NHLBI MINORITY INSTITUTION FACULTY MENTORED RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD Release Date: July 16, 1998 RFA: HL-98-017 P.T. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: August 3, 1998 Application Receipt Date: September 23, 1998 PURPOSE This program provides research support to faculty members at minority institutions who have the interest and potential to conduct high quality research in the areas of cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic disease, or in sleep disorders. Important goals are to enhance the institution's science programs and to assist in the acquisition of "hands on" research opportunities for minority students at the applicant's institution. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This Request for Applications (RFA), NHLBI Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, is related to the priority areas of heart disease and stroke, tobacco, educational and community-based programs, environmental health, maternal and infant health, diabetes and chronic disabling diseases, and HIV infection. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-1 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone: 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS A. Minority School A minority school is defined as a domestic medical or non-medical college, university or equivalent school in which students of minority ethnic groups including Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, and Asian or Pacific Islanders comprise a majority (more than 50%) of the school's enrollment. The commitment of the institution to the faculty candidate's research and development must clearly be presented in the application, including statement(s) from the Dean and the candidate's departmental chair. These signed statements must also indicate that the candidate will be provided with the amount of time and effort designated in the application to accomplish the research goals stated in the application. Because the NHLBI views this commitment as vital to the success of the program, the Institute will closely monitor this aspect of the program if an award is made. B. Faculty Development Award Candidate Candidates for this award are minority school faculty members who (1) are citizens of the United States, non-citizen nationals or permanent residents at the time of application, (2) have a doctoral degree or equivalent in a biomedical or behavioral science, (3) wish to receive specialized training in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or sleep disorders research, (4) have the background and potential to benefit from the training, and (5) are committed to providing research opportunities for students at their institution. C. Mentor at Nearby Research Center Each candidate must also identify and complete arrangements with a nearby mentor (within approximately 100 miles) who is recognized as an accomplished investigator in the research area proposed and who will provide guidance for the awardee's development and research plan. Arrangements with mentors at institutions greater than 100 miles from the applicant institution will be considered, but must be justified strongly and outlined clearly in the application. Plans for intensive training of the applicant and their student(s) during the summer period (2 - 3 months) as well as during the academic year should be developed with the mentor. The commitment of the mentor and the mentor's departmental chair to both the summer and academic year training periods must be documented in the application. The mentor must provide an annual evaluation of the faculty member's career development. This evaluation is to be included as part of the Application for Continuation Grant if an award is made. D. Student Research Assistants Student research assistants are underrepresented minority students enrolled at the applicant (minority) institution who are (1) citizens of the United States, noncitizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of application, (2) have declared a major or concentration in a biomedical or behavioral science, (3) have at least an overall B grade point average, (4) have the potential and desire to pursue an advanced degree in the biomedical or behavioral sciences, and (5) wish to receive research training in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic health and disease or transfusion medicine, or sleep disorders research. At least one and a maximum of two students may participate on the project simultaneously as research assistants. Students are expected to participate in the program for a minimum of two years. For the purpose of this RFA, underrepresented minority students are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the applicant institution to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research. For the purposes of this program, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander students are considered to be underrepresented. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the NHLBI Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, (K01) mechanism of support. However, specific application instructions have been modified to reflect "JUST-IN-TIME" streamlining efforts implemented by NIH and published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 25, No. 10, March 29. This process allows applicants to submit certain information only when there is a possibility for an award. It is anticipated that these changes will reduce the administrative burden for the applicants, applicant institutions, reviewers, and Institute staff. For this RFA, no detailed budget is required. However, total direct costs for all years must be provided in addition to the name, role on project, percent effort and narrative justification for all project personnel. Instructions for completing the Biographical Sketch have also been modified. In addition, Other Support information for the applicant and the application Checklist page are not required as part of the initial application. However, Other Support information is required for the mentor and co-mentor. If there is a possibility for an award, necessary budget, Other Support and Checklist information will be requested by NHLBI staff following the initial review. The Application Procedures section of this RFA provides specific details of modifications to standard PHS 398 application kit instructions. FUNDS AVAILABLE The estimated funds (total costs) available for the first year of support for the entire program is expected to be $895,000 in fiscal year 1999. The actual amount may vary, depending on the response to the RFA and availability of funds, but the number of awards for the Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research Scientist Development Award is anticipated to be four new awards. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Measurements of health status indicate that Americans today are, on the whole, healthier than at any other time in our history. Life expectancy has increased while infant mortality statistics indicate that fewer infants are dying at birth or in the first few months of life. Diseases that disabled or killed at the start of the century have virtually disappeared. In spite of this national trend toward better health, there is a continuing disparity in the burden of death and illness experienced by Blacks and other minority Americans. This segment of the population continues to be over represented among those in poor health and has remarkably higher death rates from cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases. Despite a recent decline in the death rate from coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one cause of death in the United States. Cardiovascular disease accounts for almost one million deaths annually. An estimated 68 million Americans are estimated to have diseases of the heart and blood vessels, resulting in a large burden of acute and chronic illness and disability. Heart and blood vessel diseases cost the economy tens of billions of dollars per year in lost wages, reduced productivity, and expenses for medical care. Diseases of the lung also constitute a major national health problem. About one in every five persons has some chronic respiratory problem resulting in an annual estimated cost to the nation of over $29 billion. In the newborn, the most common cause of death is neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Neonatal RDS may be implicated in development of adult respiratory diseases as well. Of the adult respiratory diseases, emphysema and chronic bronchitis are major causes of death. Fibrotic and immunologic lung diseases are serious causes of lung problems in the young adult. Asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis represent particularly pressing health problems, affecting an estimated 17 million Americans. Moreover, the death rate and prevalence of these conditions have increased at an alarming rate over the past 15 years. As a disabling disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a leading cause of worker retirement on Social Security disability payments. Disorders of the blood, including congenital or acquired disorders or deficiencies, are another major causes of death and disability in the United States. Disorders of the blood affect not only the blood itself, but the tissues and organs through which it flows. Recent research findings have revealed the widespread involvement of thrombosis in the pathology of numerous disorders, including the development of atherosclerosis and coronary thrombosis. Aggressive therapy for cancer has resulted in the increased susceptibility of patients to bleeding disorders and has increased the demand for blood products for therapeutic purposes. A significant segment of the population has inherited blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease, hemophilia, or Cooley's anemia, which require life-long hematologic attention and blood product support. Chronic disorders of sleep affect an estimated 40 million Americans. Sleep problems affect men and women of every age, race, and socioeconomic class. Many people are unaware of their illness and are not receiving adequate treatment. About 20 million adults have chronic insomnia. Sleep apnea, a cessation of breathing during sleep, is the second most common sleep disorder. It affects about 12 million Americans. Other startling statistics include the following: about 25 percent of American children aged 1 to 5 have a sleep disturbance; an estimated 250,000 people suffer from narcolepsy; more than 50 percent of Americans aged 65 and older have a sleep problem; and disturbed sleep is among the reasons most frequently cited by caretakers for institutionalization of older Americans. Each year, sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, and daytime sleepiness contribute a substantial burden to national health care. Additional costs to society for such consequences as lost worker productivity, accidents, and the contribution of sleep disorders to other serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke are just being identified and studied. The NHLBI continues its commitment to address these important medical challenges. One way of meeting these challenges is to increase the pool of well trained investigators, especially in minority groups where the proportion of biomedical investigators is strikingly lower than the percentage of minority U.S. citizens. Although 12 percent of the population is Black, less than 0.25 percent of persons holding a Ph.D. in science are Black. The figures are even lower for Black Ph.D.s in the biomedical sciences. Furthermore, the number of doctorates, both M.D.s and Ph.D.s, in other ethnic minority groups (such as American Indians or Hispanics) is proportionally lower than for Blacks. Vigorous recruitment is underway throughout the government, academic institutions, hospitals, research institutions, and industry. The Minority Institution Mentored Research Scientist Development Award is designed to address this critical need by increasing the research and academic capabilities of faculty members at minority schools. In doing so, the faculty will become more able to prepare and direct their students to pursue advanced degrees and ultimately careers in biomedical and behavioral research thus increasing the pool of well trained biomedical and behavioral investigators in cardiovascular, pulmonary, ematologic, and sleep disorders research. Because it is important to sustain the faculty's research program following the initial period, recipients may reapply for an additional five year period of support. More than one applicant from each institution may apply. Former awardees within three years of the end of their award may also apply for the additional five year period. At the end of the period of support, it is anticipated that the applicant will be prepared to apply for other types of NIH support such as the Research Project Grant (R01), Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA, R15), or Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS, S06.) INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN STUDY POPULATIONS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 15508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 11, March 18, 1994. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by August 3, 1998, a letter of intent that includes the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains allows NIH staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. C. James Scheirer at the address listed under APPLICATION PROCEDURES. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). This form is available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title (NHLBI Minority Institution Faculty Mentored Research Scientist Development Award) and number (HL-98-017) must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Send the completed, signed application and three exact photocopies to: CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) Two additional copies of the application must be sent to: NHLBI Research Training Review Special Emphasis Panel Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7924 Bethesda, MD 20892-7924 Supplemental Instructions for completing and submitting the application may be obtained from the NHLBI contacts listed under INQUIRIES. Applications must be received by September 23, 1998. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by CSR and responsiveness by NHLBI. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by a Special Emphasis Panel in the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, in accordance with the review criteria stated below. Following scientific-technical review, applications will receive a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. Review Criteria The factors to be considered in the evaluation of the proposed training program are: o the overall merit of the candidate's five year plan for research and the development of research skills; o the candidate's background and the candidate's potential to meet the goals of the program, which are to develop their research skills, provide research training to students, and enhance the scientific program at the minority institution; o the candidate's commitment to improving his/her research skills as demonstrated by maintenance of a research laboratory, attendance at scientific meetings, and participation in journal clubs and research seminars. o the candidate's record and outline of future plans for involving students in research, and guiding them to science graduate programs and careers in academic biomedical and behavioral research; o the ability of both the minority institution and the mentor's institution to provide facilities, resources, and opportunities necessary for the candidate's and students' research development; o the qualifications, ability, and plans of the mentor who will provide the candidate with the guidance necessary for career development in research; and o the institution's commitment to the development of the candidate and the students. Award Criteria The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o Overall merit of the application as determined by peer review; o Availability of funds; and o Program balance among the research areas of the RFA. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Michael Commarato, Ph.D. or Beth Schucker, M.A. Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7940 Bethesda, MD 20892-7940 Telephone: (301) 435-0530 FAX: (301) 480-1454 Email: michael_commarato@nih.gov beth_schucker@nih.gov Mary Reilly, M.S. or Ann Rothgeb Division of Lung Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7952 Bethesda, MD 20892-7952 Telephone: (301) 435-0222 FAX: (301) 480-3557 Email: mary_reilly@nih.gov ann_rothgeb@nih.gov LeeAnn Jensen, Ph.D. Division of Blood Diseases and Resources National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7950 Bethesda, MD 20892-7950 Telephone: (301) 435-0065 FAX: (301) 480-1060 Email: leeann_jensen@nih.gov Thomas Blaszkowski, Ph.D. Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7938 Bethesda, MD 20892-7938 Telephone: (301) 435-0433 FAX: (301) 480-1864 Email: thomas_blaszkowski@nih.gov James Kiley, Ph.D. National Center for Sleep Disorders Research National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7920 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 435-0199 FAX: (301) 480-3451 Email: james_kiley@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal and administrative matters to: Marie Willett Grants Operations Branch, Heart Section National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926 Bethesda, MD 20892-7926 Telephone: (301) 435-0177 FAX: (301) 480-3310 Email: marie_willett@nih.gov Raymond L. Zimmerman Grants Operations Branch, Lung Section National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926 Bethesda, MD 20892-7926 Telephone: (301) 435-0177 FAX: (301) 480-3310 Email: raymond_zimmerman@nih.gov Jane Davis Grants Operations Branch, Blood Section National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7926 Bethesda, MD 20892-7926 Telephone: (301) 435-0166 FAX: (301) 480-3310 Email: jane_davis@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, numbers 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, and 93.839. Awards are made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78- 410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations at 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or a Health Systems Agency Review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.
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