COLLABORATIVE MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION ALCOHOL RESEARCH (CMSIAR) PROGRAM
(U56)
RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2002
RFA: AA-03-007
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
(http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/)
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: January 24, 2003
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: February 24, 2003
THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
Purpose of this RFA
Objectives and Scope
Mechanisms of Support
Funds Available
Eligible Institutions
Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
Special Requirements
Where to Send Inquiries
Letter of Intent
Submitting an Application
Peer Review Process
Review Criteria
Receipt and Review Schedule
Award Criteria
Required Federal Citations
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA) invites
applications for Collaborative Minority Serving Institution Alcohol Research
(CMSIAR) grants. The long range goal of the Collaborative Minority Serving
Institution Alcohol Research Program is to strengthen the alcohol research
capacity of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The purpose of these grants
is to promote and develop alcohol research expertise and infrastructure
development at MSIs, and thereby ultimately to identify, characterize, and
reduce alcohol-related health disparities in American ethnic and cultural
populations and their subpopulations. Research development activities should
address health disparities in target populations such as persons of African
heritage, Hispanic/Latino culture, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian
Americans, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.
Support for the three current Collaborative Minority Institution Alcohol
Research Development Programs will expire in late 2003. Research in each of
these programs is organized around a central theme to develop alcohol
research capacity through collaborations with established alcohol
investigators in research intensive institutions. Applications for new
programs in alcohol research development infrastructure and scientific
capability development in MSIs will be accepted with applications from
currently funded projects seeking renewal support.
The NIAAA is committed to increasing and strengthening efforts to address
health disparities related to a wide range of alcohol related problems
including alcohol and alcohol abuse and dependence (alcoholism). This RFA is
related to priority areas found in the NIAAA "Strategic Plan to Address
Health Disparities" (February 8, 2001). Potential applicants may obtain a
copy of this plan at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/about/DisparitiesIntro-
text.htm.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
Alcohol consumption is associated with a broad range of adverse health and
social consequences, both acute (e.g., traffic deaths, other injuries) and
chronic (e.g., alcohol dependence, liver damage, stroke, cancers of the mouth
and esophagus). The scope and variety of these problems are attributable to
differences in the amount, duration, and patterns of alcohol consumption;
differences in genetic vulnerability to particular alcohol-related
consequences; and differences in economic, social, and other environmental
factors. Ethnic and cultural disparities in alcohol-related problems vary
with the problem under consideration and are of pressing public health
concern. Alcohol-related death rates (for all categories of alcohol- related
mortality combined) are higher among Blacks than whites. Recent research
indicates that cirrhosis death rates are higher among white men of Hispanic
origin than among non-Hispanic black and white Americans. Alcohol-related
traffic deaths are many times more frequent among American Indians or Alaska
Natives than among other minority populations.
The incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) appears to be several times
higher in some African American and American Indian communities than in the
general population. Research also reveals that although African American
teenagers typically drink less than their white or Hispanic counterparts,
their mortality from cirrhosis is substantially higher as they approach
middle age. Other adverse health consequences associated with alcohol
consumption such as cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, HIV/AIDS,
cardiomyopathy, pancreatitis, and alcohol-related sleep disorders are also
more prevalent in some minority populations. Finally, increases in risky
drinking behavior (i.e., drinking and driving) have been reported among
Hispanics. Since ethnic minority groups have different genetic backgrounds,
it is possible that some of the disparities in disease incidence and
prevalence are due to differences in genetic predisposition. In addition,
genetic and biological factors may interact with behavioral, cultural and
environmental factors to manifest health disparities.
MSIs conduct high quality programs for educating students from minority
cultures about treating patients and providing outreach to minority
communities. They represent a rich source of talent with appropriate cultural
sensitivity and perspectives needed in alcohol research. However, few MSIs
have developed and sustained programs in alcohol research. There is also a
need to increase the number of minority scientists who are pursuing
successful biomedical and behavioral alcohol research careers. Specifically,
there remains a serious shortage of funded minority scientists who conduct
independent alcohol research, who focus research efforts on the
disproportionate incidence, mortality and morbidity rates in minority
populations and who bring the cultural perspectives that are essential to the
successful conduct of many forms of research involving minority patients and
populations.
Continued support of MSIs and minority scientists in alcohol research is
essential to developing a stronger national understanding of the disparities
of alcohol related incidence and mortality in minorities compared to majority
populations. The potential for identifying and training minority students and
faculty in areas of alcohol research have not been fully explored. A
promising approach for addressing these issues is to create and sustain
collaborations between scientists, clinicians, and faculty of MSIs and
established alcohol investigators. The collaborators must integrate their
respective expertise and experience to maximize mutually beneficial
activities of the partnership.
The following topics are suggested for inclusion in CMSIAR applications. The
list is not in priority order nor is it exhaustive. Other research topics
relevant to alcohol research may be proposed.
- Studies of the patterns of alcohol consumption and alcohol related problems
within specific minority populations.
- Research to determine specific genetic or biological factors that may
increase risk for alcohol dependence or organ damage.
- Biomedical studies that examine the association between alcohol abuse or
dependence and enhanced progression of AIDS-defining opportunistic
infections.
- Research among high-risk minority populations that develops and tests
interventions to prevent maternal drinking, fetal alcohol syndrome and
alcohol related neurological disorders.
- Research to determine biological, genetic, and environmental risk factors
that lead to disproportionately high incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes;
cirrhosis and other health consequences of alcohol abuse.
- Research to identify social and cultural factors that influence motivation
for alcohol treatment, adherence to treatment and treatment outcomes.
- Studies to identify and characterize those aspects of minority drinking
environments (problems, patterns, community norms, values, etc.) that are
likely to influence the outcomes of prevention and intervention studies.
- Research to evaluate the effectiveness of screening and brief interventions
in high risk minority health care, education or other settings.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
This RFA will use NIH U56 award mechanism. As an applicant you will be
solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed
project. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. Future unsolicited,
competing-continuation applications based on this project will compete with
all investigator-initiated applications and will be reviewed according to the
customary peer review procedures. The anticipated award date is September 29,
2003.
This RFA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular budgeting
format. (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm).
Specifically, if you are submitting an application with direct costs in each
year of $250,000 or less, use the modular format.
The NIH (U56) is a cooperative agreement award mechanism in which the
Principal Investigator retains the primary responsibility and dominant role
for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project, with NIH staff
being substantially involved as a partner with the Principal Investigator, as
described under the section "Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of
Award"
FUNDS AVAILABLE
NIAAA intends to commit up to 3.5 million dollars in FY 2003 to fund four or
five awards in response to this RFA in fiscal. The specific number of awards
will be contingent on the scientific and technical merit of the
applications. The cost may not exceed $700,000 in direct costs per year.
Although the financial plans of the NIAAA provide support for this program,
awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent on the availability of funds and
the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Allowable costs for the five-year grant awards include and applicants should
request:
Administrative costs for managing the effort, such as salaries for key
personnel, travel for key personnel and the Project Advisory Committee (PAC),
equipment and supplies to support an administrative structure, and PAC-
approved pilot projects as appropriate.
Funds to develop: workshops, seminars, retreats, and other forms of
communication to explore potential opportunities in research, training and
career development or education. These costs must be used to select the
areas of greatest promise for implementation as pilot projects or programs
with merit and potential to result in a successful grant application.
Funds for the PI and collaborator(s) to attend an annual meeting on alcohol-
related health disparities research to be arranged by NIAAA.
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS
Applications will only be accepted from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)
[e.g., Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving
Institutions (HSIs) and Tribal Institutions (e.g., Colleges)], either in the
United States or in territories under U.S. jurisdiction.
You may submit (an) application(s) if your Minority Serving Institution has
any of the following characteristics:
o For-profit or non-profit organizations
o Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals,
and laboratories
o Units of State and local governments
o Eligible agencies of the Federal government
o Domestic or foreign
o Faith-based or community-based organizations
INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
The principal investigators must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen alien
nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. The principal
investigator must have his/her primary appointment at the applicant MSI
institution.
Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are
encouraged to apply as principal investigators.
To be responsive to this RFA, eligible principal investigators must have
documented plans or established collaborative relationships with established
alcohol investigators. It is anticipated that in most instances the
collaborating scientists will be located at one or more research-intensive
institutions.
THE DEFINITIONS BELOW ARE INTENDED TO CLARIFY CONCEPTS THAT ARE EXPRESSED IN
THIS RFA
A Minority Serving Institution (MSI) is an academic, health care or research
institution with an enrollment and/or faculty predominately of ethnic
minorities, or an institution that qualifies as a Historically Black
College/University (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Hispanic-
Serving Health Professional (HSHPS) School, or Tribal College or University
(TCU). An institution that has a significant proportion of minority
enrollment and a demonstrable record of accomplishment in encouraging
minority faculty, clinicians and/or students to participate in research also
qualifies. Both MSIs with medical schools and MSIs with focused research and
education programs (e.g., Masters and Ph.D. programs) are invited to
participate in this initiative. MSIs that offer baccalaureate degrees and
Tribal Institutions (e.g., Colleges) are encouraged to participate in this
initiative as collaborators with another minority serving institution and
collaborating research intensive institution, especially on career
development and educational programs aimed at preparing students to enter
careers in alcohol research. A partial list of eligible MSIs can be found at
the following website address: http://www.sciencewise.com. Other
institutions that meet MSI qualifications may not be listed at this website,
but they are also eligible to apply.
A collaborating research intensive institution is an institution with which
the applicant institution has partnered. A "research intensive institution"
is an academic, health care or research institution which is currently the
recipient of substantial NIH research support.
An established alcohol research investigator is an individual who is
currently the recipient of independent research support from the NIAAA
through a research grant (R01, R37, U01 or U10) or an individual who is a
component director on an Alcohol Research Center (P50) or multisite
consortium. The established alcohol research investigator serves as a
collaborator.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
There are a number of Special Requirements and Provisions that are required
of each Collaborative Minority Serving Institution Alcohol Research grant
application. Requirements bulleted here are more fully explained under the
heading "Supplemental Instructions" in the SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION Section,
below.
Three components are required. Each collaborative alcohol research grant
application must focus on 1) research AND 2) faculty and research career
development and/or 3) science education and/or 4) information dissemination
and outreach.
a) Research
The CMSIAR award is expected to support a minimum of three alcohol research
projects. The projects may be of a pilot or exploratory nature. Each
project will involve participation by co-investigators from the applicant
minority serving institution and at least one external scientist, preferably
from a research-intensive institution. The external scientist/collaborating
scientist must be an established alcohol research investigator. Projects
involving outreach to minority populations and science education for targeted
professional and community groups are encouraged. Projects must focus on
topics of significance to an alcohol related minority health issue. They must
not overlap in purpose or intent with existing funded grants.
b) Faculty and Research Career Development
A component for research training and mentoring of faculty, clinical staff
and/or students is also required. The applicant institution must demonstrate
or give reasonable assurances that it has the potential for collaborative
career development programs. These programs must be organized and conducted
by scientists and faculty from both the MSI and the established collaborating
research program but must be specifically designed for MSI scientists.
Training and mentoring should focus on clinical, behavioral, and population
research that pertains to health disparity issues for minority and under
served populations.
To promote knowledge of alcohol research and skills development, MSI staff
must be actively involved in career development activities. Career
development programs for minority scientists must represent true
collaborations that function across the institutional boundaries of the MSI
and the collaborating alcohol research program. If the applicant institution
does not have or does not plan to establish a formal alcohol training
programs of its own, there must be a plan for MSI faculty, clinicians, and/or
students to participate in training/mentoring programs of the collaborating
institution and other affiliated institutions.
c) Science Education
A Research-to-Education program would develop, implement and evaluate
creative and innovative educational materials about scientific advances in
our understanding of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The projects can address
any level of education and any of several audiences, including primary and
secondary educational levels, college undergraduate education, teachers'
professional development and public education. Research results and evidence-
based information must be used to inform educational materials, which might
also include laboratory demonstrations. National Science Education Standards
should be consulted in the development of materials for schools. These
standards can be found at the following website:
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/1.html
The intent of the research to education component is to provide science-based
knowledge and critical thinking skills and expertise that will inform
decisions to use alcohol.
d) Information Dissemination and Outreach
The dissemination of alcohol research findings to other scientists, alcohol
treatment and intervention providers, health care professionals, and the
minority community must include a comprehensive process for making the
information relevant to the target audience and provide strategies for
developing ongoing outreach and information services. Dissemination and
outreach activities must be based on accurate, current, and culturally
congruent information and must delineate methods for integrating alcohol
research knowledge into minority communities. NIAAA encourages the
development of coordinated outreach strategies with community and local
groups including other agencies and service providers, such as
prevention/treatment groups, criminal justice systems, social service
agencies, youth programs, etc. All proposed outreach and dissemination
proposals must include plans for ongoing evaluation. They must also describe
a process for using evaluation findings to improve outreach and dissemination
activities.
Letters of support are needed to show that there is a collaborative
partnership with an active alcohol research program. After award, an
agreement between the MSI and the collaborating alcohol researchers'
institution should be established.
A description of the collaborative process, methods and means of
communication is also required.
The Principal Investigator, in consultation with the NIAAA Science
Collaborator, will establish a unique Project Advisory Committee (PAC).
The CMSIAR must develop a five-year plan that describes the project
objectives and how project activities and processes will be used to the
achieve CMSIAR program goals, for example, to develop capacity to submit
competitive research grant applications. For each objective, a brief
statement should describe what the MSI recipients and the collaborating
alcohol scientist(s) will do to ensure that project goals will be achieved.
Recipients participate in an annual meeting of CMSIAR grantees.
Full support for the CMSIAR activity from senior members of the MSI (e.g.,
Department Chair, Dean, President, Chancellor, or Center Director) that
includes institutional discretionary resources that will be made available to
the Principal Investigator. When CMSIAR participants have minimal experience
in alcohol research, institutional support must include release or protected
time to enable faculty to participate in and focus on achievement of the
objectives in the application.
When the Principal investigator, faculty or clinicians are not independent
investigators appropriate mentoring is developed to ensure maximum
probability of success.
After award, a formal agreement between the collaborating alcohol research
program institution and the MSI should be established to clarify time and
effort utilized by the mentors or collaborators on CMSIAR projects.
Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award:
The following Terms and Conditions will be incorporated into the new award
statements and will be provided to the principal investigators and to the
appropriate institutional officials at the time of award. The following
special terms of award are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise
applicable OMB administrative guidelines, HHS grant administration
regulations at 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92 (Part 92 is applicable when State and
local Governments are eligible to apply), 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 NIAAA programmatic involvement
with the awardees is anticipated during performance of the activities. Under
the cooperative agreement, the NIAAA supports and stimulates the recipients'
activities by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award
recipients in a partnership role. The NIAAA 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.
1. Principal Investigator Rights and Responsibilities
The PI Awardee has primary authorities and responsibilities to define
objectives and approaches, and to plan, conduct, analyze, and publish
results, interpretations, and conclusions of their research, career
development and other activities. The PI will:
Create a Program Advisory Committee (PAC) in consultation with the NIAAA
Scientific Collaborator.
Coordinate a regular schedule of PAC meetings for review and consultation.
Develop and implement the five year plan with periodic updates as needed.
Coordinate project activities within their institution, with outside
collaborators, and with the NIAAA Scientific Collaborator.
Maintain collaboration and partnership with an established NIAAA investigator
and collaborating alcohol research program.
Seek and accept assistance from the NIAAA Staff Scientific Collaborator in
pursuing project goals.
Awardees will retain custody of and have primary rights to the data developed
under these awards, subject to Government rights of access consistent with
current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies.
2. NIAAA Staff Rights and Responsibilities
According to the terms of this cooperative agreement arrangement, the NIAAA
will appoint a Program Official and a Staff Scientific Collaborator to
participate in the conduct of each U56 Collaborative Minority Serving
Institution Alcohol Research Program.
The NIAAA Program Official provides normal program stewardship, reviews the
scientific progress of individual research project components, and monitors
the distribution and use of core resources in the Cooperative Agreement. The
Program Official also monitors compliance with requirements described in this
RFA. The NIAAA Program Official may recommend withholding support or
suspension or termination of the award for lack of scientific progress or for
failure to adhere to policies established by the RFA or the Notice of Grant
Award statement.
The NIAAA Scientific Collaborator will have substantial scientific-
programmatic involvement with the awardees through providing technical
assistance, advice and coordination above and beyond normal program
stewardship of research grants. The NIAAA Scientific Collaborator will: a)
facilitate the coordination and management of this complex project; b)
participate as a voting member in the duties and responsibilities of the PAC;
c) participate in monitoring progress of ongoing studies; d) participate in
planning and implementing efforts to disseminate information; e) provide
instruction in faculty development activities; f) participate in data
interpretation and, when appropriate, in the preparation of publications and
presentations. The NIAAA Scientific Collaborator is subject to the same
publication/authorship policies governing all participants in the study, as
well as to the official NIH Publication Policy governing extramural
employees.
3. Arbitration Process
Any disagreement that may arise on scientific or programmatic matters between
U56 awardees and the NIAAA may be brought to arbitration before an
arbitration panel. The arbitration panel will be composed of three members.
One member will be chosen by the awardee. A second member will be selected by
the NIAAA. The third member, having expertise in the relevant scientific
area, will be chosen by the two selected members. This special arbitration
procedure in no way affects the awardee's right to appeal an adverse action
that is otherwise appealable in accordance with the PHS regulations at 42 CFR
Part 50, Subpart D and HHS regulation at 45 CFR Part 16.
WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES
We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity to
answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three
areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management
issues:
o Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to:
Ernestine Vanderveen, Ph.D.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Willco Building, Suite 302
6000 Executive Boulevard MSC 7003
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
Telephone: (301) 443-2531
FAX: (301) 480-2358
Email: tvanderv@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
o Direct your questions about peer review issues to:
Eugene G. Hayunga, Ph.D.
Chief, Extramural Project Review Branch
Office of Scientific Affairs
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6000 Executive Boulevard, Room 409, MSC 7003
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 443-4375
Fax: (301) 443-6077
o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:
Judy Fox
Chief, Grants Management Branch
Office of Planning and Resource Management
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Willco Building, Suite 504
6000 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7003
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
(301) 443-4704 (telephone)
(301) 443-3891 (fax)
email: jsimons@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes
the following information:
o Descriptive title of the proposed research
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel
o Participating institutions
o Number and title of this RFA
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.
The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning of
this document. The letter of intent should be sent to:
RFA-AA-03-007
Extramural Project Review Branch
Office of Scientific Affairs
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 409-MSC 7003
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
(courier: Rockville, MD 20814)
Telephone: (301) 443-4375
FAX: (301) 443-6077
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). The PHS 398 is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive
format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267,
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODULAR GRANT APPLICATIONS: Applications requesting
up to $250,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a modular grant
format. The modular grant format simplifies the preparation of the budget in
these applications by limiting the level of budgetary detail. Applicants
request direct costs in $25,000 modules. Section C of the research grant
application instructions for the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step-by-step
guidance for preparing modular grants. Additional information on modular
grants is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.
USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001)
application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the
application. Type the RFA number on the label. Failure to use this label
could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not
reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title
and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form
and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also available at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten original of
the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in
one package to:
Center For Scientific Review
National Institutes Of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be
sent to:
RFA: AA-03-007
Extramural Project Review Branch
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Willco Building, Room 409
6000 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7003
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7003 or
Rockville, Maryland 20852-7003 (for express/courier service)
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS
This RFA requires Supplemental Instructions as follows:
Each five-year alcohol research grant application must have at least three
components. A research component and a faculty and research career
development are required. In addition the application must include a science
education and/or information dissemination and outreach component. Each
component is subject to the 25-page limitations for sections a-d of the
research plan.
A five-year plan is required. It must describe the objectives, the
activities and the processes that the MSI will use to reach the goal of
developing capacity to submit competitive alcohol research grant applications
in the future. For each objective, a brief statement should describe what the
MSI recipients and the collaborating alcohol scientist(s) will do to ensure
that project goals will be achieved.
When the MSI Principal Investigator is not an independent investigator, the
application must include:
- a letter of support from senior members of the MSI (e.g., Department Chair,
Dean, President, Chancellor, or Center Director)indicating full support for
the activity including release or protected time to enable faculty to
participate in and focus on achievement of the objectives in the application
and institutional discretionary resources that will be made available to the
Principal Investigator.
- a letter of support from the prospective mentor(s) that describes mentoring
activities and confirms the mentors' commitment to ensuring success of the
collaborative effort. This letter is to assure appropriate mentoring and
maximum probability of success.
The collaborative activities must demonstrate a clear partnership between the
MSI and the collaborating alcohol research program. This process must begin
with collaboration in preparing the grant application for submission by the
MSI. The application must describe how the MSI and the collaborating alcohol
research program will complement each other in achieving clearly stated goals
and common objectives. The collaborating institutions and scientists must
provide evidence of commitment to the identified projects as well as plans
for interactions among all parties.
The requested funds must be used for totally new activities that may build on
but not duplicate the purpose or intent of currently funded grants (e.g.,
P30, P50, P01, R01, R03, R21, R25 Research Resources, Research Infrastructure
Grants, NRSA Grants, and other peer-reviewed funded programs).
Recipients of these cooperative agreement awards and their collaborators will
be expected to participate in an annual meeting. Travel costs for the PI to
attend this meeting should be included in the grant application from the MSI.
The Principal Investigator in consultation with the NIAAA Science
Collaborator will establish a unique Project Advisory Committee (PAC) of four
to six members. At least one PAC member should be from a relevant community
group and two members should be experienced alcohol researchers. The NIAAA
Scientific Collaborator will be an additional voting member of the PAC. The
PAC will meet annually, and more if necessary, to review activities and make
recommendations on all project functions. The role of the PAC is to advise
the Principal Investigator on scientific and related issues pertinent to the
operation of the CMSIAR. Among its duties, the PAC will assess interim
progress of all activities within the CMSIAR, and will review and select
projects proposed for future consideration and/or submission.
The application should address each of the following elements:
I. Administrative Core
The CMSIAR must have strong and experienced central leadership to coordinate
proposed activities and to keep all components informed of important
activities. Critical elements of the Administrative Core include:
A Principal Investigator who is a senior experienced investigator from the
MSI and who will have substantial involvement in managing the CMSIAR program.
A 5-year research plan developed by the CMSIAR based on areas of alcohol
research interest. The selection of proposed projects must reflect the goals
of the research plan and must be relevant to the research program and
priorities of the NIAAA. The plan should state how the institution will
build on its strengths and capabilities to conduct alcohol research and
address the needs of the institution in furthering CMSIAR goals. The plan
should include measurable objectives.
Each CMSIAR should create a program for disseminating alcohol research
information. The audiences for these activities should include health care
and allied professions' students and professionals, community based
organizations and researchers at the host institution as well as
investigators at other institutions. Information dissemination activities may
include, but are not limited to, activities such as seminars, journal clubs,
training programs, short courses, telemedicine, presentations at professional
meetings and publications. The content of these activities must be developed
in collaboration with the NIAAA and established alcohol research scientists.
The CMSIAR may wish to seek appropriate Continuing Health Education credit
for participants. The information dissemination and faculty development
function should work closely with the Administrative Core.
The Principal Investigator will prepare a yearly progress report and a
document near the conclusion of the first 5 years of CMSIAR experience. The
document must contain, but is not limited to, the CMSIAR description, an
assessment of the collaborative approach to project development and the
enhancement of faculty expertise. Research findings and observations on the
administration of the program should also be included. These reports should
document progress toward implementing the CMSIAR 5-year plan.
PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and
responsiveness by the NIAAA. Incomplete or unresponsive applications will be
returned to the applicant without further consideration.
Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated
for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group
convened by the Institute in accordance with the review criteria stated
below. As part of the initial merit review, applications which are fully
discussed will be assigned a priority score. Applications which are not
discussed will be withdrawn from further consideration and the Principal
Investigator and the official signing for the applicant organization will be
notified. The applicant shall receive a written critique of the review. The
second level of review will be provided by the National Advisory Council on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
REVIEW CRITERIA
This initiative is quite broad in scope. Under these circumstances, the
review criteria are not organized under the traditional headings of
Significance, Approach, Environment, Investigator and Innovation typically
used for NIH research grants. Reviewers will use considerable flexibility in
determining the merit of a broad range of possibilities that can expand
research, training and career development opportunities for minority
scientists and students.
Each application must be thorough and complete enough to stand on its own.
Additional materials or revisions will not be accepted after the receipt
date. It is strongly recommended that Institutional Review Board (IRB)
approval be secured prior to submission.
I. The following criteria will be used in judging the adequacy of plans for
the administrative core:
- Strength of the 5-year plan of research, faculty and research career
development and education or dissemination to achieve CMSIAR program goals
- Evidence of experience coordinating multi-disciplinary projects and
administrative core activities.
- Evidence of experience with, and a commitment to, fostering working
relationships with minority populations.
- The degree to which the proposed collaboration presents opportunities for
furthering research programs in the minority serving institution.
- Evidence of the ability to disseminate information through professional and
less formal mechanisms.
- Appropriateness of the proposed budget.
- Evidence of planned or established collaborations between faculty from the
minority serving institution and external scientists from research intensive
institutions.
- Evidence that the proposed PAC has appropriate scientific experience,
including alcohol research, and minority community membership, and that the
individuals are committed to the success of the program.
- The promise and potential of the pilot and exploratory studies proposed to
be the basis for developing future research projects.
II. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the commitment of the
applicant institution to program objectives:
- Strength of the evidence that the researchers and faculty of the MSI and
the collaborating alcohol research program worked closely together in the
preparation of the application.
- The degree to which the MSI officials' letters of support address:
institutional commitment to alcohol research; the need for
faculty/staff/student mentoring and development; and institutional
commitment to ensuring the success of the collaborations by providing release
or protected time for faculty to do research and by providing other
resources.
- The adequacy of MSI and collaborating program staff's day-to-day oversight,
coordination, and commitment to logistical support, as needed to make the
collaboration successful.
- The adequacy of plans proposed by the MSI and collaborating alcohol
research program to fully explore areas of opportunity and to ensure highly
interactive and integrated efforts between individual scientists (e.g.,
research project) and/or between faculty and scientists (e.g., training
program, education program).
- Clarity of the process used to identify areas for potential collaboration
and/or development.
- The appropriateness of all participants' academic preparation and
professional experience to contribute effectively to pertinent aspects of
this alcohol research project.
- The potential of the proposed projects/programs to generate adequate
preliminary data to become competitive for future grant support (e.g., R03,
R21, R01, R25, K awards, NRSA awards for training).
Renewal Applications:
A comprehensive progress report is required for competing renewal
applications. A statement must be included in the application regarding the
progress toward achieving aims of the previously funded CMIARD during the
previous period of support. In addition, for all projects in each component,
supported during the previous 5-year grant period, a succinct account of its
published and unpublished results must be provided. This account is required
whether or not the project will be submitted for continuation in the renewal
application.
Other Considerations:
The initial review group will also examine the appropriateness of the
proposed budgets and duration; the adequacy of plans to include both genders
and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for scientific goals of the
research and plans for recruitment and retention of subjects; the adequacy of
plans for including children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research, or the justification for exclusion; the provisions for the
protection of human and animal subjects; and the safety of the research
environment.
RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 24, 2003
Application Receipt Date: February 24, 2003
Peer Review: May-June 2003
NIAAA Advisory Council: September 17, 2003
Earliest Anticipated Award Date: September 29, 2003
AWARD CRITERIA
The applications will compete for funds with all other proposals submitted in
response to this RFA. Applications recommended by the NIAAA Advisory Council
will be considered for award based on (a) scientific and technical merit as
determined by peer review; (b) the program priorities of the NIAAA, and (c)
availability of funds.
REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS
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 sub-populations 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 indicating that inclusion
is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of
the research. This policy is based on the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993
(Section 492B of Public Law 103-43).
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
UPDATED "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on
August 2, 2000 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-OD-00-048.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm: The
revisions relate to NIH defined Phase III clinical trials and require: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols to provide a description of plans
to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) all
investigators to report accrual, and to conduct and report analyses, as
appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
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 and supported by
the NIH, unless there are clear and compelling scientific and ethical reasons
not to include them.
This policy applies to all initial (Type I) 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.
REQUIRED EDUCATION IN THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
policy that was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 5,
2000 (Revised August 25, 2000), available at the following URL address
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: The
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to
provide public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a
project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2)
Cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an action
that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed
through FOIA. It is important for applicants to understand the basic scope
of this amendment. NIH has provided guidance at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this RFA in a public
archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include
information about this in the budget justification section of the
application. In addition, applicants should think about how to structure
informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures given the
potential for wider use of data collected under this award.
URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES
All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within
specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH
solicitation, internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide
information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation
to view the Internet sites. Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may
be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-
led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA is related to the
priority area of Alcohol Research. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of
"Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/ and the NIAAA
"Forecast for the Future: Strategic Plan to Address Health Disparities" at
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/about/DisparitiesIntro-text.htm
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
93.273, Alcohol Research Program Awards are made under authorization of
Sections 301, 405, and 464H of the Public Health Service Act as amended, (42
USC 241 and 284) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR Parts 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program is 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.