MINORITY INSTITUTIONS' DRUG ABUSE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 35, October 17, 1997

PA NUMBER:  PAR-98-001

National Institute on Drug Abuse

PURPOSE

In its efforts to broaden and strengthen drug abuse research in
minority institutions, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
is initiating the, Minority Institutions' Drug Abuse Research
Development Program (MIDARP).  This program replaces the "Minority
Institutions' Research Development Program (MIRDP)" last printed
April 1989, which was previously supported under the Alcohol, Drug
Abuse, and Mental Health Administration. Grants will be provided to
develop the capacity of minority institutions and their faculty,
staff and students to conduct rigorous drug abuse research in all
areas of research supported by the NIDA including neuroscience,
behavioral, clinical, social science, public health, biological,
HIV/AIDS, and health services areas.  In addition, this PA seeks to
broaden the scientific knowledge base in drug abuse in those areas
where minority institutions may have particular interest,
knowledge, and commitment.

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 is related to many of the
priority areas of alcohol and other drugs.  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, D.C. 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic universities and colleges
that meet one of the following criteria:

(1)  A public or private nonprofit university, 4-year college, or
other institution offering undergraduate or graduate degrees with
a traditionally high (more than 50 percent) minority (Black,
Hispanic, Native American or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific
Islander) student enrollment;

(2)  An institution with a substantial enrollment of minority
students (e.g., 25 percent in each of the previous four years). 
Applicants must demonstrate commitment to minority research
development goals through (a) evidence of efforts to recruit
faculty and students who are members of minorities nationally
underrepresented in behavioral and biomedical research, (b)
demonstration of the institution's need for support under this
program, and (c) demonstration of efforts to provide support and
resources to minority faculty and students.

(3)  An Indian tribe which, in conjunction with one or more
institutions of higher learning, offers undergraduate and graduate
degrees in disciplines relevant to drug abuse, which has a
recognized governing body, and which performs substantial
governmental functions; or an Alaska Regional Corporation (ARC) as
defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement ACT (43 U.S.C. 1601
et seq.).

In addition, non-profit community-based organizations that provide
drug abuse treatment and services may submit if they apply in
collaboration with a minority institution as defined above and if
they can demonstrate (a) a research mission and commitment, (b)
substantial service to minority populations, and (c) significant
minority staff and trainees and/or efforts to recruit
underrepresented minorities as staff and students who are
nationally underrepresented in behavioral and biomedical research.

The applicant must indicate which of the above eligibility
conditions apply to the institution and provide documentation in
support of the eligibility claim.

Potential applicants are strongly advised to contact NIDA program
staff  listed under INQUIRIES to discuss eligibility requirements
prior to preparing an application.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Awards under this Program Announcement will use the R24 grant
mechanism.  Applicants are responsible for the planning, direction,
and execution of the proposed project.  The total project period
for applications submitted in response to this Program Announcement
may not exceed five years.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

Participation of minority institutions in supported biomedical and
behavioral research is low. Reasons for this underrepresentation in
research include the following:  (1) the primary, historic mission
of many minority institutions has been to provide excellent
teaching in order to prepare its students for work and/or advanced
studies at other institutions, (2) community service has been an
important, time-consuming expectation of faculty and staff members,
(3) many minority-serving institutions have not had graduate
research programs, and (4) support for research (e.g., facilities,
equipment, release time, library resources, personnel) has been
either unavailable or inadequate.

Many minority institutions, however, are redefining and expanding
their mission to include a strong emphasis on research and have
made strides in recent years to broaden and strengthen their
research infrastructure and endeavors.  In addition, minority
institutions have increased their interest and involvement in drug
related activities and are particularly poised to expand these
endeavors into the research arena.  For example, many are engaged
in various drug and HIV/AIDS education, HIV/AIDS risk reduction and
prevention, and training activities; some have some current but
limited drug abuse research; some have strong ties to community-
based organizations, agencies, and schools who are seeking
partnerships to address drug abuse problems; and almost all have
indicated interest in developing competency in drug abuse related
studies and research.  This program is intended to provide research
support to minority institutions that demonstrate a commitment and
nascent capacity to developing a strong research environment for
drug abuse research among faculty and students.

Research Goals

There are three primary emphasis areas of the program: (1) to
enhance the research infrastructure of the institutions which will
enable them to encourage and foster increased research activity in
drug abuse; (2) to provide research development support and
experiences to faculty and staff to facilitate independent drug
abuse research careers; and (3) to stimulate research interest in
students and provide them research experiences.  A long-term goal
of this program is the expectation that recipient institutions and
participating individuals will become active in other drug abuse
sponsored research programs.

Research Issues

Research in all areas of drug abuse research supported by the
institute is encouraged.  NIDA is interested in both biomedical and
behavioral research.

NIDA supports research on drug abuse in the following broad areas: 
epidemiology, etiology, prevention, treatment and services, basic
research, and medications development.  Research on HIV/AIDS is
also a focus of NIDA's research portfolio.  Examples of specific
areas of drug abuse-related NIDA research are:  develop new
knowledge concerning the mechanisms and sites of action underlying
drug abuse; develop new methodologies for testing the abuse
potential of new compounds; determine the short- and long-term
neurological, biological, behavioral, and societal  effects of
drugs of abuse; study the effects of drugs on the central nervous
system and physiological systems; study metabolism,
pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, synthesis, analysis, and
structure-function relationships of drugs of abuse and compounds
used to study their actions; develop and assess the efficacy of new
and existing treatment techniques and treatment modalities; develop
and evaluate methodologies for recruiting drug abusers into
treatment, retaining them, and preventing recidivism to drug abuse;
study the diagnosis and treatment of drug abuse/addiction and
comorbid mental disorders; study the effectiveness of existing
treatments in real-world settings; advance research focused upon
school, media, family workplace, and community based prevention
strategies; study the nature, extent, patterns, and emerging trends
in drug use/abuse and HIV risk behaviors/seroprevalence; study the
efficacy and effectiveness of community-based interventions in
reducing HIV risk behaviors and averting HIV incident infection;
identify and study resiliency and risk factors; study the incidence
and prevalence of drug abuse and related conditions and
consequences among general and special populations; and develop and
test prevention theories and prevention interventions that are
grounded in, consistent with, and reflective of findings from
epidemiologic research about the nature, extent, distribution, and
consequences of drug abuse with special attention upon ethnic,
cultural and gender-relevant issues, concerns, and risk and
protective factors.  In the case of drug abuse-related HIV/AIDS,
for example, collaborative studies and efforts to incorporate
knowledge from other fields are essential to understanding the
links between drug abuse and AIDS, and to the development of
effective strategies for stemming its spread and addressing its
consequences.

The areas of research interest listed above are not exhaustive. 
Any research area described above in this program announcement will
be considered appropriate for the NIDA MIDARP program.  Applicants
are encouraged to contact staff  at the NIDA if additional
information regarding specific research interests is needed. 
Program contacts are listed later in this announcement.

Program Description

The MIDARP is designed to increase the capacity of minority
institutions, faculty/staff, and students to conduct research in
drug abuse.

Required components.  Each application must include plans for the
two following core activities: (1) an institutional research
development plan, and (2) individual investigator research
project(s).

Institutional research development plan.  The program will provide
support for resources and activities that will strengthen the
institution's research infrastructure and enhance the capability of
individual faculty members and students to engage in competitive
drug abuse research.  A core research issue or focus area must be
identified as part of  and be used to guide the development of, the
institutional research development plan.  Depending on demonstrated
need and importance of the support for proposed individual projects
and future related drug abuse research, requests may be made for
such infrastructure enhancements as the following:  laboratory
supplies, limited equipment support, support for collaborative
linkages with established scientists at other institutions, data
management and statistical analysis needs, data sets, special
courses/seminars for faculty or students, pilot work that can form
the basis for individual research projects, limited costs
associated with establishing research linkages with community drug
abuse treatment services, and limited library/information
resources.

Individual investigator research project(s).  At least one
individual investigator research project must be proposed.  The
program will provide support for developmental research projects by
one or more selected faculty members.  These projects must relate
to the core research focus area or project and the institutional
infrastructure support that is requested. The expectation is that
this support in concert with the institutional infrastructure
enhancement plan will enable the individual project investigators
to become competitive in other sponsored research programs.  In
addition to costs associated with the particular study proposed,
individual investigators may request support for minority
undergraduate and graduate students underrepresented in the
biomedical and behavioral sciences to serve as research assistants.

Optional component.  Faculty members who are currently conducting
drug abuse research sponsored by other sources (e.g., federal,
state, private sector) may be designated as Associate Project
Directors.  They may request additional funds to support minority
undergraduate or graduate students to serve as Associate Research
Assistants on these already funded projects.  These funds may not
be used to replace any research assistant positions supported by
other federal or non-federal awards, and strong explanation of the
benefits to be gained by the proposed research assistants and the
research itself must be provided.

Application Description

The applicant must provide a plan for the MIDARP that (1) provides
information that clearly and critically assesses the current
capacity of the institution and individual faculty/staff members to
conduct drug abuse research, (2) convincingly demonstrates that the
proposed plan will significantly enhance the research
infrastructure of the institution and provide continuing research
support for the individual faculty/staff members, and (3) addresses
an important area of drug abuse research need and shows that
significant knowledge will be gained from the research proposed.

An applicant proposing a collaborative program between a minority
institution of higher learning and a non-profit community-based
organization that provides drug and/or HIV/AIDS treatment and
services must address the above-stated requirements in addition to
elucidating how the proposed program will foster a continuing
collaborative relationship, complement and enhance the research
infrastructure of both the college/university and the community-
based organization, and contribute over time to our understanding
of drugs and/or HIV/AIDS related  problems.

Institutional research development support

Needs.  The applicant should assess the institution's needs for
resources and facilities that are important to conducting research
in the identified focus area.  The plan should describe, for
example, research equipment, laboratory space, administrative
support, faculty development and support needs, consultant
expertise, and data management and analysis support that are
necessary for the research focus area proposed.

Current resources.  The applicant should describe the current
capacity of the institution to support drug abuse research,
identifying all available resources such as faculty/staff with drug
abuse research experience or related experience, equipment, space,
and other relevant resources.  Any current or recent drug abuse
research or related research projects should be summarized.  The
summary should provide the title and substantive focus of the
research; the name, discipline, and department of the principal
investigator; the names, disciplines, and departments of other
participating faculty; the amount, source, and level of funding by
year; the time-line for completion of the project; any cross-
institutional collaboration; and the significance of the project.

Critical assessment.  The applicant should discuss the probable
success of the proposed plan by describing the realistic changes in
institutional policies, procedures, resources, and practices
germane to drug abuse research that are likely to occur. 
Applicants are expected to identify areas where development or
change is desirable but may be difficult or not possible to address
within the scope of this announcement.  Show how the proposed plan
of infrastructure development and research project support is
likely to have a significant impact on the impetus and capacity of
the institution to engage in drug abuse research.  Discuss how the
proposed plan will change the institution's ability to develop a
drug abuse research focus and agenda to seek and support drug abuse
research; prepare its students and faculty for drug abuse research
and sponsored research, in general; provide sufficient time and
incentives for faculty to engage in drug abuse research; develop
collaborations with established researchers/research institutions
or drug abuse facilities; and expand library and resource
materials.  (These are examples of issues that can be used to
demonstrate changes in institutional capacity and competency.)

Program Director.  The Program Director of the applicant
institution will be responsible for the scientific and technical
direction of the MIDARP.  He/She will be responsible for the
implementation of the institutional research development plan and
will provide scientific oversight for the individual research
project(s).  He/She should be a scientist with appropriate training
and experience and institutional authority and support to provide
effective leadership to the project and guidance and support to
project director(s).  The Program Director will have overall
responsibility for the goals, organization, administration,
integrity, and conduct of the MIDARP.  He/She will be responsible
for (1) the recruitment of faculty to participate in the individual
research development activities; (2) assisting faculty in obtaining
appropriate consultation and research training during the grant
period; (3) the development of the institutional infrastructure
required to implement drug abuse research; (4) the provision of
needed fiscal and other project support; and (5) the overall
administration of the grant. He/She will assist faculty in
obtaining appropriate additional research training and consultation
on research which will help faculty carry out research in drug
abuse with the primary objective of enhancing their skills and
expanding their knowledge in preparation for a research career.

Individual investigator research projects

There must be at least one individual research project proposed. 
Each project must be well developed and include a detailed research
proposal, although it is recognized that the initial projects may
often be early, developmental, or small-scale.  Each project must
provide the information requested for preparation of research grant
applications in the PHS 398 application form; namely, specific
aims, background and significance, progress report/preliminary
studies (if applicable), research design and methods, protection of
human subjects (if applicable), protection of vertebrate animals
(if applicable), consortium/contractual arrangements (if
applicable), and literature cited.  If more than one research
project is proposed, it is suggested that there be some discipline-
related thematic link across the projects.

Project Directors/Investigators.  Individual research project
directors/investigators are responsible for the administration and
implementation of their projects, with the support of the Program
Director and the institution.  Project directors should have
sufficient training to enable them to conduct developmental or
pilot research.

HUMAN SUBJECTS/VERTEBRATE ANIMALS.  If  human subjects and/or
vertebrate animals will be involved in the research, evidence of
the required institutional review must be given on the face page of
the application, see pages 7-8 of the PHS 398 application kit.
Furthermore, the instructions on pp. 17-18 of the application kit
must be followed.

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 are 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, and Concerning the Inclusion of
Minorities 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.

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DRUG ABUSE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR
THE ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS TO HUMAN SUBJECTS

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse recognizes the
importance of research involving the administration of drugs to
human subjects and has developed guidelines relevant to such
research.   Potential applicants are encouraged to obtain and
review these recommendations before submitting an application that
will administer compounds to human subjects.  The guidelines are
available on NIDA's Home Page at www.nida.nih.gov under the What's
New (June 1997), or they may be obtained by calling 301-443-2755.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS
398 (rev.5/95) and will be accepted on the standard receipt dates
indicated in the application kit.  Application kits are available
at most institutional offices of sponsored research or may be
obtained from the Division 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@od.nih.gov.  The title and number of this PA must be typed
in Item 2 on the face page of the application.

A limit of 25 pages applies to the institutional research
development plan.  Individual investigator projects are each
limited to an additional 20 pages for the sections on Specific
Aims, Background and Significance, Progress Report/ Preliminary
Studies, and Experimental Design and Methods.  Applications
exceeding the specified page limits will be returned.

Detailed budgets are required for the institutional infrastructure
development plan and each individual research project that is
proposed.

The completed original and five legible copies must be sent or
delivered to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW (formerly Division of Research Grants)
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE MSC-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for courier/overnight service)

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Upon receipt, all applications will be reviewed by the Center for
Scientific Review (CSR).  Incomplete applications will be returned
to the applicant without further consideration.  Applications that
are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit
by an appropriate peer review group convened in accordance with the
review criteria stated below.

Review Criteria

The scientific peer review group will review the application for
the merit of the entire proposed institutional plan and for each
individual research project separately.  A priority score
reflecting technical and scientific merit of the entire project
will be assigned by the reviewers.

All applications will be reviewed according to these criteria:

o  Appropriateness and adequacy of the proposed institutional plan
and the likelihood that it can be successfully implemented.

o  Appropriateness and adequacy of the research and research
methodology proposed.

o  Appropriateness of the proposed budget.

o  Adequacy of the faculty and student research development
support.

o  Adequacy of plans for inclusion of both gender and minorities,
and adequacy of plans for the protection of human subjects,
animals, or the environment, as appropriate.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any issues or
questions from potential applicants is welcome.  Staff members are
available for consultation concerning application development. 
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact NIDA staff for
information and guidance in developing research applications.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Lula Beatty, Ph.D.
Special Populations Office
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-33
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-0441
FAX:  (301) 480-8179
Email:  lb75x@nih.gov

Pushpa Thadani, Ph.D.
Division of Basic Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-19
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-6300
FAX:  (301) 443-6043
Email:  pt24e@nih.gov

C. Jamie Biswas, Ph.D.
Medications Development Division
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-55
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-5280
FAX:  (301) 443-2599
Email:  jb168r@nih.gov

Jagjitsing Khalsa, Ph.D.
Division of Clinical and Services Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-08
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-1801
FAX:  (301) 594-6566
Email:  jk98p@nih.gov

Arnold R. Mills, M.S.W.
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9A-42
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-6720
FAX:  (301) 480-4544
Email:  am88k@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Gary Fleming, J.D., M.A.
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8A-54
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-6710
FAX:  (301) 594-6847
Email:  gfleming@ngmsmtp.nida.nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATION

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.279. Awards are made under authorization of the
Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as
amended by Public Law 99-148, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered
under PHS grants policies and Federal regulations 42 CFR Part 52
and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is not subject to the
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or
Health Systems Agency review.

The Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all grant
recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-
use of all tobacco products.  In addition, Public Law 103-227, the
Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities
(or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or
routine education, library, day care, health care or early
childhood development services are provided to children.  This is
consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical
and mental health of the American people.

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