FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION AWARD PROGRAM NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992 PAR: PAR-93-026 P.T. 34, 48 Keywords: Cancer/Carcinogenesis Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl Fogarty International Center Application Receipt Dates: October 1, February 1, June 1 PURPOSE The Fogarty International Center (FIC) provides small grants referred to as Fogarty International Research Collaboration Awards (FIRCAs) to U.S. grantee institutions to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between U.S. scientists and scientists in Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the non-U.S. Caribbean. This announcement expands the FIRCA program to include cancer-related collaborative research with scientists located in Sub-Saharan Africa. This new effort is supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). FIRCAs provide funds to foreign collaborators, through the U.S. grantee institution, for equipment and supplies at their home institution, and for travel expenses for both the U.S. Principal Investigator and the foreign collaborator. These awards are intended to support the new and expanded research efforts of U.S. scientists who are Principal Investigators of currently funded National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project grants on the general scientific subject of the proposed collaboration. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS U.S. scientists who are Principal Investigators of NIH research project grants (R series, P series, or U-01 series) that will be active and funded during the proposed grant award period (up to three years) are eligible. The small grants will be made for work conducted in cooperation with scientists only in countries located in the geographical regions commonly known as Central and Eastern Europe (including the former USSR and the Baltic Republics), Latin America, the non-U.S. Caribbean, and for cancer-related research, Sub-Saharan Africa. The foreign collaborator must hold a position at a public or private non-profit institution that will allow him or her adequate time and provide appropriate facilities to conduct the proposed research. MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT The small grants (R03) will provide up to $20,000 per year for up to three years in direct costs. Funds may be used for materials, supplies, and equipment for the foreign scientist's research laboratory and for travel expenses for the Principal Investigator and/or the foreign collaborator and their research associates, as justified by the scientific needs of the project. No salaries or stipends for any of the collaborators, students, or technical assistants will be offered under these awards. Applicants must request support to conduct research not already being supported by the U.S. investigator's research grant; however, the research proposal should be an extension of or related to the currently funded research project. The awards will be made to U.S. institutions, which will be responsible for the expenditures. The minimum small grant project period will be for one year; the maximum will be for three years. Indirect costs will be calculated on the basis of the off-site rates of the U.S. sponsoring institution. The award of this small grant is non-renewable, and the NIH awarding unit of the "parent" grant is under no obligation to continue support for the foreign research component as a component of a recompeting "parent" grant. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The main objective of this program is to facilitate collaborative research efforts between U.S. and foreign scientists that will expand and enhance the NIH-supported research program of the U.S. Principal Investigator, while at the same time benefiting the scientific interests of the collaborating foreign scientist. These small grants will provide funds to purchase supplies, materials, and small equipment items necessary to conduct the collaborative research in the foreign scientist's research laboratory at a non-profit public or private institution in the eligible countries. These awards will also provide travel support, as necessary to conduct the collaborative research effort, for the U.S. and/or the foreign collaborator(s). All biomedical and behavioral research topics supported by the NIH are eligible for inclusion under this program in Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the non-U.S. Caribbean. Research collaboration with scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited to cancer-related research only. The U.S. Principal Investigator must show evidence of ongoing NIH research support in areas related to the small grant application, and this support must be available during the entire proposed small grant award period. The application must demonstrate that the effort will enhance the scientific contributions of both the U.S. and foreign scientists and strengthen the contribution to the NIH-sponsored research effort. STUDY POPULATIONS SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS NIH policy is that applicants for NIH clinical research grants and cooperative agreements are required to include minorities and women in study populations so that research finding can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or condition under study; special emphasis must be placed on the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect them. This policy is intended to apply to males and females of all ages. If women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research, particularly in proposed population- based studies, a clear compelling rationale must be provided. The composition of the proposed study population must be described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in developing a research design and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study. This information must be included in the form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) in Sections 1-4 of the Research Plan AND summarized in Section 5, Human Subjects. Applicants are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of minority groups. However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in all research projects to include representation of the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., Native Americans (including American Indians or Alaskan Natives), Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics). The rationale for studies on single minority population groups must be provided. For the purpose of this policy, clinical research is defined as human biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of diseases, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to clinical trials. The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply. Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded. However, every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants. If the required information is not contained within the application, the review will be deferred until the information is provided. Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of women of minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the scientific questions(s) addressed AND the justification for the selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be reflected in assigning the priority score to the application. All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required to address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies. APPLICATIONS PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted by the U.S. Principal Investigator on the standard grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91), available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone (301) 496-7441. The deadlines for receipt of applications are October 1, February 1, and June 1 of each year. Special instructions are necessary and are available from the address below. Credentials for the foreign collaborators must be included with the application and the collaborative arrangements described in a letter signed by both investigators. Applicants must list the active NIH research grant(s) that will be held during the proposed project period of this award. The foreign laboratory collaborating with the Principal Investigator of the small grant must be located in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (including the former USSR and the Baltic Republics), Latin America, the non-U.S. Caribbean and for cancer-related research, Sub-Saharan Africa. The title and number of the announcement must be typed on line 2a of the face page of the application. The complete original and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda MD 20892** REVIEW PROCEDURES Applications will be assigned for review to, and awards will be made by, the FIC, utilizing the customary NIH peer review process. Scientific and technical merit will be evaluated by a Fogarty International Center initial review group. Second level review will be provided by the Fogarty International Center Advisory Board. AWARD CRITERIA Initial award decisions will be announced within a month following each board meeting and will be based on the scientific merit of the applications and the availability of funds. INQUIRIES Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues and requests for the guidelines to: Dr. Mirilee Pearl International Research and Awards Branch Fogarty International Center Building 31, Room B2C21 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1653 FAX: (301) 402-0779 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Silvia Mandes Grants Management Officer Fogarty International Center Building 31, Room B2C21 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1653 FAX: (301) 402-0779 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.934. Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title III, Sections 301 and 307(b) as amended, 42 USC 242(e). This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
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