Full Text DK-97-009
 
SUPPORT OF MINORITIES IN DIABETES, DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASE
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 25, Number 44, December 20, 1996
 
RFA:  DK-97-009
 
P.T. 34, FF

Keywords: 
  Diabetes 
  Digestive Diseases & Disorders 

 
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  February 19, 1997
Application Receipt Date:  March 19, 1997
 
PURPOSE
 
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK) recognizes the need to increase the number of under
represented minority individuals committed to scientific careers in
research areas served by the NIDDK.  This program is aimed primarily
at recently trained M.D. and/or Ph.D. minority investigators.  The
program will enable 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 (R01 or
R29) in an area of diabetes, endocrinology, metabolic diseases,
digestive diseases, nutrition, kidney diseases, urologic diseases, or
hematologic diseases.
 
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 RFA,
Support of Minorities in Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease, is
related to the priority area of increasing under represented minority
health scientists.  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).
 
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.  Foreign organizations
are not eligible to apply.  Applicant must be African-American,
Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, or other ethnic or
racial group members under represented in biomedical or behavioral
research.  To apply, an applicant must be a citizen of, or have been
lawfully admitted to, the United States for permanent residence.
 
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
research supported by the NIDDK, and have direct access to an expert
in the area of the proposed research.
 
Applicants may not hold, nor apply concurrently for any other PHS
research project grant at the time of this application.  Priority
will be given to those applicants who have not previously 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 Research Grant (R03)
program administered by the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and
Metabolism, the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, and the
Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases 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.
 
Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research
Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research
Resources may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting
the proposed research.  If so, a letter of agreement from either the
GCRC program director or principal investigator should be included
with the application.
 
This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  If the NIDDK determines that
there is a sufficient continuing program need, a new request for
applications will be announced. The total project period for an
application submitted in response to this RFA may be for one year,
but may not exceed two years.  Direct costs requested must not exceed
$50,000 per year.  These grants cannot be renewed.  The anticipated
award date is September 30, 1997.
 
FUNDS AVAILABLE
 
For FY 1997, $250,000 in total direct costs will be committed in each
of the three research divisions in the NIDDK.  It is anticipated that
a total of five awards will be made in each of the three divisions in
FY 1997. 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 under
represented minority Principal Investigators conducting research in
areas supported by the NIDDK. Surveys of research and training
programs administered by the NIDDK disclose the need to increase the
access to NIDDK support of recently-trained minority scientists who
are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
 
Those who receive several years of training via an individual
postdoctoral fellowship or an institutional training grant funded by
a National Research Service Award still require research experience
and preliminary data to support an independent research career at
this stage of development.  An additional period of training may not
be feasible for minority individuals with pressing economic burdens.
Such individuals may be lost to academic research through a lack of
opportunity to obtain an additional one or two years of support
essential for establishing a research career.  This program was
designed to help alleviate some of the problems experienced by under
represented minorities who may wish to pursue a career in academic
research.  The program will allow the minority investigator to hold a
tenure-earning position, gain additional research experience and
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 within
a reasonable proximity 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
application should state how this award would make a difference in
and enhance the applicant's development as a scientist.
 
The department chairman/head should 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 should 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.
 
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN
SUBJECTS
 
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups
and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported
biomedical 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 new policy results
from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law
103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies
(Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations) which have
been in effect since 1990.  The new policy contains some provisions
that are substantially different from the 1990 policies.
 
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 reprinted
in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS Volume 23, Number 11, March
18, 1994.
 
Investigators may also obtain copies from these sources or from the
program staff or contact person listed under INQUIRIES.  Program
staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the
policy.
 
LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by February 19, 1997, 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
NIDDK staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid
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
45 Center Drive, Room 6AS 37-F, MSC 6600
Bethesda, MD  20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-8885
FAX:  (301) 480-3505
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used
in applying for these grants.  The form is available at most
institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Division of
Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910,
telephone 301/710-0267, email: asknih@odrockm1.od.nih.gov.
 
The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) application form
must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.
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, exact photocopies, in one package
to:
 
DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
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,
and five copies of any appendix material, must be sent to:
 
Chief, Review Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 Center Drive, Room 6AS 37-F, MSC 6600
Bethesda, MD  20892-6600
 
Applications must be received by March 19, 1997.  If an application
is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant
without review.  The Division of Research Grants (DRG) 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 DRG 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 previously reviewed, but such applications must include
an introduction addressing the previous critique.
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
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 NIDDK in accordance with NIH peer review
procedures.  As part of the initial merit review, all applications
will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only
those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit will
be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level
review by the NIDDK program division to which the application has
been assigned.
 
Review Criteria
 
o  the applicants previous research training, experience and
publications;
 
o his/her ability to complete the proposed research plan;
 
o the overall scientific merit of the research plan;
 
o whether the aims and scope of the research plan can provide
definitive data within a one or two year period;
 
o the potential of the proposed research to provide the bases for
future studies;
 
o the institutions willingness to commit facilities and departmental
support to the applicant;
 
o the applicants plans and career goals;
 
o the availability of a recognized expert in the area of the proposed
research for council and advice as attested to by a letter of
agreement.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
The anticipated date of award is September 30, 1997. 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  History of research support
 
Schedule
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  February 19, 1997
Application Receipt Date:       March 19, 1997
Technical/Scientific Review:    June/July 1997
Review by Divisions/NIDDK:      September 1997
Anticipated Award Date:         September 30, 1997
 
INQUIRIES
 
Written and telephone 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:
 
Charles H. Rodgers, Ph.D.
Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 Center Drive, Room 6AS 19J, MSC 6600
Bethesda, MD  20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-7717
Email:  rodgersc@ep.niddk.nih.gov
 
Judith M. Podskalny, Ph.D.
Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 Center Drive, Room 6AN 12E, MSC 6600
Bethesda, MD  20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-8876
Email:  podskalnyj@ep.niddk.nih.gov
 
Ronald Margolis, Ph.D.
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 Center Drive, Room 5AN 12J, MSC 6600
Bethesda, MD  20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-8819
Email:  margolisr@ep.niddk.nih.gov
 
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
 
Ms Nancy C. Dixon
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
45 Center Drive, Room 6AN 44C, MSC 6600
Bethesda, MD  20892-6600
Telephone:  (301) 594-8854
Email:  dixonn@ep.niddk.nih.gov
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Nos. 93.847, 93.848, and 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.
 
The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco
products.  In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any
portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education,
library, day care, health care or early childhood development
services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS
mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the
American people.
 
.

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