Participating Organization(s) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) |
|
Funding Opportunity Title |
Limited Competition: Specific pathogen free macaque colonies (U42) |
Activity Code |
U42 Animal (Mammalian and Nonmammalian) Model, and Animal and Biological Materials Resource Cooperative Agreements |
Announcement Type |
Reissue of PAR-11-116 |
Related Notices |
|
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number |
PAR-14-066 |
Companion Funding Opportunity |
None |
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) |
93.351 |
Funding Opportunity Purpose |
The purpose of this FOA is to provide continuing support for specific pathogen free (SPF) macaque colonies previously funded under the auspices of PAR-11-116 and PAR-11-115. SPF macaques are free of certain viruses that can compromise the results of AIDS-related investigations or that provide a risk to personnel who handle the animals. Applicants must provide plans for: a) maintaining the SPF colonies, minimally at current levels; b) distributing animals to AIDS researchers, with first priority to NIH-funded investigators; c) assaying for the presence of specific viruses; d) typing animals for specific major histocompatibility complex loci; and e) financing colony operations. |
Posted Date |
January 8, 2014 |
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) |
April 7, 2014 |
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) |
Not Applicable |
Application Due Date(s) |
|
AIDS Application Due Date(s) |
Standard AIDS dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. |
Scientific Merit Review |
Standard dates apply |
Advisory Council Review |
Standard dates apply |
Earliest Start Date |
Standard dates apply |
Expiration Date |
January 8, 2018 |
Due Dates for E.O. 12372 |
Not Applicable |
NIH’s new Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST) is available for the electronic preparation and submission of multi-project applications through Grants.gov to NIH. Applications to this FOA must be submitted electronically; paper applications will not be accepted. ASSIST replaces the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities and provides many features to enable electronic multi-project application submission and improve data quality, including: pre-population of organization and PD/PI data, pre-submission validation of many agency business rules and the generation of data summaries in the application image used for review.
Required Application Instructions
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts) and where instructions in the Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission
Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information
The presence of certain viruses in the monkey experimental subject can confound the results of AIDS-related investigations. Therefore, since the year 2000, cooperative agreements using the U42 mechanism and since the year 2002, cooperative agreements using the U24 mechanism, have supported the development of specific pathogen free (SPF) macaque colonies. Because the purpose of PAR-11-116 (for U42) and PAR-11-115 (U24) are the same, this Funding Opportunity Announcement will accept applications from U42 as well as U24 funded grantees. Collectively, the colonies supported by both mechanisms comprise a consortium of ORIP-funded resources that provide SPF macaques for AIDS research.
As judged by current state-of-the-art assays, the SPF macaques are free of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), Type D simian retrovirus (SRV) and simian T-lymphotropic virus (STLV-1). The SPF animals are also required to be free of herpes B virus, which does not appear to affect the results of AIDS-related investigations, but is a potential health risk for personnel handling the animals. The major emphasis has been on the production of SPF Indian origin rhesus macaques, which are a preferred model to study the entire course of SIV infection, leading to AIDS. The SPF cooperative agreements have also supported smaller numbers of SPF Chinese origin rhesus and pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina), which have specialized uses for various aspects of AIDS research, such as development of microbicides. Finally, some investigators have derived sub colonies of macaques that are SPF for additional viruses, such as herpes viruses. These expanded SPF animals are used for investigations of, for example, herpes virus coinfection or activation of latent herpes viruses.
SPF macaques are also characterized in regard to certain major histocompatibility (MHC) class I types, responsible for antigen presentation (peptides) to T cells. An important aspect of the evaluation of AIDS vaccines in NHPs and in humans is the measurement of virus-specific T-cell immune responses. The majority of immunogenic cytotoxic T-lymphocytes bind to MHC class I molecules. Certain MHC Class I alleles such as Mamu-A*01 and Mamu-B*08 are associated with slow disease progression in rhesus macaques. It is therefore important when designing an experiment to know if an animal subject harbors the particular MHC alleles that can affect the immune response to SIV infection. Due to its pivotal role in the immune response, understanding MHC genetics is essential for infectious disease research.
Most of the SPF macaque resources are now closed colonies that do not take in new animals. These colonies derive animals for AIDS investigations strictly through the breeding stock that has been developed using the U42 and U24 cooperative agreements.
The purpose of this FOA is to support those colonies originally funded through the U42 and U24 mechanisms so that they can continue to provide animals for AIDS researchers, with attendant knowledge of critical MHC genotypes in the animals.
Funding Instrument |
Cooperative Agreement: A support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, NIH scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities. |
Application Types Allowed |
Renewals to PAR-11-116 (for U42) and PAR-11-115 (for U24) The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. |
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards |
The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. |
Award Budget |
Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. |
Award Project Period |
The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 4 years. |
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.
Only grantees funded under an ORIP-supported SPF colony (U42 or U24) are eligible to apply..
Higher Education Institutions
- Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
- Private Institutions of Higher Education
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are
not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible
to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Applicant Organizations
Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.
- Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) - All registrations require that applicants be issued a DUNS number. After obtaining a DUNS number, applicants can begin both SAM and eRA Commons registrations. The same DUNS number must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.
- System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly CCR) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least
annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the
initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial
and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not
already been assigned a CAGE Code.
- NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
- eRA Commons - Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the eRA Commons registration. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.gov registration. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
- Grants.gov Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.
Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))
All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account and should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate an existing account with the applicant organization’s eRA Commons account. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal
Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her 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.
For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple
Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key
Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.
NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed within the past thirty-seven months (as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), except for submission:
- To an RFA of an application that was submitted previously as an investigator-initiated application but not paid;
- Of an investigator-initiated application that was originally submitted to an RFA but not paid; or
- Of an application with a changed grant activity code.
Applicants can access the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.
Most applicants will use NIH’s ASSIST system to prepare and submit applications through Grants.gov to NIH. Applications prepared and submitted using applicant systems capable of submitting electronic multi-project applications to Grants.gov will also be accepted.
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise and where instructions in the Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
Component Types Available in ASSIST |
Research Strategy/Program Plan Page Limits |
Overall |
6 |
Core (use for Husbandry and Management Core, Viral Testing Core, and MHC Genetic Typing Core) |
12 |
Additional page limits described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.
The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.
The application should consist of the following components:
- Overall
- Husbandry and Management Core: required
- Viral Testing Core: required
- MHC Genetic Typing Core: required
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Overall .
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (Overall)
Complete entire form.
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Overall)
Note: Human Embryonic Stem Cell lines from other components should be repeated in cell line table in Overall component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (Overall)
Follow standard instructions.
Project/Performance Site Location(s) (Overall)
Enter primary site only.
A summary of Project/Performance Sites in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Overall)
Include only the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and any multi-PDs/PIs (if applicable to this FOA) for the entire application.
A summary of Senior/Key Persons followed by their Biographical Sketches in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons will be generated upon submission.
Budget (Overall)
The only budget information included in the Overall component is the Estimated Project Funding section of the SF424 (R&R) Cover. The budget proposed for a renewal application cannot be more than a 5% increase over the last noncompeting year's budget.
A budget summary in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from detailed budget data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
PHS 398 Research Plan (Overall)
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission and Revision applications, an Introduction to Application is required in the Overall component
Specific Aims: State concisely the goals of the proposed resource and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed resource will exert on the research field(s) that it supports.
Research Strategy: Applicants should include:
1. Plans for managing the colony and either maintaining or increasing the current output of SPF animals available to AIDS researchers. Some colonies are at or near a steady state level of breeders from which the output of animals for assignment for experiments will be relatively constant. Other colonies are still increasing the size of the breeding pool and will therefore be able to increase output over time, until reaching a steady state. Providing plans for increasing the size and output of the colony through addition of animals is allowable, but is not a requirement.
2. Describe the process by which the awardee allocates animals to specific researchers. The ORIP expects that allocation is on a first come first served basis, with NIH-funded AIDS researchers having first priority. Animals in excess of the demands of NIH researchers can be provided to researchers funded by other sources, only with prior approval of the ORIP Program Director.
3. Justify the inclusion of an expanded SPF component, if applicable. An expanded SPF component is not required.
Letters of Support: Include a Letter of Support from any institution providing financial support other than Program Income, and from users and collaborators. Up to 12 letters of support are recommended.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:
- All applications, regardless of the amount of direct costs requested for any one year, should address a Data Sharing Plan.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Core.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (Husbandry and Management Core)
Complete only the following fields:
- Applicant Information
- Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
- Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Husbandry and Management Core)
Enter Human Embryonic Stem Cells in each relevant component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (Husbandry and Management Core)
Human Subjects: Answer only the Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete.
Project /Performance Site Location(s) (Husbandry and Management Core)
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Husbandry and Management Core)
- In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Core Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field.
- In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
- Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
- If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.
Budget (Husbandry and Management Core)
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
PHS 398 Research Plan (Husbandry and Management Core)
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission and Revision applications, an Introduction to Application is allowed for each component.
Specific Aims: State concisely the goals for Husbandry and Management of the colony. List succinctly the specific objectives of the financial plan, e.g., to solve a specific problem, address a critical barrier to progress in the field that the resource supports, or develop new components (expanded SPF components) if applicable.
Research Strategy: Applicants should include:
1. A sustainability plan for the colony. Provide a table that shows how colony operations are currently funded, including support from: the current U42 or U24 cooperative agreement, Program Income, and other sources, if applicable. Program Income is defined as gross income earned by the recipient that is directly generated or earned as a result of the award. For the SPF colonies, Program Income is usually derived from animal sales, per diem charges, lease fees and/or shipping costs. Support for the colony from sources other than the cooperative agreement and Program Income is not required.
2. A financial plan. Different colonies have grown at various rates and have accumulated different numbers of animals for breeding. Therefore, colonies may be at various stages in regard to the amount of Program Income that can be generated, which depends on the size and fecundity of the colony. Regardless of the current baseline, the financial plan should provide a strategy for Year 2 of the renewal period such that Program Income and/or other sources of support, if applicable, generate approximately half of the amount of direct costs requested for Year 2. The sum of the direct costs requested plus contributions from the financial plan should equal the costs associated with all the functions of the SPF colony. The same requirement applies for each of Years 3 and 4 of the renewal period. Support for the colony from sources other than the Cooperative Agreement and Program Income is not required. The requirement for support in addition to that provided by the Cooperative Agreement can be waived by the ORIP Program Director in exceptional circumstances.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:
- All applications, regardless of the amount of direct costs requested for any one year, should address a Data Sharing Plan.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Planned Enrollment Report (Husbandry and Management Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Planned Enrollment Reports as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (Husbandry and Management Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Core.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (Viral Testing Core)
Complete only the following fields:
- Applicant Information
- Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
- Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Viral Testing Core)
Enter Human Embryonic Stem Cells in each relevant component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (Viral Testing Core)
Human Subjects: Answer only the Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete.
Project /Performance Site Location(s) (Viral Testing Core)
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Viral Testing Core)
- In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Core Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field.
- In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
- Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
- If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.
Budget (Viral Testing Core)
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
PHS 398 Research Plan (Viral Testing Core)
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission and Revision applications, an Introduction to Application is allowed for each component.
Specific Aims: List succinctly the specific objectives of the assays proposed, e.g., to solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or use new technology to validate end results.
Research Strategy: Applicants should include:
1. The current state-of-the-art assays utilized for the detection of: simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), Type D simian retrovirus (SRV), simian T-lymphotropic virus (STLV-1) and herpes B virus.
2. Alternatives to validate the testing end result.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:
- All applications, regardless of the amount of direct costs requested for any one year, should address a Data Sharing Plan.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Planned Enrollment Report (Viral Testing Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Planned Enrollment Reports as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (Viral Testing Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Core.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
Complete only the following fields:
- Applicant Information
- Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
- Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
Enter Human Embryonic Stem Cells in each relevant component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
Human Subjects: Answer only the Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete.
Project /Performance Site Location(s) (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
- In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Core Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field.
- In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
- Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
- If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.
Budget (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
PHS 398 Research Plan (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission and Revision applications, an Introduction to Application is allowed for each component.
Specific Aims: List succinctly the specific objectives of the genetic typing proposed, e.g., to test novel markers, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm, address a critical barrier to progress in the field.
Research Strategy: Applicants should include:
1. The current state-of-the-art assays utilized for genetic typing.
2. Current practice for the characterization/identification of MHC Class I alleles associated with disease progression in rhesus macaques.
3. Any plan to expand the identification of particular MHC alleles that can affect the immune response to SIV infection.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:
- All applications, regardless of the amount of direct costs requested for any one year, should address a Data Sharing Plan.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Planned Enrollment Report (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Planned Enrollment Reports as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (MHC Genetic Typing Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.
Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies) using ASSIST or other electronic submission systems. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.
Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.
Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
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 only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.
For information on how your application will be automatically assembled for review and funding consideration after submission go to: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/Electronic_Multi-project_Application_Image_Assembly.pdf.
Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.
For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.
Important
reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) and component Project Leads must include their
eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile
Component of the SF424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register
in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field
will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.
The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the
application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA
Commons and for the System for Award Management (SAM). Additional information
may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
See more
tips for avoiding common errors.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.
Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year (excluding consortium F&A) must contact NIH program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the application and follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Applicants are required to follow our Post Submission Application Materials policy.
Important Update: See
NOT-OD-16-006
for updated review language for applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2016.
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.
The U42 application is a complex application, with an Overall Component that is the aggregate of the Core Components. The applicant will submit separate descriptive paragraphs for the Overall and Cores Components. However, numerical scoring of the application will be for the Overall application, with "Merit Descriptors" included in the critiques for the Cores Components. The 3 potential Merit Descriptors are outstanding, acceptable, or unacceptable.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact 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 review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific 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? Will the SPF colony facilitate HIV/AIDS research by efficiently providing SPF macaques to investigators? Will significant needs of the HIV/AIDS research community be met by the activities proposed? Will the colonies provide animals to investigators on a local, regional, and national basis? Are the plans for maintaining and funding the colony adequate to meet the stated goals for distribution of SPF macaques to the research community? If an expanded SPF component is proposed, will its use enhance an important aspect of HIV/AIDS research?
Investigator(s)
Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or those in the early stages of independent careers, 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?
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? Are plans for colony management and production in accord with current standards of practice and efficiency? Are plans for viral and MHC testing state of the art?
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 human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research,
are the plans to address 1) the protection of human subjects from research
risks, and 2) inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of
sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of
children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy
proposed?
Will the plans for colony management allow for provision of SPF animals of defined MHC type to AIDS researchers? Will the plans to provide animals to researchers allocate animals on a first come first served basis, with first priority to AIDS researchers funded by the NIH?
Are the proposed plans for viral testing adequate to assure that animals are free of SIV, SRV, STLV-1 and herpes B virus? Are plans for viral testing and MHC typing state of the art? If an expanded SPF component is proposed, are the plans for viral testing adequate to assure that animals are free of the indicated viruses? If an expanded SPF component is proposed, is it well justified?
Does the financial plan for each of years 2, 3 and 4 of the renewal include a component comprised of a Program Income and/or other sources of support, if applicable, that generates approximately half of the amount of direct costs requested the given year? Is it likely that the financial plan will meet the stated objectives?
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?
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.
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. For
additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to
the Guidelines
for the Review of Human Subjects.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children
When the proposed project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of children to determine if it is justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research.
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. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.
Biohazards
Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
Resubmissions
For Resubmissions, 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.
Renewals
For Renewals, the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.
Revisions
For Revisions, the committee will consider the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application that was not recommended for approval by the committee, then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are clearly evident.
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.
Applications from Foreign Organizations
Not Applicable
Select Agent 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).
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; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).
Budget and Period of Support
Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
For Renewals, is the new proposed budget no more than a 5% increase over the last noncompeting year's budget?
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by the CSR, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:
- Will receive a written critique.
Applications will be assigned to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the appropriate national Advisory Council or Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
- Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
- Availability of funds.
- Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.
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 eRA Commons.
Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH
will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided
to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by
the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via
email to the grantee’s business official.
Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. 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.
Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, SAM
Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award
Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.
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. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.
Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award
The following special terms of award are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) administrative guidelines, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) grant administration regulations at 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92 (Part 92 is applicable when State and local Governments are eligible to apply), and other HHS, PHS, and NIH grant administration policies.
The administrative and funding instrument used for this program will be the cooperative agreement, an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition" mechanism), in which substantial NIH programmatic involvement with the awardees is anticipated during the performance of the activities. Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and stimulate the recipients' activities by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipients in a partnership role; it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities. Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility resides with the awardees for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be shared among the awardees and the NIH as defined below.
The PD(s)/PI(s) will have the primary responsibility for:
- Planning the activities, defining the aims and objectives, describing the methods, techniques and other resources to be used and for carrying out the work described.
- Performing all aspects of colony management, characterizing
animals in regard to viral status and
MHC type, distributing animals to researchers and deriving Program Income. It is understood that other personnel at the grantee institution (e.g., the business office) are involved in some of these activities. - Providing colony data on a yearly basis or as requested by the ORIP in a format to be specified by the ORIP. These data will include colony demographics, the number of animals distributed and the grants that were supported.
- Meeting with NIH staff and the other members of the SPF macaque consortium at least once per year to discuss consortium-based activities that will help coordinate activities common to the SPF macaque grants. These annual meetings will take place at the ORIP Offices in Bethesda Maryland, at one of the awardee institutions, or by video or teleconference. Additional meetings, which may be necessary for coordination of cooperative agreement activities, may be scheduled.
- Awardees will retain custody of and have primary rights to the data and software developed under these awards, subject to Government rights of access consistent with current DHHS, PHS, and NIH policies.
NIH staff has substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below:
- The NIH Project Scientist will provide appropriate assistance, advice, and guidance by coordinating consortium-based activities. However, the role of the NIH Project Scientist will be to facilitate and not to direct the activities. It is anticipated that decisions in all activities will be reached by consensus between the Principal Investigator and the ORIP Project Scientist, and that ORIP staff will be given the opportunity to offer input into this process. The ORIP Project Scientist will facilitate liaison activity for partnerships, and provide assistance with access to ORIP- supported resources and services.
- Additionally, an agency program official or IC program director will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship of the award and will be named in the award notice.
Areas of Joint Responsibility include:
- Coordination of the activities of the SPF macaque grantee consortium. This will be accomplished through a Steering Committee comprised of each U42 grant PD/PI, or their designees and the NIH Project Scientist and Program Officer, or their designees. The function of the steering committee is to coordinate consortium activities through consultation and discussion, and to identify common problems and solutions as they arise.
Dispute Resolution:
Any disagreements that may arise in scientific or programmatic matters (within the scope of the award) between award recipients and the NIH may be brought to Dispute Resolution. A Dispute Resolution Panel composed of three members will be convened. The members are: a non-NIH member of the Steering Committee chosen without NIH staff voting, one NIH designee chosen by the NIH Program Director, and a third designee with expertise in the relevant area who is chosen jointly by the Steering Committee and NIH member of the Dispute Resolution Panel. This special dispute resolution procedure does not alter the awardee's right to appeal an adverse action that is otherwise appealable in accordance with PHS regulation 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart D and DHHS regulation 45 CFR Part 16.
When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590 or RPPR) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.
We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons registration, submitting and tracking an application, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, post submission issues)Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
Web ticketing system: https://public.era.nih.gov/commonshelp
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: [email protected]
Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions
regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and
application packages)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: [email protected]
GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and
process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone: 301-945-7573
TTY: 301-451-5936
Email: [email protected]
Miguel A. Contreras, Ph.D.
Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP)
Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI)
Telephone: 301-594-9410
Email: [email protected]
Robert Freund, Ph.D.
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
Telephone: 301-435-1050
Email: [email protected]
Christina Fleming
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
Telephone: 301-435-0850
Email: [email protected]
Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
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.
