MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY OF METASTATIC TUMOR CELLS Release Date: February 23, 1998 PA NUMBER: PA-98-029 P.T. National Cancer Institute PURPOSE The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites exploratory/developmental grant applications to study the molecular and cellular biology of metastatic tumor cells. This special initiative is designed to promote collaborations and facilitate scientific interchange between investigators, one with experience in the biology of metastasis and the other in a more basic scientific discipline such as molecular or cellular biology, or biochemistry. Therefore, prospective Principal Investigators need to identify a research collaborator. 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, Molecular And Cellular Biology of Metastatic Tumor Cells, is related to the priority area of cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by foreign and 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. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Support of this program will be through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) exploratory/development research grant (R21). Applicants will be responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project. Awards will be administered under the PHS policy as stated in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, revised April 1, 1994 and in this PA. The direct costs per year for each application funded by the NCI must not exceed $75,000. The total project period for an application funded by the NCI in response to this PA may not exceed two years and is not renewable. The Exploratory/Developmental Research Grants program (R21) provides limited funds for short-term research projects. These grants provide an opportunity for initiating studies that may be preliminary in nature. Research investigators in relevant fields are invited to apply for these grants in order to develop preliminary data that could form the basis of future research project grant (R01) applications. The Principal Investigator must be accountable to the applicant organization officials for the proper conduct of the project. The research collaborator must be named and their time and effort should be listed on the budget page. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The goal of this initiative is to provide funds for preliminary research projects that will form the basis of future R01 applications to investigate metastasis. The intent is to (1) foster collaborative research between investigators with basic molecular and cellular biological and biochemical research experience, and those with experience in metastasis research, and (2) increase the number of laboratories and investigators addressing issues of metastasis. The scope of the research may encompass the application of any aspect of molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry to the investigation of metastasis biology. Applications should be for preliminary data gathering or pilot feasibility studies, and should be founded on the combined research experience of the Principal Investigator and his/her collaborator. The application should specifically address how the application meets the intent of the initiative, e.g., the development of a new collaboration between an investigator with basic molecular and cellular biological and biochemical research experience and one with experience in metastasis research. Furthermore, the research collaborator should address how the proposed research will relate to and integrate with other ongoing research in his/her laboratory. Just as the initiative is intended to foster a research collaboration, the application itself should clearly be the product of in-depth discussions and input from both the research collaborator and the Principal Investigator. 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 is provided 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 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 20, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and 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 Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines as indicated in the application kit. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, E-mail: ASKNIH@od.nih.gov. The title and number of the program announcement must be typed in Section 2 on the face page of the application and the YES box must be marked. The completed original application and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to: CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be assigned on the basis of established Public Health Service referral guidelines. Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by study sections of the Center for Scientific Review, NIH in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. Following scientific-technical review, the applications will receive a second-level review by the appropriate national advisory council. Review Criteria The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. The reviewers will comment on the following aspects of the application in their written critiques 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 by the reviewers in assigning the overall score weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that the application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have a 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. 1. Significance. Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field? 2. Approach. Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? 3. Innovation. Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or method? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies? 4. Investigator. Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers (if any)? 5. Environment. Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? The initial review group will also examine: the appropriateness of proposed project budget and duration; the adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research and plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects; the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects; and the safety of the research environment. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of funds, and program priority. The following additional factors will be considered for applications assigned to the NCI: --In order to increase the number of laboratories and investigators with potential for a long-term commitment to metastasis research, preference in funding will be given to those investigators that are early in their research careers --The extent to which the proposed research develops collaborations that address the purpose of the initiative --How the proposed research relates to and integrates with other ongoing research in the research collaborator's laboratory INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Dr. Suresh Mohla Cancer Biology Branch National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza North, Room 505 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7028 FAX: (301) 402-1037 Email: sm82e@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal and administrative issues to: Mr. Brian Albertini Grants Management Specialist National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza South, Room 243 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7800 ext. 249 Email: albertib@gab.nci.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.396, Cancer Biology. 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 and part 92. 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 and contract recipients to provide a smoke- free workplace and promote the non-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 of the American people.
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