and Human Services (HHS)
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files.
Department of Health and Human Services
Participating Organizations
National Institutes of
Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)
Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/)
National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov/)
National
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/)
National
Institute on Aging (NIA), (http://www.nia.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), (http://www.nibib.nih.gov/)
National
Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.nci.nih.gov/)
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/)
Title: Interactions Between Stem and Progenitor Cells and the
Microenvironment (R03)
Announcement Type
This is a reissue of PAS-05-092,
previously released April 21, 2005.
Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED IN PAPER FORMAT.
This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application guidelines provided with this announcement in Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called Grants.gov/Apply).
A registration process is necessary before submission and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Two steps are required for on time submission:
1) The application must be submitted to Grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the submission date (see Key Dates below).
2) Applicants must complete a verification step in the eRA Commons within two business days of notification from NIH. Note: Since email can be unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to periodically check on their application status in the Commons.
Program Announcement (PA) Number: PAS-06-207
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.853,
93.279, 93.173, 93.867, 93.396, 93.866, 93.273, 93.286
Key Dates
Release/Posted
Date: March 9, 2006
Opening
Date: May 2,
2006 (Earliest
date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov)
Letter of
Intent Receipt Date(s): Not applicable
Application
Submission Date(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Peer Review Date(s): http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Council
Review Date(s): http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward.
Additional Information
To Be Available Date (URL Activation Date): Not Applicable
Expiration
Date: May 2, 2008 (now May 8, 2008 per NOT-OD-07-093)
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Additional Overview
Content
Executive Summary
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Eye Institute (NEI), the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) invite applications for studies on the cellular and molecular signaling between the local environment within organisms and stem and progenitor cells that are either introduced as transplants or are normally resident within host tissues and organs. The objective of this initiative is to promote a thorough exploration and characterization of the bi-directional communication between multipotent cells and the three-dimensional local milieu or niche that they encounter in vivo under normal and compromised states, such as with aging or following injury, disease or drug exposure.
Table of Contents
Part I Overview Information
Part
II Full Text of Announcement
Section
I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research
Objectives
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of
Support
2. Funds Available
Section
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible
Applicants
A.
Eligible Institutions
B.
Eligible Individuals
2. Cost Sharing or
Matching
3. Other - Special
Eligibility Criteria
Section
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Request
Application Information
2. Content and Form
of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates
and Times
A.
Submission, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B.
Sending an Application to the NIH
C.
Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental
Review
5. Funding
Restrictions
6. Other Submission
Requirements
Section
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and
Selection Process
A.
Additional Review Criteria
B.
Additional Review Considerations
C.
Sharing Research Data
D.
Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated
Announcement and Award Dates
Section
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative
and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting
Section
VII. Agency Contact(s)
1.
Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review
Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants
Management Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal
Citations
Part II
- Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Purpose of this FOA
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Eye Institute (NEI), the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) invite applications for studies on the cellular and molecular signaling between the local environment within organisms and stem and progenitor cells that are either introduced as transplants or are normally resident within host tissues and organs. The objective of this initiative is to promote a thorough exploration and characterization of the bi-directional communication between multipotent cells and the three-dimensional local milieu or niche that they encounter in vivo under normal and compromised states, such as with aging or following injury, disease or drug exposure. Of particular interest is the rigorous characterization of how interactions with localized cues in space and time regulate stem cell survival, migration, replication and 'plasticity' in the nervous system and other parts of the body. Projects that address comparisons between the responses of stem cells within niches in the developing and mature or aging nervous system in vivo, or in host microenvironments modified by injury, disease, or by exposure to drugs and alcohol would also be directly relevant to this Program Announcement with Set-aside (PAS), as are studies to compare different classes of stem cells or progeny at progressively more advanced stages of differentiation when placed in the same sites in vivo.
Research Objectives
Unlike organs such as the skin and the gut that self-renew throughout life, the nervous system in adult mammals is restricted in its ability to replace neurons and glia that have been lost through injury, disease, alcohol and drug abuse or even advancing age. Stem cell research offers enormous potential for treating many congenital, developmental, psychiatric or degenerative diseases of the nervous system for which there are no treatments or cures. Under the appropriate tissue culture conditions, a variety of multipotent cells appear to acquire many properties of neurons and glia a first step toward developing cell replacement therapies for neurological dysfunction. The discovery of endogenous stem cells, residing either within the nervous system or in other tissues raises the possibility that these intrinsic systems may be harnessed to restore defective cells and functions. In both cases the expectation is that, when exposed to the optimal microenvironment in vivo, endogenous or transplanted stem cells will differentiate in a manner appropriate to the local brain region, and integrate with the existing circuits in the nervous system. The past decade has seen enormous progress in our understanding of the specific requirements of stem cells to proliferate and differentiate along specified lineages. This progress has been made possible by the discovery of myriad growth factors and substrate conditions followed by careful testing in culture. Unfortunately, the behavior of cells in tissue culture does not adequately predict how these same cells will behave when transplanted into the living host where multiple known and unknown factors converge to influence the biological process. We do not know the whole spectrum of factors present in vivo that influence cell fate. Effective use of stem and progenitor cells for therapeutic purposes hinges on their ability to thrive, integrate, and function in a biologically meaningful manner in vivo without causing adverse events. Therefore the next stage in developing cell restoration therapy requires understanding how the newly generated cells will behave within the host.
Recent reports indicate that the "niche" or local microenvironment that a stem cell encounters governs its behavior and fate. For example, adult neural stem cells produced neurons when transplanted into the neurogenic zone of the hippocampus, but produced astrocytes in the environment of the spinal cord. Further investigation showed that a specific component of the local environment, the regional astrocytes from the hippocampus were capable of instructing these stem cells to adopt a neuronal fate in vitro. In addition to regional differences within the nervous system, the microenvironment encountered by a stem cell may vary as a function of age of the host organism. Similarly, alteration of the niche by injury, drugs or other circumstances is likely to affect the ability of transplanted stem cells to survive, differentiate and integrate into existing neural circuitry. Understanding these changes will be important in making decisions about the use of cell replacement therapies in very young or elderly patients, in patients with a history of alcohol or drug usage, or suffering from injury or other neurological conditions.
Transplanted cells can act to influence and change host cells in their vicinity. Stem cells may release agents that alter the activity or resiliency of damaged host cells. These dynamic interactions are inevitable as living cells and tissue contact, react and respond to each other in time and space. Teasing out and understanding these interactions poses a major challenge that must be faced in order to develop realistic cell replacement therapies and enhance normal tissue regeneration.
Objectives and Scope
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) with Set-Aside is intended to promote studies that establish and identify the nature and action of microenvironmental cues in the nervous system that regulate stem cell fate. This FOA specifically targets cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms that act in vivo to influence stem cell survival, homing/migration, adhesion, differentiation, plasticity and tumorigenicity in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Applications that only propose in vitro studies will not be responsive to this initiative.
The following examples illustrate areas that are of high interest; other innovative projects are also encouraged. These examples of research approaches are not meant to be all-inclusive or restrictive. Plans for data and/or reagent sharing and promulgation of results will be integral to the applications.
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of Support
This funding opportunity will use the NIH Small Research Grant (R03) award mechanism. The applicant will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project.
The R03 award mechanism will support small research projects that can be carried out in a short time with limited resources. Examples of the types of projects that the participating ICs support with the R03 can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm.
This FOA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular budget formats (see the Modular Applications and Awards section of the NIH Grants Policy Statement. All applications submitted in response to this FOA must use the modular budget format. Specifically, if you are submitting an application with direct costs in each year of $250,000 or less (excluding consortium Facilities and Administrative [F&A] costs), use the PHS398 Modular Budget component provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Package and Instructions Guide (see specifically the PHS398 Modular Budget component).
Competing renewal (formerly competing continuation ) applications will not be accepted. Small grant support may not be used for thesis or dissertation research. Two resubmissions (formerly revisions") of a previously reviewed R03 grant application may be submitted as defined in NIH Policy. See NOT-OD-05-046 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-046.html
An R03 is not renewable.
Submission
of an application under this funding opportunity precludes concurrent
submission of any other Public Health Service application containing
substantially the same research proposal. In addition, these R03 awards may
not be used to supplement research projects currently supported by Federal or
non-Federal funds, or to provide interim support of projects under review by
the Public Health Service.
2. Funds Available
The participating organizations intend to commit a total of $2,700,000 to this FOA for payment of applications responsive to this announcement and two parallel announcements that use the R01 and R21 mechanisms.
R03 applications may request a project period of up to two years and a budget for direct costs of up to two $25,000 modules or $50,000 per year may be requested.
Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines (see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm). The earliest possible start date for applications submitted in response to this program announcement is April 2006.
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 IC(s) provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Facilities and
administrative (F&A) costs requested by consortium participants are not
included in the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.
Section
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
You may submit (an)
application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:
1.B.
Eligible Individuals
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.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
This program does not require
cost sharing as defined in the current NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Criteria for federal funding
of research on hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp 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 (http://escr.nih.gov/). It is the
responsibility of the applicant to provide in the project description and
elsewhere in the application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for
the hESC line(s) to be used in the proposed research. Applications that do not
provide this information may be delayed in the review process or returned
without review.
Section
IV. Application and Submission Information
Registration and Instructions for Submission via Grants.gov
To download a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and
SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for
this FOA, link to http://www.grants.gov/Apply/ and follow the directions provided on that Web site.
A one-time registration is required for institutions/organizations at both:
PD/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the NIH Commons.
Several additional separate actions are required before an applicant institution/organization can submit an electronic application, as follows:
1) Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Started
2) Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons
3) Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the NIH eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.
Note that if a PD/PI is also an NIH peer-reviewer with an Individual DUNS and CCR registration, that particular DUNS number and CCR registration are for the individual reviewer only. These are different than any DUNS number and CCR registration used by an applicant organization. Individual DUNS and CCR registration should be used only for the purposes of personal reimbursement and should not be used on any grant applications submitted to the Federal Government.
Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their institution is already registered in both Grants.gov and the Commons. The NIH will accept electronic applications only from organizations that have completed all necessary registrations.
1.
Request Application Information
Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R)
application forms and instructions for this FOA through the Grants.gov Apply Web site.
Note: Only the forms package directly attached to a
specific FOA can be used. You will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R)
forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another FOA), although some of the
"Attachment" files may be useable for more than one FOA.
For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Phone (301)
435-0714, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY
301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of
Application Submission
Prepare all applications using the SF424
(R &R) application forms and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (MS Word or PDF).
The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to NIH. There are fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components that, although not marked as mandatory, are required by NIH (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PI’s assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide. For additional information, see Tips and Tools for Navigating Electronic Submission on the front page of Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
The SF424 (R&R) application is comprised of data arranged in separate components. Some components are required, others are optional. The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/ APPLY will include all applicable components, required and optional. A completed application in response to this FOA will include the following components:
Required Components:
SF424
(R&R) (Cover component)
Research & Related Project/Performance Site Locations
Research
& Related Other Project Information
Research
& Related Senior/Key Person
PHS398
Cover Page Supplement
PHS398
Research Plan
PHS398
Checklist
PHS398 Modular Budget
Optional Components:
PHS398
Cover Letter File
R&R
Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form
Note: While both budget components are included in the SF424 (R&R) forms package, the NIH R03 uses ONLY the PHS 398 Modular Budget. (Do not use the detailed Research & Related Budget.)
Foreign
Organizations
Several
special provisions apply to applications submitted by foreign organizations:
Proposed research should provide a unique research
opportunity not available in the United States.
3. Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV.3.A for details.
3.A. Submission,
Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
Letter of Intent Receipt
Date: Not applicable.
Application Submission Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Peer Review Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Council Review Date(s): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
A letter of intent is
not required for the funding opportunity.
3.B. Sending an
Application to the NIH
To submit an application
in response to this FOA, applicants should access this FOA via http://www.grants.gov/Apply and follow
steps 1-4. Note: Applications must only be submitted electronically
PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
3.C.
Application Processing
Applications may be submitted to Grants.gov on or
after the opening date and must be
submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the application submission
date(s). (See Section
IV.3.A. for all dates.) If an application is not submitted by the submission
date(s) and time, the application may be delayed in the review process or not
reviewed.
Upon receipt, applications will be transferred from Grants.gov to the
NIH Electronic Research Administration process for validation. Both the PD/PI
and the Signing Official for the organization must verify the submission via Commons within 2 business days
of notification of the NIH validation.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the
Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
The NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that
is essentially the same as one currently pending initial merit review unless
the applicant withdraws the pending application. The NIH will not accept any
application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not
preclude the submission of an application already reviewed with substantial
changes, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the
previous critique. Note that such an application is considered a
"resubmission" for the SF424 (R&R).
There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.gov and the Commons. Information related to the assignment of an application to a Scientific Review Group is also in the Commons.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is
not subject to intergovernmental
review.
5. Funding Restrictions
All NIH awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm).
Pre-Award Costs are
allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur
obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning
date of the initial budget period of a new award if such costs: are necessary
to conduct the project, and would be allowable under the grant, if awarded,
without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise require
prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring the cost.
NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days
before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing
continuation award.
The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a
competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make
the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made
for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award
costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs
result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not
impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the
approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project.
See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.
6. Other Submission Requirements
The
NIH requires the PD/PI to fill in his/her Commons User ID in the PROFILE
Project Director/Principal Investigator section, Credential log-in field of
the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component. The applicant
organization must include its DUNS number in its Organization Profile in the
eRA Commons. This DUNS number must match the DUNS number provided at CCR
registration with Grants.gov. For additional information, see Tips and Tools
for Navigating Electronic Submission on the front page of Electronic Submission of Grant
Applications.
Renewal (formerly competing continuation or Type 2 ) applications are not permitted.
All application instructions outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (MS Word or PDF) are to be followed, with the following requirements for R03 applications:
Note: While each section of the Research Plan needs to be uploaded separately as a PDF attachment, applicants are encouraged to construct the Research Plan as a single document, separating sections into distinct PDF attachments just before uploading the files. This approach will enable applicants to better monitor formatting requirements such as page limits. All attachments must be provided to NIH in PDF format, filenames must be included with no spaces or special characters, and a .pdf extension must be used.
Research Plan
The Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies, and Research Design and Methods components of the Research Plan must not exceed 10 pages. All tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts must be included with the 10-page limit. Be succinct and remember that there is no requirement to use all 10 pages allotted to the Research Plan.
Please note that a Progress Report is not needed.
For resubmission of an application, an Introduction (not to exceed one page) in addition
to the Research Plan is required. This Introduction, which is not included in the ten-
page limit, must include responses to the criticisms and issues raised in the summary
statement. The changes in the Research Plan must be clearly marked by appropriate
bracketing, indenting or changing of typography, unless the changes include most of the
text. Changes should be summarized in the Introduction.
Appendix. (New and Resubmission Applications)
The appendix may include graphic images of gels, micrographs, etc. provided that the image (which may be reduced in size) is also included within the 10-page limit of Items 2-5 of the Research Plan. No images may be included in the Appendix that are not also represented within the Research Plan. No publications or other printed material, with the exception of pre-printed questionnaires or surveys, may be included in the appendix.
Specific Instructions for Modular Grant applications.
All R03 applications must be submitted in the modular budget format. The modular budget format simplifies the preparation of the budget by limiting the level of budgetary detail. Applicants may request direct costs for two $25,000 modules, up to a total annual direct cost of $50,000 per year, for up to two years ($100,000 maximum, four modules of $25,000 each).
The SF 424 R&R Application Guide (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/SF424_RR_Guide_General_Ver2.doc) includes step-by-step guidance for preparing modular budgets. Additional information on modular budgets is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.
Plan for Sharing
Research Data
The precise content
of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and
how the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants who are planning
to share data may wish to describe briefly the expected schedule for data
sharing, the format of the final dataset, the documentation to be provided,
whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided, whether or not a
data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such
an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and
whether or not any conditions will be placed on their use), and the mode of
data sharing (e.g., under their own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data
on their institutional or personal website, through a data archive or enclave).
Investigators choosing to share under their own auspices may wish to enter into
a data-sharing agreement. References to data sharing may also be appropriate in
other sections of the application.
All applicants must
include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The data sharing
policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing.
All investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a
description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data
sharing is not possible.
The reasonableness
of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
Sharing Research
Resources
NIH policy requires
that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available
for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community
after publication (NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any
related data sharing plans will be considered by Program staff of the funding
organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The
effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the
administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm).
See Section VI.3. Reporting.
Section
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Only the review
criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications
submitted for this funding opportunity will be assigned to the ICs on the basis
of established PHS referral guidelines.
Appropriate scientific review groups 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:
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
The
goals of NIH supported research are to advance our understanding of biological
systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their
written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following
criteria in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have
a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will
be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as
appropriate for each application. Note that an 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, an investigator may
propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is
essential to move a field forward.
Significance: Does this study address an
important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will
scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect
of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services,
or preventative interventions that drive this field?
Approach: Are the conceptual or
clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well
integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the
applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
Innovation: Is the project original and
innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or
clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to
progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts,
approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?
Investigators: Are the investigators
appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work
proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and
other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and
integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?
Environment: Does the scientific
environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of
success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific
environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative
arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
2.A. Additional Review
Criteria:
In addition to the
above criteria, the following items will continue to be considered in the
determination of scientific merit and the priority score:
Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in
Research: If vertebrate animals are to
be used in the project, the five items described under item 11 of the Research
Plan component of the SF424 (R&R) will be assessed.
Biohazards: If materials or procedures are proposed that are
potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, determine
if the proposed protection is adequate.
2.B. Additional
Review Considerations
Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed
budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research
may be assessed by the reviewers. Is the percent effort listed for the PD/PI
appropriate for the work proposed? Is each budget category realistic and
justified in terms of the aims and methods?
Period of Support: The appropriateness of the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research.
2.C. Sharing
Research Data
Data Sharing Plan: The reasonableness of
the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
The presence of a data sharing plan will be part of the terms and conditions of
the award. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data
sharing policy.
Program staff will be responsible for the administrative review of the plan for sharing research data.
2.D.
Sharing Research Resources
NIH
policy requires that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources
readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the
scientific community after publication (See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
Program staff will be responsible for the administrative
review of the plan for sharing research resources.
The
adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any related data sharing plans will
be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making
recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource
sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each Non-Competing Grant
Progress Report (PHS 2590), See Section VI.3.,
Reporting.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award
Dates
Not applicable
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
After the peer review of the application is completed,
the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written
critique) via the eRA Commons.
If
the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request
"just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details,
applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions
of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm).
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award
(NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the
grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all administrative
and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email
notification from the awarding component to the grantee business official.
Selection of an application for award is not an
authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the
NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the
extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See Also Section
IV.5. Funding Restrictions.
2. Administrative and
National Policy Requirements
All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include
the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart
A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm)
and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and
Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm).
3. Reporting
When
multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Grant
Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in
the NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
We
encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity 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:
1. Scientific/Research Contacts:
David F. Owens,
Ph.D.
Program
Director, Extramural Research Program
National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National
Institutes of Health
Neuroscience Center, Room 2204
6001
Executive Blvd.
Bethesda, MD 20892-9525
Telephone:
(301) 496-1447
FAX:
(301) 480-1080
E-mail: do47h@nih.gov
Geraline C. Lin,
Ph.D.
Division
of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
National
Institutes of Health
|6001
Executive Boulevard
Rm. 4282,
MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
Telephone:
(301) 435-1305
FAX:
(301) 594-6043
E-mail: glin@nida.nih.gov
Fei Wang,
Ph.D.
Division
of Discovery Science & Technology
National
Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
National
Institutes of Health, DHHS
6707
Democracy Boulevard, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20892-5477
Telephone:
(301) 451-4778
FAX:
(301) 480-4973
E-mail: wangf@mail.nih.gov
Bradley
C. Wise, Ph.D.
Program
Director, Fundamental Neuroscience
Neuroscience
and Neuropsychology of Aging Program
National
Institute on Aging, NIH, DHHS
7201
Wisconsin Ave., Suite 350
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone:
(301) 496-9350
FAX:
(301) 496-1494
E-mail: wiseb@nia.nih.gov
Richard
S. Fisher, Ph.D.
Corneal
Diseases Program Director
National
Eye Institute
Division
of Extramural Research
5635
Fishers Lane MSC 9300
Bethesda, MD 20892-9300
(for
FEDEX and other couriers, Rockville, MD 20852)
Telephone:
(301) 451-2020
FAX:
(301) 402-0538
E-mail: rfisher@nei.nih.gov
Barry J.
Davis, Ph.D.
Director,
Taste and Smell Program/NIDCD
6120
Executive Blvd., MSC-7180
EPS,
Suite 400-C
Bethesda MD 20892-7180
Telephone:
(301) 402-3464
FAX:
(301) 402-6251
E-mail: Davisb1@nidcd.nih.gov
Sam
Zakhari, Ph.D.
Director,
Division of Metabolism and Health Effects
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National
Institutes of Health
5635
Fishers Lane,
Room 2031
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
for FedEx
please use: Rockville, MD 20852-1705.
Telephone:
(301) 443-0799
FAX:
(301) 594-0673
E-mail: szakhari@mail.nih.gov
R.
Allan Mufson, Ph.D.
Cancer/Immunology
and Hematology Branch
National
Cancer Institute
6130
Executive Blvd.
Rockville, MD 20892
Telephone:
(301) 496-7815
E-mail: am214t@nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Not applicable
3. Financial or Grants Management
Contacts:
Michael J. Loewe
Chief of
the NINDS Grants Management Branch
NIH/NINDS
Neuroscience Center, Room 3258
6001
Executive Blvd MSC 9537
Bethesda, MD 20852-9537
Telephone:
(301) 496-5707
FAX:
(301) 402-0219
E-mail: loewem@ninds.nih.gov
Nancy D.
Curling
Chief
Grants Management Officer
National
Institute of Biomedical Imaging and
Bioengineering
6707
Democracy Blvd., MSC 5469
Suite 900, Democracy II
Bethesda, MD 20892-5469
Bethesda MD 20817 (Use for FedEx and Courier
services)
Telephone
(301) 496-9315
FAX:
(301) 451-5735
E-mail: curlingn@mail.nih.gov
Christopher
Myers
Chief
Grants Management Officer /NIDCD
EPS, Room
400 C
6120
Executive Blvd,
MSC-7180
Bethesda , MD 20892-7180
Telephone:
(301) 402-0909
FAX:
(301) 402-1758
E-mail: myersc@mail.nih.gov
Ms. Judy
Fox
Chief,
Grants Management Branch
National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National
Institutes of Health
5635
Fishers Lane,
Room 3023, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
Telephone:
(301) 443-4704
FAX:
(301) 443-3891
E-mail: fox@niaaa.nih.gov
Crystal
Wolfrey
Grants
Administration Branch
National
Cancer Institute
National
Institutes of Health
6120
Executive Blvd., Suite 243
Bethesda, MD 20892 (for regular mail)
Rockville, MD 20852 (for hand delivered mail)
Telephone:
(301) 496-8634
FAX:
(301) 496-8601
E-mail: wolfreyc@gab.nci.nih.gov
Mr.
William Darby
Chief,
Grants Management Branch
Division
of Extramural Research
National
Eye Institute
5635
Fishers Lane,
Room 1300
Bethesda, MD 20892-9300
Telephone:
(301) 451-2020
E-mail: darby2@mail.nih.gov
Christine
Kidd
Grants
Management Specialist
National
Institute on Drug Abuse
National
Institutes of Health
6101
Executive Boulevard Rm 270 MSC 8403
Bethesda Maryland 20892-8403
Telephone
(301) 443-6710
FAX:
(301) 594-6849
Email: ckidd@nida.nih.gov
Linda
Whipp
Grants
and Contracts Management Office
National
Institute on Aging
7201
Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2N212
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone:
(301) 496-1472
FAX:
(301) 402-3672
E-mail: WhippL@nia.nih.gov
Section VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Use of Animals in Research:
Recipients of PHS support for activities involving
live, vertebrate animals must comply with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf)
as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm),
and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm)
as applicable.
Human Subjects Protection:
Federal regulations (45CFR46) require that
applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with
reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against
these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others,
and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Data and Safety Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety monitoring is required for all types
of clinical trials, including physiologic toxicity and dose-finding studies
(Phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II); efficacy, effectiveness and comparative
trials (Phase III). Monitoring should be commensurate with risk. The
establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for
multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risks
to the participants (NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing Research Data:
Investigators submitting an NIH application seeking
$500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a
plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing).
Investigators should seek guidance from their
institutions on issues related to institutional policies and local IRB rules,
as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy
Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the plan
into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
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 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 funding opportunity 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.
Sharing of Model Organisms:
NIH is committed to support efforts that encourage
sharing of important research resources including the sharing of model
organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm).
At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to
elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding
pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm).
All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning
with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the
application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will
permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public
funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a
cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications
where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
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 "NIH Guidelines
for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is 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 SF424 (R&R); 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 Clinical
Research:
The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e.,
individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all clinical research,
conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical
reasons not to include them.
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 (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 applications
for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key
personnel. The policy is available 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://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp 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 (http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility
of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the
application as appropriate, 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.
NIH Public Access Policy:
NIH-funded investigators are requested to submit to
the NIH manuscript submission (NIHMS) system (http://www.nihms.nih.gov)
at PubMed Central (PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript
upon acceptance for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or
in part with direct costs from NIH. The author's final manuscript is defined as
the final version accepted for journal publication, and includes all
modifications from the publishing peer review process.
NIH is requesting that authors submit manuscripts
resulting from 1) currently funded NIH research projects or 2) previously
supported NIH research projects if they are accepted for publication on or
after May 2, 2005. The NIH Public Access Policy applies to all research grant
and career development award mechanisms, cooperative agreements, contracts,
Institutional and Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service
Awards, as well as NIH intramural research studies. The Policy applies to
peer-reviewed, original research publications that have been supported in whole
or in part with direct costs from NIH, but it does not apply to book chapters,
editorials, reviews, or conference proceedings. Publications resulting from
non-NIH-supported research projects should not be submitted.
For more information about the Policy or the submission
process please visit the NIH Public Access Policy Web site at http://PublicAccess.nih.gov/ and
view the Policy or other Resources and Tools including the Authors' Manual (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/publicaccess_manual.htm).
Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable
Health Information:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of Individually
Identifiable Health Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002. The Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of
individually identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced
by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions about applicability and implementation of
the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR Website
(http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides
information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set
of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the
impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and
research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
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 at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health
Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301
and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and
under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy
Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
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.
Loan Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages applications for educational loan
repayment from qualified health professionals who have made a commitment to
pursue a research career involving clinical, pediatric, contraception,
infertility, and health disparities related areas. The LRP is an important
component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the next generation of
researchers by providing the means for developing a research career unfettered
by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is not required for
eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications are encouraged.
The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing the LRP
recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP awardees must
commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week based on a 40
hour week) for two years to the research. For further information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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