PA-02-157: NIDCD INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED CLINICAL TRIALS

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)

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NIDCD INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED CLINICAL TRIALS RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2002 PA NUMBER: PA 02 157 EXPIRATION DATE: OCTOBER 2005, unless reissued. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov) THIS PA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION o Purpose of the PA o Research Objectives o Mechanism(s) of Support o Eligible Institutions o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators o Special Requirements o Where to Send Inquiries o Submitting an Application o Peer Review Process o Review Criteria o Award Criteria o Required Federal Citations PURPOSE OF THIS PA This document, which supersedes PA-00-107 (June 22, 2000), announces the continued willingness of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) to accept applications for the conduct of phase III clinical trials related to disorders of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language. This document provides a synopsis of the requirements placed on the receipt, review and funding of these applications. For more detailed information potential applicants should also review "NIDCD Policy and Procedures for Investigator-initiated Clinical Trials", which can be found at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials/clin_policy.asp. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objective of this PA is to continue to encourage the submission of investigator-initiated phase III clinical trial applications assessing the treatment or prevention of diseases and disorders of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language. Progress in basic research, with expanding knowledge of biological and other factors influencing disease initiation, progression and response to treatment affords an unparalleled opportunity to translate these advances into interventions that can improve the health of the American people. This initiative is designed to encourage the development and implementation of protocols examining the efficacy of interventions aiming to treat or prevent disorders of human communication. NIDCD does not accept, review or fund pilot studies. A pilot study is one whose major purpose is to demonstrate the feasibility of further studies. The NIDCD will accept, review, and fund clinical trial planning grants, in response to the NIDCD Clinical Trial Planning Grant Program Announcement. A planning grant is intended to support the development of a Manual of Operations and Procedures amongst other activities necessary to develop a complete clinical trial application package. For further information regarding the NIDCD Clinical Trial Planning Grant, see: (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-158.html) MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT This PA will use the NIH RO1 award mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. For those applications that are to be awarded $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year or support a multicenter clinical trial, the RO1 will be converted to the UO1 mechanism (a cooperative agreement), indicating substantial NIDCD staff involvement and the Terms and Conditions of Grant Award will reflect that arrangement. See http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials/clin_policy.asp for further information. The NIH (UO1) is a cooperative agreement award mechanism in which the Principal Investigator retains the primary responsibility and dominant role for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project, with NIH staff being substantially involved as a partner with the Principal Investigator, as described under the section "Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award" Regardless of the mechanism of support, NIDCD staff will closely monitor progress during the award period. This monitoring may include regular communication with the principal investigator and staff, as well as, in the case of the cooperative agreement, participation in the steering committee, data and safety monitoring committee, and related committee meetings. The level of NIDCD staff participation will be specified in the Terms and Conditions of Grant Award. This PA uses just-in-time concepts. As it is anticipated that applications responsive to this program announcement (NIDCD INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED CLINICAL TRIALS) will request funds exceeding $250,000 per annum, modular grant instructions do not apply. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the following characteristics: 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 Eligible agencies of the Federal government o Domestic (Domestic applications may include international components, however, the domestic components must constitute the majority of the application. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 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 PA 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 no later than 30 days before planned submission date. The letter of intent should be sent to: Dr. A. Julianna Gulya Division: Clinical Trials, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Section Institute: NIDCD Building: EPS Room: 400D-7 Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 Telephone: (301)435-4085 FAX: (301) 402-6251 Email: Julie_Gulya@nih.gov Please refer to http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials/clin_policy.asp for additional special requirements relevant to NIDCD Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials. WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES We encourage your inquiries concerning this PA 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 Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to: Staff Contact: A. Julianna Gulya, MD Division: Division of Extramural Research Institute or Center: NIDCD Building EPS, Room 400D Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 Telephone: (301) 435-4085 FAX: (301) 402-6251 Email: gulyaj@mail.nih.gov o Direct your questions about peer review issues to: Staff Contact: Craig Jordan, PhD Division: Division of Extramural Research Institute or Center: NIDCD Building EPS, Room 400C Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 Telephone: (301) 496-8683 FAX: (301) 402-6250 Email: jordanc@mail.nih.gov o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to: Staff Contact: Sara Stone Division: Division of Extramural Research Institute or Center: NIDCD Building EPS, Room 400B Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 Telephone: (301)402-0909 FAX: (301) 402-1758 Email: stones@nidcd.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. APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES: Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be accepted according to the schedule provided at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials/clin_policy.asp. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATIONS REQUESTING $500,000 OR MORE PER YEAR: Applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year must include a cover letter identifying the NIH staff member within one of the NIH institutes or centers who has agreed to accept assignment of the application. Applicants requesting more than $500,000 must carry out the following steps: 1) Contact the IC program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the application, i.e., as you are developing plans for the study, 2) Obtain agreement from the IC staff that the IC will accept your application for consideration for award, and, 3) Identify, in a cover letter sent with the application, the staff member and IC who agreed to accept assignment of the application. This policy applies to all investigator-initiated new (type 1), competing continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended or revised version of these grant application types. Additional information on this policy is available in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, October 19, 2001 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-004.html. 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) In addition to the copies submitted to the Center for Scientific Review, two copies should be sent, under separate cover to: Chief, Scientific Review Branch National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders EPS, 400C Bethesda, MD 20892-7180 Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service) Submission of separate copies to the Chief, Scientific Review Branch, will allow more time to study the application and plan for its review. APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by or mailed on or before the receipt dates described at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials/clin_policy.asp. The CSR will not accept any application in response to this PA 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 a substantial revision of an application already reviewed, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the previous critique. PEER REVIEW PROCESS Applications submitted for this PA will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. An appropriate scientific review group convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures (http://www.csr.nih.gov/refrev.htm) will evaluate applications for scientific and technical merit. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will: o Receive a written critique o Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score o Receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council or board 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 high 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? 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 other researchers (if any)? (5) ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which your work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments 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: 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. In keeping with NIH policy (see "MONITORING PLAN AND DATA SAFETY AND [sic] MONITORING BOARD" below) all clinical trials require data and safety monitoring. 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) DATA SHARING: The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data. BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research. OTHER REVIEW CRITERIA: Please refer to http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials/clin_policy.asp. AWARD CRITERIA Applications submitted in response to a PA will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review o Availability of funds o Relevance to program priorities 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 PA in a public archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include information about this in the budget justification section of the application. In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider use of data collected under this award. URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010: The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This PA is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople. AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.173, and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards are made under authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and administered under NIH 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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