and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Department of Health and Human Services
Participating Organizations
National Institutes of
Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov)
Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), (http://www.niddk.nih.gov)
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/)
National
Cancer Institute (NCI, Division of Cancer Biology and Division of Cancer Prevention),
(http://www.nci.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), (http://www.nichd.nih.gov)
National
Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (http://www.nigms.nih.gov/)
Title: Developmental Biology and Regeneration of the Liver (R21)
Announcement Type
New
Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF 424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide. APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED IN PAPER FORMAT.
This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application guidelines included with this announcement in Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called Grants.gov/Apply).
A registration process is necessary before submission and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Two steps are required for on time submission:
1) The application must be submitted to Grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the submission date (see Key Dates below).
2) Applicants must complete a verification step in the eRA Commons within two business days of notification from NIH. Note: Since email can be unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to periodically check on their application status in the Commons.
Program Announcement (PA) Number: PA-06-232
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number(s)
93.848, 93.273, 93.393,
93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.865 and 93.859
Key Dates
Release/Posted
Date: March 10, 2006
Opening
Date: May 2, 2006
Letters of Intent
Receipt Date(s): Not Applicable
Application Submission Date(s): Standard dates apply, please
see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
AIDS
Application Submission Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS.
Peer Review Date(s): Standard dates apply http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Council Review Date(s): Standard dates apply http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Earliest Anticipated
Start Date: July
2006 http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Additional Information
To Be Available Date (Url Activation Date): Not Applicable
Expiration Date:
November 15, 2006
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Additional Overview
Content
Executive Summary
This initiative is
based on the scientific recommendations proposed by the working group on
developmental biology and regeneration of the liver in the recently approved
trans-NIH Action Plan for Liver Disease Research ( http://liverplan.niddk.nih.gov ). The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to invite
qualified scientific investigators to submit applications on liver development
and regeneration to fully define the molecular and cellular mechanisms
underlying these processes in health and disease and to apply these findings to
developing improved therapies for liver disease.
Table of Contents
Part I Overview Information
Part
II Full Text of Announcement
Section
I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research
Objectives
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of
Support
2. Funds Available
Section
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible
Applicants
A.
Eligible Institutions
B.
Eligible Individuals
2. Cost Sharing or
Matching
3. Other - Special
Eligibility Criteria
Section
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Request
Application Information
2. Content and Form
of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates
and Times
A.
Submission, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B.
Sending an Application to the NIH
C.
Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental
Review
5. Funding
Restrictions
6. Other Submission
Requirements
Section
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection
Process
A.
Additional Review Criteria
B.
Additional Review Considerations
C.
Sharing Research Data
D.
Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated
Announcement and Award Dates
Section
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative
and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting
Section
VII. Agency Contact(s)
1.
Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review
Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants
Management Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information
- Required Federal Citations
Part II
- Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
The extraordinary regenerative capacity of the liver was enshrined millennia ago in the Greek myth of Prometheus, who was punished by Zeus for stealing and giving fire to man. For his disobedience, Prometheus was chained to a mountain rock where he was visited daily by Zeus eagle who fed upon his liver. Each evening the eagle flew away, and overnight Prometheus liver grew back to its original size, only to be eaten again when the eagle returned the following morning. Unlike other mammalian organs, the liver, after partial resection or massive injury, can rapidly regenerate and regain its original size, structure and function. Regeneration is a complex and highly ordered process involving multiple intra- and extra-cellular pathways and signals. In many ways, the processes of liver development during embryogenesis and liver regeneration are linked through common events. Knowledge obtained from the analysis of liver development and regeneration has also contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms causing developmental defects, acute and chronic liver diseases, and liver carcinogenesis.
Significant advances have been made in understanding the formation of the liver primordium in early embryogenesis and the tissue interactions that control the specification of the liver. Studies using tissue explant cultures and molecular biology techniques as well as the analysis of transgenic and knockout mice have identified signaling molecules and transcription factors that are necessary for the onset of hepatogenesis. The capacity of the liver to regenerate relies on a two-tier system of liver cells: (1) hepatocytes, which are capable of multiple divisions, and (2) intra-hepatic progenitor cells, which are also known as oval cells, or ductular cells. Bone marrow cells have been proposed to function as a third tier, producing hepatocytes during liver regeneration and repopulation. Regeneration of the liver after major resection or massive injury is the consequence of a highly regulated sequence of molecular and cellular events that begins with the cessation of many normal liver cell functions and the induction of DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, mitosis, and cell division. Multiple cellular pathways interacting at many levels are involved in regeneration, with many of their endpoints being the control of gene expression. Cytokines and growth factors have been identified to serve as important signals controlling initiation and progression of hepatocyte replication as well as the termination of this process once the liver organ has reached certain level of growth.
While important advances have been made in understanding the events, as well as the key cellular and molecular players, that drive liver development and regeneration, several questions remain unanswered. The major goals for research on liver development and regeneration are to fully define the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these processes in health and disease and to apply these findings to developing improved therapies for liver disease.
The research questions posed are important and challenging when viewed in the context of alcohol misuse. The NIAAA is interested in research on development and regeneration, stem and progenitor cell development both adult and fetal, hematopoetic stem cell and organ transplantation in the context of alcohol use.
Examples of research that might be supported through this initiative include, but are not limited to:
Basic Research on Liver Development:
Liver Cell Progression to Malignancy
Liver stem cell biology and applications
The R21 is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. The characteristics, requirements, preparation, and review criteria for the R21 application are described. For additional information investigators are strongly encouraged to consult the R21 website at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r21.htm.
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of Support
This
FOA will use the R21 award mechanism(s). As
an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and
executing the proposed project.
This funding opportunity uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular budget formats (see the Modular Applications and Awards section of the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Specifically, if you are submitting an application with direct costs in each year of $250,000 or less (excluding consortium Facilities and Administrative [F&A] costs), use the PHS398 Modular Budget component provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (see specifically Section 5.4, Modular Budget Component, of the Application Guide).
Exploratory/developmental grant support is for new projects only; competing renewal (formerly competing continuation ) applications will not be accepted. Up to two resubmissions (formerly revisions/amendments") of a previously reviewed exploratory/developmental grant application may be submitted. See NOT-OD-03-041, May 7, 2003.
2. Funds Available
The total
project period for an application submitted in response to this funding
opportunity may not exceed 2 years. Although the size of award may vary with
the scope of research proposed, it is expected that applications will stay
within the budgetary guidelines for an exploratory/developmental project;
direct costs are limited to $275,000 over the 2 years of the R21 award, with no
more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year. Applicants may
request direct costs in $25,000 modules, up to a total direct cost of $275,000
for the combined two year award period. NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy
Statement will apply to the applications received and awards made in
response to this funding opportunity announcement.
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 the financial plans of the IC(s) provide support for this
program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the
availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious
applications.
Facilities and
administrative (F&A) costs requested by consortium participants are not
included in the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.
Section
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
You may submit (an)
application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:
1.B. Eligible Individuals
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs.
2. Cost
Sharing or Matching
This
program does not require cost sharing as defined the current NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Applications will be accepted only from (1) newly independent investigators or (2) established investigators developing a completely new line of research. Results obtained from the R21 grant should allow subsequent submission of R01 applications focusing on research problems relevant to the study of digestive diseases and nutrition. These grants are not intended to support or supplement ongoing funded research of an established investigator, or to serve as an alternative mechanism of support for projects not receiving funding as competitive continuation applications.
This mechanism is primarily aimed at attracting and supporting new investigators in these research fields. Patient oriented or epidemiological research will not be supported through this FOA and should be submitted according to http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-04-082.html. NOTE: This PAR is not in HHS format.
Applicants may submit more than one application, provided each application is scientifically distinct.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Registration and Instructions for Submission via Grants.gov
To download an Application Package and Application Guide
for completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for this FOA, link to http://www.grants.gov/Apply/ and follow the directions provided on that Web site.
A one-time registration is required for institutions/organizations at both:
PD/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the NIH eRA Commons.
Several additional separate actions are required before an applicant institution/organization can submit an electronic application, as follows:
1) Organization/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Started
2) Organization/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons
3) Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the NIH eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.
Note that if a PD/PI is also an NIH peer-reviewer with an Individual DUNS and CCR registration, that particular DUNS number and CCR registration are for the individual reviewer only. These are different than the DUNS number and CCR registration used by an applicant small business concern. Individual DUNS and CCR registration should be used only for the purpose of personal reimbursement and should not be used on any grant application submitted to the Federal Government.
Several of the steps of the registration process could take several weeks or more, therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their institution is already registered in both Grants.gov and the NIH eRA Commons. The NIH will accept electronic applications only from organizations that have completed all necessary registrations.
1.
Request Application Information
Applicants must download the SF424 (R &R)
application forms and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply
Note: Only the forms package directly attached to a
specific FOA can be used. You will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R)
forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another FOA), although some of the
"Attachment" files may be useable for more than one FOA.
For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone 301-710-0267,
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of
Application Submission
Prepare all SBIR applications using the
SF424 (R &R) application forms and the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application
Guide (MS
Word) or PDF)
instructions.
The SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to NIH. There are fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components that, although not marked as mandatory, are required by NIH (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PI’s assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide. For additional information, see Tips and Tools for Navigating Electronic Submission on the front page of Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
The SF424 (R&R) application is comprised of data arranged in separate components. Some components are required, others are optional. The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/ APPLY will include all applicable components, required and optional. A completed application in response to this FOA will include the following components:
Required Components:
SF424 (R&R) (Cover
component)
Research & Related Project/Performance Site
Locations
Research
& Related Other Project Information
Research & Related Senior/Key Person
PHS398 Cover Page Supplement
PHS398 Research Plan
PHS398 Checklist
PHS398 Modular Budget
Optional Components:
PHS398 Cover Letter File
Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment Form
Note: While both budget components are included in
the SF424 (R&R) forms package, the NIH R21 uses ONLY the PHS 398 Modular Budget. (Do not use the detailed Research & Related Budget.)
Foreign Organizations
Several special provisions apply to applications submitted
by foreign organizations:
Proposed
research should provide a unique research opportunity not available in the United States.
3. Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV.3.A for details.
3.A. Submission, Review
and Anticipated Start Dates
Opening Date: May 2, 2006
Letter
of Intent Receipt Date: Not applicable
Application Submission Date(s): Standard receipt
dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
AIDS Application Submission Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS.
Peer Review Date(s):
Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for details.
Council Review Date(s) : Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for details.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for details.
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
A letter of intent is not required for this FOA.
3.B. Sending an
Application to the NIH
To submit an application in response to this FOA,
applicants should access this FOA via http://www.grants.gov/Apply and follow steps 1-4. Note: Applications must only be submitted electronically
PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
3.C.
Application Processing
Applications may be submitted to Grants.gov on or after the Opening Date and must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the application submission
dates described in Section IV.3.A. If an application is
not received by that date, the application may be delayed in the review process
or not reviewed.
Upon receipt, applications will be transferred from
Grants.gov to the NIH Electronic Research Administration process for
validation. Both the PD/PI and the Signing Official for the organization must
verify the submission via Commons within two (2) business days of notification of the NIH validation.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for
completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Incomplete applications
will not be reviewed.
The NIH will not accept any application in response to
this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial merit
review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The NIH will not
accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.
This does not preclude the submission of an application already reviewed with
substantial changes, but such application must include an Introduction
addressing the previous critique. Note such an application is considered a
"resubmission" for the SF424 (R&R).
There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of
applications from Grants.gov and the Commons. Information related to
the assignment of an application to the Scientific Review Group is also in the Commons.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is
not subject to intergovernmental
review.
5. Funding Restrictions
All NIH awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
Pre-Award
Costs are allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval,
incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the
beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award if such costs: are
necessary to conduct the project, and would be allowable under the grant, if
awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise
require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring
the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than
90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award.
The incurrence of
pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award imposes
no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the amount of the
approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is
inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be
fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against future support and
that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the
project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way adversely affect
the conduct of the project. See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.
6. Other Submission Requirements
The NIH requires the
PD/PI to fill in his/her Commons User ID in the PROFILE Project
Director/Principal Investigator section, Credential log-in field of the
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component. The applicant
organization must include its DUNS number in its Organization Profile in the
eRA Commons. This DUNS number must match the DUNS number provided at CCR registration with Grants.gov. For additional information, see Tips and Tools for Navigating
Electronic Submission on the front page of Electronic Submission of Grant
Applications.
Renewal (formerly competing continuation or Type 2 ) applications are not permitted.
All application instructions outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide are to be followed, with the following requirements for R21 applications:
Note: While each section of the Research Plan needs to be uploaded separately as a PDF attachment, applicants are encouraged to construct the Research Plan as a single document, separating sections into distinct PDF attachments just before uploading the files. This approach will enable applicants to better monitor formatting requirements such as page limits. All attachments must be provided to NIH in PDF format, filenames must be included with no spaces or special characters, and a .pdf extension must be used.
Specific Instructions for Modular Grant applications.
Applications
requesting direct costs in each year of $250,000 or less (excluding consortium
F&A costs), must be submitted in a modular budget format using the Modular
Budget Component provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Package and
Instructions Guide (see specifically Section 5.4). The modular budget format
simplifies the preparation of the budget in these applications by limiting the
level of budgetary detail. Applicants request direct costs in $25,000 modules.
Plan for Sharing Research Data
The precise content
of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and
how the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants who are planning
to share data may wish to describe briefly the expected schedule for data
sharing, the format of the final dataset, the documentation to be provided,
whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided, whether or not a
data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such
an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and
whether or not any conditions will be placed on their use), and the mode of
data sharing (e.g., under their own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data
on their institutional or personal website, through a data archive or enclave).
Investigators choosing to share under their own auspices may wish to enter into
a data-sharing agreement. References to data sharing may also be appropriate in
other sections of the application.
All applicants must
include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The data sharing
policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing.
All investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a
description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data
sharing is not possible.
The reasonableness
of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
Sharing Research Resources
NIH policy requires
that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available
for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community
after publication (NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any
related data sharing plans will be considered by Program staff of the funding
organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The
effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the
administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm).
See Section VI.3. Reporting.
Section
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Only the review
criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications submitted
for this funding opportunity will be assigned to the ICs on the basis of
established PHS referral guidelines.
Appropriate scientific review groups convened in
accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures (http://www.csr.nih.gov/refrev.htm)
will evaluate applications for scientific and technical merit.
As part of the
initial merit review, all applications will:
Applications submitted in response to this funding opportunity will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
The NIH R21 exploratory/developmental grant is a mechanism for supporting novel scientific ideas or new model systems, tools or technologies that have the potential to significantly advance our knowledge or the status of health-related research. Because the research plan is limited to 15 pages, an exploratory/developmental grant application need not have extensive background material or preliminary information as one might normally expect in an R01 application. Accordingly, reviewers will focus their evaluation on the conceptual framework, the level of innovation, and the potential to significantly advance our knowledge or understanding. Reviewers will place less emphasis on methodological details and certain indicators traditionally used in evaluating the scientific merit of R01 applications including supportive preliminary data. Appropriate justification for the proposed work can be provided through literature citations, data from other sources, or, when available, from investigator-generated data. Preliminary data are not required for R21 applications; however, they may be included if available.
The
goals of NIH supported research are to advance our understanding of biological
systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their
written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following
criteria in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have
a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will
be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as
appropriate for each application. Note that an application does not need to be
strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact
and thus deserve a high priority score. For example, an investigator may
propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is
essential to move a field forward.
Significance: Does this study address an important
problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific
knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these
studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or
preventative interventions that drive this field?
Approach: Are the conceptual or
clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well
integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the
applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
Innovation: Is the project original and
innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or
clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to
progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts,
approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?
Investigators: Are the investigators
appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work
proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and
other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and
integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?
Environment: Does the scientific
environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of
success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific
environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative
arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
2.A. Additional Review
Criteria:
In addition to the
above criteria, the following items will continue to 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. See item 6 of the Research Plan component of the SF424 (R&R).
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 will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects
will also be evaluated. See item 7 of the Research Plan component of the SF424
(R&R).
Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in
Research: If vertebrate animals are to
be used in the project, the five items described under item 11 of the Research
Plan component of the SF424 (R&R) will be assessed.
Biohazards: If materials or procedures are proposed that are
potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, determine
if the proposed protection is adequate.
2.B. Additional
Review Considerations
Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed
budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research
may be assessed by the reviewers. Is the percent effort listed for the PD/PI
appropriate for the work proposed? Is each budget category realistic and
justified in terms of the aims and methods?
Period of Support: The appropriateness of the
requested period of support in relation to the proposed research.
2.C. Sharing
Research Data
Data Sharing Plan: The reasonableness of the
data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
The presence of a data sharing plan will be part of the terms and conditions of
the award. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data
sharing policy.
2.D. Sharing
Research Resources
NIH policy requires that grant awardee recipients make
unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified
individuals within the scientific community after publication (See the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/part_ii_5.htm#availofrr and http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/rt_guide_final.html).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a sharing
research resources plan addressing how unique research resources will be shared
or explain why sharing is not possible.
Program staff will be responsible for the
administrative review of the plan for sharing research resources.
The adequacy of the resources sharing plan will be
considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making
recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource
sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each
non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590). See Section
VI.3. Reporting.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Not Applicable
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be
able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request
"just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details,
applicants may refer to the NIH
Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards,
Subpart A: General.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award
(NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the
grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all administrative
and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email
notification from the awarding component to the grantee business official.
Selection of an application for award is not an
authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the
NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the
extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See Also Section
IV.5. Funding Restrictions.
2. Administrative and
National Policy Requirements
All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH
Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart
A: General and Part
II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions
for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities.
3. Reporting
When
multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Grant
Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in
the NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
Section VII. Agency Contacts
We
encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the
opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall
into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants
management issues:
1. Scientific/Research Contacts:
Jose
Serrano MD PhD
Division
of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707
Democracy Blvd., Room 657
Bethesda, MD 20892-5450
Phone: (301)
594-8871
Fax:
(301) 480-8300
Email: js362q@nih.gov
Denise
Russo PhD
Division
of Metabolism and Health Effects
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5635
Fishers Lane,
Room 2037
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
Phone:
(301) 402-9403
Fax:
(301) 594-0673
Email: dr188r@nih.gov
John S
Cole III PhD
Division
of Cancer Biology
National
Cancer Institute
6130
Executive Blvd Suite 5000
Rockville MD 20852
Phone: (301)
496-1718
Fax: (301)
496-2025
Email: jc121b@nih.gov
Asad
Umar, PhD
Division
of Cancer Prevention
National
Cancer Institute
6130
Executive Blvd, EPN-Suite 2146
Rockville
MD 20852
Phone:
(301) 594-7671
Fax:
(301) 435-6344
Email: au9q@nih.gov
Gilman
D Grave MD
Endocrinolgy,
Nutrition & Growth Branch
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100
Executive Bldg, Room 4B11A
Rockville,
MD20852
Phone: (301)
496-5593
Fax: (301)
480-9791
Email: gg37v@nih.gov
Scott
Somers, Ph.D.
Division
of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center
Drive, Room
2As.43C
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Phone: (301)
594-3827
Fax:
(301) 480-2802
Email: ss284c@nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Not Applicable
3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
Diana Ly
Division
of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707
Democracy Blvd., Room 708
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone:
(301) 594-3197
Fax:
(301) 594-9523
Email: dl244e@nih.gov
Judy S.
Fox
Division
of Extramural Activities
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5635
Fishers Lane,
Room 3023, MSC 9304
Rockville, MD 20852-1705
Phone:
(301) 443-4704
Fax:
(301) 443-3891
Email: js182a@nih.gov
Marie
Moyer
Division
of Extramural Activities
National
Cancer Institute
1003 West
7th Street,
Room 300
Frederick, MD 21701-4106
Phone: (301)
846-1007
Fax: (301) 846-5720
Email: mm116d@nih.gov
Lisa
A Moeller
Division
of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100
Executive Bldg, Room 8A01C
Rockville, MD20852
Phone: (301)
435-6995
Fax: (301)
451-5510
Email: lm236j@nih.gov
Antoinette
K. Holland
Division
of Extramural Activities
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Bldg. 45,
Rm. 2As.43C
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Phone:
(301) 594-5132
Fax:
(301) 480-2554
Email: ah82j@nih.gov
Section VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Use of Animals in Research:
Recipients of PHS support for activities involving
live, vertebrate animals must comply with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf)
as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm),
and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm)
as applicable.
Human Subjects Protection:
Federal regulations (45CFR46) require that
applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with
reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against
these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others,
and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Data and Safety Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety monitoring is required for all types
of clinical trials, including physiologic toxicity and dose-finding studies
(Phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II); efficacy, effectiveness and comparative
trials (Phase III). Monitoring should be commensurate with risk. The
establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for
multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risks
to the participants (NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing Research Data:
Investigators submitting an NIH application seeking
$500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a
plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing).
Investigators should seek guidance from their
institutions on issues related to institutional policies and local IRB rules,
as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy
Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the
plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
Access to Research Data through the Freedom of
Information Act:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular
A-110 has been revised to provide access to research data through the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first
produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds
and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an
action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be
accessed through FOIA. It is important for applicants to understand the basic
scope of this amendment. NIH has provided guidance at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this funding opportunity in a
public archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include
information about this in the budget justification section of the application.
In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent
statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider
use of data collected under this award.
Sharing of Model Organisms:
NIH is committed to support efforts that encourage
sharing of important research resources including the sharing of model
organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm).
At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to
elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding
pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm).
All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning
with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the
application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will permit
other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public funding.
The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a cost
threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications where
the development of model organisms is anticipated.
Inclusion of Women And Minorities in Clinical
Research:
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of
minority groups and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported
clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling justification is
provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health
of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from the
NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). All
investigators proposing clinical research should read the "NIH Guidelines
for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.
The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical
research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB
standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical
trials consistent with the SF424 (R&R); and updated roles and
responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy
continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans
to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b)
investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses,
as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
Inclusion of Children as Participants in Clinical
Research:
The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e.,
individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all clinical research,
conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical
reasons not to include them.
All investigators proposing research involving human
subjects should read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion
of children as participants in research involving human subjects (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm).
Required Education on the Protection of Human
Subject Participants:
NIH policy requires education on the protection of
human subject participants for all investigators submitting NIH applications
for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key
personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC):
Criteria for federal funding of research on hESCs can
be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html.
Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic
Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility
of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the
application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC
line(s)to be used in the proposed research. Applications that do not provide
this information will be returned without review.
NIH Public Access Policy:
NIH-funded investigators are requested to submit to
the NIH manuscript submission (NIHMS) system (http://www.nihms.nih.gov)
at PubMed Central (PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript
upon acceptance for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or
in part with direct costs from NIH. The author's final manuscript is defined as
the final version accepted for journal publication, and includes all
modifications from the publishing peer review process.
NIH is requesting that authors submit manuscripts
resulting from 1) currently funded NIH research projects or 2) previously
supported NIH research projects if they are accepted for publication on or
after May 2, 2005. The NIH Public Access Policy applies to all research grant
and career development award mechanisms, cooperative agreements, contracts,
Institutional and Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service
Awards, as well as NIH intramural research studies. The Policy applies to
peer-reviewed, original research publications that have been supported in whole
or in part with direct costs from NIH, but it does not apply to book chapters,
editorials, reviews, or conference proceedings. Publications resulting from
non-NIH-supported research projects should not be submitted.
For more information about the Policy or the
submission process please visit the NIH Public Access Policy Web site at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/ and
view the Policy or other Resources and Tools including the Authors' Manual (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/publicaccess_Manual.htm).
Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable
Health Information:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of Individually
Identifiable Health Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002. The Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection
of individually identifiable health information, and is administered and
enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions about applicability and implementation of
the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR
Website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/)
provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text
and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information
on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and
research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
URLs in NIH Grant Applications or Appendices:
All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be
self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in
an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide
information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation
to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their
anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.
Healthy People 2010:
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of
"Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting
priority areas. This FOA is related to one or more of the priority areas.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
Authority and Regulations:
This program is
described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health
Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301
and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and
under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can
be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to
provide a smoke-free workplace and discourage the use of all tobacco products.
In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits
smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in
which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early
childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent
with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of
the American people.
Loan Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages applications for educational loan
repayment from qualified health professionals who have made a commitment to
pursue a research career involving clinical, pediatric, contraception,
infertility, and health disparities related areas. The LRP is an important
component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the next generation of
researchers by providing the means for developing a research career unfettered
by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is not required for
eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications are encouraged.
The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing the LRP recipient
with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP awardees must commit at
least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week based on a 40 hour week)
for two years to the research. For further information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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