Full Text LM-94-001 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY: RESOURCE DATABASE SUPPORT NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 1, January 7, 1994 RFA: LM-94-001 P.T. 34 Keywords: Biology, Molecular Information Science/Systems Computing Resources+ National Library of Medicine Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 15, 1994 Application Receipt Date: March 29, 1994 PURPOSE The National Library of Medicine (NLM) announces the availability of a Request for Applications (RFA) to support the maintenance of protein databases in the field of molecular biology. Sources of data will be from the published literature or other databases, and may contain sequence data, NMR structural data, or other types of data useful to molecular and protein biologists. When data is derived from the published literature, the record will contain full bibliographic citation information. 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, Molecular Biology: Resource Database Support, is related to the priority area of preventive services particularly as related to genetic disease. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy Report: (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, laboratories, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply. However, domestic applications may include international components. Applications from minority individuals and women are encouraged. Although an application must be submitted from a single institution, it may include consortia arrangements with other institutions provided these arrangements are clearly delineated and confirmed by signed statements from the responsible officials of each institution. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) biotechnology resource grant (P41). Activities to be supported under this grant are limited to the maintenance and management of the database and to making it available to other researchers. Any research related to these activities must be submitted separately as an individual research grant (R01) application, which would compete with other R01 applications. Research in database management is not a part of this RFA. The total project period for applications submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed five years. The anticipated award date is August 1994. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. FUNDS AVAILABLE Although financial plans for fiscal year 1994 include $1.5 million for this program, award of grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon receipt of funds for this purpose. It is anticipated that up to three grants will be awarded under this program. The specific amount to be funded will, however, depend on the merit and scope of the applications received and on the availability of funds. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The primary goal of this initiative is provide support to assist and enhance existing public information resources for biotechnology, in particular--protein sequence databases, NMR databases, and other related research information resources. Examples include correcting taxonomy, nomenclature, additional protein features, and mutation information. The input for such databases may arise from the published literature, data generated in the applicants laboratory, or be submitted from other sources. Access to the database may be online, CD ROM or other. The existence of the database and how to access it must be clearly disseminated. End-user software development, research, and training (other than a tutorial on the database) are not a part of this initiative. It is expected that an external advisory committee will be formed to provide consultation to the grantee. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by February 15, 1994, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the database, the name, address, and telephone number of the project director, the identities of other key personnel and participating institution(s), and the 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 is helpful to the NLM staff in planning for the timely review of applications. It allows NLM staff to estimate the potential workload and to avoid possible conflict of interest in review. The letter of intent is to be addressed to Dr. Roger W. Dahlen at the address listed under INQUIRIES. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91). These forms are available at most institutional office of sponsored research; from the Office of Grant Information, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone 301/710-0267; and from the NLM Program Director listed under INQUIRIES. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 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 2a of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in one package to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must also be sent to Dr. Roger W. Dahlen at the address listed under INQUIRIES. Applications must be received by March 29, 1994. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application in response to this announcement 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 already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness and responsiveness to the objectives or the RFA. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. If an application is judged to be not responsive, the applicant will be contacted to withdraw the application or have it considered as an unsolicited application in the next review cycle. Applications judged to be responsive will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by an initial review group, convened by the Division of Extramural Programs, NLM, solely to review these applications. This initial review may include a preliminary evaluation to determine scientific and technical merit relative to the other applications received in response to the RFA (triage); the NIH will withdraw from further consideration applications judged to be noncompetitive and promptly notify the project director and the official signing for the applicant organization. Those applications judged to be competitive will be further evaluated for scientific/technical merit by the usual peer review procedures. The second level review will be by the Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine. The proposed resource database is expected to be highly responsive to a national user community. It is the applicant's responsibility to identify user community(s) that both need and will use the capabilities to be provided by the resource. The reviewers will evaluate: o Scientific merit and feasibility; o The impact and relevance of the resource database on the user community(s) it will serve; o The estimated annual use of the resource by scientists and the potential idle or down time; o The reasonableness and duration of the proposed budget; o The significance, promulgation and adoption elsewhere of new discoveries made from use of this resource; o Likelihood that utilization of the resource will lead to new applications of the resource's technology in biomedical research and thereby to expanded use of the resource; o The institution's commitment to the resource: for example, costs associated with alterations and renovations, purchase of routine equipment and salaries of some resource staff may be borne by the applicant institution; o The scientific and managerial credentials of the Principal Investigator and the other professional staff; and o Quality and appropriateness of management and administrative arrangements; o Plans for an advisory committee, and whether the members have or will have sufficient breadth and ability to take an effective role in the review and guidance of the resource operations; AWARD CRITERIA Applicants should be aware that, in addition to scientific and technical merit, program priorities and program balance, the total cost of the Resource Database to the NLM will be considered by NLM staff and the Board of Regents in making funding recommendations. 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 and address the letter of intent to: Dr. Roger W. Dahlen Extramural Programs National Library of Medicine Bethesda, MD 20894 Telephone: 301-496-4221 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal and administrative matters to: Mr. Brian Campbell Extramural Programs National Library of Medicine Bethesda, MD 20894 Telephone: 301-496-4253 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS The programs of the Division of Extramural Programs, NLM, are described in the catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 93.879. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Section 301 (42 USC241) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations, most specifically 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372, or to Health Systems Agency review. .
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