SCCOR in Pulmonary Vascular Disease

RFA Number: RFA-HL-05-007

Part I Overview Information

Department of Health and Human Services


Participating Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov/)

Components of Participating Organizations
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/)

Announcement Type
New

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.838

Key Dates
Release Date: November 8, 2004
Letters Of Intent Receipt Date(s): July 20, 2005
Application Receipt Dates(s): August 17, 2005
Peer Review Date(s): January/February 2006
Council Review Date(s): June 15, 2006
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: December 1, 2006
Expiration Date: August 18, 2005


Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable

Executive Summary

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936

Table of Contents

Part I Overview Information

Part II Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives

Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available

Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria

Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates
A. Receipt and Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Sending an Application to the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements

Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
3. Merit Review Criteria
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources

Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative Requirements
3. Award Criteria
4. Reporting

Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)

Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations

Part II - Full Text of Announcement


Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Research Objectives

Purpose

Pulmonary vascular disease is a significant and costly clinical problem. The objective of this SCCOR program is to facilitate multidisciplinary research that proposes original hypotheses and applies cutting edge approaches, including genomics and proteomics, to clinical issues in pulmonary vascular disease. Research that addresses primary (idiopathic) and secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension, acute and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, right ventricular dysfunction, and pulmonary vascular disorders of infants and children are included in this SCCOR program.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

Background:

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) revised the Specialized Centers of Research (SCOR) program, based primarily on recommendations from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. The new program is called the Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) program. The original SCOR program required both basic and clinical research, but the preponderance of funded projects were in the basic science arena. The new title and the revisions to the program reflect the Institute's desire to capitalize on basic research advances by encouraging their translation to the clinical arena. The guiding principle of the new SCCOR program is the central focus on clinically relevant research, and the key change to achieve this goal is the requirement that at least one-half of funded projects be clinical. The specific components of the new SCCOR program are detailed in this RFA. Special instructions for preparing a SCCOR application are available from the program contact listed under Section VII. Agency Contacts or at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/policies/sccor_supp.htm

Primary, or idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (PPH), is an aggressive, devastating disease with poor short term outcome, a mean age of onset of 36 years, and a mortality of 30 percent over 4 years, even with current therapy. Although progress in treating PPH has been substantial over the past two decades, many approved therapies are very expensive and as yet offer minor benefits to functional capacity.

Basic research on lung endothelial biology and analysis of lung tissue from patients with PPH and other forms of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension are changing concepts of the pathogenesis of the disease. More work is needed to accelerate understanding of the contribution of inappropriate vascular proliferative responses to injury in pulmonary hypertension, including evaluation of anti-proliferative agents, such as simvastatin, as possible treatments. Germ line mutations in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR-II), a member of the transforming growth factor receptor family, in patients with familial PPH have been found in over 30 percent of sporadic cases of PPH, and there is growing evidence that dysfunction of this receptor is directly associated with abnormal proliferation of pulmonary vascular cells, although the mechanism by which BMPR-II mutations contribute to pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension remains incompletely understood. Progress in identifying a gene for PPH is leading to new and relevant animal models of the disease. Additional efforts are required to link genomics and proteomics in pulmonary vascular research to differentiate among etiologies and mechanisms of hypertensive pulmonary vascular responses in patients, transgenic animals, and cell systems. Genetic or environmental modifiers (including infection) of clinical expression of BMPR2 and the role of other gene mutations in the pathogenesis of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension need to be identified.

The conceptual shift in the pathogenesis of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension from a vasoconstrictive to a vasoproliferative process has been paralleled by a shift in the approach to treatment. It is becoming clear that effective treatment of pulmonary hypertension must target vascular remodeling, including the abnormal proliferation of pulmonary vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. More research is needed, however, to fully evaluate the agents that have recently become available, to develop new and more effective treatment alternatives for patients, and to identify potential biomarkers for monitoring the course of the disease. A major challenge is to improve diagnosis and treatment of early stage or presymptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Increased understanding of PPH pathogenesis should lead to better treatment for secondary pulmonary hypertension. Secondary forms of pulmonary hypertension are much more common than PPH. Moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension is associated with scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease. Pulmonary hypertension occurs in up to 33 percent of patients with diffuse scleroderma. Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale are important predictors of mortality and contribute to disability in patients with emphysema. Pulmonary hypertension also occurs in association with other conditions including sickle cell anemia, congenital and acquired heart disease, and sleep apnea.

Pulmonary thromboembolism is a serious and life threatening condition and the most common cause of pulmonary vascular occlusion. Even following successful treatment, many patients experience long term disability due to diminished heart and lung function. Acute pulmonary embolism is a common cardiopulmonary illness with an incidence in the United States that exceeds 1 per 1,000 and a mortality rate greater than 15 percent in the first 3 months after diagnosis. The majority of patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism present clinically with chronic dyspnea, exercise intolerance, or death. Better strategies are needed for early diagnosis and prevention of pulmonary emboli and for prevention of ischemia reperfusion lung injury and inflammation associated with pulmonary thromboembolism.

Abnormalities of pulmonary vascular development are important causes of morbidity and mortality in premature infants and neonates, and are integral to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Much more needs to be known about the long term consequences of aberrant lung vascular development for pathogenesis of chronic lung disease and other lung disorders of neonates and children. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a recognized complication of severe respiratory distress syndrome and BPD in neonates. It is an early and consistent finding in premature infants who do not survive, and also affects infants born at term; persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn affects approximately 1 in 1,250 live born term infants. New information on the pathophysiology and genetic basis of pulmonary vascular diseases will lead to targeted and improved approaches to identify the cause(s) and accelerate translation of basic research findings to new treatments for patients.

Objective and Scope:

This program will establish centers for clinically relevant studies of pulmonary vascular disease, which will carry out multiple, interrelated research projects. Research at each center will address a unified theme and involve both basic and clinical investigators and approaches. The SCCOR organization, involving extensive interactions of research projects and of investigators within each center, will promote rapid translation of basic research findings into the clinical arena. In addition, organized communications and meetings among the pulmonary vascular SCCORS will aid the rapid dissemination of knowledge within the program.

Examples of research objectives that are encouraged through this program include, but are not limited to, the following:

This RFA will not support:

Applications focusing on regulation of vascular permeability or pulmonary edema associated with acute lung injury.

Clinical Research Skills Development Core

The newly developed Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) program mechanism requires clinical and basic scientists with a broad range of skills to work together on a unified theme. It, therefore, presents a rich environment for young clinical investigators to be exposed to and develop additional research skills. The individual centers can be expected to include among their research staffs clinical personnel who are newly trained and relatively inexperienced in research. To assist the SCCOR grants in enhancing the developmental environment for their new clinical investigators, the NHLBI will permit applicants for a new SCCOR to request up to $100,000 in direct costs per year for a Clinical Research Skills Development Core. The objective of the Core is to support activities to assist new clinical investigators in progressing to more senior status by enhancing their research skills. This support is in addition to the usual cap on the SCCOR mechanism that is updated annually. A Clinical Research Skills Development Core is not required, however, and its absence will not disadvantage an applicant. The quality of the Clinical Research Skills Development Core, if proposed, will be evaluated based on the specific components listed below. The priority score on the Core will have no effect on the overall score of an application.

Developmental opportunities that provide experience with new technologies and skills are encouraged for inclusion in the Core. Innovative strategies should be proposed for cross-disciplinary career development to achieve the goal of exposing new clinical investigators to additional research techniques and opportunities. Examples include a program of seminars focusing on scientific topics that include an integration of basic and clinical studies or an "exchange" program wherein clinical investigators spend time in basic science laboratories. In addition to developing the research skills of new clinical investigators, the Cores must ensure that the participating new clinical investigators receive the mentoring they need to foster their research careers. The Clinical Research Skills Development Core is intended for staff investigators with limited clinical research experience, including fellows and junior faculty members. Investigators who have had a previous K series award are not eligible to participate as new investigators under this program. Individuals with an active K grant can participate until the end of the award period for the K grant, but may not receive salary on the Skills Development Core. The Core should also address other skills necessary for a successful research career, such as grant writing, ethical conduct of research, and clinical trial design.

If a Clinical Research Skills Development Core is proposed, it must be directed by an investigator with strong educational and mentoring credentials who will devote a minimum of 5 percent effort as its Leader. To facilitate mentoring and multidisciplinary developmental activities, active involvement by the principal investigator and other senior investigators within the SCCOR is strongly encouraged. An application for a Clinical Research Skills Development Core will be evaluated in terms of its potential effectiveness in developing the skills and research capabilities of new clinical investigators as reflected in the following required elements of the application:

Costs allowable for inclusion within the $100,000 direct costs per year limit for the Clinical Research Skills Development Core include salary support for the Core Leader and other participating senior investigators and staff, travel costs for new investigators, supplies and equipment to be used in support of developmental activities, and costs for courses, seminars, workshops, and other activities directly related to the development plan. All costs requested in this Core must be justified with respect to developmental activities and may not be used to supplement the costs of research proposed in the rest of the SCCOR.

Since the Core is intended to serve new clinical investigators who occupy positions and receive salary support from the SCCOR grant, salary support for the new investigators is neither needed nor allowable as a Core cost. All new clinical investigators supported by the SCCOR grant should be eligible to participate in Core-sponsored activities so long as they have not attained independent status. However, attaining independent status should be an objective of the Core activities so participating new investigators should be encouraged to apply for either a Career Development Award, a patient-oriented regular research grant, or any other source of independent research or career development support. Although the participating new investigators will be expected to devote essentially full-time effort to research during this period, they may devote an appropriate percentage of their time to maintaining clinical skills.

An application for a Clinical Research Skills Development Core will be evaluated in terms of its potential effectiveness in developing the skills and research capabilities of new clinical investigators as reflected in the required application components identified above.

Section II. Award Information


1. Mechanism(s) of Support


This RFA will use the NIH P50 grant mechanism. All applications received in response to the Pulmonary Vascular Disease SCCOR program will be considered as new applications and must meet the requirements for the new SCCOR program. As an applicant you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. The anticipated award date is December 1, 2006.

This funding opportunity uses the non-modular budget format described in the PHS 398 application instructions. A detailed categorical budget for the "Initial Budget Period" and the "Entire Proposed Period of Support" is to be submitted with the application.

Each NHLBI SCCOR program is limited to 10 years of support. Exceptions to this policy will be made only if a thorough evaluation of needs and opportunities, conducted by a committee composed of non-federal experts, determines that there are extraordinarily important reasons to continue a specific SCCOR program. Under this policy, a given SCCOR grant is awarded for a 5-year project period following an open competition. Only one 5-year competing renewal is permitted, for a total of 10 years of support, unless the SCCOR program is recommended for extension.

The NHLBI comprehensive evaluation of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease SCCOR program will be conducted during the second project period according to the following timetable:

Program Announced: FY 2005
Project Period (First Competition): FY 2007 through FY 2012
Program Reannounced: FY 2010
Project Period (Second Competition): FY 2012 through FY 2017
Letter to Principal Investigators Regarding SCCOR Evaluation Plans: FY 2013 (mid-way through year 02 of 2nd project period)
SCCOR Evaluation Meeting: FY 2013 (late in year 02 of 2nd project period)

The NHLBI does not limit the number of applications for a given SCCOR program from one institution. However, each SCCOR application from the institution must have a different principal investigator and must be self-contained and independent of other SCCOR applications from the same institution. Institutions envisioning more than one application are encouraged to discuss their plans with the program contact listed under Section VII. Agency Contacts.

2. Funds Available

The NHLBI intends to commit approximately $10 million in FY 2007 to fund three to four new competitive grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may request a project period of 5 years and a budget for direct costs up to $2.5 million not including Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs for collaborating institutions, in the first year. In addition, applicants may request up to $100,000 in direct costs per year above the usual cap ($2.5 million direct costs) for a Clinical Research Skills Development Core. An increase of no more that 3 percent may be requested in each additional year. All applications will be considered as new applications. The anticipated start date is December 1, 2006 and the project end date is November 30, 2011.

Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the NHLBI 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. Facilities and administrative costs are not included in the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-04-040.

If a grant application includes research activities that involve institutions other than the grantee institution, the application will be considered a consortium effort. Such applications are permitted, but it is imperative that the application be prepared so that programmatic, fiscal, and administrative considerations are explained fully. At least 50 percent of projects (including at least one clinical project) and 50 percent of the cores must be located at the applicant institution. The NIH published policy governing consortia is available in the business offices of institutions that are eligible to receive Federal grants-in-aid and should be consulted before developing the application. For clarification of the policy, contact Mr. Robert Pike, Grants Operation Branch, NHLBI, (301) 435-0166. Applicants for SCCOR grants should exercise great care in preserving the interactions of the participants and the integration of the consortium project with those of the parent institution, because synergism and cohesiveness can be diminished when projects are located outside the group at the parent institution. Indirect costs paid as part of a consortium agreement are excluded from the limit on the amount of direct costs that can be requested.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants


1.A. Eligible Institutions

You may submit (an) application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:

1.B. Eligible Individuals

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.

2. Cost Sharing
This SCCOR program does not require cost sharing.

3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria

1. The overall concept of a SCCOR program focuses on clinical and basic scientific issues related to diseases and disorders relevant to the mission of the NHLBI. To be considered responsive to this announcement, all applications must include both clinical and basic research. In addition, interactions between clinical and basic scientists are expected to strengthen the research, enhance the translation of fundamental research findings to the clinical setting, and identify new research directions. Translation of findings from basic to clinical studies is an important focus of the SCCOR program.

2. The number of clinical research projects in each NHLBI SCCOR must be equal to or greater than the number of basic science projects, at the time of submission, award, and throughout the 5-year project period. For example, if an application has a total of three projects, two of the projects must be clinical research projects. Neither a clinical component in a basic science project nor a clinical core fulfills the requirement for a clinical project. However, a single project can integrate basic and clinical research. If the majority of the research within a project is clinical, it will be considered a clinical project; if the majority of the research within a project is basic, it will be considered a basic project. Because a SCCOR grant is a 5-year program, an applicant should submit a 5-year plan for all the projects.

3. In order for a project to be considered clinical research for the purposes of responsiveness to this RFA, the research must be patient-oriented research. Patient-oriented research is research in which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with patients having a disease or condition of interest. Normal healthy subjects may be included, but only in combination with studies involving patients. In studies involving the use of human specimens, the investigators must have direct interaction with the patient from whom the specimen is obtained and relate the research results to the patient status or outcome for this to be considered a clinical project. It is intended that the requirement for investigator interaction with the study participants will eliminate research involving archived tissue. Applicants are encouraged to pursue patient-oriented research on topics related to health disparities and the translation of this research to clinical practice for affected minority populations. At a minimum, clinical research projects must include women and minorities in the study population in representative numbers, unless such inclusion can be demonstrated to be inappropriate. Clinical studies involving interventions or treatments must give consideration to including sufficient numbers of women and minorities to conduct valid analyses of subgroup effects. Epidemiologic studies or Phase III clinical trials will be considered unresponsive to this RFA.

4. Each awarded SCCOR must consist of three or more projects, all of which are directly related to the overall clinical focus of the SCCOR. Each funded project must be directed by a different leader. At least 50 percent of the projects and 50 percent of the cores must be located at the applicant institution and at least one of the clinical projects must be at the applicant institution. Component projects not located at the applicant institution may be at a foreign institution, but must conform to NIH policy regarding the protection of human subjects. Each component project, whether clinical or basic, requires a well-described clinically relevant hypothesis, preliminary data, and a time-table for conducting the proposed investigations.

5. The relationship of each core to each component project should be described. A core must provide services to two or more projects.

6. Each SCCOR must have a well-delineated organizational structure and administrative mechanism that foster interactions between investigators, accelerate the pace of research, enable translation of basic research findings to clinical applications, and ensure a productive research effort.

7. Applicants should provide a detailed data and safety monitoring plan for the clinical research proposed; the monitoring plan will be considered as part of peer review of the application. This plan should address informed consent, recruitment, reporting of adverse events, patient safety, oversight of clinical issues in the protocols, storage and analysis of confidential data, and dissemination of any research results. After a decision has been made regarding SCCOR awards, the Institute will determine whether to convene a Data and Safety Monitoring Board to oversee one or more clinical projects in a SCCOR program.

8. The NHLBI does not limit the number of applications for a given SCCOR program from one institution. However, each SCCOR application from the institution must have a different principal investigator and must be self-contained and independent of other SCCOR applications from the same institution. Institutions envisioning more than one application are encouraged to discuss their plans with the program contact listed under Section VII. Agency Contact.

9. The principal investigator should be an established research scientist with the ability to ensure quality control and the experience to administer both clinical and basic research effectively and integrate all components of the program. A minimum time commitment of 25 percent is required for this individual. The principal investigator must be the project leader of one of the component research projects. If this project is not recommended by peer review, the overall SCCOR application will not be considered further. If this project is judged by peer review to be of low scientific merit, this will markedly reduce the overall scientific merit ranking assigned to the entire application.

10. Project leaders should have significant research experience and must agree to commit at least 20 percent effort to the project for which they are responsible. Leaders of clinical projects should have experience in clinical research as defined in Item 2, above. Investigators with minimal research experience, but promising credentials, may participate; however, it is expected that most of the project leaders will be investigators with significant research experience.

11. Applicants are encouraged to establish links and utilize existing resources, including the NHLBI Program in Genomic Applications, NHLBI clinical research networks, and General Clinical Research Centers, as feasible and appropriate. If applicants propose to utilize such resources, a letter of agreement from the program director or principal investigator of the resource should be included with the application.

12. Each applicant should request $10,000 in direct costs each year (to be included in the budget cap) for SCCOR coordination activities to enhance opportunities for collaboration and communication among participating SCCOR centers.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Information

The PHS 398 application instructions are available at http://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.

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.


2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 11/2004) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-006.htm). Applications must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com/. The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form.

See Section VI.2 Administrative Requirements for additional information.

The title and number of this funding opportunity must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be checked.

Special instructions are needed for preparing a SCCOR application and are available from the program contact listed under Section VII. Agency Contacts, or at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/policies/sccor_supp.htm.

3. Submission Dates

Applications must be received on or before the receipt date of August 17, 2005.

3.A. Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: July 20, 2005
Application Receipt Date(s): August 17, 2005
Peer Review Date: January/February 2006
Council Review Date: June 15, 2006
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: December 1, 2006


3.A.1. Letter of Intent

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

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:

Chief, Review Branch
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive
Room 7214, MSC 7924
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7924
Telephone: (301) 435-0270
FAX: (301) 480-0730
Email: nhlbichiefreviewbranch@nhlbi.nih.gov

3.B. Sending an Application to the NIH

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms as described above. 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 (U.S. Postal Service Express or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and all copies of the appendix must be sent to:

Chief, Review Branch
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive
Room 7214, MSC 7924
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7924
Telephone: (301) 435-0270
FAX: (301) 480-0730
Email: nhlbichiefreviewbranch@nhlbi.nih.gov

Using the RFA Label: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application instructions 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: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/labels.pdf.

Principal investigators should not send supplementary material without first contacting the Scientific Review Administrator (SRA). The SRA will be identified in the letter sent to you indicating that your application has been received. If you have not received such a letter within three weeks after submitting the application, contact Dr. Valerie Prenger at the address listed under Section VII. Agency Contacts.

3.C. Application Processing

Applications must be received on or before the application receipt date listed in the heading of this funding opportunity. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review.

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and responsiveness by the NHLBI . Incomplete and/or nonresponsive applications will not be reviewed.

The NIH will not accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded application, originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be submitted in response to a funding opportunity, it is to be prepared as a NEW application. That is, the application for the funding opportunity must not include an Introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the text must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded version of the application.

Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within eight (8) weeks.

4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review

5. Funding Restrictions

All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm (See also Section VI.3. Award Criteria)

6. Other Submission Requirements

Each applicant should request $10,000 in direct costs each year (to be included in the budget cap) for SCCOR coordination activities to enhance opportunities for collaboration and communication among participating SCCOR centers.

Plan for Sharing Research Data

All applicants must include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The data sharing policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing. All investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data sharing is not possible.

The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.


Sharing Research Resources

NIH policy requires that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication. NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131. Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing is not possible.

The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any related data sharing plans will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report. (PHS 2590). See Section VI.3. Award Criteria.

Section V. Application Review Information


1. Criteria

Not Applicable

2. Review and Selection Process

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 NHLBI in accordance with the review criteria stated below.

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

3. Merit Review Criteria

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following criteria 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 in assigning the overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that an 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, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

Significance: Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Does the overall theme of the program have clinical relevance and is it appropriate?

Approach: Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? Are there adequate plans for collaborative interaction between clinical and basic research components and for the transfer of potential findings from basic to clinical studies?

Innovation: Is the project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?

Investigators: Are the investigators 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? Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)? Does the principal investigator demonstrate adequate leadership qualities? Do the principal investigator and project directors have adequate time commitment?

Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? Are there adequate clinical populations and/or specimens; laboratory & core facilities; instrumentation; quality controls; administrative structure; and data management systems?

Each project will receive a priority score. Each core (except the Clinical Research Skills Development Core) will be Recommended or Not Recommended based on whether the core is essential for the proposed research and has the capability to fulfill the proposed function. Reviewers will evaluate the number of projects serviced by the core; strengths and weaknesses of the proposed approaches, resources, and interactions; whether the investigators are qualified for their role(s) in the core; and whether the proposed budget for the core is appropriate. Each application will receive an overall priority score based on the review criteria listed above.

The Clinical Research Skills Development Core will receive a priority score based on the review criteria below, but the priority score will not enter into the overall priority score.

Review Criteria for Clinical Research Skills Development Core

The Clinical Research Skills Development Core will be evaluated for its effectiveness in developing the skills and clinical research capabilities of new investigators. This will include an evaluation of:

3.A. Additional Review Criteria:

In addition to the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score:

Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk: The involvement of human subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be assessed (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).

Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children in Research: 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 will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).

Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If vertebrate animals are to be used in the project, the five items described under Section F of the PHS Form 398 research grant application instructions will be assessed.

3.B. Additional Review Considerations

Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the budget.

3.C. Sharing Research Data

Data Sharing Plan: The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score. The presence of a data sharing plan will be part of the terms and conditions of the award. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data sharing.

3.D. Sharing Research Resources

NIH policy requires that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication. NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps and http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/rt_guide_final.html. Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a sharing research resources plan addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing is not possible .

The adequacy of the resources sharing plan will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. Program staff may negotiate modifications of the data and resource sharing plans with the Principal Investigator before recommending funding of an application. The final version of the data and resource sharing plans negotiated by both will become a condition of the award of the grant. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report. (PHS 2590). See Section VI.3. Award Criteria.

Section VI. Award Administration Information


1. Award Notices


After the peer review of the application is completed, the Principal Investigator will also receive a written critique called a Summary Statement.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Grant Award (NGA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The notice of award signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document.

Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NGA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

The NGA will be sent by e-mail to the authorized business official in the Office of Sponsored Programs


2. Administrative Requirements

All NIH Grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the notice of grant award. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm.

3. Award Criteria

The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

4. Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, Form 2590 annually:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity 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:

1. Scientific/Research Contact:

Dorothy Gail, Ph.D.
Division of Lung Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
2 Rockledge Centre, Suite 10018
Bethesda, MD 20892-7952
Telephone: (301) 435-0222
FAX: (301) 480-3557
Email: gaild@nhlbi.nih.gov


2. Peer Review Contact:

Valerie Prenger, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7214, MSC 7924
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7924
Telephone: (301) 435-0270
FAX: (301) 480-0730
Email: nhlbichiefreviewbranch@nhlbi.nih.gov

3. Financial or Grants Management Contact:

Mr. Robert Pike
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
2 Rockledge Centre, Room 7152
Bethesda, MD 20892-7926
Telephone: (301) 435-0166
FAX: (301) 480-3310
Email: piker@nhlbi.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information


Required Federal Citations


Use of Animals in Research:
Recipients of PHS support for activities involving live, vertebrate animals must comply with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf), as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm), and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm), as applicable.

Human Subjects Protection:
Federal regulations (45CFR46) require that applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained. http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm.

Data and Safety Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety monitoring is required for all types of clinical trials, including physiologic toxicity, and dose-finding studies (phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II) efficacy, effectiveness and comparative trials (Phase III). Monitoring should be commensurate with risk. The establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risks to the participants. (NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12, 1998: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).

Sharing Research Data:
Investigators submitting an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing

Investigators should seek guidance from their institutions, on issues related to institutional policies, local IRB rules, as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority score.

Sharing of Model Organisms:
NIH is committed to support efforts that encourage sharing of important research resources including the sharing of model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-042.html). At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm). All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal beginning with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications where the development of model organisms is anticipated.

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 "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://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 Clinical Research:
The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all clinical research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.

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 http://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 applications for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available at http://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 http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://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 in the project description and elsewhere in the application as appropriate, 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 http://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.

Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002 . The Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Decisions about applicability and implementation of the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review, funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.

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 PA 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 at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

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.


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