HYPERACCELERATED AWARD/MECHANISMS IN IMMUNE DISEASE TRIALS

Release Date:  May 11, 1998

RFA:  AI-98-006

P.T.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Office of Research on Women's Health

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  One month prior to application receipt date.
Application Receipt Date:  Applications will be accepted MONTHLY on the 9th of
each month beginning October 9, 1998

PURPOSE

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National
Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the Office of Research on Women's
Health (ORWH) invite investigator-initiated research applications for mechanistic
studies in clinical trials of immunomodulatory interventions for immune system
mediated diseases, including asthma and allergy, graft failure in solid organ and
stem cell transplantation, and autoimmune diseases.  Specifically, this Request
for Applications (RFA) focuses on the utilization of patients and patient
materials from such trials for the evaluation of immunologic and other relevant
parameters in order to study the mechanisms underlying the intervention, the
mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, surrogate markers of disease activity and
therapeutic effect, and mechanisms of human immunologic function.  The parent or
core clinical trial must have independent financial support and will NOT receive
support under this RFA.  Mechanistic studies in clinical trials supported by
industry are particularly encouraged but clinical trials supported by any source,
public or private, are eligible.

In order to review and confer awards to applications received in response to this
RFA in a timely fashion without delay of the parent or core clinical trial, NIAID
has developed a pilot project in collaboration with the Center for Scientific
Review (CSR): NIAID/CSR PILOT OF HYPERACCELERATED REVIEW/AWARD.  All applications
responding to this RFA will be subject to this hyperaccelerated review/award
process.  It is anticipated that the highly meritorious applications selected for
funding under this RFA will receive their awards thirteen weeks after the
application receipt date.  Holidays and other circumstances may alter this
schedule slightly.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion
and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national
activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA, HYPERACCELERATED AWARD/MECHANISMS
IN IMMUNE DISEASE TRIALS, is related to the priority area(s) of immunization and
infectious diseases and diabetes and chronic disabling conditions.  Potential
applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No.
017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-
9325 (telephone 202-512-1800).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign for-profit and non-profit
organizations; public and private institutions, such as universities, colleges,
hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments; and eligible
agencies of the Federal government.  Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women,
and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

The mechanism of support will be the individual research project grant (R01). 
The total requested project period for an application submitted in response to
this RFA may not exceed five years.  Some sponsoring Institutes may
administratively limit the duration of award.  Applicants for the R01 mechanism
are encouraged to limit first-year budget requests to $160,000 in direct costs
unless there is appropriate justification for an expanded scope that must not
exceed a first-year limit of $250,000 direct costs.  Budget escalations in future
years should be limited to 3% of recurring costs.

Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project
will be solely that of the applicant.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The estimated total funds (direct and indirect costs) available for the first
year of support for all awards made under this RFA in FY 1999 will be $2,800,000. 
In Fiscal Year 1999, it is anticipated that 11-12 awards will be made.  It is
anticipated that this RFA and the NIAID/CSR PILOT OF HYPERACCELERATED
REVIEW/AWARD will continue in FY 2000 contingent upon the availability of funds. 
The amount of funds available for the first year of support for awards made in
FY 2000 will be announced at a future time.  The usual PHS policies governing
grants administration and management will apply.  Although this program is
provided for in the financial plans of the participating institutes, awards
pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds for this
purpose and the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific
merit.  Funding beyond the first and subsequent years of the grant will be
contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding years and availability
of funds.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

In December, 1996, NIAID convened a workshop at which leading basic and clinical
immunologists discussed the role the NIH should play in current and projected
clinical trials for various immune mediated diseases.  It was considered likely
that clinical trials of many new immunologic interventions would be supported by
the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry.  However, gaps in both knowledge and
in research effort were identified which represent opportunities for the NIH to
contribute to progress in this area.

There was agreement that our understanding of the mechanisms underlying
immunologic interventions is poor, even in cases where efficacy has been shown
(e.g., allergen immunotherapy and IFN Beta treatment for multiple sclerosis). 
In addition, clinical trials supported by industry and other sources including
NIH often do not include studies of underlying mechanisms.  There was consensus
that high priority should be given to the utilization of patient samples from
clinical trials in immunologic diseases for studies of the basic underlying
mechanisms of therapeutic effect, immunologic function, and disease pathogenesis.

There was also agreement that the usual time required for grant review and
funding is often incompatible with the time line of a clinical trial. 
Specifically, when a clinical  protocol is finalized (which is required for
applications submitted under this RFA), investigators are often ready to begin
as soon as Institutional Review Board approval is obtained.  NIAID was encouraged
to develop a means of responding rapidly to opportunities to study underlying
mechanisms in order to facilitate collaborations with industry-supported clinical
trials.

These recommendations were strongly supported by a large number of investigators
who participated in NIAID focus groups in the winter/spring of 1997.  This RFA
and the NIAID/CSR PILOT OF HYPERACCELERATED REVIEW/AWARD were developed in order
to implement these recommendations and exploit the research opportunities
identified.

Research Objectives and Scope

The objective of this RFA is to support mechanistic research studies in clinical
trials of immuno-modulatory interventions for immune system mediated diseases,
including asthma and allergy, graft failure in solid organ and stem cell
transplantation, and autoimmune diseases.  Specifically, the goal is to utilize 
patients and patient materials from such trials for the evaluation of immunologic
and other relevant parameters in order to study the underlying mechanisms of the
intervention, the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, surrogate markers of
disease activity and therapeutic effect, and mechanisms of human immunologic
function.  Such studies are not part of the parent or core clinical trial, and
are commonly referred to as substudies or ancillary studies.  The parent or core
clinical trial must have independent financial support and will NOT receive
support under this RFA. Clinical trials supported by any source, public or
private, are eligible.  Clinical trials of any phase (i.e. I-IV) are eligible. 
Examples of relevant research include, but are not limited to, the following:

o  Quantitation of disease-related, autoreactive T lymphocytes using methods such
as MHC/peptide tetramers, chimeric antibodies, or very early activation antigens.

o  Analysis of autoreactive T cells by PCR for expression of genes implicated in
immunity or inflammation, or by FACS for cell surface markers that identify
functions (e.g., cytokine receptors that distinguish TH1 from TH2 or chemokine
receptors or integrins that indicate preferential patterns of homing).

o  Assessment of reagents that can identify newly recognized populations of
regulatory T cells (e.g., Valpha24JalphaQ bearing invariant T cells) which appear
to be altered in autoimmune disease.

o  Identification and evaluation of cytokine and cytokine receptor polymorphisms
and analysis for genetic linkage to disease.

o  Use of high throughput technologies (e.g. chip technology using expressed
sequence tags) to identify and evaluate genes activated in disease sites.

o  Identification of useful surrogate markers by correlation of the above
parameters with disease activity and/or response to intervention.

o  Comparison of samples from peripheral blood with those from sites of disease,
i.e., do peripheral blood samples provide useful information?

o  Assessment for the presence of molecular evidence (e.g. using PCR probes) of
potential causative environmental agents.

The areas outlined above are not intended to be all-inclusive.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

In addition to yearly progress reports, the Principal Investigators of grants
funded under this RFA will provide brief (1-2 pages) summary reports of the
outcomes of the research at the conclusion of the funding period and one year
later.  The reports will summarize the major scientific knowledge gained and
identify other substantive outcomes such as publications, patents, and new
grants, contracts, or research studies based on this mechanistic research.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their
subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral
research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling
rationale and justification are provided that inclusion is inappropriate with
respect to the health of the subjects of the purpose of the research.  This
policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public
Law 103-43).

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research", which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994
(FR 59 14508-14513) and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 11,
March 18, 1994.

Investigators may obtain copies from these sources or from program staff listed
in INQUIRIES below who may also provide additional relevant information
concerning the policy.

NIH POLICY AND GUIDELINES ON THE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS  PARTICIPANTS IN
RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

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

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

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, one month prior to the application
receipt date, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the overall
proposed research, the name, address and telephone number of the Principal
Investigator, and the number and title of this RFA.  Although the letter of
intent is not required, is not binding, does not commit the sender to submit an
application, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the
information that it contains allows review to estimate the potential review
workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review.  The letter of intent
is to be sent to Dr. Weinblatt at the address listed under INQUIRIES.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact program staff listed under INQUIRES
with any questions regarding the responsiveness of their proposed project to the
goals of this RFA.

Applications are to be submitted on the grants application form PHS 398 (rev.
5/95).  Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored
research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and
Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC
7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 710-0267, email:
[email protected].

For purposes of identification and processing, item 2 on the face page of the
application must be marked "YES" and the RFA number "AI-98-006" and the words
"HYPERACCELERATED AWARD/MECHANISMS IN IMMUNE DISEASE TRIALS" must be entered on
the face page.

Applications must be received by the 9th of each month beginning October 9, 1998. 
Applications that are received after the 9th will automatically be processed the
following month.  Applications not received as a single package (See Special
Instructions Section below) on the receipt date or not conforming to the
instructions contained in PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) Application Kit (as modified in,
and superseded by, the special instructions below, for the purposes of this RFA),
will be judged non-responsive and will be returned to the applicant.

The RFA label available in the application form PHS 398 must be affixed to the
bottom of the face page.  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.

If the application submitted in response to this RFA is substantially similar to
a grant application already submitted to the NIH for review, but that has not yet
been reviewed, the applicant will be asked to withdraw either the pending
application or the new one.  Simultaneous submission of identical applications
will not be allowed, nor will essentially identical applications be reviewed by
different review committees.  Therefore, an application that is essentially
identical to one that has already been reviewed cannot be submitted in response
to this RFA.  This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of
applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction
addressing the previous critique.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
checklist, and five signed, exact, single-sided photocopies, and all five sets
of appendix material 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)

Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research Center (GCRC)
funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources may wish to identify the
GCRC as a resource for conducting the proposed research.  If so, a letter of
agreement from either the GCRC Program Director or Principal Investigator should
be included with the application.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF APPLICATIONS IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFA

The research plan in the application should be limited to 10 pages, excluding
references.  Methods of data analysis and power calculations must be included.

The protocol and the investigators' brochure for the parent or core clinical
trial should be included with the application as appendix A.  Please include only
those portions which are protocol or intervention specific and omit standard
language (boilerplate).  Informed Consent form(s) must be included.  NIH will
treat as confidential any scientific, preclinical, clinical, or formulation data
and information that the sponsor deems to be proprietary and confidential.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for both the parent or core clinical
trial and the mechanistic studies must be submitted prior to award but need not
be submitted with the application.

Amended applications will be accepted for Hyperaccelerated Review/Award ONLY if
invited by NIH.  Applicants with minor or easily corrected problems will be
invited to submit an abbreviated amendment (5 page limit and one time only) which
directly addresses the questions and concerns raised in the initial review.

In order to ensure coordination between the mechanistic studies and the parent
or core clinical trial, the principal investigator and the sponsor of the parent
or core clinical trial must provide written agreement for the conduct of the
mechanistic studies as presented in the application.

Prior to award, the applicant must provide to the funding institute a memorandum
of understanding signed by the applicant, an appropriate representative of the
applicant institution, the principal investigator of the parent or core clinical
trial, and an appropriate representative of the sponsor of the parent or core
clinical trial.  This memorandum will indicate agreement and will outline the
specifics of the agreement for the following areas: 1) data from the mechanistic
studies (including ownership, analysis, access, and release), 2) access to the
data from the parent or core clinical trial (how/when) which is needed to analyze
the mechanistic studies, including procedures for prevention of unblinding of the
parent trial, 3) documentation of quality assurance procedures for both the
parent trial and the mechanistic studies, and documentation of Data Safety
Monitoring procedures for the parent trial, especially for efficacy trials, 4)
ownership of intellectual property developed during the mechanistic studies, and
5) publication of the results of the mechanistic studies.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for
scientific and technical merit by a Scientific Review Group (SRG) established for
the NIAID/CSR PILOT OF HYPERACCELERATED REVIEW/AWARD and convened in accordance
with NIH peer review procedures.  As part of the initial merit review, all
applications will receive a written critique, will be discussed by the SRG,
assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National
Advisory Council of the assigned Institutes.  Once a norm is established for the
SRG, only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit may be
discussed.

Review Criteria

The five criteria to be used in the evaluation of grant applications are listed
below.  To put those criteria in context, the following information is contained
in instructions to the peer reviewers.

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health.  The
reviewers will comment on the following aspects of the application in their
written critiques in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research
will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals.  Each of these
criteria will be addressed and considered by the reviewers in assigning the
overall score weighting them as appropriate for each application.  Note that the
application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to
have a major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score.  For
example, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its
nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

1.  Significance.  Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of
the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced?  What
will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this
field?

2.  Approach.  Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses
adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the
project?  Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider
alternative tactics?

3.  Innovation.  Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or method? 
Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing
paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?

4.  Investigator.  Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to
carry out this work?  Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level
of the principal investigator and other researchers (if any)?

5.  Environment.  Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done
contribute to the probability of success?  Do the proposed experiments take
advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful
collaborative arrangements?  Is there evidence of institutional support?

The initial review group will also examine: the appropriateness of proposed
project budget and duration; the adequacy of plans to include both genders and
minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research and plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects; adequacy of
plans for including children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research; the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects; and the
safety of the research environment.

AWARD CRITERIA

Funding decisions will be made on the basis of scientific and technical merit as
determined by peer review, program balance, and the availability of funds.  The
earliest anticipated date of award is January, 1999.

INQUIRIES

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

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic (research scope and eligibility) issues
to:

Howard B. Dickler
Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4A-19
Bethesda, MD  20892-7640
Telephone:  (301) 496-7104
FAX:  (301) 402-2571
Email:  [email protected]

Susana A. Serrate-Sztein, M.D.
Rheumatic Diseases Program
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
45 Center Drive, Room 5AS-25E, MSC 6500
Bethesda, MD  20892-6500
Telephone:  (301) 594-5032
FAX:  (301) 480-4543
Email:  [email protected]

Joan T. Harmon, Ph.D.
Diabetes Research Section
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease
45 Center Drive, Room 5AN-18G, MSC 6600
Bethesda, MD  20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-8808
FAX:  (301) 480-3503
Email:  [email protected]

James Kiley, Ph.D.
Division of Lung Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7952
Bethesda, MD  20892-7952
Telephone:  (301) 435-0202
FAX:  (301) 480-3557
Email:  [email protected]

A. P. Kerza-Kwiatecki, Ph.D.
Program Officer, DCIID
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
7550 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 504
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-1431
FAX:  (301) 402-2060
Email:  [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding review issues and special instructions for application
preparation to:

Anita Corman Weinblatt, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Administrator
Center for Scientific Review
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3110
Bethesda, MD  20892-7778
Telephone:  (301) 435-1145
FAX:  (301) 480-4032
Email:  [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Sharie Bernard
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B21
Bethesda, MD  20892-7610
Telephone:  (301) 402-5540
FAX:  (301) 480-3780
Email:  [email protected]

Schedule

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  One month prior to application receipt date
Application receipt date:       9th of each month beginning October 9, 1998
Earliest award date:            13 weeks after receipt of application

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is supported under authorization of the Public Health Service Act,
Sec. 301 (c), Public Law 78-410, as amended.  The Catalogue of Federal Domestic
Assistance Citations are No. 93.855 - Immunology, Allergy, and Transplantation
Research, No. 93.853, No. 93.838, No. 93.846 - Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases Research, and No. 93.847 - Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Research.  Awards will be administered under PHS grants policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is not subject to
the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health
Systems review.

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

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