and Human Services (HHS)
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Participating Organization(s) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) |
|
Funding Opportunity Title |
Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Core Center (P30) |
Activity Code |
P30 Center Core Grants |
Announcement Type |
Reissue of RFA-DK-11-004 |
Related Notices |
|
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number |
RFA-DK-13-007 |
Companion Funding Opportunity |
None |
Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility. |
|
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) |
93.847 |
Funding Opportunity Purpose |
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Research and Translation Core Centers. CF Research and Translation Core Centers are designed to support both basic and clinical research on Cystic Fibrosis. CF Research and Translation Core Centers support three primary research-related activities: Research Core services; a Pilot and Feasibility program; and an Administrative Core with an enrichment program. Core Centers provide shared resources to support research to develop and test new therapies for CF and to foster collaborations among institutions with a strong existing research base in CF. The NIDDK currently supports five CF Research and Translation Centers located at institutions with documented programs of research excellence in basic and clinical CF Research. Information about the currently funded CF Research and Translation Centers may be found at http://www3.niddk.nih.gov/centers/all.shtml |
Posted Date |
January 14, 2014 |
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) |
May 18, 2014 |
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) |
May 18, 2014 |
Application Due Date(s) |
June 18, 2014, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. |
AIDS Application Due Date(s) |
Not Applicable |
Scientific Merit Review |
October/November 2014 |
Advisory Council Review |
January 2015 |
Earliest Start Date |
April 2015 |
Expiration Date |
June 19, 2014 |
Due Dates for E.O. 12372 |
Not Applicable |
NIH’s new Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST) is available for the electronic preparation and submission of multi-project applications through Grants.gov to NIH. Applications to this FOA must be submitted electronically; paper applications will not be accepted. ASSIST replaces the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities and provides many features to enable electronic multi-project application submission and improve data quality, including: pre-population of organization and PD/PI data, pre-submission validation of many agency business rules and the generation of data summaries in the application image used for review.
Required Application Instructions
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts) and where instructions in the Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission
Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information
Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common, life-limiting genetic diseases, and is estimated to affect 30,000 Americans. Individuals with CF have inherited two mutated copies of the gene, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), in every tissue of the body. Although lung disease is the primary cause of death in CF, multiple organ systems have altered functions including the lung, liver, pancreas, bone, sweat glands, and gastrointestinal and reproductive systems.
Treatment of the pancreatic symptoms and the lung infections has extended median survival in the United States to the mid-thirties. All states in the US now screen for CF at birth to enable presymptomatic support for nutrition and preventing infections that may further improve the quality of life for these patients. Children identified at birth avoid the malnutrition that was the common presenting symptom for CF. In addition, these patients benefit from many new forms of therapy that are being developed to aggressively eradicate bacterial colonization of the lung, control inflammation and lung damage, treat diabetes and liver disease and provide nutritional support.
In addition to treating the symptoms of CF, researchers are investigating molecular and pharmacologic methods to treat the underlying cause of CF. Screening of small molecules has identified lead molecules that increase either expression, processing, trafficking or function of the CFTR protein. This approach has led to the development of the drug, invacaftor (marketed as Kalydeco) which is approved for patients with G551D substitution in CFTR. In addition, other molecules that bind to CFTR are being studied for their ability to correct the most common mutation, deltaF508. Several of these are being tested in clinical trials.
Now that subjects with CF are living longer, there is an increased incidence of CF-related diabetes. In fact, about 40% of patients with CF will develop diabetes by the age of 20. Recent guidelines developed by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the American Diabetes Association suggest that all patients should be screened for the development of diabetes yearly by an oral glucose tolerance test starting at the age of 10. Insulin treatment of CF-related diabetes has been shown to improve survival and lung disease in patients with CF.
Gene therapy approaches to deliver a normal CFTR gene are also being pursued. New vectors with less toxicity have been developed. The availability of improved animal models such as the pig and ferret, which better mimic the human disease, aid in the testing of these new therapies. These encouraging findings suggest that collaborative efforts between basic and clinical researchers could foster the translation of novel basic research findings into preclinical testing in animal models, and potential clinical applications.
CF research often requires the use of specialized technologies and resources to support a cohesive research effort. The goal of the Center is to make state-of-the-art technologies and resources readily accessible to a broad spectrum of investigators working on CF.
The NIDDK CF Research and Translation Centers are part of an integrated program of research support designed to enhance multidisciplinary research in pathogenesis and treatment of cystic fibrosis. The goal of these Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Core Centers is to support research to develop and test therapies for CF. These Centers will provide resources for communication and collaboration between basic and clinical researchers. CF Research and Translation Core Centers support three primary research-related activities:(1) Research Core Services that provide shared resources to enhance the efficiency of research and foster collaborations within and among institutions with strong existing bases of research on cystic fibrosis; (2) a Pilot and Feasibility Program designed to foster the development of new investigators and to provide seed-support for innovative high-risk projects; and (3) an Administrative Core with an Enrichment Program to promote interdisciplinary interaction and training of investigators.
A CF Research and Translation Center must be an identifiable unit within a single institution such as a university medical center, or within a consortium of cooperating institutions with complementary research bases. In either case, the Center applications must be associated with an existing program of excellence in biomedical research in basic and clinical research in CF. Program excellence is measured through a consistent and outstanding record of productivity and peer-reviewed research funding in CF and related research areas. A high level of integration and close collaboration among Center personnel from diverse scientific disciplines is an important feature of a successful CF Research and Translation Center. Center applicants should identify one or more central themes or focus areas that link Center investigators and their research programs. These themes must be within the mission of the NIDDK.
CF Research and Translational Center applications must include an administrative core that will be responsible for allocation and oversight of Center resources. The Administrative Core must have a process to a) assess the productivity, effectiveness, and appropriateness of Center activities; b) determine criteria and selection process for Center membership; and c) foster collaborations and scientific opportunities among its members through the planning of an enrichment program. CF Research and Translational Centers are encouraged to develop a Center website to communicate available resources to the participating Institution(s). The Center Director will provide oversight for the entire Center and should have appropriate administrative experience. One or more Associate Directors should be named who will be involved in the administrative, scientific, or training efforts of the Center and who will serve as Acting Center Director in the absence of the Director. A process must be in place that would be used to recommend a successor to the Director, if needed.
The CF Research and Translation Core Center enrichment program must be designed to advance translational research in CF and promote scientific exchange among investigators with research interests in these topic areas, and to enhance interactions between CF researchers and investigators from other fields with relevant expertise. The enrichment program can support activities such as seminars, guest speakers, visiting scientists, consultants, and workshops.
Training postdoctoral fellows to conduct research in cystic fibrosis is an associated activity of a CF Research and Translation Core Center. While stipends for fellows cannot be funded from the Center cores, the establishment of a Center should provide an enhanced environment for research training. Just as in the case of funding for individual research projects, funding for fellowships should be sought from NIH NRSA, institutional training grants (e.g., T32, T35) and individual fellowships (e.g., F30, F32), and other sources such as private foundations, and commercial companies.
CF Research and Translation Centers are designed around biomedical research cores that provide shared resources for essential services, techniques, or instrumentation to Center participants enabling them to conduct their funded individual research projects more efficiently and/or more effectively. Cores provide specialized technologies and expertise needed to accomplish the stated goals of the Center toward the development of therapies for CF. Each core should provide services to multiple funded research projects. Centers may propose either Institutional Cores or Regional/National/International Cores. Whereas Institutional Cores support research at a single institution or a set of cooperating institutions, Regional/National/International Shared Resources serve specific scientific communities on a regional, national, or international level. A new category of research base for cores that are used as a regional, national, or international resource should be considered the "extended research base." The extended research base for a regional, national or international core could include all investigators who might expect to use the core in some way. This might include investigators who would be expected to fully compensate the core service through a charge-back, and thus would not be obtaining direct financial assistance from the Center. The list could include investigators who use the core services but otherwise have no collaborative interactions with other Center investigators. The extended research base should be defined as an entity separate from the institutional research base. For review purposes, it should be evaluated as part of the proposed International/National/Regional core, in order to distinguish it from the local institutional research base. Examples of types of biomedical core resources that would be considered responsive to this Funding Opportunity Announcement include:
In responding to this FOA, applicants are encouraged to propose cores that address specific objectives based on the unique requirements of investigators at the applicant institutions. Particular emphasis should be placed on services that support and foster interdisciplinary, integrated and translational approaches to research in the Center topic areas. Preference will be given to core support services that are not readily available or cost-effective when supplied from commercial sources, and techniques or technologies that may be technically challenging or require specialized expertise, equipment or infrastructure.
The need for core support from the CF Research and Translation Center must be well justified, with clear documentation of a broad user base of NIH-funded investigators pursuing research activities in Center topic areas, as well as CF investigators with other sources of peer-reviewed support. Participants in the CF Research and Translation Center program are encouraged to become fully integrated into, and synergistic with, other NIDDK- and NIH-funded Centers within their institutional setting. This includes the clinical research homes being established by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards supported by the National Institutes of Health (http://www.ctsaweb.org/ ) and other related NIH roadmap activities, and any related NIDDK-funded Center programs such as the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC) Program (http://www3.niddk.nih.gov/centers/norc.shtml).
The CF Research and Translation Core Center Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) program provides seed support for new and innovative research projects directed at basic biomedical, clinical and translational research questions relevant to cystic fibrosis. To be considered a viable P&F program, the Center must support a minimum of two pilot projects annually, up to a maximum of four pilot projects. It is anticipated that up to $75,000 in direct costs per year for up to two years will be provided for the majority of approved P&F projects. Efforts to increase the number of P&F awards and availability of funds for the program through the use of program income or alternative funding sources are particularly encouraged.
The P&F program is particularly directed at new investigators and established investigators new to CF research. Established CF investigators pursuing high impact/high risk projects or projects that are a significant departure from their usual work are also eligible for support under the CF Research and Translation Core Center P&F program. This Program should be integrated into the overall research goals of the Center and make use of the resources provided by the Cores. P&F programs may also be structured to provide support for establishing interdisciplinary collaborations and to help forge new partnerships between basic scientists and clinical researchers. In general, NIDDK expects CF Research and Translation Centers to solicit investigators at affiliated hospitals or institutions to participate in the Center P&F program. While the distribution of P&F funds to be used in each award category is ultimately at the discretion of the Center P&F committee, it is expected that the Center P&F program will, where possible, place particular emphasis on funding innovative clinical and translational research projects.
NIDDK is planning to convene a meeting every other year for Center Directors and Associate Directors. This meeting will allow exchange of information on available Core activities and advances between CF Research and Translation Centers.
Funding Instrument |
Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. |
Application Types Allowed |
New The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. |
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards |
NIDDK intends to commit $6 million to fund up to 5 awards in FY2015. |
Award Budget |
Application budgets are limited to $750,000 direct costs per year. Equipment costs and indirect costs on subcontracts are not included in the $750,000 direct cost cap. It is anticipated that the award budget will be directly correlated to the breadth and quality of the research base being served by the Center. |
Award Project Period |
The maximum project period may not exceed 5 years. |
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.
Higher Education Institutions
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
For-Profit Organizations
Governments
Other
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are
not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible
to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
Applicant Organizations
Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.
Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))
All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account and should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate an existing account with the applicant organization’s eRA Commons account. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal
Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization 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 support.
For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple
Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key
Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Because a CF Research and Translation Center has a large and complex administrative structure, the Project Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) must have strong leadership abilities and demonstrated proficiency in managing large, multi-component programs. The CF Research and Translation Center PD(s)/PI(s) must also be willing to participate in Center Director meetings which will be organized every other year.
This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH IPF number) is allowed.
NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed within the past thirty-seven months (as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), except for submission:
Applicants can access the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.
Most applicants will use NIH’s ASSIST system to prepare and submit applications through Grants.gov to NIH. Applications prepared and submitted using applicant systems capable of submitting electronic multi-project applications to Grants.gov will also be accepted.
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise and where instructions in the Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
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.
By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
The letter of intent should be sent, preferably electronically, to:
Francisco Calvo, Ph.D.
Telephone: 301-594-8897
Fax: 301-480-4126
Email: calvof@mail.nih.gov
Component Types Available in ASSIST |
Research Strategy/Program Plan Page Limits |
Overall (use for Center Overview) |
12 |
Admin Core |
12 |
Core (use for Biomedical Research Core) |
12 |
Pilot and Feasibility |
12 |
Additional page limits described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.
The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.
The application should consist of the following components:
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Overall .
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (Center Overview)
Complete entire form.
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Center Overview)
Note: Human Embryonic Stem Cell lines from other components should be repeated in cell line table in Overall component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (Center Overview)
Follow standard instructions.
Project Summary/Abstract: Describe the scientific theme(s) of the CF Research and Translation Center. Describe the need for a Center to support the investigators in the research base and the number of Center members. Provide a brief overview of the biomedical research cores and describe how they relate to the overall theme(s).
Project Narrative: In 1 -3 sentences describe the relevance of the research to be supported and facilitated by Center activities on public health.
Facilities and Other Resources: Describe the existing environment and facilities briefly in the context of how the Center will use or change existing access, space, and usage; include space maps as needed (see "Other Attachments") and letters of institutional commitment (see 'Letters of Support'). Scientific personnel and institutional resources capable of supporting the research base must be available.
Other Attachments: The following "Other Attachments" should be included with the Overall Component in order to aid in the review of applications. The filename provided for each attachment will be the name used for the bookmark in the application image. All attachments need to be in .pdf format.
Grant Support: Please title this attachment "Grant Support" and include all Federal and non-federal grant support for CF Research and Translation Center members. Complete and organize alphabetically by the last name of the Center Investigator who is listed as the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) on the grant. Include Supporting Organization/Grant Numbers, Complete Grant Title, Project Period, Annual Direct Costs, and Identify Other NIDDK Centers (if the grant listed is also included in its research base). The attachment should include, in order: Current Grant Support (Table A.1), Other Grant Support (Table A.2) and Pending Grant Support (Table A.3). Tables A.1, A.2 and A.3 are provided for applicant assistance with this requirement (see:
Biographical Sketches of Center Research Base Investigators: Please title this attachment "Center Member Biographical Sketches." Provide biographical sketches for all Center members, as defined by the Center within the application, and organize them alphabetically by the last name of the Research Base Investigator.
Description of Center Research Base Investigators: Please title this attachment Description of Center Research Base Investigators and organize alphabetically by Center Member (last name). Provide a narrative description of no more than one page per research base investigator. These narratives should include: the active grant number(s), title(s), and a few descriptive sentences of the investigator’s research projects, as well as a brief description regarding what aspect of the investigator’s research justifies the use of Center core facilities. In the description of the research base, include ONLY those grants awarded, or subcontracted, to investigators at the applicant institution or consortium, not to investigators at other locations. It is particularly important to provide a few sentences indicating the relatedness of a cited grant to research in cystic fibrosis when this is not readily apparent from the project title of the grant.
Optional: Please title this attachment "Relation to Overall Center". Provide Charts and Tables related to the Institutional Commitment at the applicant institution, such as an organizational chart(s) to illustrate the structure, interactions, and leaders of the institution and CF Research and Translation Center.
Project/Performance Site Location(s) (Center Overview)
Enter primary site only..
A summary of Project/Performance Sites in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Center Overview)
Include only the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and any multi-PDs/PIs (if applicable to this FOA) for the entire application.
A summary of Senior/Key Persons followed by their Biographical Sketches in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons will be generated upon submission.
Budget (Center Overview)
The only budget information included in the Overall component is the Estimated Project Funding section of the SF424 (R&R) Cover.
A budget summary in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from detailed budget data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
PHS 398 Research Plan (Center Overview)
Specific Aims: Describe the broad long-term objectives of the proposed CF Research and Translation Center. A strategic vision, theme and set of goals must be developed and described in the application. The plan should outline the existing skills and technologies available in the research base as well as other resources at the institution(s). This plan should delineate how the Center will enhance ongoing projects, assist in the development of new projects, respond to future opportunities, and promote collaborations toward developing new treatments for CF.
Research Strategy: The Research Strategy should include the following sections.
Research Base:
The Center Core grant provides a mechanism for fostering interdisciplinary cooperation within a group of established investigators conducting high quality research on cystic fibrosis. Therefore, existence of a strong, substantial research base in this area is a fundamental requirement for, and the most important aspect of, the establishment of a Center.
Applicants should include an overview of current research in cystic fibrosis and related areas being conducted at their institution in sufficient detail to allow reviewers to judge its extent and the interrelationship of ongoing research. Applicants should indicate how the establishment of a Center will provide added dimensions, such as greater focus and increased cooperation, communication and collaboration that would not likely occur without Center resources.
A high level of integration and close collaboration among Center personnel from diverse scientific disciplines is an important feature of a successful CF Research and Translation Center. Accordingly, the applicant should clearly state considerations for Center membership with specific reference to the potential of members to form interactive, collaborative and synergistic relationships. Criteria for becoming a CF Research and Translation Center member should be clearly defined. Each Center, however, is expected to formulate these definitions based on its own situation. Center membership and affiliation are often open to those individuals who would like to promote the mission of the Center. Specific membership criteria, and any affiliation categories (if applicable), should be clearly defined by the Center Director in order to better organize and facilitate the focus of the Center’s mission. Subsets of members based on their degree of participation or other quantitative measures are acceptable. Applicants should provide clear guidelines for a) how Center membership(s) is (are) defined; b) the application and selection processes for Center membership; and c) the obligations of Center membership. Suitable criteria include, but are not limited to, peer-reviewed independent funding, participation in CF-related research, and the need for the use of core facilities. All research base investigators should be Center members. Designation as a Center member without the need for the use of core facilities must be well justified.
Presentation of the research base in the application should be done in two ways: (1) by completing a Table (see "Other Attachments," like the one shown in "Grant Support"; Table A: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/research-funding/process/apply/about-funding-mechanisms/p30/p30-cystic-fibrosis/Pages/P30-cystic-fibrosis-research-translation-center-applicaton-resources.aspx) and (2) by a full narrative description of the CF and related research activities at the applicant institution and any collaborating institutions. This presentation should be organized into several areas of emphasis that demonstrate the research focus of the Center. The research of each Center participant should be discussed and interrelationships of research being conducted by Center participants should be highlighted. Since most, if not all, of the research base will have undergone separate peer review, the quality of the individual funded projects is already established. The more important aspects are: (a) interactions and interrelationships of the research efforts; (b) uses and benefits of core services; and (c) plans to develop productive collaborations among Center investigators.
Strategic Vision:
Theme Provide the central theme(s) of the CF Research and Translation Center and the likely supported research, resources, and relevance to CF. The theme may be broad or focused, depending upon the goals of the Center. For clearer presentation, it is recommended that Center applicants subdivide the research base into areas of research emphasis or central research themes that link Center members and their research programs. Appropriate presentation of the research base is very important since its assessment is a primary emphasis in the evaluation of an application.
Goals and Directions Describe the current and future directions for the CF Research and Translation Center in the forthcoming project period. How will the research supported by the Center impact the understanding of CF and its complications? Describe any basic science work that has successfully been translated to the bedside or plans to enhance that translation in the next project period. Describe the expected, widely-applicable research tools and scientific advances that will emerge from the Center’s emphasis. Outline steps the CF Research and Translation Center will take to promote interdisciplinary studies and collaborations, especially among basic scientists and clinical researchers. Renewal applications must also describe the accomplishments of the Center in the preceding project period and how it intends to build upon its successes. These accomplishments should be presented, as appropriate in the areas of basic science and clinical research. The impact of Center-based science should be discussed in detail.
Biomedical Research Cores should be discussed and their role in the Strategic Vision described. Brief examples of ongoing or planned research should be discussed as appropriate with reference to the supporting Core.
Building research capacity Provide details on the special talents and resources that will be drawn to and built upon at the CF Research and Translation Center. How will these talents be harnessed and used to promote new collaborations and produce multidimensional teams to address more complex questions? Include a plan for bringing investigators into the Center from within and outside the area of CF research who might provide new technologies. What expertise will these individuals share with the Center? Describe academic and research partnerships that will be pursued by the CF Research and Translation Center to advance its goals and missions.
Within this section, describe the research capacity and clearly identifiable major scientific focus in CF research. The CF Research and Translation Center grant mechanism fosters interdisciplinary cooperation among established investigators conducting high-quality research related to CF. Therefore, existence of a strong research capability in CF is fundamental to establishment of a new, or continuation of an existing, CF Research and Translation Center.
Innovation:
Address how the CF Research and Translation Center will not only evolve with the science conducted by the Center Investigators, but also challenge and seek to advance or change current research or clinical practice paradigms by using novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions. Explain how the synergy of the Center with the research base will lead to novel services and resources in the cores. Describe the potential for interdisciplinary collaborations among Center Investigators. For a Biomedical Research Core that by its nature is not innovative, describe how it is essential to advance the field.
Summarize the services and resources provided by the Center, and how they are managed and coordinated. Describe how the Center will address the scientific needs of the research base. Indicate if any of the proposed cores will utilize or expand cores already existing at the institution. Describe how the proposed Center will leverage existing resources and fill gaps in the services available. Also describe how the Center will enhance the research base through enrichment activities.
Leveraging of existing resources is encouraged, particularly when this provides a range of services or efficiency that would not otherwise be available. Furthermore, applicants should demonstrate that support for the existing resource through the CF Research and Translation Center provides added value to the resource beyond that which would be provided by paying for use of the resource through a fee for service. Applicants from institutions that have a Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) funded by the NIH may wish to identify the CTSA as a resource for conducting the proposed research, if appropriate.
For new applications: Emphasize the anticipated impact of the establishment of a CF Research and Translation Center on the research base. Include an indication of how the establishment of a CF Research and Translation Center will provide added dimensions and new opportunities for diabetes and related research, along with increased cooperation, communication, and collaboration among investigators.
Progress Report Publications List: In this attachment, list the titles and complete references to all appropriate publications, manuscripts accepted for publication, patents, and other printed materials that have resulted from the project since it was last reviewed competitively. Consideration will be given to progress and accomplishments in the research base, to development of multidisciplinary, collaborative, and cooperative interrelationships, and to alteration in the original Center design in order to meet the evolving needs of the research base. This should be described in a narrative fashion and accompanied by the Consolidated Publications List (Table G) http://www.niddk.nih.gov/research-funding/process/apply/about-funding-mechanisms/P30/P30-cystic-fibrosis/Documents/CF-TableG_Pubs-2013_Revised.xlsx
to assist applicants with documenting the contribution of individual cores to peer-reviewed publications by the research base. Since one of the objectives of the Center is to extend research relevant to CF, new areas of research and acquisition of new funding should be highlighted in the overview.
Letters of Support: Include any letters of support for the proposed Center by appropriate institutional officials. Letters should address the commitment of the parent organization, or any of its partners, to the CF Research and Translation Center and its goals. The parent institution is expected to recognize the CF Research and Translation Center as a formal organizational component and provide documented evidence of space dedicated to the needs of the Center, protected time to devote to Center activities, staff recruitment, dedicated equipment, or other financial support for the proposed Center. The parent institution should provide assurance of its commitment to continuing support of the CF Research and Translation Center in the event of a change in directorship and a well-defined plan for this eventuality should be in place. In addition, it is expected that the Institution will support the goal of providing to Center members priority access to Institution’s and Center s facilities and services at minimal or reduced cost. Both the institution and pertinent departments must show a strong commitment to supporting the Center.
A letter from the PD/PI of any related NIH-funded T32 at the Center institution should be included that acknowledges and details how the PD/PI of the T32 intends to promote cohesive interactions between the two programs.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Admin Core.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (Administrative Core)
Complete only the following fields:
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Administrative Core)
Enter Human Embryonic Stem Cells in each relevant component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (Administrative Core)
Human Subjects: Answer only the Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete.
Project /Performance Site Location(s) (Administrative Core)
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Administrative Core)
Budget (Administrative Core)
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Personnel: The Center Director must provide at least 1.2 person month effort on the Administrative Core and a total of 2.4 person months effort distributed among the Administrative and other components of the Center. In a multiple-PD/PI application, the combined effort of the PD/PI must equal 2.4 person months.
Travel: Include the costs of domestic and foreign travel only if the travel is directly related to the activities of the CF Research and Translational Center which should include travel for external advisors and guest speakers. Include travel costs for the Center Director and Associate Director (s) to attend the CF Research and Translation Center Directors meetings in Bethesda, Maryland in years 01 and 03.
Other Expense: Funds for supporting a CF Research and Translation Center website may be requested.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
PHS 398 Research Plan (Administrative Core)
Specific Aims: The Administrative Core will set the overall direction for the Center. It will also be responsible for prioritization of Center resources, external review of Center functions and organizing enrichment activities.
Research Strategy: The CF Research and Translation Center must be an identifiable organizational unit within a university medical center or a consortium of cooperating institutions including the university-affiliated Center. Such a Center will involve the interaction of broad and diverse elements; thus, lines of authority and approval by the appropriate institutional officials must be clearly specified. The Administrative Core plays a key role in the coordination and functioning of the Center.
Within the Research Strategy, the applicant should describe how the Administrative Core will take a leadership role in setting the overall direction of the Center. In addition, direct lines of communication between the Administrative Core and Biomedical Research Cores as well as with the P&F Program should be delineated, as all of these cores/programs serve critical roles for Center integration. Procedures for reviewing the utilization, quality and necessity of Core services must be described.
Centers need to develop policies and procedures for changes in core function over the life of the Center. These will allow Centers to adapt to the development of new technologies, existing technologies may no longer be needed, or economic changes such as commercial services may replace core services. Provide a plan to determine the need for services and instrumentation of the Center.
Each applicant institution specifies one or more Center Director(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) to be responsible for the scientific and administrative leadership of the Center. If multiple Center Directors are proposed, the application must document their complementary expertise. The Director(s) should be an experienced and respected scientist with a proven track record for obtaining NIH funding. She/he must be able to coordinate, integrate, and provide guidance in the establishment of new programs in CF and related research. One or more Associate Directors should be named who will be involved in the administrative, scientific, or training efforts of the Center and will serve as Acting Center Director in the absence of the Director. A process must be described that would be used to recommend a successor to the Director, if needed.
Applicants should describe any training opportunities afforded by the CF Research and Translation Core Center for Center participants, and document ways the Center may facilitate, enhance or foster the institutional training environment. Specifically, Center applicants should provide information on related T32 training programs at the Center institution(s), and describe how the CF Center will help to integrate, facilitate and enhance activities of T32-supported trainees.
It is expected that organization of the Administrative Core will provide a supportive structure sufficient to ensure accomplishment of the following:
Center Evolution: Centers must document policies and procedures for ensuring continuing evolution of core services in response to changing needs. New technologies or services might appear that should be supported, existing technologies might become less important, or economic changes might obviate the need for core services, such as the availability of cost-effective commercial services or core services provided by the research institution. Cores should address the issue of allocation of resources to development of new technologies versus provision of services with existing technologies. In addition, cores must have well-defined policies to insure that intellectual property is identified and appropriately protected, but that intellectual property issues do not impede sharing of resources.
The administrative structure must include an Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) and an External Advisory Committee (EAC). New applications should not list members of the EAC but should describe what expertise is needed. Renewal applications must document the functions and effectiveness of the External and Internal Advisory Committees.
The final administrative structure of the Center will be left largely to the discretion of the applicant institution. However, past experience has demonstrated that the effective development of the Center programs requires close interaction between the Center Director, Core/Program Leaders, appropriate institutional administrative personnel, the staff of the awarding agency, and the members of the community in which the Center is located. Therefore, each Center applicant should establish an administrative structure that will permit the development of such interactions. Within this structure, each applicant institution must also establish a mechanism to oversee the use of funds for the proposed pilot and feasibility program. This mechanism must include the use of appropriate consultants for review from the scientific community outside the Center institution. Consultants who will serve on advisory committees should not be specifically identified in the application but the process by which they will be selected should be described. These same consultants may be utilized, if desired, for review of other activities of the Center.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Planned Enrollment Report (Administrative Core)
Not Applicable
PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (Administrative Core)
Not Applicable
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Core. Separate 'Core' components should be created for each individual Biomedical Research Core proposed including optional Regional/National Shared Resources Cores.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (Biomedical Research Core)
Complete only the following fields:
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Biomedical Research Core)
Enter Human Embryonic Stem Cells in each relevant component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (Biomedical Research Core)
Human Subjects: Answer only the Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete.
Facilities and Other Resources: Particularly in initial applications, the description of the physical arrangements and instrumentation for the cores should be given special attention. Arrangements for sufficient space for core activities or for access to appropriate established facilities must be made. Centers are strongly encouraged to enter into cooperative arrangements with cores already established within their institution, or with other Centers in close proximity, when the existing cores offer the services needed. These arrangements are important whenever greater efficiency or cost savings can be realized by such an agreement. However, it should be clear that the CF Research and Translation Center cores can function independently. It may be advantageous for a CF Research and Translation Center to provide support for appropriate personnel to work specifically with Center members in an existing facility/core (e.g., transgenic animal core) at the institution. In this case, the designated CF Research and Translation Center Core Director must work closely with the parent facility core Director to coordinate services, unless the same individual assumes both roles.
Other Attachments: The following "Other Attachments" should be included within each Biomedical Research Core in order to aid in the review of applications. The filename provided for each attachment will be the name used for bookmark in the application image. All Attachments should be in a pdf format.
Core Facility Use: Please title this attachment "Core Facility Use" and indicate each Core user, funded project that supports the Core use, period of Core use, services used and estimated use. Table E is provided for applicant assistance with this requirement: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/FundingOpportunities/NIDDKCFResearch.htm
Project /Performance Site Location(s) (Biomedical Research Core)
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Biomedical Research Core)
Budget (Biomedical Research Core)
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Personnel: A core Director must devote a minimum of 0.6 person months to the Core to ensure adequate oversight. A co-director or other professional or technical staff may be included. Stipends for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are not appropriate for Biomedical Research Cores.
Equipment: If specialized equipment costing more than $5,000 is requested, the application must provide a clear justification based on the core services being provided to CF Research and Translation Center investigators. Equipment may only be requested in the initial year of the project period.
Supplies: Consumable supplies directly related to the Core are an allowable expense.
Research Patient Care Costs: Research patient care costs are an allowable expense. If a Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) is being used a letter of agreement from the PD/PI of the CTSA is required. This letter in pdf format should be attached as a "Letter of support" for the appropriate Biomedical Research Core.
Other Expenses: Funds for equipment maintenance/service contracts may be requested, but should reflect an equivalent percentage of the service contract based on the overall use by the Center Investigators.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
PHS 398 Research Plan (Biomedical Research Core)
Specific Aims: Clearly state the aims of the Biomedical Core.
Research Strategy: Cores may be based solely at the applicant institution or at multiple institutions through subcontracts. If subcontracts are to be utilized the applicant must clearly demonstrate how a cohesive and integrated operation will be ensured and describe the advantages of this approach to the performance of core functions. The Center may also provide resources for funded projects at collaborating institutions without a subcontractual arrangement with the parent institution.
Definition: A biomedical research core is a shared facility that provides a needed service to Center investigators enabling them to conduct their funded individual research projects more efficiently and/or more effectively. Cores should be designed to furnish a group of investigators with materials, techniques, determinations, instrumentations, and/or quality control to enhance research and contribute to cost effectiveness. A recharge mechanism is acceptable to help defray costs to the Center. If such a cost recovery system is developed, a detailed charge justification must be presented. Participating Center members must also be informed to include such costs with their full budget justifications in their applications for individual grant support. Cores may be proposed to support any research activity of the Center, but usually fall into one of five categories: (1) provision of a technology that lends itself to automation or preparation in large batches; (2) complex instrumentation; (3) animal preparation, care and characterization; (4) clinical resources; and (5) service and training. Limited developmental research is also an appropriate function of a core facility. Such activities, however, must be directly related to enhancing the function or utility of the Core.
Proposed Center research cores may be an institutional shared research core. In such cases, the research core support provided by the CF Research and Translation Center should be proportional to the use of the institutional research core by Center members. As with other research cores, details about access and prioritization of center members to the shared research core(s) should be provided. Moreover, the applicant should document that the CF Research and Translation Center will be in a position to have some input to, and oversight of, the shared institutional core with respect to its management, planning for future changes and improvements, etc.
Regional/National/International Cores: Centers are encouraged to propose Cores that provide unique resources to a community outside the Institution. These could be on a regional level, a national level or an international level. A Regional/National/International Core may define its own research base which is expanded from that of the rest of the Center. It may include investigators that just use this resource or service but do not have a formal collaboration with other Center investigators.
Justification for proposing a core: The establishment and continued support of biomedical research cores within a Center are justified on the basis of use by independently funded Center investigators. The minimum requirement for establishing a core is significant usage by two or more investigators with independently-funded, peer-reviewed projects. While investigators holding awards from the Center pilot and feasibility program are appropriate users of the core facilities, their use does not contribute to justification for establishment or continued support of a core. Additionally, the minimum of two independently funded users does not in itself provide sufficient justification. Core usage should be documented in the "Core Facility Use" attachment in Other Attachments above.
Recharge System: A recharge system may be developed to allow investigators to utilize any core. Recharge fees are allowable budgetary items in the investigators' individual research project grants. A system of payment management/accounting must be established such that it is clear to the individual users, the institutional business office, and the NIDDK what the recharge system covers and how funds recovered are being used. This will enable Center investigators to appropriately adjust the budgets on their own grants and ensure accountability.
Management of the core and operational plan: The organization and proposed mode of operation of each core should be presented. Included should be a plan for prioritizing investigator use of the core as well as a definition of qualified users. If use by investigators outside the parent institution is proposed, the mechanism by which such investigators will apply and be evaluated and selected should be detailed. The definition of qualified users should not be too narrow. Some minor core use could serve to entice established investigators in other scientific disciplines into CF research. Any proposed, ongoing or completed developmental efforts should be described. If the core is used to train investigators in special techniques, the mechanism for this training should be included.
Applicants should provide information on other programs supporting related resources at their institution and describe the nature of synergy and integration between the CF Research and Translation Center and these other activities. Applicants must also clearly describe how duplication or redundancies of effort, services and resources will be avoided.
Renewal applications: Information relative to cores in renewal applications should generally cover all of the same points as initial applications. In addition, past performance and accomplishments should be described and highlighted. The effect of the service provided by a core on investigator productivity and cost effectiveness should also be addressed. In renewal applications, any changes should be carefully documented.
Progress Report Publication List: Core productivity and accomplishments as demonstrated by peer-reviewed research publications supported by the core should be documented; list the number(s) of the relevant publication(s) from Table G above (Center Overview Progress Report and Publications List).
Letters of Support: For Regional/National/International Cores, include letters of support from partnering institutions.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Planned Enrollment Report (Biomedical Research Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Planned Enrollment Reports as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (Biomedical Research Core)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Pilot and Feasibility.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
SF424 (R&R) Cover (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
Complete only the following fields:
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
Enter Human Embryonic Stem Cells in each relevant component.
Research & Related Other Project Information (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
Human Subjects: Answer only the Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete.
Other Attachments: The following "Other Attachments" should be included with the Pilot and Feasibility Program component in order to aid in the review of applications. The filename provided for each attachment will be the name used for the bookmark in the application image. All
attachments should be in .pdf format.
Pilot Project Outcomes (renewal applications only): Please title this attachment "Pilot Project Outcomes" and list all Pilot Projects supported in full, or in part, by the CF Research and Translation Center. Provide information on the most recent 5 or, if applicable, 10-year period. Include the years funded, awardee, dates and amount of P&F funding, pilot project title, P&F award type (i.e. new investigator; established investigator), abstract and publications derived from pilot support, resulting grants funded or pending applications (including grant number/funding agency and project period), and whether the P&F awardee is still involved in CF research. Table F is provided for applicant assistance with this requirement (see: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/research-funding/process/apply/about-funding-mechanisms/p30/p30-cystic-fibrosis/Pages/P30-cystic-fibrosis-research-translation-center-applicaton-resources.aspx).
Pilot Project Summary/Abstract (new applications only): Please title this attachment "Pilot Project Information" and provide a Project Summary/Abstract for each proposed pilot and feasibility project, as well as the biographical sketch of the investigator for each of the proposed pilot and feasibility projects.
Project /Performance Site Location(s) (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
Budget (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Personnel: This category should include salary support for the P&F Program Director who must devote a minimum of 0.6 person months to ensure adequate oversight.
Other Expenses: Include funds to support individual Pilot & Feasibility projects. Each center must support a minimum of 2 P&F projects which can be up to $75,000 per year each. The applicant should provide details on how F&A costs for P&F projects with partnering institutions will be handled.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
PHS 398 Research Plan (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
Specific Aims: Clearly state the aims of the Pilot and Feasibility Program.
Research Strategy: A Pilot and Feasibility study provides modest research support for a limited time (one to two years) to enable eligible investigators to explore the feasibility of a concept related to the mission of the Center and generate sufficient data to pursue the project through other funding mechanisms. The pilot and feasibility studies are intended to: (1) provide initial support for new investigators; (2) allow exploration of possible innovative new leads or new directions for established investigators and (3) stimulate investigators from other areas to lend their expertise to research in this area. Pilot and feasibility study support is not intended for large projects by established investigators which would otherwise be submitted as separate research grant applications. Pilot and feasibility funds are also not intended to support or supplement ongoing funded research of an established investigator.
Requirements: Each Center must contain a pilot and feasibility program with a minimum of 2 projects. A maximum of 4 projects can be requested.
Eligibility and related guidelines: Investigators eligible for pilot and feasibility funding generally fall into three categories: (1) new investigators without current or past NIH research support (R01, P01) as a principal investigator (current or past support from other sources should have been modest); (2) established investigators with no previous work in CF who wish to apply their expertise to a problem in this area; and (3) established investigators who propose testing innovative ideas that represent clear departure from ongoing research interests. It is expected that the majority of the investigators will fall into the first category. All eligible investigators, however, must have faculty appointments and be independent investigators. Postdoctoral fellows or their equivalents are not eligible. Each pilot and feasibility study proposal should state clearly the justification for eligibility of the investigator under one of the above three criteria.
A proposed pilot and feasibility study should present a testable hypothesis and clearly delineate the question being asked, detail the procedures to be followed, and discuss how the data will be analyzed. It must be on a topic related to the objectives of the Core Center. Projects should be focused, since funding for these studies is modest and is limited to two years or less. Any one investigator is eligible only once for this support, unless the additional proposed pilot and feasibility study constitutes a real departure from his/her ongoing research.
Pilot and Feasibility projects proposing clinical studies are encouraged. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) supports Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) nationwide, which provide services and resources to enhance clinical research (http://www.ctsaweb.org/ ). Research Centers supported by the NIDDK and other NIH Institutes and Centers are encouraged to collaborate with CTSAs to avoid duplication of effort and enhance utilization of services and resources.
Initial review and management of the pilot and feasibility program: By the very nature of this program, a significant responsibility for its management will be left to the Center administration during the project periods. The application should clearly describe and justify the pool from which potential pilot and feasibility applications will be solicited. This can be limited to investigators at the parent institution or expanded to include investigators at institutions with well-defined affiliation with the Center. Such an affiliation can occur either through a subcontractual relationship for support of core resources or through inclusion of funded projects at a collaborating institution in the research base utilizing the shared resources of the Center. The mechanisms by which information on the availability of pilot and feasibility awards will be disseminated and by which applicants will apply and be selected for these awards must be described and will be an important element in the review of the pilot and feasibility component of the Center.
Since pilot and feasibility studies can be awarded for any period of time up to two years, studies end at various times. In addition, the studies may also be terminated by the Center administration before their approved time limit for various reasons: e.g., (1) the investigator may receive outside funding for the project; (2) the project was found not to be feasible; (3) the investigator may leave the Center institution; etc. When this occurs, the Center may make new awards for pilot and feasibility studies with the remaining funds.
While a Center's administrative framework for management of the pilot and feasibility program is basically left up to each Center (subject to NIH peer review), certain minimal requirements must be met. The program must have a director who is an established investigator in cystic fibrosis research. There must also be a committee representing all the aspects of the Center which will assist the director in the management of the program. The major responsibilities of the director and the committee will be to:
All applicants should describe how these requirements will be met and have been met in the case of renewal applications. Also included should be an assessment of the relevancy of the proposed individual pilot and feasibility studies and of the program as a whole to research on cystic fibrosis and to the specific goals and objectives of the individual Center and of the Center program generally.
Pilot and Feasibility program in new application: Applicants should provide (see "Other Attachments") an abstract for each proposed pilot and feasibility project, and the biographical sketch of the investigator of the proposed pilot and feasibility project; these pilot and feasibility proposals are reviewed for scientific merit and eligibility by the initial review group. These initial pilot and feasibility studies must have been reviewed by the Center in the manner proposed for review of future studies so that only those considered to be of the highest quality are included in the grant application. The amount of pilot and feasibility funds provided for the first year will be based on the review of the proposed studies. The budget for future years is recommended by the initial review group based on the quality of the proposed pilot and feasibility studies, and the proposed method for management and review (as evidenced by this set of projects). Also considered will be the review group's evaluation of the future justification for continued pilot and feasibility support.
Review of the pilot and feasibility program in renewal applications: After the initial review of pilot and feasibility proposals as described above, all responsibility for review and funding during the remainder of the project period will reside within the Center itself. This approach provides each Center with the needed flexibility for effective and efficient management of the program. In renewal applications, the review of this program will be based on the past track record, the management of the program, and an assessment of overall potential needs and opportunities.
In general, a renewal application will include: (1) an historical overview; (2) a description of Center management of the program; (3) a description of the method for solicitation for pilot and feasibility projects and the number of respondents received for each solicitation; (4) a listing of all previous, ongoing and approved proposed pilot and feasibility studies with reports on those which were supported by the Center during the last project period; and (5) a statement relating to benefits of the program to the Center as well as the contribution of the uniqueness of the Center environment to the program. These points are detailed in the following paragraphs.
The historical overview will cover the pilot and feasibility program since the inception of the Center. This should include a list of all pilot and feasibility projects ever awarded. The pilot and feasibility program director may wish to highlight certain studies or certain aspects of the past studies. Collaborations which resulted in lasting relationships, acquisition of new skills by the study recipient, or other significant outcomes should be identified. The relationship of the scope of the various studies to that of the Center should be emphasized. Details such as back-up documentation (described earlier in relation to the arrangement of the pilot and feasibility program) should not be included, but should be available for examination by the reviewers if requested.
The description of center management of the program will present in detail the current system used to manage the pilot and feasibility program, including its integration with and relationship to the rest of the administrative structure. The use of outside consultants for review should be included in the discussion. Important features of the solicitation process should be provided including the distribution and the number of respondents.
Funding levels for the pilot and feasibility program on renewal applications: The format for renewal of pilot and feasibility programs will depend on whether the applicant is requesting: (1) a number of pilot projects less than or equal to that for the previous project period, or (2) an increase in the number of pilot projects.
If the applicant wishes to maintain the same number of pilot projects in a renewal application, the recommendation of the initial review group will be based on the overall performance of the center's pilot and feasibility program as documented in the application. This recommendation will be based on: (1) the extent to which awarded funds were fully utilized during the previous project period; (2) awards were made to investigators who fully met the eligibility criteria for pilot and feasibility support as outlined above; (3) Center-relatedness; and (4) success of previously supported pilot and feasibility studies (e.g., publications, subsequent independent R01 or other peer-reviewed support, and/or attraction of new investigator into Center related research).
Conversely, should the applicant institution feel that an increased level of funding for the pilot and feasibility program is justified, new pilot and feasibility studies, over and above the number currently awarded, must be submitted with the renewal applications. These proposals would be reviewed by the initial review group in a fashion similar to the review of pilot and feasibility studies during the initial review. The initial review group would assess the new proposals, along with the overall performance of the program during the previous grant period to arrive at a recommendation for a possible increased pilot and feasibility funding level.
Letters of Support: Include any letters of support for the Pilot and Feasibility Program by the appropriate institutional official at partnering organizations if applicable.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Planned Enrollment Report (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Planned Enrollment Reports as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (Pilot and Feasibility Program)
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.
Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies) using ASSIST or other electronic submission systems. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.
Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.
Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.
For information on how your application will be automatically assembled for review and funding consideration after submission go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/Electronic_Multi-project_Application_Image_Assembly.pdf.
Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.
For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.
Important
reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) and component Core/Program Leads must include
their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person
Profile Component of the SF424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to
register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the
credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic
application to NIH.
The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the
application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA
Commons and for the System for Award Management (SAM). Additional information
may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
See more
tips for avoiding common errors.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by components of participating organizations, NIH. Applications that are incomplete and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.
Responsiveness Criteria
To be responsive to this FOA, the applicant institution must already have an existing, substantial base of ongoing, independently supported, peer-reviewed research projects in cystic fibrosis to justify the requested Core support. The research base for the Center must consist of a minimum of $2,000,000 total costs per year of peer-reviewed research projects relevant to the development of therapies for CF. Support for research Cores should not be included in the research base. Applications that do not document this level of research project funding will be considered non-responsive and will be returned without review.
In order to expedite review, applicants are requested to notify the NIDDK Referral Office by email at calvof@mail.nih.gov when the application has been submitted. Please include the FOA number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.
Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-13-030.
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.
For these P30 Center applications, reviewers will be asked to evaluate the following individual sections, and the Scientific Review Officer will record these scores. The overall impact score is not the average of the scores for all these components.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the Center to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the Center proposed).
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a Center that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
Significance
Does the Center address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the Center are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Does the research base to be supported by the Center show evidence of a strong and consistent record of productivity and peer-reviewed funding related to the proposed focus of the Center? Do the proposed Cores fill a need in the CF research Community, and will they provide services that would otherwise be unavailable, or be more cost-effective if centralized? Will the Center increase efficiency; promote new research directions and collaborations; and prove cost effective?
Investigator(s)
Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the Center? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project? Do the proposed Center Director and Associate Director(s) have the appropriate administrative and leadership experience necessary to direct a multicomponent Center? Are the Core Directors well-qualified and appropriate?
Innovation
Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?
Approach
Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses
well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the Center?
Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented?
If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy
establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?
If the Center involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, are
the plans to address 1) the protection of human subjects from research risks,
and 2) inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender,
race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of children,
justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed? Are
criteria for membership in the CF Research and Translation Center clear and
appropriate? Is the administrative structure appropriate to monitor Core
usage, prioritization, and quality? Are the proposed Cores appropriate for the
focus of the Center? Do they provide added value to what is available
elsewhere and will they stimulate the development of new approaches? Is there
an appropriate structure to solicit, award and monitor the pilot and
feasibility studies?
Environment
Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional commitment to the Center program? Are there interactions among scientists from different departments and/or other Institutions?
As applicable for the Center proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.
Protections for Human Subjects
For research that involves human subjects but does
not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR
Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human
subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their
participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to
subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the
subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data
and safety monitoring for clinical trials.
For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or
more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46,
the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human
subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For
additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to
the Guidelines
for the Review of Human Subjects.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children
When the proposed Center involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of children to determine if it is justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research.
Vertebrate Animals
The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.
Biohazards
Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
Resubmissions
Not Applicable
Renewals
For Renewals, the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period by evaluating the following:
Research Base:
Administrative Core:
Biomedical Research Cores:
Pilot and Feasibility Program
Revisions
Not Applicable
As applicable for the Center proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.
Applications from Foreign Organizations
Not Applicable
Select Agent Research
Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).
Resource Sharing Plans
Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).
Budget and Period of Support
Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Is the budget requested directly correlated to the breadth and quality of the cystic fibrosis research base being served by the Center?
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by NIDDK, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:
Appeals of initial peer review will not be accepted for applications submitted in response to this FOA.
Applications will be assigned to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Advisory Council (NDDKAC). The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
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.
Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH
will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as
described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided
to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by
the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via
email to the grantee’s business official.
Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. 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.
Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, SAM
Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award
Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.
Awardee-selected projects that involve clinical trials or studies involving greater than minimal risk to human subjects require prior approval by NIH prior to initiation.
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 and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.
Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award
Not Applicable
When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590 or RPPR) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement..
A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.
We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity
and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
eRA Commons Help Desk (Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, submitting and tracking an application, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, post submission issues)Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
Web ticketing system: https://public.era.nih.gov/commonshelp
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov
Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions
regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and
application packages)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Web ticketing system: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/ContactUs.aspx
Email: support@grants.gov
GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and
process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone: 301-710-0267
TTY: 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov
Thomas Eggerman, MD, Ph. D.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Telephone: 301-594-8813
Email: eggermant@mail.nih.gov
Francisco Calvo, Ph.D.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK)
Telephone: 301-594-8897
Email: calvof@mail.nih.gov
Christine Gill
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Telephone: 301-435-2816
Email: gillc@mail.nih.gov
Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
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 Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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