PLANNING GRANT FOR MINORITY INSTITUTION/CANCER CENTER COLLABORATION

Release Date:  April 25, 2000

RFA:  CA-01-003

National Cancer Institute
Office of Research on Minority Health

Letter of Intent:          June 8, 2000
Application Receipt Date:  July 26, 2000

PURPOSE

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the NIH Office of Research on 
Minority Health (ORMH) invite planning grant applications (i.e., P20s) for 
the development of formal collaborations between scientists and faculty in 
Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and scientists and faculty in Cancer 
Centers (i.e., NCI-designated Cancer Centers and other institutions with 
highly organized, integrated research efforts focused on cancer).  Both MSIs 
with medical schools and MSIs with more focused research and education 
programs (e.g., Masters, and Ph.D. programs) are invited to participate in 
this initiative. The goals of these collaborations are to increase the 
involvement of scientists in minority institutions in cancer research, to 
expand training and career development opportunities for minority scientists 
and to increase the effectiveness of Cancer Centers in developing 
collaborative projects and programs that directly address and have the 
potential to reduce disproportionate cancer incidence and mortality in 
minority populations.  

The purpose of this request for applications (RFA) is to solicit planning 
grants (P20s) that would plan for and initiate pilot projects/programs for 
focused collaborations between scientists and faculty at MSIs and Cancer 
Centers.  These collaborations would be required to demonstrate a clear 
mutual benefit and required to focus a major portion of their effort on 
developing collaborative research projects or research training and career 
development programs; however, planning efforts are also encouraged in the 
areas of cancer education and outreach to minority communities. The 
expectation is that these planning grants will become the basis for 
generating an array of competitively funded grant applications by the NCI and 
other cancer research funding organizations (e.g., American Cancer Society), 
and other grants such as multidisciplinary research grants (e.g., R01s, P01s, 
P50s); training and career development grants (e.g., T32s for basic 
scientists; K12s for clinical researchers); and or education grants (e.g., 
R25s).

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, Planning 
Grant For Minority Institution/Cancer Center Collaborations, is related to 
the priority area of cancer.  Potential applicants may obtain a copy of 
"Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications will only be accepted from MSIs, either in the United States or 
in territories under U.S. jurisdiction, and from institutions that are 
NCI-designated Cancer Centers or that can demonstrate organized, highly 
integrated research efforts focused on cancer. Minority-Serving Institutions 
are those in which students of minority groups, who are underrepresented in 
the biomedical sciences (e.g., African Americans, Hispanics, Native 
Americans, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders), comprise a 
significant proportion of the enrollments AND that have a track record of 
commitment to the special encouragement of minority faculty, students and 
investigators.  A list of the eligible Minority-Serving Institutions can be 
found at the following website address: http://www.sciencewise.com/.  A 
list of NCI-designated Cancer Centers can be found at the following website 
address: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancercenters/

Each collaboration must be submitted as two applications, one from the MSI 
and one from the cancer center, but with separate complimentary budgets to 
achieve common goals and objectives. Each Principal Investigator must be 
listed as a Co-Investigator on the complimentary application (See below for 
further instructions).

The Principal Investigators must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen alien 
nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.

Each MSI and Cancer Center is limited to participating in no more than TWO 
applications either in response to this initiative for planning grants (P20s) 
or to the initiative for cooperative planning comprehensive partnerships 
between MSIs and NCI-designated Cancer Centers (U20s) or the initiative for 
Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnerships (U54s).  If 
participating in two applications, each application must be with a different 
collaborator.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT 

This RFA will use the P20 or planning grant mechanism.  The Principal 
Investigators on behalf of the institutions are responsible for the conduct 
of this planning activity with strong commitments from the MSI and the Cancer 
Center enabling the success of the collaboration.

This RFA is a one-time solicitation. If it is determined that there is a 
continuing program need, the NCI will either reissue this RFA for 
re-competition or invite recipients of awards under this RFA to submit 
competitive continuation cooperative agreement applications for review.  If 
the NCI does not continue the program, awardees will be able to submit grant 
applications through existing investigator-initiated grant programs. 

ALLOWABLE COSTS 

The P20 will provide support for:

1. Administrative Costs (not to exceed 20% of the total direct costs) for 
managing the planning effort such as:
a. Salaries for key personnel
b. Travel for key personnel
c. Travel and per diem for outside advisors
d. Equipment and supplies to support an administrative structure
2.  Developmental Funds for:
a. Workshops, retreats, seminars and other forums to identify areas of 
greatest opportunity and highest priority and/or to merge existing programs 
and/or to create new center/ minority institution programs.
b. Pilot research projects or pilot programs (not to exceed $100,000 in 
direct costs per project per year).
c. Support for research assistants and research associates in various stages 
of their career development as independent scientists.
d. Start-up packages for newly recruited investigators in areas of 
development and stabilization.  

Funds may NOT be used to purchase equipment unless included as part of 
start-up package for a faculty recruitment. (In this case, the maximum 
allowable costs for such equipment items cannot exceed $10,000 for research 
purposes without prior approval by the NCI.)

FUNDS AVAILABLE

This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  NCI/ORMH anticipate making 
approximately ten 3-year awards, and plan to set aside a total of $4.0 
million for the first year of funding. The total annual directs cost budgets 
for the MSI and the Cancer Center applications together are expected to range 
between $100,000 and $250,000.  Third party contractual F&A costs will not be 
counted toward the maximum combined direct costs of $250,000. Applications 
exceeding the $250,000 direct cost limit will be considered unresponsive to 
this RFA and will be returned without further consideration.  Funding in 
response to this RFA is dependent upon the receipt of a sufficient number of 
meritorious applications. Although this program is provided for in the 
financial plans of NCI/ORMH, the award of grants pursuant to this RFA is 
contingent upon the anticipated availability of funds for this purpose. 
Awards are not renewable.  The NCI/ORMH will make a commitment for funding 
the collaboration for the full term of the award.  The anticipated award date 
is March 1, 2001.

OBJECTIVES

Background:
Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)  [e.g., Minority Medical Schools, 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions, (HSIs) Tribal Colleges] conduct high quality programs for 
educating minorities, and they represent a rich source of talent with 
appropriate cultural sensitivity and perspectives needed in cancer research. 
However, MSIs have had difficulties developing and sustaining independent 
programs in biomedical research, and there is a paucity of minority 
scientists who are pursuing successful biomedical research careers.  Despite 
various initiatives by the community and the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH), progress in realizing a significant increase in the number of minority 
scientists who are competitive for NIH research grants has been slow.  More 
specifically, there remains a serious shortage of funded minority scientists 
who can conduct independent cancer research, who can focus research efforts 
on the disproportionate incidence and mortality rates in minority populations 
and who can bring the cultural perspectives that are essential to the 
successful conduct of many forms of research involving minority patients and 
populations.  

The NCI-designated Cancer Centers and other institutions with highly 
organized and integrated cancer research and training programs are 
geographically dispersed.  Many of these centers engage in extensive outreach 
and education programs designed to reduce cancer incidence and mortality in 
the communities they serve. Yet, the progress of cancer centers in focusing 
on research issues of particular importance to cancer in minorities, in 
training minority scientists, in reaching out to and partnering with 
different minority populations in their communities, and in bringing the 
benefits of biomedical research to these populations has been slow and often 
disappointing.

The low involvement of MSIs in cancer research and lack of significant 
training of minority scientists in cancer research must be addressed if we 
are to develop a stronger national cancer research effort aimed at 
understanding the disparities of cancer incidence and mortality in minorities 
compared majority populations. The potentials for identifying and training 
minority students and faculty in areas of cancer research have not been fully 
explored.  One untried and potentially powerful approach for addressing these 
difficult issues is to create and sustain collaborations between the 
scientists and faculty of MSI's and cancer centers in ways that integrate and 
take maximum advantage of their respective expertise and experience.  MSIs 
and cancer centers potentially can help each other get better and collaborate 
in areas that neither can do as well alone. 

Through planning activities dedicated to developing stable, long-term 
collaborations that are mutually beneficial to the scientists and faculty of 
MSIs and cancer centers, the objectives of NCI and ORMH are to increase the 
participation of MSIs in the nation's cancer research and research training 
enterprise, to increase the involvement and effectiveness of the cancer 
centers in research and research training related to minorities, and to 
develop more effective research, education and outreach and programs that 
will have an impact on minority populations. 

Within these objectives, four broad areas can be targeted for development:

1. Cancer Research: Cancer research or cancer research training must be a 
significant component of this collaborative planning activity.  Joint 
research projects may be in any area of basic, clinical, prevention, control, 
behavioral, or population research.  Collaborative research projects 
conducted primarily at the MSI may be in any area of cancer research, but 
research projects conducted primarily at the Cancer Center must specifically 
address areas of cancer disparity in minority populations. Collaborative 
cancer research projects might focus, for example, on general areas of 
environmental carcinogenesis, molecular epidemiology, and behavioral issues 
related to cancer prevention and control.  Successful planning efforts and 
pilot projects are expected to result in the submission of competitively 
funded research grant applications (e.g., R01, P01, SPORES).
2. Cancer Research Training and Career Development: Cancer research training 
or cancer research must be a significant component of this collaborative 
planning activity. Cancer research training programs can be for any areas of 
cancer research but must focus on joint programs organized and conduced by 
the scientists and faculty of both the MSI and Cancer Center.  Training 
programs should place a high emphasis on training minority scientists and on 
educating majority trainees to appreciate the issues and problems associated 
with cancer incidence and mortality disparities in minority populations. The 
NCI encourages training of minority scientists in clinical research and 
population research; there is a clear deficit of minority scientists engaged 
in these research areas and they are highly dependent for their success on 
the cultural sensitivity of the researchers.  These training programs should 
function seamlessly across the institutional boundaries of the MSI and the 
cancer center.  Successful planning activities and pilot programs should 
result in funded multi-institutional training grants (e.g., T32, R25, K12).
3. Cancer Education: Cancer education program could focus on any effort to 
augment existing or create new curricula in the MSI and/or the cancer center 
that would appraise and culturally sensitize graduate students and 
postdoctoral students in research, medicine and public health of the need to 
reduce disproportionate cancer incidence and mortality in minority 
populations.  A successful planning effort is expected to result in a 
competitively funded R25 education grant and later to institutional 
commitments to make these curricula an inherent component of their 
educational systems.
4. Cancer Outreach:  Outreach programs may be defined as proactive efforts to 
help minority communities develop and manage their own culturally sensitive 
programs for educating their populations about cancer risk, early detection, 
screening, prevention, and treatment.  MSIs and Cancer Centers would be 
expected to combine their expertise in working with leaders and organizations 
in the community to develop education programs that effectively reach 
individuals and physicians and that increase the recruitment and retention of 
racial and ethnic minorities into clinical trials and prevention protocols. 
The MSI/Cancer Center collaborations could help communities develop 
activities such as the following: (a) utilize church networks to reach and 
educate the citizens of minority communities about prevention, early 
detection and treatment of cancer; (b) work with civic organizations to 
develop programs that encourage life-style changes important for cancer 
prevention and that emphasize the importance of early detection and 
diagnosis; (c) develop continuing education programs for community health 
care providers to ensure that they are providing state-of-the art care and 
advice to their patients; (d) train communities to use and link these 
communities to the electronic information systems that can educate 
individuals about cancer and help them make informed decisions about their 
health.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROVISIONS OF PLANNING GRANTS FOR
MINORITY INSTITUTION/CANCER CENTER COLLABORATIONS (MI/CCC)	 

There are a number of Special Requirements and Provision that each Minority 
Institution Cancer Center Collaboration planning grant application (P20) must 
comply with: 

1. Each MSI and Cancer Center is limited to participating in no more than TWO 
applications (see ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS). If participating in two 
applications, each application must be aligned with a different collaborator. 
2. Of the four areas being targeted by this initiative (i.e., cancer 
research, research training and career development, education and outreach) 
either cancer research or cancer research training must be the major 
component.
3. There must be written "Letters of Commitment" from the MSI leadership and 
the cancer center leadership that are fully supportive of this planning 
activity specifying what efforts will be made to ensure that these planning 
activities will have the maximum chance of success.  These efforts might 
include protected faculty time, provisions to recruitment new faculty, space 
and facilities for new projects/programs, capital improvements, etc.
4. Each collaborative planning activity must be submitted as two planning 
grant applications, one from the MSI and one from the cancer center.  The 
Principal Investigator of the MSI grant application must be the 
Co-Investigator of the center grant application and visa versa.  The overall 
specific aims of the two applications must be the same, but the actual 
activities and budgets of the two applications should demonstrate how the MSI 
and the Cancer Center requests compliment each other in achieving their 
common objectives.  
5. The two applications must clearly outline the mutual benefits to be gained 
by the MSI and the Cancer Center as a result of the collaboration.
6. The total direct costs of the two applications together cannot exceed 
$250,000.  If there are third party subcontract costs, only the direct costs 
of the subcontract will count against this cap.
7.  No more than 20% of the total direct costs of the collaboration can be 
devoted to Administrative Core expenses.
8. Pilot research projects originating from the MSI can be any research 
relevant to cancer, but research originating at the Cancer Center should 
focus on problems highly relevant to areas of cancer disparity in minority 
populations.
9. There must be a common planning and evaluation component shared between 
the MSI and the Cancer Center. The planning process should identify 
opportunities and set priorities for collaboration. This must involve 
external expert advisors (e.g., as individuals or as a committee) who provide 
written formal evaluations of the planning effort with their recommendations.  
These evaluations must be included as part of the Non-Competing Continuation 
Application progress reports submitted to the NCI each year.
10. The use of Developmental Funds to support pilot projects and pilot 
programs must be for totally new activities that do not overlap with or 
duplicate any existing funded grants (e.g., P30, SPORES, P50, P01, R01, RCMI, 
or MBRS).
11. In using Developmental Funds to support pilot research projects or pilot 
research training, education or outreach programs, each project/program must 
be co-led by individuals from both the MSI and the Cancer Center.
12. The MSI and the Cancer Center must have a common process in place for 
selecting and closing pilot projects or programs and recruitment of new 
investigators on the basis of their merit and productivity and their 
relationship to overall priorities and objectives as determined through 
collaborative planning activities and this process must serve as the basis 
for distributing Developmental Funds.  The rationale for using all 
Developmental Funds would have to based on careful planning and evaluation 
activities conducted by the P20 MI/CCC program. No individual pilot 
project/program can exceed $100,000 in direct costs per year.
13. All recipients of P20 MI/CCC Planning Grant Awards will be expected to 
participate in an annual meeting sponsored by the Comprehensive Minority 
Biomedical Branch (CMBB) of the NCI.  Travel for this purpose can be included 
in the grant applications from the MSI and the Cancer Center institution.
14. Once a P20 MI/CCC grant is funded, specific guidelines for Non-Competing 
renewal applications will be provided to the grantees.
 
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 
research projects involving human subjects, unless clear and compelling 
rationale and justification is provided that the inclusion is inappropriate 
with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. 
This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of 
Public Law 103-43).

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as subjects in Clinical 
Research", which have been published in the federal register of March 20, 
1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contract, Volume 
23, Number 11, March 18, 1994 available on the web at the following URL 
address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html 

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) 
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted and supported by 
the NIH, unless that 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: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html

PREAPPLICATION MEETING

The NCI /CMBB and the ORMH strongly encourage all potential applicants to 
attend a pre-application Technical Assistance Workshop (TAW) on May 12-13, 
2000 in New Orleans, LA. Since this is an entirely new concept for the NCI 
and for the applicant population, it will give staff the opportunity to 
clarify any perceived ambiguities in the RFA and help applicants to present 
their strongest case for developing an application. If one is unable to 
attend the technical assistance workshop the results of the workshop can be 
accessed at the Web site http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/cmbs/index.htm. These 
results will be posted by July 1, 2000.
 
In addition, NCI strongly encourages pre-application consultations with 
individual collaborators either as telephone conference calls or as face to 
face meetings.  In order to make these arrangements contact Dr. Sanya A. 
Springfield at by email at springfs@mail.nih.gov or by phone at (301) 
496-7344 or Dr. Brian Kimes by email at kimesb@mail.nih.gov or by phone at 
(301) 496-8537.

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.
                                
LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit by June 8, 2000, a letter of 
intent (LOI) that includes a descriptive title of the proposed P20 
collaborations, address, and telephone number of the Co-Investigators, the 
identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the 
number and title of the RFA in response to which application may be 
submitted.  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 allow NCI staff to estimate the potential review workload 
and plan the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to the program staff 
members listed under INQUIRIES by the letter of intent receipt date. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The following procedures apply to both the MSI application and the cancer 
center application, which are to be submitted as a collaborative effort:

Applications are to be submitted using the Form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) using the 
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS provided below and at 
http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/cmbs/index.htm on or before July 26, 2000.  A Form 
PHS 398  (rev. 4/98) application kit is available at most institutional 
offices of sponsored research and from the Division of Extramural Outreach 
and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge 
Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, Phone: (301) 710-0267; FAX: (301) 
480-0525; Email: grantsinfo@nih.gov.  Forms are also available on the 
following NIH website: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html.

NOTE:  The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev.5/95) application form 
must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application and title 
"P20 MI/CCC " must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application 
form and the YES box must be marked.  Type the RFA number on the label.  
Failure to do so could result in delayed processing of the application such 
that it may not reach the review committee in time for the review.

The sample RFA label available at: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf has been modified to 
allow for this change. Please note this is in pdf format.

A cover letter must be attached to the application clearly defining the MSI 
or Cancer Center collaborator; this will allow the NCI to assemble the two 
applications as one package for peer review.  Submit signed, typewritten 
originals of the cover letters, the MSI application and the Cancer Center 
application with their checklists, and three signed photocopies to:

Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040
MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 or
Bethesda, MD 20817-7710 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the cover letter and 
application must be sent to:

Ms. Toby Friedberg
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd., Room 8062
MSC 8329
Bethesda, MD 20892-8329
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)

As noted above the instructions for the Form PHS 398 do not entirely apply to 
the submission of a P20 MI/CCC grant application.  Accordingly, the NCI 
strongly suggests that you follow the SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS below, which 
have been adapted to accommodate the Form PHS 398, and the special needs of 
this P20 MI/CCC RFA.  These instructions include all of the information that 
will be needed by the peer reviewers of your applications.

SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Face Page: Use page AA as instructed in the Form PHS 398.  On line 1 
provide a title that is representative of your collaboration or partnership.  
This title should be the same for both the MSI application and the Cancer 
Center institution's application.  For line 2 enter the title "P20 MI/CCC" 
and the number beginning with RFA-00-XXX.  Remember to fix the RFA label that 
comes with the Form PHS 398 to the bottom of the Face Page.
2. Description, Performance Sites and Key Personnel: Use page 2 of the Form 
PHS 398 and follow the instructions provided in the Form PHS 398.
3. Table of Contents:  Organize the Table of Contents as described below:

             Content    			   Page Number              
     
Face Page
Description, Performance Sites and Key Personnel
Table of Contents
Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period:
a. Administrative Core
b. Developmental Core
Budget for Entire Proposed Period of Support
a. Administrative Core
b. Developmental Core
Budgets Pertaining to Consortium/Contractual Arrangements (e.g., more than 
one MSI/Cancer Center is involved)
Biographical Sketch of Principal Investigator (not to exceed two pages)
Biographical Sketch of Co-Investigator (not to exceed two pages)
Biographical Sketches of Key Professional Personnel of the MSI or Cancer 
Center (not to exceed two pages for each individual)
Biographical Sketches of External Advisors (not to exceed two pages for each 
individual)
List of participating members of the MSI or the Cancer Center
Other Support of Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator and Key Personnel 
Resources Plan for Developing the Collaboration:
a. Background 
b. "Letter of Commitment" from the Institution or Cancer Center
c. Objectives  (with expected times for completion; these should be the same 
in both the MSI and the center applications)
d. Scientific and Administrative Leadership
e. Planning Activities
f. Method of Evaluating and Prioritizing Pilot Research Projects and Pilot 
Programs that will use Developmental Funds
g. Proposed Pilot Research Projects (if known) to be supported with 
Developmental Funds
h. Proposed Pilot Programs (if known) to be supported with Developmental 
Funds
i. Faculty Recruitment to be supported with Development Funds
j. Annual Evaluation of Progress
k. Human Subjects
l. Vertebrate Animals
m. Consortium/Contractual Arrangements
n. Check List

4.  Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period: Use DD (Form page 4) of the 
Form PHS 398 application kit.  Separately break out the budget using 
different Page 4s under the headings: a) Administrative Core; and b) 
Developmental Core.
a) For the Administrative Core denote all the costs for salaries of both 
scientific and administrative personnel; travel and per diem for scientific 
and administrative personnel and outside advisors; and equipment and supplies 
to support the administrative needs of the planning effort.  The 
corresponding Principal Investigator of the partner P20 application should be 
listed as the Co-Investigator with no salary.
b) For the Developmental Core use separate page 4s for costs for each of the 
following:
1. Developmental Funds/Workshops and Retreats: within this budget 
specifically denote the workshop, retreat, etc. by title and break out the 
costs by category
2. Developmental Funds/Pilot Research Project 1 with title, Pilot Research 
Project 2 with title etc.
3. Developmental Funds/Pilot Program 1 (e.g., training, education, and/or 
outreach) with title; Pilot Program 2 with title etc.
4. Developmental Funds/Faculty Recruitment 1 with title etc.
5.  Budget for Entire Proposed Period of Support: Using Page EE (Form Page 5) 
of the Form PHS 398, follow the instructions in the Form PHS 398 application 
kit. Provide specific justifications for costs in the first year but only 
provide costs for future years only when there are specific items requested 
in future years that exceed standard costs of living increases.
6.  Budgets Pertaining to Consortium/Contractual Arrangements: Use this 
category if more than one MSI or Cancer Center is being linked in a 
collaboration.  In this case, one of the MSI/Cancer Center institutions would 
have to serve as the primary grantee and subcontract for the consortial 
involvement of the other MSI/Cancer Center.
7.  Biographical Sketch of Principal Investigator: Use Page FF (Form page 6) 
of the Form PHS 398 and follow the instructions in the application kit.
8.  Biographical Sketch of the Co-Investigator: Use Page FF and follow the 
instructions in the Form PHS 398 application kit.
9.  Biographical Sketch of Key Professional Personnel of the MSI or the 
Cancer Center.  Use Page FF as above.  This section should include all 
professional individuals who serve in middle leadership roles.  The 
biographical sketches of those Co-Leaders of Pilot projects/programs and 
resources, as well as any named individuals who are going to be recruited 
should be provided in the appropriate sections of this application.
10. Biographical Sketches of External Advisors: Use Page FF and follow 
instructions in the Form PHS 398 application kit.  The same advisors will 
also be included in the sister application.
11. List of participating faculty/members of the MSI or Cancer Center 
alphabetically by name.  Include for each individual their degree, department 
affiliation or equivalent, and research or other interest (e.g., research 
area, training, education, or outreach).
12. Other Support: Using Page GG, provide other support only for the 
Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator and other key professional personnel 
at either the MSI or the Cancer Center and follow the instructions in the 
Form PHS 398 application kit.
13. Resources:  Using Page HH, follow the instructions in the Form PHS 398 
application kit.
14.  PLAN FOR DEVELOPING THE COLLABORATION:  
a) Background:  
This section should be the same for MSI and Cancer Center P20 MI/CCC 
applications.  It should describe the characteristics of the MSI and the 
Cancer Center that will contribute to a planning effort resulting in specific 
mutual benefits and complementation of each partners strengths and weakness 
to accomplish goals and objects that neither could achieve as successfully 
alone.  It should clearly denote the nature of the interactions and 
deliberations that occurred and the individuals involved between the MSI and 
the Cancer Center during the preparation of these applications.
b) Letter of Commitment:
The MSI institutional leadership (e.g., Dean, President) and the Cancer 
Center leadership (e.g., Center Director, Dean) should include a statement 
describing how the MSI or Cancer Center will provide the necessary support to 
ensure the success of this collaborative planning effort. This support could 
be in the form of protected time for faculty to participate in and focus on 
the objectives of this grant, faculty appointments that will be dedicated to 
this effort, discretionary resources that will be made available to the 
Principal and Co-Investigators and purchase of sophisticated equipment for 
critical infrastructure needs. 

When Cancer Centers are NOT NCI-designated Cancer Centers, there should be a 
clear summary of the qualities of the institution that demonstrate that it 
has a highly organized and integrated cancer research program comparable to 
an NCI-designated cancer center.
c) Objectives  (with Expected Times for Completion):
This section should be the same for the MSI and the Cancer Center 
application.  Each application should list the specific interim and final 
objectives that are expected to be achieved in chronological order with the 
expected times (e.g., months, years) for completion during the period 
requested in this grant.  For each objective, a brief statement should be 
made about the separate contributions of the cancer center and the MSI in 
order to achieve success and realize mutual benefits.  A final objective in 
planning a focused collaboration might be the submission of a joint training 
grant (T32) to the NIH or a joint Program Project Research Grant (P01). 
d) Scientific and Administrative Leadership: 
Briefly describe how the Principal Investigator was chosen in terms of 
his/her qualifications and experience to provide leadership and cohesion for 
this effort and to promote collaboration and cooperation in achieving the 
common objectives as outlined in the Background and Objectives sections 
above. 
Also, if there are other mid-level leaders who will play a significant role 
in determining the success of this planning grant, provide the same 
information for them.
e) Administrative Core (No more than 10 pages):
Describe the leadership and specific functions of the administrative core to 
provide the necessary regular day-to-day oversight, coordination, support, 
and logistics services needed to make this partnership function effectively.  
This might include organizing meetings, workshops, and retreats; documenting 
the results of activities; providing critical secretarial services, etc.
f) Planning Activities:
Describe the kinds of planning activities that the MSI and the Cancer Center 
will conduct to ensure a highly interactive and integrated effort between the 
faculty and scientists of the MSI and the faculty and scientists of the 
Cancer Center.  Relate each planning activity (e.g., workshop, retreat, 
executive meeting) to specific objectives above and denote the specific 
faculty by name and their interests (training clinical oncology researchers, 
research in prostate cancer, establishing new curriculum in nutrition, etc.) 
who will participate in each activity.  Describe what advice and oversight 
role for planning will be asked of the External Advisors.
g) Method of Evaluating and Prioritizing Pilot Research Projects, Pilot 
Programs, Faculty Recruitment that will use Developmental Funds:  
Describe how the Developmental Funds will be allocated based on the merit of 
proposals and their potential to successfully achieve the objectives of this 
planning effort.  Describe the shared role of MSI and the Cancer Center 
faculty by name and expertise in accomplishing this task.  Do not forget the 
requirement for co-leadership of developmental activities (e.g., pilot 
research projects).

THE USE OF DEVELOPMENTAL FUNDS IN PARTS g., h., i., and j. BELOW IS INTENDED 
TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PLANNING AND PRIORITY SETTING 
ACTIVITIES OF THE MSI AND THE CANCER CENTER DURING THE COURSE OF THE GRANT

h) Proposed Pilot Research Projects to be Supported with Developmental Funds:
Pilot research projects must have co-leadership by individuals from the MSI 
and the cancer center.  Each Pilot Project should include the following:
1. Title
2. Names of the Co-Leaders from the MSI and the Cancer Center
3. One paragraph abstract
4. One paragraph describing how this pilot project relates to the overall 
objectives of the collaboration as described in the Background and Objectives 
section above.
5. Detailed budget page for initial budget period using page DD from form PHS 
398.
6. Biographical Sketches of Co-Leaders
7. Research Proposal (no more than two pages)
8. Describe what aspects of the research proposal will be conducted  at the 
MSI and/or the Cancer Center 
9. Human Subjects**

**NOTE:  (1) All NIH-supported biomedical or behavioral research projects 
involving human subjects must consider appropriate inclusion of Gender and 
Minorities and Children as noted on pages 16 and 17 and 27-33 of the Form PHS 
398 instructions; (2) Research dealing with Human Subjects and Vertebrate 
Animals must be accompanied by appropriate documentation as described on 
pages 17 and 18 of the Form PHS 398 instructions; (3) Research components 
involving clinical trials must include provisions for rigorous data 
management, quality assurance, and auditing procedures.  Funds should be 
budgeted for these activities and should be justified.  The proposed 
provisions should not duplicate review and monitoring systems already in 
place at the institution.  For any cancer treatment protocol supported 
directly or indirectly by the P20 MI/CCC, informed consent forms, early 
stopping rules and procedures to detect and monitor adverse drug reactions 
(ADR) must be provided in the application, or in the case of protocols 
subsequent to funding of a P20 MI/CCC, to the NCI program director.

i) Proposed Pilot Programs to be Supported with Developmental Funds:
Pilot Programs require co-leadership by individuals from the MSI and the 
Cancer Center.  Use a format adapted from the Pilot Research Project format 
above.  See NOTE above for Pilot Research Projects in case this applies to 
any Pilot Program using human subjects that will be funded by this grant.
j) Faculty Recruitment to be Supported with Developmental Funds: 
Depending upon the nature of the proposed planning activity, recruitment of 
faculty or additional mentored research of existing faculty may be necessary 
to build the Research capability of a MSI.  
The following information should be provided for Faculty Recruitment: 
Individual who are known:
1. Provide the Biographical sketch of the individual
2. Describe how the individual fulfills the objectives of the planning grant 
as described in the Background and Objectives sections above
3. Describe the nature of the position that provides the necessary stability 
(e.g. tenure track) and resources (e.g. space) to promote success.
4. Describe the location of the individual at the MSI or the cancer center 
and how this location will best achieve the objectives of the planning grant.

Individual who are not known  (i.e., planned for):
1. Describe the number and expertise of the individuals to be recruited over 
the three year period of this grant in order to strengthen its capabilities 
(e.g., epidemiology, prostate cancer, breast cancer, behavioral research, 
outcomes research, community outreach, molecular genetics) in those areas 
needed to fulfill its objectives.
Budget:
The budget can provide salary and start-up packages for new recruitments.  
Provide a three year budget plan that relates to the costs expected to be 
incurred by this grant in years 1 through 3 using pages EE of the Form PHS 
398 for recruitment and plans to provide as these individuals are 
incorporated into the permanent faculty of the MSI and/or the 
faculty/membership of the Cancer Center.
k) Regular External Evaluation of Progress:
This section should be the same for the MSI and the Cancer Center planning 
grant applications.  Describe the expertise of the individual external 
advisors and the rationale for their selection relative to the objectives of 
this planning effort.

This planning activity is required to use External Advisors (EAs) shared by 
the MSI and the Cancer Center to evaluate progress and provide 
recommendations on a regular basis. Written reports by these EAs must be 
submitted to the MSI/Cancer Center and included in the annual progress report 
to the NCI.  These reports should summarize the EAs' evaluation of progress 
and provide the EA's  recommendations for improvement.
l) Human Subjects:  
Follow the directions and instructions provided in the Form PHS 398 
application kit.
m) Vertebrate Animals:
Follow the directions and instructions provided in the Form PHS 398 
application kit.
15. Checklist  - See instructions in the Form PHS 398 application kit.
16. Appendix Materials 

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by Center for 
Scientific Review (CSR) and responsiveness to ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS and 
responsiveness to the SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROVISIONS OF PLANNING GRANTS 
FOR MINORITY INSTITUTION/CANCER CENTER COLLABORATIONS by the NCI. Incomplete 
and/or non-responsive applications will be returned to the application 
without further consideration.
                     
Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated  
by the appropriate peer review group convened by the Division of Extramural 
Activities of the NCI.  The initial review group will first evaluate the 
applications for meeting the criteria in the General Features below.  Those 
applications that meet the criteria in the General Features (intent of the 
RFA) will be further evaluated for scientific and technical merit in 
accordance with the other review criteria stated below. As part of the 
initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and 
undergo a process by which only those applications deemed to have the highest 
scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, 
will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level 
review by the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB).

Both the application from the MSI and the application from the Cancer Center 
will be reviewed together as ONE collaboration.  

Review Criteria:

This initiative is quite broad in scope and can include objectives ranging 
from cancer research to cancer training, to cancer education to cancer 
outreach.  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 have to use considerable flexibility in determining the merit 
of a broad range of possibilities that can strengthen the research 
capabilities of minority institutions, expand training and career development 
opportunities for minority scientists and increase the effectiveness of 
cancer centers in developing programs with the potential to reduce 
disproportionate cancer incidence and mortality in minority populations.

1.General Features:
a. Strength of the evidence that MSI and the Cancer Center worked closely 
together in the preparation of these applications.
b. Strength of the evidence that the MSI and the Cancer Center have clearly 
identified the mutual benefits to be gained from this collaboration.
c. Feasibility of achieving the interim and final objectives proposed within 
the expected time periods for completion as a focused collaboration.
d. Degree to which this plan, if fully successful, will result in a stable 
cancer research capability for the MSI and/or result in the significant, 
successful training of more minority cancer researchers.
e.  If applicable, the degree to which this plan, if fully successful, will 
enhance the ability of the Cancer Center through research and/or training and 
education and/or outreach to more directly and successfully address the 
disproportionate incidence and mortality rates in minority populations.

Those applications satisfying the criteria listed under  General Features  
will be evaluated according to the following criteria.  Each criteria 
includes additional guidance to reviewers.

2.  Scientific and Administrative Leadership:
The adequacy of the qualifications and experience of the Principal 
Investigator and Co-Investigator from the MSI and the Cancer Center to 
provide strong programmatic (e.g., scientific) and administrative leadership. 
If applicable, the adequacy of the qualifications and experience of other key 
personnel in both the MSI and the Cancer Center to successfully plan for and 
achieve the objectives of this planning effort. 

3.  Letters of Commitment from the MSI and the Cancer Center (NCI-designated 
Cancer or institution with highly organized, integrated research efforts 
focused on cancer):  The degree to which the letters of commitment from the 
MSI and the Cancer Center address and fully support the objectives of the 
proposed planning effort. The degree to which the Cancer Center, if not an 
NCI-designated Cancer Center, demonstrates a highly organized and integrated 
cancer research focus. The appropriateness of the level of authority of 
officials committing to this joint effort within the MSI and the Cancer 
Center.

4.  Administrative Core:
The adequacy of the Administrative Core to provide the necessary day-to-day 
oversight, coordination, support and logistic services needed to make the 
collaboration function successfully.

5.  Planning Activities:
The adequacy of the different methods proposed by the MSI and Cancer Center 
to assess capabilities, define areas of mutual benefit and establish 
priorities for implementation that will have the greatest success in 
achieving the proposed objectives. The appropriateness and adequacy of the 
specific faculty and scientists identified from the MSI and the Cancer Center 
to contribute effectively to each aspect of this planning effort. The quality 
and merit of planning process used for any specific priorities declared ready 
for pilot testing at the time of the application. The adequacy of the 
proposed use of the External Advisors in the planning processes.

6.  Method of Evaluating and Prioritizing the Use of Developmental Funds:
The adequacy of the experience and qualifications of the individuals who take 
part in evaluating specific pilot projects, pilot programs, recruitment for 
using Developmental funds. The adequacy of the criteria used for selecting 
pilot projects, pilot programs, recruitment etc. for funding based on their 
merit and their potential to meet the proposed objectives of the planning 
effort. The adequacy of the evidence based on any specific pilot projects, 
pilot programs, recruitment etc. proposed for support with Developmental 
Funds that the process for allocating developmental funds works effectively.

7.  Proposed Pilot Projects/Programs
The qualifications of the Co-leaders from the MSI and the Cancer Center to 
develop the project/program.  The merit of the Pilot Project/Program, and the 
degree to which it contributes to the objectives of the collaboration.  
Potential to develop into a competitively funded grant application (r01, P01, 
P50, K12, T32, R25).  The options will be either to recommend support at the 
recommended budget levels or to recommend no support because it has either: 
a) low merit; b) low relevance to the objectives of the collaboration; and/or 
c) low potential to develop into a competitive grant application. 

8.  Proposed Recruitment: (if applicable)
The quality of each specific individual recruitment proposed relative to 
background and ability to contribute substantially to strengthening areas of 
high priority.  The quality of the plan to recruit individuals with the kinds 
of qualifications that will satisfy the most important needs in strengthening 
the future capability of the collaboration to fulfill its objectives. The 
adequacy of the commitments of the MSI and Cancer Center to provide new 
positions for this planning effort.

9.  Evaluation of Progress by External Advisors:
The adequacy of the expertise and qualifications of the External Advisors to 
provide appropriate evaluation and advice and recommendations for making 
mid-course corrections based on the objective of this planning effort.  The 
adequacy of the plan for using the External Advisors effectively.

10. 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.

Overall Evaluation and Scoring of Application:

The overall degree of merit for the collaboration, as reflected by one 
priority score that will be assigned to the MSI and the Cancer Center 
applications, will be determined considering the following:
1. The extent to which the MSI and Cancer Center applications together 
satisfy the General Feature above (i.e, overall intent of this initiative).
2. Taken together, the quality of the individual sub-components as proposed 
in the MSI and Cancer Center P20 applications.

AWARD CRITERIA

Each set of two applications from an MSI and a Cancer Center will compete for 
funds with all other partnerships in response to this RFA. Applications 
recommended by the NCAB will be considered for award based upon (a) 
scientific and technical merit as determined by peer reviewers; (b) the 
program priorities of the NCI and the ORMH; and (c) availability of funds. 

Schedule:

Pre-application Meeting Date:              May 12-13, 2000 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:             June 8, 2000
Application Receipt Date:                  July 26, 2000
Peer Review:                               October/November, 2000
Review by NCAB:                            February, 2001
Earliest Anticipated Award Date:           March 1, 2001

NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION APPLICATION

For those applications that are funded, the NCI will provide special 
instructions for submitting the Non-Competing Application or Progress Reports 
each year. 

INQUIRIES

Written, telephone, fax and e-mail inquiries concerning this RFA are 
encouraged especially during the planning phase of these applications.  Below 
is a listing of program (i.e., scientific management), grants administration 
(i.e. fiscal management) and review (i.e., management of peer review process) 
staff of the National Cancer Institute who are available to for inquiries:

Direct inquiries regarding scientific or programmatic issue to:

Sanya A. Springfield, Ph.D.
Chief, CMBB, OCTR, ODDES
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd.
Suite 7010
Bethesda, MD 20892-8347
Telephone: (301) 496-7344
Fax: (301) 402-4551
Email: springfs@mail.nih.gov

	Or

Brian Kimes, Ph.D.
Director, OCTR, ODDES
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd.
Suite 700
Bethesda, MD 20892-8347
Telephone: (301) 496-8537
Fax: (301) 402-0181
Email: kimesb@mail.nih.gov
 
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal or budget matters to:

Ms. Barbara Fisher
Grants Management Specialists
National Cancer Institute
6120 Executive Blvd.
EPS/243
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone (301) 496-8626
Fax: (301) 496-8601
Email: Bf18m@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding review matters to:

Ms Toby Friedberg
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 8062, MSC 8239 
Rockville, MD 20852 (express service) 
Bethesda, MD 20892-8239
Telephone (301) 496-3428
Fax: (301) 402-0275
Email: tf12w@nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 
93.398, Cancer Research Manpower.  Awards are made under authorization of 
Sections 301 and 405 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.

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