Building 31, Room B2C39, MSC 2220 Bethesda, MD 20892-2220 U.S.A. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used in applying for this grant. Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Grants Information Office, Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email: girg@drgpo.drg.nih.gov; and from the program administrator listed under INQUIRIES. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for overnight/courier service) At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be sent to: Pervis C. Major, Ph.D. Office of Extramural Coordination and Special Projects National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC 1095 Willowdale Road Morgantown, WV 26505-2888 Applications must be received by June 18, 1996. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The DRG will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG and responsiveness by the FIC in collaboration with the NIEHS and NIOSH. Incomplete and/or nonresponsive 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 NIOSH 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 applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the FIC Advisory Board. The following criteria apply to all applicant institutions. Factors to be considered in the scientific evaluation of each application include: In general, the likelihood that the applicant institution can meet the objectives stated in this RFA and specifically: o The strength of the academic program in environmental and occupational health and depth of the faculty's experience in environmental and occupational health-related basic and physical science and engineering disciplines; o Quality of teaching and research facilities and resources including those at institutions in other countries; o Previous success in training epidemiologists, industrial hygienists and other environmental and occupational health specialists, and in maintaining collaboration with former trainees including assisting former trainees in obtaining support for their research; o The likelihood, based on accomplishments of current and former trainees, that individuals selected for the proposed training will contribute meaningfully to science and health progress following return to their home countries; o Demonstrated support for domestic and international environmental and occupational health, epidemiological and related research and training as evidenced by support from the NIH or other sources. Examples of such support include participation in or collaboration with the NIEHS research and training programs (e.g., environmental health research centers and superfund programs); participation in or collaboration with the NIOSH research and training programs (e.g., Educational Resource Centers, Centers for Agricultural Disease and Injury Research, Education and Prevention and NIOSH individual project training grants); as well as support from other NIH institutes; o Demonstrated capacity or potential to provide in-country research training, which involves support for the research and appropriate guidance for selected, highly qualified current and former trainees; o Demonstrated capacity or potential to help support in-country trials of engineering and other interventions; o Capacity to provide in-country courses and workshops for indigenous technical staff, and worker safety and health specialists, as well as the quality of proposed technical training, including training conducted by former trainees; o Demonstration of continued or future support for the program from governments and institutions and other non-governmental organizations from collaborating countries; and o Demonstrated capacity or potential to coordinate program activities with related efforts of other PHS programs, other federal agencies and international organizations, including the World Health Organization. AWARD CRITERIA The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; o cost-effectiveness of programs; o availability of funds; o program balance among critical research training areas of emphasis such as, but not limited to, occupational vs. general environmental health, essential industries such as agriculture, construction, mining and transportation; critical problem areas such as air, water pollution or hazardous waste; and vital disciplines such as epidemiology, toxicology, chemistry, industrial hygiene and engineering control technology. o geographic distribution among countries involved in applications under consideration including but not limited to developing countries in Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean, Asia and Oceania (as well as Central and Eastern Europe); and o unique collaborative relationships such as affiliations with U.S. and international environmental organizations, U.S. and international worker organizations, U.S. tripartite relations with institutions in developed and developing countries, as well as unique cooperative arrangements involving both labor and management. Special consideration may be given to meritorious applications that include countries not included in the initial funding cycle. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome and prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their proposals with program staff prior to submission. Inquiries regarding programmatic issues may be directed to: Dr. Joel Breman Division of International Training and Research Fogarty International Center Building 31, Room B2C39 31 Center Drive MSC 2220 Bethesda, MD 20892-2220 Telephone: (301) 496-1653 FAX: (301) 402-2056 Email: jbreman@nih.gov Inquiries regarding fiscal matters may be directed to: Ms. Silvia Mandes Division of International Training and Research Fogarty International Center Building 31, Room B2C39 31 Center Drive MSC 2220 Bethesda, MD 20892-2220 Telephone: (301) 496-1653 FAX: (301) 402-0779 Email: mandess@ficod.fic.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS 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 to Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or 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. .
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