and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Department
of Health and Human Services
Participating
Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
(http://www.nih.gov )
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) ( http://www.cihr.ca)
Autism Speaks ( http://www.autismspeaks.org)
Announcement Type
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is a reissue of PAR-07-268.
Update: The following updates relating to this announcement have been issued:
Program Announcement (PA) Number: PAR-08-112
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide
APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED IN PAPER FORMAT.
This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application guidelines included with this announcement in Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called Grants.gov/Apply).
A registration process is necessary before submission and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.989, 93.866, 93.273, 93.209, 93.865, 93.279, 93.113,
93.114, 93.115, 93.853
Key Dates
Release/Posted Date: March 18, 2008
Opening Date: April 16, 2008 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to
Grants.gov)
Letters of Intent Receipt
Date(s): April 16,
2008; April 16, 2009; April 16, 2010
NOTE: On time submission requires that applications be successfully
submitted to Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant
institution/organization).
Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): May 16, 2008; May 15, 2009; May 14, 2010
AIDS Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): August 22,
2008; August 21, 2009; August 23, 2010
Peer Review
Date(s): October/November 2008,
October/November 2009, October/November 2010
Council Review Date(s): January 2009: January 2010,
January 2011
Earliest Anticipated Start
Date(s): April 1,
2009; April 1, 2010; April 1, 2011
Additional Information To Be
Available Date (Activation Date): Not Applicable
Expiration Date: August 24, 2010
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Additional
Overview Content
Executive Summary
See Section VIII, Other Information -
Required Federal Citations, for policies related
to this announcement.
Table
of Contents
Part I Overview
Information
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity
Description
1. Research Objectives
Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of Support
2. Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Submission, Review, and
Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Submitting an Application
Electronically to the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission
Requirements and Information
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Resource Sharing Plan(s)
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Section VI. Award Administration
Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting
Part II - Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1.
Research Objectives
The collaborative
research programs are expected to 1) conduct research on nervous system
development, function and impairment at any stage of life and on topics
particularly relevant to LMICs and 2) build research
capacity among the LMIC partners and institutions involved in the specific
research project. Both immediate objectives will contribute to the long-term
goals of building sustainable research capacity in LMICs to initiate and
conduct such research, ultimately leading to
development of treatment and prevention strategies that are applicable
worldwide.
Relevant research for these applications
may range from basic science to epidemiological, clinical, health services and
translational (e.g. translation of basic research to
therapy and of clinical research to applications in the field) research. All
applications should build on the research and research training goals and
results from the R21 grant, including continued capacity building to help
sustain the research.
All projects should:
Collaboration
A well-developed collaboration building on the previous R21 collaborations should be demonstrated.
Plans for coordination of research and associated collaborator training between the partner country institutions should be described and should include regular meetings (virtual or physical).
In addition, the involvement (if any) of the LMIC institution and faculty in formulating treatment and prevention policies locally, nationally, regionally or internationally should be noted.
Research Capacity Building Activities
Research training for the LMIC collaborators and their staff, in the context of the R01 research, may take place at any of the collaborating sites and may vary, depending on the strengths of the particular investigators and institutions that apply and the need to build capacity to support research and future interventions. The major portion of the proposed research must be conducted at the LMIC site or sites and the majority of the funds must be used for research and research-related costs at the LMIC site (including collaborator training at the LMIC site). Any research at the HIC site must also involve, as a key element, training for participating LMIC collaborators.
The application should fully address the research and training needs and issues developed in the R21 period. The application should clearly define a research plan and associated plan for research capacity building, which should include any necessary training. This mechanism of support should not be used to circumvent or supplement National Research Service Award training mechanisms.
Background
During the past several decades, improvements in health care have led to a decrease in child mortality and an increase in life expectancy in LMICs. These positive trends have set the stage for a complex epidemiology of health and disease as more children survive into adulthood handicapped by early disease, malnutrition and adverse experiences and/or later develop chronic diseases including cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders prevalent in old age. Adverse socio-economic factors, such as poverty, conflict and gender inequalities inherent in varying degrees to many countries contribute to the initial causes (such as injury, psychological trauma, chronic adversity, genetic vulnerability and infection) of many nervous system disorders. These disorders, especially those brain disorders affecting cognitive and mental function, in turn hinder the ability of individuals and their societies to address the root causes, and consequences of those adverse conditions.
World Health Organization data suggest that non-communicable diseases and disorders (NCDs) are rapidly becoming the dominant causes of poor health in all LMIC regions except sub-Saharan Africa (where they are second only to HIV/AIDS, as defined by contribution to years lived with disability or DALYs). Of the NCDs, nervous system diseases and disorders in aggregate contribute the most to the overall burden of disease and disability (more than a quarter, followed by cardiovascular disease and cancer) and contribute about a third of the burden due only to NCDs in LMICs (Global Burden of-Disease and Risk Factors Report, DCP2, 2006, http://www.dcp2.org/pubs/GBD/7/FullText ).
In fact, nervous system disorders account for four out of the six leading causes of years lived with disability (DALYs). They are: mental disorders, especially unipolar depression and bipolar affective disorder, substance-use and alcohol-use disorders, schizophrenia, and dementias. Neurological disorders specifically reported in the DCP2 such as epilepsy, migraine, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis make smaller but significant contributions. Stroke and perinatal asphyxia, with neurological complications, are also a significant problem in LMICs particularly since some of the causative factors of stroke such as hypertension are poorly treated in LMICs as compared to HICs.
Depression, the most common psychiatric disorder and the worlds fourth largest cause of DALYs also contributes substantially to mortality due to suicide, which in 2001 was a leading cause of death in many regions, ranking fifth in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, according Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors.
Neurodevelopmental disorders and related cognitive disorders (such as mental retardation, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities and cerebral palsy) that result from abnormal prenatal development or influences during the prenatal and perinatal period, or from injury or insult to the brain and central nervous system during infancy or childhood are also clearly burdensome in LMICs, however their incidence is less well characterized. Many of the causes of developmental disabilities including genetic and nutritional factors, infectious diseases, environmental toxins, and traumatic events are, however, particularly common in resource-poor countries, suggesting that the prevalence there is expected to be high.
Communicable diseases along with maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions still contribute disproportionately to DALYs in LMICs as compared to HICs (more than half of the burden for low income countries as compared to about 20 percent for middle income and less than six percent for high income countries according to 2005 WHO estimates). All of these conditions may lead to varied nervous system problems. Infectious and parasitic diseases, such as HIV and malaria, are a particular burden for LMICs, and especially sub-Saharan Africa, where they affect large numbers of individuals who are not adequately treated. However, very limited data are available on the epidemiology, natural history and pathogenesis of neurological problems caused by these diseases and associated opportunistic infections and co-morbidities in these settings.
The proportion of the global burden of disease attributable to mental, neurological and substance use disorders together is expected to rise worldwide in future because of the projected increase in the number of individuals entering the age of risk for the onset of many such disorders. However, the rise will be steeper in LMICs, because of the continuing and long lasting effects of early life trauma, infectious disease and malnutrition which contribute or lead to neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders and mental retardation. These problems pose a greater burden on vulnerable groups such as people living in poverty, those coping with disease and those exposed to emergencies. Disaster, war and conflict situations, especially prevalent in many LMICs, may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which affects a substantial proportion of the overall population exposed to such conditions and which leads to persistent dysfunction. In addition, stigmatization and gender inequality amplify many of the key risk factors for nervous system disorders. At the same time, available care is frequently inadequate. In some countries, the overall physician-patient ratio can be low as 1:20,000, with even fewer psychiatrists and neurologists.
Despite their enormous burden of disease, nervous system disorders have been largely absent from the international health research agenda. In addition to research on the etiology, prevention and treatment of individual conditions and disorders, more information is needed on co-morbidities among nervous system disorders and between these disorders and other chronic NCDs. Many of these conditions exist together in LMICs and are likely to have more severe and complicated effects than any one in isolation and may even extend beyond the individual affected (for example maternal depression as a risk factor for infant stunting). Research on the social and economic impact of neurological, psychiatric, and developmental disorders is needed to inform interventions, implementation and policy. Research is also needed to further define the burden and identify knowledge gaps, needs, opportunities and methods for effectively reducing the burden and to lay the ground work for, develop and test interventions, and promote research capacity building.
Some disabling brain disorders are readily treatable at low cost, and yet many in LMICs suffer untreated with detrimental individual, family and societal consequences. As an example, epilepsy is a common brain disorder that affects disproportionately people in LMICs, roughly 85 percent of the total number affected worldwide. Although inexpensive and effective treatments are available, epilepsy is frequently untreated and even unrecognized in LMICs often because of stigmatization and lack of knowledge. In such disorders, research into interventions taking social and cultural factors into account and involving education, media, policy and behavior are especially needed and appropriate.
Prevention of disability due to neurological impairment is possible in many situations with appropriate research leading to knowledge and interventions. For example, research to identify neurotoxins and their mechanisms can be combined with interventions to minimize human exposure to known neurotoxins by reduction in use or release to the environment and by appropriate safeguards in occupational settings.
Applicants are encouraged to refer for more background to the recent publications summarizing the state of knowledge on the burden of nervous system disorders around the world including the following: Disease Control Priorities Related to Mental, Neurological, Developmental and Substance Abuse Disorders (contains five chapters from the Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, second edition, World Health Organization 2006, http://www.dcp2.org/file/64/WHO_DCPP%20mental%20health%20book_final.pdf) and Neurological, Psychiatric, and Developmental Disorders: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing World 2001, Institute Of Medicine, http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10111&page=R1).
Research Topics
Relevant research topics for this FOA are related to nervous system function and/or impairment from birth to advanced age and must be relevant to the collaborating LMICs. Research on co-morbidities and `conditions that affect nervous system function at different life stages as well as across the lifespan are especially encouraged. Relevant research for these applications may range from basic science to epidemiological, clinical, health services and translational (e.g. translation of basic research to therapy and of clinical research to applications in the field) research. Applicants may propose a research and capacity building program on some aspect of nervous system function and/or impairment at any stage of life. In all cases near-term or potential future implications for or relevance to prevention, diagnostics, treatment or other interventions should be indicated or included in the research plan.
Examples of nervous system disorders contributing to the burden of disease in LMICs and relevant to this FOA, include but are not limited to, neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, learning disabilities etc.), neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases), addictive disorders, seizure disorders such as epilepsy, neuropsychiatric disorders (such as unipolar depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia etc), posttraumatic stress disorder, dementias, encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathies, motor neuron diseases etc.
Examples of specific conditions that influence nervous system function across the lifespan include, but are not limited to genetic predispositions, pre-, peri- and post-natal trauma and environmental factors (such as maternal depression, in-utero drug and alcohol exposure, neurotoxic insults, perinatal hypoxia, child abuse and neglect, inadequate environmental stimulation, nutritional deficiencies etc.), physical and psychological trauma (exposure to violence, rape, physical abuse, traumatic nervous system injury due to violence and accidents), infection of the nervous system by viral and parasitic diseases (such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, neurocysticercosis) and stroke.
Other factors affect healthy brain development, including access to appropriate health care and socioeconomic factors. Examples of some cross-cutting areas for research are:
Types of Research relevant to this announcement includes basic research and epidemiology, as well as research on diagnostics, early interventions, clinical treatment, prevention, and health services that are culturally appropriate, feasible, and acceptable for implementation within the LMIC. This FOA encourages development of multidisciplinary research and the capacity in the LMIC to conduct such research, whenever relevant to the research question. Expertise may involve, but is not limited to, fields such as genetics, epidemiology, neurology, cognitive neuroscience, developmental neurobiology, neurotoxicology, neuroendocrinology, pharmacology, psychiatry, neuro-immunology, neuro-virology, and biotechnology (e.g., for development of diagnostic tools and treatments), as well as the behavioral and social sciences including health economics, health services and implementation science.
Specific Research Interests of the FOA Sponsors
Applicants can obtain information and research interests for each of this FOAs sponsoring partners at their Web sites and by contacting the partner program contact listed in this announcement (Section VII., Agency Contacts). Some of the participating partners have provided additional statements of interest.
R01 applications within these stated interests will be considered by that partner and potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant partner prior to submitting a letter of intent:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The FIC will not itself award R01s but plans to co-fund R01s that will be awarded by our funding partners on this FOA.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is interested in applications relevant to Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system, and age-related changes in cognition and memory. Of interest also are studies on reducing disability and/or preventing or slowing additional decline among persons with neurological disabilities as they continue to age.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is interested in applications that address alcohol-related birth defects (such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is particularly interested in encouraging studies in response to this announcement which propose to address problems in child health and development, such as mental retardation, cognitive and behavioral disorders, neurodevelopmental disabilities and learning disabilities. Relevant research includes etiology, pathophysiology, screening, prevention, treatment, and epidemiology. Also of interest are studies on cognitive, social, and affective development, including studies in high-risk settings (e.g., in violent or abusive environments, or families experiencing stressors such as poverty, unemployment or parental depression). Biomedical, behavioral, and biobehavioral research in these areas is encouraged along with investigations of socio- and ethno-cultural, familial, individual, and biological influences. Also of interest are studies investigating the roles played by nutritional and hormonal factors in nervous system development and function.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is interested in applications which focus on behavioral, cognitive and neurobiological factors as antecedents to, or impacting on, consequences of drug abuse. Of particular interest are studies aimed at reducing drug abuse and addiction and its associated adverse social, behavioral, and health consequences (e.g., violence and infectious diseases transmission and including research related to the interaction between HIV/AIDS and abuse). The NIDA especially encourages research capitalizing on unique opportunities to study adverse environmental and socio-cultural effects on drug abuse patterns and behaviors in populations of LMICs (e.g., caregiver neglect or abandonment, large orphan populations or street children at risk for both drug abuse and HIV or HCV). In countries where abuse of high doses of individual drugs is more common than in the U.S. and Europe, the NIDA is interested in supporting studies on prenatal effects, cognitive consequences, epidemiological patterns, and associations with HIV/ AIDS and other transmitted diseases. The NIDA will give priority to meritorious research that builds upon existing NIDA-funded collaborations between HIC and LMIC colleagues.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is interested in supporting research in LMICs to identify the causes of, and opportunities to prevent or ameliorate, the consequences of, neurotoxic insult to the nervous system throughout life (pesticides, heavy metals etc.).
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is interested in supporting mechanistic, epidemiological, prevention, translational and clinical research across the spectrum of neurological disorders, neuromuscular diseases and stroke.
Canada
The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), is interested in co-sponsoring collaborative proposals between Canadian and low- to middle-income country investigators. Eligible applications include those dealing with the spectrum of research related to neurological disorders, mental illnesses and addictions. CIHR will provide direct funding to meritorious Canadian applicants.
Other Participating Organizations
Autism Speaks (http://www.autismspeaks.org ) will consider support for scientifically meritorious autism-related research proposals and will provide direct funding to meritorious applicants.
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this
announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of Support
This Funding
Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will use the NIH Research Project
Grant (R01) award mechanism. The applicant will
be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed
project.
This FOA uses Just-in-Time information concepts. It also uses the modular as well as the non-modular budget formats (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm). Specifically, if you are a U.S. organization and are submitting an application with direct costs in each year of $250,000 or less (excluding consortium Facilities and Administrative [F&A] costs), use the PHS398 Modular Budget component provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (see specifically Section 3.4, Modular Budget Component, of the Application Guide).
U.S. applicants requesting more than $250,000 in annual direct costs and all foreign applicants must complete and submit budget requests using the Research & Related Budget component found in the application package for this FOA. See NOT-OD-06-096, August 23, 2006.
Successful applicants to this initiative may submit competing renewal (formerly competing continuation) applications in the future, if not under a reissue of this FOA (unknown at this time), under the Parent R01 announcement.
2.
Funds Available
The participating organization(s), the Fogarty International Center
(FIC), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute on Drug
Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS), and the Office of Dietary Supplements, Office of the Director,
all of the National Institutes of Health (NIH); the Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction, of the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (INMHA/CIHR); and Autism Speaks, intend to
commit approximately $4 million in fiscal
year 2009, 2010 and 2011 to fund six to ten applications.
Because the nature and scope of the proposed research
will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and
duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the
IC(s) provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding
opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds.
Facilities
and Administrative (F&A) costs requested by consortium participants are not
included in the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible
Institutions
The following
organizations/institutions are eligible to apply:
EXCEPTIONS: Financial institutions and international intergovernmental organizations are not eligible to apply for FIC research or training programs. However, staff of such institutions, if invited by eligible applicants, may serve as unpaid collaborators or consultants on such projects.
At least two institutions, one in a HIC and one in a LMIC will be involved as partners in the grant application.
See http://www.worldbank.org/data/countryclass.htm for World Bank country classification tables to identify those countries considered low- or middle-income. Hong Kong-based institutions are not eligible as the primary LMIC partner institution. A second institution in mainland China must be involved as the primary collaborating HIC institution if an institution in Hong Kong is included as a partner institution. Taiwan is not listed in the World Bank income classification list but is considered high-income
1.B. Eligible Individuals
Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research are invited to work with their institution/ organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. Individuals currently serving as a Principal Investigator for an award from any of the Brain Disorders in the Developing World R21 planning grants: PAR-08-XXX PAR-06-420; PAR-05-100; or RFA-TW-03-007 are encouraged to apply. An application must build on and further develop the pilot research; resources and collaborations developed in the R21 grant, and must be relevant to the interests, stated in this FOA, of one of the participating partner organizations or NIH ICs, other than FIC. Assignment of R01 applications will be to a participating NIH Institute or Center (IC), other than the Fogarty International Center (FIC). Applications must be submitted as collaborations between HIC and LMIC investigators/institutions.
More than one PD/PI (i.e., multiple PDs/PIs), may be designated on the application for projects that require a team science approach and therefore clearly do not fit the single-PD/PI model.Additional information on the implementation plans and policies and procedures to formally allow more than one PD/PI on individual research projects is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/multi_pi. All PDs/PIs must be registered in the NIH electronic Research Administration (eRA) Commons prior to the submission of the application (see http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/preparing.htm for instructions).
The decision of whether to apply for a grant with a single PD/PI or multiple PDs/PIs grant is the responsibility of the investigators and applicant organizations and should be determined by the scientific goals of the project. Applications for grants with multiple PDs/PIs will require additional information, as outlined in the instructions below. When considering the multiple PD/PI option, please be aware that the structure and governance of the PD/PI leadership team as well as the knowledge, skills and experience of the individual PDs/PIs will be factored into the assessment of the overall scientific merit of the application. Multiple PDs/PIs on a project share the authority and responsibility for leading and directing the project, intellectually and logistically.Each PD/PI is responsible and accountable to the grantee organization, or, as appropriate, to a collaborating organization, for the proper conduct of the project or program, including the submission of required reports. For further information on multiple PDs/PIs, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/multi_pi.
This FOA provides
an avenue for investigators in HICs and those in LMICs, with shared interests
in brain and other nervous system disorders, to continue research collaboration
and research training activities between themselves and their institutions begun during the planning grant period. Therefore, at least
two investigators, one from an institution in a HIC and one from an institution
in a LMIC (see definitions above, in the Eligible Institutions section) must
collaborate on the application. The contact PD/PI may
be from the LMIC institution or from the HIC institution, but the collaborators
must prepare the proposal jointly. While there is no cap on the maximum number
of investigators or institutions involved, the applicant must discuss how the
contributions of each member will be integrated in
the proposed activities.
2.
Cost Sharing or Matching
This program does not require cost
sharing as defined in the current NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
3. Other-Special
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants may submit a resubmission, but such application must include
an Introduction addressing issues raised in the previous critique (Summary Statement).
Applicants may submit a renewal application.
Applicants may submit more than one
application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
To
download a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application
Guide for completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for this FOA, use the Apply for
Grant Electronically button in this FOA or link to http://www.grants.gov/Apply/ and follow
the directions provided on that Web site.
A one-time registration is required for institutions/organizations at both:
PDs/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the NIH eRA Commons.
Several additional separate actions are required before an applicant can submit an electronic application, as follows:
1) Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Registered
2) Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons
3) Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the NIH eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.
Both the PD(s)/PI(s) and AOR/SO need separate accounts in the NIH eRA Commons since both are authorized to view the application image.
Note that if a PD/PI is also an NIH peer-reviewer with an Individual DUNS and CCR registration, that particular DUNS number and CCR registration are for the individual reviewer only. These are different than any DUNS number and CCR registration used by an applicant organization. Individual DUNS and CCR registration should be used only for the purposes of personal reimbursement and should not be used on any grant applications submitted to the Federal Government.
Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered in both Grants.gov and the Commons. The NIH will accept electronic applications only from organizations that have completed all necessary registrations.
1. Request Application
Information
Applicants must
download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and the SF424 (R&R)
Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply.
Note:
Only the forms package directly attached to a specific FOA can be used. You
will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R) forms (e.g., sample forms,
forms from another FOA), although some of the "Attachment" files may
be useable for more than one FOA.
For further assistance, contact GrantsInfo: Telephone
301-710-0267, Email: [email protected].
Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY
301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Prepare all applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply.
The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to NIH. Some fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components, although not marked as mandatory, are required by NIH (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PIs assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide. For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
The SF424 (R&R) application has several components. Some components are required, others are optional. The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/APPLY includes all applicable components, required and optional. A completed application in response to this FOA includes the data in the following components:
Required Components:
SF424 (R&R) (Cover
component)
Research & Related
Project/Performance Site Locations
Research & Related Other Project Information
Research & Related Senior/Key Person
PHS398 Cover Page Supplement
PHS398 Research Plan
PHS398 Checklist
PHS398 Modular Budget or Research & Related Budget,
as appropriate (See Section IV.6., Special Instructions, regarding appropriate
required budget component.)
Optional Components:
PHS398 Cover Letter File
Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment(s)
Form
Foreign
Organizations (Non-domestic [non-U.S.] Entities)
NIH
policies concerning grants to foreign (non-U.S.) organizations can be found in
the NIH Grants Policy Statement at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part12.htm#_Toc54600260.
Applications from Foreign organizations must:
Proposed research that provides special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily available in the United States (U.S.) or that augment existing U.S. resources is encouraged.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Applications with Multiple PDs/PIs. When multiple PDs/PIs are proposed, NIH requires one PD/PI to be designated as the "Contact PI, who will be responsible for all communication between the PDs/PIs and the NIH, for assembling the application materials outlined below, and for coordinating progress reports for the project. The contact PD/PI must meet all eligibility requirements for PD/PI status in the same way as other PDs/PIs, but has no other special roles or responsibilities within the project team beyond those mentioned above.
Information for the Contact PD/PI should be entered in Item 13 of the SF424 (R&R) Cover component.All other PDs/PIs should be listed in the Research & Related Senior/Key Person component and assigned the project role of PD/PI.Please remember that all PDs/PIs must be registered in the eRA Commons prior to application submission.The Commons ID of each PD/PI must be included in the Credential field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person component.Failure to include this data field will cause the application to be rejected.
All projects proposing Multiple PDs/PIs will be required to include a new section describing the leadership plan approach for the proposed project.
Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan: For applications designating multiple PDs/PIs, a new section of the research plan, entitled Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan, must be included. A rationale for choosing a multiple PD/PI approach should be described. The governance and organizational structure of the leadership team and the research project should be described, and should include communication plans, process for making decisions on scientific direction, and procedures for resolving conflicts.The roles and administrative, technical, and scientific responsibilities for the project or program should be delineated for the PDs/PIs and other collaborators.
If budget allocation is planned, the distribution of resources to specific components of the project or the individual PDs/PIs should be delineated in the Leadership Plan. In the event of an award, the requested allocations may be reflected in a footnote on the Notice of Award (NoA).
Applications Involving a Single Institution
When all PDs/PIs are within a single institution, follow the instructions contained in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Applications Involving Multiple Institutions
When multiple institutions are involved, one institution must be designated as the prime institution and funding for the other institution(s) must be requested via a subcontract to be administered by the prime institution. When submitting a detailed budget, the prime institution should submit its budget using the Research & Related Budget component.All other institutions should have their individual budgets attached separately to the Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form.See Section 4.8 of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for further instruction regarding the use of the subaward budget form.
When submitting a modular budget, the prime institution completes the PHS398 Modular Budget component only.Information concerning the consortium/subcontract budget is provided in the budget justification. Separate budgets for each consortium/subcontract grantee are not required when using the Modular budget format. See Section 3.4 of the Application Guide for further instruction regarding the use of the PHS398 Modular Budget component.
3.
Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV.3.A. for details.
3.A.
Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
Opening Date:April 16, 2008 (Earliest
date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov)
Letters of Intent Receipt
Date(s): April 16,
2008; April 16, 2009; April 16, 2010
NOTE: On time submission requires that applications be successfully
submitted to Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant
institution/organization).
Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): May 16, 2008; May 15, 2009; May 14, 2010
AIDS Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): August 22,
2008; August 21, 2009; August 23, 2010
Peer Review
Date(s): October/November 2008,
October/November 2009, October/November 2010
Council Review Date(s): January 2009: January 2010,
January 2011
Earliest Anticipated Start
Date(s): April 1,
2009; April 1, 2010; April 1, 2011
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
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 IC
staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.
The letter of
intent is to be sent by the date listed in Section
IV.3.A.
The letter of
intent should be sent to:
Kathleen Michels, Ph.D.
Program Director
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
31 Center Drive, MSC 2220
Building 31, Room B2C39
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-1653
Fax: (301) 402-0779
Email: [email protected]
3.B. Submitting an Application Electronically to the
NIH
To submit an application in response to this
FOA, applicants should access this FOA via http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp
and follow steps 1-4. Note: Applications must only be submitted
electronically. PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
In order to expedite the review, applicants are requested to notify the FIC by email ([email protected]) when the application has been submitted.Please include the FOA number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.
3.C.
Application Processing
3.C.1 Submitting On-Time
Applications may be submitted on or after the opening date and must be successfully
received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local
time(of the applicant
institution/organization) on the application due date(s). (See Section
IV.3.A. for
all dates.) If
an application is not submitted by the due date(s) and time, the application
may be delayed in the review process or not reviewed. All applications must meet the following criteria to be considered on-time:
Please visit http://era.nih.gov/electronicReceipt/app_help.htm for detailed information on what to do if Grants.gov or eRA system issues threaten your ability to submit on time.
Submission to Grants.gov is not the last step - applicants must follow their application through to the eRA Commons to check for errors and warnings and view their assembled application!
3.C.2 Two Day Window to Correct eRA Identified Errors/Warnings
IMPORTANT NOTE! NIH has eliminated the error correction window for due dates of January 25, 2011 and beyond. As of January 25, all corrections must be complete by the due date for an application to be considered on-time. See NOT-OD-10-123.
Once an application package has been successfully submitted through Grants.gov NIH provides applicants a two day error correction window to correct any eRA identified errors or warnings before a final assembled application is created in the eRA Commons. The standard error correction window is two (2) business days, beginning the day after the submission deadline and excluding weekends and standard federal holidays. All errors must be corrected to successfully complete the submission process. Warnings will not prevent the application from completing the submission process.
Note that the following caveats apply:
3.C.3 Viewing an Application in the eRA Commons
Once any eRA identified errors have been addressed and the assembled application has been created in the eRA Commons, the PD/PI and the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) have two weekdays (Monday Friday, excluding Federal holidays) to view the assembled application before it automatically moves forward to NIH for further processing.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is not
subject to intergovernmental
review.
5.
Funding Restrictions
All NIH awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
Pre-award
costs are allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior
approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days
before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing
renewal award if such costs: 1) are necessary to conduct the project, and 2)
would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If
specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must
obtain NIH approval before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required
for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the
initial budget period of a new or competing renewal award.
The incurrence
of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award
imposes no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the amount
of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated
and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH expects the
grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against
future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to
accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way
adversely affect the conduct of the project. See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.
It
is expected that the majority of funds awarded will be used for supplies,
training costs, equipment, services, travel, and personnel at the LMIC site and
that any funds spent at the LMIC site will be
directly related to the collaborative research or training under the grant and
will involve the LMIC collaborators.
6.
Other Submission Requirements and Information
PD/PI Credential (e.g., Agency Login)
The NIH requires the PD(s)/PI(s) to fill in his/her Commons User ID in the PROFILE Project Director/Principal Investigator section, Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component.
Organizational DUNS
The applicant organization must include its DUNS number in its Organization Profile in the eRA Commons. This DUNS number must match the DUNS number provided at CCR registration with Grants.gov. For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
PHS398 Research Plan Component Sections
All application instructions outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide are to be followed, incorporating "Just-in-Time" information concepts.
Application Research Strategy Length: The R01 application Research Plan component of the PHS398 (Item 3) may not exceed 12 pages, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/funding_program.htm.
Specific Instructions for Applications Requesting $500,000 (direct costs) or More per Year
Applicants
requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year (excluding consortium
F&A costs) must carry out the following steps:
1) Contact the IC program staff at least 6 weeks
before submitting the application, i.e., as plans are being developed for the
study;
2) Obtain agreement
from the IC staff that the IC will accept the application for consideration for
award; and,
3) Include a cover letter with the application that
identifies the staff member and IC who agreed to accept assignment of the
application.
This policy applies to all new, renewal, revision, or resubmission applications. See NOT-OD-02-004, October 16, 2001.
Appendix Materials
Applicants must follow the specific instructions on Appendix materials as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm).
Do not use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitations. An application that does not comply with the required page limitations may be delayed in the review process.
Resource Sharing Plan(s)NIH considers the sharing of unique research resources developed through NIH-sponsored research an important means to enhance the value and further the advancement of the research. When resources have been developed with NIH funds and the associated research findings published or provided to NIH, it is important that they be made readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community. If the final data/resources are not amenable to sharing, this must be explained in the Resource Sharing section of the application (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_faqs.htm.)
(a) Data Sharing Plan: Regardless of the amount requested, investigators are expected to include a brief 1-paragraph description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data-sharing is not possible. Applicants are encouraged to discuss data-sharing plans with their NIH program contact (see Data-Sharing Policy or http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-032.html.)
(b) Sharing Model Organisms: Regardless of the amount requested, all applications where the development of model organisms is anticipated are expected to include a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organisms and related resources or state appropriate reasons why such sharing is restricted or not possible (see Sharing Model Organisms Policy, and NOT-OD-04-042.)
(c) Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS): Regardless of the amount requested, applicants seeking funding for a genome-wide association study are expected to provide a plan for submission of GWAS data to the NIH-designated GWAS data repository, or provide an appropriate explanation why submission to the repository is not possible. A genome-wide association study is defined as any study of genetic variation across the entire genome that is designed to identify genetic associations with observable traits (e.g., blood pressure or weight) or the presence or absence of a disease or condition. For further information see Policy for Sharing of Data Obtained in NIH Supported or Conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies (go to NOT-OD-07-088, and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/gwas/.)
Applicants responding to this FOA must propose plans for sharing data and materials generated through the grant (i.e., clinical and diagnostic information, surveys, software, animal models and other resources and reagents generated through the grant). Applicants should explain how funds for the storage and distribution of data and materials will be obtained, and may request such funds in the budget of the application. When possible, data and biomaterials should be placed in databases or repositories that will permit their efficient distribution to investigators throughout the scientific community (as an example, see the NIMH Human Genetics Initiative, Access to Data and Biomaterials at http://nimhgenetics.org).
The investigators data and resource sharing plan would, when applicable, specify the following elements:
The Initial Review Group will evaluate the proposed sharing plan and comment on its adequacy in an administrative note in the Summary Statement. Reviewers will not factor the proposed data-sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or impact/priority score. The adequacy of the plan will be considered by NIH staff in determining whether the grant shall be awarded. The sharing plan, as approved, after negotiation with the applicant when necessary, will be a condition of the award.
Foreign Applications (Non-domestic [non-U.S.] Entities)
Indicate how the proposed project has specific relevance to the mission and objectives of the NIH/IC and has the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences in the United States and around the world.
Supplemental Budget Information:
Networking meetings involving grantees of these awards will
be held at a site in the U.S. each year, to share information and discuss new insights, and will include grants-writing and
other workshops according to the needs of the awardees and program. Funds
should be budgeted for travel for these meetings by the PDs/PIs, LMIC
collaborators, and/or other relevant individuals with significant day-to-day involvement in the activities performed under this
award.
Supplemental Instructions
Research Plan:
Applications should include within the Research Plan a plan and timeline to address and implement the results of the needs assessment previously carried out during the R21 planning grant period.
Where appropriate, the design of projects should take into account potential sex and gender differences that may affect the questions asked and the analyses performed. These might include different responses to and impacts of health interventions, differences in physiology, and different behavioral bases for prevention strategies.
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria (Update: Enhanced review criteria have been issued for the evaluation of research applications received for potential FY2010 funding and thereafter - see NOT-OD-09-025).
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
2.
Review and Selection Process
Applications submitted for this funding opportunity will be
assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the ICs for
funding consideration.
Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and in accordance with NIH peer review procedures (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/peer/), using the review criteria stated below.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications will:
Applications submitted in response to this funding opportunity will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
The goals of NIH supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following criteria 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 in assigning the overall score, and weighted as appropriate for each application. Note that an application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a meritorious impact/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.
Research on an important topic
in a LMIC with underdeveloped research infrastructure but with unique
resources, environment, or knowledge not readily available in the U.S. or other HIC nations may be slower to achieve their scientific goals, but may receive
special consideration for their potential to build research capacity along with
scientific impact in the long-term.
Overall Impact. Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following five core review criteria, and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Core Review Criteria. Reviewers will consider each of the five review criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
Significance: Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Is the research on a problem of particular relevance for the LMIC involved?
Investigator(s): Although the collaborators may each be at various stages in their respective careers, Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?A well-developed collaboration should have been established in the R21 grant period for these projects.
Innovation: Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?Does the project make use of unique or special expertise, resources, circumstances or environment of the LMIC site to frame or address the research question? Does the project propose innovative or special ways to incorporate capacity building or training into the research program at the LMIC site?
Approach:
Are
the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate
to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems,
alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project
is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility
and will particularly risky aspects be managed?
If the project involves
clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of human subjects from
research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members of both
sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the
scientific goals and research strategy proposed?
Environment: Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements? Are the resources necessary to perform the research available or obtainable at the LMIC site? Has the Primary LMIC Collaborators home institution made a convincing commitment (e.g., provided a research/academic appointment and salary support)?
International Research Collaboration: In the course of the research, what is the potential for sustainable collaborations between the HIC and LMIC scientists to be strengthened? Does the research constitute a substantial scientific endeavor for the LMIC Collaborator, including creative and scientific input into the research proposal? The LMIC site and investigators should not be used merely to gather biological samples (e.g., clinical, plants, etc.) or behavioral data (e.g., interviews, surveys, etc.). In all cases, the LMIC Collaborators should be actively involved in analyzing and interpreting the data.
Research Capacity Building: What is the potential for the LMIC institutions to improve their research capacity and ability to address important issues in brain and other nervous system disorders, develop independently supported research programs, and obtain financial support nationally and internationally? How will this occur? Does the proposed program contain explicit strategies or plans to strengthen this capacity through research training, career development, mentoring, and other models? Will the proposed research and collaboration lead to enhancement of specific departments in foreign institutions and contribute to overall institutional excellence?
Research Focus: Does
the application build on the pilot research, resources, and collaborations
developed in the R21? The focus should be on the research objectives and should
include training to address necessary and previously identified needs for
research capacity building at the LMIC site to carry out and sustain the
proposed research and collaboration.
2.A. Additional
Review Criteria
In addition to
the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the determination
of scientific merit and the rating:
Resubmission Applications: When reviewing a Resubmission application (formerly called an amended application), the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.
Protections for Human Subjects: For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.
For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children: When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children.
Vertebrate Animals: The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia.
Biohazards: If materials or procedures are proposed that are potentially
hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, determine if the
proposed protection is adequate.
2.B. Additional Review Considerations
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will address each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.
Budget and Period Support. Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Select Agents Research. Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).
Applications from Foreign Organizations. Reviewers will assess whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. resources.
Resource Sharing Plans.
Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the
rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1)
Data Sharing Plan (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm);
2) Sharing Model Organisms (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-042.html);
and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-088.html).
Applications from Foreign Organizations: Whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily available in the United States or that augment existing U.S. resources will be assessed.
2.C. Resource Sharing Plan(s)When relevant, reviewers will be instructed to comment on the reasonableness of the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed resource sharing plan(s) into the determination of scientific merit or impact/priority score, unless noted otherwise in the FOA. Program staff within the IC will be responsible for monitoring the resource sharing.
3.
Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Not Applicable
Section
VI. Award Administration Information
1.
Award Notices
After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able
to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the NIH eRA Commons.
If
the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request
"just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details,
applicants may refer to the NIH
Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards,
Subpart A: General.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award
(NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the
grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all administrative
and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email
notification from the awarding component to the grantee business official.
Selection of an application for award is not an
authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the
NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the
extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See Section
IV.5., Funding Restrictions.
2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include
the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of
award, see the NIH
Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards,
Subpart A: General and Part
II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions
for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities.
3.
Reporting
When multiple
years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Grant
Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in
the NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
In the performance site block on the PHS 2590, grantees must list both the HIC and LMIC sites at which the work is being carried out and the primary collaborator contact at the LMIC site.
A final progress report, invention statement, and Financial Status Report are required when an award is relinquished when a recipient changes institutions or when an award is terminated.
We
encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the
opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall
into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants
management issues:
1.
Scientific/Research Contact(s):
Canada:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research:
Astrid Eberhart
Assistant Director, International
Relations
Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Douglas Hospital Research Centre
6875
LaSalle Blvd.
Verdun, QC H4H 1R3
Canada
Telephone: (514) 761-6131 ext. 3936
Fax: (514) 888-4060
Email: [email protected]
United States:
National Institutes of Health:
FIC
Kathleen Michels, Ph.D.
Program Director
Fogarty International Center
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room
B2C39, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 435-6031
Fax: (301) 402-0779
Email: [email protected]
NIA
Andrew A. Monjan, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Chief, Neurobiology of Aging Branch
Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program
National Institute on Ag ing
Gateway Building, Suite 350
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 (use 20814 for express mail)
Telephone: (301) 496-9350
Fax: (301) 496-1494
Email: [email protected]
NIAAA
Margaret M. Murray, M.S.W.
Chief, Health Sciences Education Branch
Office of the Director
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5635 Fishers Lane,
Room 2103, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
Telephone: (301) 443-2594
Fax: (301) 480-1726
Email: [email protected]
NICHD
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development
Mary Lou Oster-Granite, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Acting Chief
Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities Branch
Center for Developmental Biology and Perinatal
Medicine
National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development
Room 4B09G, MSC 7510
6100 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510 (FedEx: Rockville, MD 20592)
Telephone: (301) 435-6866
Fax: (301) 496-3791
E-mail: [email protected]
NIDA
L.R. Stanford, Ph.D.
Developmental Neurobiology Program
Behavioral and Brain Development Branch
Division of Clinical Neuroscience,
Development, and Behavioral Treatment
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4232, MSC 9593
Bethesda, MD 20892-9593
Telephone: (301) 402-3869
Fax: (301) 443-6814
Email: [email protected]
NIEHS
Annette Kirshner, Ph.D.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Box 12233, MD EC-23
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Telephone: (919) 541-0488
Fax: (919) 541-5064
Email: [email protected]
NINDS
Yuan Liu, Ph.D.
Chief, Office of International Activities
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
NSC, 6001 Executive Blvd. Room 2187
Bethesda, MD 20892-9523
Phone: (301) 496-0012
Fax: (301)
480-1080
Email: [email protected]
ODS/OD
Mary Frances Picciano, Ph.D.
Senior Nutrition Research Scientist
ODffice of Dietary Supplements, Office of the
Director
National Institutes of Health
6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3B01
Bethesda, MD 20892-7517
Telephone: (301) 435-3608
Fax: (301) 480-1845
Email: [email protected]
Other Participating Organizations:
Autism Speaks
Andy Shih
Chief Science Officer
99 Wall Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
Telephone: (609) 430-9160
Fax: (609) 430-9163
Email: [email protected]
2. Peer Review Contact(s):
Sherry L. Dupere, Ph.D.
Chief, Biology of Development and Aging IRG
Center for
Scientific Review
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5136, MSC 7840
Bethesda, MD 20892-7840
(FedEx ZIP 20817)
Telephone: (301) 435-1021
Fax: (301) 480-3567
Email: [email protected]
3.
Financial/Grants Management Contact(s):
Fogarty International Center
Bruce Butrum
Grants Management Officer
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C29
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-1670
Fax: (301) 594-1211
Email: [email protected]
National Institute on Aging
Deborah Stauffer
Lead Grants Management Specialist
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Suite 2N212
7201 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: (301) 496-1472
Fax: (301) 402-3672
Email: [email protected]
Section VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Vertebrate Animals:
Recipients of PHS support for activities involving
live, vertebrate animals must comply with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf)
as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm),
and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm)
as applicable.
Human Subjects
Protection:
Federal regulations (45 CFR 46) require that
applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with
reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against
these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others,
and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Data and Safety
Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety monitoring is required for all types
of clinical trials, including physiologic toxicity and dose-finding studies
(Phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II); efficacy, effectiveness and comparative
trials (Phase III). Monitoring should be commensurate with risk. The
establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for
multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risks
to the participants (NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide
for Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing
Research Data:
Investigators submitting an NIH application seeking
$500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a
plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing). Investigators should seek guidance from their
institutions, on issues related to institutional policies and local
institutional review board (IRB) rules, as well as local, State and Federal laws
and regulations, including the Privacy Rule. Reviewers will consider the data
sharing plan but will not factor the plan into the determination of the
scientific merit or the impact/priority score.
Policy for Genome-Wide
Association Studies (GWAS):
NIH is interested in advancing genome-wide association
studies (GWAS) to identify common genetic factors that influence health and
disease through a centralized GWAS data repository. For the purposes of this
policy, a genome-wide association study is defined as any study of genetic
variation across the entire human genome that is designed to identify genetic
associations with observable traits (such as blood pressure or weight), or the
presence or absence of a disease or condition. All applications, regardless of
the amount requested, proposing a genome-wide association study are expected to
provide a plan for submission of GWAS data to the NIH-designated GWAS data
repository, or provide an appropriate explanation why submission to the
repository is not possible. Data repository management (submission and access)
is governed by the Policy for Sharing of Data Obtained in NIH Supported or
Conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies, NIH Guide NOT-OD-07-088.
For additional information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/gwas/.
Sharing of Model Organisms:
NIH is committed to support efforts that encourage
sharing of important research resources including the sharing of model
organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm).
At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to
elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding
pursuant to the Bayh-Dole Act (see the NIH
Grants Policy Statement. Beginning October 1, 2004, all investigators
submitting an NIH application or contract proposal are expected to include in
the application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will
permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public
funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a
cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications
where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
Access to Research Data through the Freedom of Information
Act:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular
A-110 has been revised to provide access to research data through the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are: (1) first
produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds;
and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an
action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be
accessed through FOIA. It is important for applicants to understand the basic
scope of this amendment. NIH has provided guidance at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this funding opportunity in a
public archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include
information about this in the budget justification section of the application.
In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent
statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider
use of data collected under this award.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children:
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
clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling justification is
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 clinical research should read the "NIH Guidelines
for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.
The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical
research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB
standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical
trials consistent with the SF424 (R&R) application; and updated roles and
responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy
continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols must 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)
investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses,
as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
Inclusion of Children as Participants in Clinical
Research:
The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e.,
individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all clinical research,
conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical
reasons not to include them.
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 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm).
Required Education on the Protection of Human Subject
Participants:
NIH policy requires education on the protection of
human subject participants for all investigators submitting NIH applications
for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key
personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC):
Criteria for Federal funding of research on hESCs can
be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-116.html.
Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic
Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov/). It is the responsibility
of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the
application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC line(s)
to be used in the proposed research.
NIH Public Access Policy Requirement:
In accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy, investigators
funded by the NIH must submit or have submitted for them to the National Library of
Medicines PubMed Central (see http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/), an electronic version
of their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts upon acceptance for
publication, to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the
official date of publication. The NIH Public Access Policy is available
at (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-033.html). For more information, see the Public Access webpage at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/.
Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable
Health Information:
The Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued final modification to the
"Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health
Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002. The
Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually
identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced by the HHS
Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions about
applicability and implementation of the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher
and his/her institution. The OCR website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/)
provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text
and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information
on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and
research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
URLs in NIH Grant Applications or Appendices:
All applications and proposals for NIH funding
must be self-contained within specified page limitations. For publications
listed in the appendix and/or Progress report, Internet addresses (URLs) or
PubMed Central (PMC) submission identification numbers must be used for
publicly accessible on-line journal articles.Publicly accessible on-line
journal articles or PMC articles/manuscripts accepted for publication that are
directly relevant to the project may be included only as URLs or PMC
submission identification numbers accompanying the full reference in either
the Bibliography & References Cited section, the Progress Report
Publication List section, or the Biographical Sketch section of the NIH grant
application. A URL or PMC submission identification number citation may be
repeated in each of these sections as appropriate. There is no limit to the
number of URLs or PMC submission identification numbers that can be cited.
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 FOA 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.
Authority and
Regulations:
This
program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review
requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards
are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health
Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under
Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
The PHS strongly
encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and
discourage the 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.
Loan
Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages
applications for educational loan repayment from qualified health professionals
who have made a commitment to pursue a research career involving clinical,
pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health disparities related areas.
The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the
next generation of researchers by providing the means for developing a research
career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is
not required for eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications
are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing
the LRP recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP
awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week
based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research. For further
information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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