INTERNATIONAL TRAINING AND RESEARCH IN POPULATION AND HEALTH
Release Date: December 20, 1999
RFA: TW-00-004 (This RFA has been modified, see RFA-TW-05-002)
Fogarty International Center (http://www.nih.gov/fic/)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(http://www.nichd.nih.gov)
National Institute on Aging (http://www.nih.gov/nia)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 14, 2000
Application Receipt Date: March 29, 2000
Expiration Date: March 30, 2000
PURPOSE
The Fogarty International Center (FIC), in collaboration with the
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and
the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of
Health, invites applications from non-profit public or private
institutions in the U.S. to support international training and research
in population-related sciences. The intent of this program is to
enable NIH grant recipients to extend their geographic base of research
and training efforts to developing countries and emerging democracies,
in support of population issues of mutual priority. Broad objectives
are to:
o Enhance international and U.S. population research programs through
training of foreign nationals and international collaborative studies
related to populations, including the study of: a) reproductive
processes (including biology, immunology, genetics), contraceptive
development, contraceptive and reproductive health evaluation,
reproductive epidemiology, and b) demographic processes, including:
aging, longevity, biodemography, mortality, morbidity, fertility,
migration, linkages between health and economic development, and other
social, behavioral and economic factors that influence population
dynamics.
o Strengthen ability of scientists from developing nations to
contribute to global population research efforts and advance knowledge
in support of population policies appropriate for their home countries
and established international guidelines.
o Develop and strengthen centers of research excellence in population-
related sciences in developing countries through training and training
related 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 priorities to improve health
status. This Request for Application (RFA), International Training and
Research in Population and Health (ITRPH) is related to one or more of
the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy
People 2000" at http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The grantee institution must be a U.S. non-profit private or public
institution capable of meeting the objectives in this RFA.
Applicant investigators (or co-investigators) must be either a U.S.
Principal Investigator (PI) of at least one NIH-sponsored research
project grant (R series) or a Project Director of an NIH-sponsored
center grant, program project grant or cooperative agreement (P and U
series) related to population studies that will be funded during at
least one year of the proposed grant award period. On submission of an
application, at least eighteen months of active research support must
remain on the listed parent grant(s). Investigators may request five
years of support in anticipation that a renewal application for the
parent grant(s) will be submitted and awarded or that other research
support will be available to complement this training award. Under
certain circumstances, an NIH research contract will be considered as
meeting the eligibility requirements. Institutions currently awarded
an NIA Demography of Aging Center (P30) grant are especially encouraged
to apply. Institutions currently holding a FIC ITRPH award are
encouraged to collaborate with NIA Demography of Aging Centers at their
own or other institutions.
The application must demonstrate that the award is relevant to and will
enhance the activities of the NIH-supported parent grant(s) and benefit
the research needs of the host country or countries of participating
scientists and health professionals.
With approval from the FIC program officer, research collaborations can
also include other industrialized nations linked to U.S. institutions
if these collaborations enhance the research training capacity of
developing countries.
Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with
disabilities are encouraged to apply as PI. Participation in the
program by investigators at minority institutions is strongly
encouraged.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
This RFA will use the D43 mechanism, which limits facilities and
administrative (F & A) costs to eight percent of allowable direct
costs. The ITRPH will be available to U.S. investigators at a funding
level not to exceed $200,000 per year in direct costs for the first
year, for a maximum of five years. Responsibility for planning,
direction and execution of the proposed activities will be solely that
of the applicant. The application should describe research and
research training objectives to be pursued both in the U.S. and in the
cooperating developing nation(s) of Africa, Asia and the Pacific
region, the Middle East, and Latin America (including the Caribbean)
and the newly emerging democracies of Eastern Europe, and the former
Soviet Union. Applications may incorporate cooperative activities with
scientists from one or several developing countries or regions, based
on the research and training objectives of the program. However,
applicants are encouraged to focus their efforts on a limited number of
countries.
The applicant organization’s administration must provide the necessary
management for the transfer of funds and material to the off-site
component. F & A costs will not be paid on any expense incurred by the
foreign institution(s) although expenses required to support in-country
training and training-related research such as access to facilities,
library services and the Internet, can be charged as direct expenses
when well justified. Travel, salaries, and fringe benefits will be
subject to the applicant institution’s rules and regulations.
Grants will be made as D43 training grant awards for a project period
of up to five years. Continued support during this period depends on
satisfactory performance as judged by: annual progress reports, site
visits and meetings of program directors, career progress of trainees
(e.g., positions occupied in home country, first author publications,
presentations, research undertaken and research awards received), and,
development of national capacity for population and health-related
research, including the establishment or strengthening of model
population and health research centers of excellence in the home
countries of trainees. Assessment of performance will be made jointly
by FIC, NICHD, NIA and other partners, should they join. Special
program reviews will be conducted by the FIC, NICHD, and NIA.
FUNDS AVAILABLE
It is anticipated that about $1,600,000 (total costs) will be available
for the first year of the recompeted program. Seven to eight awards
will be made, with no single award exceeding $200,000 (in direct
costs). Awards will be contingent upon availability of funds and
receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. When
invited, requests for an administrative supplemental budget will be
considered for increases of up to 20 percent of funded levels in a
given budget year. These funds may be requested to meet special
research or training needs and take advantage of unusual opportunities
such as geographic expansion, field research, or emergency situations.
Such requests, which should be discussed with FIC program staff prior
to submission, will be reviewed by FIC in consultation with NICHD and
NIA, and support will depend upon need, merit and availability of
funds.
The grantee institution may request an F & A cost allowance based on
eight percent of the total allowable direct costs, exclusive of tuition
and related fees and expenditures for equipment. Applicants should
assume a budget increase of three percent per year for each succeeding
year, contingent upon availability of funds.
The anticipated date of award is on or before September 29, 2000.
Types of Training
Research-related training programs for foreign scientists and health
professionals may include the following elements:
o Predoctoral training in research related to population. Academic
courses that may lead to a degree will be undertaken in the U.S. in
disciplines that may include: demographic, social, behavioral and
economic sciences, endocrinology, pharmacology and toxicology,
pharmaceutical development, cell and molecular biology, genetics,
immunology, embryology, physiology, epidemiology and other population-
related fields. Research projects may be undertaken either at the U.S.
institution or, preferentially, in the trainee’s home country,
o Postdoctoral training in laboratory procedures, clinical trials
research methodology and research projects and techniques related to
population research, to be conducted at the U.S. institution or,
preferentially, in the trainee’s home country,
o Short-term training (either in the U.S. or in-country) of up to four
weeks in focused research methodologies,
o Medium-term training of about three to six months duration conducted
in the U.S. in laboratory procedures or clinical trails research
methods and research techniques, such as, development of pilot
biomedical studies or development of behavioral research instruments
for individuals with M.S. and M.D. or Ph.D. degrees,
o One-time awards for advanced in-country research training (one to
two years duration) upon return to the trainee’s home country at levels
of funding specified under allowable costs in this RFA,
o Participation in advanced research training conducted by U.S.
faculty in the foreign country, short-term in-country training for
local scientists and health professionals in the foreign country, and
technology transfer. This collaboration must have as its goal the
training of scientists in the developing country, enhancement of local
programs, and strengthening of centers of research excellence.
o When a specific scientific course is given by one program it is
expected that this course may be widely publicized and open to trainees
of the other grantee institutions under this program. The expenses for
this training would be included in the regular budgets for each program
that intends to send its trainees to such courses.
As part of the application, the applicant institution must describe in
detail the recruitment and selection procedures for the foreign pre-
and post-doctoral scientists and other beneficiaries of the training
program (short and intermediate term trainees, workshop participants,
etc). To a limited extent, U.S. trainees will be eligible for foreign
research experiences under this program, with prior FIC approval,
particularly if they are involved in training-research collaboration.
The ITRPH encourages directors to include foreign women as trainees
and, if U.S. trainees are involved, to include women and minorities.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
According to projections by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, world
population will increase from 6.0 billion in 1999 to over 7.9 billion
by 2025, to 9.3 billion by 2050. The future of human population growth
is largely being decided by the world’s less developed countries
(LDCs). Ninety-six percent of world population increase occurs in the
LDCs of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and this percentage will rise
over the course of the next quarter century. Indeed, 99 percent of
global natural population increase the difference between numbers of
births and deaths occurs in the developing world.
This trend has important ramifications for global health. In some
developing nations, high birth rates and poor health may impede
sustainable economic development which, in turn, affects a population’s
health. Consequences of unchecked population growth may include
increasing pollution and worsening sanitation, the spread and emergence
of infectious diseases, over-exploitation of land, destruction of
natural ecosystems, unemployment, and inadequate access to health care
and education. With declines in population growth rates, there has
been increased economic productivity, improved health and cultural
changes, including acceptance of and access to a wide choice of birth
control methods, sustained improvements in child survival, and
improvements in the education and societal status of women.
In the vast majority of countries that contribute the most to the world
population growth, fertility remains the driving force behind natural
population increase. A key determinant of current and future fertility
is the extent to which couples use or fail to use contraception to
control the number and spacing of their children. In spite of the
rapid growth in the number of women using modern contraception
worldwide over the past 20 years, an estimated 120 million married
women in the world’s developing regions have an unmet need for
contraceptive services and products.
Over the course of the next 25 years, the age structure of world
population will continue to shift. Although children will still
account for three-fourths of all dependents in the less developed
regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America, older age groups will
comprise an increasingly larger share of the total. In the 21st
century, continued lower fertility and improved health and longevity
suggest that population aging is destined to emerge as an important
worldwide phenomenon. While developing countries still have a
relatively low proportion of older people, the absolute numbers of
elderly in developing nations are often large and everywhere
increasing. Over half of the world’s elderly (aged 65 and over) now
live in developing nations (59 percent or 241 million people, as of
1999). By 2030, this proportion is projected to increase to 71 percent
(680 million).
Through international research and training efforts, NIH-supported
institutions are positioned to advance technological and social
adaptations needed to meet the challenges of population growth. This
program is designed to create and expand research partnerships between
U.S. scientists and those in developing regions of the world on
population issues of mutual priority. It will assist in training a
cadre of research and health professionals in developing nations who
will contribute to the development of evidence-based population
policies or who will implement such policies with regard to societal
mores and values in their home countries.
Emphasis will be placed on collaborative activities in countries and
regions where population growth adversely impacts public health, the
environment and economic progress.
Examples of research and training topics include, but are not limited
to, the following:
o Studies on reproductive processes and mechanisms, including
development of the reproductive system, male and female fertility, male
and female reproductive diseases and disorders, to include
preimplantation embryo development and implantation,
o Studies on contraceptive development, including natural or synthetic
agents, products to reduce transmission of sexually-transmitted
diseases, new contraceptive devices and reversible sterilization
techniques, clinical trials of new contraceptives,
o Evaluative studies of contraceptive and fertility-related drugs and
products for safety and efficacy, evaluation of the safety and efficacy
of male and female sterilization,
o Studies on social and behavioral factors that influence population
growth and change, including contraceptive access and utilization,
migration and spatial distribution of populations, family composition
and dynamics, aging, health, disability and mortality, and population
policies.
o Biodemography, including the demographic aspects of heritability and
familial aggregation of disease and longevity, incorporation of genetic
and disease variables into demographic models and age-specific
mortality rates, the social roles of the elderly in nature, biological
mediators of the relationship between socioeconomic status and health
throughout the life course, and fetal origins of adult disease.
o Estimation of the impact of health (including links with geography
and demography) on economic development, including productivity and
wealth accumulation, especially in developing countries.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
o Each awardee will have a U.S. PI and a Major Foreign Collaborator
(MFC), if collaboration occurs in two or more countries, there will be
a MFC in each country. The PI and MFC will be responsible for the
overall conduct of the ITRPH.
o Recruitment and Selection Plan. The applicant institution must
include a plan describing the recruitment and selection procedures for
trainees, a detailed description of peer review for training-related
and advanced in-country research, and plans for continued collaboration
with former trainees. For PIs applying for a continuation of their
ITRPH grant, detailed evidence of such collaboration must be provided.
Degree candidates must meet all entrance requirements of the U.S.
degree granting institution. The application should clarify and
completely specify: (a) criteria and procedures for the selection of
trainees as, for example, by a committee composed of U.S. and foreign
investigators at participating institution(s) and (b) a mechanism for
internal peer review of applications to support U.S. and in-country
research projects.
o Tracking System For Long Term Impact. As part of their obligations
under this program, awardees are required to initially design as part
of their application and ultimately to implement and maintain a system
to fully track and document the long-term impact of this training
program on: (1) the career choices of current and former trainees, (2)
changing research capacity in the home institution of trainees, (3)
types of positions the proposed trainees may assume upon completion of
training and documentation of career program, (4) the possible
contributions to future NIH-supported international population sciences
research efforts, (5) the establishment or strengthening of
reproductive and population sciences-related research centers of
excellence for research training and referral in the home countries of
trainees, and (6) program graduates contributions to improving the
health status of women, children, and families in their home countries.
Examples of such impact include how training received under the program
has allowed participants to assume more responsible positions upon
returning home, how continuing collaborations with former trainees
resulted in the funding of reproductive and population sciences
investigators or co-investigators, publications in which trainees were
first authors and which were based upon support under this program, and
health policies that were influenced or implemented by returning
trainees in their home countries. After awards have been made, but
before tracking of impact is implemented, FIC will work with awardees
to design a standardized web-based tracking system for individual
trainees and reporting program impact and accomplishments building upon
the ideas in the original proposals combined with FIC experience in
other similar programs. Once this standardized tracking system has
been agreed to, it is expected to be implemented across all programs.
Impact will be an important criterion for recompetition of this
program.
o Before any funds may be expended on in-country research, the grantee
institution must show written evidence of formal approval from
responsible authorities at the collaborating institution and the
relevant government authority. These approvals should be included in
the application.
o There will be an annual program network meeting to coordinate
program activities. Principal Investigators (U.S. and international),
and selected trainees will attend. This activity should be included in
the budgetary requests.
o As part of proposed training programs, the applicants must describe
in detail how they propose to train students and investigators in the
responsible conduct of research, consistent with NIH policy (NIH Guide
for Grants and Contracts, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992). An
award will not be made unless such a plan is included.
Allowable Costs
All budget items related to trainee participation in the program should
be itemized on the PHS Form 398 NRSA substitute budget pages OO and PP
in the categories indicated in parentheses. All budget items related
to faculty participation in the program should be itemized on the PHS
Form 398 budget pages DD and EE in the categories indicated in
parentheses.
(Stipend/Salary/Honoraria)
o Trainees (foreign graduate students and post-advance degree
participants) may be paid a stipend comparable to their professional
experience not exceeding $45,000 per year in accordance with the U.S.
institutional policies while involved in long term training in the U.S.
Applicants may wish to refer to the NRSA stipend levels described on
the web site http://www.nih.gov/fic/opportunities/index.html (NRSA
substitute pages, pre- or postdoctoral stipends)
o Foreign trainees may be paid a stipend while conducting long term
training related research in their home countries at levels comparable
with the salary scales for similar professionals in that country in
accordance with the collaborating foreign institution’s policies but
not exceeding $45,000 per year. (NRSA substitute pages, pre- or
postdoctoral stipends).
o U.S. faculty who participate in administrating the program or
providing extended training of students at the foreign site may receive
salary and fringe benefits. The total amount of salary and fringe
benefits requested for all U.S. faculty may not exceed 10% of direct
costs in the budget. The administrative or training or teaching
responsibilities and time commitment for personnel receiving salary
should be thoroughly described. (Form 398 budget pages, personnel)
o Foreign institution faculty who administer the training program at
the foreign site or participate in training and U.S. faculty or foreign
faculty who teach short courses may receive an honorarium not to exceed
$2000, in accordance with their Institution’s policies. No more than
5% of direct costs in the budget may be used for honoraria. (NRSA
substitute pages- training related expenses)
o The applicant institution may request up to 10% direct costs to
provide salary and fringe benefits for clerical and administrative
support staff for the program. The responsibilities and time
commitment for personnel receiving salary support should be thoroughly
described. (Form 398 pages, personnel)
(Tuition, Fees and Insurance)
o Funds for tuition, academic fees and self-only medical insurance for
foreign trainees at the U.S. institution not exceeding 20% of direct
costs may be requested. Programs are encouraged to seek cost sharing
arrangements with the U.S. institutions in order to provide reduced
tuition for long term trainees and tuition-free short courses. (NRSA
substitute pages, tuition, fees, insurance)
(Trainee Travel)
o Funds may be requested for round trip economy class airfare on U.S.
carriers (to the maximum extent possible) and local ground
transportation for long term foreign trainees to travel to the U.S.,
U.S. trainees to travel to the foreign site for extended training and
foreign trainees to participate in short courses or attend scientific
conferences to present their results. (NRSA substitute pages, trainee
travel)
o Funds may be requested for per diem and lodging for foreign trainees
to participate in short courses or attend scientific conferences to
present their results. (NRSA substitute pages, trainee travel)
(Faculty Travel)
o Funds may be requested for round trip economy airfare on U.S.
carriers (to the maximum extent possible) for U.S. faculty providing
extended training to go to the foreign site or teach short courses at
the foreign site. (PHS 398 pages, travel)
o Funds may be requested for per diem and lodging for U.S. faculty to
teach short courses at the foreign site. (PHS 398 pages, travel)
o Funds should be requested for airfare, per diem and lodging
comparable to U.S. government rates
(httphttp://policyworks.gov/org/main/mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/perd04d.html)
for the program director to attend the annual network meeting in the
Washington D.C. area. (PHS 398 pages, travel)
(Training related expenses)
o Funds to support trainee research related costs (such as reagents,
lab supplies, computer access, small equipment, etc.) of up to $600 per
month per trainee may be requested. (NRSA substitute pages, training
related expenses)
o Funds to support up to ($5,000-$7,500) per year for research at the
foreign site associated with fulfilling requirements for an advanced
degree may be requested. (NRSA substitute pages, training related
expenses)
o Research support for up to ($5,000-$7,500) per trainee per year to
facilitate conducting advanced research training (re-entry grants) in
the home country by former long term trainees. The applicant should
describe how proposals for re-entry projects will be selected by a peer
review process examining scientific merit and ethical concerns
involving faculty from the U.S. and foreign institutions coordinated by
the program director. (NRSA substitute pages, training related
expenses)
Protection of Human Subjects and Laboratory Animals
Applicable provisions for the protection of human research subjects and
laboratory animals in research and training activities must be met in
both domestic and foreign settings (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/). Title
45 CFR, Part 46, provides guidelines concerning Department of Health
and Human Services regulations for the protection of human subjects and
the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals. These are available from the Office for Protection from
Research Risks, National Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive
Boulevard, Suite 3B01 Rockville, MD 20852.
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 sub-populations 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).
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 (59 FR 14508-14513) and printed in
the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18,
1994 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html).
While it is desirable that women and minority groups in foreign
countries be included as research subjects, it is the responsibility of
collaborating institutions to make such decisions. Women and
minorities should be encouraged as candidates for training.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN
SUBJECTS
It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age
of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or
supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons
not to include them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1)
applications submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as
Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects that was published in
the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available
at the following URL address:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.
Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program
staff 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 14, 2000, a
letter of intent that includes a brief 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 NIH staff to estimate the potential review workload, and avoid
conflict of interest in the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent to:
Joel G. Breman, M.D., D.T.P.H.
Deputy Director
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Building 31, Room B2C39
31 Center Drive, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Email: [email protected]
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) is to be used
in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most
institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Office of
Grants Information, Division of Research Grants, Extramural Outreach
and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701
Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, e-mail: [email protected]. Applications are also available on the
Internet at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html.
The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) 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. The RFA number must be typed on the label as well.
The sample RFA label is available at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf has been
modified to allow for this change. Please note this is in pdf format.
Submit a signed original of the application, including the checklist,
and three signed, photocopies, in one package to:
CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and
appendices must be sent to:
Scott Andres, Ph.D.
Division of Scientific Review
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5E03, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
It is important to send these copies at the same time as the original
and three copies are sent to the Center for Scientific Review. These
copies are used to identify conflicts and to help ensure the
appropriate and timely review of the application.
Applications must be received by March 29, 2000. If an application is
received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without
review. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any
application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one
currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the
pending application. The CSR will not accept any application that is
essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude
the submission of substantial revisions of applications already
reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing
the previous critique.
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by CSR and
responsiveness by the FIC, NICHD and NIA. Incomplete and/or non-
responsive applications will be returned to the applicant without
further consideration. If the application is not responsive to the
RFA, the application will be returned to the applicant without review.
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 NICHD in consultation with FIC and NIA in
accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the
initial merit review, a process will be used by the initial review
group in which applications receive a written critique and undergo a
process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest
scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under
review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a
second level review by the FIC Advisory Board in September 2000.
Review Criteria
Review criteria include those generally applicable to research training
programs and research. The scientific evaluation of each application
will include assessment of the linkage between proposed training and
reproductive and population-related research supported by FIC, NICHD,
NIA and other components of the NIH. Evidence of support for this
program by collaborating institutions and foreign governments must be
submitted with the application.
1. Significance:
o Does this training program address an important problem? If the
aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be
advanced? What will be the effect of the training and studies on the
concepts or methods that drive this field?
o The expected public health and scientific contributions of the
proposed activity, and
o The demonstrated capacity and/or potential to achieve sustained
population related research and training efforts, and to build
associated clinical and operational research and public health capacity
within a country.
2. Approach:
o Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses
adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of
the research training? Does the applicant recognize potential problem
areas and consider alternative tactics?
o Balance in the proposed training program, to provide breadth of
training opportunities in the field of academic-based, maternal and
population sciences related training in biomedical and behavioral
sciences.
o The mix of long- and short-term training to achieve the goals of
this RFA, including focused efforts to build long-term biomedical,
behavioral, clinical and operations research and public health capacity
at a model center of research excellence within a collaborating
country,
o Adequacy of proposed procedures and criteria for 1) recruitment,
review and selection of trainees, and 2) peer review of research.
3. Innovation:
o Does the research training program employ novel concepts, approaches
or methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the program
challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or
technologies?
o Plans for trainees to become involved in population sciences,
biomedical and behavioral research, and projects conducted in their
home countries, and
o Adequacy and creativity of plans including use of the modern
information technology to facilitate access to scientific information,
distance learning, coordination and research collaboration.
4. Investigator:
o Are the Principal Investigator, co-Principal Investigators, and
mentors in the U.S. and abroad, 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,
if any?
o Qualifications of the PI and MFC program directors to lead and the
named faculty to participate in the proposed training and research
program, and
o Active research support of the PI, MFC, and participating faculty.
5. Environment:
o Does the scientific environment in which the training and research
work will be done in the U.S. and abroad contribute to the probability
of success? Do the proposed activities take advantage of unique
features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative
arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
o The strength of resources and training environment in-country as
evidenced by 1) the quality of teaching and the in-country research
facilities and other resources, 2) the availability and history of
high-quality candidates chosen on the basis of merit, and 3) past
history of success of former trainees returning to their home countries
and their continued involvement in the program, for example, the
participation of past trainees in advanced in-country research and as
faculty and mentors for new trainees, and
o The initial review group will also examine the adequacy of the
process for providing for the protection of human and animal subjects
and the safety of the research environment, and plans to include
training in responsible conduct of research and training in the
operation of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), data and safety
monitoring boards and community advisory boards as a part of the
program. IRBs in the home countries of trainees will be responsible
for determining the adequacy of inclusion of women, minorities and
children in research involving human subjects in their countries.
In addition to the above criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all
applications will also be reviewed with respect to the following:
1. Past research training record for both the PI and MFC in the U.S.
and abroad, and designated preceptors, in terms of tracking careers of
trainees and the rate at which former trainees establish independent
and productive research careers, and for foreign trainees return to
their home country,
2. Past research training record in terms of the success of former
trainees in obtaining individual awards such as fellowships, career
awards, and research grants for further development,
3. Recruitment and selection plans for appointees and the availability
of high quality candidates,
4. The record of the research training program in retaining health
professional postdoctoral trainees for at least two years in research
training or other research activities,
5. When appropriate, the concomitant training of health- professional
postdoctorates (e.g., individuals with the M.D., D.O., D.D.S.) with
basic science postdoctorates (e.g., individuals with a Ph.D., Sc.D.).
6. The adequacy of plans to include both genders, minorities and their
subgroups, and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will
also be evaluated.
7. The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation
to the proposed research.
8. The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals or the
environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the
project proposed in the application.
Where specific research protocols are proposed, additional review
criteria, applicable to research grants, will be as follows:
1. Scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of
proposed research,
2. Appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and
methodology proposed to carry out the research,
3. Qualifications and research experience of the Principal
Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area
of the proposed research,
4. Availability of the resources necessary to perform the research,
5. Appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to
the proposed research,
Schedule
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 14, 2000
Application Receipt Date: March 29, 2000
Date of Initial Review: June 2000
Review by Advisory Council: September 19, 2000
Anticipated Award Date: on or before September 29, 2000
AWARD CRITERIA
The most important factor to be considered in making funding decisions
will be the quality of the proposed project as determined by peer
review and responsiveness to the review considerations. The proposed
instruction in the responsible conduct of research must be rated
adequate for an award to be made.
In addition, FIC, in consultation with NICHD and NIA, will attempt to
ensure a reasonable balance of basic, clinical, behavioral and
demographic research training, as well as a geographic distribution
among developing nations of Asia and the Pacific region, Africa, the
Middle East, Latin America (including the Caribbean), and the newly
emerging democracies of Eastern Europe, and countries of the former
Soviet Union. The number and amount of the awards made under this
program will depend upon the availability of funds and cost-
effectiveness will be one of the factors considered in making funding
decisions.
Before any funds can be expended from this award for in-country
research, the grantee institution must show evidence of approval for
collaborative research and training between the U.S. and foreign
countries and institutions included in the program through an
endorsement from the appropriate government official(s) as well as from
the collaborating institutions.
INQUIRIES
Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to
clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome
and prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their
proposals with program staff prior to submission.
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
Joel G. Breman, M.D., D.T.P.H.
Deputy Director
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Building 31, Room B2C39
31 Center Drive, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-1653
FAX: (301) 402-0779
Email: [email protected]
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
Ms. Silvia Mandes
Grants Management Officer
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C39
31 Center Drive, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-1653
FAX: (301) 402-0779
Email: [email protected]
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
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 NIH grants policies and
Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program
is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of
Executive Order 12372 or to Health Systems Agency review.
The Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all grant
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.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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