TRANSDISCIPLINARY TOBACCO USE RESEARCH CENTERS

Release Date:  December 11, 1998 (see reissuance RFA-CA-04-012)

RFA:  CA-98-029

P.T.

National Cancer Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  March 5, 1999
Application Receipt Date:  April 12, 1999

PURPOSE

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA) invite grant applications (P50) for a Specialized Program of Research
Excellence (SPORE) in tobacco use research.  The intent of this initiative is to
provide support for the creation of  transdisciplinary tobacco use research
centers (TTURCs).  Increasingly, tobacco control and addiction research must rely
upon scientists with expertise in diverse areas ranging from molecular biology,
genetics, neuroscience and epidemiology to imaging, primary care, behavioral
science, communication, health policy, economics and marketing. To catalyze
research advances, these scientists should be working collaboratively to solve
problems.  TTURCs will be at institutions that have made or will make a strong
institutional commitment to the organization and conduct of these
transdisciplinary programs.  A TTURC may facilitate a transdisciplinary approach
to the full spectrum of basic and applied research on tobacco use, including:
initiation of tobacco use (including the impact of advertising and marketing),
prevention of tobacco use, addiction to tobacco, treatment of tobacco use, the
identification of biomarkers of tobacco exposure, and the identification of genes
related both to addiction and susceptibility to harm from tobacco.  A TTURC must
provide career development opportunities for new and established investigators
who wish to pursue active research careers in transdisciplinary tobacco use
research; provide developmental funds for innovative pilot projects; and
participate with other TTURCs on a regular basis to share information, assess
scientific progress in the field, identify new research opportunities, and
promote inter-TTURC collaborations to promote discovery and to resolve areas of
scientific controversy.  The centers also are encouraged to form partnerships
with industry, e.g., medication development.  Collaborations with NIH intramural
programs also are encouraged.  In addition, collaborations also should be
considered with universities, public health agencies, and other organizations
that have strong ties to minority communities with high smoking rates.  Each
TTURC and the "network" of TTURCs are expected to conduct research that will lead
to major scientific advances in knowledge about tobacco use and its prevention
and treatment.  A TTURC should support a transdisciplinary group of scientists,
and the translational nature of the research should inform public health efforts
to reduce the disease burden of tobacco use.

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 Request for Applications (RFA),
Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers, is related to the priority areas
of cancer, and tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.  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) or at http://www.crisny.org/health/us/health7.html.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit
organizations, public and private, 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.  Domestic
applications with foreign components are permitted.

To be considered, applicant organizations must have:  (1) an established
investigator as a strong Principal Investigator who can oversee and conduct
planning activities, provide direction to the TTURC, ensure a transdisciplinary
research emphasis, and build a career development program; (2) full institutional
commitment from the applicant institution; clearly delineated and formally
confirmed, subcontracted, collaborative scientific arrangements with scientists
from other institutions, including foreign institutions, may be included.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) specialized center
grant (P50) mechanism.  This mechanism supports any part of the full range of
research and development from basic to clinical and intervention studies, as well
as health services, policy, and surveillance research.  The spectrum of
activities will comprise a transdisciplinary attack on the tobacco problem. 
These grants differ from traditional program project grants in that they are more
complex and flexible in terms of the activities that can be supported.  In
addition to support for transdisciplinary research projects, support is also
provided for career development, pilot research projects, specialized resources
and shared core facilities.  PIs will be responsible for the planning, direction,
and execution of the proposed TTURC program.  Awards will be administered under
NIH grants policy as stated in the new NIH Grants Policy Statement
http://www.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm

The P50 SPORE mechanism was chosen because of its stated objective of translating
basic research findings to applied, innovative research with patients and
populations, with the ultimate objective of reducing risk of disease, incidence
and mortality.  SPOREs include innovative pilot projects, a career development
program, cores, and other resources dedicated to translational research
objectives.

The policy for SPORE grants establishes the following limits to the requested
budgets: A new P50 SPORE application may request a maximum annual direct cost of
$1.5 million and maximum annual total cost of $2.5 million.  In complying with
the direct cost cap of $1.5 million, the indirect costs related to subcontracts
to other institutions or organizations will not apply toward the direct cost cap,
but the total dollar request may not exceed $2.5 million.  Future year increases
are limited to three percent and may not exceed this cap.  The total project
period for an application submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed five
years.  The anticipated award date is: September 30, 1999.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  The NCI and NIDA anticipate making at least
five awards.  Additional awards will be considered based on availability of
funds.  An applicant may request up to five years of support.  The NCI
anticipates setting aside at least $10 million for the initial year's funding. 
The NIDA anticipates setting aside at least $4 million for the initial year's
funding. Funding in response to this RFA is dependent upon the receipt of a
sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit.  Although this
program is provided for in the financial plans of NCI and NIDA, the award of
grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the anticipated availability of
funds for this purpose.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

Nearly 35 years after the first Surgeon General's Report on Smoking, more than
one quarter of Americans continue to smoke, and more than 420,000 Americans die
every year of tobacco-related diseases.  Cigarette use alone is directly related
to more than 30 percent of all cancer deaths in North America.  Moreover, the
historic decline in adult tobacco use is in jeopardy.  One reason is the alarming
increase in adolescent tobacco use and addiction.  The number of adolescents who
become daily tobacco users before the age of 18 increased by 73 percent from 1988
(708,000) to 1996 (1.226 million).  If the rate of smoking initiation among young
people had held constant since 1988, then 1.5 million fewer persons under the age
of 18 would have become daily smokers by 1996.  Within this context, it is
troubling to note that the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions among
adolescents is largely unknown.

There is a clear convergence of thinking among scientists and policy makers that
we must dramatically alter the way we conduct tobacco control research if there
is to be a major impact upon tobacco-related diseases. The field of tobacco
control research has reached a level of complexity that requires investigators
to approach the scientific questions in new ways. A recent review of barriers to
reducing adolescent tobacco use that was conducted under the leadership of the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Center for the Advancement of
Health concluded that there appears to be agreement among many scientists that
several areas of science, among them youth tobacco use prevention, that research
could be moved forward and benefit from a transdisciplinary approach.  Stokols
(1998) defined transdisciplinary as a process by which researchers work jointly
using a shared conceptual framework that draws together discipline-specific
theories, concepts and approaches to address a common problem. The RWJF report
highlighted the limitations of the U.S. research enterprise, as currently
constructed, for solving the problems of tobacco use, in part, because of the
failure to promote such collaboration. The report particularly criticized the
lack of a collective enterprise for adolescent tobacco use research. In a
separate review, Wynder (1998) concluded that centers for tobacco research would
accelerate our ability through basic and applied research to effectively reduce,
if not eliminate, tobacco-related cancers.

Building upon advances from molecular biology and genetics, we now have
unparalleled opportunities to study the tobacco problem in ways that will
integrate biological and psychosocial models of tobacco use and addiction. The
exploitation of these opportunities will require new models of research
organization, synthesis, and collaboration in order to alleviate the wide array
of public health problems that arise from the use of cigarettes, spit tobacco and
cigars.

Research Goals and Scope

The highest priority of the NCI's Tobacco Research Implementation Plan (TRIP) is
the creation of transdisciplinary tobacco research centers.  These centers are
needed to advance tobacco use research in order to reduce tobacco use in the
United States.  In addition there is an urgent need for new investigators who
have the quality and breadth of training necessary to conduct cutting-edge
research related to tobacco.  Such training should expose young investigators to
the multiple levels of research that address tobacco-related issues.  Because
tobacco research scientists are widely dispersed by geography and discipline,
this type of training is difficult to obtain.  By emphasizing meaningful
integration and collaboration among scientists, the centers will provide a
challenging and unique venue for training the next generation of tobacco
researchers.

The level of specialization in different aspects of tobacco research will vary
from center to center.  However, the centers should focus thematically on areas,
such as cessation of tobacco use, adolescent smoking or susceptibility to
addiction in which there are significant gaps in our knowledge and critical
needs-- areas where focused, collective, transdisciplinary efforts could make a
difference. It is hypothesized that the TTURCs will catalyze problem solving and
lead to more rapid advances in knowledge than would be possible by depending on
individual investigators working in relative isolation. Such centers also, by
their very organization, can apply successful concepts from private industry.

As an example, a center focusing on adolescent tobacco use might address such
questions as:  Why do some children experiment with tobacco and become addicted
while others do not? This requires examination of genetic, social, cultural and
economic factors. In the past, the question often has been approached from a
discipline-specific perspective, at a single level of analysis. But that is not
sufficient. Funded centers would be required to bring together investigators and
propose research projects that incorporate the constructs and research tools of
multiple disciplines. By testing broader conceptual models, the interactions
between genetic and sociocultural factors, for example, could be examined within
a single adolescent smoking research project. Similarly, studies of cessation
might examine how the effectiveness of pharmacological methods interact with
developmental stage, genotype, psychological functioning, and family history of
tobacco use.  Also, animal models that address the neurobehavioral and genetic
underpinnings of nicotine addiction can be profitably integrated into a broader
research agenda.  The translation of basic tobacco-related research also requires
transdisciplinary collaboration to insure that new interventions are informed by
the latest research.

Another center might be organized around issues related to women and smoking. 
The center could examine factors underlying susceptibility to addiction as well
as moderators of cessation.  The center could conduct prevention trials tailored
to adolescent girls and treatment trials aimed at women's specific barriers to
quitting.  Alternatively, centers might utilize a process-related theme, such as
sociocultural influences upon cessation.

The topics above are given simply as examples.  Applicants should develop their
own theme and provide the rationale for it.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1.  INTERACTIONS AMONG CENTERS

Interactions among TTURCs are an important part of this initiative. This may be
in the form of research collaborations, exchange of scientists on a visiting
basis, exchange of resources and materials, and other innovative mechanisms. A
requirement for all TTURC Principal Investigators and selected project
investigators is participation in two meetings per year in the Washington DC
metropolitan area or other mutually convenient location.  Support for this travel
should be included in the budget. The purpose of the meeting is to share
scientific information, assess scientific progress, solve problems, identify new
research opportunities, and establish priorities that will accelerate the
translation of basic research findings to applied settings in patients and
populations.  Other novel opportunities to facilitate collaboration also will be
developed.

TTRUC PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

We anticipate that the following information will be provided in the application:

(a) description of a minimum of three proposed research projects focused on
different aspects of tobacco use and/or control with evidence of
transdisciplinary collaboration within and across projects; ideally, these should
include research, from basic to applied, oriented toward critically needed areas,
and should stimulate and sustain novel collaborations and test novel ideas; (b)
evidence of a transdisciplinary focus, including an explanation of how the
projects fit together across disciplines to promote synergy and syntheses; (c)
shared administrative, clinical, statistical, or other resources which can be
justified; (d) a strong commitment to career development, with a plan included
as part of the application.  This may include new investigators or established
investigators who wish to change research directions. Recruitment must include
qualified women and minorities. To this end, each applicant should propose a
clear policy and plan for recruitment of career development candidates. The TTURC
application should state the number of trainee positions proposed, the criteria
for eligibility and for selection of candidates, and describe the selection
process. Also, the application should indicate potential mentors who are already
in place at the proposed TTURC, briefly describe their research programs, and
describe complementary activities that contribute to the transdisciplinary
environment for career development (e.g., existing training grants, other career
development mechanisms and relevant programs);  (e) a proposal to promote
developmental and pilot research to facilitate new collaborations and the
opportunity to pursue challenging ideas.  It is important that a TTURC use pilot
funds to stimulate projects that take maximum advantage of new research
opportunities.  Such projects may be collaborative among scientists within one
or more TTURCs, or with scientists outside the TTURC environment. The TTURC
application should propose an institutional review process that selects pilot
projects for funding which represent the most innovative and transdisciplinary
ideas and which are likely to have the greatest impact on reducing the burden of
tobacco use and its consequences.  The NIH is especially interested in
opportunities to engage arts and sciences university faculties and schools of
public health in collaboration with medical schools and/or cancer center faculty;
(f) creative strategies to foster intra- and inter-center collaborations of a
formal and informal nature to identify and address overarching scientific and
methodological issues.

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 that inclusion is inappropriate with
respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy
results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994
(FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23,
Number 11, March 18, 1994 and available on the web at:
http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/1994/94.03.18/notice-nih-guideline008.html

Investigators may also obtain copies of the policy from the program staff listed
under INQUIRIES.  Program staff may also provide additional relevant information
concerning the policy.

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 clear and compelling 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:
http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by March 5, 1999, a letter of intent
that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address,
and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key
personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in
response to which the 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 allows NCI and NIDA
staff to estimate the potential review  workload and avoid conflict of interest
in the review.

The letter of intent is to Dr. Glen Morgan at the address listed under INQUIRIES.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) is to be used in applying
for these grants.  Applications 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 those applicants with internet access, the 398 kit may
be found at http://www.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html

Additional instructions for preparing a TTURC grant application are available
from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES.  The instructions from NCI and
NIDA staff are identical, and must be requested and used in preparing a TTURC
application.

The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) application form must be
affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.  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.

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:

Ms. Toby Friedberg
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 636, MSC-7399
Bethesda MD 20892-7399
Rockville, MD  20850 (for express/courier service)
Telephone:  (301) 496-3428
FAX:  (301) 402-0275
Email:  [email protected]

Applications must be received by April 12, 1999.  If an application is received
after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review.  The Center
for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in response to this
RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless
the applicant withdraws the pending application.  The CSR will not accept any
application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.  This does not
preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already
reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the
previous critique.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by CSR and
responsiveness by the NCI and NIDA.  Incomplete and/or non-responsive
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 NCI in accordance with the review criteria stated below.  Applications
receive a written critique as part of the initial merit review.  They may undergo
a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific
merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed
and be assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the
National Cancer Advisory Board and the National Advisory Drug Abuse Council.

Review Criteria

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, have high scientific merit.  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; the adequacy
of plans for including children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research, or justification for exclusion; the provisions for the protection of
human and animal subjects; and the safety of the research environment.

Additional Scientific/Technical Merit Criteria

The major factors to be considered in the evaluation of all applications are
given below.

1.  Institutional Commitment:

a.  adequacy of facilities, equipment and space to promote transdisciplinary and
translational research objectives;

b.  adequacy of institutional procedures and plans for monitoring, evaluating and
assuming accountability for the general success of the TTURC; adequacy of the
institutional infrastructure for assessing progress and needs;

c.  adequacy of recruitment objectives and plans for strengthening the
transdisciplinary scientific capabilities of the TTURC;

d.  presence of other tangible commitments, i.e., discretionary resources, to the
TTURC, e.g., dollars and space to support transdisciplinary collaboration.

2.  Overall Program Organization and Capability:

a.  scientific qualifications and demonstrated scientific and administrative
leadership capabilities of the TTURC Principal Investigator; adequacy of the time
commitment of the Principal Investigator;

b.  transdisciplinary nature of the proposed research activities, integration of
the projects around an overarching theme, and plans to effectively pursue
translational research objectives;

c.  adequacy of access to patients and populations for conducting current and
projected research;

d.  adequacy of the procedures, processes, and plans for promoting
transdisciplinary interactions, including coordination, interaction,
collaboration and synthesis;

e.  adequacy of plans for synergistic and effective interactions with existing
centers and programs, if applicable.

3.  Individual Research Projects:

The seven criteria to be used to evaluate individual research projects in TTURC
grant applications are listed below.  Within the TTURC concept of
transdisciplinary research, reviewers will comment on the following aspects of
the application in their written critiques.  Reviewers are asked to judge the
likelihood that the proposed research will substantially impact on the pursuit
of the goals implied within the following criteria.  Each criterion will be
addressed and considered by the reviewers in assigning the overall score, after
weighting the determinations as appropriate for each application.  The
application does not need to be strong in all categories for the research to be
judged likely to have a major transdisciplinary impact and thus deserve a
favorable priority score.  For example, an investigator may propose to carry out
work that by its nature is important but not innovative if it moves the field
forward.

a.  Significance.  Does this study address an important research problem related
to tobacco use? Does the scientific merit and experimental design of the project
adequately address issues of substantive importance for reducing initial tobacco
use and addiction, or for increasing successful cessation of use or understanding
exposure and/or carcinogenesis directly related to tobacco use?

b.  Approach.  Are the conceptual research 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 transdisciplinary approaches? Is there clear evidence of significant
multidisciplinary basic, clinical and public health interactions in the
conception, design, and proposed implementation of the project?

c.  Innovation.  Does the project develop new methodologies or technologies in
the areas of prevention, and/or treatment of tobacco use? Does the experimental
design reflect sufficient originality, novelty, and innovation to make it highly
relevant to the overall goals and objectives of the TTURC?

d.  Investigators.  Are the investigators appropriately qualified with
demonstrated competence to conduct the proposed research?  Is the proposed work
appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and project
researchers?  Are the proposed time commitments for all key laboratory and
clinical researchers reasonable and adequately associated with the project?

e.  Environment.  Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done
contribute to the probability of success?  Do the proposed projects take
advantage of unique and multidisciplinary features in the scientific environment
and reach out to useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of adequate
institutional support? Is the project interactive with other components of the
TTURC, conceptually, experimentally, and translationally?

f.  Center Integrity.  It is critical that there be evidence of the potential for
a meaningful center with a real theme and identity.  The application must
represent more than an interesting collection of projects.

g. The following additional factors should be evaluated for individual research
projects:
-  evidence of full protection of human subjects for clinical research
components, and appropriate mechanisms for the rigorous management and
verification of research data;

-  adequacy of quality assurance, and audit processes, and adequacy of the
related budget for research involving clinical trials;

-  appropriateness of the budget to achieve the stated research objective;

-  innovativeness and transdisciplinary nature of projects;

- adequacy of plans to include both genders, minorities and their subgroups, and
children as appropriate to meet the scientific goals of the research;

-  plans for the recruitment and retention of research subjects and patients will
also be evaluated.

4.  Developmental Funds

a.  adequacy of the proposed process for continuously reviewing and funding pilot
projects for their quality, innovativeness, transdisciplinary nature and
potential impact on reducing tobacco use;

b.  quality, innovativeness and potential impact of proposed pilot projects;

c.  degree to which developmental funds will be used to stimulate pilot projects
with transdisciplinary interactions and/or collaborative interactions with other
scientists within or outside of the parent institution;

d.  appropriateness of the proposed budget relative to the proposed pilot
projects and potential of the program to generate innovative pilot projects on
a consistent basis.

5.  Career Development

a.  adequacy of the process for selecting candidates for career development who
demonstrate potential for independent research careers in transdisciplinary
tobacco-related research or who are established investigators and are changing
the direction of their research careers; cross-disciplinary training should
enable scientists to bridge scientific domains in tobacco control research, to
foster important integrative scientific inquiry;

b.  adequacy of the policies to seek out and include qualified minorities and
women in the career development program;

c.  adequacy of the individuals available in the program to serve as possible
mentors of career development candidates; the current availability and adequacy
of projects for career development candidates;

d.  complementary activities that contribute to the environment for career
development;

e.  capacity of the overall program to absorb career development candidates and
prepare them for independent transdisciplinary tobacco-related research careers;

f.  appropriateness of the budget relative to the proposed plans for sustaining
a strong activity in career development.

6.  Shared Resources

a.  adequacy of the justification for specialized resources essential for the
conduct of TTURC research;

b.  adequacy of qualifications of proposed managers of resources to conduct high
quality, reliable resource operations;

c.  appropriateness of the requested budgets to conduct each resource operation.

d.  adequacy of plans for oversight of resource and the prioritization of work

7.  Interactions with other TTURCs

a.  adequacy of plans to promote and maintain communication and integration with
other TTURCs;

b.  willingness to interact with other TTURCs and with the NCI and NIDA in
sharing information, assessing scientific progress, disseminating research
findings, identifying new research opportunities and establishing scientific
priorities.

AWARD CRITERIA

Awards will be based upon scientific and technical merit reflected in the
priority score or percentile, which will be used to make award decisions.  Staff
may consider other criteria such as the geographical location of the applicant
organization as well.  The most common award criteria are scientific merit as
determined by peer review, availability of funds and programmatic priorities.

Schedule

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:         March 5, 1999
Application Receipt Date:              April 12, 1999
Review by NCI & NIDA Advisory Boards:  September 1999
Anticipated Award Date:                September 30, 1999

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any
issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Jaylan S. Turkkan, Ph.D.
Behavioral Sciences Research Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-20
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-1263
FAX:  (301) 594-6043
Email:  [email protected]

Glen Morgan, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 241, MSC 7337
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 496-8584
FAX:  (301) 496-8675
Email:  [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding review issues to:

Ms. Toby Friedberg
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 636, MSC-7399
Bethesda MD 20892-7399
Rockville, MD 20850 (for express/courier service)
Telephone:  (301) 496-3428
FAX:  (301) 402-0275
Email:  [email protected]

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Ms. Carolyn Mason
Grants Administration Branch
National Cancer Institute
6120 Executive Boulevard, Suite 243
Bethesda, MD  20892-7340
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone:  (301) 496-7800, Ext. 259

Gary Fleming, J.D., M.S.
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8A-54
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-6710
Email:  [email protected]

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Nos.
93.397 and 93.279.  Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health
Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-
158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 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.

References

Addicted to Nicotine:  A National Research Forum -July, 1998.  Special issue:
Nicotine and Tobacco Research, in press.

Barriers to Transdisciplinary Research in Youth Tobacco Use Prevention.  In
Report from the Working Groups of the Youth Tobacco Prevention Initiative. (1998)
Center for Advancement of Health.  Washington, D.C.

Leshner, A.I.  (1998)  Statement on Nicotine.  Committee on Labor and Human
Resources, U.S. Senate, February 10, 1998.  Available at:
http://165.112.78.61/Testimony/2-11-98Testimony.html

Stokols, D. (1998).  The Future of Interdisciplinarity in the School of Social
Ecology.  Paper presented at the Social Ecology Associates Annual Awards
Reception, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine.  May 21,
1998.  Available at:  http://eee.uci.edu/98f/50990/readings.htm

Tobacco Research Implementation Group (1998) The Tobacco Research Implementation
Plan. National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. 
Available at: http://dccps.nci.nih.gov/tcrb/trip

Wynder, E.L. (1998).  The Past, Present, and Future of the Prevention of Lung
Cancer.  Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.  7:735-748.

Information & resources concerning this RFA may be found at the following
website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/tturc.html

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