Clarification of Other Submission Requirements for PAR-06-362, Developmental Infrastructure for Population Research (R21)

Notice Number: NOT-HD-07-003

Key Dates
Release Date: November 7, 2006

Issued by
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)

The purpose of this Notice is to clarify Other Submission Requirements for PAR-06-362 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-362.html, Developmental Infrastructure for Population Research (R21).  In Section IV.6 “Other Submission Requirements,” a link to additional Application Guidelines was erroneously omitted. Therefore, the following language is added to Section IV.6., “Other Submission Requirements.”

Application Guidelines:  Developmental Infrastructure Awards (R21)

Applications for the R21 must be prepared according to Modular Grant instructions. The modular grant concept establishes specific modules in which direct costs may be requested as well as a maximum level for requested budgets. Only limited budgetary information is required under this approach. The just-in-time concept allows applicants to submit certain information only when there is a possibility for an award. The research grant application form SF 424 is to be used in applying for these grants, with the modifications noted below. For responses to this PAR, Modular Grant applications will request direct costs in $25,000 modules, up to a total direct cost request of $150,000 per year. The total direct costs must be requested in accordance with the program guidelines and the modifications made to the standard SF 424 application instructions described below.  Applications should be prepared according to instructions in the SF 424 except as indicated below.

SECTION I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. KEY PERSONNEL

In the “RESEARCH AND RELATED Senior/Key Person Profile” Section - list all individuals (1) who contribute significantly to the leadership and guidance of the proposed program and infrastructure components; (2) who are other active program researchers; or (3) who are other technical staff who will contribute to the Developmental Infrastructure Program. An active program researcher is defined as a researcher who can provide evidence of research activity directly relevant to the DBSB mission in two or more of the following categories: (a) externally funded research grants or contracts in the past three years; (b) publications in peer-reviewed journals during the past three years; and (c) papers in preparation and future plans for research. Include only researchers holding permanent (tenured or non-tenured) appointments; do not include trainees, post-doctoral fellows, or visiting professors. Under “Project Role,” identify the individuals who contribute significantly to the leadership and guidance as “co-PD/PI.” Under “Project Role,” identify other active program researchers as “Other” and, in the “Other Project Role Category,” identify them as “Program Scientists.” Under “Project Role,” identify other technical staff as “Other” and, in the “Other Project Role Category,” identify them as “Technical Staff.” Include biographic sketches and current and pending support for all Senior/Key personnel.

B. MODULAR BUDGET

In addition to providing estimates of overall project costs, provide an estimate of direct costs associated with each proposed infrastructure component. Provide requested information on personnel separately for each infrastructure component.

C. PHS 398 Modular Budget, Budget Justifications—SUMMARY TABLE OF RESEARCH SUPPORT

As part of the PHS 398 Modular Budget, present a summary table of the levels of infrastructure and research support received by the unit, by source. This information should be entered in the “Additional Narrative Justification” section. This table should show, for the applicant unit as a whole, the total funds supporting research and infrastructure in the unit for the most recent budget year available. Show sources of funds in major categories (e.g., NICHD R24, P30 or P50 grant, if applicable, other NICHD, other NIH, NSF, Foundations, parent institution, etc.).  An example of the format to be used for this information can be found in http://www.nichd.nih.gov/PAR-04-138/PAR-04-138.htm.    

D. OTHER PROJECT INFORMATION —INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENT(S)

As part of the “RESEARCH AND RELATED Other Project Information” section, include a description of the proposed infrastructure components, as described below. Include this description in the “Project Narrative” section. Describe proposed infrastructure components, as applicable, in the order listed below. If more than one component is proposed under a given category, assign letters to distinguish the components (e.g., 1.a; 2.c). For each component, provide the name of the Director and describe procedures used to assure cost-efficiency and high-quality administrative and research activities. Do not exceed five pages in describing each component (core or activity). If any component is described as a collaborative activity (i.e., involving partnership with another institution), applicants may use one additional page to describe how each partner will contribute (e.g., in terms of administration, staffing, and other resources); how each partner will benefit (e.g., in terms of access to services or research productivity); and how decision-making will be shared.

1.  Research Support Cores - Describe the objectives, administrative organization (use organizational chart), staffing (including a Core Director and any professional or technical personnel and their duties, space and physical resources, current and projected services, eligibility for and allocation of services, and cost-sharing arrangements). Briefly describe current or planned research activities that will utilize the core services. Explain how the proposed research support cores will contribute to advancing the research program and its signature population-related themes and to fostering innovation in the program's research. Describe strategies for assuring that research support services effectively respond to and anticipate the evolving needs of science conducted in the unit. Justify the core in terms of scientific impact and cost-effectiveness. Explain what the proposed core services will provide over and above research support that the applicant institution and specific research projects already provide and why they are essential to meet the needs and goals of the research program.

2.  Developmental Infrastructure - Describe the objectives and administrative organization of each type of developmental infrastructure. Describe the impact of the infrastructure on population research within the unit. In describing seed grant programs, provide details on program procedures and policies, including review procedures; priorities for allocating funds; requirements for leveraging funds or preparing research proposals to extend or continue the project; size of awards; length of award periods; number of awards permitted to an individual researcher; mentorship arrangements; and cost-sharing arrangements with the parent institution. Faculty development may include salary and/or research support for new faculty. Describe the probable use of faculty development funds and the ways in which the plan will advance the unit's research objectives.

E. RESOURCES

In addition to information required by SF 424 in the “RESEARCH AND RELATED Other Project Information” section, provide a floor plan for the space available to the applicant unit, indicating the locations of any spaces that are not physically contiguous. Include the floor plan in the “Other Attachments” section.”

SECTION II - RESEARCH PLAN Page limitations

The page limit for the research plan is 20 pages. Applicants should be concise. A progress report is not required. Assurances and Collaborative Agreements:  Any arrangements for collaborative and cooperative endeavors or subcontracting should be highlighted in the appropriate section below. Letters of Intent to Collaborate and Letters of Agreement from consultants should be referenced here and included at the end of the appropriate component.

A. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Summarize the unit's research program, identifying signature population-related themes that exemplify the unit's most significant current and/or anticipated contributions to population research. Address the scientific and practical significance of each research theme. Describe the current and recent research activity in the unit that has contributed to the theme, identifying relevant scientific accomplishments and describing their impact. Highlight activities that have produced significant innovation and/or interdisciplinary collaboration. Describe the vision of program scientists for advancing research related to the theme. Also, describe other major contributions the unit's active researchers have made to population research within the last five years.

Examples of such contributions include large-scale projects that benefit the field broadly, creation of interdisciplinary collaborations, training and mentoring of junior scientists, scientific leadership of program personnel, and translational activities to improve clinical practice, public intervention programs, and public policy formulation. Do not repeat contributions discussed in the context of signature population-related themes. Summarize the vision of program researchers for the unit's future scientific advances and contributions. Describe strategies the unit employs for advancing the quality and innovation of its population research program over the short and long run. Describe how the unit fosters the development of an intellectual community that bridges investigators from different disciplines and different projects and promotes innovation in population research. Describe how the unit develops and implements its goals. Describe how the unit assures the development and success of junior scientists. Describe the configuration and governance of the unit and provide an organizational chart. Include information on administrative position of the unit within the larger institution, the authority of the Director, and the role of advisory or user committees. Outline the principles and procedures the unit uses to determine membership in or affiliation with the unit and to allocate resources and grant access to core services. If the unit employs more than one category of membership or affiliation, explain the privileges and responsibilities associated with each. Describe how the NICHD support would leverage and interact with all other forms of support contributing to the research activities of the program. Summarize the key features of the proposed infrastructure program and explain how each element will advance the quality, productivity, and innovation of the unit's research activities.

B. RESEARCH ACTIVITY OF PROGRAM SCIENTISTS

Information on the research activity of program scientists should be included in the PHS 398 Research Plan, Appendix. This information is not counted toward the 20-page limit on the research plan. Briefly summarize the recent and current research activity of each active program scientist with respect to each of the five points listed below.

1.  Use one page per active researcher. Describe the Principal Investigator's research activity first and that of all other researchers subsequently in alphabetical order. Summarize the most important scientific accomplishments of the researcher during the 36 months prior to the receipt date for this PAR. Discuss these accomplishments with respect to their significance, innovation, and actual or potential impact on population research.

2.  Highlight the most significant and relevant externally funded research projects in which the researcher participated as key personnel during the 36 months prior to the receipt date for this PAR, including role and time commitment. Repetition of information available in the BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH is not necessary.

3.  Briefly summarize relevant working papers and future research plans (e.g., pending and planned research grant applications).

4.  Describe how the researcher contributes to the unit's research program:  how his or her expertise, disciplinary training, substantive interests, technical skills help to advance the central scientific objectives and signature population-related themes of the unit. Identify recent, active, or planned collaborations involving this researcher.

5.  Describe how the researcher uses (or would use) the proposed infrastructure cores or activities.

Inquiry

For further information, contact:

Rebecca Clark, Ph.D.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 8B07, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 496-1175
Email: rclark@mail.nih.gov


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