RESOURCE CENTERS AND COORDINATING CENTER FOR MINORITY AGING RESEARCH Release Date: December 17, 2001 (Reissued as RFA-AG-07-005) (See NOT-AG-02-001) RFA: RFA-AG-02-004 National Institute on Aging (http://www.nia.nih.gov/) National Institute of Nursing Research (http://www.ninr.nih.gov) National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) (http://ncmhd.nih.gov/) Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 30, 2002 Application Receipt Date: February 26, 2002 PURPOSE The National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute on Nursing Research (NINR), and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), invite applications from qualified institutions for the creation or continuation of Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMARs). The long-range RCMAR infrastructure building goals are to: (1) improve the health and well being of older minority populations and (2) provide resources to enable research to be conducted that will identify ways to reduce health disparities. RCMARs focus research upon specific social, cultural, and behavioral mechanisms leading to improved health and functioning by emphasizing research designed to: (1) inform public policy, (2) develop culturally-informed disease and disability prevention and health promotion strategies, (3) improve community, group, or individual based interventions that will result in optimal health outcomes, and (4) improve the measurement of social, psychological, economic, and other concepts germane to the health of older minority populations. More basic or clinical research areas will be considered if they are relevant to the four emphases listed immediately above. These emphases are congruent with the objectives of NIA"s Strategic Plan to Address Disparities in Aging (National Institute on Aging, 2000, http://www.nia.nih.gov/strat-planhd/2000-2005). To meet the long-range goals, RCMARs will create research infrastructure for the following objectives: (1) establish a mechanism for mentoring research careers focused on the health of minority elders, (2) enhance cultural diversity of the professional workforce conducting research on the health of minority elders, (3) conduct research on and deploy strategies for recruiting and retaining minority group members in social, behavioral, economic, epidemiological, and/or biomedical research dealing with the health of the elderly, (4) facilitate innovative strategies to support enduring research careers in minority health, and/or encourage the recruitment of established researchers to undertake research on minority aging health, (5) improve the research methods and tools necessary to conduct rigorous and comparable research on diverse populations, (6) advance scientific knowledge leading to a decrease in health disparities, and (7) disseminate research results to scientific and non-scientific communities addressing the resolution of health disparities through the improvement of minority health. Many health disparities are already well documented requiring little further elaboration. While health disparity trends require constant surveillance, RCMAR funding is intended to create an infrastructure that will, in the long run, serve to close the health disparities gap by improving minority health outcomes. Centers are encouraged to design a research and mentoring program that focuses upon a problem area using the scientific strengths of a given site. This problem area focus can be defined in several ways and may include, for example: (1) a specific health problem, (2) a specific wellness goal, (3) a series of related problems or goals, (4) the development of racially/ethnically sensitive measurements, (5) research on the recruitment and retention of minority subjects, (6) the development and dissemination of unique strategies for mentoring and retaining minority investigators. Other examples of problem focus areas include: (7) the advancement of research methods such as intervention research on exercise, diet, various preventive health strategies, and savings, the role of socioeconomic determinants of health disparities, (9) health disparities within minority populations, (10) health care delivery access, (11) risk factor reduction, (12) the identification of new risk factors, or (13) research on hypotheses relating to health disparities such as the role of cumulative stress and inequality versus variations in levels of education, income, and wealth related resources. RCMARs are encouraged to characterize their defined research focus using multiple levels of analyses and multiple disciplines (Singer and Ryff, 2001). Because problems related to minority health are embedded in multiple systems, interaction among cultural, social, behavioral, psychophysiological, and clinical sciences is anticipated and encouraged in order to satisfy the site-specific research problem focus. 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 Request for Applications (RFA), Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research and Coordinating Center, 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/. 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 and Local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Awards will not be made to foreign institutions. Applications from racial/ethnic minority individuals, women and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Applicants must demonstrate access to and experience working with the selected minority population(s). Applicants can come from either TMBIs or from other institutions that demonstrate a strong, functional and cooperative arrangement with minority researchers and/or minority organizations. Institutions or affiliates should have prior experience in conducting minority research including skills in social survey or qualitative research techniques and methodologies for recruiting, maintaining, and assessing minority populations. At the time of application, institutions participating as part of a proposed center must have among them at least three or more externally funded, current, peer-reviewed projects involving human subjects in the RCMAR-related areas of reducing health differentials, health care access, and/or minority research, as related to aging research. The projects must be expected to continue for at least a year after the time of application. At least three projects should be in place during the P30 award period. Applications from institutions not previously funded as Resource Centers for Minority Aging research will compete on an equal basis with competing continuation applications. Applications are invited for a Coordinating Center (CC) to serve a facilitating role for RCMAR site interaction as well as a conduit for translating RCMAR objectives and findings to a scientific and general audience. The CC can be part of a RCMAR or can be an independent freestanding site. The CC must demonstrate an ability to work cooperatively with selected RCMAR sites and possess sufficient scientific expertise in the areas outlined in this RFA to serve the national clearinghouse function outlined below. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This program will be supported by an NIH Core Center Grant (P30). Applicants must request five years of support. No decision has yet been made on whether to reissue this RFA to continue these Centers after five years. If an applicant is requesting a Coordinating Center only, that applicant may use the P30 format as well, except that the application will contain only materials relevant to the CC. If the RCMAR application is for both a Center and the CC, then the CC request can be presented as though it were a separate Core. FUNDS AVAILABLE Funds Available: RCMAR Sites The award of Center grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. The intent is to fund between five (5) and seven (7) RCMARs in Fiscal Year 2002. The specific number awarded will be contingent upon the merit of the applications and the availability of funds. These applications do not compete for funding within the general pool of dollars available for investigator-initiated research proposals. The total cost (direct plus facilities and administrative (F&A) costs) per center is expected to range between $500,000 and $750,000, and may not exceed $750,000 per application for the first year (excluding an elective Coordinating Center component, see below). Years two through five may not exceed a three percent per year increase. Funds Available: Coordinating Center The award of a Coordinating Center (CC) pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. The CC may be an independent entity, not associated with a specific RCMAR site or it may be part of a specific site"s application. The intent is to fund a single CC in FY 2002. The CC should propose a five year budget. The total cost of the CC (direct plus indirect costs) is expected to range between $175,000 and $250,000 for the first year. Years two through five may not exceed a three percent per year increase. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The RCMAR program is intended as a continuing and expanded research investment in the process of closing the gap between minority and non- minority elderly populations" health status and health care (Martin & Soldo, 1997). The need for a continuing effort in this regard is clear. While the health of minority populations in general is improving, the gap between minority and non-minority populations remains (Berkman & Mullen, 1997). The RCMARs also address racial and ethnic disparities in the inclusion of minority researchers in the professional scientific workforce. This professional workforce is intended to conduct independent research on the health of older populations. The involvement and fostering of minority researchers in independently funded health related research is a pressing need (National Institute on Aging, 2000). RCMARs will enhance the capacity of minority and non-minority researchers and TMBIs to conduct research among and within minority groups. In addition to mentoring researchers, another infrastructure need is the involvement and maintenance of older minority populations as research subjects in both social and biomedical research (Levkoff, Prohaska, Weitzman, & Ory, 2000, Napoles-Springer, Grumbach, Alexander, Moreno-John, Forte, Rangel- Lugo, & Perez-Stable, 2000). Knowledge of techniques to enhance involvement of these populations in research lags behind science"s need to study health problems encountered by the targeted groups. Therefore, the development and dissemination of scientifically verifiable techniques for the recruitment and retention of minority participants in social, behavioral, and clinical research is a central objective in this RFA. The Centers are also expected to contribute to the development and dissemination of research methods and measurement tools that have validity, reliability, and generalizability across the targeted populations (Skinner, Teresi, Holmes, Stahl, & Stewart, 2001). Without valid social, behavioral, or clinically relevant measures that are comparable across populations, it is impossible to determine the precise magnitude or precursors of the disadvantaged status of minority populations. The development and dissemination of both measurement and complex methodological tools inherent to studying the health of minority populations is a significant component of the RCMARs. The RCMAR solicitation is intended to meet its objectives by requiring that the selected RCMARs embrace several, but not necessarily all of the following general requirements: o focus mentoring and research using multiple disciplines and multiple levels of analyses on a defined health, wellness, or research problem area, o increase learning and mentoring relationships between experienced researchers and those not previously funded and those recruited from other areas who will examine minority health in older populations, o increase the minority presence and diversity of the research on aging cadre, o increase the research skills and experience of junior faculty at either majority or traditionally minority-based institutions (TMBIs), o increase cultural expertise and understanding, improve community liaison techniques, and improve the methodological skills of those majority and minority researchers with limited research familiarity with diverse populations or limited experience with behavioral, social science, and epidemiological research in such populations, o support pilot research projects designed to: (a) improve the health of minority populations, (b) lead to prevention and intervention strategies at multiple levels of analysis, (c) address health problem interventions targeted to specific minority/ethnic groups, and (d) result in subsequent independent investigator awards for minority researchers or those conducting research on older diverse populations, o support mentoring relationships that will establish enduring research careers in minority aging, o create an infrastructure to test models that improve enduring access to older minority individuals for participation in biomedical, social, and behavioral research, o support research that develops valid, reliable, and generalizable measurement tools and research strategies across and within disparate racial/ethnic groups, o support rigorous research that addresses complex methodological issues inherent to studying health disparities between and within populations. o establish a firm foundation for progress in research on the health of minority populations. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS RCMAR applicants are strongly encouraged to focus on one or more specific problem area(s) as outlined in the Purpose section of this RFA. These problem areas must be relevant to the RCMAR goal of creating an infrastructure that facilitates research and information dissemination to reduce health disparities between minority and non-minority populations. In pursuit of a Center"s unique focus, applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with at least one other NIA research center (i.e., Roybals, Pepper Centers, Alzheimer"s Disease Centers, Demography Centers, Shock Centers, or the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging) or NINR Center, especially if the Center is nearby. The application should demonstrate how the collaboration would mutually benefit the scientific goals of the collaborating centers. A list of NIA Centers is available upon request from the NIA Program Administrator. A PI from a TMBI or a non-TMBI may submit a RCMAR proposal. Partnership arrangements between institutions are also encouraged but not required. If submitted by a non-TMBI, the PI should demonstrate current involvement of minority researchers at the professional level. Applicants must demonstrate an ongoing involvement with the host community. To this end, the application should include at least one community-based, minority-oriented organization as a partner in the RCMAR proposal. Institutions involved in the RCMAR must demonstrate prior minority aging research addressing health disparities that are relevant to the particular Center"s problem area focus. Each selected RCMAR is required to work with a Coordinating Center (CC) in developing a plan for submitting a program-wide, semi-annual Program Emphasis and Outcomes Report. The selected RCMARs will be required to actively participate in the Program Emphasis and Outcomes reporting procedure. Each site will also be required to send three participants (one of whom is the PI) to an Annual Investigators" Meeting to be held either in the Washington, DC area or at a RCMAR site, mutually agreeable to all RCMARs and NIA program staff. The application must budget for attendance at this yearly meeting. The RCMAR should be organized around a series of Core activities related to the defined research focus. The application should provide a plan for the integration of activities across the RCMAR site"s Cores. The function of each Core is outlined below. The specific organization of the RCMAR and the interaction among Cores should be described and justified in the application. The application should present an identifiable and separate budget for each Core and a description of each Core"s role in the activities outlined in the RFA. While four Cores are required, each applicant may propose and justify additional Cores. Key investigators in each Core should be recognized experts in the content area of that Core. Special Requirements: Administrative Core RCMARs must have strong and experienced central leadership with an Administrative Core directed by the PI. This Core will coordinate proposed activities and maintain an internal information flow of activities and decisions. The Administrative Core will coordinate the Program Emphases and Outcomes contribution and work closely with the CC in developing and maintaining the Program Emphasis and Outcomes Report. This semi-annual Report, which will be collated by the Coordinating Center, is a mechanism for synthesizing research findings, methodological developments, and progress toward meeting goals established by each RCMAR regarding its unique problem focus. The Report will be disseminated to scientific, host community, and policy audiences, as well as NIH program officials. Critical elements of the Administrative Core follow. o The PI must possess experience in conducting research with minority elderly populations and experience in mentoring minority investigators. He/she should demonstrate how prior professional experience in mentoring and learning environments enhances the inclusion of minority researchers. o The Administrative Core must propose and show evidence of its ability to recruit an Advisory Panel of at least five members including two from relevant host community groups and two researchers focusing on minority aging, the latter not otherwise affiliated with the RCMAR. New Advisory Panel members should not be named at the time of submission. A statement about types of members and a description of how they will be recruited is adequate. The Advisory Panel will meet yearly to review Center activities, contribute to the RCMAR"s Program Emphases and Outcomes report, and make recommendations regarding RCMAR functions. A copy of the minutes of each meeting must be sent to the NIA Program Administrator through the CC. o The application must specify how the Administrative Core will create mechanisms and procedures to ensure that RCMAR Cores interact to maximum benefit. The objectives of that interaction must be specified. The application should also specify how results from the Center"s research will be synthesized and presented to affect the state of the science, policy, and health practices addressing in health disparities. o The application"s Administrative Core component should specify the mechanisms for ensuring that RCMAR researchers will interact with colleagues at the parent institution and at affiliated institutions, including community organizations. In addition, any proposed interaction between the RCMAR and other NIA or NINR Center programs needs to be specified and documented. This role can be delegated to other Cores. The delegation must be specified in the Administrative Core presentation. These mechanisms are needed to ensure: (1) the practicability of developing connections with minority communities, (2) recruitment and retention of minority investigators and participants, (3) the viability of mentoring and training relationships among affiliated institutions, when appropriate, (4) the enhancement of research, and (5) the creation of appropriate instruments and techniques for working with different racial/ethnic groups. o The Administrative Core should specify its role in overseeing the selection of pilot studies for funding. The selection must ensure that the Center"s problem-oriented research focus is maintained. Additionally, the Administrative Core, or the Investigator Development Core (see below) must propose and maintain a system for tracking its pilot study investigators to the completion of an independent research award beyond the duration of the RCMAR award. o The Administrative Core will select two senior RCMAR participants who, with the PI, will prepare for an Annual Investigator"s Meeting lasting a day and a half. The meeting will be organized by the CC with input from each Administrative Core to discuss progress and common problems in the conduct of the Centers. Travel to these meetings should be budgeted as part of the Administrative Core. Special Requirements : Community Liaison Core The Community Liaison Core (CLC) serves several functions: (1) to increase the scientific knowledge of techniques to recruit and retain minority research participants, (2) to work with the host community in providing research participants for research projects funded by the Center, (3) to enhance recruitment and retention of older minority research participants in the parent and/or cooperating institutions" NIH-funded research projects, and (4) to provide feedback to the host community regarding research advances that may impact its members. This research translation function is essential to successful community-based research. It is important to note that the CLC is not intended to be predominantly a service function of the Center for the targeted study communities. It is a science-generating core with expectations of research questions/data collection/science publications, and information generation useful to center investigators as well as the general science community. Experience indicates that intensive effort, specialized skill, and creativity are needed to recruit and retain older minority participants. To these ends, it is the responsibility of the CLC to develop and maintain relationships with minority group members and minority community-based organizations (CBOs). CLC staff are encouraged to work with CBOs to foster acceptance in minority communities for participating and remaining in research projects. The CLC"s role is to facilitate interaction among minority community members including formal and informal leaders, as well as with appropriate CBOs, and with researchers planning studies involving the host communities. To this end, the CLC will create and maintain an infrastructure of minority group member participants for research involvement among RCMAR and other research projects at their home institution(s). This objective can be met in tandem with other NIA or NINR cooperating institution"s centers, at the discretion of both the RCMAR and the other Centers. The Community Liaison Core is encouraged to work closely with both the CBOs and the professional staff who plan and conduct research involving community members. In conjunction with the Investigator Development Core and the Coordinating Center, the CLC must create and disseminate scientific information regarding techniques for recruiting and retaining minority research participants. The RCMAR program is expected to become a source of research techniques for the recruitment and retention of minority group members for scientific research. Each CLC is expected to contribute to that collective expertise. The CLC will work in conjunction with the Coordinating Center"s clearinghouse function to facilitate the dissemination of state-of-the-art methods on recruitment and retention. A plan for creating knowledge of recruitment and retention methods must be included in the application. The plan may include publications and presentations of information, conferences and symposia, and outreach activities to other institutions conducting clinical, behavioral, and/or social research on aging. Special Requirements: Investigator Development Core The goal of the Investigator Development Core (IDC) is to provide a mechanism for long-term mentoring that will lead to an enduring career in minority aging research. Mentoring relationships may include early- career researchers as well as mentoring relationships that foster the recruitment of mid-career researchers into research on minority aging. It is the responsibility of the IDC to assure successful mentoring of, and collaboration with, minority researchers. This function has three components: Pilot Studies, Information Transfer Activities, and a Continual Mentoring Activity. The IDC must specify a mechanism for assuring the effective mentoring of minority researchers. The RCMAR application should contain a plan for, and an evaluation strategy of, the mentoring process. This plan is intended to demonstrate the RCMAR"s ability and commitment to enhancing diversity in the professional research workforce dealing with the health of the elderly. Further, the IDC will work closely with the Coordinating Center in developing a strategy to assess the collective progress of all RCMARs toward meeting the mentoring goal for minority investigators. This assessment will be part of the Program Emphases and Outcomes activity. Investigator Development Core: Pilot Studies Each RCMAR must propose three pilot studies, with named investigators for the first year. Support for each pilot study is expected to last one year. However, pilot studies lasting more than two years are acceptable if fully justified. Each RCMAR should anticipate funding a minimum of three pilot studies during each subsequent year of the project"s five year duration. All pilot studies must involve a minority investigator at the professional level (e.g., as PI or as a major co- investigator). The pilot studies should be used to collect preliminary data or analyze secondary data addressing the RCMAR"s problem focus area and can be used to: (1) develop or test clinical, social, behavioral, and/or economic interventions for decreasing differentials in health status or access to services among older minority and majority group members, (2) develop and validate measurement instruments or protocols suitable for use with minority groups, (3) test models of recruitment/retention strategies, (4) focus upon health behavior research addressing specific health problems (e.g., diabetes, prostate cancer, hypertension) or social problems (e.g., access to health systems, neighborhood influence on health) of minority aging populations, or (5) conduct research on minority aging issues germane to the interests of the RCMAR and the pilot investigator. The RCMAR application should include a three page summary (maximum) of each selected pilot study. Each summary should contain a statement of the problem, methods to be used, anticipated results, and subsequent planned efforts leading to an independent investigator award. An additional page containing the standard PHS Biographical Sketch for the investigator should be included. The RCMAR proposal must include the criteria used for selecting the submitted pilot studies and propose a plan for reviewing pilot grant applications in subsequent years. (The latter plan should be done jointly with the Administrative Core, see above.) Each RCMAR application should provide evidence that the host institution(s) will be able to mentor a minimum of three new pilot projects per year for the duration of the grant period. Funding for each pilot study may not exceed $20,000 (direct costs) per year. Those monies must be budgeted by the IDC. In years 02 through 05, each RCMAR will be responsible for: o selecting and funding (maximum direct cost: $20,000 for each pilot study) a minimum of three new pilot investigators in each year, o demonstrating that prior years" pilot studies lead to success in obtaining an independent investigator award (see "Continual Mentoring Activity," below), and o tracking the successes of its pilot investigators through the award of an independent grant. Each RCMAR must develop and specify plans for disseminating information about the availability of pilot funds. If consistent with the overall objectives of the specific RCMAR, the Center may fund researchers who are not members of the original participating institution(s). If this route is chosen, the applicant must demonstrate how distance mentoring of these researchers will be accomplished. Investigator Development Core: Information Transfer Activities In conjunction with the Community Liaison Core and the Coordinating Center (see below) each RCMAR will create a program for disseminating research information involving diverse older populations. The audiences for these activities should include the host community, CBOs, relevant national populations, researchers at the host institution, investigators at other institutions, and the relevant scientific community. Information transfer activities may include, but are not limited to activities such as training programs, short courses, distance learning, presentations at professional meetings, presentations to community groups, and publications. The content of these activities are at the discretion of the RCMAR but should include information on: basic research methodologies, recruitment and retention of minority populations, substantive issues regarding health disparities among older diverse populations, and new findings based upon research undertaken by pilot investigators or others at the RCMAR. The RCMAR may wish to seek Continuing Health Education credit for participants. The information transfer activity of the IDC should be coordinated with the Community Liaison Core on issues of recruitment and retention. Proposals should describe the plan for developing and evaluating information dissemination activities. Investigator Development Core: Continual Mentoring Activity Each RCMAR will specify strategies for mentoring pilot investigators to the point of preparing, submitting, and resubmitting, if necessary, applications for independent investigator research awards. The RCMAR application must specify how Pilot Investigators will be mentored subsequent to completion of the pilot award for a period sufficient to produce a successful research grant such as an NIA funded R03, R01, or K-award. Similar granting mechanisms from NIA or other major funding organizations are acceptable but their relevance to aging must be demonstrable. The procedures for this "Continual Mentoring" function may include a continual but lessened level of mentoring intensity than during the conduct of the pilot (e.g., mentoring at a distance), additional hands-on experiences to assure success in the application process, or other forms of continued help to assure that the pilot investigator is mentored through the successful completion of an independent investigator award. Each RCMAR must specify how it will facilitate and track the evolution of mentees from pilot to independent investigator. Each RCMAR, in conjunction with the Coordinating Center, will participate in a semi-annual reporting procedure to track the success of its pilot investigators through the completion of funded applications and publications. An optional function of the Investigator Development Core is to entice more established researchers into the field of minority aging research. The pilot research mechanism can be used for this purpose. Tracking the outcome of this procedure will be required and reported to the Coordinating Center. Special Requirements: Measurement Core Each RCMAR will specify strategies for identifying, cataloging, distributing and/or creating culturally informed and scientifically valid epidemiological, behavioral, or social measurement tools. Measurement Core participants will have expertise in research methodology and measurement tools tested or developed for diverse populations or the specific cultural group in which the RCMAR concentrates its efforts. The Measurement Core will demonstrate the potential for national leadership in measurement and research strategies as they apply to minority elders. Centers should develop and test strategies for enhancing culturally informed practices for collecting clinical, behavioral, and social science data (e.g., clinical assessment, assessing socioeconomic status, conducting qualitative research), attitudes toward the collection of relevant data (e.g., drawing blood, autopsy, other physical indicators, providing relevant but potentially sensitive information), or strategies for collecting epidemiological data (e.g., measures of neighborhood cohesion, systemic properties of communities and their impact on health, economic resources). It is the responsibility of the Measurement Core, in conjunction with the Coordinating Center (see below), to create, identify, catalogue, and disseminate information in its domain. Contributions to an "Item Bank," coordinated by the CC are encouraged. The RCMAR application should specify plans for these activities. Centers are required to demonstrate how the Measurement Core will collaborate with its Investigator Development Core in mentoring new investigators and with cooperating institutional research centers (e.g., Alzheimer"s Disease Research Centers), if identified. RCMARs are encouraged to specify how measurement development activities compliment or support on-going or pilot research projects in the host institution or in collaborating institutional research centers and institutions. Special Requirements: Coordinating Center One Coordinating Center (CC) will be established to facilitate and coordinate RCMAR activities. In addition, the CC will serve the Resource Centers of Minority Aging Research by providing information to the scientific community generated by RCMAR scientists. This function does not replace the professional publication responsibility of individual participating RCMAR scholars. The CC will work closely with the NIA program administrator and, in coordination with the PIs and RCMAR personnel, be responsive to requests generated by NIA or NIH. Each applicant RCMAR is invited to submit as part of its response to the RCMAR RFA, a section proposing a Coordinating Center (CC). Institutions not submitting a RCMAR proposal may also apply for a freestanding CC. Equal consideration will be given to non-RCMAR applying institutions as will be afforded RCMAR applications for award of the CC. The first year budget for the CC is expected to be between $175,000 and $250,000 total costs (direct plus F&A costs). Selection of the CC will be made by the NIA Director based on recommendations of the Initial Review Group and the Program Administrator. The CC will fulfill the following functions. Coordinating Center: Logistic Support The CC will provide logistic support to the RCMARs and the NIA program administrator. It will make all arrangements for a yearly RCMAR meeting, prepare minutes, and in coordination with other RCMAR PIs and NIA program staff, create the agenda and chair that meeting. The CC will set aside a portion of its funds for support of the Annual Investigators" meeting. (As described elsewhere in this RFA, funds to support attendees are the responsibility of the Administrative Core of each RCMAR.) The CC will also have the responsibility of collecting information from participating RCMARs and for preparing the semi-annual Program Emphases and Outcomes Reports. This report will be cumulative and highlight significant developments by the RCMARs, individually and collectively, and the CC in the creation and dissemination of new knowledge and program progress. The focus of the semi-annual report will be upon progress made by the RCMARs in reducing health disparities and on the support of research by RCMAR scholars with that ultimate objective. Additionally the CC will foster communication and cooperative arrangements between RCMARs and other institutional research Centers. The CC will collect Advisory Panel minutes from each Center for the NIA program administrator. The CC will create a mechanism for maintaining an active involvement in all aspects of the program. This perspective will serve to: link and foster joint research between various RCMAR sites, answer queries from the scientific and lay communities, link other NIA supported research activities with unique expertise among the RCMARs, serve the "translation" role for a broad audience of science, policy makers, and public, and demonstrate to a broad and diverse audience, the RCMARs" impact on the health of minority elders in the United States, and will coordinate and facilitate communication and activity links among the Centers. The CC will maintain an active RCMAR website with links to each RCMAR site and to participating ICs within NIH. The website will serve as the source of information dissemination to scientific and lay audiences and will be accessible and readily identifiable to both audiences. (See http://rcmar.musc.edu.) Coordinating Center: Data Collection and Dissemination Support The CC will facilitate the sharing of scientific information, subject recruitment and retention techniques, and measurement tools among the Centers, with other research Center programs, and with the broader scientific community. The goal of this activity is to further reduce health disparities in diverse populations. By means of a Clearinghouse or Help Desk mechanism, the CC will collect and disseminate these items and encourage shared activities among the Centers including, but not limited to: distance learning, training seminars and mentoring techniques developed by the various Investigator Development Cores, dissemination strategies and resources developed by the various Community Liaison Cores, works-in-progress and techniques for recruitment and retention of aging minority population members, and culturally neutral measurement tools developed by the various Measurement Cores. The creation of and ready availability of an "Item Bank," in conjunction with the Measurement Cores, is encouraged. Should the RCMAR sites participate in a joint data collection effort, the CC will centrally manage those data. The CC will establish a mechanism to inform interested researchers, policy-makers, and others interested in minority health of the methodological and scientific advances of the RCMARs. The CC will be proactive in this effort. Budget Considerations All RCMAR applicants should request and provide justification for five years of support. The total costs for the first year of support may not exceed $750,000. Years 02 through 05 may not exceed a request for a three percent per year increase. The distribution of funds within the RCMAR to each Core is at the discretion of the applicant institution and must be justified by the activities of each Core. Travel and per diem for three persons, one of whom must be the Principal Investigator, to attend a one and one half day Annual Investigators" Meeting should be included in the budget. The cost justification for each pilot study should be contained in the Investigator Development Core budget. 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 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 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://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html. Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. 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. This policy announcement is found in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Announcement dated June 5, 2000, at the following website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.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. Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site. 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 RFA 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. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. 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. Applicants are asked to include the identify of the minority group(s) to be served by the proposed RCMAR and a brief statement of the Center"s problem area focus, as discussed in the "Purpose" section of the RFA. The letter of intent is to be sent to the program staff listed under INQUIRIES by the letter of intent receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001) at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html must be used in applying for these grants. This version of the PHS 398 is available in an interactive, searchable format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone 301/710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov. In addition to the instructions contained in this RFA, see the document "NIA Guidelines for Preparing Multicomponent Applications" at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/GrantsAndTraining/Policies/ProgramProjectPoliciesandGuidelines.htm. Applications should be complete at the time of submission. The Scientific Review Office, NIA, will determine whether late materials will be accepted. If late materials are accepted, they will be limited to three typed pages for the whole application and the Scientific Review Administrator in charge of the review must authorize submission. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Type the RFA number on the label. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf. Submit a signed, original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed photocopies of the application 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) At the time of submission, send two additional copies of the application to: Mary Nekola, Ph.D. Chief, Scientific Review Scientific Review Office National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 2C212 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 It is important to send these copies at the same time as the original and three copies are sent to the Center for Scientific Review. These copies are used to identify conflicts and to help ensure the appropriate and timely review of the application. Applications must be received by the application receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in response to this RFA 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 substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an Introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and for responsiveness by NIA. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIA in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National Advisory Council on Aging. 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 the application 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 the 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. 1. Significance: Does this Center address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of the Center 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? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? 3. Innovation: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or method? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies? 4. Investigator: Is the investigator 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 (if any)? 5. Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed projects take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? In addition to the above criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all applications will also be reviewed with respect to the following: o The adequacy of plans to include both genders and 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. o The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research. o 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. Additional General Review Criteria unique to this solicitation include the following. o Evidence that the Center"s activities will have a general and enduring impact on the quality of research conducted to improve the health status of older members of diverse populations. o Evidence that the Center"s research will impact positively health disparities in the United States. o Evidence that the proposed Center"s focus is sufficiently strong to assure progress toward meeting Center objectives. o Evidence of experience with, and a commitment to, fostering working relationships with diverse populations. o Evidence of a willingness and ability to cooperate with the CC in its RCMAR "Resource" function through dissemination of information to general scientific and host community audiences. o Evidence of the inclusion of minority researchers in the RCMAR proposal. o Evidence of prior research in the areas addressed by this RFA as they relate to diverse and older populations. o Evidence of existing linkages, or a reasonable expectation of such linkages, with minority institutions and/or community organizations. o Appropriateness of the proposed budget. The following criteria will be used in judging the adequacy of the administration of the proposed RCMAR. o Evidence of the scientific, leadership, and administrative ability of the RCMAR Director and his/her staff and a commitment to devote adequate time to program management. o Evidence that the organization and processes proposed for internal communication, synthesis of Core functions, and commitment to community host groups will function to meet RCMAR objectives. o Evidence that the initial pilot studies and mechanisms for review and administration of subsequent pilot studies will produce research that meets RCMAR objectives and will have a reasonable expectation of subsequent independent funding. o Evidence that the Advisory Panel is well linked to the diverse population(s) served and to the broader gerontologic research community and is committed to the success of the RCMAR. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the commitment of the host institution(s) to RCMAR objectives. o Evidence that the academic environment(s) and its/their resources, including space, equipment, and facilities, are adequate to meet RCMAR objectives. o Evidence that the host institution is sufficiently flexible to foster multi-disciplinary interaction between its administrative units, the RCMAR, and organizations external to it (e.g., CBOs). o Evidence of the host institution"s(s") fostering of and commitment to research on diverse populations and to minority researchers. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the key personnel. o Evidence of sustained research in areas chosen by the RCMAR and prior successful mentoring experience. o Evidence of commitment to furthering RCMAR objectives through prior professional activity in the following areas: (1) creating an infrastructure for increasing minority researcher mentoring, (2) successfully maintaining recruitment goals for minority participants in prior funded research, (3) conducting research addressing strategies for decreasing minority/non-minority health and/or access differentials in older populations, and (4) development of culturally sensitive assessment methods and tools. Each Core should demonstrate evidence that its functions address the objectives of the proposed RCMAR. The review criteria for the Administrative Core are those of overall program administration and are listed above. In addition to specific criteria in the discussion of the Community Liaison Core, the following criterion will be used for evaluating the CLC. o Evidence of an ongoing relationship or a reasonable expectation of the ability to create a relationship with diverse community groups. o Evidence of a commitment to furthering research and dissemination on recruiting and/or retaining minority subjects in aging research. In addition to the specific criteria in the discussion of the Investigator Development Core, the IDC will be evaluated using the following criteria. o Evidence of the scientific adequacy, appropriateness in meeting RCMAR objectives, and feasibility of the proposed pilot studies. o Evidence of the intention, plans, and likelihood that the proposed pilot studies will result in the submission of a competitive, investigator initiated, independent research award. o Evidence of a viable plan for the continuing mentoring of pilot investigators through a successful independent investigator award. o Evidence that during years two through five of the RCMAR, there is a sufficient pool of researchers to submit excellent pilot study applications. o Evidence that the pilot study solicitation and selection process will provide scientifically rigorous and potentially fundable projects. o Evidence that the mentoring strategy is likely to produce and retain diverse professionals in aging research. In addition to the specific criteria in the discussion of the Measurement Core, this Core will be evaluated based upon the following criteria. o Evidence of prior experience in the creation and/or use of culturally informed and valid measurement tools. o Evidence of a mechanism for working with the Investigator Development Core in the mentoring of pilot investigators and other institutionally based researchers in the use of culturally sensitive measurement and research methodology. o Evidence of a willingness to work with the CC in the dissemination of culturally sensitive measures and methods. In addition to the specific criteria in the discussion of the Coordinating Center, the CC should meet the following criteria. o Evidence of the availability of sufficient scientific expertise and the ability to work with scientists to serve the RCMARs" Clearinghouse function for a broad scientific community having specific information needs in: measurement, recruitment and retention of older minority subjects, and the mentoring of minority investigators. o Evidence of the ability to work with a diverse group of scientists in translating findings to both scientific and lay audiences. o Evidence of experience with, or a reasonable expectation of success in, providing diverse sites with logistic support in arranging annual meetings, preparing pre- and post-meeting materials, and the coordination of joint Center activities (e.g., preparation of presentations at professional meetings). o Evidence that the CC will be able to foster interaction between sites and between specific Cores for sharing developments and findings such as mentoring techniques, new research tools, recruitment and retention strategies that work/do not work, etc. o Evidence that the CC can coordinate and maintain on-time progress reporting through a database for the cumulative semi-annual progress reports. o Evidence of the ability to work with NIA staff in meeting agency requirements for coordinating a diverse scientifically based enterprise. For Competing Continuation applications, a Progress Report must be included as part of the application. The Progress Report should present evidence of accomplishments in each of the Core areas for the initial funding period. Schedule: Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 30, 2002 Application Receipt Date: February 26, 2002 Date of Initial Review: June 2002 Review by Advisory Council: August 2002 Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2002 AWARD CRITERIA Funding criteria will be based upon scientific merit as specified in the Review Criteria, availability of funds, and RCMAR program priorities. Among those priorities is representation from African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations among the selected RCMARs. Final selection will take into account racial and ethnic variation both within and between proposals as well as geographic location so as to select a balance among the most qualified of the RCMAR proposals. Only applications for which at least four cores have been judged scientifically acceptable will be considered for award. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Sidney M. Stahl, Ph.D. Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 533 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 402-4156 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: ss333h@NIH.GOV Direct inquires regarding fiscal matters to: Carol Lander Grants Management Office National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2N212 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-1472 FAX: (301) 402-3672 Email: Landerc@mail.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.866 (Aging Research) and 93.361 (Nursing Research). 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 and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. 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 contract 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. REFERENCES Berkman, L.F., & Mullen, J.M. (1997). How health behaviors and the social environment contribute to health differences between black and white older Americans. In L.G. Martin & B.J. Soldo (Eds.), Racial and ethnic differences in the health of older Americans (pp. 163-182). Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Levkoff, S.E., Prohaska, T.R., Weitzman, P.F., & Ory, M.G. (2000). Recruitment and retention in minority populations: lessons learned in conducting research on health promotion and minority aging. Journal of Mental Health and Aging, 6:Spring. Martin, L.G., & Soldo, B.J., eds. (1997). Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Health of Older Americans. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Napoles-Springer, A.M., Grumbach, K., Alexander, M., Moreno-John, G., Forte, D., Rangel-Lugo, M., & Perez-Stable, E.J. (2000). Clinical research with older African Americans and Latinos. Research on Aging, 22, 668-691. National Institute on Aging (2000). Strategic Plan to Address Health Disparities. Fiscal Years 2000 2005. (See http://www.nih.gov/nia/strat-planhd/2000-2005) Singer, B.H. & Ryff, C.D., Eds. (2001). New Horizons in Health. An Integrative Approach. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Skinner, J.H., Teresi, J.A., Holmes, D., Stahl, S.M., & Stewart, A.L. (2001). Measurement in older ethnically diverse populations. Journal of Mental Health and Aging, 7:Spring.

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