GENOME INFORMATICS PROGRAM NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 11, March 20, 1992 PA NUMBER: PA-92-59 P.T. 34 Keywords: Human Genome Information Science/Systems Computing Resources+ National Center for Human Genome Research PURPOSE The National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) is interested in facilitating research and development in computational and information science that will support the achievement of the goals of the Human Genome Project. This announcement contains a description of the current priority areas of informatics research for the Human Genome Project and solicits applications for the Genome Informatics Program. It is anticipated that the Genome Informatics Program will support informatics research in selected targeted areas and will support establishment and operation of data repositories required to collect the results of the Human Genome Project and to make those results available to the broader biomedical research community. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Applications from minority individuals and women are encouraged. MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT The support mechanisms used to support research, development, and infrastructure projects in the Genome Informatics Program are research grants (R01), program project grants (P01), pilot projects and feasibility studies (R21), and First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) awards (R29). In addition, applications for research in genome informatics are also solicited by the following program announcements: o PA-91-88 "Courses Related to Genomic Analysis" mechanism: T15 Continuing Education Training Grants; o PA-91-89 "Special Emphasis Research Career Award in Genomic Research" mechanism: K01 Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA); o PA-92-22 "National Research Service Awards in Genomic Analysis" mechanisms: T32 Institutional Predoctoral Research Training Programs; F32 Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships; F33 Senior Postdoctoral Fellowships; and o PHS 91-2 "Omnibus Solicitation of the Public Health Service for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant Applications" mechanisms: R43 Phase I SBIR Grants; R44 Phase II SBIR Grants. These program announcements are available from the National Center for Human Genome Research at the address below. Applicants are encouraged to contact NCHGR staff to discuss the appropriateness of a particular support mechanism and any special application requirements. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The primary purposes of Genome Informatics Program are to develop new technology needed to accomplish the objectives of the Human Genome Project and to apply these technologies to the acquisition, management, analysis, and dissemination of mapping and sequencing information. Each project must have tangible and, whenever possible, quantifiable aims that define a specific objective that the project intends to accomplish during the granting period. The project will be accountable for the attainment of such milestones through yearly progress reports, timely publication and dissemination of results including software and database designs and source code, and the competitive renewal process. The specific objectives appropriate to Genome Informatics Program grants are: o Development of laboratory data management systems tailored to large-scale genome mapping and sequencing projects; o Development of new and improved algorithms for analysis of experimental mapping or sequencing data, especially with the aim of generating consensus genetic or physical maps or finished sequence; o Development of new and improved algorithms for analysis and display of consensus (or finished) genomic mapping or sequencing data; o Development of prototype database designs and implementations to test novel approaches to representation of genomic mapping and sequencing data; o Implementation of the algorithms described above in efficient, well-documented, and tested programs; and o Development of shared data resources or repositories for data generated by the Human Genome Project. This list should be considered illustrative and not exclusive. It is anticipated that, to the maximum extent possible, research and development projects will be carried out with the active participation of the biological scientists who will be the data generators and users and the ultimate users of the tools and databases developed under this program. Where appropriate, collaboration with industry is encouraged. In such a collaboration, the industrial contribution must be well integrated into the design and operation of the project to encourage cross-fertilization of ideas and rapid application of the research to practical purposes. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines as indicated in the application kit. Application kits are available at most institutional business offices and may be obtained from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood Building, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone 301/496-7441. The title and number of the announcement must be typed in Section 2a on the face page of the application. The completed original application and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** REVIEW PROCEDURES Applications will be assigned on the basis of established Public Health Service referral guidelines. Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by study sections of the Division of Research Grants, NIH or by an appropriate Institute or Center review group in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. Following scientific-technical review, the applications will receive a second-level review by the appropriate national advisory council. Review criteria that will be used by the initial review group to assess the scientific merit are: (1) Significance and originality of the research and methodological approaches; (2) Feasibility of the research and adequacy of the experimental design; (3) Training, experience, research competence, and commitment of the investigator(s); (4) Adequacy of the facilities and resources; and (5) Appropriateness of the requested budget for the work proposed. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications assigned to that ICD. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: (1) Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; (2) Balance among research areas of this announcement; and (3) Availability of funds. For applications assigned to the NCHGR, an additional award criterion is the value of the proposed research for achieving the goals of the National Center for Human Genome Research. In addition, because projects to develop informatics tools and databases differ significantly from typical individual research projects, appropriate award criteria will also differ depending on the nature of the work proposed. The following award criteria are provided to illustrate the mix of criteria employed in the evaluation of a particular application. Prototype database development: o Adequacy, permanence, completeness, and safety of data storage; o Provision for integration with related databases; o Generality of the data structure design (e.g., species-independence) to the extent that generalizing the design does not impose unreasonable costs; and o Adequacy of design and system documentation and plans for its distribution. Development of software tools: o Portability at the source code level; o Portability of the user interface; o Portability or general availability of required external hardware or software (e.g., graphics terminals, plotters, database managers, vector processors); o Adequacy of plans for distribution and appropriate support, including public domain distribution and/or commercialization; o Appropriateness of software engineering methodology to be employed; o Adequacy of design and system documentation and plans for its distribution; and o Adequacy of plans for development of user documentation. Operational laboratory database implementation: o All the criteria listed above; o Adequacy of quality control, sample tracking, and overall project management; o Adequacy of data transfer rate (adequate for the anticipated data entry and query load); o Adequacy of provision for "community" access, if appropriate; and o Adequacy of data protection from unauthorized access or modification. Public database implementation: o All the criteria listed above; o Provision for multiple forms of access or distribution; o Provision of a well-documented, clearly specified Application Program Interface (API) supporting (at a minimum) query and retrieval; o Provision for network accessibility through the Internet, using well-recognized standards (i.e., TCP/IP); o Use of a commercial database management system running on a POSIX-conforming operating system (unless justification for doing otherwise is presented); o Use of consistent, well-recognized standards; o Support for differential (among authorized users) accessibility of data; and o Provision for maintaining a history of changes to the database (an audit trail or set of editorial citations). In general, other issues (e.g., hardware, operating system, database management system) will be considered only to the extent that they influence the adequacy and economy of the system evaluated according to the criteria given above. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: David Benton, Ph.D. Director, Genome Informatics Program National Center for Human Genome Research Building 38A, Room 610 Bethesda, MD 20894 Telephone: (301) 496-7531 E-mail: benton@bio.nlm.nih.gov (internal) Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Alice Thomas Chief, Grants and Contracts Management Section National Center for Human Genome Research Building 38A, Room 610 Bethesda, MD 20894 Telephone: (301) 402-0733 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.172. 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 PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
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