ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENTS FOR 
QUANTITATIVE PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS AT THE NANOSCALE 

RELEASE DATE:  June 30, 2003

NOTICE:  NOT-OD-03-051 

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Emerging tools and concepts are providing the ability to generate 
quantitative data central to a deeper understanding of determining molecular 
mechanisms underlying normal cellular processes or the changes that attend 
disease.  Ultimately, this understanding will lead to knowledge of the design 
principles of biology.  The trans-NIH Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) 
announces the availability of administrative supplements for projects that 
are already studying, at a molecular level, biological or disease processes, 
or diagnostic or treatment modalities, and that wish to add capabilities to 
enable analyses of biological nanostructures, assemblies and nanomachines 
using quantitative physical parameters, such as force, stoichiometry, 
kinetics, energy utilization and transduction, etc.  It is envisioned that 
these supplements will initiate a process for the creation of blueprints for 
the design of new nanosystems and tools for health monitoring and 
maintenance, and disease detection and treatment.

The supplements might be used, for example, to:

i. establish new collaborations;
   o cover the costs for extended visits at another laboratory that has the
     capacity to develop tools to carry out nanoscale measurements on the 
     biomedical system outlined in the parent grant; or
   o invite scientists with specific expertise to visit the laboratory of the 
     NIH-funded investigator with the goal of forming partnerships to enhance 
     the aims of the original proposal. 
ii. add a new experimental paradigm or quantitative measurement complementary 
     to those already described in the grant; or
iii. develop a new measurement tool.

Requests should explain how the activities proposed under supplemental 
assistance will provide a unique opportunity to enhance the research project.

Supplements are one-time awards and will not extend to subsequent budget 
periods. 

The Office of the Director (OD) will commit $1.2 million in FY2003 to fund 
applications for supplements submitted in response to this Notice.  

ELIGIBILITY

Projects must have a least 12 months of funding remaining after the 
supplement application receipt date. (A no-cost extension beyond the original 
Project Period End Date does not confer eligibility).

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should submit an original and five copies of a complete 
application, signed by an authorized business official at their institution, 
to:

Jeffery A. Schloss, Ph.D.
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institutes of Health
Bldg 31, Room B2-B07
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-2033
tel:    301-496-7531
fax:    301-480-2770
e-mail: [email protected]

The following items should be included in the application:

1.  A completed face page (PHS 398), citing the number and title of this 
Notice on line 2.   Documentation of approval from the Institutional Animal 
Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for any proposed animal studies must be 
provided. 

2.  A description of the project (3 page limit), including: 

o  Abstract. 

o  Rationale and description of the work proposed in the supplement. 
 
o  Specific Aims of the original grant.

o  Description of the relationship of the supplemental project to the 
Specific Aims of the parent grant.  Requests should explain how the 
activities proposed under supplemental assistance will provide a unique 
opportunity to enhance the research project.

3.  A budget with justifications for requested direct costs, and stating the 
F&A cost (see Budget Information, below).
 
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS 

Applications will be reviewed by NIH staff, and it is expected that for 
successful applications a resulting Supplemental Notice of Grant Award will 
be issued within two months of the receipt deadline.  All funding decisions 
are final and are not subject to appeal.  Review criteria will include the 
relevance of the proposed activity to the goals of the project as already 
funded and to the development of enhanced ability to make quantitative 
physical measurements on biological nanostructures, assemblies and 
nanomachines.

BUDGET INFORMATION  

Supplements will be one-time (one year) awards.  The maximum amount that the 
applicant may request depends upon the policies of the Institute that 
supports the parent grant; applicants must consult the appropriate program 
official before submitting the supplement request.
 
Awards pursuant to this Notice are contingent upon the availability of funds 
and the receipt of applications of high scientific merit.

RECEIPT DATE:  August 1, 2003        

AWARD DATE:    September 30, 2003

INQUIRIES

Inquiries are strongly encouraged, especially regarding budgetary issues.
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic or financial matters to the 
appropriate individual(s) from the Institute that supports the grant for 
which the supplement will be requested.  Contact information for those 
individuals is available at:  http://www.becon.nih.gov/nano_supps.htm.

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