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 on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov)
Title: Women, Sex/Gender Differences and Drug Abuse (R03)
Announcement Type
This is a reissue of PA-03-139,
which was previously released June 16, 2003, and is now
divided into separate Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for the R03,
R21, and R01 grant mechanisms.
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.
Program Announcement (PA) Number: PA-06-332
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number(s)
93.279
Key Dates
Release/Posted Date: April 6, 2006
Opening Date: May 2, 2006 (Earliest date an application may be
submitted to Grants.gov
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): Not Applicable
NOTE: On time
submission requires that applications be successfully submitted to Grants.gov
no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization).
Application Submission/Receipt
Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm.
AIDS Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): Please
see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS.
Peer Review Date(s): Please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Council Review Date(s): Please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s0: See http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Additional Information To Be Available Date (URL Activation Date): Not Applicable
Expiration Date: June 30, 2006
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable.
Additional Overview
Content
Executive Summary
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage sex/gender-based drug abuse research that focuses on the mechanisms, origins, and consequences of drug abuse, as well as prevention and treatment interventions and services. It also encourages the study of female-specific issues in all areas of drug abuse.
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
Historically, in drug abuse research, as in other fields of public health research, subjects have largely been male. Research findings emerging in the past few years, however, clearly are establishing the importance of studying issues specific to women and studying male-female differences in all areas of drug abuse research. From basic studies on genetics and neurotransmitters to studies on etiology and interventions, the scientific and clinical importance of analyzing data separately for males and females is becoming more and more evident.
Accumulating epidemiological and clinical research indicates that the predictors and progression to drug abuse and dependence are often gender-specific or are gender-sensitive. Depression, conduct disorder, physical and sexual abuse, prenatal drug exposure and family dysfunction are among the variables differentially predictive of drug use, abuse, and dependence in males and females. In some cases, predictors are stronger for either males or females, i.e., gender-sensitive. In other cases, predictors apply only to males or to females, i.e., they are gender-specific. The implications of gender-based differences in risk factors for prevention and treatment interventions are largely unexplored; however, these differences raise the possibility that interventions that are designed to target gender-sensitive and gender-specific risk factors and that are guided by well-established sex/gender differences in psychosocial and cognitive development could improve outcomes for both males and females.
Animal and human laboratory research has shown that males and females often differ in their biological responses to drugs. Animal studies, for example, have found male-female differences in the motor-activating effects of stimulants, speed of acquisition of drug self-administration, the amount of drug self-administered, the percentage of subjects that acquire self-administration, motivation for self-administration, and the tendency to relapse following drug cessation. Human and animal pharmacokinetic studies often report male and female differences, as do studies of adverse effects of abused drugs. Both human and animal studies have established that the menstrual/estrous cycle is a determinant of drug action, both pharmacokinetic and behavioral. A growing number of brain-imagining studies are reporting male-female differences. Despite the important progress made in laboratory-based sex/gender research, the work is just beginning and many questions remain unaddressed.
Numerous male-female differences in nicotine have been reported, including differences in the use patterns and dependence susceptibility, cessation rates and relapse rates, effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapies and other pharmacotherapies, control of smoking by non-nicotine factors, and the genetics of nicotine addiction including the genetic basis of nicotine metabolism. Indeed, research on male-female differences in nicotine dependence has exceeded that of other drugs of abuse and thus may serve to guide research on other abused drugs. Nevertheless, many gaps remain in our understanding of male-female differences in the nature of nicotine addiction and its prevention and treatment, including issues specific to females such as the menstrual cycle and weight control issues.
According to 2004 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among reported HIV cases that progress to a diagnosis of AIDS, drug abuse is associated with a greater percentage of cases among women than among men. Over one third (37 percent) of women diagnosed with AIDS are injecting drug users (IDUs) whereas among men, 21 percent of AIDS cases are IDUs. An additional 14 percent of women with AIDS, compared with nine percent of men with AIDS, report having sex with users who inject drugs. Thus, in all, drug abuse is directly or indirectly associated with 51 percent of the reported AIDS cases in women compared to 30 percent of the reported cases in men. Recent research suggests that male-female related differences exist in some fundamental aspects of the HIV/AIDS disease process; for example, an HIV-infected woman with half the amount of virus circulating in the bloodstream as an infected man will progress to a diagnosis of AIDS in about the same time. Additionally numerous male-female HIV risk factors in drug abusers have been identified and there is evidence that HIV risk reduction interventions may impact men and women differently. Although drug abuse plays a greater role in HIV in women than in men, major gaps remain in knowledge regarding male-female differences in the role of drug abuse in HIV/AIDS and the unique needs of women.
Male-female differences are emerging in various aspects of treatment research including treatment entry characteristics, treatment and services needs, barriers to treatment, treatment engagement and retention, treatment outcomes, and relapse. Such research points to the need to address the possibility that existing treatments shown to be effective for both males and females could be improved by the addition of gender-informed approaches.
The extant literature on male-female differences in drug abuse strongly suggests that males and females are likely to differ in many aspects of drug abuse yet to be explored and that in the long run, identifying and understanding such differences can improve our understanding of the nature and etiology of drug abuse and have implications for tailoring prevention and treatment interventions to maximize outcomes for both males and females. Although progress has been made in knowledge of male-female differences in drug abuse and issues unique to women, noteworthy gaps remain. Often, studies fail to include gender analyses, and only a small proportion of animal research includes female subjects thus providing no opportunity to analyze data for male-female differences. Thus, in all areas of drug abuse, research is needed that examines male-female differences and issues specific to females.
In referring to differences between males and females, distinctions are often made in the use of the terms 'sex-difference' and 'gender-difference.' In this program announcement, for brevity and because it is often not known a priori whether a difference is sex-based or gender-based, the term 'gender- difference' is sometimes used to refer to both types of differences, as is the term sex/gender difference. By convention, however, in animal research, the term sex differences is preferred over gender differences. Additionally, researchers are encouraged to recognize that a sex/gender difference is often a proxy for an unidentified independent variable(s). Thus, finding a sex/gender difference often should be regarded as a first step in a search for such variables.
Areas of research interest for this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) include, but are not limited to, the following:
I. MECHANISMS AND ORIGINS: Sex/gender differences in the basic behavioral, biological, and genetic mechanisms underlying drug abuse and dependence; and preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies of sex/gender differences in the determinants of initiation, progression, and maintenance of drug use and dependence.
II. CONSEQUENCES AND IMPACT: Laboratory (both human and animal), field, and clinical research aimed at (1) identifying male-female differences in the consequences of drug use, abuse, and addiction following acute use, chronic use, as well as residual effects following prolonged abstinence, and (2) examining drug-related consequences that are unique to females.
III. PREVENTION AND PREVENTION SERVICES: The application of sex/gender-specific theories and empirical findings on the origins, pathways, and risk and protective factors related to drug use, progression/transition, and maintenance, to the design, development, and testing of sex/gender-based prevention strategies and interventions to determine efficacy and effectiveness.
IV. TREATMENT AND TREATMENT SERVICES: The development and testing of theoretically-based drug treatment approaches (including behavioral treatment and pharmacotherapies) that address gender-specific issues, and the examination of gender-specific issues related to the effective and efficient delivery of drug abuse treatment services.
V. HIV/AIDS and RELATED INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Develop and evaluate gender-specific interventions directed at preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and related infectious diseases among drug using populations at every age level.
CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES
In addition to the above areas of research on male-female differences and issues unique to women, several research considerations and topic areas apply to many areas of research. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1.
Mechanism of Support
This funding opportunity will use the NIH
Small Research Grant (R03) award mechanism. The applicant 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). All applications submitted in response to this FOA must use the modular budget format. Specifically, since 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).
Competing renewal (formerly competing continuation ) applications will not be accepted for the R03 grant mechanism. Small grant support may not be used for thesis or dissertation research. Up to two resubmissions (formerly revisions/amendments") of a previously reviewed small grant application may be submitted. See NOT-OD-05-046, April 25, 2005.
For specific information about the R03 programs, see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm.
2. Funds Available
Although the financial plans of the NIH 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.
A project period of up to two years and a budget for direct costs of up to two $25,000 modules, or $50,000 per year, may be requested (i.e., a maximum of $100,000 over two years in four modules of $25,000 each). Commensurate F&A costs are allowed.
F&A costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct cost limitation. See NOT-OD-05-004, November 2, 2004.
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 institution/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
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
Registration and Instructions for Submission via Grants.gov
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:
PDs/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
Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form
Note: While both budget components are included in the SF424 (R&R) forms
package, the NIH R03 uses ONLY the PHS398 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 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to
Grants.gov
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): Not Applicable
Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): Standard
dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm.
AIDS Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): Please
see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS.
Peer Review Date(s): Please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Council Review Date(s): Please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): See http://grants1.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.
Once an application package has been successfully submitted through Grants.gov, any errors have been addressed, and the assembled application has been created in the eRA Commons, the PD/PI and the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) have two business days to view the application image.
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).
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 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 Guide (MS Word or PDF) are to be followed, with the following requirements for R03 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
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 R03 small grant is a mechanism for supporting discrete, well-defined projects that realistically can be completed in two years and that require limited levels of funding. Because the research plan is restricted to 10 pages, a small grant application will not have the same level of detail or extensive discussion found in an R01 application. Accordingly, reviewers should evaluate the conceptual framework and general approach to the problem, placing 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 from investigator-generated data. Preliminary data are not required, particularly in applications proposing pilot or feasibility studies.
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 comments, 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. The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria in assigning the application's 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 scientific health 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 will be considered by Program
staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding
applications. Program staff may negotiate modifications of the data and
resource sharing plans with the awardee before recommending funding of an
application. The final version of the data and resource sharing plans
negotiated by both will become a condition of the award of the grant. 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.
Model Organism Sharing Plan: Reviewers are asked to assess
the sharing plan in an administrative note. The sharing plan itself should be
discussed after the application is scored. Whether a sharing plan is reasonable
can be determined by the reviewers on a case-by-case basis, taking into
consideration the organism, the timeline, the applicant's decision to
distribute the resource or deposit it in a repository, and other relevant
considerations. For the R03 mechanism, the presence or adequacy of a plan
should not enter into the scoring of the application.
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/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.
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:
Cora Lee Wetherington, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001
Executive Boulevard, Room 4282, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone:
(301) 434-1319
FAX:
(301) 594-6043
Email: [email protected]
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Not Applicable.
3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
Gary Fleming, J.D.
Chief,
Grants Management Branch
National
Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, DHHS
6101
Executive Boulevard, Room 270, MSC 8403
Bethesda, MD 20892-8403
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone:
(301) 443-6710
Fax: (301)
594-6849
E-mail: [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 (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.
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.
HIV/AIDS
Counseling and Testing Policy for the National Institute on Drug Abuse: Researchers funded by NIDA who are
conducting research in community outreach settings, clinical, hospital
settings, or clinical laboratories and have ongoing contact with clients at
risk for HIV infection, are strongly encouraged to provide HIV risk reduction
education and counseling. HIV counseling should include offering HIV testing
available on-site or by referral to other HIV testing service for persons at
risk for HIV infection including injecting drug users, crack cocaine users, and
sexually active drug users and their sexual partners. For more information see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-01-001.html.
National
Advisory Council on Drug Abuse Recommended Guidelines for the Administration of
Drugs to Human Subjects: The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse recognizes the importance
of research involving the administration of drugs to human subjects and has
developed guidelines relevant to such research. Potential applicants are
encouraged to obtain and review these recommendations of Council before
submitting an application that will administer compounds to human subjects.
The guidelines are available on NIDA's Home Page at www.nida.nih.gov under the Funding, or may
be obtained by calling (301) 443-2755.
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 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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