Full Text DK-94-015

SUPPORT OF MINORITY SCIENTISTS IN KIDNEY, UROLOGY, AND HEMATOLOGIC
RESEARCH

NIH GUIDE, Volume 22, Number 44, December 10, 1993

RFA:  DK-94-015

P.T. 34, FF

Keywords: 
  0715133 
  Hematology 
  Urology 


National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  February 22, 1994
Application Receipt Date:  March 18, 1994

PURPOSE

The Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (DKUHD) of
the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK) recognizes the need to increase the number of
underrepresented minorities committed to scientific careers in
research areas served by the division.  This program is aimed
primarily at recently trained M.D. and/or Ph.D. minority
investigators.  The program will assist the minority applicant to
accept a tenure earning position, gain additional research
experience, and obtain preliminary data on which to base a subsequent
research grant application in an area of kidney, urologic, or
hematologic research.

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), Support of Minority Scientist in Kidney,
Urology, and Hematologic Research, is related to the priority area of
increasing underrepresented minority health scientists.  Potential
applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone
202-783-3238).

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 or local governments, and
eligible agencies of the Federal government.  For the purpose of this
RFA, underrepresented investigators are defined as individuals
belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been
determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in
biomedical or behavioral research.  Awards will be limited to
citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or to
individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence
(i.e., in possession of an Alien Registration Receipt Card) at the
time of application.  In awarding this RFA, the NIH will give
priority to projects involving Black, Hispanic, Native American,
Pacific Islander, or other ethnic or racial group members who have
been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral
research nationally.

An applicant must have a doctoral degree (M.D., Ph.D., D.O., D.D.S.,
D.V.M.).  He or she should have received at least two years of
postgraduate research training in an area of research applicable to
kidney, urology, or hematology.

Applicants may not hold, or apply for concurrently, any other PHS
research project grant at the time of this application.  Priority
will be given to those applicants without a record of having been a
Principal Investigator on a major research grant.  Applicants are
encouraged to apply for other research project grants (R01, R29)
during the course of, or following, this award.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Support will be provided through the small grants (R03) program
administered by the DKUHD in the NIDDK.  Responsibility for the
planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be
that of the applicant.  Awards will be administered under PHS grants
policy as stated in the PHS Grants Policy Statement, and in this RFA.

This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  If the NIDDK determines that
there is a sufficient continuing program need, a request for new
applications will be announced.  The total project period for
applications submitted in response to the present RFA may be for one
year, but may not exceed two years.  Direct costs requested may not
exceed $50,000 per year.  The anticipated award date is September 30,
1994.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

For FY 1994, $250,000 in direct costs for year 01 will be committed.
It is anticipated that a total of five awards will be made in FY
1994.  This level of support depends on the receipt of a sufficient
number of applications of high scientific merit.  Although this
program is provided for in the financial plans of the NIDDK, the
award of grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the
availability of funds for this purpose.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The primary purpose of this RFA is to increase the number of
underrepresented minority Principal Investigators conducting research
in the areas of kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases.  Surveys
of training programs administered by the DKUHD disclose the need to
increase the number of minorities who are U.S. citizens in these
training efforts.

Those who receive several years of postdoctoral training may still
require research experience and preliminary data to support an
independent research career.  This RFA can provide several additional
years allowing the minority investigator to hold a tenure earning
position, gain additional research experience and to obtain
preliminary data on which to base a subsequent research grant
application.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are required to have available a recognized expert in the
area of proposed research for guidance and consultation.  It is
expected that this expert will assist the applicant in the design and
conduct of his/her research.  It is not necessary that the expert be
at the same institution as the applicant, but he/she should be near
enough to be available for guidance and consultation.

Following the research plan, the applicant is required to provide a
brief summary of his/her long-term career plans and objectives.  The
applicant should state how this award would make a difference in the
applicant's development as a scientist.

The department chairman/head must provide a brief paragraph
indicating his/her plans for the applicant.  This official should
indicate the extent to which time, space, and other necessary support
will be provided to the applicant to conduct the proposed
investigation(s).

A letter from a recognized expert in the area of the proposed
research must accompany the application packet.  The letter should
attest to his/her willingness to provide counsel and advice to the
applicant and an initial plan for ongoing contacts with the
applicant.

STUDY POPULATIONS

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH
POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL
RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS

NIH policy is that applicants for clinical research grants and
cooperative agreements are required to include minorities and women
in study populations so that research findings can be of benefit to
all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or condition under
study; special emphasis must be placed on the need for inclusion of
minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and conditions
which disproportionately affect them.  This policy is intended to
apply to males and females of all ages.  If women or minorities are
excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research,
particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear compelling
rationale should be provided.

The composition of the proposed study population must be described in
terms of gender and racial/ethnic group.  In addition, gender and
racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in developing a research
design and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of
the study.  This information should be included in the form PHS 398
(rev. 9/91) in Item 4 (Human Subjects) and in Section C paragraph 4
(Research Design and Methods).  Applicants are urged to assess
carefully the feasibility of including the broadest possible
representation of minority groups.  However, NIH recognizes that it
may not be feasible or appropriate in all research projects to
include representation of the full array of United States
racial/ethnic minority populations; i.e., Native Americans (including
American Indians or Alaskan Natives), Asian/Pacific Islanders,
Blacks, Hispanics.

The rationale for studies on single minority population groups should
be provided.

For the purpose of this policy, clinical research includes human
biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology,
prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of
diseases, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to
clinical trials.

The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also
apply.  Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues
cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded.  However,
every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and
racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of
the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants.

If the required information is not contained within the application,
the application will be returned without review.

Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in
the application conforms to these policies.  If the representation of
women and minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the
scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the
selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a
scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be
reflected in assigning the priority score to the application.

All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required
to address these policies.  NIH funding components will not award
grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these
policies.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent by
February 22, 1994.  The letter should include a descriptive title of
the research, the name, address and telephone number of the Principal
Investigator, his/her institution, the name and address of the expert
who has agreed to serve as a consultant and advisor, and the number
and title of the RFA to which the application may be submitted.

A letter of intent is not required, is not binding and is not
considered in the review of applications.  It is used by NIDDK staff
to initiate planning for the review of applications, to estimate the
potential review workload and to avoid possible conflict of interest
in the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to:

Chief, Review Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 605
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-7515
FAX:  (301) 594-7503

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used
in applying for these grants.  The form is available at most
institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Office of
Grants Information, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes
of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892,
telephone 301-710-0267.

The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application form must be
affixed to the bottom of the face page.  Failure to use this label
could result in delayed processing of the application such that it
may not reach the review committee in time for review.  In addition,
on line 2a of the face page of the application check the YES box,
type the RFA number and the following title: "Support of Minority
Scientists in Kidney, Urology, and Hematologic Research."

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including
the Checklist, and three signed, exact photocopies, in one package
to:

Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**

Send two additional copies of the application to:

Robert Hammond, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 605
Bethesda, MD  20892

Applications must be received by March 18, 1994.  If an application
is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant
without review.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications for the R03 will receive technical merit review by an
initial review group appointed by the NIDDK and secondary review by
the DKUHD.  Factors to be included in the review of applications
include:  the applicant's previous research training, experience, and
publications; his/her ability to complete the proposed research plan;
the overall scientific merit of the research plan; whether the aims
and scope of the research plan can provide definitive data within a
one or two year period; the potential of the proposed research to
provide the basis for future studies; the institution's willingness
to commit facilities and departmental support to the applicant; the
applicant's plans and career goals; and the availability of a
recognized expert in the area of the proposed research for counsel
and advice as attested to by a letter of agreement.

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for available funds with all other
applications submitted in response to this RFA and recommended by the
initial review group.  The following will be considered in making
funding decisions:

o  Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review

o  Availability of funds.

o  Program balance among research areas of the RFA.

o  Priority will be given to those applicants without a record of
having been a Principal Investigator on a major research grant.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Charles H. Rodgers, Ph.D.
Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 3A11A
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-7542

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Aretina D. Perry
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 639
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-7543

Schedule

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  February 22, 1994
Application Receipt Date:       March 18, 1994
Technical/Scientific Review:    June 1994
Review by DKUHD/NIDDK:          September 1994
Anticipated Award Date:         September 30, 1994

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.849.  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 PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45
CFR Part 74.  This program is not subject to the intergovernmental
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency
review.

.

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