Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Reissue of PAR-18-407
See Notices of Special Interest associated with this funding opportunity
PAR-19-330 , U24 Resource-Related Research Project Cooperative Agreement
93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.233
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) supports applications to develop and implement a Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) for investigator-initiated multi-site clinical trials including efficacy, comparative effectiveness, pragmatic and/or implementation research clinical trials. These trials may include ones that test different therapeutic, behavioral, and/or prevention strategies. Trials for which this FOA applies must be relevant to the research mission of the NHLBI and meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial (see NOT-OD-15-015) . For additional information about the mission, strategic vision, and research priorities of the NHLBI, applicants are encouraged to consult the NHLBI website.
This FOA will utilize a bi-phasic, milestone-driven cooperative agreement mechanism of award and runs in parallel with a companion FOA that encourages applications for a collaborating Data Coordinating Center (DCC) ( PAR-19-330 ). The objective of the CCC application is to present the scientific rationale for the clinical trial and a comprehensive scientific and operational plan that describes it. The application should address project management, subject recruitment and retention, performance milestones, scientific conduct of the trial, and dissemination of results.
Both a CCC application and a collaborating DCC application must be submitted on the same application due date for consideration by NHLBI.
30 days prior to the application due date
New and Revision Applications: October 11, 2019, February 11, 2020, June 10, 2020, October 14, 2020, February 11, 2021, June 10, 2021, October 14, 2021, February 11, 2022, June 10, 2022 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
Resubmission Applications: November 12, 2019, March 11, 2020, July 10, 2020, November 17, 2020, March 11, 2021, July 13, 2021, November 15, 2021, March 11, 2022, July 11, 2022 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
Applications must be submitted for the same due date as the collaborating DCC application.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
New, Resubmission, and Revision AIDS Applications: January 14, 2020, May 11, 2020, September 9, 2020, January 14, 2021, May 11, 2021, September 8, 2021, January 14, 2022, May 11, 2022, September 8, 2022 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of AIDS and AIDS-related applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
Applications must be submitted for the same due date as the collaborating DCC application.
Not Applicable
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide,except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).
Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.
Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
Research Objectives
This FOA supports applications to develop and implement a Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) for investigator-initiated multi-site clinical trials. Clinical trials supported by this FOA include Phase II and above clinical trials that will enroll participants from two or more recruitment sites. Applications that propose to leverage resources and infrastructure of active clinical trial networks are also supported by this FOA. This FOA will utilize a bi-phasic (UG3/UH3), milestone-driven mechanism consisting of a start-up phase of up to one year (UG3) and a full enrollment and clinical trial execution phase (UH3). Applicants must address objectives for both a UG3 and a UH3 phase and are strongly encouraged to use project management principles, as appropriate. Proposed research may utilize a design anywhere along the continuum of efficacy, comparative effectiveness, pragmatic and/or implementation research clinical trials. For this FOA, pragmatic trials are considered those that test an intervention under the usual clinical conditions in which it will be applied, while efficacy trials do so under more idealized circumstances. Implementation trials test intervention of strategies to adopt and integrate evidence-based health interventions and change practice patterns within specific settings. The trial design should be appropriate for the study question. Trials for which this FOA applies are expected to contribute to the evidence base for important health matters of relevance to the research mission of NHLBI and meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial (see NOT-OD-15-015). For additional information about the mission, strategic vision, and research priorities of the NHLBI, applicants are encouraged to consult the NHLBI website.
A key characteristic of this FOA is completion of core milestones. A core milestone is defined as a scheduled event in the project timeline that signifies the completion of a major project stage or activity. Milestones must be performance-based to achieve completion of the trial on time and on budget, and must be established for both the UG3 and UH3 phases of the project. These clinical trials are expected to be conducted with a high degree of efficiency, with streamlined administrative procedures wherever possible. Applicants are strongly encouraged to employ project management principles as appropriate. Applications that address contingency plans to proactively confront potential delays or disturbances in meeting the milestones are strongly encouraged.?
Phases of Award
The UG3 phase will support the development of the protocol, manual of operations, and other resources necessary to the performance of the trial; further development of study partnerships; finalization and Institutional Review Board/Data and Safety Monitoring Board approval of the trial protocol and informed consent(s)/assent(s); activation of clinical sites; and initiation of recruitment, which is expected to begin by the end of the UG3 phase, or sooner.
For trials using an FDA regulated product and requiring an IND or IDE application to administer the product to humans, investigators must (1) secure IND authorization or IDE approval and (2) provide documentation of this authorization or approval to NHLBI before a funding decision will be made. Necessary drugs, devices, or other resources must be obtained by the end of the UG3 award to allow for the successful launch and execution of the proposed clinical trial in the UH3 phase.
Investigators and NHLBI will review and mutually agree upon final revised milestones that will be included in the Terms and Conditions of the grant, if awarded. Transition to the UH3 phase is predicated on the successful completion of all milestones proposed and peer-reviewed for the UG3 phase of the application. The core milestones must be met during the UG3 phase to allow for successful launch of the full trial in the UH3 phase of the clinical trial. The overall planned enrollment and percentage of active clinical sites expected by the end of the UG3 phase will be agreed upon between the grantee organization (or recipient) and the NHLBI prior to an award. Enrollment of participants into the clinical trial is expected to begin before the end of the UG3 phase to optimize the probability of successfully completing the trial on time and on budget. NHLBI will conduct an administrative review approximately 9 months into the UG3 phase to determine progress toward achievement of milestones included in the Notice of Award. Milestones and timelines for the UH3 phase may be revised and finalized at the time of the UG3/UH3 transition. Less than satisfactory progress in the UH3 phase may lead to phasing out the award.
Milestones must address timing of overall recruitment/enrollment and retention goals, including accrual goals for women, minorities, and individuals of all ages including children and older adults. It is expected that, if funded, both the CCC and DCC will be responsible for milestone completion but that only one party, the CCC or the DCC, will be responsible for recording the completion of both CCC and DCC milestones through eConnect, an NHLBI platform that will facilitate transfer of electronic information to NHLBI. Subject to NHLBI funding availability and scientific priorities, UH3 awards will be made after administrative review with specific attention to the extent to which all agreed-upon milestones have been met. If the UH3 is funded, NHLBI will review the progress of the clinical trial on a regular basis. Slower than anticipated progress towards meeting milestones will result in a re-evaluation of the award by NHLBI including whether the objectives of the trial can be met on time and on budget. If milestones have not been satisfactorily met, subsequent funding years may not be approved and may lead to phasing out the award.
NHLBI policies regarding milestones and relevant clinical research/studies policies are described in the following: NHLBI Accrual of Human Subjects (Milestones) Policy , NHLBI Policy for Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Clinical Research , NHLBI Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring of Extramural Clinical Studies, and NHLBI Data Sharing Policy .
Note: This CCC FOA runs in parallel with a companion FOA (PAR-19-330) that encourages applications for a collaborating Data Coordinating Center (DCC). Both a CCC application and a collaborating DCC application must be submitted on the same due date for consideration by NHLBI. CCC applications submitted without a collaborative DCC (U24) application will be deemed incomplete and will not proceed to review.
Clinical Studies Not Supported by this FOA
The following types of clinical studies are not intended to be supported by this FOA. Applications meeting the following criteria will not be supported by this FOA and will not be peer reviewed:
Prior to Submission
Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Scientific/Research contacts for the area of science for which they are planning to develop an application prior to submission to confirm the NHLBI-specific clinical trial FOA to which the application should be submitted. Early contact (at least 12 weeks prior to submission) is encouraged. This period of time provides an opportunity for NHLBI staff to discuss the scope and goals, and to provide information and guidance to potential applicants. Additionally, a staff consultation is required when Direct Costs (DCs) are $500,000 or higher (see NHLBI policy regarding direct costs of $500,000 or more).
Cooperative Agreement: A support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, NIH scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities. See Section VI.2 for additional information about the substantial involvement for this FOA.
The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.
Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?
The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
The combined budgets of the CCC and DCC will be used to determine whether the policy regarding direct costs of $500,000 or more in any year will be applied.
The scope of the proposed project should determine the requested project award period.
The project period for the UG3 phase will be up to 1 year.
The project period for the UH3 phase is expected to be 4 years. With strong justification, up to 6 years for the UH3 may be requested.
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this FOA.
Higher Education Institutions
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
For-Profit Organizations
Governments
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.
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.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.
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.
Multiple PDs/PIs are allowed on any single application. Because the FOA already supports a team approach between groups of experts across sites and collaborating applications, the designation of multiple PDs/PIs on a single application may be less likely to apply. PD(s)/PI(s) from each linked application should not be designated as multiple PDs/PIs on each application of a collaborative set.
This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time. This means that the NIH will not accept:
This FOA only accepts applications that are part of a collaborative set of multiple applications. A set must contain one application to this FOA plus one application to the companion DCC U24 FOA.
The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace 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.
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.
By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
The letter of intent should be sent to:
Director, Office of Scientific Review
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Email: NHLBIChiefReviewBranch@nhlbi.nih.gov
The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this FOA.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project: To allow NIH to identify a group of applications as a related set of collaborative applications, the title of each application in the set must have the following format: a 1/N indicator + Identical Title (e.g., 1/3 , where the 1/3 means this is site 1 of 3 sites in the set. The other sites will be labeled 2/3, etc.) Titles may not exceed 200 characters in length, including the tag, e.g., 1/3, at the beginning of the title.
Cover Letter Attachment: The Cover Letter is one PDF file only. The following collaborative information is required in the Cover Letter: a listing of all the applications that are a part of the set of collaborative applications being submitted, including for each: 1) the PD/PI(s) name(s), 2) the Title (including the tag, e.g., 1/3 ), and 3) the Applicant Institution. Each site should submit an identical listing.
If the direct costs of the combined CCC and DCC budgets equal or exceed $500,000 in any given year, a copy of the NHLBI approval letter must be attached.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
Facilities and Other Resources: Describe the facilities and resources available for the coordination of a multi-site clinical trial, including project management tools that will be used. Describe how the infrastructure at the CCC and performance sites will facilitate the efficient operation of the proposed multi-site clinical trial. If applicable, discuss any community participatory agreements and/or stakeholder agreements to support the protocol.
Other Attachments: The first attachment ("Trial Management Plan") listed below must be provided or the application will not be peer reviewed. The second attachment ("Network Description") should be provided only if proposed clinical trials will be conducted using the infrastructure of an existing Network .
1. Trial Management Plan: A description of how the proposed trial will be managed must be provided as an attachment using the filename "Trial Management Plan.pdf" and may not exceed 5 pages. Describe the strategy that will be used throughout the project to ensure that management activities of the clinical trial are met including directly supporting the needs of scientific study leadership to identify barriers, make timely responses, and optimize the allocation of limited resources to meet pre-defined study objectives. This description should include:
In summary, the trial management plan should provide sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to achieve the goals of the clinical trial on-budget and on-time and to successfully manage and mitigate risks.
2. Network Description: If a clinical trial will be conducted using the infrastructure of an existing Network, a Network Description Plan should be provided as an attachment using the filename "Network Description.pdf" and may not exceed 6 pages. This description should include:
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
Applicants must include personnel and corresponding biographical sketches for the CCC only. All Key Personnel who are major scientific contributors to the study must provide an NIH Biosketch whether or not they are budgeted. The PD/PI (or Multi-PDs/PIs) for the CCC cannot be Key Personnel on the DCC application.
The PD(s)/PI(s) of the clinical trial must be experienced in the conduct of multi-center clinical trials including success in meeting milestones and timelines, and have expertise in the content area of the proposed clinical trial. The experience of each PD/PI and all Key Personnel must be carefully documented and roles and responsibilities must be well-defined. In addition, the responsibilities and authority of each PD/PI must be specified. The application must ensure that a multidisciplinary team of appropriate personnel (clinical trialist, clinician, Project Manager, study coordinator(s), etc.) are proposed at the contributing institutions to facilitate the implementation of all aspects of the clinical trial, including recruitment of subjects, design/implementation of the trial protocol, and coordination of roles/responsibilities of the CCC leadership.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
This application must include only its own budget, including any subcontract budgets associated with it. The application must provide detailed annual budgets that will enable the CCC to meet its milestones. In the budget justification, provide the detailed budget needs (per year for each site and total) and an implementation and cost management plan (e.g., capitation). Do not include budget support for the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). Budget support for the DSMB should be included in the collaborative DCC application budget only.
Any cores (e.g., economics/quality of life) must be a subcontract to either the CCC or DCC. Separate itemized budgets must be prepared for each subcontract and/or for each collaborating center or core. If parts of the costs of the trial are to be provided by sources other than NHLBI, these contributions must be presented in detail in the budget justification. Third party support of the proposed research activity (if approved) will be incorporated as a specific term and condition in the Notice of Award. If the Third Party support ceases and the trial is no longer tenable without the Third Party support, a close-out plan may be requested. ?Applicants are reminded that although Cost Share is not required, if these types of costs are included in the research application and peer reviewed, it is expected that these costs will not be covered by NHLBI.
Include budget support for personnel to travel to an annual in-person Steering Committee meeting and/or other meeting of investigators and NHLBI program staff to be held in the Washington, D.C. area.
Include budget support for publication and dissemination of results.
Budgets should request only the costs that will be required for the activities to be performed in a given year. Generally, the NHLBI expects the requested costs in year 1 (UG3) to be lower than in the following years, depending on recruitment targets. It is also expected that the CCC budget will be lower in the final year.
Research Strategy:
The Research Strategy must present an overview of the state of the science, current status and relevance of the trial, a detailed discussion of the specific protocol, and the approach to data collection. Provide a brief description of study research objectives.
The following criteria must be addressed:
Significance: The significance of the proposed clinical trial and importance of the question must be clearly stated.
It is particularly important to provide a discussion of the evidence supporting equipoise. The application should make clear the need for and timeliness of the study with emphasis on how the results will address an evidence gap and therefore advance science. Include a description of how results will impact health or clinical care. A discussion of the costs and benefits of the study should be included for evaluation of the trial's significance.
Innovation: Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms.
Approach: The research approach section should include a description of the supporting data and the experimental approach.
Supporting Data: Describe the formative clinical studies (including any pilot studies) that are the basis for the proposed clinical trial. Include other research as appropriate to demonstrate that the approach chosen is justified. If the clinical trial is Phase III, include relevant data used to determine that the proposed trial includes adequate numbers of subgroups of participants to allow for separate and adequately powered analyses. Conceptualization and planning must have progressed to a stage sufficient to allow for an overall assessment of the likelihood of the success of the trial.
Experimental Approach: Include critical features of conducting the clinical trial that are not already submitted as part of the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information Form, including but not limited to, the following experimental approach items:
Core Milestones
Propose and justify milestones that will be subject to peer-review. A milestone is defined as a scheduled event in the project timeline that signifies the completion of a major project stage or activity. Milestones must be relevant, measurable, results-focused and time-bound, and should address timing of overall recruitment/enrollment and retention goals. The milestones should address accrual goals for women, minorities, and individuals of all ages, including children and older adults, and any other identified requirements for completion of the approved research.
Describe the milestones that will be met in the UH3 phase to address the specific aims and ensure the successful completion of the clinical trial and dissemination of its results. CCC/DCC core milestones of particular interest include, but are not limited to:
Core UG3 Trial Milestones
Core UH3 Trial Milestones
Letters of Support: Letters of support from clinicians or clinical department chairs whose support are necessary to the successful conduct of the trial should be provided. Letter of support should indicate that, and describe how, the site views the trial as being in equipoise and that the intervention(s) or control arm(s) tested are not known to be inferior to the range of practice (or usual care) at the site, in their community, and described in relevant standards of care. If partial funding is to be provided by sources other than NHLBI, provide Letter(s) of Support signed by an authorized organization representative (AOR).
The following modifications also apply:
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 with the following additional instructions:
Section 2 - Study Population Characteristics
2.1 Conditions or Focus of the Study
The information provided for Conditions or Focus of Study must be the same as that provided in the collaborating DCC application.
2.2 Eligibility Criteria
If applicable, include the required health status of study participants.
2.5 Recruitment and Retention Plan
The Recruitment and Retention Plan should address: 1) the expertise of the individual(s) responsible for screening, approaching and consenting potential participants; 2) engagement of patient advocacy groups; 3) the process for identification and screening of study participants; 4) primary and back-up recruitment strategies (e.g., use of electronic health records); 5) participant retention and adherence strategies; 6) possible competition from other trials for study participants; 7) engagement of the clinical community(ies) that will play a critical role in the recruitment and retention; 8) recruitment of groups for cluster-randomized trials.
Provide a table of the recruiting sites and site PD/PIs showing enrollment goals and number of potential participants available at each site.
2.7 Study Timeline
Include a table or graph of the overall study timeline. This is expected to be a visual representation (such as a Gantt Chart) of core milestones and key project management activities. A narrative is not expected in this section.
The CCC and DCC are expected to provide the same overall study timeline to reach the same major milestones. The study timeline should include core milestones that need to be met throughout the lifecycle of the clinical trial (to i nclude both the UG3 and UH3 phases) to ensure its success, and the subtasks that will be used to reach the milestones. It is expected that the overall timeline will clearly indicate which subtasks will be performed by the CCC and which subtasks will be performed by the DCC. The period of time for the study duration is expected to be displayed in months and must include, but is not limited to, the following:
(a) the study opens to enrollment
(b) core milestones (see below) are met
(c) subtasks needed to reach the core milestones
(d) when final transfer of the data to the DCC will occur
(e) analysis of the study data
(f) submission of the primary study manuscript for publication
Section 3 - Protection and Monitoring Plans
3.2 Is this a multi-site study that will use the same protocol to conduct non-exempt human subjects research at more than one domestic site?
If yes, describe the single IRB plan
The information provided for the Single IRB plan must be the same as that provided in the collaborating DCC application.
3.3 Data and Safety Monitoring Plan
The information provided for the Data and Safety Monitoring Plan must be the same as that provided in the collaborating DCC application. Describe the process that will be utilized to identify unanticipated problems and describe procedures for intervention discontinuation and stopping guidelines.
3.5 Overall Structure of the Study Team
Include a description of the following:
Section 4 - Protocol Synopsis
4.1 Brief Summary
Include protocol title.
4.2.a Narrative Study Description
Describe the protocol to be followed in each arm of the trial. Include a brief description of how the CCC will standardize and optimize adherence to the protocol at the sites. Specify concomitant interventions, if applicable. Describe the proposed experimental design including a discussion of the clinical trial design and the rationale for the particular design chosen (pragmatic, explanatory, cluster-randomized, adaptive, etc.).
4.2.c Interventions - Description
Describe the rationale for the choice of the intervention including such specific information as dose, period of administration, choice of formulation, device specifications, and key characteristics of other forms of proposed approaches such as diagnostic test and behavioral interventions.
4.4 Statistical Design and Power
Include a brief statement indicating that the CCC has worked closely with the DCC to ensure that the number of expected subjects, the expected effect size, the power, and the statistical methods (with respect to each outcome measure) have been adequately addressed. In addition, clearly state that the Statistical Design and Power attachment is being submitted in its entirety as a part of the collaborating DCC application.
4.7 Dissemination Plan
The information provided for Dissemination Plan must be the same as that provided in the collaborating DCC application.
Section 5 - Other Clinical-Trial Related Attachments
5.1 Other Clinical Trial-related Attachments
The following attachment must be provided or the application will not be peer reviewed. Applicants must provide a detailed table listing the characteristics of trials that demonstrate experience in trial coordination in the last 5 years. The table must be provided as an attachment called "Clinical Trial Research Experience.pdf" and may not exceed 3 pages.
The table columns should include:
Column A: clinical study title
Column B: applicant's role in the study
Column C: a brief description of the study design
Column D: planned enrollment
Column E: actual enrollment
Column F: number of sites
Column G: whether the studies were completed on schedule or not
Column H: publication reference(s)
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start).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.
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
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. Each application of a collaborative set must be on-time. Considerations for late applications that are based on the institution or PD/PI apply only to his/her individual application.
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.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
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.
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 How to Apply Application Guide. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. 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.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed. Each application of a collaborative set must be complete and compliant.
Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year (excluding consortium F&A) must contact a Scientific/Research Contact at least 6 weeks before submitting the application and follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This policy applies when the combined budget for the collaborative DCC and CCC applications exceeds $500,000 in direct costs in any year.
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.
A proposed Clinical Trial application may include study design, methods, and intervention that are not by themselves innovative but address important questions or unmet needs. Additionally, the results of the clinical trial may indicate that further clinical development of the intervention is unwarranted or lead to new avenues of scientific investigation.
For this particular announcement, note the following:
Reviewers will consider the overall feasibility of the project and whether the clinical trial will answer a key scientific question and be completed on time and within the proposed budget.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
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?
Are the scientific rationale and need for a clinical trial to test the proposed hypothesis or intervention well supported by preliminary data, clinical and/or preclinical studies, or information in the literature or knowledge of biological mechanisms? For trials focusing on clinical or public health endpoints, is this clinical trial necessary for testing the safety, efficacy or effectiveness of an intervention that could lead to a change in clinical practice, community behaviors or health care policy? For trials focusing on mechanistic, behavioral, physiological, biochemical, or other biomedical endpoints, is this trial needed to advance scientific understanding?
Specific to this FOA:
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?
With regard to the proposed leadership for the project, do the PD/PI(s) and key personnel have the expertise, experience, and ability to organize, manage and implement the proposed clinical trial and meet milestones and timelines? Do they have appropriate expertise in study coordination, data management and statistics? For a multicenter trial, is the organizational structure appropriate and does the application identify a core of potential center investigators and staffing for a coordinating center?
Specific to this FOA:
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?
Does the design/research plan include innovative elements, as appropriate, that enhance its sensitivity, potential for information or potential to advance scientific knowledge or clinical practice?
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?
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?
Does the application adequately address the following, if applicable
Study Design
Is the study design justified and appropriate to address primary and secondary outcome variable(s)/endpoints that will be clear, informative and relevant to the hypothesis being tested? Is the scientific rationale/premise of the study based on previously well-designed preclinical and/or clinical research? Given the methods used to assign participants and deliver interventions, is the study design adequately powered to answer the research question(s), test the proposed hypothesis/hypotheses, and provide interpretable results? Is the trial appropriately designed to conduct the research efficiently? Are the study populations (size, gender, age, demographic group), proposed intervention arms/dose, and duration of the trial, appropriate and well justified?
Are potential ethical issues adequately addressed? Is the process for obtaining informed consent or assent appropriate? Is the eligible population available? Are the plans for recruitment outreach, enrollment, retention, handling dropouts, missed visits, and losses to follow-up appropriate to ensure robust data collection? Are the planned recruitment timelines feasible and is the plan to monitor accrual adequate? Has the need for randomization (or not), masking (if appropriate), controls, and inclusion/exclusion criteria been addressed? Are differences addressed, if applicable, in the intervention effect due to sex/gender and race/ethnicity?
Are the plans to standardize, assure quality of, and monitor adherence to, the trial protocol and data collection or distribution guidelines appropriate? Is there a plan to obtain required study agent(s)? Does the application propose to use existing available resources, as applicable?
Data Management and Statistical Analysis
Are planned analyses and statistical approach appropriate for the proposed study design and methods used to assign participants and deliver interventions? Are the procedures for data management and quality control of data adequate at clinical site(s) or at center laboratories, as applicable? Have the methods for standardization of procedures for data management to assess the effect of the intervention and quality control been addressed? Is there a plan to complete data analysis within the proposed period of the award?
Specific to this FOA
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?
If proposed, are the administrative, data coordinating, enrollment and laboratory/testing centers, appropriate for the trial proposed?
Does the application adequately address the capability and ability to conduct the trial at the proposed site(s) or centers? Are the plans to add or drop enrollment centers, as needed, appropriate?
If international site(s) is/are proposed, does the application adequately address the complexity of executing the clinical trial?
If multi-sites/centers, is there evidence of the ability of the individual site or center to: (1) enroll the proposed numbers; (2) adhere to the protocol; (3) collect and transmit data in an accurate and timely fashion; and, (4) operate within the proposed organizational structure?
Specific to this FOA
Study Timeline
Is the study timeline described in detail, taking into account start-up activities, the anticipated rate of enrollment, and planned follow-up assessment? Is the projected timeline feasible and well justified? Does the project incorporate efficiencies and utilize existing resources (e.g., CTSAs, practice-based research networks, electronic medical records, administrative database, or patient registries) to increase the efficiency of participant enrollment and data collection, as appropriate?
Are potential challenges and corresponding solutions discussed (e.g., strategies that can be implemented in the event of enrollment shortfalls)?
Core Milestones
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Not Applicable
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.
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.
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.
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).
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).
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.
Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), convened by NHLBI, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:
Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council.
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
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.
Individual awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the NIH and are subject to the IC-specific terms and conditions identified in the NoA.
ClinicalTrials.gov: If an award provides for one or more clinical trials. By law (Title VIII, Section 801 of Public Law 110-85), the "responsible party" must register and submit results information for certain applicable clinical trials on the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System Information Website (https://register.clinicaltrials.gov). NIH expects registration and results reporting of all trials whether required under the law or not. For more information, see https://grants.nih.gov/policy/clinical-trials/reporting/index.htm
Institutional Review Board or Independent Ethics Committee Approval: Grantee institutions must ensure that all protocols are reviewed by their IRB or IEC. To help ensure the safety of participants enrolled in NIH-funded studies, the awardee must provide NIH copies of documents related to all major changes in the status of ongoing protocols.
Data and Safety Monitoring Requirements: The NIH policy for data and safety monitoring requires oversight and monitoring of all NIH-conducted or -supported human biomedical and behavioral intervention studies (clinical trials) to ensure the safety of participants and the validity and integrity of the data. Further information concerning these requirements is found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/hs/data_safety.htm and in the application instructions (SF424 (R&R) and PHS 398).
Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption Requirements: Consistent with federal regulations, clinical research projects involving the use of investigational therapeutics, vaccines, or other medical interventions (including licensed products and devices for a purpose other than that for which they were licensed) in humans under a research protocol must be performed under a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigational new drug (IND) or investigational device exemption (IDE).
For trials using an FDA regulated product and requiring an IND or IDE application to administer the product to humans, investigators must (1) secure IND authorization or IDE approval and (2) provide documentation of this authorization or approval to NHLBI before the award will be made. If the protocol is exempt from an IND or IDE, applicants are required to provide a copy of the exemption letter from the FDA. If the protocol is conducted under a non-US regulatory agency, equivalent documentation must be provided to NHLBI before the award will be made.
If progress is deemed satisfactory in the first phase, milestones and timelines for the second phase (execution of the trial) may stay the same as originally agreed upon. In certain cases the milestones and timelines may need to be revised and finalized prior to transitioning into the second phase of the award. If revision of the milestones are needed, investigators and NHLBI staff will review and mutually agree upon a revised set of milestones for the second phase of the trial.
If the collaborative DCC application is phased out for any reason, it would leave the CCC unable to complete the objectives of its grant, but not because of any fault on the part of the CCC. In such a case, NHLBI will enter into negotiation with the CCC awardee to achieve mutually agreed-upon early phase-out of the award per 45 CFR 75.372.
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 https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/limited-english-proficiency/index.html. The HHS Office for Civil Rights also provides guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/index.htmlhttps://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/laws-regulations-guidance/index.html. Recipients of FFA also have specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with disabilities. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/index.html. Please contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights for more information about obligations and prohibitions under federal civil rights laws at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/about-us/contact-us/index.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.
The following special terms of award are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) administrative guidelines, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) grant administration regulations at 45 CFR Part 75 and other HHS, PHS, and NIH grant administration policies.
The administrative and funding instrument used for this program will be the cooperative agreement, an assistance mechanism (rather than an acquisition mechanism), in which substantial NIH programmatic involvement with the awardees is anticipated during the performance of the activities. Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and stimulate the recipients activities by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipients in a partnership role; it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities. Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility resides with the awardees for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be shared among the awardees and the NIH as defined below.
The PD(s)/PI(s) will have primary responsibility for:
The awardee PD/PI will have primary and lead responsibilities for the project as a whole, including research design and protocol development, participant recruitment and follow-up, data collection, quality control, interim data and safety monitoring, final data analysis and interpretation, preparation of publications, as well as collaborations with other awardees.
Upon completion of the project, awardees are expected to put their data into the public domain and/or make them available to other investigators, according to the approved plan for making data and materials available to the scientific community (see "Areas of Joint Responsibility" below). Third Party support of the proposed research activity (if proposed, accepted and approved) will be incorporated as a Special Award Condition in the NoA. Awardees will be responsible for ensuring third party compliance. If the third party support is no longer available and not replaceable in a timely fashion, negotiated phase-out of the award may occur. Cost Share is not a requirement for this program; however, if cost share is proposed, peer reviewed and accepted by NHLBI it will become a Special Award Condition in the NoA.
Awardees will retain custody of and have primary rights to the data and software developed under these awards, subject to Government rights of access consistent with current DHHS, PHS, and NIH policies.
NIH staff have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below:
The NHLBI Project Scientist will assist with development of research protocols, monitor patient recruitment and study progress, ensure disclosure of conflicts of interest, and ensure adherence to NHLBI policies.
The NHLBI Project Scientist will serve on the Steering Committee and other study committees, when appropriate, as a non-voting member. The NHLBI Project Scientist may work with awardees on issues coming before the Steering Committee such as recruitment, protocol development, follow-up, quality control, adherence to protocol, possible changes to the protocol, interim data and safety monitoring, final data analysis and interpretation, preparation of publications, and development of solutions to major problems, such as insufficient participant enrollment.
In addition to the Project Scientist, a separate NHLBI Program Official will be responsible for the normal program stewardship of the cooperative agreement, and will be in the Notice of Award. However, NHLBI may elect to have a dual-role approach where a single individual may act as both the NHLBI Project Scientist and Program Official. Final decision-making authority on matters of budgetary and funding actions, grants management actions, and management of intellectual property issues is assigned to NHLBI staff other than the Project Scientist. The responsibility for final decision making may reside with Senior Institute management, separate organizational components and/or oversight committees. Because it is anticipated that the Program Official will participate in activities that rise to a level of involvement (i.e., additional role as Project Scientist) that results in conflicts of interest, for example, co-publication, other staff members such as direct line supervisors and/or other Senior NHLBI Program management staff will serve as agency Program Officials and will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship of the award. The NHLBI policy on authorship and manuscript review of NHLBI sponsored extramural research protects against conflicts of interest with the Program Officer.
An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will be established to oversee participant safety in the clinical trial and provide overall monitoring of interim data and safety issues. As part of the collaborative activities under this cooperative agreement, the NHLBI will collaborate with the awardees to appoint and/or agree upon a single DSMB for monitoring the clinical trial. The DSMB may be appointed by the NHLBI, or with the approval of NHLBI, the DSMB could be an institutional DSMB. At the first meeting in the UG3 phase, the DSMB will review the awardee’s protocol and potentially recommend modifications. Subsequently, the DSMB will monitor and review recruitment, adverse events, data quality, outcome data, and overall awardee performance. The DSMB has the responsibility to review interim data and final data, and recommend whether the protocol should be modified, and, at each meeting, whether the study should be continued or should be terminated early. An NHLBI scientist other than the NHLBI Program Official or Project Scientist will serve as Executive Secretary to the Board. Because the DSMB serves as an independent group advisory to the NHLBI, study investigators shall not communicate with DSMB members regarding study issues, except as authorized by the Board's Executive Secretary.
The NHLBI reserves the right to phase-out or curtail the study (or an individual award) in the event of: (a) failure to develop or implement a mutually agreeable protocol, (b) substantial shortfall in subject recruitment milestones, core milestones mutually agreed upon by the recipient organization and PD/PI and the NHLBI, consortium participation and collaboration with other awardees, (c) substantive changes in the agreed-upon methodologies and tools with which NIH cannot concur, (d) human subject ethical issues that may dictate a premature termination, or (e) results that substantially diminish the scientific value of study continuation.
Areas of Joint Responsibility include:
The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is responsible for communicating progress on achievement of each milestone for the collaborative project to the NHLBI Grants and Program Officers listed on the Notice of Award. Award continuation, even during the period recommended for support, is conditional upon satisfactory progress. If, at any time, recruitment, as defined in the NHLBI Accrual of Human Subjects (Milestones) Policy, falls significantly below projections, or core milestones mutually agreed upon by the recipient organization and PD/PI and the NHLBI are not met, the NHLBI may consider ending support and negotiating an orderly phase-out of the award. NHLBI Grants Management and Program Officers will closely monitor progress at all trial stages including milestones, accrual, and safety.
Awardees will retain custody of and have primary rights to their data developed under these awards, subject to Government rights of access consistent with current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies. Meetings and calls may be arranged by NHLBI staff to promote sharing of information among investigators regarding state of science technologies, data management techniques, analytical strategies and tools, and data sharing. Support or other involvement of industry or any other third party in the study (e.g., participation by the third party; involvement of study resources or citing the name of the study or NHLBI support; or special access to study results, data, findings or resources) may be advantageous and appropriate. However, except for licensing of patents or copyrights, support or involvement of any third party will occur only following notification of and concurrence by NHLBI.
NHLBI will partner with the PD/PI to ensure that the dataset preparation is congruent with requirements for NHLBI data repository datasets and associated documentation for submission to the Biological Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center (BioLINCC) and the NHLBI Policy for Data Sharing from Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Studies, and is in accordance with the Guidelines for NHLBI Data Set Preparation.
Study investigators are strongly encouraged to publish and to release publicly and disseminate results, tools, resources and other products of the study, in accordance with the study protocols and governance. It is expected that all methods, analyses, software, and algorithms will be made available in a timely manner to the scientific community. A plan for dissemination of study results will be developed by the awardee PD/PI in collaboration with the NIH Project Scientist and incorporated as a Special Term and Condition in the NoA. Within 3 years of the end of the period of NHLBI support for the project, data not previously released and other study materials or products not previously distributed are expected to be made available to individuals who are not study investigators in accordance with the NHLBI Data Sharing Policy
Dispute Resolution:
Any disagreement that may arise in scientific or programmatic matters (within the scope of the award) between award recipients and the NIH may be brought to Dispute Resolution. A Dispute Resolution Panel composed will be convened. It will have three members: 1) a designee selected by the Executive Committee (with the NHLBI member absent from the discussion) or by the individual awardee in the event of an individual disagreement; 2) a second member selected by NIH; and 3) the third designee with expertise in the relevant area selected by the other two. This special dispute resolution does not alter the awardees' right to appeal an adverse action that is otherwise appealable in accordance with PHS regulations at 42 CFR part 50, subpart D and HHS regulation at 45 CFR part 16.
Multiple PD/PI Dispute Resolution
If a conflict develops between PD(s)/PI(s) in a multiple PD/PI application, the following procedures will apply:
The Departmental administrators representing the PD(s)/PI(s) shall meet and attempt in good faith to settle any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the interpretation, performance or breach of this disagreement. However, if the Departmental administrators fail to reach resolution in 30 days then NIH may invoke dispute resolution procedures as described in the above paragraph.
A final RPPR, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
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)
General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources)
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-637-3015
Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources
Nancy DiFronzo, PhD
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-0065
Email: difronzon@nhlbi.nih.gov
Division of Cardiovascular Sciences
Yves Rosenberg, MD, MPH
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-0550
Email: rosenbey@nhlbi.nih.gov
Division of Lung Diseases
Gail Weinmann, MD
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-0233
Email: weinmang@nhlbi.nih.gov
Center for Translational Research and Implementation Science
Xinzhi Zhang, MD, PhD, FACE, FRSM
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-6865
Email: Xinzhi.Zhang@nih.gov
Keary A. Cope, PhD
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-0287
Email: copeka@nhlbi.nih.gov
Anthony Agresti
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-827-8014
Email: agrestia@nhlbi.nih.gov