Full Text PAR-96-036 DEVELOPMENTAL GRANTS FOR MINORITY COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 10, March 29, 1996 PA NUMBER: PAR-96-036 P.T. 34, FF Keywords: Alcohol/Alcoholism Behavioral/Social Studies/Service Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism PURPOSE The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is seeking applications for exploratory/developmental (R21) grant applications for collaborative research projects to encourage new or strengthen existing cooperative relationships between established alcohol research scientists and scientists in minority and/or predominantly minority institutions. Awards under this program are intended to enhance and extend the alcohol research activities of minority scientists. It is expected that projects will be mutually beneficial to the collaborating scientists and to the advancement of research on alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Exploratory/developmental grants (R21) are intended to develop new research activities that could serve as the foundation for the development of more intensive and larger research studies. Grants supported under this program announcement will be limited to a two-year effort and a maximum of $70,000 in direct costs per year. The issues related to alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and reduction of alcohol-related problems are complex. The NIAAA supports alcohol relevant basic and applied research involving a wide array of health science fields and related academic disciplines. Because the United States is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic nation with wide diversity in the patterns, trends, and practices around alcohol use and abuse, much can be gained from research partnerships in this field. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This program announcement, Developmental Grants for Minority Collaborative Projects, is related to the priority areas of alcohol abuse reduction and alcoholism treatment. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications for exploratory/developmental (R21) research grants may be submitted by domestic non-profit and for-profit, public and private, institutions such as a university, college, hospital, laboratory, units of State and local government; and eligible agencies of the Federal government. One scientist must apply as principal investigator with a colleague from a laboratory or research site in the collaborating institution. It is recognized that scientific opportunities may arise that warrant a formal collaborative effort between the principal investigator and individuals from more than one institution. The 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. The linkages for collaborative efforts must be between institutions in the United States. Simultaneous submissions of both an exploratory/developmental and a regular research grant (R01) application on the same topic will not be accepted. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Research support mechanisms are limited to exploratory/developmental grants (R21) for up to $70,000 in direct costs per year for up to two years. Awards are made to the applicant institution to support a collaborative research project that will be performed, in part, at the collaborator's research site. Funds may be included to purchase supplies for the collaborator's laboratory and to support travel for the collaborators as justified by the needs of the research proposed. Annual awards will be made subject to continued availability of funds and progress achieved. FUNDS AVAILABLE While an award may be up to $70,000 in direct costs per year for two years, the NIAAA estimates that most of the awards will be smaller. It is estimated that in Fiscal Year 1997 approximately four awards will be made depending on the quality of applications, program priorities, and the availability of funds. Second year budgets should conform to current NIH cost-containment policy of a four percent increase for recurring costs. Support for subsequent years may be requested through the regular research grant programs of NIAAA. Although the financial plans of NIAAA provide for the support of this program, the award of grants pursuant to this program announcement is contingent upon the availability of funds for this program. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The purpose of this program announcement is to encourage exploratory/developmental studies that will complement and enhance existing alcohol research efforts. The establishment of this program will provide opportunities for attracting additional scientists to the alcohol field. This program will establish a process for making the accumulated knowledge and experience of alcohol investigators available to colleagues in historically and predominantly minority institutions to address relevant issues and problems. The number of scientists who are identified as members of underrepresented minority groups and who are engaged in alcohol research is extremely small. Clearly there is a need to develop ways to assist and encourage minority scientists to become active in the conduct of studies that can advance the rapidly growing knowledge base in the alcohol field. It is anticipated that this program will provide support to enhance research capabilities in research oriented minority institutions; to collaboratively pilot test a hypothesis before a larger more complex project is developed; to develop new technology or methodologies to facilitate the study of appropriate research problems; and to create opportunities for collaborating scientists to acquire knowledge and skills that enable them to submit competitive research grant applications. The intent is to advance understanding, contribute meaningfully to the literature, and to significantly advance alcohol research efforts in minority institutions. Minority investigators may also apply directly for an exploratory/developmental grant from NIAAA. It is anticipated that collaborative efforts established through this program will: a) facilitate development of alcohol relevant epidemiologic, biomedical, behavioral, treatment, prevention, and policy research activities in minority institutions; b) provide opportunities to scientifically explore biological, behavioral and socio-cultural phenomena that may help to explain differing degrees of severity and disease progression of alcohol induced adverse effects observed among and within minority groups and subgroups; c) enhance development of talent, scientific expertise and resources capable of making unique contributions to the field; d) stimulate development of alcohol focused research training programs in schools of medicine and other doctoral degree programs in minority and predominantly minority institutions; and e) facilitate development of the foundation for the coordinated conduct of scientifically sound studies and interventions on a broad and inclusive basis that reflects the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural heterogeneity of the U.S. population. Applications may be made for support of research in any scientific area relevant to alcohol abuse. While applications may involve a wide variety of biomedical, biobehavioral, or clinical disciplines, relevance to the mission of the Institute must be clear. Applications for studies aimed at problems outside these areas will be returned without review. Areas of interest to NIAAA are described in program announcements that can be obtained on the Internet (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov) or from the: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information P.O. Box 2345 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402 Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 468-2600 Potential applicants with questions concerning acceptability of the topic of their proposed study should contact NIAAA staff listed under INQUIRIES. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This new policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies (concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations), which have been in effect since 1990. The new policy contains some provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and reprinted in the NIH guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines as indicated in the application kit. Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Grants Information Office, Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The title and number of the program announcement must be typed in section 2 on the face page of the application. The completed original application and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIAAA in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council. Review Criteria Criteria to be used in the scientific and technical merit review of exploratory/developmental (R21) applications will include the following: 1. The scientific, technical, health or medical significance, and originality of the proposed research. 2. The innovativeness or promise of the research proposed. 3. The degree to which the proposed collaboration presents opportunities for furthering research programs in minority institutions. 4. The potential of the proposed study as a building block in the development of future research. 5. The appropriateness and adequacy of the research design and methodology proposed to implement the research plan. 6. The adequacy of the qualifications (including level of education and training) and relevant research experience of the principal investigator, key personnel and the ability of the collaborator to undertake the research activities proposed in the project. 7. The availability of adequate facilities, general environment for the conduct of the proposed research and other resources and collaborative arrangements. 8. The appropriateness of budget estimates and time frame in relation to plans for the research. 9. Adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. The initial review group will also examine the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects and the safety of the research environment. AWARD CRITERIA Applications recommended for approval by the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will be considered for funding on the basis of the overall scientific and technical merit of the proposal as determined by peer review, NIAAA program needs and balance, and the availability of funds. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding potential research to: Ernestine Vanderveen, Ph.D. Division of Basic Research National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-1273 FAX: (301) 594-0673 Email: tvanderv@willco.niaaa.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Linda Hilley Grants Management Branch National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-0915 FAX: (301) 443-3891 Email: lhilley@willco.niaaa.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, No. 93.273. Awards are made under the authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Sections 301 and 464H, and administered under the PHS policies and Federal Regulations at Title 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 of Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. .
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