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 Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.cancer.gov/)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/)
Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), (http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov)
Title: Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R21)
Announcement Type
This is a reissue of PA-04-099,
which was previously released April 30, 2004, and now is divided into
separate FOAs for R21, R03, and R01 grant funding mechanisms.
Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this 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 4 weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Program
Announcement (PA) Number: PA-06-413
Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.393, 93.396, 93.273, 93.848
Key Dates
Release/Posted Date: May 16, 2006
Opening Date: May 16, 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): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS.
Peer Review
Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Council
Review Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Earliest
Anticipated Start Date(s): Standard
dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Additional Information To Be Available Date
(URL Activation Date): Not applicable.
Expiration Date: September 2, 2009 (now September 8, 2009 per NOT-OD-07-093)
Due Dates
for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable.
Additional Overview
Content
Executive Summary
The aim of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to promote clinical and preclinical research to determine how diet and dietary factors, including dietary supplements, impact DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modification, and other epigenetic processes involved in cancer prevention and development. Another important aim of this initiative is to encourage collaborations between nutrition and epigenetic experts to study bioactive food components with cancer-preventative properties and to examine key epigenetic events in cancer processes (e.g., carcinogen metabolism, cell division, differentiation, and apoptosis) in order to begin to establish linkages between epigenetics, methylation patterns, and tumor incidences/behaviors. NIAAA is specifically interested in receiving applications that examine the impact(s) of chronic alcohol consumption on levels of SAM, betaine, and folate, and possible associations with DNA methylation and cancer. NIDDK is particularly interested in receiving applications that address normal and neoplastic conditions focusing on the impact of epigenetics on cell division, differentiation, and/or apoptosis in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and related organs.
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
Purpose and Background
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to promote innovative preclinical and clinical research to determine how diet and dietary factors, including dietary supplements, impact epigenetic processes involved in cancer prevention. Although much evidence exists that dietary components are linked to cancer prevention, the specific nutrients and sites of action remain elusive. Diet, in fact, has been implicated in many of the pathways of cancer, including apoptosis, cell cycle control, differentiation, inflammation, angiogenesis, DNA repair, and carcinogen metabolism. These are also processes that are likely regulated by epigenetic events to impact gene function and chromatin stability. Thus, research supported by this initiative could address one of the following issues: how bioactive food components regulate epigenetic events for cancer prevention, how bioactive food components might alter aberrant epigenetic patterns or events and restore gene function, and how these components might circumvent or compensate for genes and pathways that are altered by epigenetic events. Another important aim of this FOA is to encourage collaborations between nutrition scientists and experts in epigenetics to study bioactive food components with cancer-preventative properties and to examine key epigenetic events in cancer processes (e.g., carcinogen metabolism, cell division, differentiation, and apoptosis) in order to begin to establish linkages between epigenetic events and patterns, and tumor incidences/behaviors. NIDDK is particularly interested in receiving applications that address normal and neoplastic conditions focusing on the impact of epigenetics on cell division, differentiation, and/or apoptosis in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and related organs. It is also expected that each application demonstrate experience in nutrition and cancer prevention as well as in epigenetic research.
Cancer is a manifestation of both abnormal genetic and epigenetic events. Epigenetic events represent important mechanism(s) by which gene function is selectively activated or inactivated. DNA methylation is the covalent addition of a methyl group to the 5 position of cytosine within CpG dinucleotides and is a fundamental process that not only modulates gene expression, but also is key to regulating chromosomal stability. Fluctuations in the degree of CpG island methylation are key to regulating functional promoters by modifying the binding of transcription factors and methyl-DNA binding proteins. A variety of regulatory proteins including DNA methyltransferases, methyl-CpG binding proteins, histone modifying enzymes, chromatin remodeling factors, and their multimolecular complexes are involved in the overall epigenetic process. Since epigenetic events are susceptible to change, they represent excellent targets to explain how environmental factors, including diet, may modify cancer risk and tumor behavior. Abnormal DNA methylation patterns are a hallmark of most cancers, including those of high prevalence in the United States, i.e., colon, lung, prostate, and breast cancer.
Preclinical and clinical studies provide intriguing evidence that part of the anticancer properties attributed to several bioactive food components, encompassing both essential and non-essential nutrients, may relate to modulation of epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation. There are at least four ways in which nutrients may be interrelated with DNA methylation. The first is that nutrients may influence the supply of methyl groups for the formation of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). The second mechanism is that nutrients may modify utilization of methyl groups by processes including shifts in DNA methyltransferase activity. A third plausible mechanism may relate to DNA demethylation activity. Finally, the DNA methylation patterns may influence the response to a nutrient.
Emerging evidence indicates that various chromatin states such as histone modifications (acetylation and methylation) and nucleosome positioning (modulated by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling machines) determine DNA methylation patterning. Histone modifications have recently generated a great deal of excitement in epigenetic research, culminating in the histone code hypothesis. Evidence suggests that butyrate, which is formed in the large intestine by fermentation of dietary fiber, may mediate gene expression by encouraging interactions between a DNA binding protein and a histone acetyltransferase. For example, the zinc-finger binding protein-89, a DNA-binding protein that binds GC-rich sites, has been found to mediate butyrate-induced expression of the p21waf1 gene through interaction of p300 (a histone acetyltransferase) with subsequent recruitment of the transcriptional activator Sp1 to this complex. Recent findings have also implicated bioactive food components, including sulforaphane from cruciferous vegetables, diallyl disulfide from garlic, and genistein from soy, as weak inhibitors of histone deacetylases. More mechanistic studies are needed to characterize additional gene-specific histone modifications brought about by bioactive food components.
Alcohol, DNA
Methylation, and Cancer
In vivo chronic ethanol exposure of animals impairs methionine metabolism by decreasing the activities of methionine synthase and methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT). It also depletes hepatic folate, which is a source of methyl group for remethylation of homocysteine, and depletes liver betaine, an alternate source of methyl groups. The ultimate effect of these changes is decreased levels of SAM and increased levels of homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine results in increased intracellular levels of S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH) through a reversible reaction catalyzed by SAH hydrolase. Studies in animals have shown that chronic ethanol exposure can increase intracellular level of SAH which is a potent inhibitor of several methyltransferases including DNA methyltransferases, which catalyze the transfer of methyl group from SAM to DNA. Depletion of SAM levels and inhibition of DNA methyltransferases activity by chronic alcohol exposure can lead to DNA hypomethylation, which could in turn play an important role in carcinogenesis. A connection between SAM depletion and cancer has been demonstrated in SAM-deficient MAT1A knockout mice which develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, dietary SAM supplementation has been shown to reduce hepatic neoplastic nodules in animal models of HCC. Another dietary source of methyl group, betaine (trimethylglycine), has been shown to increase levels of SAM and decrease levels of SAH in livers of rats chronically exposed to alcohol. Thus, betaine is potentially capable of partially improving DNA methylation by increasing SAM levels and by rescuing DNA methyltransferases from the inhibitory effect of SAH.
Additional Research Objectives
Studies submitted in response to this FOA should link phenotypic changes to epigenetic alterations induced by specific bioactive food components. The resulting information will be critical for optimizing effective dietary intervention strategies for cancer prevention. Investigators may choose from the full range of clinical and preclinical approaches. The focus should be on how individual dietary components influence epigenetic events and how this correlates with phenotypic change. Very little information currently exists about gene-specific epigenetic changes as influenced by bioactive food components; furthermore, very little information exists to adequately evaluate the specificity of individual nutrients, the impact of intakes/exposures, and any acclimation with time and/or tissue specificity. Thus, this initiative encourages the submission of novel approaches to unravel relationships between epigenetic events, diet, and cancer prevention.
Examples of Relevant Topics
The NIH Exploratory/Developmental (R21) Grant Mechanism
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.
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, which was published in the NIH Guide on 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 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.
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 2-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 2-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, which was published in the NIH Guide.
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
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)
SBIR/STTR 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 4 weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately
check with their business official to determine whether their institution is already
registered in both Grants.gov and the 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, E-mail: [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
Research & Related Budget
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 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 special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily available in the United States or that augment existing U.S. resources.
3. Submission Dates and
Times
See Section IV.3.A for details.
3.A. Submission, Review,
and Anticipated Start Dates
Opening Date: May 16, 2006
Letters 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): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS
Peer Review
Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Council
Review Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Earliest
Anticipated Start Date(s): Standard dates apply, please 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.
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 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.
- Publications in press: Include only a publication list with a link to the on-line publicly available journal article or the PubMed Central (PMC) submission identification number. Do not include the entire article.
- Manuscripts accepted for publication but not yet published: The entire article may be submitted electronically as a PDF attachment.
- Manuscripts published but an online journal link is not available: The entire article may be submitted electronically as a PDF attachment.
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 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any
related data sharing plans will be considered by Program staff of the funding
organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The
effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the
administrative review of each Non-Competing Grant
Progress Report (PHS 2590). 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 R21 mechanism, the presence or adequacy of a plan should not enter into the scoring of the application.
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 U.S. Public
Health Service (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.
Applications that are complete will be evaluated
for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate review group convened by the NIH Center for Scientific
Review in accordance with the review
criteria stated below.
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 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 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
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.
Model Organism Sharing Plan: If
applicable, 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 R21 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 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
e-mail 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.
The NCI is developing a
policy that will require Clinical Terms of Awards for clinical studies and
trials when they are a component of the proposed research. The policy will
require that studies be monitored commensurate with the degree of potential
risk to study subjects and the complexity of the study. The new policy will be
posted in the NIH Guide within a few weeks. All funded applicants will be
expected to adhere to the new policy.
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:
Sharon A. Ross, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
6130
Executive Boulevard, EPN Room 3157, MSC 7328
Bethesda, MD 20892-7328 (for U.S. Postal Service express or regular mail)
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier delivery)
Telephone: (301) 594-7547
Fax: (301) 480-3925
E-mail: [email protected]
Vishnudutt Purohit, Ph.D.
Division of Metabolism and Health Effects
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health
5635 Fishers Lane,
Room 2035, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
Telephone: 301-443-2689
Fax: 301-594-0673
Email: [email protected]
Michael K. May, Ph.D.
National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
6707
Democracy Boulevard, 2 Democracy Plaza
Room 663, MSC 5450
Bethesda, MD 20892-5450 (for U.S. Postal Service express or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier delivery)
Telephone:
301-594-8884
Fax:
301-480-8300
Email: [email protected]
Rebecca B. Costello, Ph.D., F.A.C.N.
Office of Dietary Supplements
Office of the Director
National
Institutes of Health
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 3B01, MSC 7517
Bethesda, MD 20892-7517
Telephone: (301) 435-2920
Fax: (301) 480-1845
E-mail: [email protected]
2. Peer
Review Contacts:
Not applicable.
3. Financial or
Grants Management Contacts:
Debbie Dunne
Office of Grants Administration
National Cancer Institute
6120 Executive Boulevard, EPN Room 243, MSC 7150
Bethesda, MD 20892-7150 (for U.S. Postal Service express or regular mail)
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier delivery)
Telephone: (301) 496-3154
Fax: (301) 402-4918
E-mail: [email protected]
Judy Fox
Chief, Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism
5635 Fishers Lane, Room 3023, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
Rockville, MD 20852-1705
Phone: (301)443-4704
Fax: (301)443-3891
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); and 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 institutional
review board (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 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm).
All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning
with the October 1, 2004, receipt date, are expected to include in the
application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will
permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public
funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a
cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications
where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
Inclusion of Women And Minorities in Clinical Research:
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of
minority groups and their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported
clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling justification is
provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health
of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from the
NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). All
investigators proposing clinical research should read the "NIH Guidelines
for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm. The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH
definition of clinical research; updated racial and ethnic categories in
compliance with the new OMB standards; clarification of language governing
NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials consistent with the SF424 (R&R); and
updated roles and responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community.
The policy continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials
that: a) all applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a
description of plans to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address
differences by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if
applicable; and b) investigators must report annual accrual and progress in
conducting analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group
differences.
Inclusion of Children as Participants in Clinical
Research:
The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e.,
individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all clinical research,
conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical
reasons not to include them.
All investigators proposing research involving human
subjects should read the "NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion
of children as participants in research involving human subjects (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm).
Required Education on the Protection of Human
Subject Participants:
NIH policy requires education on the protection of
human subject participants for all investigators submitting NIH applications
for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key
personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC):
Criteria for Federal funding of research on hESCs can
be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html. Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the
NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide in
the project description and elsewhere in the application as appropriate, the
official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC line(s) to be used in the proposed
research. Applications that do not provide this information will be returned
without review.
NIH Public Access Policy:
NIH-funded investigators are requested to submit to
the NIH manuscript submission (NIHMS) system (http://www.nihms.nih.gov)
at PubMed Central (PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript
upon acceptance for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or
in part with direct costs from NIH. The author's final manuscript is defined as
the final version accepted for journal publication, and includes all
modifications from the publishing peer review process.
NIH is requesting that authors submit manuscripts
resulting from: 1) currently funded NIH research projects; or 2) previously
supported NIH research projects if they are accepted for publication on or
after May 2, 2005. The NIH Public Access Policy applies to all research grant
and career development award mechanisms, cooperative agreements, contracts,
Institutional and Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service
Awards, as well as NIH intramural research studies. The Policy applies to
peer-reviewed, original research publications that have been supported in whole
or in part with direct costs from NIH, but it does not apply to book chapters,
editorials, reviews, or conference proceedings. Publications resulting from
non-NIH-supported research projects should not be submitted.
For more information about the Policy or the
submission process, please visit the NIH Public Access Policy Web site at http://PublicAccess.nih.gov/ and
view the Policy or other Resources and Tools including the Authors' Manual (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/publicaccess_manual.htm).
Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable
Health Information:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of Individually
Identifiable Health Information," the "Privacy Rule," on August 14, 2002. The Privacy Rule is a Federal regulation under the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection
of individually identifiable health information, and is administered and
enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions about applicability and implementation of
the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR web
site (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides
information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set
of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the
impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and
research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
URLs in NIH Grant Applications or Appendices:
All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be
self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in
an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide
information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation
to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their
anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.
Healthy People 2010:
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of
"Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting
priority areas. This FOA is related to one or more of the priority areas.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
Authority and Regulations:
This program is
described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health
Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301
and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and
under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be
found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to
provide a smoke-free workplace and discourage the use of all tobacco products.
In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits
smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in
which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early
childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent
with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of
the American people.
Loan Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages applications for educational loan
repayment from qualified health professionals who have made a commitment to
pursue a research career involving clinical, pediatric, contraception,
infertility, and health disparities related areas. The LRP is an important
component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the next generation of
researchers by providing the means for developing a research career unfettered
by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is not required for
eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications are encouraged.
The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing the LRP
recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP awardees must
commit at least 50 percent of their time (at least 20 hours per week based on a
40-hour week) for 2 years to the research. For further information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
|
| ||||||
|
|
|
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
|
|||
|
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health® |
||||||