NOTICE OF LIMITED COMPETITION REQUEST FOR COMPETING APPLICATIONS: NHLBI 
PROGRAMS FOR GENOMICS APPLICATION (PGAs)

RELEASE DATE:  July 16, 2003

NOTICE: NOT-HL-03-011

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
 (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE:  October 16, 2003

The NHLBI is requesting competing renewal applications from the eleven NHLBI 
Programs for Genomic Application (PGAs) 
(http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/pga/index.htm).  These programs were 
awarded as a result of Request for Applications (RFA) HL-99-024, Genomic 
Applications for Heart, Lung, and Blood Research 
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-99-024.html). This 
re-competition will continue the unique ongoing resources and education 
programs of the PGA for a one time renewal cycle.

Four activities in the PGAs will be emphasized in the renewal period: 
production of resources and tools, education, biological validation of the PGA 
resources and tools, and increased interactions between the PGA Groups.  The 
production aspect of the program should remain as the primary effort of the 
PGA.  The education component should consist of hands on courses and 
tutorials, web-based resources/learning, national meeting symposia, and 
visiting investigator programs.  Each PGA should have some of each educational 
activity.  Biological validation of the resources and tools should be directed 
at helping the scientific community see the various opportunities for the 
application of these tools and resources.  In addition, it will enable each 
PGA to examine their products in order to provide an optimal set of resources. 
Trans-PGA projects to produce resources, educational programs, or biological 
queries that could not be attempted by an individual PGA are encouraged, but 
should be included within the scope of the PGA.  The relative levels of effort 
for these activities should be at least 50% for production of resources and 
tools, at least 10% for education, and no more than 15% for biological 
application to validate the PGA resources and tools.  Activities that increase 
or sustain interactions between or among the PGA Groups can be added to any of 
these above efforts.  Dissemination of the products of the PGAs will continue 
to be within the policies established by the PGA Coordinating Committee as 
approved by NHLBI.  A timeline with milestones for data, resources, and 
information dissemination should be included.  Plans for the maintenance and 
distribution of the products of the PGA beyond the support of this specific 
program should be addressed in the competing application.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

The PGAs use the cooperative agreement (U01) administrative and funding 
mechanism of support.  Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH assists, 
supports, and/or stimulates, and is substantially involved with recipients in 
conducting a study by facilitating performance of the effort in a "partner" 
role.  Details of the responsibilities, relationships, and governance of a 
study funded under this cooperative agreement will be the same as in the 
current terms and conditions of the award.  Organization, Operation, and 
Oversight, as well as Terms and Condition of award remain unchanged from the 
original RFA
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-99-024.html).

The total project period for an application submitted in response to this 
Notice may not exceed four (4) years.  This program will end as of July 31, 
2008.  No renewal of the program will occur. The anticipated award date is 
August 1, 2004.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The NHLBI intends to commit up to approximately $32,000,000 in FY 2004 to fund 
up to 11 PGAs.  An applicant may request a project period of up to 4 years and 
a budget for total costs (direct costs plus facilities and administrative 
(F&A) costs) of up to $2,900,000 per year, including F & A costs on consortium 
arrangements.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications are due October 16, 2003.  Applications must be prepared using 
the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001; 
updated 6/28/2002).  The PHS 398 is available at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive 
format.  For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267, 
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS:  Only competing renewal applications which were 
funded as part of RFA HL-99-024, Genomic Applications for Heart, Lung, and 
Blood Research will be considered.  For each program, there must be a single 
Master Plan which describes the progress toward and the plan for production of 
resources and tools, education, biological validation of the resources and 
tools, and interactions among and between PGA groups.  The Master Plan is 
limited to 50 pages and replaces the Research Plan (sections a. through d.) in 
the PHS 398.  For programs consisting of more than one application, only one 
application must contain the Master Plan.  Each of the other applications in 
the program will have the same Description (abstract) as the Master 
application, but will have unique Budget pages, Biosketches, Resources, and 
Checklist; the section "Research Plan" should specify "See the application 
from Dr. X (Principal Investigator for the Master Plan application) for the 
Research Plan."

For every application, Item 2 on the Face Page should be checked "Yes"; after 
"Number:" enter "NOT-HL-03-011" and after "Title:" enter "Competing 
Applications for PGAs".

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: 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 plus all 
five collated sets of appendix material must be sent to:

Anne P. Clark, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7214
Bethesda, MD 20892-7924
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/ courier service)
Telephone:  301-435-0270
FAX:  301-480-0730
email:  clarka@nhlbi.nih.gov

APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received on or before the 
application receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA.  If an application 
is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without 
review. 

Although there is no immediate acknowledgment of the receipt of an 
application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding 
assignment within 8 weeks.
 
PEER REVIEW PROCESS 

Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical 
merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NHLBI in accordance 
with the review criteria stated below. 
 
REVIEW CRITERIA

Each application will be evaluated based on the progress and the proposed 
plans for each of five areas:

1) Production of Resources and Tools.  Have the tools, resources and/or data 
produced by the PGA been beneficial to the scientific community (as a whole or 
to a particular discipline)?  Are the plans for continued production 
appropriate?  Is there potential to provide the scientific community with a 
valuable resource? What is the significance and potential impact of 
accomplishments and planned work?  Is the proportion of effort allotted for 
production of resources and tools adequate?

2) Education.  Have the educational programs of the PGA been beneficial to the 
scientific community (either to the whole community or to a particular 
discipline)?  Do the proposed plans for education include hands on courses and 
tutorials, web based learning, national meeting symposium, and investigator 
visiting programs?  Are there plans for assessing the quality and benefit of 
the educational opportunities offered?  Is the proportion of effort allotted 
for education adequate?

3) Biological validation of resources and tools.  Are the proposed plans for 
biological validation consistent with the applicant=s resources and tools? 
Will the proposed plans enhance the applicant=s resources and tools?

4) Synergy and interaction.  Is the overall synergy of the component parts of 
the program apparent?  Is there an expressed willingness to interact both 
within and between programs?  Is the infrastructure appropriate to allow and 
foster synergy and interaction both within and among PGAs?

5) Data, resources, and tool sharing and dissemination.   Are the data, 
resource, and tools sharing plans adequate?  Is the time line and milestone 
plan appropriate?  Are plans for maintenance and distribution of the products 
of the PGA beyond the support of this specific program addressed and adequate?

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, the following 
items will be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the 
priority score:

PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS FROM RESEARCH RISK: The involvement of human 
subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in 
the proposed research will be assessed.
 
INCLUSION OF WOMEN, MINORITIES AND CHILDREN IN RESEARCH: The adequacy of plans 
to include subjects from both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and 
subgroups), and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the 
research.  Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be 
evaluated.

CARE AND USE OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN RESEARCH: If vertebrate animals are to 
be used in the project, the five items described under Section f of the PHS 
398 research grant application instructions (rev. 5/2001; updated 06/28/2002) 
will be assessed.  

BUDGET:  The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of 
support in relation to the proposed research.

AWARD CRITERIA

Factors that will be considered in making awards include: a) the scientific 
merit of the proposed program as determined by peer review, the multi 
disciplinary nature of the proposed studies, and the quality of meeting the 
special requirements of the PGA Program; b) relevance to the overall 
programmatic balance and priorities of the NHLBI; and c) the availability of 
funds.

SCHEDULE

Application Receipt Date: October 16, 2003
Peer Review: February - March 2004
Council Review: May 13-14, 2004
Start Date: August 1, 2004

INQUIRIES

o Direct your questions about scientific/programmatic issues to:

Susan E. Old, Ph.D.
Bioengineering and Genomic Applications, Scientific Research Group Leader
Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Rockledge II, Room 9144
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7940
Telephone: (301) 435-1802
FAX: (301) 480-1335
email: olds@nhlbi.nih.gov

o Direct your questions about peer review issues to:

Anne P. Clark, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7214
Bethesda, MD 20892-7924
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/ courier service)
Telephone:  301-435-0270
FAX:  301-480-0730
email:  clarka@nhlbi.nih.gov

o Direct your questions about financial or grants management issues to:

Ms. Carol Lander
Grants Operations Branch
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Rockledge II, Room 7164, MSC 7926
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7926
Telephone: (301) 435-0166
FAX: (301) 480-3310
email: landerc@nhlbi.nih.gov

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