and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH CENTERS IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (TRCBS)
Release Date: December 5, 2000
PA NUMBER: PAR-01-027 (see replacement PAR-04-151)
National Institute of Mental Health
(http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)
Letter of Intent Receipt Dates: February 12 and September 22, 2001
September 22, 2002
September 22, 2003
Application Receipt Dates: March 12 and October 22, 2001
October 22, 2002
October 22, 2003
PURPOSE
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) invites research grant
applications for Translational Research Centers in Behavioral Science (TRCBS).
The purpose of these centers is to support the translation of work from basic
behavioral science research, and relevant integrative neuroscience research, to
pressing issues regarding all aspects of mental disorders. Such clinical issues
include an understanding of the etiology and assessment of disorders, the
assessment of functioning, development of innovative and culturally appropriate
preventive, treatment and rehabilitation interventions, and improvement of
methods for the effective delivery of mental health services. The centers are
also intended to encourage basic behavioral scientists to seek a further
understanding of behavioral processes through an exploration of how those
processes are altered by mental and behavioral disorders.
These Centers are intended to support integrated research teams drawn from the
fields of basic behavioral and social sciences, neuroscience, epidemiology,
prevention, academic mental health, and mental health services delivery.
Centers are to develop hypothesis-driven approaches to an important research
question, or a focused set of research questions, using innovative designs and
cutting-edge approaches to methodological and statistical issues. An important
goal of the centers is to transcend the barriers of disciplines, research
settings, and institutions in order to harness the full range of modern
behavioral science to the service of the nation’s critical mental health needs.
(See the recent Institute of Medicine report, Bridging Disciplines in the
Brain, Behavioral, and Clinical Sciences, available at
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9942.html.)
This Program Announcement (PA) is one of two announcements developed in response
to a report written by the National Advisory Mental Health Council’s Behavioral
Science Workgroup, entitled Translating Behavioral Science into Action
(http://www.nimh.nih.gov/tbsia/tbsiatoc.cfm). The other announcement describes
a range of collaborative arrangements designed to foster smaller-scale and
developmental activities in translational research in the behavioral sciences
(see RFA-MH-01-005 at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-01-005.html).
This PA expires 3 years from the Release Date shown above.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion
and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national
activity for setting priority areas. This PA, Translational Research Centers in
Behavioral Science, is related to the priority area of Mental Health and Mental
Disorders. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/.
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. Foreign institutions are not eligible for center grants
(P50). Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities
are encouraged to apply as principal investigators.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
A TRCBS will use the Center Grant mechanism (P50), which provides support for
multidisciplinary and multi-investigator approaches to the investigation of
specific and complex research problems requiring the application of diverse
expertise and methodologies.
Applicants may request support for a period of up to 5 years, followed by a
competitive renewal application for a second 5-year period. The NIMH will not
support individual Centers for longer than two funding periods. Centers are
limited to $1.5 million in direct costs in any single year, including non-
competing continuation years. Competitive supplements will not be considered
for these Center grants. It is anticipated that individual projects that are
outgrowths of Center activity will seek independent funding through mechanisms
such as research project grants (R01).
Since TRCBSs are defined by their integrative nature and not by departmental or
geographic boundaries, projects constituting a given Center may be based at a
variety of institutions, representing both basic and clinical or services
research. While the Facilities and Administrative (F & A) costs associated with
all contractual and consortium arrangements are considered as direct costs to
the applicant organization, for the purposes of this announcement only, these
will not count against the program direct costs cap of $1.5 million per year.
(However, these costs should be indicated as instructed on Form 398, rev. 4/98.)
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Background
As enumerated in the recent Surgeon General’s report on mental health (available
at http://www.nimh.nih.gov), mental disorders affect approximately 15-20 percent
of the U.S. population, annually. These disorders represent a major cause of
disability: In a recent study of developed nations, mental disorders comprised
four of the ten most severe causes of disability (depression, schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder). In the most recent
estimate, the costs of treating mental illness were nearly $70 billion per year,
with billions of dollars more in lost wages and other indirect costs. In view
of these pressing needs, all available resources must be applied toward efforts
to improve the prevention, treatment options, and delivery of services for
mental disorders.
The field of behavioral science represents a major potential resource to address
these urgent problems. Accordingly, NIMH has for many decades been a primary
source of support for research in the basic behavioral sciences. This long-term
investment in behavioral research has resulted in the development of a large
literature of data, theories, and methods regarding various aspects of human
behavior. A number of investigators have applied this body of knowledge to
issues in mental disorders. However, to a surprising extent, considerable areas
of relevant and potentially valuable basic behavioral research have remained
largely separated from academic clinical departments, schools of public health,
or mental health services settings. A number of problems can be identified
which impede such translation. These include: growing disciplinary
fragmentation, the fact that basic, clinical, and services researchers typically
work in different venues, a disjunction in training between basic and clinical
researchers, the incentive system in academic research, which typically rewards
quantitative productivity in narrow areas, and, the frequent unavailability of
clinical populations to basic researchers.
In 1999, the NIMH Director and the National Advisory Mental Health Council
convened the Behavioral Science Workgroup to explore ways to increase the impact
of behavioral science research on public mental health issues. The Workgroup
was comprised of experts in social, cognitive, developmental, and clinical
psychology, psychophysiology, anthropology, sociology, public health, and
biostatistics. In their report, "Translating Behavioral Science into Action,"
they highlighted three priority areas of translational behavioral science
research. These included: (1) Basic behavioral processes in mental illness, (2)
Functional abilities in mental illness, and (3) Contextual influences on mental
illness and its care. Regarding these three areas, the Workgroup wrote: "These
priority research areas are critical starting points for progress in
translational science because they are at the interface of what end-users have
identified as important and what behavioral science researchers regard as areas
of opportunity. They offer the prospect of conducting exciting research,
advancing scientific understanding of behavior in health and in illness, and
improving the mental health of our Nation."
This announcement represents a major NIMH effort to implement the Workgroup’s
report, by providing for large-scale research centers with the scale and
resources to overcome the barriers to effective translational research. It is
expected that Centers will include sites with multiple components drawn from
basic research in behavioral science and relevant neuroscience, and other
components comprising high-risk populations, clinical populations, and/or
settings where mental health services are provided. In addition to these
fundamental components, Centers are intended to provide for the development of
innovative advances in appropriate methodological and statistical techniques,
and support the training of a new generation of research scientists schooled in
the integration of basic and clinical science.
Center Characteristics
o TRCBSs are expected to be organized around a specific and focused set of
hypotheses, in which one or more areas of basic behavioral science are applied
to clinical issues in mental disorders or mental health services delivery.
Centers will involve a multidisciplinary team of basic and clinical or services
researchers organized to communicate across boundaries or disciplines,
institutions, and settings. Collaborations among different institutions are
encouraged in view of the frequent distinctions between basic science and
clinical/services settings. However, the TRCBS must indicate how communication
will occur across institutional and geographic boundaries so that fully
developed collaborative research partnerships can occur.
o TRCBSs are expected to include components from both basic behavioral science
and clinical or services research settings. Each TRCBS must demonstrate the
integration of basic and clinical work, with an organization conceived to
promote sharing of information in both directions between the basic and clinical
or services components. Thus, research programs in the basic behavioral
sciences should serve as a source of concepts and methods for clinical work,
data gathered from clinical or high-risk populations may prompt additional
research questions to be tested with non-clinical samples, or new methodological
questions to be addressed.
o The inclusion of investigators and research programs from relevant areas of
biological science and neuroscience (e.g., psychophysiology, neuroimaging,
neurohormonal measurements) is strongly encouraged, but not required. The focus
of neurobiological measures should be on their integration with concepts and
data drawn from behavioral science.
o A TRCBS is intended to promote innovative translational research. A Center
should not duplicate ongoing research, and should demonstrate how the proposed
Center activities represent a novel synthesis of basic and clinical science.
o The director of a TRCBS should be a distinguished senior scientist, with a
strong record of prior research and scholarly activities. The director should
also demonstrate the capability to organize, lead, and administer the Center.
In addition to serving as the scientific head of the Center, this individual
should also direct at least one of the individual projects, and allot a minimum
time commitment of 30 percent effort to the Center.
o Principal investigators of individual projects within the Center should be
established investigators in their respective fields, with a strong record of
basic, clinical, or services research. Principal investigators of the projects
are not required to have independent funding, but must demonstrate the
experience and qualifications to provide scientific leadership of the project.
o The clinical and/or services components of the proposed Center may include
any aspect of relevant work. These components are to include research with
patient populations, that is, studies conducted with persons at high risk for
mental disorders, diagnosed with a disorder, or with organizations that provide
mental health services. The TRCBS must outline clearly the ways in which the
contributions of basic behavioral science (concepts, principles, extant
literatures, paradigms, measures, statistical approaches, etc.) are to be
applied to the research questions in a clinical or services setting.
o It is expected that the basic behavioral science components of a Center will
include active programs of experimentation, methodological or statistical
development, or other scientific work that serves to advance the knowledge base
being applied to the clinical applications. That is, basic behavioral
scientists should not serve only in a consultative role to clinical/services
projects. The basic research components could also address basic research
questions arising from results with samples drawn from high-
risk/clinical/services settings.
o A TRCBS must include research apprenticeships. These should include
opportunities for young investigators to gain experience with the concepts,
methods, and techniques in one or more areas of specialization. Research
apprenticeship opportunities should specifically address the application of
basic research principles to clinical or services issues. Centers should
coordinate closely with other pre- and post-doctoral training programs at the
institutions involved. Special attention should be given to the recruitment and
training of minority and/or disabled students and scientists.
o Each TRCBS should include a program of outreach to facilitate public
awareness of the issues involved in the research, the integration of basic and
clinical or mental health services research, and the advances that are achieved
by the Center’s activities.
Research Areas
The goal of the TRCBS program is to support the translation of basic behavioral
science research to significant issues in mental disorders and mental health
services. Relevant areas of basic behavioral research include: cognition,
including learning, memory, perception, etc., affective processes, including
emotion, mood, and motivation, temperament and personality, social cognition,
social and cultural influences and processes, attitudes and persuasion,
interpersonal relationships, and fundamental biobehavioral processes such as
sleep and eating (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publist/953682.htm). Basic research
may include animal models as well as studies with human populations, and may
also involve theoretical and/or mathematical modeling approaches. Relevant
domains of neurobiological measurement could include psychophysiology (both
peripheral and central nervous system measures), neuroimaging, and neurohormonal
activity. It is anticipated that activities of a TRCBS might well include work
drawn from a number of these fields, e.g., the mutual interactions of cognitive
and affective processes in mental disorders and their effect on responsiveness
to treatment.
Clinical issues are expected to involve significant issues in the etiology,
assessment, prevention, treatment, or rehabilitation of mental disorders or the
delivery of mental health services with respect to children or adults. Applied
research can include the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. A
major priority of the NIH is to study disparities in health across different
ethnic and minority groups. Accordingly, it is strongly encouraged that both
basic and clinical studies include a broad representation of subjects with
respect to gender, ethnicity, age, etc., wherever possible, groups should be
large enough to provide sufficient power for meaningful statistical tests of
these group differences.
The TRCBS program is designed to foster the integration of basic behavioral
research with mental health prevention, clinical, and services research. In
contrast, research that is focused only on fundamental psychological and neural
processes likely to be involved in mental health and mental illness is not
appropriate for the TRCBS program. For information regarding interdisciplinary
basic behavioral science centers, investigators should consult the following
announcement: (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-00-130.html).
Research that is primarily directed toward the pathophysiology of mental
disorders, as opposed to integrative behavioral and physiological
investigations, is also not appropriate for a TRCBS. Investigators interested
in these topics should consult the NIMH web site for information on the Silvio
Conte Centers for the Neuroscience of Mental Disorders
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-98-058.html).
The following list provides some examples of broad research areas that could fit
in the Centers program. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, nor are the
examples meant to be exclusive of other topics.
o Studies of temperament, mood, emotion (including emotion dysregulation), and
cognition, as they are mutually involved in the etiology and course of mood and
anxiety disorders
o Research pertaining to factors that support the behavior of patients with
serious mental illness in their daily functioning and therapeutic regimens
(e.g., mechanisms of learning and memory in patients with serious mental
illnesses, mechanisms of emotional response and emotional control in these
patient groups, optimal characteristics of service providers, and the
organization of mental health services in these populations)
o Studies of processes that affect the risk, course, severity, prevention, and
treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (e.g., models of
normal temperament development, relation between temperament and cognitive
development, age-appropriate models of ADHD, advances in appropriate measurement
and diagnosis, measurement of cognitive and emotional processes in ADHD, and the
relationship of central nervous system activity to behavioral measures across
developmental age)
o Research using concept and methods of basic behavioral science to identify
specific functional deficits in mental disorders, development of targeted
interventions for rehabilitation, and ways to organize the delivery of mental
health services in the current health care context to provide optimal
rehabilitation services
o Research on new methods of conceptualizing and classifying mental disorders,
as considered from multi-disciplinary perspectives (e.g., utility of dimensional
approaches to such areas of psychopathology as mood disorders)
o Research on the prevention of mental disorders, integrating basic research on
biological, psychological, and social risk and protective processes in order to
develop new models of preventive interventions. Prevention may include
interventions to (a) reduce the risk of onset, or delay onset, of mental
disorders and behavioral dysfunction, (b) reduce the severity and course of
disorder, (c) prevent comorbid conditions, and (d) prevent relapse, excess
disability, and inappropriate service use.
o Research regarding the interaction of behavioral and neurophysiological
processes in schizophrenia such as studies of the interaction of cognitive and
emotional processes (as measured behaviorally and neurophysiologically) involved
with functional deficits in psychotic disorders, combined behavioral and CNS
measures to develop an enhanced understanding of the various symptom patterns
and their interrelationships (e.g., positive and negative symptoms, cognitive
disorganization) in psychotic disorders, and development of behavioral
techniques that may act through brain plasticity to ameliorate functional
deficits in patients with schizophrenia)
o Research programs to study the factors involved in improving mental health
services in primary care settings (e.g., factors influencing the decision to
seek treatment, methods of improving provider behavior to recognize, diagnose,
and treat mental disorders, development of valid and reliable screening and
other assessment techniques for use in primary care settings, studies of
alternative providers, procedures, and technologies to facilitate mental health
services in primary care settings
o Research to develop an understanding of the behavioral and neurobiological
deficits in autism (e.g., aspects of social and cognitive behavior as related to
activity in specific brain regions, and development of behavioral and
pharmacologic interventions for improvement of autistic symptoms)
Activities Supported
To provide a suitable structure for achieving the goals of the research program,
a TRCBS may request funds for the following:
Individual Research Projects
Funds must be requested to support a number of research projects. It is
expected that 2 or more of the research projects will involve the basic
behavioral sciences and/or relevant neuroscience. (Investigators contemplating
a project with only 1 or 2 basic science components should consider a single R01
application or a set of Interactive Research Project Grant applications.) At
least 1 of the research projects must involve work with patient populations,
that is, studies conducted with persons diagnosed with a mental disorder, or
with organizations that provide mental health services. However, multiple
projects in clinical or services settings are also encouraged, for purposes of
increasing the number of patient subjects, representing different aspects of
clinical phenomena, or increasing the diversity of patient populations with
respect to ethnicity, gender, or age. Each project must demonstrate the
capability to integrate strongly with other projects of the Center.
It is anticipated that TRCBSs will request support for 1 or more core
activities. These could include such functions as administration, subject
recruitment, methodological developments (e.g., diagnosis, assessment
instruments), data management procedures, or statistical analysis (including
innovation in statistical methodologies as well as conducting actual statistical
tests). The TRCBS should clearly indicate how the cores will support the
integrative, translational mission of the Center. Core support may include
salary costs, research resources shared across projects, equipment needed to
conduct the research, and incidental alteration and renovation of facilities
needed as consistent with Public Health Service policy.
Essential Scientific Expertise
To provide the most effective combination of scientific knowledge and skills,
applicants may request funds to support scientists to augment or strengthen the
skills, expertise, and capabilities of existing Center staff. Recruitment of
such individuals may take place after an award has been made, however, the
expertise required, the role in Center activities, and the time to be devoted to
the Center should be provided in the application. It should be emphasized,
however, that after an award is made, such individuals cannot serve as a
substitute for a Project principal investigator.
Advisory Board
An external advisory board should serve as an important source of guidance from
experts in the field who do not have a vested interest in the Center or in the
research to be conducted by the Center. Board members should include
individuals drawn from both basic science areas and from clinical or services
areas who have relevant experience and expertise. Funds may be requested to
support travel of board members for meetings in the beginning of the second year
of funding, and for one or two additional meetings across the project period.
To avoid reducing the pool of potential reviewers, applicants should not
identify, choose, or contact prospective board members before a funding decision
is made.
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
sub-populations 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 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 research involving human subjects should read the
UPDATED "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on
August 2, 2000
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-048.html),
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm. The
revisions relate to NIH defined Phase III clinical trials and require: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols to 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) all
investigators to report accrual, and to conduct and report analyses, as
appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This
policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates
after October 1, 1998.
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" that was published in the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL
address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.
Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff
listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant
information concerning the policy.
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.
Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may be compromised when they
directly access an Internet site.
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by the dates indicated in the
heading of this PA, a letter of intent that includes: a descriptive title of
the proposed Center, the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal
Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating
institutions, and the number and title of this PA.
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter
into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains
allows NIMH staff to estimate the potential review workload and to plan the
review. The letter of intent should be sent to Dr. Bruce Cuthbert, at the
address listed under INQUIRIES, below.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the program contacts listed under
INQUIRIES with any questions regarding the responsiveness of their proposed
project to the goals of this PA.
Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev.
4/98) and will be accepted on March 12 and 22, 2001, October 22, 2002, and
October 22, 2003. Application kits are available at most institutional offices
of sponsored research and 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, Email:
[email protected]. Applications are also available on the World Wide Web at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.
Applicants planning to submit an investigator-initiated new (type 1), competing
continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended/revised version of
the preceding grant application types requesting $500,000 or more in direct
costs for any year are advised that he or she must contact the Institute program
staff before submitting the application, i.e., as plans for the study are being
developed. Furthermore, the applicant must obtain agreement from the Institute
staff that the Institute will accept the application for consideration for
award. Finally, the applicant must identify, in a cover letter sent with the
application, the staff member and Institute who agreed to accept assignment of
the application.
This policy requires an applicant to obtain agreement for acceptance of both any
such application and any such subsequent amendment. Refer to the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 20, 1998 at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-030.html.
Any application subject to this policy that does not contain the required
information in a cover letter sent with the application will be returned to the
applicant without review.
The title and number of the program announcement must be typed on line 2 of the
face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked.
A major requirement for a TRCBS is the conduct of multidisciplinary research
focused on the integration of multiple areas of basic behavioral and
neuroscience, as they converge to address an important set of issues regarding
mental disorders and/or the delivery of mental health services. The application
must describe the hypotheses to be tested and the goals of the TRCBS. In
addition, the application should clearly articulate the reasons a Center
approach is needed for this work and the unique benefits that will accrue from
having a Center in this research area, rather than addressing the research
issues through other modes of support.
Using the PHS Form 398, the application should include the following components
in the designated order.
Information for the entire Center:
o Face Page, pertaining to the entire Center
o Description, performance sites, and Key Personnel (Form Page 2), pertaining
to the entire Center
o Table of Contents (Form Page 3) for the entire application
o Budget (Form Pages 4 and 5). Categorical figures should be provided to
describe the budget of the overall Center. Since detailed budget justification
will be provided separately for each project and core (as described below), only
items for which justification is not provided elsewhere should be included in
narrative here.
o Biographical sketches of Key Personnel (Form Page 6). These should be
provided for key personnel of the entire Center, and should be arranged
alphabetically based on the individual’s surname.
o Other Support (Form Page 7) of key personnel for the entire Center, presented
alphabetically by surname.
o Resources (Form Page 8). These should be restricted to those not described
separately for the individual projects and cores.
o General description of the overall Center (not to exceed 10 pages, amended
applications should include a one-page introduction to the revision). Provide
an overview of the entire proposed Center, describing the Center goals and how
they will be achieved. Explain the contribution of each of the individual
projects and cores to achieving the Center’s objectives, and how these
components relate to each other.
o Evidence of Feasibility and Preliminary Findings (for new--Type 1--
applications and amended Type 1 applications only, not to exceed 10 pages, for
amended applications, provide a one-page introduction describing changes from
the previously submitted version). Present evidence that the research team will
be able to work together to achieve the research goals of the Center,
preliminary results, evidence of competence in the areas proposed, and any other
information that speaks to feasibility.
o Progress Report (for competing continuation--Type 2--applications and amended
Type 2 applications only, not to exceed 3 pages for each project supported in
the previous Center grant, for amended applications, provide a one-page
introduction to the entire Progress Report describing changes from the
previously submitted version). Describe the research progress of the previously
supported Center and the manner in which the results relate to the current
application. Describe the manner in which the Center mechanism provided synergy
to the previously funded Center.
o Operational Plan for the Overall Center (not to exceed 10 pages, for amended
applications, provide a one-page introduction describing changes from the
previously submitted version). Describe the working administrative and
logistical arrangements, as well as resource support necessary to implement the
research. When multiple institutional sites are involved, a detailed
description of the cooperative administrative arrangements should be included
(and documented in the Letters of Support section). Also include in this
section a description of the manner in which an external advisory board will
relate to the Center. Prospective board members should not be chosen or
contacted prior to a funding decision and, therefore, should not be named in the
application. Finally, describe the plan for providing access to data, research
tools, and any biological material generated by the Center.
o Research Career Development and Outreach Plans (not to exceed 2 pages).
Describe how the Center will provide opportunities for junior investigators,
including the Research Apprentice positions as well as relationships with
training programs of participating institutions. Also, describe plans for
disseminating information to the public regarding the activities of the Center.
Information for each Project or Core:
Provide, in the order indicated:
o Description, Performance Sites, and Key Personnel (Form Page 2), referring
specifically to the project or core.
o Budget (Form Pages 4 and 5). Detailed budgetary information for each project
or core, including narrative justification.
o Resources (Form Page 8), referring specifically to the project or core.
o Research Plan for Individual Projects (not to exceed 10 pages for any one
project, for amended applications, provide a one-page introduction describing
changes from the previously submitted version). Describe the specific aims,
background, and significance, the research questions to be addressed, and the
hypotheses to be tested. Address the ways in which the particular research
question lends itself to a translational approach. Projects should describe the
bi-directional flows of data and research questions that are anticipated between
basic and clinical or services research projects. Describe the research design
and methods in as much detail as possible, and address issues of feasibility,
potential pitfalls, alternative approaches, and relevance to Center goals.
o Descriptions of Individual Cores (not to exceed 8 pages for any one Core, for
amended applications, provide a one-page introduction describing changes from
the previously submitted version). Describe how the core will contribute to the
overall goals of the Center, including the facilities, resources, services, and
professional expertise that it will provide. Describe which projects will be
supported by the Core and the manner in which that support will be rendered.
o Literature Cited, compiled across all sections of the application
o Letters of Support from Collaborating Institutions
o Checklist
o Personal Data on Center Director
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and four signed photocopies in one package 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)
At the time of submission, one additional copy of the application must be sent
to:
Jean Noronha, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 6154, MSC 9609
Bethesda, MD 20892-9609
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by CSR for completeness and by NIMH
program staff to determine if they satisfy the objectives and requirements of a
TRCBS as outlined in this PA (excluding scientific or technical merit).
Applications that are incomplete or that do not meet these objectives and
requirements will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant.
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an
appropriate scientific review group convened by NIMH in accordance with the
standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all
applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only
those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the
top half of applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority
score, and receive a second level review by the National Advisory Mental Health
Council. Although primary assessments of scientific priority will be based on
the Center as a whole, one or more individual projects or cores could receive
lower priority in some instances, resulting in funding of a Center smaller than
proposed.
Review Criteria
Criteria for review of scientific and technical merit will include the
following:
o Intrinsic Merit: The overall quality, scientific merit, and innovation of
the research to be conducted, the likelihood that the Center will lead to
fundamental advances, to new discoveries, and/or to new technological
developments. In addition, the research must center around a highly focused and
well defined set of research questions.
o Appropriateness of the Center Approach: The need for and suitability of a
Center approach, whether a Center approach will add significantly to what could
be accomplished through other modes of research support. In this respect, the
integration and interdependence of component projects and cores is of utmost
significance and should be described explicitly.
o Research Competence: The qualifications and scientific credentials of the
Center Director and constituent project directors, these individuals should be
regarded by their peers as leaders in, and at the forefront of, their respective
fields.
o Center Director Credentials: Demonstrated ability of the Center Director to
organize, direct, and administer the Center and, in addition, be the Principal
Investigator on at least one of the individual projects. It is expected that
this individual will devote a minimum of 30 percent time to the Center grant.
The Director must be the scientific leader of the Center.
o Institutional Commitment: The nature and level of resource commitments and
resources available from the home institution and from other participant
institutions, and plans for interactions with the rest of the sponsoring
institutions.
o Appropriateness of Management Plans and Arrangements: The feasibility and
adequacy of the organizational and administrative plans, the appropriateness of
the budget, and the mechanisms to evaluate the Center’s progress.
o Quality of Plans for Research Apprenticeships: The effectiveness of
approaches used to attract and involve junior investigators and students who
show potential for significant contributions to translational research and
independent research careers.
o Quality of linkages between the proposed Center and ongoing training programs
in the institutional environment.
o Outreach: Quality of approaches used to disseminate information regarding
the Center’s activities as they relate to public understanding of the ways in
which basic behavioral and neurobiological sciences are harnessed to address
important issues with regard to our understanding of the nature of mental
disorders, and the delivery of mental health care services.
In addition to the above criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all
applications will also be reviewed with respect to the following:
o The adequacy of plans to include both genders, minorities and their
subgroups, and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research.
Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.
o The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals or the
environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project
proposed in the application.
AWARD CRITERIA
Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended
applications assigned to NIMH. 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 P50 grant supporting a TRCBS is not transferable to another institution.
RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
To ensure a uniform review quality, all applications will be reviewed by a
single review group, which will meet once per year. In accordance with this
objective, there will be one receipt date each year. Applications received
after this date will be returned to the applicant without review.
RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Letter of Application Initial Review Council Earliest
Intent Receipt Date Group Meeting Meeting Start Date
Feb. 12, 2001 March 12, 2001 June 2001 Sept. 2001 Sept. 30, 2001
Sept. 22, 2001 Oct. 22, 2001 Feb. 2002 May 2002 June 30, 2002
Sept. 22, 2002 Oct. 22, 2002 Feb. 2003 May 2003 June 30, 2003
Sept. 22, 2003 Oct. 22, 2003 Feb. 2004 May 2004 June 30, 2004
INQUIRIES
Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions
from potential applicants is welcome.
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
Bruce N. Cuthbert, Ph.D.
Adult Psychopathology and Prevention Research Branch
Division of Mental Disorders, Behavioral Research and AIDS
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6184, MSC 9625
Bethesda, MD 20892-9625
Telephone: (301) 443-3728
FAX: (301) 443-4611
Email: [email protected]
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
Diana S. Trunnell
Grants Management Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6115, MSC 9605
Bethesda, MD 20892-9605
Telephone: (301) 443-2805
FAX: (301) 443-6885
Email: [email protected]
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
93.242. 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 NIH 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 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 health of the American
people.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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