Funds Available for Administrative Supplements for Research on Medical Countermeasures to Chemical Terrorism

Notice Number: NOT-ES-06-001

Key Dates
Release Date: September 7, 2005
Receipt Date: March 1, 2006
Earliest Award Date: May, 2006

Issued by
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/)

Program Description

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences announces the availability of one-year administrative supplements for research aimed at developing medical counter measures in the event of an intentional or accidental release of a hazardous chemical agent. The short-term supplemental funds provided under this initiative are intended to support pilot research related to the parent grant that will lead to the development of independent research proposals. These supplements are one-time awards and will not extend to subsequent budget periods.

Principal Investigators with Research Project (R01), Merit Award (R37), Exploratory/Development (R21), Phase II SBIR (R44), Phase II STTR (R42), Program Project (P01), Specialized Center (P42, P50 or U54), and Cooperative Agreement (U01) grants funded by the NIEHS are eligible to apply. Principal Investigators with grants that are in the last year of the project period at the time of submission should contact the Programmatic Official listed below. Grants that are in a no-cost extension will not be considered for support under this supplement program.

Applications must describe the relationship between the effects of the chemical agent and the mission of the NIEHS. Proposed studies must demonstrate how they will advance efforts to develop medical countermeasures to chemical agents that are probable candidates for use in a terrorist attack. Evidence should be presented that the results of the supplemental assistance will enhance the pursuit of the Specific Aims of the original research project, without constituting an expansion of scope. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Program Official listed below at the NIEHS for a description of more specific research interests.

Research may include, but is not limited to, basic and pre-clinical studies on chemical threat agents such as organophosphate nerve agents (e.g. sarin, soman, VX), metabolic poisons (e.g. cyanide), choking agents (e.g. phosgene, chlorine), blistering agents (e.g. sulfur mustard), incapacitating agents (e.g. BZ), other toxic industrial chemicals (e.g. pesticides), and plant/animal toxins (e.g. ricin, botulinum, brevetoxin). Since special biosafety certifications may be required to conduct research on some of these chemical agents, applicants may choose to collaborate with laboratories that are certified to work with restricted chemical agents. One such laboratory is the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Collaborative Research Program and Facility, Edgewood, MD (Contact Dr. Dennis Lang at the address below for further information).

Appropriate projects include, but are not limited to, studies to characterize the mechanisms of chemical effects; identification of biomarkers of exposure or disease progression using omics technologies that could be useful as diagnostics; characterization of the pathophysiology and natural progression of chemical agent-induced damage to tissues; and examination of delayed or long-term effects of low-dose exposure to individual chemical agents or combinations of agents; pharmacokinetic measurement; understanding the genetic basis of the difference in susceptibility to these chemical agents to enhance our understanding of the extent and severity of potential response across the human population; modifying pathways involved in detoxification and clearance in humans or animal models so as to reduce harmful effects of chemical agents; development of products that could be used for pre- or post-exposure treatment; and short-term and long-term metrics to monitor effectiveness of therapy. A link between the agent proposed for study and the harmful effects on human health must already have been established.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit an original and five copies of a complete application, signed by an authorized business official at their institution, to the contact person from the NIEHS listed at the end of this Notice. DO NOT SEND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENTS TO THE CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW. The following sections should be included:

1. A cover page (i.e. page 1 of PHS Form 398) citing this NOTICE and requesting an administrative supplement, including the PI name, grant number and title, amount requested, name and title of the institutional official, and phone, email, and address information for both the PI and institutional official. Documentation of approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for any proposed animal studies must be provided.

2. A description of the project (5 page limit), including Abstract; Background & Significance (i.e. rationale for the choice of agent, experimental model, study conditions, outcome measures, and relevance of the proposed study to counterterrorism); and Research Design & Methods (description of the agent selected, model in which the agent will be studied, conditions of experimental exposure, protective treatment, and outcome measures).

3. Description of the source, storage, use, and disposal of the agent, and inclusion of any necessary approvals or laboratory biosafety certifications.

4. Specific Aims of the original grant.

5. Description of the relationship of the project to the Specific Aims of the parent grant.

6. A modular budget with appropriate justifications for requested direct costs (see Budget Information below).

Applications that do not include the sections listed above will not be reviewed.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed administratively, and it is expected that, for successful applications, a resulting supplemental Notice of Award will be issued within two months of the receipt deadline. All funding decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. Review criteria will include the relevance of the proposed research to improving our understanding of, and treatments for, the harmful effects of chemical threat agents.

Budget Information

Supplements will be awarded as direct costs in modular amounts of $25,000 and are one-time awards. Facilities and Administrative will be awarded based upon the Direct Cost amount approved for award. For all allowable grant mechanisms, the maximum amount requested may not exceed $50,000 direct costs. Although the awarded budgets will be modular, applicants should provide a budget justification that details the budget items requested, including facilities and administrative costs.

In Fiscal year 2006, NIEHS will commit a total of $500,000 towards this program. Awards pursuant to this Notice are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of applications of sufficiently high scientific merit.

Inquiries

Direct inquiries regarding this notice to:

Dr. Dennis R. Lang
NIEHS
79 Alexander Drive
Room 3431, MD EC-20
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Tel: 919-541-7729
Fax: 919-541-2843
Email: lang4@niehs.nih.gov


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