RESEARCH CORE CENTERS (P30) FOR THE NIDCD

Release Date:  July 13, 1999

PA NUMBER:  PAR-99-129

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Letter of Intent Receipt Dates:  November 19, 1999, November 20, 2000, November
19, 2001
Application Receipt Dates:  January 19, 2000, January 19, 2001, January 19, 2002

PURPOSE

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
invites grant applications from basic and clinical investigators for Research
Core Centers (P30).  The Research Core Center (P30) is an institutional award,
made in the name of a principal investigator, to support centralized resources
and facilities shared by investigators with existing research projects.  The
overall goal of a Core Center is to promote a cooperative interaction among basic
science and/or clinical investigators in a manner that will enrich the
effectiveness of ongoing research and promote new research directions.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion
and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national
activity for setting priority areas.  This PA, Research Core Centers (P30) for
the NIDCD, is related to the priority areas of diabetes and chronic disabling
conditions and special population objectives.  Potential applicants may obtain
a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No. 017-001-11474-0 or
Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-
512-1800).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit
organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals,
laboratories, units of state or local governments, and eligible agencies of the
Federal government.  Applications from minority individuals, women, and
individuals with disabilities are encouraged.  Foreign organizations or
organizations in foreign countries are not eligible, subcontracts to foreign
organizations are not allowed.

Any institution or consortium with an active program of basic and/or clinical
biomedical research in the mission areas of the NIDCD may qualify for support
through a Core Center.  Institutions applying for a Core Center grant must hold,
on the date of submission, a minimum of six research project grants each with at
least one year of support remaining.  Research projects associated with a Core
Center include individual research grants (R01), FIRST awards (R29), or similar
peer-reviewed project funding from other Federal agencies.  A current program
project/center grant (P01) (P50) subproject may count toward the minimum of six
if that subproject will be an "extensive" user of one of the proposed research
cores.  At least 75% of the research project base should be supported by the
NIDCD and focus on NIDCD mission areas.  Training grants (F32/T32), career
development awards (K08/K23), small grants (R03) and feasibility awards (R21) do
not count as part of the requisite research base, but can be users of the Core
Center.

One or more meritorious research core(s) must be proposed.  Each research core
must have extensive usage by a minimum of 3 investigators with peer reviewed
projects that are independently funded.

A Core Center must be an identifiable organizational unit either within a single
grantee institution or representing a consortium of cooperating institutions
within a close geographic proximity.  Joint applications may be submitted by
investigators at neighboring, independent, or multi-campus institutions.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Support for this program will be provided through the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) Research Core Center (P30) mechanism.  This initiative provides
awards for up to three years of support.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The mission of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders (NIDCD) is to support research and research training on normal
processes as well as diseases and disorders of hearing, balance, smell, taste,
voice, speech and language.  To achieve this mission, NIDCD employs a number of
support mechanisms.  NIDCD recognizes the value of core services in promoting
interactive and collaborative research.

The Research Core Center (P30) is an institutional award, made in the name of a
principal investigator, to support centralized resources and facilities shared
by investigators with existing research projects.  Its aim is to stimulate
multidisciplinary approaches to joint research efforts.  It should be an
"intellectual hub" around which cooperative and interactive research will be
supported and stimulated.  The overall goal of a Core Center is to promote a
cooperative interaction among basic science and/or clinical investigators in a
manner that will enrich the effectiveness of ongoing research and promote new
research directions.  The use of shared resources can increase the efficiency of
research by eliminating unnecessary duplication, promoting the development of new
research directions, and promoting research interactions and collaborations. 
Research cores should be designed to furnish a group of investigators some
service, technique, assay, or instrumentation in a manner that will enhance the
research in progress.  Although no funds are provided for direct support of
research projects, a Core Center helps to integrate and promote research in
existing projects.  This support is intended to enhance the productivity of
traditional research grants at the institution and thereby improve the research
capability of the community and health of the nation.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their
subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral
research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling
rationale and justification are provided 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 research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994
(FR 59 14508-14513) and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 11,
March 18, 1994.

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.  This
policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates
after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in
Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for Grants
and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL address:
http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.

Investigators may obtain copies from these sources or from the program staff
person listed under INQUIRIES.  Program staff may also provide additional
relevant information concerning the policy.

LETTER OF INTENT

To facilitate NIDCD planning, applicants are requested to submit a letter of
intent.  This letter should list the key participants, and provide a description
of the currently funded research base as well as the proposed research cores. 
The NIDCD requests such letters only for the purpose of providing an indication
of the number and scope of applications to be received, and therefore, does not
acknowledge their receipt.  A letter of intent is not binding and it will not
enter into the review of any application subsequently submitted.  The letter of
intent is to be sent to Chief, Scientific Review Branch at the address listed
below.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Application procedures are outlined in the NIDCD Guidelines for Research Core
Centers (P30) which can be obtained on the NIDCD web site at
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/funding/types/p30_2003.pdf or from the program officer
listed in INQUIRIES.  This PA does not include application procedures that can
only be obtained through the NIDCD Guidelines for Research Core Centers
referenced above.

The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) is to be used to apply
for this program.  The form may be downloaded from the NIH Home Page at
http://www.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.  It is also available at most institutional
offices of sponsored research, or it may be obtained from the Division of
Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health,
6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone: 301/710-0267, email:
GrantsInfo@nih.gov.  The instructions in the PHS 398 application kit must be
adhered to, except where they have been modified by the NIDCD Guidelines for
Research Core Centers (P30).

Core Center grants are not one of the mechanisms included in NIH"s Modular Grants
initiative.  A detailed budget must be provided.

The completed original application and three copies must be submitted to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, SUITE 1040- MSC-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)

Send two additional copies of the application to:

Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 400-C, MSC 7180
Bethesda, MD  20892-7180

The initial application receipt date is January 19, 2000, applications received
after this date will be returned to the applicant.  The earliest date of award
is September 1, 2000.  This PA may be reissued.

Schedule:

Letter of Intent Receipt Dates:  Nov 19, 1999   Nov 20, 2000  Nov 19, 2001
Application Receipt Dates:       Jan 19, 2000   Jan 19, 2001  Jan 19, 2002
NIDCD Committee Review:          Jun/Jul 2000   Jun/Jul 2001  Jun/Jul 2002
Council Review:                  Aug 2000       Aug 2001      Oct 2002
Earliest Funding:                Sep 1, 2000    Sep 1, 2001   Dec 1, 2002

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

All applications will be examined for completeness by the Center for Scientific
Review (CSR) and responsiveness to this PA by NIDCD staff.  Complete and
responsive applications will then be reviewed for scientific and technical merit
in accordance with the standard NIH procedures by a review group convened by the
NIDCD.  As part of the initial review, all applications will receive a written
critique. Those applications deemed to have the highest merit, generally the top
half of applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score,
and receive a second level of review by the NDCD Advisory Council.

As part of the initial scientific review, reviewers will vote a priority score
for the Core Center and for each individual research core, these scores will
appear in the summary statement.  Since the NIDCD is interested in funding only
the best research, individual cores of lesser quality (for example, fall below
the score of fundable research applications) may not be funded, even if
recommended, under the "umbrella" of the Core Center grant mechanism.

Each individual core must fit in and contribute to the overall Core Center and
each application should be complete in itself.  Site visits are not anticipated.

Review Criteria for Individual Research Cores

Individual research cores are evaluated on the facilities/services provided,
their utility, and the ability to fulfill the goals of the Core Center program. 
Important factors include:

Significance of the core support to the research base (must be used by at least
three independently funded investigators).

What is the quality of provided services?  Are there procedures for quality
control?  Does the core offer cost effective services?  How is cost reimbursement
proposed?

What is the potential for this core to promote collaborative research?  Are
unique services offered?  Does the core employ novel concepts, approaches or
methods?  Will the core maintain cutting edge services?
Are the core director and personnel appropriately trained and well suited to
carry out this work? Evaluate the commitment of the investigators, and their
ability to devote the required time and effort to the core.

Are the facilities and equipment adequate?  Is there institutional commitment to
the core?

In addition to these criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all applications
will be reviewed with respect to the following:

The adequacy of plans to include children, both genders, minorities, and their
subgroups, as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research.  Plans for
the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.

The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the
proposed research.

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.

Overall Core Center Evaluation

An overall priority score will be assigned to the application.  This score will
reflect not only the quality of the individual cores, but also plans for
leadership and administration, the quality of the research base and how the
proposed Core Center will enhance the research base.

The following elements will be evaluated:

Leadership and Administration:

The plans for coordination of ongoing research between the separately funded
projects and the Core Center including mechanisms for internal monitoring.

The management proposed for fiscal administration, procurement, property and
personnel management, planning, budgeting, etc.

The plan for the establishment and maintenance of internal communication and
cooperation among the Core Center investigators.

Appropriate scientific and administrative leadership, and time commitment of the
Core Center Director and Associate Director for the effective management of the
Core Center program.

The overall environment for a Core Center.  This includes the institutional
commitment to the program, lines of accountability regarding management, and the
institution"s partnership with the Core Center.  This also includes the academic
environment and resources in which the activities will be conducted, such as the
availability of space, equipment, facilities, and the potential for interaction
with scientists from other departments and schools.

Research Base and Enhancement by the Core Center

The aggregate quality of the Core Center"s research base as well as the relevance
and interrelation of these separately funded research projects to the central
themes of the Core Center.

The likelihood for meaningful collaboration among Core Center investigators. 
This includes demonstrated interactions and interrelationships of the research
efforts as well as plans to further develop productive interdisciplinary
collaborations among Core Center investigators.

How will the Core Center enhance significantly (further extend, stimulate and
provide added dimension to) the established research base of the host
institution?

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for available funds with all other favorably
recommended applications.  Funding decisions will be based on the quality of the
proposed project as determined by peer review, relevance to the mission of the
NIDCD, program priorities, and availability of funds.

INQUIRIES

Individuals from institutions with potential interest in applying for a Core
Center grant are required to discuss the potential application with the NIDCD
staff members identified below.  Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to
review the NIDCD Guidelines for Research Core Centers and make program staff
contact as early as possible in the application preparation process.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues, including eligibility and
responsiveness, to:

Amy M. Donahue, Ph.D.
Division of Human Communication
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 400-C, MSC-7180
Bethesda, MD  20892-7180
Telephone:  (301) 402-3458
Fax:  (301) 402-6251
Email:  amy_donahue@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Ms. Sharon Hunt
Grants Management Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 400-B, MSC  7180
Bethesda, MD  20892-7180
Telephone:  (301) 402-0909
Fax:  (301) 402-1758
Email:  SH79F@nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
93.173. 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.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant and recipients to provide a smoke-free
workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products.  In addition, Public
Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain
facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or
routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development
services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the PHS mission to
protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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