NEUROLOGICAL MOTOR CONTROL AND MOTOR CONTROL DISORDERS:  RESTITUTIONOF FUNCTION

 

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 3, Part II of II, January 24, 1992

 

PA:  PA-92-36

 

P.T. 34



Keywords:

  Neuromuscular Disorders 

  Neuroscience 

  Neurophysiology 

  Sensory System 

  Electrophysiology 

  Trauma, Cell Biology 

 

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

 

PURPOSE

 

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS),

a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), invites

research grant applications through this Program Announcement (PA)

for support of research on neurological motor control, motor control

disorders, and the restitution of function.  Applications covering a

broad range of activities in the neurological sciences from basic

research to clinical research are encouraged.  It is expected that

regardless of approach, all studies will be focused on normal and

abnormal performance of the nervous system in regard to motor

control.  This type of solicitation is issued to encourage

investigator-initiated research projects in areas of special

programmatic interest to the NINDS.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The NINDS is the principal NIH component for support of basic and

clinical research on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and

rehabilitation of neurological disorders.  Disorders in motor control

occur as sequelae to many neurological and neuromuscular diseases and

disorders.  Understanding these disorders and approaches to

restitution of function in patients with these disorders is difficult

because many elements of the nervous system interact to produce motor

control in healthy individuals.  Motor control involves broad areas

of the central nervous system including the spinal cord, the

cerebellum, and motor areas of the cortex, basal ganglia, and

thalamus among others.  Sensory input is also an important element in

motor control.  In addition, it is being increasingly appreciated

that nerve-muscle interactions and the intrinsic properties of

muscles and tendons may play a significant role in motor control.

The understanding of motor control necessary for appropriate

treatment of its disorders requires a detailed understanding of the

individual elements of motor control systems and, equally, an

understanding of how the different components interact.  This PA is

issued to encourage grant applications that cover a broad range of

motor disorders, areas of the nervous system, and levels of

integration but that share the common focus of motor control and its

disorders.

 

RESEARCH GOALS AND SCOPE

 

This announcement is issued to encourage and foster

investigator-initiated basic, clinical, and applied research on motor

control and its disorders.  Examples of research objectives

appropriate for inclusion in applications responsive to this PA

include:

 

o  Studies of the neurophysiological foundation of motor control;

 

o  Studies of the biomechanics and neuromuscular physiology of motor

control including conscious and automatic control in humans or

animals;

 

o  Studies of the role of sensory systems in motor control;

 

o  Studies of the electrophysiological, neuroendocrine, and

biochemical foundation of motor control;

 

o  Studies of the integration of motor, sensory, and central systems

in gait, postural control, and fine motor control such as hand

movements;

 

o  Studies of the neurological dysfunctions in motor control

associated with cerebellar degeneration, hereditary ataxias,

demyelinating disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, and in

degenerative disorders such as Huntington's and Parkinson's disease;

 

o  Studies of abnormal nervous system functioning after viral

infection, stroke, trauma, toxic insult, or in cerebral palsy and

post-poliomyelitis syndrome;

 

o  Physiologic analysis of basic movement disorder mechanisms and

symptomatology, e.g., chorea, dystonia, rigidity, spasticity, and

tremor;

 

o  Applied research directed at improving or restoring motor control

in neurologically impaired individuals;

 

o  Studies of neurological locomotor abnormalities in AIDS,

neuropathies, atrophies, and other neurological diseases.

 

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

 

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health

promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"

a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This PA,

Neurological Motor and Motor Control Disorders:  Restitution of

Function, is related to the priority area of chronic disabling

conditions.  Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy

People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy

People 2000" (Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the

Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,

DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).

 

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

 

The support mechanisms for this research will be the individual

research grant (RO1), the First Independent Research Support and

Transition (FIRST) Award (R29), Research Career Development Award

(K04), Clinical Investigator Award (K08), and the program project

grant (P01).  The number of awards to be made is dependent upon

receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific

merit and upon availability of funds.

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH

POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL

RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS

 

NIH and ADAMHA policy is that applicants for NIH/ADAMHA clinical

research grants and cooperative agreements will be required to

include minorities and women in study populations so that research

findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease,

disorder or condition under study; special emphasis should be placed

on the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of

diseases, disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect

them.  This policy is intended to apply to males and females of all

ages.  If women or minorities are excluded or inadequately

represented in clinical research, particularly in proposed

population-based studies, a clear compelling rationale should be

provided.

 

The composition of the proposed study population must be described in

terms of gender and racial/ethnic group.  In addition, gender and

racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in developing a research

design and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of

the study.  This information should be included in the form PHS 398

in Section 2, A-D of the Research Plan AND summarized in Section 2,

E, Human Subjects.  Applicants/offerers are urged to assess carefully

the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of

minority groups.  However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible

or appropriate in all research projects to include representation of

the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority populations

(i.e., Native Americans (including American Indians or Alaska

Natives), Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics).

 

The rationale for studies on single minority population groups should

be provided.

 

For the purpose of this policy, clinical research includes human

biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology,

prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of

diseases, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to

clinical trials.

 

The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also

apply.  Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues

cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded.  However,

every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and

racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of

the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants.

 

For foreign awards, the policy on inclusion of women applies fully;

since the definition of minority differs in other countries, the

applicant must discuss the relevance of research involving foreign

population groups to the United States' populations, including

minorities.

 

If the required information is not contained within the application,

the application will be returned.

 

Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in

the application conforms to these policies.  If the representation of

women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the

scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the

selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a

scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be

reflected in assigning the priority score to the application.

 

All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required

to address these policies.  NIH funding components will not award

grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these

policies.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

 

Applications must be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398

(Rev. 10/88, reprinted 9/89) and will be accepted on any of the three

receipt dates for research grant applications, February 1, June 1,

and October 1.

 

Application kits are available at most business and grants/contracts

offices and may be obtained from the Office of Grants Inquiries,

Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood

Building, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone (301) 496-7441.

 

On the first (face) page, item 2, of the application, the word "yes"

must be checked and the title and number of the announcement typed in

the space provided:  NEUROLOGICAL MOTOR CONTROL AND MOTOR CONTROL

DISORDERS:  RESTITUTION OF FUNCTION, PA-92-36.

 

Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research

Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research

Resources may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting

the proposed research.  In such a case, a letter of agreement from

either the GCRC program director or Principal Investigator must be

included with the application.

 

The original and six copies of the application must be sent or

delivered to:

 

Application Receipt Office

Division of Research Grants

National Institutes of Health

Westwood Building, Room 240

Bethesda, MD  20892**

 

REVIEW PROCEDURES

 

Applications will receive institute and initial review group (IRG)

assignment on the basis of established Public Health Service referral

guidelines.  Applications will be reviewed for scientific and

technical merit by an IRG. Following IRG review, the applications

will receive a second-level review by an appropriate Council/Board.

Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved

applications assigned to the institute.

 

REVIEW CRITERIA

 

The standard review criteria will be used to assess the scientific

merit of applications.  The IRG will be reviewing the adequacy of

protection of human subjects, the humane care of animals, and

biosafety conditions.  In clinical research studies, reviewers also

will be evaluating the adequacy of the inclusion of women and

minorities in the study populations.

 

STAFF CONTACT

 

Investigators are encouraged to contact:

 

Dr. William Heetderks

Division of Fundamental Neuroscience

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Federal Building, Room 9l6

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-5745

 

Dr. A. P. Kerza-Kwiatecki

Division of Demyelinating, Atrophic, and Dementing Disorders

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Federal Building, Room 804

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-1431

 

Dr. Floyd J. Brinley, Jr.

Division of Convulsive, Developmental, and Neuromuscular Disorders

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Federal Building, Room 816

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-6541

 

Dr. Patricia A. Grady

Division of Stroke and Trauma

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Federal Building, Room 8A10

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-4226

 

For fiscal and administrative matters contact:

 

Kathleen Howe

Grants Management Specialist

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Federal Building, Room 1004

7550 Wisconsin Ave.

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-9231

 

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

 

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance No. 93.854 - Biological Basis Research in Neurosciences,

and 93.853 - Clinical Research related to Neurological Disorders.

Grants will be awarded under the authority of the Public Health

Service Act, Title III, Section 301 (Public Law 78-410, as amended;

42 USC 241) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal

Regulations at 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is

not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive

Order 12372 or a Health Systems Agency review.

 

.

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