Notice Number: NOT-NS-10-022

Key Dates
Release Date:  June 25, 2010

Issued by
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)

Purpose

The NINDS is announcing plans for the Epilepsy Centers without Walls Program to Promote Collaborative Research in the Epilepsies.  This program will support multicenter, multidisciplinary consortia to solve specific research challenges that will lead to advances in prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of the epilepsies and related comorbidities. The program will bring together the best investigators, regardless of geographic location, and is a novel and innovative approach to harnessing the best research to address difficult needs in a particular field.  In fall 2010, NINDS expects to issue the first of a series of Request for Applications (RFA) targeting specified challenges that will support up to five Centers without Walls, beginning in FY2011 and adding one new center each year.  Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary.  Although actual support will depend on the scope of a Center’s proposed goals, NINDS anticipates supporting each Center with up to $3 million direct costs per year for five years.  Progress toward measurable goals will determine eligibility for a single competitive renewal.

NINDS is currently working to develop challenge topics to be addressed by the first Centers without Walls RFAs.  Toward this end, NINDS will hold two workshops in summer 2010 to assess the readiness for broad collaboration in research on human epilepsy genetics, and on model and therapy development for pharmacoresistant epilepsy and the prevention of epileptogenesis. In addition, NINDS held a workshop in fall 2008 on research needs and opportunities in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).   All three workshops will provide important information about the current state of the science and potential opportunities to accelerate progress through collaborative approaches.        

In parallel with this Notice of Intent to Publish, the NINDS is issuing a Request for Information: Scientific and Collaborative Considerations Associated with the NINDS Epilepsy Centers without Walls Program (NOT-NS-10-020).  NINDS is seeking information that will be useful in developing the upcoming workshops and the Epilepsy Center without Walls solicitations.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Direct inquiries regarding this Notice to:
Brandy Fureman, PhD
Program Director, Epilepsies
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
[email protected]
Phone: 301-496-1917