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 Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) http://www.nidcr.nih.gov
National
Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) http://www.nidcd.nih.gov
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS) http://www.ninds.nih.gov
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) http://www.niams.nih.gov
Office of
Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) http://orwh.od.nih.gov/
Title: Temporomandibular Joint and
Muscle Disorders: Pathophysiological Mechanisms Linking Comorbid Conditions (R21)
Announcement Type
This is a reissue
of PA-06-188 which was previously released on March 1, 2006 and now is
divided into separate FOAs for R21 and R03 grant mechanisms.
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 SF424 (R&R) 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 successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the submission/receipt 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-06-268
Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.121 (NIDCR), 93.173 (NIDCD), 93.853 (NINDS), 93.846
(NIAMS)
Key Dates
Release/Posted Date: March 24, 2006
Opening Date: May 2, 2006
Application Submission Date(s): Standard
dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Peer Review Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Council Review Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Additional Information To Be Available Date (Activation
Date): Not Applicable
Expiration Date: March 2, 2009 (now May 8, 2009 per NOT-OD-07-093)
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Additional
Overview Content
Executive Summary
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
Nature of the research opportunity - The
purpose of this FOA is to encourage research leading to the discovery of
possible etiological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying a set of
chronic disorders that may overlap with temporomandibular joint and muscle
disorder (TMJMD). Investigators with expertise in TMJMD and those with specific
expertise in research areas related to the overlapping, comorbid conditions are
encouraged to work together in carrying out cutting-edge research projects
designed to uncover biological mechanisms responsible for comorbidities
associated with TMJMD.
TMJMDs are a complex set of diseases involving one or more tissues of the face and TMJ. The primary symptoms of TMJMD may include chronic pain in facial muscles and limited and painful movement of the jaw. In addition, these and other symptoms of TMJMD may occur together with other chronic disorders such as fibromyalgia; atypical facial pain; trigeminal neuralgia; chronic fatigue syndrome; multiple chemical sensitivity; irritable bowel syndrome; sleep disorders; complex regional pain syndrome; migraine headache; speech, hearing (including tinnitus) swallowing, balance, smell, and taste disorders; affective disorders; and certain cardiovascular diseases. The possible overlap of these other conditions with TMJMD suggests several possibilities: TMJMD coexists with other chronic diseases; TMJMD is the somatization of one or more of these conditions; TMJMD results from effects of the other chronic disorders; and/or TMJMD contributes to these other conditions.
This initiative seeks research applications that will use multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to sort out these possibilities by discovering molecular, physiological, and behavioral mechanisms responsible for the overlapping symptoms and disorders that may coexist with TMJMD. These applications may have as their research focus the chronic, comorbid conditions themselves or TMJMDs, provided that the aims and goals of the project are to discover biological mechanisms linking the comorbidities. While the overarching goal of this announcement is to arrive at a full understanding of the mechanisms underlying TMJMDs and the variety of comorbidities associated with them, it is expected that no single research project will be able to accomplish this. Applicants, therefore, are encouraged to focus their attention on a particular pathway and a specific disease that is comorbid with TMJMD.
Background TMJMD is a complex heterogeneous disease. It likely represents a collection of disorders with varying etiologies, affecting the tissues of the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint. Due to this complexity and our lack of a complete understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease onset and progression, the treatment of some patients with TMJMD currently is less than satisfactory. The etiology of complex disorders like TMJMD may involve the interaction of genetic and environmental influences. In addition, it may be appropriate to view TMJMD as a biopsychosocial disorder, not only when considering diagnosis and treatment, but also in the context of pathological mechanisms associated with the disease and other diseases that may coexist with TMJMDs as comorbidities. Peripheral defects in muscle function, abnormal neurotransmission, central integration of sensory and motor inputs, and the societal and cognitive influences on these processes, may all interact and influence the disease process and expression of the associated comorbidities.
The major symptoms of TMJMD are chronic myofacial pain particularly in the muscles of mastication, restricted range of jaw motion, jaw locking, and abnormal popping and clicking noises in the TMJ, although this latter symptom is not, by itself, either predictive or diagnostic of TMJMD. In addition, other symptoms are known to occur in this disorder such as pain in the joint itself and in the area surrounding and radiating from the joint including the ear, neck, shoulder, and back; vertigo/balance problems; hearing loss, tinnitus; taste and smell problems; chronic headache; blurred or double vision; sleep disturbances; and difficulty in swallowing and/or speech. Besides these symptoms, certain psychiatric disturbances (psychopathologies) may be associated with TMJMD and may include depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. While these other symptoms and conditions are clearly not diagnostic of TMJMD, they are associated with other chronic painful disorders and may have an important role in developing treatment approaches for TMJMD patients. For example, similar psychiatric disorders have been associated with TMJMD, fibromyalgia (FM), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Interestingly, the psychiatric disorders are most often associated with the myogenous form of TMJMD (i.e. TMJMD characterized by chronic muscle pain) and may reflect the effects of prolonged chronic pain on the emotional status of the individual.
TMJMD patients often present with symptoms of other chronic painful conditions, such as FM, CFS, IBS, multiple chemical sensitivities, and cardiovascular abnormalities to name a few. As an example, both TMJMD and FM patients suffer from similar symptoms: muscle pain or tenderness, sleep disturbances, debilitating headaches, and difficulty in concentrating. The degree of overlapping symptoms and comorbid conditions is not trivial. Studies suggest that between 13 and 18% of TMJMD patients meet the diagnostic criteria for FM. Conversely, about 75% of FM patients meet the criteria for myofacial TMJMD. Patients with IBS have been diagnosed at similar rates with comorbid TMJD (16%), CFS (14%), and FM (28-65%). While some of the apparent comorbidity may be due to diagnostic ambiguity, it is clear that patients with these disorders have similar and multiple symptoms that characterize the various disorders.
It is important to understand the basis for the links between these comorbidities in order to develop more effective treatment and possible prevention strategies for TMJMD. However, the etiological and pathological mechanisms linking TMJMD and these comorbid conditions are unclear. In general they may involve abnormal responses of common homeostatic mechanisms, i.e. processes that help the body to return to original set points after a disruptive stimulus. Alternatively, or in addition, the mechanisms may relate to allostatic processes, i.e. the adaptation to new set points in the continued presence of a stimulus or an altered environment. In addition, failed or repeated allostatic processes, i.e. the allostatic load, may account for these comorbidities. Most of these regulatory systems control a systemic, physiological response and a central behavioral, response.
The concept of faulty adaptive processes is in agreement with a shift in thinking in recent years to a more central nervous system focus as the cause of TMJMD (excluding TMJMD associated with traumatic injury) rather than simply a peripheral one employing local homeostatic mechanisms. An additional consideration is that there is an increased prevalence of these comorbid disorders in women, indicating that sex steroids and gender may play an important, but complex role in the common pathophysiology. For example, there is an increased prevalence of TMJMD and FM in women, yet TMJMD patients are usually in their childbearing years while FM is usually diagnosed later in life. Regardless of the mechanisms responsible for the comorbidities associated with TMJMD, a more precise determination of the phenotypes of the diseases will be critical in order to clearly identify subsets of TMJMD patients and the specific comorbid conditions associated with TMJMD.
While several distinct pathological mechanisms may account for the comorbidities seen in association with TMJMD, many seem to ultimately involve abnormal functioning of feedback circuits (both positive and negative). These may include disturbances in the following: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the classical stress-response system; immune and neuroimmune function; centrally regulated biological clocks; autonomic nervous system function; and specific neurotransmitter system regulation. These and other mechanisms may work alone or in concert to cause the collection of comorbid conditions associated with TMJMD.
The cooperation of researchers with a common interest in TMJMD and those with specific expertise in research areas related to the overlapping comorbid conditions and symptoms found in TMJMD is needed in order to arrive at definitive answers to the underlying mechanisms involved in TMJMD and the variety of comorbidities noted. Information from the fields of neurology, psychiatry, cardiology, genomics, endocrinology, epidemiology, rheumatology, and communicative disorders, to name a few, will be required to develop and test hypotheses relating to the mechanisms that can account for the cluster of comorbidities. Technical expertise in behavioral science, genomic and proteomic approaches, biomedical imaging, electrophysiology, and molecular biology will be necessary to carry out cutting-edge experiments designed to uncover biological mechanisms responsible for overlapping symptoms and comorbid conditions associated with TMJMD. While the overarching goal of this announcement is to arrive at a clearer understanding of the mechanism underlying TMJMD and the variety of comorbidities associated with it, it is expected that no single research project will be able to accomplish this. Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to focus their attention on a particular pathway and a specific disease that is comorbid with TMJMD.
Scientific knowledge to be achieved - This FOA will stimulate research that will increase our knowledge of the etiological and pathological mechanisms underlying comorbidity in somatic syndromes like TMJMD. It will be important to identify the regulatory systems and the altered functions of these systems that are important in the expression of comorbidity. Knowledge of both physiological and behavioral responses that are central in eliciting comorbidity will be gained; the molecules and cellular pathways underlying these responses will be identified as well.
Objectives of this research program - The objectives of this FOA are to stimulate research that will: 1) identify molecules, cellular pathways, physiologies, and behaviors that are responsible for comorbid conditions that may be associated with TMJMD; 2) determine the pathogenic mechanisms by which these factors lead to the comorbidities; 3) determine molecules and pathways that may serve as novel therapeutic targets aimed at treating these comorbid conditions and/or preventing them; 4) identify biomarkers or diagnostics that will differentiate refractory TMJMD and comorbid conditions from those disorders which spontaneously remit or are successfully treated by conventional means.
Identify types of research and experimental approaches that are being sought - This FOA seeks applications that will use basic, behavioral, epidemiological, and clinical research approaches in order to define causative factors and characterize pathogenic mechanisms that may be shared between comorbid conditions and TMJMD. This FOA seeks a broad range of experimental approaches to this problem and may include clinical, molecular, cellular, and animal studies. The use of global approaches such as a systems biology approach and the utilization of genomic and proteomic techniques also are encouraged. Investigators with expertise in the fields of neurobiology, immunology, neurochemistry, endocrinology, rheumatology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, sensory and motor systems, neurology, and bioinformatics will be needed to discover biological mechanisms underlying comorbidity.
Examples of research topics Examples of research topics may include, but are not limited to the following, as they relate to TMJMD and comorbidities:
The evolution and vitality of the biomedical sciences require a constant infusion of new ideas, techniques, and points of view. These may differ substantially from current thinking or practice and may not yet be supported by substantial preliminary data. By using the R21 mechanism, the NIH seeks to foster the introduction of novel scientific ideas, model systems, tools, agents, targets, and technologies that have the potential to substantially advance biomedical research.
The R21 mechanism is intended to encourage new exploratory and developmental research projects. For example, such projects could assess the feasibility of a novel area of investigation or a new experimental system that has the potential to enhance health-related research. Another example could include the unique and innovative use of an existing methodology to explore a new scientific area. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
Applications for R21 awards should describe projects distinct from those supported through the traditional R01 mechanism. For example, long-term projects, or projects designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area, will not be considered for R21 awards. Applications submitted under this mechanism should be exploratory and novel. These studies should break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications. Projects of limited cost or scope that use widely accepted approaches and methods within well established fields are better suited for the R03 small grant mechanism. Information on the R03 program can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.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 NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) award mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project.
This FOA 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
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 Institutes and Centers (ICs) provide support for this program, awards
pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of
funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
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 an R21 two-year period, 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 the total direct costs limitation 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 submitted and awards made in response to this Program Announcement funding opportunity.
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 as the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is
invited to work with his/her organization 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 support.
2. Cost Sharing or
Matching
Not applicable. This program does not require cost sharing as defined in the
current NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
3. Other-Special
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants may submit more than one application, provided
each application is scientifically distinct.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
To download a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and
SF424 (R&R) 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 eRA Commons.
Several additional separate actions are required before an applicant institution/organization can submit an electronic application, as follows:
1) Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Started
2) Organizational/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 any DUNS number and CCR registration used by an applicant organization. Individual DUNS and CCR registration should be used only for the purposes of personal reimbursement and should not be used on any grant applications submitted to the Federal Government.
Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered in both Grants.gov and the 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: [email protected].
Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY
301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Prepare all applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (MS Word or PDF).
The SF424 (R&R) 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
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(s): Not Applicable
Application Submission Date(s): Standard dates apply,
please see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
AIDS Application Submission Date(s): http://grants.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
Council Review Date(s): Standard dates apply, please
see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): Standard dates
apply, please see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
A letter of intent is not required for the funding opportunity.
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 on or after the opening date and must be successfully
received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant
institution/organization) on the application submission/receipt date(s). (See Section IV.3.A. for all dates.) If an application is not submitted by the receipt
date(s) and time, 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 SO for
the organization must verify the submission via Commons within 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.
There will be
an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.gov and the Commons. Information related to the
assignment of an application to a Scientific Review Group is also in the Commons.
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).
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 the NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
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 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.
Plan for Sharing Research Data
Not Applicable
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_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
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.
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). See Section VI.3.,
Reporting.
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria (Update: Enhanced review criteria have been issued for the evaluation of research applications received for potential FY2010 funding and thereafter - see NOT-OD-09-025).
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 PD/PI 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 and Period of Support: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the
appropriateness of 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?
2.C.
Sharing Research Data
Not applicable.
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_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
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 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), 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 NIH 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 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.
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:
Dr. John W. Kusiak
Center for Integrative Biology and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Building # 45, Room 4AN-18A
45 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-7984
Fax: 301-480-8319
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Lynn E. Luethke
Division of Scientific Programs
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders
National Institutes of Health
6120 Executive Blvd, 400-C
Bethesda, MD 20892-7180
Telephone: (301) 402-3458
Fax: (301) 402-6251
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Linda L. Porter
Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd. Room 2113
Bethesda, MD 20892-9521
Telephone: (301) 496-9964
Fax: (301) 402-2060
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Bernadette Tyree
Cartilage and Connective Tissue Program
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases
6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-5032
Fax: (301) 480-4543
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Eleanor Hanna
Associate Director for Special Projects and Centers
Office of Research on Women’s Health
Office of the Director
National Institutes of Health
Building 1, Room 201
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 435-1753
Fax: (310) 402-0005
Email: [email protected]
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Not Applicable
3.
Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
National
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Mary Daley, Chief Grants Management Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Building # 45, Room 4AN-44B
45 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-4808
Fax: 301- 480-3562
Email: [email protected]
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Christopher Myers
Grants Management Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
NIDCD, NIH
Executive Plaza South,
Room 400B
6120 Executive Blvd., MSC 7180
Bethesda, MD 20892-7180
(20852 for express mail)
Telephone: (301) 435-0713
Fax: (301) 402-1758
Email: [email protected]
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(Ken) King P. Bond, Jr.
Section Chief/Grants Management Officer
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Division of Extramural Research
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 3256
Bethesda, MD 20892-9537
Tel: 301-496-3813
Fax: 301 451-5635
Email: [email protected]
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Melinda Nelson
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases
Extramural Program
Grants Management Officer
6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800, MSC 4872
Bethesda, MD 20892-4872
Telephone: (301) 594-3535
Fax: (301) 480-5450
Email: [email protected]
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 (45 CFR 46) 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 the 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. Beginning October 1, 2004, all investigators
submitting an NIH application or contract proposal 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) application; 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.
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 PA 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 Part 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 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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