INTERNATIONAL MALARIA RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM AWARD
Release Date: December 21, 1999
RFA: TW-00-006
Fogarty International Center
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 29, 2000
Application Receipt Date: March 29, 2000
PURPOSE
The Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) invites applications from non-profit private or public U.S. universities
to train or expand the capabilities of scientists and health professionals
from malaria endemic developing countries to engage in malaria research.
Proposals are requested that would create innovative, collaborative malaria
research training programs and that would contribute to the long term goal of
harnessing scientific knowledge and skills to enhance efforts to prevent
malaria related morbidity and mortality and to control malaria transmission in
endemic developing countries.
Attempts to control malaria have suffered due to incomplete understanding of
the interactions between the parasite and its human and mosquito hosts, the
development of anti-malarial drug and Anopholine mosquito insecticide
resistance, inadequate patient management and the decline in prevention
efforts. A major barrier to successful malaria research, treatment and
control, including the clinical trials of potentially efficacious malaria
vaccines has been the scarcity of a critical mass of trained scientists and
health professionals with malaria expertise in endemic countries. Each year
it is estimated that close to one billion clinical episodes and between 1.5-2
million deaths due to malaria occur, 90% in Africa. The program for malaria
research training will therefore focus primarily on Plasmodium falciparum
malaria related research training to advance collaborative malaria studies
between U.S. researchers and colleagues in sub-Saharan Africa. FIC will also
consider meritorious applications involving training to address P. vivax
malaria in endemic developing countries in Asia and Latin America and the
Caribbean as well as training in specific P. falciparum malaria problems which
are not yet significant in Africa such as multiple drug resistance.
The impetus for supporting a malaria research training program grows out of
the recognition that malaria continues to pose a major health threat in most
of the developing world and that research training in endemic countries can
lead to long term solutions. It supports the Multilateral Initiative on
Malaria (MIM) established at a meeting in Dakar, Senegal, in January 1997, by
malaria experts from sub-Saharan Africa and other countries. The goal of the
conference was to identify scientific priorities and the means to pursue
strengthening and sustaining, through collaborative research and training, the
capability of malaria endemic countries in Africa to carry out the research
required to develop or improve tools for malaria prevention and control. An
alliance of organizations and scientists involved in malaria research
coalesced into the MIM coordinated by a secretariat currently housed at the
FIC (http://mim.nih.gov). In an effort to extend the activities supported by
the MIM, the FIC malaria research training program will support U.S. malaria
researchers to participate in building malaria research capability in endemic
developing countries through collaborative training efforts, especially in
Africa, to address the scientific priorities identified at the Dakar
Conference.
To develop sustainable research capacity in endemic developing countries, FIC
will support malaria research training efforts as part of ongoing, productive
malaria research projects in collaboration with internationally recognized
research institutions in Africa and other highly endemic regions of the world.
Proposed training programs should be designed to fill specific gaps in needed
expertise and establish a critical mass of trained scientists and health
professionals able to work independently on malaria research at the
collaborating developing country institution. Each malaria research training
proposal may incorporate a number of long term and short-term training
opportunities, in a wide range of relevant fields and skills provided to the
necessary spectrum of endemic region scientists and health professionals to
achieve this goal. To the greatest extent possible, malaria research related
to training conducted in the trainees= home country will be supported.
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),
International Malaria Research Training Program Award, is related to one or
more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy
People 2000" at http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applications may be submitted by U.S. non-profit public and private
institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and
eligible agencies of the Federal government capable of meeting the objectives
of the RFA. Foreign institutions in industrialized countries may apply in
collaboration with an U.S. institution with a designated U.S. Principal
Investigator. Such foreign investigators must demonstrate an ongoing
collaborative relationship with the U.S. Principal Investigator and endemic
site institution, provide malaria research training opportunities not
available at the U.S. institution and describe how their institutions will
contribute to the costs of the proposed training. Only one application is
allowed from any applicant U.S. institution. The U.S. grantee institution
must demonstrate an ongoing collaborative relationship with an established
institution with proven malaria research capabilities in a endemic developing
country in Africa, Asia (except Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), the
Pacific Island region (except Australia and New Zealand), Latin America and
the Caribbean where the proposed research training will be based. Applicants
must be designated as the U.S. Principal Investigator of at least one active
(with at least 18 months of support remaining at the time of application)
research grant, contract or cooperative agreement relevant to the malaria
research training proposed from the NIH or other U.S. or international
organization. This research may have a basic science orientation with no
field component. However, in the interest of building sustainable malaria
research capacity, priority will be given to applications where the proposed
training is explicitly linked through either the Principal Investigator or co-
Investigators to a funded research effort directly relevant to developing
malaria control strategies in the collaborating malaria endemic developing
country. Principal Investigators currently supported by other FIC malaria
focused research training awards (D43) are not eligible to apply.
Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are
encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) international
training grant (D43) award mechanism that limits facilities and administrative
costs to eight percent. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and
execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The
total project period for an application submitted in response to this RFA
cannot exceed five years. Continued support during this period depends on
satisfactory performance as judged by annual progress reports, site visits,
meetings with program directors, career progress of trainees, the development
of institutional capacity for independent malaria related research and
continued malaria research funding. At this time, FIC has not determined
whether this solicitation will be continued beyond the present RFA. FIC will
conduct a program evaluation by the end of the fourth year that will assist
the NIH in determining the re-issuance of the RFA. If, by the end of the
fourth year of the award, the FIC has not announced its intent to reissue the
RFA, incumbents should contact FIC program staff for instruction as to how to
proceed.
The applicant organization must provide the necessary management for the
transfer of funds and materials to the collaborating endemic country
institution. Facilities and administrative (F & A) costs required to support
training and training related research at the endemic country institution such
as access to facilities, library services, internet, etc. can be charged as
direct expenses when well justified. Travel, salaries and fringe benefits
will be subject to the applicant institution=s rules and regulations.
Allowable Costs
All budget items related to trainee participation in the program should be
itemized on the PHS Form 398 NRSA substitute budget pages OO and PP in the
categories indicated in parentheses. All budget items related to faculty
participation in the program should be itemized on the PHS Form 398 budget
pages DD and EE in the categories indicated in parentheses. Allowable costs
requested for research training at institutions in industrialized countries
should follow the guidelines specified for U.S. institutions.
Stipend/Salary/Honoraria
o Trainees (endemic country graduate students and endemic country post-
advance degree participants) may be paid a stipend comparable to their
professional experience similar to other equivalent trainees at the U.S.
institution but not exceeding $45,000 per year in accordance with the U.S.
institutional policies while involved in long term training in the U.S.
Applicants may wish to refer to the NRSA stipend levels described on the web
site http://www.nih.gov/fic/opportunities/index.html. (NRSA substitute pages, pre-
or postdoctoral stipends)
o Endemic country trainees may be paid a stipend while conducting long term
training related research at the endemic country site at levels comparable
with the salary scales for similar professionals in that country in accordance
with the collaborating endemic country or U.S. institution=s policies but not
exceeding $45,000 per year. (NRSA substitute pages, pre- or postdoctoral
stipends).
o Faculty at the U.S. institution who provide major program administration or
extended long term training or conduct collaborative research with students at
the endemic country site may receive salary and fringe benefits. The total
amount of salary and fringe benefits requested for all U.S. faculty may not
exceed ten percent of direct costs in the budget. The administrative,
training or teaching responsibilities and time commitment for personnel
receiving salary should be thoroughly described. (Form 398 budget pages,
personnel)
o Endemic country institution faculty who provide major program
administration at the endemic country site or participate in long term
training of participating students at the endemic country site and U.S.
faculty or endemic country faculty who teach short courses may receive an
honorarium not to exceed $2000, in accordance with their institution=s
policies. No more than five percent of the direct costs in the budget may be
used for honoraria. The administrative, training or teaching responsibilities
and time commitment for personnel receiving honoraria should be thoroughly
described. (NRSA substitute pages- training related expenses)
o Up to ten percent direct costs to provide salary and fringe benefits for
clerical support staff for the program at the U.S. institution. The
responsibilities and time commitment for personnel receiving salary support
should be thoroughly described. (Form 398 pages, personnel)
Tuition, Fees and Insurance
o Funds for tuition, academic fees and self-only medical insurance for
endemic country trainees at the U.S. institution not exceeding 20% of direct
costs may be requested. Programs are encouraged to seek cost sharing
arrangements with the U.S. institutions in order to provide reduced tuition
for long term trainees and tuition-free short courses. (NRSA substitute
pages, tuition, fees, insurance)
Trainee Travel
o Funds may be requested for one round trip economy class airfare per year on
U.S. carriers (to the maximum extent possible) and local ground transportation
for each long term endemic country trainee to travel to the U.S. or for
endemic country trainees to participate in short courses or attend scientific
conferences to present their results. Additional travel must be approved by
FIC program staff. (NRSA substitute pages, trainee travel)
o Funds may be requested for per diem and lodging for endemic country
trainees to participate in short courses or attend scientific conferences to
present their results. (NRSA substitute pages, trainee travel)
Faculty Travel
o Funds may be requested for one round trip economy airfare per year on U.S.
carriers (to the maximum extent possible) for each U.S. faculty participant
providing extended training to go to the endemic country site or teach short
courses at the endemic country site. Additional travel must be approved by
FIC staff. (PHS 398 pages, travel)
o Funds may be requested for per diem and lodging for U.S. faculty to teach
short courses at the endemic country site. (PHS 398 pages, travel)
o Funds should be requested for airfare, per diem and lodging comparable to
U.S. government rates (see
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=17943&contentType=GSA_BASIC) for
the program Director to attend an annual network meeting in the Washington,
D.C. area. (PHS 398 pages, travel)
Training related expenses
o Funds to support endemic country trainee research related costs at the U.S.
institution (such as reagents, lab supplies, computer access, small equipment,
etc.) of up to $600 per month per trainee may be requested. (NRSA substitute
pages, training related expenses)
o Funds to support up to ($10,000) per year for research at the endemic
country site associated with fulfilling requirements for an advanced degree
may be requested. (NRSA substitute pages, training related expenses)
o Research support for up to ($15,000) per trainee per year to facilitate
conducting advanced research training at the endemic country site (re-entry
grants) by former long term trainees in collaboration with U.S. faculty
participants maybe requested. Re-entry grants may support the purchase of
reagents, supplies, a computer and appropriate software, computer access fees,
small equipment, one round trip to the U.S. institution per year, scientific
meeting fees and stipends comparable to salary scales for similar professional
at the endemic country site. The applicant should describe how proposals for
re-entry projects will be selected by a peer review process examining
scientific merit and ethical concerns involving faculty from the U.S. and
endemic country institutions coordinated by the program director. (NRSA
substitute pages, training related expenses)
FUNDS AVAILABLE
The FIC intends to commit approximately $750,000 in FY 2000 to fund five to
six new grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may request a project
period of up to five years and a budget for total costs of up to $150,000 per
year maximum (including eight percent facilities and administrative costs).
Because the nature and scope of the research proposed may vary, it is
anticipated that the size of each award will also vary. Although the
financial plans of the FIC provide support for this program, awards pursuant
to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a
sufficient number of meritorious applications.
RESEARCH TRAINING OBJECTIVES
Background
The objectives of the program are provide research training in malaria
pathogenesis, epidemiology, vector biology, immunology and vaccines, anti-
malarial drugs, clinical practice, health systems and operational methods.
These objectives support those of the MIM (http://www.who.int/rbm/index.html). In addition, the
program seeks to address the specific scientific problems related to P. vivax
malaria and P. falciparum malaria which are not yet significant in Africa such
as multiple drug resistance. The Dakar Conference recommendations
(http://www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/malafr/default.htm) called for both long term
and short-term training of African scientists and health professionals to
acquire the capabilities necessary to independently carry out high quality
research from its conception and protocol development to its execution and
reporting and publishing results. It was recommended that training provide
relevant technology transfer and create broad institutional expertise in
malaria through balanced and productive collaborations with scientifically
advanced malaria research laboratories. An extensive analysis of malaria
research capacity in Africa was recently published (www.wellcome.ac.uk/mim).
Training Objectives
It is expected that each malaria research training program supported will:
1. Substantially increase the expertise of trainees in malaria related
entomological, biomedical, clinical, social science and intervention research.
2. Expand collaborative malaria research interactions between U.S. and
endemic developing country scientists.
3. Strengthen sustainable malaria research within endemic developing
countries institutions, building scientific excellence for training future
generations of endemic developing country scientists.
4. Provide data for research based decision-making for clinical treatment and
transmission control programs and to inform national health care policy in
endemic developing countries.
Training Plan
1. Applicants should design a training plan that attempts to fill specific
gaps in malaria expertise at the collaborating endemic developing country
institution that will result in a critical mass of scientists and health
professionals able to address issues of high priority to control and prevent
malaria in their country. A proposal may incorporate a wide range of long
term and short term research training opportunities offered to a wide range of
possible endemic developing country participants in order to achieve the
creation of or expansion to a scientifically autonomous malaria research group
capable of equal partnership in international collaborative efforts. A
proposed training plan can include U.S. based research training. However,
applicants are strongly encouraged to provide support and mentoring in
research related to training conducted in the trainees= home country to the
greatest extent possible in the context of ongoing collaborative research
between the U.S. and endemic country investigators. Active involvement in
ongoing research projects at the endemic country site is vital for a
sustainable research oriented public health career in developing countries.
Proposals for innovative ways to involve trainees in collaborative research
projects and intervention trials in their home countries are encouraged.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to include women in the selection of
trainees.
2. Long term training (usually a minimum of two years) may include studies
leading to an advanced degree or a mentored post-advanced degree experience.
Applicants should describe how the long term training proposed will combine
the acquisition of specific expertise to successfully answer a hypothesis
based malaria research question with the opportunity to acquire broad
knowledge about the biology and public health aspects of malaria to the
greatest extent possible. Long term training should include academic courses
taken at the U.S. institution including instruction in the responsible conduct
of research, laboratory safety, medical informatics, technical writing and
English as a second language, if necessary.
3. Applicants are encouraged to develop, promote and facilitate short term,
training opportunities targeted toward the specific needs of their endemic
developing country collaborators which will directly enhance their research
capabilities. Short term training may be offered on such topics as new
laboratory, clinical or behavioral research methods, medical informatics,
biostatistics, data management and intervention trial protocol development or
in areas which support research efforts such as IRB and biosafety procedures,
proposal writing and research administration skills. When a short training
course or workshop is given by one malaria research training program, it is
expected that this course will be open to trainees from the other training
programs supported through this RFA.
Training activities will be coordinated, facilitated and monitored by a
Training Advisory Group comprised of malaria research training program
Principal Investigators, major endemic country collaborators and FIC program
staff which will meet annually.
Types of Training
1. Long term pre-doctoral training in malaria related biomedical,
entomological, clinical, epidemiological, behavioral and public health policy
research leading to a master=s or Ph.D. or equivalent degree for individuals
with or without previous research experience in these fields. Research
training should relate directly to the Principal Investigator=s or co-
Investigators= collaborative research at the endemic country site and may
range from two to five years.
2. Long term post-advanced degree research experience for endemic country
scientists and health professionals including malaria related clinical
training for approximately two years duration.
3. Short term training in either the U.S. or endemic country site of up to
four weeks in specific research methods or other laboratory, clinical, field
or administrative skills related to the malaria research efforts at the
collaborating endemic country institution for technicians, health care
professionals, research administrative staff.
4. Short term training of three to six months duration for individuals with
advanced degrees or health care professionals conducted in the U.S. in
research methods or other skills to support specific collaborative malaria
research efforts at the endemic country site.
5. Advanced research training support (re-entry grants), generally for one to
two years, to enable trainees with advanced degrees or health care
professionals to continue mentored malaria research in their home country or
to initiate malaria research projects related to ongoing collaborative
research at the endemic country collaborating institution.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
The Principal Investigator and major endemic country collaborator will be
responsible for the progress made by the trainees and the overall conduct of
each malaria research training program.
Training Advisory Group
A Training Advisory Group (TAG) will be established after awards are made to
coordinate and facilitate training activities among all malaria research
training programs supported by this RFA. The TAG will include the Principal
Investigators and major endemic country collaborators of each malaria research
training program, and FIC program staff. The TAG will have responsibility for
advising, coordinating, and facilitating training plans (and in-country
training short courses) to enhance the progress of trainees in light of the
evolving needs for malaria research. FIC will also facilitate coordination and
collaboration with other U.S. government institutions within and outside of
NIH (e.g. NIAID, CDC, USAID, DOD, etc.) and with international organizations,
including the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM), the World Health
Organization (WHO), and other in-country projects funded by NIH.
Training in Responsible Conduct of Research
Applicants are required to include training in responsible conduct of research
for long term trainees. An award will not be made unless a description of
such training is included. The description should include the topics, format,
participation of faculty, instructional materials and the frequency and
duration of the training provided.
Recruitment and Selection Plan
The applicant institution must include a plan describing the recruitment,
criteria and selection procedures for trainees. Degree candidates must meet
all entrance requirements of the U.S. degree granting institution.
If applicable, proposals should describe the mechanism for internal peer
review of re-entry grant applications to support malaria research projects at
the endemic country site conducted by returning trainees by a committees
composed of U.S. and endemic country investigators from participating
institution(s).
Trainee Tracking System
Applicant should describe their plan to track the short and long term impact
of malaria research training on their trainees. Awardees will be required to
implement a system to track and document the long-term impact of this training
program on: (1) the careers of all trainees, (2) the research capacity at the
collaborating endemic country institution of trainees, (3) positions trainees
assume upon completion of training, (4) the contributions of trainees to
future NIH supported international malaria research and intervention trial
efforts. Examples of training impact include how training enabled
participants to assume more responsible positions upon returning home, how
collaborations with former trainees resulted in the funding of malaria
intervention trials or collaborative research projects for which trainees were
either Principal Investigators or co-Investigators, and publications of
research results authored by trainees supported by this program.
During the first year after the awards are made, FIC will work with grantees
to standardize tracking systems among programs for annual progress reporting
based on the ideas presented in their applications and FIC program staff
experience with similar programs. It is expected that the standardized
tracking system developed will be implemented in all programs. The impact of
training resulting from each program will be an important criteria considered
during recompetition of this RFA.
INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and
their sub-populations must be included in all NIH supported 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 was published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR
59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No.
11, March 18, 1994, available on the web at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html.
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.
This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt
dates after October 1, 1998.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in
Research Involving Human Subjects that was published in the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL
address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.
Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff
listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant
information concerning the policy.
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes:
1) a descriptive title of the proposed research training program 2) the name,
address, email address and telephone number of the Principal Investigator and
the major endemic country collaborator 3) the identities of other key
personnel and participating institutions. 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 FIC program staff to
determine eligibility, estimate the potential review workload and avoid
conflict of interest in the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent to the program staff listed under INQUIRIES
by the letter of intent receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) is to be used in
applying for these grants. These forms are 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 (rev. 4/98) 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 and number must be typed on line two of the face page of the application
form and the YES box must be marked. The RFA number must be typed on the
label as well.
The sample RFA label is available at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/labels.pdf has been modified to
allow for this change. Please note this is in pdf format.
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and three signed photocopies, in one package to:
CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and all
five sets of appendices should be sent to:
Madelon Halula, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Program
NIAID-DEA
67000B Rockledge Drive, Room 2217
Bethesda, MD 20817 (Fed Ex) or 20992-7616 (U.S. Mail)
Applications must be received by the application receipt date listed in the
heading of this RFA. If an application is received after that date, it will be
returned to the applicant without review.
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in
response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending
initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The
CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one
already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial
revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include
an introduction addressing the previous critique.
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Center for Scientific
Review. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without
further consideration. Applications that are complete will be evaluated for
scientific and technical merit by a peer review group convened by NIAID in
accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the
initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique.
Applications may undergo a streamlined review process. In this process, only
those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the
top half of applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority
score, and receive a second level review by the FIC Advisory Board.
Review Criteria
The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. In
the written comments reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects
of the application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research
training will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each
of these criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall
score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that the
application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely
to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For
example, an investigator may propose to carry out important research training
that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.
Applicants for a malaria research training program award must have relevant
research support from NIH or another funding source which will serve as the
foundation for the research training proposed. The scientific evaluation of
each application will include an assessment of linkage between the proposed
training and malaria research support for the Principal Investigator, major
endemic country collaborator and other co-Investigators. Evidence of support
for the malaria research training program from the collaborating endemic
country institution (s) must be submitted with the application.
Significance
1. The need for the specific malaria research training proposed to fill
specific gaps in malaria research expertise at the collaborating endemic
developing country institution
2. The expected public health and scientific contributions related to the
proposed malaria research training
3. The demonstrated capacity or potential to achieve independent and
sustainable laboratory, clinical or public health malaria research capacity
through the proposed training efforts
Approach
1. The clarity and feasibility of the research training objectives
2. Adequacy of the research training plan to achieve the proposed training
objectives including:
o A trainee recruiting, application and selection process that captures the
most qualified individuals who could most benefit from the training proposed.
(The proposed qualifications of potential candidates should be well described
in terms of academic status and previous research and/or malaria control
experience.)
o A process for matching trainees to appropriate mentors or instructors and
research projects or new skills to be acquired.
o Balance in the proposed long term research training to provide a breadth of
knowledge in either academic based laboratory, clinical or public health
studies while providing specific malaria research training to fill recognized
gaps in expertise at the collaborating endemic country institution.
o The adequacy of the mixture of long and short term training opportunities
within the program as a means to achieve the overall objectives stated.
o Provision of training in research related topics such as laboratory safety,
responsible conduct of research technical writing, statistical methods, good
clinical practice, medical informatics, English as a second language (if
necessary), etc.
o Process for periodic evaluation of short and long term trainee progress
including academic and research achievement, assistance with common trainee
problems and mentorship for successful trainee presentations of research
results at appropriate scientific conferences and authorship in scientific
publications.
3. Adequacy of the methods to monitor the long term impact of the malaria
research training experience on the subsequent careers of the trainees and
malaria scientific and public health capacity in the endemic country country.
4. Adequacy of plans to include an adequate representation of women among the
endemic country trainees.
Innovation
1. Innovation in strategies for trainees to become actively involved in
malaria laboratory, clinical or public health research or intervention trials
conducted at the endemic country site.
2. Innovation in training strategies to produce a critical mass of
independent malaria researchers and sustainable malaria research training by
trainees at the endemic country collaborating institution after the end of the
program.
3. Creativity of plans to use modern information technology to facilitate
trainee access to scientific information, distance learning and collaborative
interaction.
Investigators
1. Qualifications of the program director to lead and the U.S. and endemic
country faculty to participate as mentors in the proposed research training
program. (The malaria research experience and training records should be
included in addition to Biographical Sketch and Other Support forms for each
U.S. and endemic country faculty participant.)
2. Adequacy of the ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and endemic country
investigators and their institutions to provide a suitable framework in which
the proposed training will occur.
3. The extent and effectiveness of previous efforts made by applicants in
developing biomedical and prevention research training programs necessary to
support infectious disease research and biomedical research efforts in the
home countries of trainees including efforts made to focus resources to build
long-term clinical research, operational research and public health capacity
at a model infectious diseases center in the home country of trainees.
Environment
1. The adequacy of the teaching and research facilities and other resources
and the overall training environment at the U.S. and endemic country
institutions.
2. The U.S. and endemic country institutional commitments to international
malaria research training.
In addition to the above criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all
applications will also be reviewed with respect to the following:
o The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the
proposed research
o The adequacy of plans to include both genders, minorities and their
subgroups, and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research involving human subjects. Plans for the recruitment and retention of
subjects will also be evaluated.
o The adequacy of the proposed protection for participants, animals or the
environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project
proposed in the application.
Schedule
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 29, 2000
Application Receipt Date: March 29, 2000
Peer Review Date: July 2000
Council Review: September 2000
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 29, 2000
AWARD CRITERIA
In addition to the outcome of the initial scientific peer review, the
following may also be considered in making funding decisions:
1. Cost-effectiveness of the programs.
2. Collaboration with other NIH, CDC, USAID and DOD programs and institutions
and with other organizations involved in malaria research and prevention and
control.
3. The extent to which proposed training programs support and complement
other NIH international infectious diseases research efforts,
4. The availability of funds.
5. FIC program balance among critical research and public health training
areas of emphasis.
6. The geographic distribution among countries included in applications under
consideration, including the need for a given program to work in a specific
country.
Before any funds can be expended for activities at the endemic country site
from this award, the grantee institution must show evidence of approval for
collaborative research and training between the U.S. and endemic country
countries and institutions included in the program through an endorsement from
the Minister of Health or other appropriate government official as well as
from the collaborating institutions.
INQUIRIES
Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are strongly encouraged.
The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants
is welcome.
Direct inquiries regarding program issues to:
Barbara Sina, Ph.D.
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
31 Center Drive, Room B2C39, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 402-9467
FAX: (301) 402-0779
Email: barbara_sina@nih.gov
Direct inquiries regarding review issues to:
Madelon Halula, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Program
NIAID-DEA
6700B Rockledge Drive, Room 2217
Bethesda, Maryland 20817 (FED EX) OR 20992-7616 (U.S. MAIL)
Telephone: 301-402-2636
FAX: 301-402-2638
Email: MH30X@NIH.GOV
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
Ms. Silvia Mandes
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
31 Center Drive, Room B2C39, MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
Telephone: (301) 496-1653
FAX: (301) 402-0779
Email: silvia_mandes@nih.gov
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
Awards are made under authorization 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 NIH grants policies and Federal regulations 42 CFR
52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or to 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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