MBRS SUPPORT OF CONTINUOUS RESEARCH EXCELLENCE (SCORE)

Release Date:  August 19, 1999 (see replacement PAR-04-001)

PA NUMBER:  PAR-99-152

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Receipt dates for all MBRS SCORE applications, including supplemental and 
revised applications, are October 1, February 1, and June 1.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Support of Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) program
is to assist biomedical research faculty at minority-serving institutions to
develop competitive research programs, and to increase the number of
underrepresented minorities professionally engaged in biomedical research. 
This will be achieved by providing financial assistance to competitive
developing research programs in all areas of biomedical and behavioral
research at institutions with significant underrepresented minority student
enrollment.  In addition, the MBRS Branch recognizes that minority and
minority-serving institutions are diverse in institutional environment and
mission.  Therefore, with respect to evaluation, the SCORE program requires
that each institution set its own goals and measurable objectives that are
based on its self assessment and that it identify anticipated milestones for
achievements.

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 (PA), The MBRS
Research Initiative Scientific Enhancement, is related to one or more of the
priority areas.  Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People
2000" at http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The Institution

To be eligible for a grant under this program, an applicant must be located in
a State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, or the successor States of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, the Republic of Palau), and be one of the following:

* an accredited public or private nonprofit university, two-year or four-year
college, or other institution offering undergraduate, graduate, or health-
professional degrees, with a traditionally high (more than fifty percent)
underrepresented minority  student enrollment;
* an accredited public or private nonprofit university, two-year or four-year
college, or other institution offering undergraduate, graduate, or health-
professional degrees with a student enrollment, a significant proportion of
which (but not necessarily more than fifty percent) is derived from
underrepresented minorities, provided the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services determines that said institution has a demonstrated
commitment to the special encouragement of, and assistance to,
underrepresented minority faculty, students, and investigators; or
* an Indian tribe that has a recognized governing body and that 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.).

Underrepresented minorities are individuals belonging to a particular ethnic
or racial group that has been determined by the grantee institution to be
underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research.  Historically,
individuals who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or
behavioral research include, but are not limited to, U.S. citizens who are
Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Native Americans (including Alaskan
natives) and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to establish eligibility of all new and
competing renewal applications prior to submitting an application.  In order
to establish eligibility, a written statement containing the following
information should be sent to the Chief, MBRS branch, at the address listed
under INQUIRIES.

* total student enrollment at the institution and percentages of various
underrepresented minorities in the total student population (i.e., Native
American, African American, Hispanic American, natives of the U.S. Pacific
Islands);
* number of underrepresented minority students in science departments;
* evidence of the institution's commitment to the advancement of
underrepresented minority faculty and investigators, including numbers of
minority faculty in science departments;
* number, rank, and percentage of minority faculty members in participating
departments;
* number of minority students graduating from participating departments over
the last four years;
* evidence that the institution's mission includes involvement of faculty in
scholarly research and research activities; and
* evidence of the institution's commitment to establish, or maintain or
improve the research environment and infrastructure supporting biomedical or
health-related research.

An institution may hold only one active SCORE award.  Institutions supported
by the Initiative for Minority Student Development (IMSD)
(http://www.nih.gov/nigms/funding/pa/imsd.html) are not eligible for the SCORE
Program

Subproject Investigators

SCORE is an institutional developmental grant mechanism that places an
emphasis on continual improvement of the research competitiveness of the
faculty.  In order to be included as an investigator in the SCORE program, a
prospective investigator must have a full-time faculty appointment at the
university.  In addition, the institution must show that the investigator has
the need, based on institutional, departmental, and professional development
plans, to develop or enhance his/her research knowledge, skills, and
capabilities by engaging in the proposed research program and associated
activities.  The application must clearly describe how the proposed research
plan will meet the individual's professional development goals and how doing
so will contribute to achieving institutional and departmental goals

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Awards under this program will be administered using the institutional S06
grant mechanism.  The responsibility for planning, directing, and executing
the program, as well as data acquisition and analysis and evaluation of the
proposed program lies solely with the applicant institution.  The maximum
grant period may not exceed four years, with the opportunity for competing
renewal at the end of that period.

OBJECTIVES

In the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, NIH was encouraged to increase the
number of underrepresented minorities participating in biomedical and
behavioral research.  In response to the Act, the NIGMS established the SCORE
program to assist biomedical research faculty at minority-serving institutions
to develop competitive research programs, and to increase the number of
underrepresented minorities professionally engaged in biomedical research.

The MBRS SCORE program offers opportunities to develop the biomedical research
capabilities of faculty of eligible institutions through support of faculty-
initiated, scientifically meritorious research projects, including pilot
research projects.  Support for faculty participating in pilot projects is
preparatory to seeking more substantial funding from NIH research grant
programs (e.g., MBRS SCORE research subproject, Academic Research Enhancement
Award (AREA), K, and R01 awards) as well as funding from other agencies and
private sources. Funds received from NIH to support pilot projects may not be
used to supplement ongoing research projects.

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 policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993
(Section 492B of Public Law 103-43).

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 in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23,
No. 11, March 18, 1994 available on the web at the following URL address: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. 
This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt
dates after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in
Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL
address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html

Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies 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 using the grant application form PHS 398 
(rev.4/98). Applicants are strongly urged to contact MBRS program staff at an 
early stage to request the MBRS-specific supplemental instructions for Form 
PHS 398.  Application kits and supplemental instructions may be obtained from 
the MBRS program contact listed under INQUIRIES.  Application kits are also 
available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and 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: [email protected]. The 
application is also available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.

An applicant planning to submit a new (Type 1) grant application requesting
$1,000,000 or more in direct costs for any year must contact the Chief, MBRS
Branch (see INQUIRIES) before submitting the application, i.e., as plans are
being developed.  Furthermore, the applicant must obtain agreement that NIGMS
will accept the application for consideration for award.  Finally, the
applicant must identify, in the cover letter that is sent with the
application, the staff member who agreed to accept assignment of the
application.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and three single-sided photocopies of the signed application in one
package to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional single-sided photocopies of the
application must also be sent to:

Helen R. Sunshine, Ph.D.
Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 1 AS.13, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-2881
FAX:  (301) 480-8506
Email:  [email protected]

Supplemental applications may be submitted during the first 18-month period of
a four year grant, if the total number of projects in the parent grant does
not exceed a total of 20 research projects and 8 pilot research projects.
Supplemental requests may not extend beyond the project period of the parent
grant.

Applicants are urged to contact MBRS program staff at an early stage of
preparation of the grant application in order to obtain supplemental
instructions and for assistance and guidance in establishing eligibility and
in developing an application.  First-time applicants must proceed as discussed
under ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.  Competitive renewals must include eligibility
information in the application.  Supplemental applications are excluded from
these requirements.

UNIFIED PLAN

Institutions with active or pending Research Initiative for Scientific
Enhancement (RISE), Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) USTAR, Bridges
to the Doctoral Degree, Bridges to the Baccalaureate Degree, Research
Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI), Specialized Neuroscience
Research Programs at Minority Institutions,
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html), Research Centers in Minority
Institutions (RCMI) (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/resinfra/ri_rcmi.asp) and/or other
minority student/faculty support programs from private or public funding
agencies may also apply for the MBRS SCORE Program.  However, the institution
must describe how the funds from the SCORE program will complement these other
awards.  Institutions must describe/explain any overlap in research
aims/objectives.  In particular, it must describe how the research and
research-related activities (goals and objectives) supported by different
programs will complement each other.  Finally, it should describe how
administrative staff (secretarial assistance, administrative assistance) will
be shared between SCORE and other programs.

EVALUATION

The purpose of the NIGMS MBRS SCORE program is to encourage biomedical
research faculty at minority-serving institutions committed to develop
competitive research programs and to increase the number of underrepresented
minorities professionally engaged in biomedical research.  Applicants should
note that evaluation of progress is a necessary component of every
institutional SCORE program; NIGMS requires that each institution set its own
specific goals and assess progress made toward its own goals and measurable
objectives including milestones for accomplishment. The goals and objectives
should relate to the overall goals of the NIGMS MBRS program and to the
institution's research development plans.  Therefore, the emphasis of
evaluation activities is on self-study and on continual improvement and
development of the institution's research capabilities

The applicant institution should assess the benefits of its SCORE program's
activities on specific, measurable outcomes identified by the applicant. Since
the intent of the NIGMS MBRS SCORE program is to support institutions
committed to developing or improving both their research infrastructure and
the competitiveness of faculty conducting biomedical research, it is expected
that institutions will implement various strategies for determining the
initial and ongoing success of their SCORE supported institutional
developmental efforts.  Such strategies might include a self-study, which
focuses on fact-finding, program evaluation, and recommendations for
improvement in key areas.

In the progress report submitted with each competitive renewal and non-
competitive renewal application (reported in Form PHS 2590), the institution
will assess the overall progress realized in overall improvement of
institutional research capability and in competitiveness of MBRS supported
faculty as the result of the MBRS award.  In addition, each investigator will
report on the progress realized in his/her research subproject supported by
the MBRS award.  A central aspect of each SCORE grant application is that each
successful application must have specific, MEASURABLE objectives with
anticipated milestones, and a plan to evaluate whether those objectives have
been met.

APPLICATION CONTENT

The MBRS SCORE program is institutional in scope. Its purpose is to assist
biomedical research faculty at minority-serving institutions to develop
competitive research programs, and to increase the number of underrepresented
minorities professionally engaged in biomedical research.  Therefore, the
application layout and organization should reflect the institutional nature of
the proposed program.  In general, a description should be provided of the
current state of the research enterprise at the institution, including the
faculty and student profiles.  A clear statement of the overall goals,
specific measurable objectives, and anticipated milestones should be
presented; these elements should be presented  in the context of needed
improvements in institutional infrastructure and environment for research. 
The competitive ability of the research faculty in the participating
departments to obtain extramural grant funding to support their research
should also be presented. These projected goals should reflect what the
institution expects to accomplish as a result of SCORE support. In addition,
the institution must show that each participating investigator has the need,
based on institutional, departmental, and professional development plans, to
develop or enhance his/her research knowledge, skills, and capabilities by
engaging in the proposed research program and associated activities.

Institutions may apply for a maximum of twenty (20) research subprojects and a
maximum of eight (8) pilot projects per program.  An institution need not
apply for both research and pilot projects. Applications for only pilot
projects or for only research subprojects may be submitted. Individual
investigators may propose either a research project or a pilot research
project, but not both.

Each research subproject or pilot project should follow the instructions
provided in PHS 398 (Rev. 4/98) for developing research grant applications. In
addition, each investigator should give an indication of specific personal
developmental goals for improving competitiveness in winning grant support,
and how successful completion of the proposed research project will improve
research skills, thus contributing to the institution's overall goals and
specific measurable objectives. The application must clearly describe how the
proposed research plan will meet the individual's professional development
goals and how doing so will contribute to achieving institutional and
departmental goals.  The application must clearly describe the rationale for
the inclusion of each proposed research subproject as developmental with
specific objectives and milestones.

All revised subproject applications, whether in competitive renewal or
supplemental applications, must include an Introduction that summarizes the
substantial additions, deletions, and changes, as well as responses to the
criticisms and issues raised in the scientific review summary statement.  The
changes in the Research Plan must be clearly marked by appropriate bracketing,
indenting, or changing of typography.  If changes are so extensive they
include most of the text, explain this in the Introduction.

Supplemental applications must include an Introduction.  The Introduction to
the supplemental application should contain an overall description of the
nature of the supplement and how it will enhance the current MBRS SCORE
program.

ALLOWABLE COSTS

Administrative Costs

Certain administrative costs for managing a complex program are allowable and
may vary, depending upon the size and complexity of the program's activities. 
The costs budgeted for MBRS grants may not duplicate items already budgeted in
other cost centers of the institution, such as accounts which make up the
Facilities and Administration (F&A) cost pool.  The grantee institution must
be prepared to provide documentation showing the direct relationship of
proposed costs to the program and that costs of this type are charged in a
uniform manner to all other grants at the institution.

Salary (up to 25 percent, although it should generally be less) for the
Program Director is allowable for that portion of time or effort specifically
employed in directing the MBRS program.  Limited salary support for
secretarial or clerical help is allowable only when in direct support of the
institutional SCORE program.  For guidance, refer to OMB Circular A21 or
contact the grants management officer under INQUIRIES.

Costs for evaluation activities are allowable, as are costs for an External
Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC).  ESAC costs, with adequate
justification, should not exceed $15,000 per year.  Costs for a scientific
seminar series are also allowable.

Research Subproject Costs

Direct costs associated with research and pilot research projects are
allowable when adequate justification is provided.  These include faculty
salaries, reimbursed according to percent effort.  Summer salary support can
be paid provided the institution's academic schedule permits such release and
when the institution approves. The maximum summer-salary support provided by
the program can not exceed the equivalent of two months at 100 percent effort,
or time specified by the institution as its policy.  When the investigator
engages in research and research-related activities at the agreed-upon level
of participation, grant funds may not be used to increase or supplement
faculty academic year salaries. Salary support for technical assistance and
costs for consultants, if justified, are allowable. Costs for equipment to be
used to carry out the proposed research are allowable.

Costs for supplies, including costs for animals, necessary to carry out the
proposed research may be included.  Travel costs for the investigator(s) are
permitted when direct benefits to the program are expected, and when adequate
justification is provided.  Alterations and Renovations costs (up to $40,000)
are allowable only when essential for conduct of the proposed research.  Other
permitted costs include animal maintenance (unit care costs and number of care
days), donor fees, publication costs, computer charges, rentals and leases,
equipment maintenance, and service contracts.

Also allowable, when fully justified, are consortium arrangements that may
involve personnel costs, supplies, and other allowable costs, including F&A
costs. Contractual costs for support services, such as the laboratory testing
of biological materials, clinical services, or data processing, are allowable
expenses.

Multi-user Research Core Facilities

Costs for multi-user research core facilities are allowable. The core may
include equipment and services that will be shared by multiple research
subprojects of the program. A plan for access to the facility, its
maintenance, management and use must be included.  To aid in the review, it is
suggested that a tabular summary show the estimated or actual proportional use
of this core component by each project, and other investigators and students. 
Justify this core component by discussing ways in which these centralized
services improve quality, bring about an economy of effort, and/or save
overall costs as compared to their inclusion as part of each research
subproject. Plans to maintain the core facility beyond the grant period should
be discussed. Personnel costs to maintain and service the equipment are an
allowable cost.  Support for large pieces of equipment, however, may be
restricted by the MBRS budget.

Pilot Research Subprojects

Pilot research subprojects are for faculty members who: (1) are new to the
institution and have not had previous research grant experience; (2) have had
teaching responsibilities that have precluded pursuit of a research program;
(3) plan to make a change in their research direction that necessitates a
fresh start in a new discipline.  The pilot research project is intended for
faculty without current research support.  Therefore, investigators with
significant current extramural support from other mechanisms such as the AREA,
R01, or research funding from another agency, are not eligible.

For pilot research projects, applicants may request support for up to $35,000
(direct costs) per year for a period of three years, which may be spread over
four years.  This support is non-renewable.

Unallowable Costs

Unallowable costs include costs for student development, textbooks, journals,
memberships, and Internet subscription costs, as well as other costs
prohibited by OMB Circular A-21.  Employees from the applicant institution may
not serve as paid consultants.

QUALIFICATIONS OF PROGRAM DIRECTOR

As leader of the MBRS SCORE program, the Program Director is expected to
possess certain essential qualifications.  One is strong leadership skills,
including scientific leadership experience and a strong academic and
scientific background, as exemplified, ideally, by scientific publications and
a record of peer-reviewed scientific support.  In addition, the program
director should have knowledge of NIH policies including those governing the
use of human subjects, animals and hazardous materials.

The MBRS Review Subcommittee reviews the qualifications of proposed program
directors when the grant is initially submitted and at each competitive
renewal.  When a change in program director is proposed by the institution
during the funding cycle, NIGMS staff perform the review and approve the
substitution, as outlined in policy (see section on The Program Director
below).

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS (New, competitive renewal, and supplemental
applications)

Upon receipt, NIH staff will administratively review applications. 
Applications that are incomplete and/or do not follow the guidelines of the
PHS form 398 (Rev 4/98), the SCORE policy and/or supplemental instructions
will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.

After administrative review, subproject applications will be evaluated in
accordance with the criteria stated below for scientific and technical merit
by appropriate peer review groups convened by the NIGMS. The National Advisory
General Medical Sciences Council will provide the second level of review.

Review of Faculty Research Subprojects

The NIH has announced procedures to be used for the review of research grant
applications (NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 22, June 27, 1997 or see
/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-010.html). 
For MBRS, the six criteria listed in this announcement will be used for the
scientific review of faculty research subprojects and faculty pilot research
subprojects.  The review of faculty research subprojects and faculty pilot
research projects will be the same except where noted below.

In carrying out the scientific and technical merit review of faculty research
project and pilot research project applications, the initial review group will
take into account:

Significance:
* Does this study address an important problem?
* If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge
be advanced?
* What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that
drive this field?
* For Pilot Subprojects: Are the aims of the application achievable, and are
the anticipated results likely to provide the basis for the investigator to
seek more substantial funding from NIH (non-MBRS) research grant programs, as
well as funding from other agencies and private sources?

Approach:
* Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses of data
adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the
project?
* Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider
alternative methods/approaches?
* Is the literature review critical and current, including identification of
gaps in the knowledge?
* For pilot projects: Are the proposed aims reasonable for a pilot project?

Innovation:
* Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods?
* Are the aims original and innovative?
* Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies
or technologies?

Investigator:
* Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this
work?
* Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal
investigator and other researchers (if any)?
* Has the investigator been productive in documenting his/her research
findings in refereed-reviewed journals?
* Has the investigator's productivity been commensurate with previous research
support?
* Is the investigator's research competence continuing to improve?

Environment:
* Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to
the probability of success?
* Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the
scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements?
* Is there evidence of institutional support?
* If resources are not available, are there plans to acquire, or gain access
to, the necessary resources to conduct the research?

Contribution to Institution's Effort:
* What is the likelihood that this research project will add significantly to
the institution's effort to meet the goals of the MBRS program?

Additional Considerations for Research Subprojects:

Inclusion of Children, Women and Minorities in Clinical Research
* Is the issue of inclusion of women, minorities, and children adequately
addressed?

Budget:
* Is the proposed research subproject budget, including personnel, and the
requested period of support reasonable in relation to the proposed research?
* If requested, is the justification for a multi-user research core facility
convincing, and is there a plan for shared use of the facility?
* If an equipment core facility is requested, is the equipment fully justified
with regard to the institution's stated goals and objectives?  Additionally,
are there specific research subprojects or pilot projects needs that justify
the need for the equipment? Are there needs beyond those of the SCORE
supported faculty? Is there a plan for coordinating its use by several faculty
and students? Is there a plan for its maintenance?

Research Risks:
* Human and Animal Subjects.  Are the proposed means adequate for protecting
against or minimizing any adverse effects upon humans, animals, or the
environment, where an application involves such activities adequate?
* Biohazards:  Are any materials or procedures to be employed potentially
hazardous to research personnel, and are the protections proposed?

Review of the Overall Program

In reviewing the overall program, the initial review group will examine
evidence of the institutional commitment to the goal of fostering the
participation of underrepresented minorities in biomedical research.  This
includes:

* the difference that the program will make as defined by the stated goals and
specific measurable objectives relative to the current institutional profile
based on data from the previous 4 years;
* the merit of the institution's plan and the likelihood that the research
activities proposed will make a significant difference;
* the degree to which the institution's plan may be expected to meet the goals
to increase minority student and faculty participation in biomedical &
behavioral research;
* the appropriateness of the plan for evaluating the impact of the program,
including a system to track the future course of program participants;
* adequacy and availability of the institution's research support services
such as core facilities and fiscal management;
* the commitment of the institution to faculty research development and
sustaining faculty research efforts as reflected by an adequate plan to assure
that the NIH-funded percent effort will be devoted to research;
* other evidence documenting the institution's commitment to biomedical
research;
* the overall scientific merit of the application based on the quality of the
individual research projects submitted; and
* suitability of the proposed Program Director's qualifications to lead the
program.

AWARD CRITERIA

Priorities for funding will be based on the scientific and technical merit of
the application, the assessed potential of investigators in the developmental
stages of their careers, and the likelihood that the applicant institution can
further the goals of the MBRS program.  Awards will be made only to
institutions with financial management systems and management capabilities
that are acceptable under PHS policy.  Awards will be administered under the
PHS Grants Policy Statement.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify
any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.

Questions on the program and its policies may be directed to:

Ernest D. Marquez, Ph.D.
Minority Biomedical Research Support Branch
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Suite 2AS.37, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-3900
FAX: (301) 480-2753
Email:  [email protected]

Questions on the review of applications may be directed to:

Helen R. Sunshine, Ph.D.
Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 1 AS.13, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-2881
FAX:  (301) 480-8506
Email:  [email protected]

Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be directed to:

Antoinette Holland
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 2AN.50, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  (301) 594-5132
FAX:  (301) 480-2554
Email:  [email protected]

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
93-375.  Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended
authorize awards, and these are administered under PHS grants policies and
Federal Regulations 42 CFR part 52c, 45 CFR part 74, and 45 CFR part 92.  See
also Senate Appropriations Committee Report, No. 92-316, July 29, 1971,
Executive Order 12900 , Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans February
22, 1994, Executive Order 12876, Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
November 1, 1993, and Executive Order 13021, October 21, 1996 and Outline of
Work Plan, August 18, 1998, White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and
Universities.  Applications are not subject to the intergovernmental review
requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract 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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