Purpose and Research Objectives

Significant advances in neuroscience, genetics, and basic behavioral science, together with technological developments, have provided a rich knowledge base for identifying new molecular targets for drug discovery, and developing rational pharmacotherapies for the treatment of a wide variety of nervous system disorders. With the wealth of potential new drug targets, the opportunity exists to accelerate the process of drug discovery and development to make quantum leaps toward novel and effective treatments for mental disorders and nervous system disorders associated with aging.

Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Aging (NIA) encourage the submission of research grant applications that aim to translate this wealth of basic science findings into the conceptualization, discovery, and preclinical evaluation of innovative therapeutics for mental illnesses and nervous system disorders associated with aging, with the goal of accelerating the development of new treatments for these diseases.

The objective of this FOA is to stimulate research in the discovery, design, and preclinical testing of innovative and effective therapeutics aimed at prevention or treatment of nervous system disorders of primary interest to the NIMH, NIDA and NIA. Projects focused on novel approaches and targets are highly encouraged. Projects designed for target identification or elucidation of disease mechanisms are not covered under this announcement.

Specific Areas of Research Interest

Applications aimed at the discovery of novel agents for ameliorating, modifying, or correcting potential aberrations in brain signaling are encouraged. These agents should be designed to affect fundamental processes associated with disease, such as neuronal dysfunction, abnormalities in cell growth, migration, plasticity, connectivity, and cell death, by targeting molecules and cellular mechanisms such as neurotransmitters, bioactive lipids, neuromodulators, and neurotrophins; receptors and ion channels; second and third messenger systems; protein synthesis, aggregation, and degradation; brain energy utilization; gene expression; neural-glial communication; and oxidative, immunological, and inflammatory mechanisms.

Research projects may include any activities required to identify, optimize, and validate potential therapeutic candidates and may propose studies focused on all stages of the early drug discovery pipeline, from screening to candidate selection.

Examples of these activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Preliminary identification of candidate therapeutics, using in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo assays. This may include:

• High, medium, or low-throughput assays, as well as counter-screening to assess the activity and selectivity of hit and lead compounds.
• Ligand-based virtual screening and computational hit expansion following high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns.
• The isolation, identification, characterization and synthesis of promising naturally occurring products.
• Design, synthesis, and preclinical testing of compounds directed toward altering, modifying, or regulating aspects of disease processes, as well as disease initiation or progression. This may include:
• Initial medicinal chemistry to improve activity and selectivity of validated hit compounds against the target of interest.
• Initial in vitro and in vivo drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) and in vitro toxicity studies of candidate therapeutics. IND-directed toxicology and safety pharmacology studies are outside the scope of this announcement.
• Later stage lead optimization to improve efficacy and pharmacokinetics.
• Development of ligands to serve as research tools in support of proof-of-principle preclinical studies and the validation of novel therapeutic targets.
• Initial drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) and toxicity studies of candidate therapeutics. This may include in vitro and/or in vivo testing.
• Development of novel delivery systems to target therapeutics to the brain.

Use of innovative assays for the evaluation of the potential efficacy or toxicity of candidate therapeutics, such as cell-based or in vivo model systems that recapitulate critical molecular, cellular, or circuit/systems level features of a specific nervous system disorder, are encouraged. Preclinical assays should be directed toward assessing CNS effects rather than elucidating disease mechanisms. The choice of assays needs to be well justified and appropriate for the stage of therapeutic development. While non-selective behavioral assays of CNS effects may be appropriate for initial in vivo preclinical screening to establish pharmacodynamics, later stage in vivo assays used for candidate prioritization should incorporate measures of circuits and brain processes linked to disorders.

The above-mentioned areas of investigation are representative and not meant to be exhaustive.

Investigators are highly encouraged to explore novel approaches for identifying potential therapeutic agents. While such projects involve higher risk, they also offer the potential for high impact. It is anticipated that investigators will balance risk, innovation, and impact and that applications that involve higher risk may focus on a shorter term, proof of concept effort.

This FOA uses the R21 grant mechanism while PAR-19-XXX uses the R01 mechanism . High risk/high payoff projects that lack preliminary data may be most appropriate for the R21 mechanism, while applicants with preliminary data may wish to apply using the R01 mechanism.

Points to consider relevant to this announcement:

• Applications should be relevant to mental illnesses, and/or nervous system disorders relevant to aging.
• The main emphasis of projects submitted under this FOA should be on therapeutic discovery rather than target identification or elucidation of disease mechanisms.
• Applications seeking extensive studies required for the clinical development of candidate therapeutics, such as IND-enabling studies (e.g. lead compound directed absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion [ADME]toxicity) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) synthesis are outside the scope of this initiative and should consider other programs and resources available to investigators for these efforts, including the NIH Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network program ( http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/bpdrugs/index.htm). In addition, the NIH Bridging Interventional Development Gaps (BrIDGs) Program ( http://www.ncats.nih.gov/research/reengineering/bridgs/bridgs.html) might be considered.

Institute Interests

Applicants are strongly advised to contact the Scientific/Research contacts listed in this announcement for NIMH and NIA prior to submission of an application.

Projects proposing to develop compounds for targets that have significant prior or current investment may be of lower programmatic interest to participating ICs, unless applicants provide a compelling case that there are significant advantages to their approach.

NIMH

NIMH supports neuroscience research to discover the causes of mental illness and to develop more effective and safer treatments. Specifically, the NIMH is interested in the discovery of novel molecules to explore innovative targets for treatment development to address key deficits within and across mental illnesses especially schizophrenia (cognitive and affective components) autism spectrum disorder (ASD), treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and HIV-induced CNS dysfunction (see From Discovery to Cure: Accelerating the Development of New and Personalized Interventions for Mental Illnesses). Therapeutic approaches aimed at addressing brain defects down stream of genomic mutations must be based on adequately powered clinical studies as detailed by the NIMH Report of the National Advisory Mental Health Council Workgroup on Genomics.

NIMH is particularly interested in applications that address specific go/no-go criteria based on reliable and quantitative assay measures that assess whether the compound has: 1) sufficient activity at the appropriate molecular target or brain region, and 2) effects on specific neurophysiological systems or functional domains that are potentially impacted in mental disorders (see Research Domains Criteria (RDoC)).

Projects aimed at the discovery of in vitro or in vivo chemical probes should consider applying to PAR-17-335 or PAR-17-336. Projects spanning broader goals including development and testing of novel assays or biomarkers of drug effects, initial GLP and GMP, to first in human studies should consider the National Cooperative Drug Discovery/Development Groups (NCDDG) for the Treatment of Mental Disorders, Drug or Alcohol Addiction PAR-18-231 (U19) and PAR-18-230 (U01). Projects at the development stage proposed by small businesses should consider applying to the NIMH SBIR/STTR Programs https://www.nimh.nih.gov/funding/sbir/index.shtml.

Scientific rigor and transparency in conducting biomedical research is key to the successful application of knowledge toward improving health outcomes. In support of this important goal, investigators must follow NIH Guidance on addressing rigor and reproducibility in grant applications (http://grants.nih.gov/reproducibility/index.htm).

Further information on NIMH research priorities can be found on the NIH/NIMH Therapeutics Discovery Research website and in the NIMH Strategic Plan, Strategic Research Priorities, and Interventions Workgroup Report. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss applications with NIMH staff listed in Section VII - Agency Contact(s) Scientific/Research Contacts.

NIA

NIA is interested in the discovery of novel therapeutics including small molecules and biologics aimed at modifying the behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD), delaying the onset or slowing the progression of AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), other dementias of aging and age-related cognitive decline. NIA is not interested in projects aimed at repurposing therapeutics or developing combination therapies .

The NIMH has published updated policies and guidance for investigators regarding human research protection and clinical research data and safety monitoring (NOT-MH-15-025 ). The application’s Protection of Human Subjects section and data and safety monitoring plans should reflect the policies and guidance in this notice. Plans for the protection of research subjects and data and safety monitoring will be reviewed by the NIMH for consistency with NIMH and NIH policies and federal regulations.

NIAAA promotes discovery, synthesis and screening of novel small molecules for innovative priority targets, and supports evaluation of their efficacy in validated preclinical models to assess their therapeutic potential for treating alcohol dependence. The focus of proposed research projects should follow that described above and be relevant to the mission of NIAAA.

The identification and pursuit of agents towards novel targets previously un-recognized or understudied for the treatment of alcohol abuse disorders are especially encouraged. In particular, NIAAA encourages applications focusing on agents that alleviate craving and dysphoria during protracted abstinence, and agents effective in patients who have co-morbid psychiatric illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder).

1. Eligible Applicants

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
• Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

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)

For-Profit Organizations

• Small Businesses
• For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)

Governments

• State Governments
• County Governments
• City or Township Governments
• Special District Governments
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)

• Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government

• U.S. Territory or Possession

• Independent School Districts
• Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
• Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
• Regional Organizations

• Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions)

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. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. 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.

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.

2. Cost Sharing

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time. This means that the NIH will not accept:

• A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
• A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
• An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NOT-OD-11-101)

1. Requesting an Application Package

Buttons to access the online ASSIST system or to download application forms are available in Part 1 of this FOA. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

Research Strategy: Applicants should clearly describe how the proposed plan for discovery and testing of novel therapeutics addresses unmet needs relevant to the target disease. Applicants should address the competitive landscape for the proposed targets, discussing other efforts in academia and industry relevant to the target, and highlight the innovation or improvements offered by their proposed approach. Innovation in the therapeutic targets, mechanism, and/or measures to assess target biology should be addressed.

Applicants should detail the current status of lead compounds (e.g., potency, efficacy, pharmacokinetic parameters, etc.) and key lead optimization goals for a development program as well as go-no-go criteria for each assay/test proposed in the testing funnel for advancing compounds across stages.

There is increasing awareness among neurological disease communities that to assess the predictive value of preclinical research, sufficient information must be available about study design, execution, analysis, and interpretation. Applicants are urged to consider key elements of a well-designed study (e.g., justification for the sample size, randomization, blinding, selection of appropriate statistical methods, etc.) when describing supporting data and designing the proposed studies. Sufficient information should be provided in the application to assess whether definitive go/no-go studies are appropriately powered and whether proposed statistical analyses are robust.

The following modifications also apply:

• All applications, regardless of the amount of direct costs requested for any one year, should address a Data Sharing Plan.

If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or Delayed Onset Study record.

Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions described throughout the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

See Part 1. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov

4. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates and times. 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. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday , the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). 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. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Policy on Late Application Submission.

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.

5. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

6. 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 only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

7. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

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. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Guidelines for Applicants Experiencing System Issues. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.

Important reminders:

All PD(s)/PI(s) 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. See Section III of this FOA for information on registration requirements.

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. Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. Applications submitted to the NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

The R21 exploratory/developmental grant supports investigation of novel scientific ideas or new model systems, tools, or technologies that have the potential for significant impact on biomedical or biobehavioral research. An R21 grant application need not have extensive background material or preliminary information. Accordingly, reviewers will emphasize the conceptual framework, the level of innovation, and the potential to significantly advance our knowledge or understanding. Appropriate justification for the proposed work can be provided through literature citations, data from other sources, or, when available, from investigator-generated data. Preliminary data are not required for R21 applications; however, they may be included if available.

Significance

Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? Is the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project rigorous? 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?

To what degree does the proposed plan for discovery and testing of novel drugs, research tools, and/or preclinical models support an unmet need for the targeted disease?

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?

Do the investigators have the necessary experience and expertise to successfully conduct the proposed screening, medicinal chemistry, and lead optimization activities? Is there evidence of prior experience in early stage drug discovery and development ?

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 the therapeutic targets, mechanisms, or measures to assess target biology considered to be novel? Has the competitive landscape for the proposed targets been addressed? Does the application m ake a convincing case for the need for better compounds for the proposed target?

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Have the investigators included plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project? Have the investigators presented strategies to ensure a robust and unbiased approach, as appropriate for the work proposed? 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? Have the investigators presented adequate plans to address relevant biological variables, such as sex, for studies in vertebrate animals or human subjects?

Is the current status of lead compounds clearly described? Are key lead optimization goals and go-no-go criteria for advancing compounds clearly described?

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 individuals of all ages (including children and older adults), 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?

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the 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 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 Individuals Across the Lifespan

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 individuals of all ages (including children and older adults) 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 criteria: (1) description of proposed procedures involving animals, including species, strains, ages, sex, and total number to be used; (2) justifications for the use of animals versus alternative models and for the appropriateness of the species proposed; (3) interventions to minimize discomfort, distress, pain and injury; and (4) justification for euthanasia method if NOT consistent with the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. Reviewers will assess the use of chimpanzees as they would any other application proposing the use of vertebrate animals. 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

Not Applicable

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.

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.

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) Genomic Data Sharing Plan (GDS).

Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources:

For projects involving key biological and/or chemical resources, reviewers will comment on the brief plans proposed for identifying and ensuring the validity of those resources.

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.

2. Review and Selection Process

• May undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review) will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.

• Will receive a written critique.

• 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.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

1. Award Notices

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 terms and conditions found on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website. This includes any recent legislation and policy applicable to awards that is highlighted on this website.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS must administer their programs in compliance with federal civil rights law. This means that recipients of HHS funds must ensure equal access to their programs without regard to a person’s race, color, national origin, disability, age and, in some circumstances, sex and religion. This includes ensuring your programs are accessible to persons with limited English proficiency. HHS recognizes that research projects are often limited in scope for many reasons that are nondiscriminatory, such as the principal investigator’s scientific interest, funding limitations, recruitment requirements, and other considerations. Thus, criteria in research protocols that target or exclude certain populations are warranted where nondiscriminatory justifications establish that such criteria are appropriate with respect to the health or safety of the subjects, the scientific study design, or the purpose of the research.

In accordance with the statutory provisions contained in Section 872 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417), NIH awards will be subject to the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) requirements. FAPIIS requires Federal award making officials to review and consider information about an applicant in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS) prior to making an award. An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a Federal agency previously entered and is currently in FAPIIS. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgement about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR Part 75.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants. This provision will apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.

For additional guidance regarding how the provisions apply to NIH grant programs, please contact the Scientific/Research Contact that is identified in Section VII under Agency Contacts of this FOA. HHS provides general guidance to recipients of FFA on meeting their legal obligation to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their programs by persons with limited English proficiency. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/resources/laws/revisedlep.html. The HHS Office for Civil Rights also provides guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/section1557/index.html; and http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/index.html. Recipients of FFA also have specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with disabilities. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/disability/index.html. Please contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights for more information about obligations and prohibitions under federal civil rights laws at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/about/rgn-hqaddresses.html or call 1-800-368-1019 or TDD 1-800-537-7697. Also note it is an HHS Departmental goal to ensure access to quality, culturally competent care, including long-term services and supports, for vulnerable populations. For further guidance on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services, recipients should review the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care at http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53.

3. Reporting

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.

In accordance with the regulatory requirements provided at 45 CFR 75.113 and Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75, recipients that have currently active Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies with a cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of a Federal award, must report and maintain the currency of information reported in the System for Award Management (SAM) about civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings in connection with the award or performance of a Federal award that reached final disposition within the most recent five-year period. The recipient must also make semiannual disclosures regarding such proceedings. Proceedings information will be made publicly available in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS). This is a statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be publicly available. Full reporting requirements and procedures are found in Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75 Award Term and Conditions for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

Finding Help Online: http://grants.nih.gov/support/ (preferred method of contact)

Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

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)

Email: [email protected] (preferred method of contact)

Telephone: 301-710-0267

Enrique Michelotti, PhD
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-5415
Email: [email protected]

Lorenzo M. Refolo, PhD
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-594-7576
Email: [email protected]

Mary Custer, PhD
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
Telephone: 301-435-1164
Email: [email protected]

Terri Jarosik
National Institute of Mental Health
Telephone: 301-443-3858
Email: [email protected]

Linda Whipp
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-496-7700
Email: [email protected]