Full Text PA-96-023
 
PILOT PROJECT RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE NIA
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 3, February 9, 1996
 
PA NUMBER:  PA-96-023
 
P.T. 34

Keywords: 
  Aging/Gerontology 
  Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl 

 
National Institute on Aging
 
PURPOSE
 
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is seeking small grant (R03)
applications to stimulate and facilitate the entry of promising new
investigators into targeted, high priority areas of aging research.
This Small Grant (R03) Program provides support for pilot research
that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research project
grant (R01) or a First Independent Research Support and Transition
(FIRST) (R29) award application and/or a significant advancement of
aging research.
 
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 program
announcement, Pilot Project Research Grant Program for the NIA, is
related to the priority areas of unintentional injuries, diabetes and
chronic disabling conditions, and immunization and infectious
diseases.  Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People
2000" (Full Report:  Stock No. 017-001-11474-0) or "Healthy People
2000" (Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-11473-1) through the
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit
organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges,
hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and
eligible agencies of the Federal government.  Racial/ethnic minority
individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to
apply as principal investigators.  Foreign organizations and
institutions are not eligible.  Participation in the program by
investigators at minority institutions is strongly encouraged.  Pilot
project grants awarded through this Program Announcement may not be
used to support thesis or dissertation research.
 
To be eligible for this award, the proposed Principal Investigator
must, at a minimum, be an independent investigator at the beginning
of her/his research career as defined by the eligibility requirements
for a FIRST (R29) award. Established investigators proposing research
unrelated to a currently funded research program are also eligible to
apply for these grants.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
Applicants may request up to $50,000 (direct costs) for one year
through the small grant (R03) mechanism.  However, the grants will be
awarded under Expanded Authorities and are eligible for a single
one-year no cost extension.  These awards are not renewable.  Before
completion of the R03, investigators are encouraged to seek
continuing support for research through a research project grant
(R01) or FIRST (R29) award.
 
The award may not be used for salary support for the principal
investigator, but may be used to support the costs of technicians or
fellows to carry out the research.
 
Replacement of the Principal Investigator on this award is not
permitted.
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 
The Small Grant program is designed to support independent basic and
clinical scientists who are interested in entering the area of aging
research.
 
Targeted aims
 
For 1996, investigators may apply for a small grant to support
research on one of the following topics relevant to aging research:
 
o  Aging muscle: basic underlying mechanisms
 
o  Molecular basis of cardiovascular aging
 
o  Aging immunobiology: basic underlying mechanisms
 
o  Animal models of aging
 
o  Clinical studies focusing on a systems physiology (i.e.,
integrative) approach in defining age-associated changes in the human
cardiovascular system
 
o  Clinical studies of the physiologic/metabolic consequences of
age-related changes in the mass and/or other properties of skeletal
muscle
 
o  Neural mechanisms of age-related changes in attention
 
o  Aging protein: Protein structure changes with aging with special
emphasis on the nervous system
 
o  Mechanisms underlying changes in spatial and temporal processing
in sensory systems of the aging brain
 
o  Mechanisms underlying changes in sleep processes in older
organisms
 
o  Social Cognition and Aging
 
o  Effect of immigrant flow on population aging
 
o  Biodemography of Aging
 
o  Health, Work and Retirement
 
Applications for support in areas other than those stated will be
returned to the proposed Principal Investigator without review.  The
National Institute on Aging will modify the selected topic areas
annually by reissuing the program announcement.
 
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN
SUBJECTS
 
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups
and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported
biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects,
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are
provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health
of the subjects of the purpose of the research.  This new policy
results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of
Public Law 103-43) and  supersedes and strengthens the previous
policies (Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and
Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations) which
have been in effect since 1990.  The new policy contains some
provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research", which have been published in the
Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and reprinted
in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11,
March 18, 1994.
 
Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program
staff listed under INQUIRIES.  Program staff may also provide
additional relevant information concerning the policy.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
The submission, review, and award schedule for the Small Grant
Program for 1996 is:
 
Application Receipt Dates:          03/12/96   07/12/96    11/12/96
Institute Committee Review:         Jun-Jul    Oct-Nov     Feb-Mar
Earliest funding:                   Sept        Jan         May
 
Only one Small Grant application may be submitted by a principal
investigator per receipt date.  Applicants may not submit R01 or R29
applications on the same topic concurrent (to be considered at the
same review cycle) with the submission of a Small Grant application.
 
Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS
398 (rev. 5/95) and prepared according to the directions in the
application packet, with the exceptions noted below.  Applications
kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored
research and may be obtained from the Grants Information Office,
Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National
Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD
20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email:  girg@drgpo.drg.nih.gov.
On the face page of the application: Item 2 Type "Pilot Project
Research Grant Program for the NIA".  Check the "YES" box.
 
Sections 1-4:  Do not exceed a total of ten pages for the following
sections: specific aims, background and significance, progress
report/preliminary studies, and experimental design and methods.
Tables and figures are included in the ten page limitation.
Applications that exceed the page limitation or PHS requirements for
type size and margins  (Refer to PHS 398 application  for details)
will be returned to the investigator.  The ten page limitation does
not include Sections 5-9 (Human Subjects, Consortia, Literature
cited).  Appendix materials are not allowed.
 
Submit a signed, original of the application, including the
checklist, and three exact photocopies in one package to:
 
DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for courier/overnight service)
 
In addition, to expedite the review of the application, submit two
additional exact photocopies of the application directly to
 
Chief, Scientific Review Office
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building Suite 2C212, MSC 9205
7201 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20892-9205
 
In order not to delay review, it is important that applicants comply
with this request.
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
A review committee of the NIA will evaluate each Small Grant
application in accordance with the usual NIH peer review procedures
and criteria.  Applications will be evaluated with respect to the
following criteria:
 
o  Importance of the area to aging research
 
o  Feasibility of the proposed exploratory research
 
o  Likelihood of the proposed pilot project leading to the
development of an R01/R29 grant application, or significant
advancement of aging research.
 
o  Adequacy of approach and scientific originality and significance
 
o  "High risk" with likelihood for "high gain"
 
o  Appropriateness of the proposed budget and timetable in relation
to the scope of the proposed research.
 
o  Qualifications and research experience of the principal
investigator.
 
o  Availability of resources necessary for the research, including
any needed to supplement the budget.
 
o  The adequacy of the proposed means for protecting against or
minimizing potential adverse effects upon humans, animals, or the
environment.
 
o  Adequacy of adherence to guidelines for including gender and
minority representation in any study population.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved
applications.  The following will be considered in making funding
decisions:
 
o  quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review;
o  availability of funds;
o  program priority.
 
INQUIRIES
 
Inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any issues or
questions from potential applicants is welcome.
 
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
 
Biology of Aging Program
Dr. David B. Finkelstein
Telephone:  (301) 496-6402
FAX:  (301) 402-0010
Email: BAPquery@gw.nia.nih.gov
 
Behavioral and Social Research
Dr. Jared Jobe
Telephone: (301) 496-3137
FAX: (301) 402-0051
Email: BSRquery@gw.nia.nih.gov
 
Geriatrics Program
Dr. Andre Premen
Telephone:  (301) 496-6761
FAX:  (301) 402-1784
Email:  GPquery@gw.nia.nih.gov
 
Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program
Dr. Judy Finkelstein
Telephone:  (301) 496-9350
FAX:  (301) 496-1494
Email: NNAquery@gw.nia.nih.gov
 
The address and general EMail address for all the above is:
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Suite 2C212
7201 Wisconsin Avenue MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD  20892
Email: NIAPILOT@gw.nia.nih.gov
 
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
 
Robert Pike
Grants and Contracts Management Office
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Suite 2N212
7201 Wisconsin Avenue MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-1472
FAX:  (301) 402-3672
Email: pikeR@gw.nia.nih.gov
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.366.  Awards are made under authorization of the
Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410), as
amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered
under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45
CFR Part 74.  This program is not subject to the intergovernmental
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency
review.
 
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products.
This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the
physical and mental health of the American people.
 
.

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