Full Text CA-94-030 SMALL GRANTS FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 33, September 16, 1994 RFA: CA-94-030 P.T. Keywords: National Cancer Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: October 28, 1994 Application Receipt Date: January 20, 1995 PURPOSE The Cancer Biology Branch, Division of Cancer Biology, Diagnosis, and Centers (DCBDC), National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites new faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to apply for small research grants to pursue basic science projects that are relevant to the goals of the NCI. The aim of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to provide new HBCU faculty with an opportunity to establish a research program to which they will commit time during both the academic year and the summer. It is expected that this opportunity will not only increase the research base at HBCUs, but also broaden the educational experience for students and expand mentoring possibilities. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, Small Grants for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, is related to the priority area of cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Health People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The faculty member who serves as Principal Investigator (PI) for the project must have had no more than seven years of experience beyond his or her post-doctoral training. Applications from minority and women investigators are especially encouraged. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) small grant (R03) mechanism. Applicants will be responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed projects. The total proposed project period for each application submitted may not exceed three years. The total proposed direct costs for each year may not exceed $85,000, up to $35,000 of which may be used for equipment purchases in the first year. The anticipated award date is August 1, 1995. The award and level of support depends on receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of the NCI, the award of grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the continuing availability of funds for this purpose. At this time, the NCI has not determined whether this solicitation will be repeated. The present RFA is for a single solicitation with a specified deadline of January 20, 1995, for receipt of applications. The NCI anticipates making up to ten awards for project periods of up to three years, if meritorious proposals and funds are available. FUNDS AVAILABLE Approximately $1,000,000 in total costs per year will be committed to fund applications specifically submitted in response to this RFA. It is anticipated that 8 to 10 awards will be made. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES A. Background Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are a vital national resource for the education of African-American men and women; more than 50 percent of African-American physicians and Ph.D. scientists are graduates of an HBCU. Most HBCUs are primarily teaching institutions; like many non-minority teaching institutions, few HBCUs maintain a sizable research grant base. However, they continually attract high-quality, well-trained new faculty who have teaching as their principal goal, but who are also motivated to continue to pursue research. This RFA is designed to provide new HBCU faculty with an opportunity to initiate cancer-related research projects, to sustain their continued professional growth, and to build a research base in colleges and universities that often have less than a critical mass of researchers. B. Objective and Scope Many new HBCU faculty who are motivated to develop research programs, but initially fail to get grant support, abandon this important endeavor. New faculty may have fewer research resources than more established faculty with which to acquire preliminary data and less time during the academic year to perform research. This RFA for specialized small grants can support pilot projects that have less preliminary data and a more narrow scientific focus than is required for an investigator-initiated research project (R01). In addition to the opportunity to implement a research program, this RFA will enable HBCU faculty to involve students in an on-going research project. Because African-American scientists and physicians continue to be under-represented in the cancer research community, HBCUs afford a unique environment for significant numbers of minority students. The ability to observe and participate in on-going cancer research projects at the undergraduate or graduate level would broaden the educational experience for the students, provide mentoring opportunities for the faculty, and possibly attract more minority students into scientific and clinical careers in cancer research. The areas of basic in vitro and in vivo research supported by the NCI that are appropriate for this RFA, include, but are not limited to: the cellular and molecular biology of malignant cells; the role of the immune system in tumor growth and progression; the means to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer; the mechanisms of cancer induction and promotion by chemicals, viruses, and environmental agents; drug discovery and synthesis of new anti-cancer agents; the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of anti-tumor drug action; the pharmacology and toxicology of anti-tumor agents; the identification and evaluation of agents that prevent carcinogenesis; the identification of biological markers of risk or exposure; the role of nutrition in cancer. Collaborations within, or external to, the applicant institution are encouraged whenever they are appropriate to provide resources and expertise that is germane to the research proposed in the application. STUDY POPULATIONS INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This new policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies (Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations) which have been in effect since 1990. The new policy contains some new provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which was reprinted in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (59 FR 14508-14513) to correct typesetting errors in the earlier publication, and reprinted in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS of March 18, 1994, Volume 23, Number 11. Investigators may obtain copies from these sources or from the program staff or contact person listed below. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by October 28, 1994, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the research, the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel or collaborators, 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 subsequent applications, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. It allows NCI staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. Cheryl L. Marks at the address listed under INQUIRIES. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev 9/91) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research; from the Office of Grants Information, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood Building, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone (301) 710-0267; and from the NCI program staff listed under INQUIRIES. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page. 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 number and title must be typed on line 2a of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, exact photocopies, in one package to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be sent to: Ms. Toby Friedberg Division of Extramural Activities National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza North, Room 636 6130 Executive Boulevard MSC 7405 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 (If using U.S. Postal Service) Rockville, MD 20852 (If hand-delivered or delivery service) It is important to send these copies at the same time that the original and three copies are sent to the Division of Research Grants (DRG); otherwise the NCI cannot guarantee that the applications will be reviewed in competition with other applications received on or before the designated receipt date. Applications must be received by January 20, 1995. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned. The Division of Research Grants 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 DRG 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 DRG and responsiveness by the NCI. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. If NCI staff find that the application is not responsive to the RFA, it will be returned 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 NCI in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, a process (triage) may be used by the initial review group in which applications will be judged to be competitive or non-competitive based on their scientific merit relative to other applications received in response to the RFA. Applications judged to be competitive will be discussed and assigned a priority score. Applications determined to be non-competitive will be withdrawn from further consideration and the principal investigator/program director and the official signing for the applicant organization will be promptly notified. The second level of review will be provided by the National Cancer Advisory Board. The review group will assess the scientific merit of the studies according to the following criteria: 1. Scientific and technical feasibility and originality of the proposed research; 2. Appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; 3. Qualifications of the Principal Investigator and his or her collaborators to perform the research; 4. Availability and adequacy of resources and facilities necessary to perform the research; 5. Appropriateness of the proposed budget in relation to the proposed research; 6. Evidence of commitment by the applicant institution to provide space and appropriate release time from teaching responsibilities to support the proposed research. AWARD CRITERIA Applications considered by the National Cancer Advisory Board will be considered for award based upon (a) scientific and technical merit; (b) availability of funds; and (c) programmatic priorities. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning the objectives and scope of this RFA or the content of the intended research project are strongly encouraged. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues and address the letter of intent to: Dr. Cheryl L. Marks or Dr. Gladys M. Glenn Division of Cancer Biology, Diagnosis, and Centers National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza North, Room 505 6130 Executive Boulevard Bethesda, MD 20892-7385 Telephone: (301) 496-7028 FAX: (301) 402-1037 Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Michelle Burr Grants Administration Branch National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza South, Room 243 Bethesda, MD 20892-7150 Telephone: (301) 496-7800, Ext. 231 FAX: (301) 496-8601 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.396, Cancer Biology Research. Awards are made under the authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, 42 USC 214, as amended; Public Law 100-607, 42 USC 285 and 285a) and administered under PHS grants policies. The Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. .
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