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BRAIN DISORDERS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD:  RESEARCH ACROSS THE LIFESPAN 
 
RELEASE DATE:  November 7, 2002  

RFA:  TW-03-007 (This RFA has been modified, see PAR-05-100)
                (see addendum NOT-TW-03-005)

Fogarty International Center (FIC) 
 (http://www.nih.gov/fic/)
National Eye Institute (NEI)
 (http://www.nei.nih.gov/)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
 (http://www.nia.nih.gov/)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
 http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
 (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 
 (http://www.nida.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) 
 (http://www.niehs.nih.gov) 
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 
 (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/)
Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
 (http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)/Institute of Neuroscience, 
Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA)
 (http://www.cihr.ca/)
Mexico - Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog a (Conacyt)
 (http://www.conacyt.mx/)

LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE:  February 11, 2003

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE:  March 11, 2003
 
THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o Purpose of this RFA
o Research Objectives
o Training Plan
o Mechanism(s) of Support 
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o Special Requirements 
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations:

PURPOSE OF THIS RFA

This Request for Applications (RFA) solicits applications to plan and develop 
collaborative research and capacity building projects on brain disorders 
throughout life relevant to low- and middle-income nations.  Applicants are 
expected to develop innovative, collaborative research programs that would 
contribute to the long-term goal of building sustainable research capacity in 
neurological/neurodevelopmental (including sensory, motor, cognitive and 
behavioral) impairment throughout life. 

This RFA is joined by the following Institutes and Centers:  NIH sponsors 
include the Fogarty International Center (FIC), National Eye Institute (NEI), 
National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and 
Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 
(NICHD), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of 
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute of Mental Health 
(NIMH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and 
the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS); for Canada, the Canadian Institutes 
of Health Research (CIHR) and for Mexico, the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y 
Tecnolog a (Conacyt).  These sponsoring organizations seek domestic and 
international collaborative applications which address brain disorders in the 
developing world and which build research capacity of low- to middle-income 
countries to address brain disorders within their country or region.

This first phase of the "Brain Disorders in The Developing World:  Research 
Across the Lifespan" initiative, beginning in fiscal year 2003 (FY03), will 
consist of two-year planning/development grants using the R21 grant 
mechanism.  The R21 grant will provide support to initiate preliminary 
studies and to organize, plan, prepare, and assemble an application for a 
more comprehensive R01 grant involving collaboration between high-income and 
low- to middle-income country investigators and which incorporates both 
research and capacity building.

The main goals of the R21 applications should be to assess needs, develop 
collaborations and needed resources, show feasibility and generate 
preliminary data for the collaborative research to be proposed in a follow-up 
R01 submission.  The applicants should propose specific milestones and a 
timeline to meet these goals.  During the R21 award period, the applicant 
should: 
o further define the type and area of research to be developed; 
o develop and solidify collaborative relationships and understandings with 
the partners in the developed and developing countries involved; 
o assess current resources and needs, such as and including the need for an 
institutional review board (IRB) for studies involving human subjects; 
o develop and initiate a plan to address these needs to enable the proposed 
research and capacity building to be successfully carried out; 
o identify the training and other capacity-building opportunities to be 
incorporated into the research application in the context of the proposed 
research;
o initiate cross-training of collaborators where necessary for the proposed 
research; and
o conduct pilot studies and generate preliminary data;

Projects should:  1) Involve a partnership between high-income and low-to 
middle-income country individuals or research teams; 2) lead to pursuit of 
basic, epidemiological, clinical, prevention, intervention or health services 
research in the area of brain disorders of relevance to low- to middle-income 
countries; and 3) build capacity as necessary in the proposed research area 
to enable further research to take place. 

An RFA for the second competitive phase of the "Brain Disorders in The 
Developing World:  Research Across the Lifespan" initiative is currently 
planned to be issued in fiscal year 2005 (FY05), subject to availability of 
funds.  That RFA is planned to provide support for collaborative research and 
capacity building to high-income and low- to middle-income country partners 
through the R01 mechanism.  The second phase RFA competition, as currently 
planned, will not be limited to the R21 grantees under this competition, but 
will be open to all eligible applicants. 

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The overall intent of the program is three-fold:  1) to encourage 
interdisciplinary collaborative approaches to identify and address brain 
disorders of particular importance to low- and middle-income countries; 2) to 
address brain disorders of significance to low- to middle-income nations by 
promoting international cooperation between scientists and institutions in 
these countries and investigators in the U.S. and other high-income nations 
who are pursuing relevant research programs and 3) to build and enhance the 
research capacity of low- to middle-income nations to identify and address 
relevant brain/neuro-developmental disorders across the lifespan. 

The main goals of the R21 application should be to:  1) assess needs (define 
the problem and determine the magnitude of and factors involved in the 
problem to be addressed in the countries in question), 2) develop 
collaborations and needed resources, 3)show feasibility and generate 
preliminary data for the collaborative research to be proposed in a follow-up 
R01 submission and 4) Integrate capacity building/ research training into the 
proposed research program. 

To meet the goals of the R21 application the application should provide a 
clear plan with milestones and a time-line for the development of the 
collaboration.  Such efforts must include pilot research projects to 
demonstrate feasibility of certain aspects of the research approaches and to 
develop further research directions. Training, informal meetings, workshops 
and small conferences necessary to develop the research and collaboration and 
assess needs may be part of the plan.  New analyses of extant data sets and 
development or use of new methodologies or approaches may also be proposed.  
These activities may also serve to identify which specific research questions 
show the greatest promise for advancement in specific countries and settings.  
Travel among sites for these purposes may be proposed.

Each exploratory grant should also present a description of the anticipated 
longer-term goals of the collaboration as it develops into an application for 
an R01 research grant with capacity building and training built in. As one 
outcome of the work under the R21, grantees will be expected to provide a 
detailed assessment of the specific research issues and capacity 
building/training needs in the developing country that the proposed follow-up 
R01 or other future application will address. The relevance of the focus of 
the proposed research to the health of the host endemic country should be 
justified. The assessment may include, but is not limited to, needed skills 
and expertise in laboratory, clinical, epidemiological and social science 
research.  In addition, the involvement, if any, of the developing country 
institution and faculty in formulating treatment and prevention policies 
locally, nationally, regionally or internationally should be noted.

The applicants will also initiate development of needed resources and 
infrastructure. Research training in the context of the proposed research may 
take place at any of the collaborating sites and may vary, depending on the 
strengths of the particular investigators and institutions that apply and the 
need to build capacity to support research and future interventions. However: 
1) any research at the high-income site must also involve training for 
participating low- to middle-income investigators and 2) the major portion 
(greater than 50 percent) of the proposed research must be conducted at the 
low- to middle income country site or sites. 

The purpose of this mechanism is to foster initial development of 
collaborative work focused on brain disorders across the lifespan and 
relevant to developing countries; accordingly, investigators need not 
demonstrate any history of prior collaboration.  However, those factors in 
the investigators' background and/or institutional circumstances that would 
facilitate success in such collaboration should be clearly delineated.

Relevant research for the R21 and follow-up applications may range from basic 
science to epidemiological, translational (e.g. translation of basic research 
to therapy and of clinical research to applications in the field), clinical, 
operational and health services research.

Background:

During the past several decades, improvements in health care have led to a 
decrease in infant mortality in the developing world.  The continuing burden 
of infectious disease and malnutrition, along with a growing burden of 
chronic disease associated with aging populations, has resulted in a complex 
epidemiological situation.  Developed nations have relatively high 
proportions of people aged 65 and over, but the most rapid increases in 
elderly populations are in the developing world.  The current aggregate 
growth rate of the elderly population in developing countries is more than 
double that in developed countries, and also double that of the total world 
population.  This increase in life expectancy is further complicated by the 
widespread incidence of neurological, psychiatric, and developmental 
disorders.  With the exception of sub-Saharan Africa, brain disorders are the 
leading contributor to years lived with disability in all regions of the 
world. 

Measures of mortality and disability do not include the social isolation and 
stigma experienced by individuals affected with brain disorders, as well as 
the financial hardship borne by affected individuals, their families, and the 
communities in which they live.  As a result of negative attitudes, 
prejudice, and stigma, many affected with brain disorders remain undiagnosed 
and untreated.  In addition to poverty and gender inequality that underlie 
many of the key risk factors for brain disorders, available care is 
frequently inadequate.  In some countries, the overall physician-patient 
ratio can be low as 1:20,000, with even fewer psychiatrists and neurologists.  

Despite the enormous burden of disease, brain disorders have been largely 
absent from the international health research agenda.  Policy makers began to 
recognize the social and economic impact of brain disorders as a result of 
the 1993 publication of the Global Burden of Disease Study.  This landmark 
report compared the total cost of various diseases on the basis of 
disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), a measure that accounts for the 
overall burden of disease by combining years of potential life lost as a 
result of premature death with years of productive life lost because of 
disability.

Responding to the growing awareness of brain disorders in the developing 
world, the U.S. Institute of Medicine was charged to prepare a report that 
would define the increasing burden, identify opportunities for effectively 
reducing the burden, and identify areas for intervention, research, and 
capacity building.  The results were compiled in a report entitled 
"Neurological, Psychiatric, and Developmental Disorders:  Meeting the 
Challenges in the Developing World" (2001, available at 
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309071925/html/).  Study sponsors included the 
National Institutes of Health (Fogarty International Center, the National 
Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of 
Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Institute of Mental 
Health), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Global 
Forum for Health Research. 

The report brings together a growing body of evidence indicating that the 
social and economic impact of neurological, psychiatric, and developmental 
disorders is large and increasing.  Present figures almost certainly 
underestimate the impact of brain disorders, particularly in the developing 
world.  A sustained, comprehensive, and integrated research effort is key to 
reducing the burden of brain disorders in the developing world.  Among the 
main recommendations of the report was the need to create both national 
centers for training and research, as well as programs to facilitate 
competitive funding for research on developmental disabilities and epilepsy 
in resource poor nations. 

This RFA focuses on neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as on other 
conditions and influences on the nervous system that affect cognition, 
learning and memory across the lifespan. 

Neurodevelopmental disabilities include conditions such as mental 
retardation, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities and cerebral palsy 
that result from abnormal prenatal development or influences during the 
prenatal period, or from injury or insult to the brain and central nervous 
system during infancy or childhood.  In the U. S., approximately 12 to 
18percent of children are disabled.  Many of the causes of developmental 
disabilities   including genetic and nutritional factors, infectious 
diseases, environmental toxins, and traumatic events   are particularly 
common in resource poor countries, suggesting that the prevalence is expected 
to be even higher. 

Examples of specific conditions that affect brain function across the 
lifespan, include, but are not limited to, neurodegenerative diseases (such 
as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases), neurotoxic insults, infection of 
the nervous system by viral and parasitic diseases (such as HIV/AIDS and 
malaria), pre- and post-natal environmental insults and trauma (e.g., fetal 
alcohol syndrome, drug abuse/exposure, child abuse and neglect, shaken baby 
syndrome).

Epilepsy is an example of a treatable brain disorder that affects an 
estimated 40 million people in developing countries, roughly 85 percent of 
the total number affected worldwide. Epilepsy commonly affects young adults 
in the most productive years of their lives and frequently leads to their 
being unemployed.  Although cheap and effective treatments are available, 
epilepsy is frequently untreated and even unrecognized in the developing 
world often because of stigmatization and false beliefs.  In such disorders, 
research into interventions taking social and cultural factors into account 
and involving education, media, policy and behavior are especially 
appropriate.

HIV infection is an example of an infectious disease which is a major public 
health problem in developing countries and that also has significant 
neurological consequences.  At the end of 2001, approximately 28.5 million 
people in sub-Saharan Africa and 5.6 million people in South and South East 
Asia were living with HIV/AIDS.  In the developed world, neurological 
complications such as HIV-1-associated dementia can occur in 20 percent of 
symptomatic individuals.  Symptoms of HIV-associated dementia include slowing 
of motor and mental function with memory loss and language difficulty.  Other 
neurological complications, such as peripheral neuropathy and HIV-associated 
myelopathy, can occur in 15 to 50percent of HIV patients in the developed 
world.  In addition, opportunistic brain infections, such as cryptococcus, 
Toxoplasma gondii and JC virus, are seen in HIV-infected individuals.  
Although a large number of individuals are HIV-infected in developing 
countries, very limited data is available on the epidemiology, natural 
history and pathogenesis of neurological disease caused by HIV and associated 
opportunistic infections in these settings.

In order to address these and other health research issues relevant to brain 
disorders in developing countries, the NIH is proposing a new research and 
capacity building program on brain disorders with a focus on neurological 
(including sensory, motor, cognitive and behavioral) impairment throughout 
life, in low- to middle-income countries.

Research Topics

Relevant research topics should be related to neurodevelopmental disabilities 
and neurological disorders, including cognitive, motor, sensory and 
behavioral impairment from birth to advanced age.  Research findings must be 
relevant to the collaborating low- and/or middle-income nation(s).  Some 
examples are:  mental retardation, seizure disorders such as epilepsy, 
movement disorders such as Parkinson's and dementias - including those 
related to age and those caused by HIV, malaria or other infection. 

Research relevant to this announcement includes basic research and 
epidemiology, as well as research on early interventions, clinical treatment, 
prevention, and health services that are culturally appropriate, feasible, 
and acceptable for implementation within the foreign site.  This RFA 
encourages development of multidisciplinary research, whenever relevant to 
the research question. Expertise may involve but is not limited to fields 
such as neurology, cognitive neuroscience (including functional brain 
imaging), developmental neurobiology, neurotoxicology, neuroendocrinology, 
pharmacology, psychiatry, neuro-immunology, neuro-virology, and biotechnology 
(e.g., for development of diagnostic tools) as well as the behavioral and 
social sciences. 

Examples of some cross-cutting areas for research are:
o Ethnographic studies and other areas of social science, particularly to 
address health systems and appropriate interventions within a given society 
or group. 
o Research focusing on gender and socioeconomic factors in the etiology and 
treatment of the disorders to be addressed. 

Suggested areas of research include, but are not limited to:

o Epidemiological studies 
1) Descriptive epidemiology to describe and define the problem in the 
countries in question by assessing needs and determining the magnitude and 
factors involved in the problem to be addressed (e.g., research on trends in 
incidence, prevalence or mortality; distribution of disease; determination of 
populations at risk; determination of case definition/disease 
classification); 
2) Analytical epidemiology to identify potential etiological factors in the 
populations of interest, including factors responsible for predispositions to 
the neurological consequences of various infections,infestations, and/or 
neurotoxins (e.g., identification of risk factors for neurological 
consequences of disease onset or progression; classification and measurement 
of exposure; magnitude and distribution of known risk factors).

o Genetic factors throughout life, beginning in the prenatal period, that 
result in cognitive, behavioral, motor or sensory impairment or disorders. 

o Natural history of common neurological diseases/disorders and the influence 
of sociocultural or other environmental variables that impact upon this 
course.

o Research on multiple insults, especially common in the developing world, 
e.g., neurotoxic or traumatic insult plus infectious disease and/or 
malnutrition.  Studies examining the interactions of neurobiological and 
environmental/social factors that affect brain development and resulting 
behavioral outcomes are encouraged (e.g., expression of cognitive impairment, 
coping, adaptation, response to intervention, etc.).

o Environmental factors across the lifespan, beginning in the prenatal 
period, that result in cognitive, behavioral, motor or sensory impairment 
including:
1. Natural and man-made neurotoxic exposures - e.g. prenatal exposure to 
drugs of abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, effects of neurotoxins/neurotoxicants 
in homes, the outside environment, industrial and agricultural settings;
2. Malnutrition;
3. Infectious diseases such as cerebral malaria, neurocysticercosis/ 
tapeworm, HIV/AIDS and associated opportunistic infections, and other 
parasitic diseases;
4. Physical trauma that is both intentional and unintentional (e.g. Shaken 
baby syndrome, accidental injuries);
5. Psychological trauma (e.g. effects on brain function, including cognitive 
and behavioral function, in victims of child abuse, neglect or abandonment, 
torture and rape).

o Factors affecting cognitive, emotional and physical health and survival in 
older persons.

o Research on other factors that impact on healthy brain development, such as 
access to appropriate health care, availability of resources, preventive or 
screening practices, etc..

o Research on potential interventions and how the success or failure of 
interventions may be modulated by sociocultural and gender variables.

Primary outcomes of the proposed R21 activities should be specification of a 
further research agenda with needed capacity building.  The activities 
proposed should include design and execution of small, preliminary studies to 
demonstrate feasibility and obtain pilot data. 

Other activities undertaken under the planning grant may include, but are not 
limited to:  discussions of the research problems to be addressed; the ways in 
which the basic research could be applied to clinical issues; critical 
evaluations of relevant research literatures; visits among the various 
laboratories and clinics to familiarize members with each others' work in 
detail; feasibility of co-funding/support from developing countries and 
public/private institutions to assure sustainability; possible modifications 
to paradigms and methods that might be necessary for use with patient 
populations; determination of other research expertise that might need to be 
added to the group, including social scientists; new statistical approaches or 
methodologies that may need to be developed; priorities for a collaborative 
research and capacity building program; evaluation of social, economic, and/or 
political factors that might impact the research itself or the execution of 
the research; an evaluation of bioethical and legal issues that could impact 
research on neurologically impaired populations; an evaluation of other 
components of the public health system that might impair or enhance research 
on brain disorders; assessment of potential medical informatics programs that 
could be developed to store data pertinent to future brain disorders research; 
exploration of the feasibility for co-funding future research or academic 
support for researchers from public or private agencies within the 
collaborating developing country. 

Specific Research Interests of the RFA Sponsors:

NIH:

The FIC is interested in all eligible applications that are responsive to 
this RFA.

The NEI conducts and supports research that helps prevent and treat eye 
diseases and other disorders of vision and which leads to sight-saving 
treatments, reduces visual impairment and blindness, and improves the quality 
of life for people of all ages. In the context of this announcement NEI would 
particularly like to encourage research on eye diseases relevant to 
developing countries and involving neuronal cell dysfunction and degeneration 
(such as but not restricted to retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular 
degeneration, and glaucoma).

The NIA is interested in applications relevant to Alzheimer's disease and 
other degenerative diseases of the nervous system, and age-related changes in 
cognition and memory.  Of interest also are studies on reducing disability 
and/or preventing or slowing additional decline among persons with 
neurological disabilities as they continue to age. 

The NIAAA is interested in applications which address alcohol-related birth 
defects (such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). 

The NICHD is particularly interested in encouraging studies in response to 
this announcement which propose to address problems in child health and 
development, such as mental retardation, cognitive and behavioral disorders, 
neurodevelopmental disabilities and learning disabilities.  Relevant research 
includes etiology, pathophysiology, screening, prevention, treatment, and 
epidemiology.  Also of interest are studies on cognitive, social, and 
affective development, including studies in high-risk settings (e.g., in 
violent or abusive environments, or families experiencing stressors such as 
poverty, unemployment or parental depression).  Biomedical, behavioral, and 
biobehavioral research in these areas is encouraged along with investigations 
of socio- and ethno-cultural, familial, individual, and biological 
influences.  Also of interest are studies investigating the roles played by 
nutritional and hormonal factors in nervous system development and function.

The NIDA is interested in applications which focus on behavioral, cognitive 
and neurobiological factors as antecedents to, or impacting on, consequences 
of drug abuse.  Of particular interest are studies aimed at reducing drug 
abuse and addiction and its associated adverse social, behavioral, and health 
consequences (e.g., violence and infectious diseases transmission and 
including research related to the interaction between HIV/AIDS and abuse).  
NIDA especially encourages research capitalizing on unique opportunities to 
study adverse environmental and socio-cultural effects on drug abuse patterns 
and behaviors in populations of developing countries (e.g., caregiver neglect 
or abandonment, high orphan populations or street children at risk for both 
drug abuse and HIV or HCV).  In countries where abuse of high doses of 
individual drugs is more common than in the U.S. and Europe, NIDA is 
interested in supporting studies on prenatal effects, cognitive consequences, 
epidemiological patterns, and associations with HIV/ AIDS and other 
transmitted diseases.  NIDA will give priority to meritorious research that 
builds upon existing NIDA-funded collaborations between high-income and low- 
to middle-income country colleagues.

The NIEHS is interested in supporting research in the developing world to 
identify the causes and prevent or ameliorate the consequences of neurotoxic 
insult to the nervous system throughout life.  The Institute would especially 
like to encourage applications for research with investigators in Vietnam, 
Cambodia and Laos and research focusing on the consequences of exposure to 
dioxin. 

The NIMH is interested in research limited to areas relating to epidemiology, 
natural history, and pathogenesis of HIV disease of the nervous system..

The NINDS encourages research across the spectrum of neurological disorders 
to reduce the burden of neurological disease borne by every age group and 
segment of society all over the world. 

Canada:  The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) 
of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is interested in co-
sponsoring collaborative proposals between Canadian and low- to- middle-
income country investigators.  Eligible applications include those dealing 
with the spectrum of research related to neurological disorders, mental 
illnesses and addictions.

Mexico:  Conacyt/MMH will consider applications from or involving Mexican 
investigators and proposing research collaborations on brain disorders 
related to neurological dysfunction, mental illnesses and addictions.  
Conacyt is particularly interested in research to develop innovative, 
effective and evidence-based diagnostics and interventions for these 
disorders along with means to reduce discrimination, improve access to 
services and to raise public awareness.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the NIH Exploratory Grant (R21) award mechanism.  
Applicants for this R21 award may request direct costs of up to $100,000 per 
year, in increments of $25,000, for a maximum of two years.  The funded R21 
grants will not be renewable. 

Note that the R21 mechanism is specifically intended to support development 
of collaborations, innovative ideas and research where preliminary data as 
evidence of feasibility are sparse or do not exist.  R21 grants are not 
intended for large-scale undertakings or to support or supplement ongoing 
research.  Rather, R21-supported projects are intended to serve as a basis 
for planning, strengthening and developing collaborations and conducting 
pilot studies to obtain preliminary data for future research project grant 
applications (R01).

This RFA uses just-in-time concepts.  It also uses the modular budgeting 
format. (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm). 
Specifically, since you are submitting an application with direct costs in 
each year of $250,000 or less, use the modular format for all applications.

Applications submitted by foreign institutions can request facilities and 
administrative (F&A) costs up to a maximum of eight percent.  Please see the 
web site http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-01-028.html 
for more information on allowable F&A costs for foreign grants and domestic 
grants with foreign components.

As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and 
executing the proposed project.  Applications submitted in response to this 
RFA may have a project period of up to two years. This RFA is a one-time 
solicitation.  Any future unsolicited competing continuation applications 
based on this project will compete with all NIH investigator-initiated 
applications and be reviewed according to the customary peer review 
procedures

FUNDS AVAILABLE
 
The participating ICs intends to commit approximately $2 million dollars in 
FY03 to fund approximately fifteen to twenty new grants in response to this 
RFA.  An applicant may request a project period of up to two years and a 
budget for direct costs of up to $100,000 per year (including the total cost 
of subcontracts) in modules of $25,000. 

Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from 
application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of 
each award will also vary.  Although the financial plans of the ICs 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 relevant to the interests of each RFA sponsor.  Each award will 
be administered by one of the participating NIH ICs or other participating 
agencies although several may participate in the funding of any given 
application.  At this time, it is not known if this RFA will be reissued.

The Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) will consider meritorious 
applications, relevant to their missions, involving Canadian institutions.  
CIHR will make the award of grants for meritorious applications of interest 
to them.  Applicants who wish to have their projects considered for 
(co)funding by CIHR should include with their application a letter stating 
that their application and summary statement may be shared with CIHR.

El Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog a (Conacyt) of Mexico
will consider meritorious applications relevant to its mission and which 
involve Mexican institutions.  Conacyt will make the award of grants for 
meritorious applications of interest to them.  Applicants who wish to have 
their projects considered for (co)funding by Conacyt should include with 
their application a letter stating that their application and summary 
statement may be shared with Conacyt.

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS

You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution is among the eligible 
domestic or foreign institutions that are: 

o For-profit or non-profit organizations 
o Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, 
and laboratories 
o Units of State and local governments
o Faith-based or community-based organizations

INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS   

Any individual from an eligible institution who has the skills, knowledge, 
and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research under the 
guidelines of this RFA, 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 and women, are always 
encouraged to apply for NIH programs. 

The primary purpose of this announcement is to provide an avenue for 
investigators to explore and initiate research collaborations between 
investigators and institutions in the United States or other high-income 
nations and low- and middle-income nations with shared interests in brain 
disorders.  Therefore, at least two investigators (one from an institution in 
a high-income country and one from an institution in a low- to middle- income 
country) must collaborate on the application as Principal Investigator (PI) 
and Co-Investigator. The Principal Investigator (PI) may be the collaborator 
from the low- to middle-income nation and institution, or from the U.S. or 
other high-income nation and institution, but the collaborators must develop 
the proposal jointly. While there is no cap on the maximum number of 
investigators, the application needs to discuss how the contributions of each 
member will be integrated in the proposed activities.

For operational and analytic purposes, the World Bank's main criterion for 
classifying economies, gross national product per capita, will be employed 
for this RFA to determine eligibility.  A list of countries representing low- 
and middle-income economies, which are eligible as low- to middle-income 
countries for this program may be found at 
http://www.worldbank.org/data/countryclass/classgroups.htm. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 

A single meeting involving grantees of these awards will be held in the 
Washington, D.C. area, in the second year of the grant period, to share 
information, discuss new insights and will include a grants-writing workshop. 
For this meeting, funds should be budgeted for travel by the PIs and/or other 
relevant individuals with significant day-to-day involvement in the 
activities performed under this award.

Capacity Building:  Greater than 50 percent of the direct costs requested must 
be used in the collaborating low- and/or middle-income nation(s)for either 
pilot research and/or capacity strengthening of foreign institutions as 
necessary to carry out the proposed research program in the short- and long-
term.  Capacity strengthening, which may include development of needed 
resources and infrastructure (including IRBs at the foreign site for any 
proposed research involving human subjects) and initiation of needed training 
for collaborators, must be integrated into the planning process and the 
research proposal.

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA 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.

o GENERAL INQUIRIES regarding the scope and content of this Request for 
Applications should be directed to:

Kathleen Michels, Ph.D.
Program Director
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C39, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD  20892-2220
Telephone:  301-435-6031
Fax:  301-402-0779
Email: Michelsk@nih.gov
http://www.nih.gov/fic/

o Direct your questions about SCIENTIFIC/RESEARCH ISSUES to the contacts 
below: 

CANADA:

CANADIAN INSTITUTES OF HEALTH RESEARCH 
Astrid Eberhart
Institute Liaison
Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
410 Laurier Avenue W., 9th Floor
Address Locator 4209A
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0W9
Telephone:  613-941-4643
Fax:  613-941-1040
Email: aeberhart@cihr.ca

MEXICO:
 
Dr Efrain Aceves
Director for International Affairs
El Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog a (Conacyt)
Avenida Constituyentes 1046
Col. Lomas Altas, cp. 11950
Delegaci n Miguel Hidalgo, 
Mexico DF, Mexico
Telephone:  52-55-5327-76-15
Fax:  52-55-5327-75-32
Email: aceves@conacyt.mx

UNITED STATES:

FIC/NIH:
Kathleen Michels, Ph.D.
Program Director
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Building 31, Room B2C39, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD  20892-2220
Telephone:  301-435-6031
Fax:  301-402-0779
Email: michelsk@nih.gov

NEI/NIH
Michael D. Oberdorfer, Ph.D.
Director, Strabismus, Amblyopia, and Visual Processing Program
Division of Extramural Research
National Eye Institute
Executive Plaza South, Suite 350
6120 Executive Blvd, MSC 7164
Bethesda MD  20892-7164
Telephone:  301-451-2020
Fax:  301-402-0528
Email: mdo@nei.nih.gov

NIA/NIH:
Elisabeth Koss, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Alzheimer's Disease Centers Program
Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging
National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health
Gateway Building, Suite 3C307
7201 Wisconsin Ave MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone:  301-496-9350
Fax:  301-496-1494
Email: kosse@nia.nih.gov

NIAAA/NIH:
Margaret M. Murray, M.S.W.
Chief, International and Health Education Programs Branch
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health
6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 302
Rockville, MD 20852
Telephone:  301-443-2594
Email:  pmurray@mail.nih.gov 

NICHD/NIH:
James W. Hanson, M.D.
Chief, Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities Branch 
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 
Executive Building, Room 4B09G 
6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7510 
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Telephone:  301-496-1383 
Email: hansonj@mail.nih.gov 

NIDA/NIH
Minda R. Lynch, Ph.D.
Branch Chief 
Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Research Branch
Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Blvd., Rm. 4282, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD  20892-9555
Telephone:  301-435-1322
Fax: 301-594-6043
Email: mlynch1@nida.nih.gov

NIEHS/NIH:
Annette Kirshner, Ph.D.
NIEHS-DERT
Box 12233, MD EC-23
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Telephone:  919-541-0488
Fax:  919-541-5064
Email:  kirshner@niehs.nih.gov

NIMH/NIH:
Jeymohan Joseph, Ph.D.
Chief, HIV Neuro-Virology, Genetics and Molecular Therapeutics Program
Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institutes of Health
Room 6202, MSC 9619
6001 Executive Blvd
Bethesda, MD 20892-9619
Telephone:  301-443-3012
Fax:  301-443-9719
Email:  jjeymoha@mail.nih.gov

NINDS/NIH:
Yuan Liu, Ph.D.
Program Director
National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
NSC/2110B,6001 Executive Blvd, MSC 9529
Bethesda, MD 20892-9529 
Telephone:  301-496-1917 
Fax:  301-402-0182
Email:  yl5o@nih.gov

ODS/OD/NIH:
Rebecca B. Costello, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Office of Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health
6100 Executive Blvd., Room 3B01, MSC 7517
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7517
Telephone:  (301) 435-2920
Fax:  (301) 480-1845
Email:  CostellB@od.nih.gov

o Direct your questions about peer review issues to:

Alan L. Willard, Ph.D.
Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Blvd, Room 3208
Rockville, MD 20852 (couriers)
Bethesda, MD 20892-9529 (for US Mail)
Telephone:  301-496-9223
Fax:  301-402-0182
Email: AW135Y@NIH.GOV

o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:

FIC/NIH:
Bruce Butrum
Grants Management Officer
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Building 31, Room B2C29
Bethesda, MD  20892-2220
Telephone:  301-496-1670
Fax:  301-402-0779
Email: butrumb@mail.nih.gov

NEI/NIH
William W. Darby
Grants Management Officer
Division of Extramural Research
National Eye Institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza South, Suite 350
6120 Executive Blvd, MSC 7164
Bethesda MD  20892-7164
Telephone:  301-451-2020
Fax:  301-496-9997
Email:  wwd@nei.nih.gov

NIA/NIH:
Deborah Stauffer
Grants Management Specialist
National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 2C212
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Email: stauffed@nia.nih.gov

NIMH:
Brian Albertini 
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Mental Health 
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6115, MSC 9605 
Bethesda, MD 20892-9605 
Telephone:  301-443-0004 
Fax:  301-443-0219 
Email: albertinib2@mail.nih.gov 

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

o Descriptive title of the proposed research
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel 
o Participating institutions
o 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 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:

Kathleen Michels, Ph.D.
Program Director
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Building 31, Room B2C39
Bethesda, MD  20892-2220
Telephone:  301-435-6031
Fax:  301-402-0779
Email:  michelsk@nih.gov

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application 
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).  The PHS 398 is 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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Research Plan: 

o Page limits for the research plan (sections a-d):  15 pages

o R21 Exploratory Grants need not include preliminary data although it is 
recommended that relevant data be included if it supports the proposed 
research. 

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODULAR GRANT APPLICATIONS:  Applications 
requesting up to $250,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a 
modular grant format.  The modular grant format simplifies the preparation of 
the budget in these applications by limiting the level of budgetary detail.  
Applicants request direct costs in $25,000 modules.  Section C of the 
research grant application instructions for the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step-by-step 
guidance for preparing modular grant applications.  Additional information on 
modular grants is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.

USING THE RFA LABEL:  The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) 
application form 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/label-bk.pdf.
 
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH:  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
Bethesda, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)
 
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be 
sent to:
 
Alan L. Willard, Ph.D.
Chief, Scientific Review Branch
NINDS
6001 Executive Blvd, Room 3208
Rockville, MD 20852 (couriers)
Bethesda, MD 20892-9529 (for US Mail)
Telephone:  301-496-9223
Fax:  301-402-0182
Email: AW135Y@NIH.GOV
 
APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by the application 
receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA.  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.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS  
 
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and 
responsiveness by the NINDS and the FIC.  Incomplete applications will be 
returned to the applicant without further consideration

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 NINDS in accordance with the review criteria stated below.  
As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

o Receive a written critique
o 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 and assigned a priority score
o Receive a second level review by the Advisory Councils or Advisory Boards 
of the participating RFA sponsors. 
 
REVIEW CRITERIA

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of 
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health.  In 
the written comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following 
aspects of your application in order to judge the likelihood that the 
proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these 
goals: 

o Significance 
o Approach 
o Innovation
o Investigator
o Environment

The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria 
in assigning your application's overall score, weighting them as appropriate 
for each application.  Your application does not need to be strong in all 
categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus 
deserve a meritorious priority score.  For example, you may propose to carry 
out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to 
move a field forward.

(1) SIGNIFICANCE:  Does your study address an important problem?  If the aims 
of your application are achieved, how do they advance scientific knowledge or 
impact health in the low- to middle-income country?  What will be the effect 
of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field?

(2) APPROACH:  Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses 
adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the 
project?  Do you acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative 
tactics?

(3) INNOVATION:  Does your project employ novel concepts, approaches or 
methods?  Are the aims original and innovative?  Does your project challenge 
existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?

(4) INVESTIGATOR:  Are you appropriately trained and well suited to carry out 
this work?  Is the work proposed appropriate to your experience level as the 
Principal Investigator and to that of the other researchers?

(5) ENVIRONMENT:  Does the scientific environment in which your work will be 
done contribute to the probability of success?  Do the proposed studies take 
advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful 
collaborative arrangements?  Is there evidence of institutional support?

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA:  In addition to the above criteria, your 
application will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

(6) INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION:  In the course of the research, 
what is the potential for sustainable collaborations between the developed 
and developing country scientists to be established or strengthened?  What is 
the potential for the developing country institutions to improve their 
capacity and ability to address important issues in brain disorders research, 
develop independently-supported research and capacity development programs 
and obtain financial support nationally and internationally?  How will this 
occur?

(7) RESEARCH CAPACITY BUILDING:  Does the proposed program contribute to the 
capacity of scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income nations to 
perform research on brain disorders across the lifespan?  Does the proposed 
program contain explicit strategies or plans to strengthen this capacity 
through research training, career development, mentoring and other models?  
Will the proposed research and collaboration lead to enhancement of specific 
departments in foreign institutions and contribute to overall institutional 
excellence?

(8) SPECIFIC R21 REVIEW CRITERIA:  
The potential of the proposed planning grant to lay the foundation for future 
collaborative research grant applications and the potential significance of 
the proposed research and capacity building will be major considerations in 
the evaluation of this R21 exploratory/developmental grant mechanism.  
Because this R21 is designed to support planning, development and initiation 
of innovative collaborative research and ideas, preliminary data as evidence 
of feasibility of the project are not required to apply although it is useful 
to include or cite pilot data where relevant and available.  The applicant 
is, however, responsible for presenting the background literature that 
provides some basis for the approach and for developing a rigorous research 
plan. 

o PROTECTIONS:  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.

o INCLUSION:  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.  Plans for the recruitment and 
retention of subjects will also be evaluated.  (See Inclusion Criteria 
included in the section on Federal Citations, below)

o DATA SHARING:  The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data. 

o BUDGET:  The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period 
of support in relation to the proposed research.

RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  February 11, 2003
Application Receipt Date:  March 11, 2003
Peer Review Date:  June/July 2003
Council Review:  September 2003
Earliest Anticipated Start Date:  September 2003

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review)
o Availability of funds
o Programmatic priorities (including geographic balance and programmatic 
interests of the sponsoring organizations)

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS 

MONITORING PLAN AND DATA SAFETY AND MONITORING BOARD:  Research components 
involving Phase I and II clinical trials must include provisions for 
assessment of patient eligibility and status, rigorous data management, 
quality assurance, and auditing procedures.  In addition, it is NIH policy 
that all clinical trials require data and safety monitoring, with the method 
and degree of monitoring being commensurate with the risks (NIH Policy for 
Data Safety and Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12, 
1998: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).  

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 AMENDMENT "NIH 
Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical 
Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts on October 9, 2001 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are 
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 RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS:  
The NIH maintains a policy 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 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 proposals for research involving human 
subjects.  You will find this policy announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants 
and Contracts Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, 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://grants.nih.gov/grants/stem_cells.htm 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 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 RFA 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.

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 RFA 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: FIC - No. 93.989, NIMH - 93.242 and is not 
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 
or Health Systems Agency review.  Awards are made under authorization of the 
Public Health Service Act, as amended (42 USC 241 and 287b) and administered 
under Public Health Service (PHS) grants policies described at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm and under Federal Regulations 
42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. 

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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