and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
NIMH MINORITY RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PROGRAM (R24) Release Date: December 8, 2000 (see NOT-MH-03-003 and NOT-MH-03-005) PAR NUMBER: PAR-01-029 Update: The following update relating to this notice has been issued: May 17, 2007 - See Notice (NOT-MH-07-111) This PAR has expired. April 14, 2006 (NOT-MH-06-112) - See this notice for Extension of the NIMH Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program (M-RISP) (R24) (PAR-01-029) EXPIRATION DATE: July 1, 2006 National Institute of Mental Health (http://www.nimh.nih.gov) Application Receipt Date: July 1, 2006 PURPOSE This program announcement (PA) supersedes PAR-95-058, dated April 28, 1995. This Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program (M-RISP) was established by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) primarily to build infrastructure in predominantly minority academic institutions to increase the capacity of these institutions and their faculty to conduct rigorous mental health-relevant research. The intent of the research infrastructure program is to strengthen the research environments of predominantly minority institutions through grant support to develop and/or expand existing capacities for conducting research in all fields related to mental health. Descriptions of the research programs supported by the NIMH can be found at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/compon.cfm. Minority students will benefit from participation in projects as research assistants and will be encouraged to pursue research careers in fields related to mental health. To assist institutions with increasing their capacity to conduct mental health research, the M-RISP program provides support for two types of core activities: 1) institutional research development support for strengthening the institutional infrastructure and enhancing the capability of individual faculty members to undertake mental health- related research; and 2) individual investigator research support for developing research scientists to conduct small grant research activities that can lead to successful applications for funding under regular research grant mechanisms in research areas relevant to mental health. 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, MINORITY RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PROGRAM, 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. 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 State and local government. Foreign institutions are not eligible for the R24 mechanism. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. Partnerships between minority and majority institutions that will result in strengthening predominantly minority institutions in their research capability are encouraged. Applicants must indicate which of the following eligibility conditions apply to their institution and must furnish evidence to document eligibility: o an academic institution with at least 50 percent minority (African Americans, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander) student enrollment; o an institution with more than 30 percent minority student enrollment in each of the past three years that can provide evidence of efforts to recruit members of ethnic or racial groups into scientific careers. Additionally, the institution should show evidence of demonstrated commitment to minority faculty recruitment and development in expenditure of resources, as well as documented institutional need for support in its research development program. Potential applicants who intend to apply under this eligibility criterion are advised to consult with NIMH staff (as listed under INQUIRIES) before submitting an application. o A Native American tribe may apply in conjunction with one or more institutions of higher learning that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in mental health-related fields. Such applicants must have a recognized governing body and perform substantial governmental functions, or qualify as an Alaska Regional Corporation (ARC) as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This PA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Resource- Related Research Projects (R24) award mechanism. This mechanism is used to support research projects that will enhance the capability of resources to serve biomedical research. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this PA may not exceed 3 years for the first submission and 5 years in subsequent competing continuation submissions. (See section on FUNDS AVAILABLE for details.) Grants funded under M-RISP are awarded directly to the applicant institution and are not transferable. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. FUNDS AVAILABLE Beginning with competing applications submitted in response to this PAR, the maximum direct cost allowed for the M-RISP grant is $400,000 per year, plus negotiated Facilities and Administrative Costs (F&A)-- formerly known as indirect costs. The infrastructure core component of M-RISP grants averages $100,000 per year in direct costs. Individual Investigator projects average $60,000 per year in direct costs. These new amounts do not apply to non-competing continuation grants initiated prior to FY 2002. Support is limited to 3 years for a first-time application. The core, infrastructure component of an M-RISP grant is renewable for intervals of up to 5 years, provided that investigators are continuing and/or new investigators are selected. Note that individual investigators who participate in subprojects will not be supported more than a total of 6 years through the M-RISP program. ALLOWABLE COSTS Each application should describe both core elements (Institutional Research Development Support) and Individual Investigator Research Projects and indicate how the infrastructure support will enhance the individual research projects. Partial salary support based on effort and institutional salary levels for persons engaged on the project (normally includes the principal investigators (PIs) or individuals directing initial or developmental research projects, co-investigators, data analysis and essential technical staff, etc.). Limited administrative or clerical salaries may be considered direct charges to the grant only when the duties are specifically identified and justified as reflecting significantly greater effort than the level of such services routinely provided. In some cases, the application may also request support for research assistantships for students to work with faculty members who have mental health related research funding through another NIH mechanism of support (R01, R03, P01, etc.). Institutions are encouraged to use funds under M-RISP to increase availability of research assistants on these projects, but funds are not to be used to replace any research assistant positions supported by other Federal or non-Federal awards, nor may trainees supported by National Research Services Awards (NRSA) be selected until the research training programs are completed. The NIMH recognizes that different types of institutions will require different types of research infrastructure development activities and initiatives, depending upon particular needs and circumstances. Accordingly, this PA provides general rather than specific guidance as to the types of development activities appropriate under M-RISP. Support may be requested for, but is not limited to, the following: o Partial salary support, based on effort and institutional salary levels for persons engaged in the project o Specialized research training for junior investigators (e.g., selected courses related to enhancing capability to conduct research such as advanced seminars, instruction on scientific technique) o Scientific and statistical consultation, including expenses incurred by a scientific advisory committee o Biostatistical and data management services o Research technicians and assistants o Research instruments o Small, project-specific equipment and supplies o Pilot and feasibility studies o Research subject costs o Data acquisition and statistical analysis costs o Travel to scientific meetings for the PI and individual investigators RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background The mission of the NIMH is to reduce the burden of mental illness through research on mind, brain, and behavior. NIMH also takes the lead in understanding the impact of behavior on HIV transmission and pathogenesis, and in developing effective behavioral preventive interventions. Mental disorders constitute an immense burden on our population, with major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder ranked among the ten leading causes of disability in the United States. Although, based on current knowledge, these and other mental disorders appear to have equivalent incidence and prevalence across majority and minority populations, they may exert a disproportionate impact on ethnic/minority groups. Within and among minority populations, access to adequate services is uneven at best, and where data exist, outcomes of illness as well as treatment often have been shown to be poorer than in majority populations. The NIMH is especially interested in increasing the pool of minority researchers who can address important questions related to reducing health disparities. Potential applicants are encouraged to consider areas that need to be addressed as spelled out in the NIMH "Strategic Plan for Reducing Health Disparities." The plan may be located at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/strategic/strategicdisparity.cfm. M-RISP is designed to enable predominantly minority institutions with small research programs in mental health to develop into significantly stronger research settings. It is part of an integrated NIMH approach to developing a broader national infrastructure for mental health research that includes NIMH support for clinical and services research centers, minority research centers, rural mental health research centers, social work research development centers, research infrastructure support programs, and M-RISP. Together, these programs provide a continuum of research infrastructure support for institutions. To facilitate these goals, M-RISP provides support for two types of primary activities: Institutional Research Development (Core) Core support provides funds to strengthen the institutional infrastructure to enhance the capability of individual faculty members to undertake mental health research. Requests may be made for infrastructure enhancements such as laboratory development, including limited support for equipment, support of collaborative linkages with senior scientists in other institutions, and provision of resources for data management and statistical analyses. For individual faculty development, support may be requested for such activities as enrolling in advanced seminars in scientific techniques and for pilot work to serve as a basis for the development of individual research projects. This announcement expires 3 years from the Release Date shown directly above, unless reissued. Individual Investigator Research Projects In addition to capacity development support, an M-RISP grant provides support for at least 2 developmental research subprojects from at least 2 or more faculty members who serve as individual investigators of these subprojects. The intent of this component of M-RISP is to support research activities that will lead to successful applications for funding under the usual investigator-initiated grants programs of NIMH. Individual Investigator research projects should be designed to take advantage of the infrastructure development being supported by the program. Application Characteristics An M-RISP application must: 1) describe current institutional and faculty capacity to conduct mental health-related research, 2) identify unmet needs, and 3) describe activities that will be undertaken to develop and strengthen the institutional research infrastructure. The plan should include both an institutional research development program and 2 or more individual investigator projects. The plan should cover a period of 3 years (up to 5 years for competitive renewals) and indicate how the capacity to conduct mental health research will be improved significantly in this time period. The application should contain the following: Institutional Research Development Plan o Specific aims o Summary of relevant ongoing mental health research o Assessment of institutional capacity to conduct state-of-the art research on mental health issues; identification of gaps that M-RISP is intended to fill o A proposed program director or co-program director with a track record of directing research programs, a track record as a mentor to undergraduate/graduate students, a track record of leadership in directing training or health services programs, a record of mental health related publications and commitment to increasing diversity in the national pool of mental health researchers. o Design and procedures to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the research infrastructure development plan over the time period of the proposed project (3 years for new applications, up to 5 years for competitive renewal applications), including plans for the administrative structure, recruitment and retention of persons skilled in mental health research, staff training and mentoring, statistical and other consultation and data management, and collaboration with other institutions o Description of equipment, space, and other facility resources available to support the development plan and extent to which enhancement of these resources is needed o Description of institutional financial commitment to support the proposed minority mental health research infrastructure development Individual Investigator Research Projects o Linkages to overall institutional capacity development plan o Specific aims of the investigator's research project o Background and significance o Preliminary studies and progress report if currently supported o Review of literature relevant to the proposed research project o Research plan, including experimental design and methods o Plan for the protection of human subjects, where applicable o Plan for the protection of vertebrate animals, if applicable o Consultants and collaborators (describe roles and need for expertise) o Consortium/contractual arrangements (need must be justified) o Detailed budgets for each project The research plans for the Individual Investigator Research Projects are limited to 15 pages each. Competitive Supplements for New Investigator Projects The mechanism for requesting funds to support new individual investigator projects on M-RISP grants is the competitive supplement application (Type 3), which is also due June 1 annually. The purpose of a supplemental application is to request additional funds for either the present operating year or for any future year of the current grant to further goals of the M-RISP program. A supplement may be requested for an expansion of a project’s scope or research protocol through new individual investigator research projects. The body of the application should contain sufficient information from the original grant application to allow evaluation of the proposed supplement in relation to the goals of the original application. A supplemental application will not be accepted until the original application has been funded, and it may not request funding beyond the term of the current grant or request funds that, when added to the parent award, would exceed the program direct costs maximum amount allowable for an M-RISP grant. The introduction to the supplemental application should provide an overall description of the nature of the supplement and how the supplement will influence the specific aims, experimental design, and methods of the current grant. Any proposed changes in the allocation of funds within and among budget categories for the remainder of the project period of the current M-RISP grant should be discussed under the budget justification. If the supplemental application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application, but was not recommended for approval by the Initial Review Group, then the applicant must respond to the criticisms in the prior summary statement, and revisions must be clearly summarized in the introduction. The applicant must also incorporate in the Preliminary Studies component of the application any work performed since the prior version was submitted. Restrictions The following restrictions apply to M-RISP supplemental applications: o A supplemental application may be submitted only during the first 12-month period of a 3-year grant; 1 supplemental application may be submitted during each of the first 2 years of a 5-year grant. o Program Directors already receiving M-RISP grant funds for an individual investigator project may not submit a request for support of a different or an additional project from the M-RISP Program. o Applications must be limited to no more than 3 additional subprojects. o The proposed supplemental project period of support may not extend beyond the end date of the project period for the parent grant, nor when added to the parent grant, exceed the annual direct costs program cap ($300,000 prior to FY 2002, and $400,000 beginning with competing grants submitted in response to this Announcement). o Competitive supplemental requests are not appropriate when the purpose is solely to restore, to the full IRG-recommended level, awards that were administratively reduced by the funding agency. 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 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 trails 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 ethnic/minority 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 ethnic/minority 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. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) and will be accepted June 1, annually. 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, Email: [email protected]. The application is also available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html. 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. For competing supplements application procedures are the same as those for the parent grant except for the following instructions: o The designated Program Director should be the same as that of the parent grant. o The title of the supplemental application should be the same as that of the parent grant and should be typed in item number 1 on the face page of the PHS 398 application form. o The title of this program announcement should be entered into item 2 of the face page. o Page II, entitled Checklist, should have a check in the box for supplement with the parent grant’s number typed as indicated. o The application should be completed according to the instructions accompanying the PHS 398 forms with special attention being paid to instructions for supplements provided on page 6-15 of the PHS 398 form. RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE Receipt Initial Review Council Earliest Date Group Meeting Meeting Start Date June 1, annually Oct/Nov Jan/Feb April 1 Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and 5 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) REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the 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 of review by the National Advisory Mental Health Council. Review Criteria The goals of NIH-sponsored research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, improve control of disease, and enhance health. In the written comment, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects of the application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have a substantial impact upon 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 the 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. For the Institutional Research Development Plan: 1) Significance of overall project to the goals of this program announcement 2) Appropriateness of the institutional research development plan for applicant institution and extent to which this plan will build on current institutional support for mental health research and significantly augment and improve the support for research 3) Quality of the institutional research development plan, including plans for enhancing institutional capacity and individual faculty research development plans and the degree to which the parts enhance one another in achieving overall objectives 4) Probability that the proposed activities can be implemented successfully, and the likelihood that they will result in high quality competitive research applications from individual faculty members/researchers within at least six years of the initial award 5) Qualifications, experience and appropriateness of the program director 6) Evidence of institutional support and commitment to the proposed program For Individual Investigator Research Projects (the application must include at least 2, from different researchers): 1) Significance and originality of proposed research 2) Appropriateness and scientific quality of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research, including appropriateness of control or comparison groups, plans for recruitment and retention of subjects, use of consultants, and provisions for other scientifically necessary linkages 3) Qualifications and research experience of the Individual Principal Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research 4) Adequacy of literature review and justification of the proposed theoretical framework 5) Availability of the resources necessary to perform the research, including access to research subjects 6) Appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research 7) Adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups, and children, as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research 8) Contribution of Associate Investigator Projects to overall objectives of institutional infrastructure plan and benefits to students participating on the associated projects 9) For competitive renewals, a progress report, including progress of prior supported individual investigators in securing independent grant support (if appropriate), and publications associated with the prior funding period The M-RISP Program is developmental in nature and meant to develop research capacity at primarily minority institutions so that they can conduct rigorous mental health related research. The standard by which to judge the M-RISP individual investigator research projects is whether good science is being developed and furthered. Indications of good science include: o Use of rigorous measures in a well thought-out research design o Generation of interpretable data o Production of data that can be used as the basis for a subsequent R01 application; or, research experience that will enable an individual investigator to subsequently apply for an R01 (or the equivalent) grant award, with and application having the prospect of being judged highly meritorious o Potential for resulting in publication, potentially, but not necessarily in referee journal The initial review group will also examine the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications assigned to the Institute. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: Quality of the proposed project in response to program requirements as determined by peer review, availability of funds, and program priority. Specific Requirements M-RISP grant funds may be used for expenses clearly related to infrastructure development and necessary to conduct the research projects. Funds may not be used to establish, add a component to or operate a treatment, rehabilitation or prevention intervention service program. Support for research related treatment, rehabilitation or prevention services programs may be requested only for costs required by the research. When independent research funds become available (PIs on sub-projects complete their tenure on the program), the proposed reallocation of existing funds must be discussed with appropriate Institute staff. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Carolyn Strete, Ph.D. Office For Special Populations National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8130, MSC 9659 Bethesda, MD 20892-9659 Telephone: (301) 443-2847 FAX: (301) 443-0954 E-Mail: [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 E-Mail: [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.
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