DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 
(DCRC)

RELEASE DATE:  October 20, 2003

NOTICE:  NOT-AT-04-003

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
 (http://www.nccam.nih.gov/)

LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATES: January 17, 2004; January 15, 2005

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES: February 17, 2004; February 15, 2005

This Notice is to clarify the requirements of Program Announcement PAR-03-046 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-046.html ), and remind 
applicants that preference may be given to applications proposing research on one 
of NCCAM’s FY 2004 research priority areas, listed at 
http://www.nccam.nih.gov/research/priorities/index.htm.  Applications 
substantially similar to those DCRC already funded (listed at 
http://nccam.nih.gov/training/centers/index.htm) may be given lower program 
priority.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

Applications exceeding $600,000 in direct costs in any year will be considered 
unresponsive and returned without further consideration.  Applicants requesting 
$500,000 or more in direct costs are not required to obtain IC agreement to 
accept the application.

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS AND LEADERSHIP OF DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS

Developmental Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine may 
be directed by a Principal Investigator (P.I.) from an institution devoted to 
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM; as defined in PAR-03-046) or 
conventional medicine.  An important objective of this program is to facilitate 
development of the capacity of CAM investigators and CAM institutions to 
participate in the CAM research enterprise.  Therefore applications in which a 
CAM institution is the applicant organization are especially encouraged.  
Applications in which the applicant is not a CAM institution will also be 
considered responsive but should outline thoroughly the strategy for promoting 
the development of the participating CAM organization(s).    

STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS

NCCAM does not encourage applications for Centers focused on a particular 
population group unless there is a strong scientific rationale for such a focus. 
    
REVIEW CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

In addition to the review criteria enumerated in PAR-03-046, criteria for 
evaluation of clinical research approaches will include the following: Does the 
clinical protocol include clear objectives and a trial design and sample size 
that adequately address those objectives?  Does it contain a clear description 
of interventions, of efficacy and safety parameters and endpoints, and of 
ethical considerations including monitoring?

LETTER OF INTENT

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of intent, as described in 
PAR-03-046.  The letter of intent should be sent to:

Barbara Sorkin, Ph.D.  
Program Officer
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 401
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Phone:  301-496-8004 
E-mail: [email protected]  

INQUIRIES

Further information about this program is available on the NCCAM website, 
http://nccam.nci.nih.gov/training/centers/index.htm#4.  If you have additional 
questions regarding the DCRC initiative, please contact:

Barbara Sorkin, Ph.D.  
Program Officer
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 401
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Phone:  301-496-8004 
E-mail: [email protected]

For scientific/programmatic questions regarding the responsiveness of your 
proposal to the DCRC initiative, please contact the appropriate NCCAM Program 
Officer, listed at http://nccam.nih.gov/research/contact/index.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS

Appendix: the appendix (one for the entire application) may include up to five 
publications per project and core proposed in the application, consistent with 
the PHS 398 instructions.  The order of materials in the appendix should follow 
that of the application, i.e., starting with materials relevant to the overall 
Program, continuing with materials relevant to the individual projects, and 
concluding with any materials relevant to the core(s).  Every appendix item 
pertaining to a specific project or core must be clearly labeled as such.  
Please do not staple the appendix.  Sections may be separated, for example, by 
interpolating sheets of colored paper.

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