CHRONIC STRESS AND ITS RELATION TO DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION
RELEASE DATE: September 16, 2002
RFA: DA-03-004
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
(http://www.nida.nih.gov)
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: November 19, 2002
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: December 19, 2002
THIS REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
o Purpose of this RFA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanisms of Support
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations:
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is encouraging research on
adaptive changes within the brain brought about by chronic stress or repeated
stressors and their functional relevance to drug use, abuse, and addictive
processes. The relationship between drugs of abuse such as cocaine and
heroin, activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and
neural substrates subserving cognitive or behavioral processes under
conditions of chronic stress is complex, but studies of these relationships
may provide clues as to how drugs of abuse can produce persistent changes in
the brain that in turn modulate behavioral processes, including drug-seeking
and drug-taking behavior.
Much of the preclinical literature in the area of stress and drug use has
focused on endocrine measurements and behavior in acutely stressed animals.
NIDA-supported research emphasizes the role of acute stress in relapse,
evaluates endocrine parameters following an acute stressor, or employs acute
footshock as a stressor to maintain or reinstate drug-seeking behaviors in
preclinical models. Few studies evaluate the effects of chronic stressors on
neurobiological substrates, or combines the effects of stress on the
neurobiology and associated behaviors related to drug use. Even fewer
evaluate the effects of chronic or repeated stress during early development
on drug-directed behaviors in adulthood. The purpose of this request for
applications (RFA) is to encourage investigations into the neural and
behavioral consequences of exposure to physiologically relevant chronic or
repeated stressors that can increase our understanding of drug abuse and
addiction. As drugs of abuse themselves or repeated withdrawal from drugs
can also be stressors, studies examining the effects of these variables on
stress systems and drug abuse relevant behavioral or cognitive measures are
encouraged, however, studies focusing solely on alcohol will not be
considered responsive to this RFA. Both studies using chronic or repeated
stress manipulations in animals, and human laboratory-based investigations
that propose to study individuals who are or continue to be chronically
stressed are encouraged. Study of the neural and behavioral adaptive changes
that occur in individuals chronically exposed to stress, the duration of
those changes, and their relationship to drug seeking behavior and relapse to
drug use are also of interest. Preclinical applications employing footshock,
learned helplessness, or other physically debilitating experimental paradigms
as stressors, will not be considered responsive to this RFA because data
obtained under such conditions are subject to multiple interpretations.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The goal of the research areas outlined below is to understand the
neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the interaction between stress and
drug abuse and lead to behavioral change in all phases of the addictive
process. "Stress" refers to both a physiological state of heightened
arousal/vigilance/discomfort often accompanied by activation of the HPA, and
to stimuli that can provoke that physiological state. Individuals under
chronic stress can experience a progressive sensitization in their subsequent
response to stress, and undergo pronounced physiological changes that are
typified by dysregulation of important bodily systems leading to serious
illnesses such hypertension and diabetes. These altered physiological states
in turn influence subsequent adaptive responding in the face of additional
stress. In fact, stress is often associated clinically with chronic drug use
and is recognized as a major factor contributing to the relapse to drug use
in abstinent individuals. Parallel findings in the preclinical literature
also indicate that stress may enhance the vulnerability to acquire, maintain
and relapse to drug-taking behavior.
Data obtained from some animal models of chronic stress and from humans
experiencing repeated stress document that neural adaptations in brain
regions associated with the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse occur in
response to chronic or repeated exposure to stress. Recent evidence also
suggests that different types of stressors may affect specific components of
brain circuitry in regions of the brain that serve as substrates of reward,
stress, cognitive processes, motor systems, and autonomic regulation.
Examples of such findings come from animal models of maternal separation,
studies on dominant and submissive members of social hierarchies, and
reactivity to novelty as a predictive factor for the acquisition and
maintenance of drug self-administration. Chronic stress induces behavioral
and neurobiological cross-sensitization to some drugs of abuse. Chronic
stress has also been shown to decrease cells within the hippocampus in
animals and decrease its volume in humans. The hippocampus is a structure
implicated in learning and memory, and this cell loss may be related to the
persistence of drug-taking behavior. While deficits are most often reported
in response to chronic or repeated stress, adaptation to stress also includes
an allostatic process, which represents an organism"s attempt to regain
homeostasis, and suggests that certain compensatory adaptations occur in
response to chronic or repeated stress. However, few reports document this
effect, or its relationship to drug abuse, and further work in this area is
encouraged.
NIDA would like to promote and support research in the area of chronic or
repeated stress on adaptations within the neural circuits involved in all
aspects of drug abuse as well as the individual components of the circuits,
and determine the functional impact of such alterations, particularly on drug
seeking behavior and relapse to drug abuse. To that end, research topics
that would be considered responsive to this RFA may include (but are not
limited to) the following:
o Development of objective measures of chronic and repeated stressors in
preclinical studies.
o Studies that manipulate stress as an experimental variable or as an outcome
variable interacting with or influencing drug abuse-relevant behavioral or
cognitive assessments.
o Studies that examine the interaction of components of neural circuitry
underlying both reward and stress, investigations of compensatory
neuroadaptations brought about by stress and their reversal are also
encouraged. Variables of interest might include alterations in the elements
of reward circuits as a result of chronic stress and repeated exposure to
drugs of abuse, neuroadaptive and behavioral responses to novelty, complexity
or change in the environment, or changes in gene expression as a function of
chronic stress and exposure to abused drugs. The persistence of such
neuroadaptations is also of interest.
o Studies of how drug exposure may affect response to repeated exposure to
stressors.
o Development of animal models of chronic or repeated stress and examination
of neuroadaptations in macro- and micro-circuits in the brain produced as a
result of chronic or repeated exposure to stressful stimuli, including their
consequence for behavioral or cognitive phenomena relevant to understanding
drug abuse and addiction. These might include studies of graded (incremental)
levels of physical and psychological stressors and examining cumulative or
synergistic effects on one or more outcomes. Stressful stimuli such as
restraint, exposure to cold, and socially-induced stress such as early
maternal separation or aggression or other manipulations that may mimic
stressful experiences likely to be encountered by humans are suitable
candidates for study.
o Assessment of cognitive abilities, changes in behavioral repertoire,
including choice behaviors in chronically stressed animals or humans who are
or have been subjected to chronic stress. Cognitive abilities of interest
may include, but are not limited to, tasks that assess "executive function,"
learning and memory, or tasks designed to assess choices between drugs of
abuse, or between drugs and other natural rewards. It is also of interest to
determine the consequences of and subsequent response to additional stressful
situations or adverse events, stress manipulations, or availability of drugs
after chronic stress, and stress plus drug exposure.
o Cognitive and behavioral studies of humans with HIV-AIDS who are exposed to
or experience chronic or repeated stress are also encouraged. For example,
studies of the positive or negative influence of acute stress against the
baseline of chronic stress may be useful in identifying variables (cognitive,
behavioral, neurobiological or immunological) that affect response to
behavioral or pharmacological treatment.
o Studies on the consequences of repeated exposure to stressors in concert
with abused substances on the immune system, especially in the brain are also
encouraged. These may include studies of the effects of chronic stress on
cytokines in the brain, and the effects of cytokines on the regulatory
elements of neurotransmission (receptors, transporters, signal transduction
factors, etc.).
o Studies of individual differences in neurobiological and hormonal responses
to acute drug challenges in the chronically stressed subject are also of
interest. Such studies might also include pharmacological dose-response
studies to determine the sensitivity of the stressed individual to treatment
aimed at blocking drug-induced or cue-induced reinstatement of drug-taking
behavior or its neurobiological correlates. Differential responses to acute
challenges in chronically stressed individuals might help differentiate the
likelihood of an individual"s response to stress and drugs. These might be
reflected, for example, in the relative proportions of adrenal steroids
released upon challenge with a stressor.
o Imaging studies in animals and humans to delineate stress pathways and
their activity in living brains. These might include the study of
environmental cues for stress or drug-taking, or the effects of a
pharmacological intervention on the activity of a so-called "stress circuit."
o Studies of the effects of early (developmental) stress in animal models or
in human subjects on sensitization of the CNS to psychoactive substances.
Such studies may also include examination of early stress on adult behaviors
and neuroadaptations that are specifically associated with the increased
probability of drug seeking, such as impulsivity, and aggression
(vulnerability).
o Pharmacological modification of stress responses and its consequences on
drug-related behaviors.
o Studies that explore the role(s) of gender in chronically or repeatedly
stressed individuals on any of the research areas noted thus far.
MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT
This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project
(R01), NIDA small grant (R03) and NIDA exploratory/developmental (R21) award
mechanisms. The total project period for an R01 application submitted in
response to this RFA may not exceed 5 years. For R21 applications, the
project period cannot exceed 3 years and $100,000 in direct costs in each of
those years. For R03 applications, the project period cannot exceed 2 years
and $50,000 in direct costs in each of those years, and the application
research plan (items a-d) cannot exceed 10 pages. As an applicant you will
be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed
project. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. Future unsolicited,
competing-continuation applications based on this project will compete with
all investigator-initiated applications and will be reviewed according to the
customary peer review procedures. The anticipated award date is July 2002.
This RFA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular budgeting
format. (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm).
FUNDS AVAILABLE
NIDA intends to commit approximately $2.5 million in FY 2003 to fund 7 to 12
new and/or competitive continuation grants in response to this RFA. For the
R01 mechanism, an applicant may request a project period of up to four years
and a budget for direct costs of up to $200,000 per year for all years. For
the R03 mechanism, an applicant may request up to $50,000 in direct costs in
each of the 2 years. For an R21 mechanism, an applicant may request up to
$100,000 in direct costs in each of the 3 years.
Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from
application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of
each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of NIDA provide
support for this program, awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the
availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious
applications. At this time, it is not known if this RFA will be reissued.
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS
You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the
following characteristics:
o For-profit or non-profit organizations
o Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals,
and laboratories
o Units of State and local governments
o Eligible agencies of the Federal government
o Domestic or foreign
INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry
out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution to
develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial
and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always
encouraged to apply for NIH programs.
WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES
We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity to
answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three
areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management
issues:
o Direct your questions about preclinical scientific/research issues to:
Nancy Pilotte, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4282, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
Telephone: 301-443-6975
Email: npilotte@mail.nih.gov
o Direct your questions about human laboratory-based scientific/research
issues to:
Minda Lynch, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4282, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
Telephone: 301-445-1322
Email: mlynch1@nida.nih.gov
o Direct your questions about peer review matters to:
Teresa Levitin, Ph.D.
Office of Extramural Affairs
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3158, MSC 9547
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9547
Telephone: (301) 443-2755
Email: tlevitin@mail.nih.gov
o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:
Gary Fleming, J.D., M.A.
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3131 MSC 9541
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9541
Telephone: 301-443-6710
E-mail: gfleming@mail.nih.gov
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes
the following information:
o Descriptive title of the proposed research
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel
o Participating institutions
o Number and title of this RFA
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not
enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it
contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan
the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning of
this document. The letter of intent should be sent to:
Director
Office of Extramural Affairs
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3158, MSC 9547
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9547
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 443-2755
Email: tlevitin@mail.nih.gov
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). The PHS 398 is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive
format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267,
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODULAR GRANT APPLICATIONS: Applications requesting
up to $250,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a modular grant
format. The modular grant format simplifies the preparation of the budget in
these applications by limiting the level of budgetary detail. Applicants
request direct costs in $25,000 modules. Section C of the research grant
application instructions for the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step-by-step
guidance for preparing modular grants. Additional information on modular
grants is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.
USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001)
application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the
application. Type the RFA number on the label. Failure to use this label
could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not
reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title
and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form
and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also available at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten original of
the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in
one package to:
Center For Scientific Review
National Institutes Of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be
sent to:
Director
Office of Extramural Affairs
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3158, MSC 9547
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9547
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 443-2755
APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by the application
receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA. 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.
PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and
responsiveness by 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 NIDA in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As
part of the initial merit review, all applications will:
o Receive a written critique
o 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 assigned a priority score
o Receive a second level review by the National Advisory Council on Drug
Abuse.
REVIEW CRITERIA
The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. In
the written comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following
aspects of your application in order to judge the likelihood that the
proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these
goals:
o Significance
o Approach
o Innovation
o Investigator
o Environment
The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria
in assigning your application"s overall score, weighting them as appropriate
for each application. Your application does not need to be strong in all
categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus
deserve a high priority score. For example, you 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 your study address an important problem? If the aims
of your application are achieved, how do they advance scientific knowledge?
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? Do you acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative
tactics?
(3) INNOVATION: Does your project employ novel concepts, approaches or
methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does your project challenge
existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
(4) INVESTIGATOR: Are you appropriately trained and well suited to carry out
this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to your experience level as the
principal investigator and to that of other researchers (if any)?
(5) ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which your 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?
ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, your
application will also be reviewed with respect to the following:
o PROTECTIONS: The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals,
or the environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the
project proposed in the application.
o INCLUSION: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders,
all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for
the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and
retention of subjects will also be evaluated. (See Inclusion Criteria
included in the section on Federal Citations, below)
o DATA SHARING: The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data.
o BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period
of support in relation to the proposed research.
RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 19, 2002
Application Receipt Date: December 19, 2002
Peer Review Date: February/March 2003
Council Review: May 2003
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July 2003
AWARD CRITERIA
Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:
o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review)
o Availability of funds
o Programmatic priorities.
REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS
MONITORING PLAN AND DATA SAFETY AND MONITORING BOARD: Research components
involving Phase I and II clinical trials must include provisions for
assessment of patient eligibility and status, rigorous data management,
quality assurance, and auditing procedures. In addition, it is NIH policy
that all clinical trials require data and safety monitoring, with the method
and degree of monitoring being commensurate with the risks (NIH Policy for
Data Safety and Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12,
1998: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH: 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 clinical research projects unless a
clear and compelling justification is provided indicating 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
(Section 492B of Public Law 103-43).
All investigators proposing clinical research should read the AMENDMENT "NIH
Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts on October 9, 2001
(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html), a complete
copy of the updated Guidelines are available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.
The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical
research, updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB
standards, clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical
trials consistent with the new PHS Form 398, and updated roles and
responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy
continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans
to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable, and b)
investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses,
as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS:
The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of
21) must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported
by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include
them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for
receipt dates after October 1, 1998.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion of children as participants in
research involving human subjects that is available at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm.
REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS: NIH
policy requires education on the protection of human subject participants for
all investigators submitting NIH proposals for research involving human
subjects. You will find this policy announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants
and Contracts Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (hESC): Criteria for federal funding of research
on hESCs can be found at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/stem_cells.htm and at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html. Only
research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem
Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (see http://escr.nih.gov).
It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the official NIH
identifier(s)for the hESC line(s)to be used in the proposed research.
Applications that do not provide this information will be returned without
review.
PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: The
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to
provide public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a
project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2)
cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an action
that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed
through FOIA. It is important for applicants to understand the basic scope
of this amendment. NIH has provided guidance at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this PA in a public
archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include
information about this in the budget justification section of the
application. In addition, applicants should think about how to structure
informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures given the
potential for wider use of data collected under this award.
URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and proposals
for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations.
Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs)
should not be used to provide information necessary to the review because
reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore,
we caution reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they
directly access an Internet site.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010: The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy
People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This
RFA is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may
obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.279, and is not subject to the
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health
Systems Agency review. 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 described at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm and under Federal Regulations
42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free
workplace and discourage the 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.