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: grantsinfo@nih.gov. 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: tf12w@nih.gov 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: jaylan@nih.gov 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: gmorgan@nih.gov 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: tf12w@nih.gov 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: gf6s@nih.gov 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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