From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 02 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NSF - Summary of new documents on STIS, 1 February 1997 Date: 3 Feb 1997 14:54:02 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 121 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5d5qaa$mmb@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net This message contains a summary of the documents added to the NSF STIS system for the week ending February 1, 1997. Reference material concerning STIS follows the summary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** NEW DOCUMENTS ON STIS ** Document Type: International Document Title: Special Scientific Report 97-02 File size (bytes): 3706 STIS Filename: int976.txt Also available: int976.doc Title: FY '96 Annual Report File size (bytes): 40035 STIS Filename: int977.txt Also available: int977.doc Document Type: Letter Title: Dear College Letter: Program Announcement File size (bytes): 14472 STIS Filename: nsf9752.txt Document Type: News Title: BACTERIA TELL TIME File size (bytes): 4959 STIS Filename: tip97128.txt Document Type: Press Release Title: Major Changes in Mineral Chemistry and Properties at High Pressures Seen File size (bytes): 4193 STIS Filename: pr975.txt Document Type: Program Guideline Title: NSF 97-30--Guide to Programs File size (bytes): 487495 STIS Filename: nsf9730.txt Title: Life in Extreme Environments (LExEn) File size (bytes): 14390 STIS Filename: nsf9745.txt Title: NSF 97-53-- Fifth Competition for Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): Urban LTER File size (bytes): 19897 STIS Filename: nsf9753.txt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** UPDATES TO EXISTING STIS DOCUMENTS ** Document Type: Letter Title: Dear College Letter: Program Announcement File size (bytes): 14472 STIS Filename: nsf9752.txt Title: REULIST -- Current List of REU Sites File size (bytes): 90288 STIS Filename: reulist.txt Document Type: Phone Book Title: NSF Alphabetical Telephone Directory File size (bytes): 113894 STIS Filename: phnalpha.txt Also available: phnalpha.dlm Title: NSF Organization Directory File size (bytes): 128319 STIS Filename: phnorg.txt Document Type: Program Guideline Title: NSF 97-53-- Fifth Competition for Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): Urban LTER File size (bytes): 19897 STIS Filename: nsf9753.txt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** FOR YOUR REFERENCE (updated 8/23/96) ** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOW TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTS We are currently migrating to a completely Web-based information dissemination system. Please visit our Web site at the following URL: http://www.nsf.gov/ The above files refer to the STIS system, which is being replaced. If you are familiar with STIS, you can use the information above to retrieve these files: Documents via E-mail: Send a message to stisserve@nsf.gov Use the "STIS Filename" shown above in the "get" command. For example, to retrieve nsf9753.txt, the text of your message should be as follows: get nsf9753.txt Anonymous FTP: FTP to stis.nsf.gov. Use the "STIS Filename" shown above to retrieve a file. For example, to retrieve nsf9753.txt, you would enter: ftp> get nsf9753.txt If you want a *printed* copy of a document: Send your name and postal mailing address, and the document title and number to "pubs@nsf.gov". If you have problems with the above procedures: Send a message to "stis@nsf.gov". From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PAR-97-033 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:07:16 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 307 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo74$kbh@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net HIV, AIDS AND RELATED ILLNESSES COLLABORATION AWARD NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PAR-97-033 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715008 Fogarty International Center PURPOSE The Fogarty International Center (FIC) is expanding its AIDS International Research and Training Program to provide small individual research grants for collaboration between U.S. and foreign scientists in any country, consistent with U.S. foreign policy considerations. Support is available for research on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and for research related to AIDS. Up to $20,000 per year for a maximum of three years is available for U. S. investigators and their foreign collaborators to conduct research mainly at the foreign site. U.S. investigators holding currently active NIH grants for research related to HIV infections, AIDS and other related health problems are eligible to apply with their foreign collaborator for the AIDS Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award (AIDS-FIRCA). A similar program of Fogarty International Research Collaboration Awards (FIRCA) is available in all non-AIDS biomedical sciences research subjects for collaborative projects involving U.S. scientists and investigators in developing countries: see program announcement number PA-95- 011. AIDS-FIRCA grants will provide funds to the foreign collaborator, through the U.S. grantee institution, for supplies at the foreign institution; for expenses incurred at the U.S. institution to support the collaboration; and for research- related travel and subsistence expenses for both the U.S. and foreign investigators. If the foreign collaborator is in a developing country, applicants may also request funds for small pieces of equipment necessary to the AIDS-FIRCA project at the foreign site. For the purpose of this program, developing countries are considered to include those in the following regions: Africa, Asia (except Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East (except Israel and the Persian Gulf states), and the Pacific Ocean Islands (except Australia and New Zealand). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by U.S. non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. To be eligible for the AIDS-FIRCA program, the following conditions must be met: - The proposed U.S. Principal Investigator must be the Principal Investigator (Project Director) of an NIH-sponsored AIDS or AIDS-related research grant project (R, P, or U-01 series) that will be active and funded during the proposed grant award period (up to three years). Under exceptional circumstances, after consultation with program officials, some research contracts (N01 series) may be eligible "parent" funding for the AIDS-FIRCA. On submission of an application, at least 18 months of active research support must remain on the listed parent grant. Investigators may request the full three years of support in the FIRCA application in cases where less than three future years remain on the parent grant, presuming that the renewal application will be submitted and awarded. - The foreign collaborator must hold a position at an institution in a foreign country that will allow him or her adequate time and provide appropriate facilities to conduct the proposed research. - The application must demonstrate that the award will enhance the scientific contributions of both the U.S. and foreign scientists and will enhance or expand the contribution of the NIH-sponsored research project (parent grant). MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The small grants (R03) will provide up to $20,000 per year in direct costs for up to three years. Funds may be used for materials and supplies necessary to conduct the collaborative research in the foreign scientist's research laboratory or site, and for costs related to the AIDS-FIRCA project at the U.S. institution. Equipment requests are limited to items for use in the AIDS-FIRCA project at foreign institutions in developing countries. Travel and subsistence-related expenses may be requested for the U.S. Principal Investigator, the foreign collaborator, and/or their colleagues for visits directly related to the subject of the collaborative research. All proposed expenditures must be well justified and clearly related to the research objectives of the proposed project. Applicants should request support to conduct research not already being supported by the U.S. investigator's parent grant; however, the research proposal must be an extension of or related to the research project currently funded by the NIH. The awards will be made to U.S. institutions which will be responsible for the expenditures. The minimum FIRCA project period will be for one year, the maximum will be for three years. Continuation of the FIRCA project depends upon research progress, availability of funds, and continuation of appropriate NIH support of the Principal Investigator's AIDS-related research. Since the research supported under this award is mainly to occur at the foreign site, indirect costs will be calculated on the basis of the off-site rate of the U.S. sponsoring institution. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The main objective of this AIDS-FIRCA program is to facilitate unique and highly promising collaborative basic and applied research efforts between U.S. and foreign scientists that will both expand and enhance the HIV- and AIDS-related NIH-supported research program of the U.S. Principal Investigator and benefit the scientific interests of the collaborating foreign scientist. All areas of research directly and indirectly related to HIV infection and AIDS are eligible for consideration. Examples of topics include but are not limited to: - Research related to the development of HIV/AIDS vaccines; - Research on antiviral and other interventions for HIV/AIDS; - Research on HIV and infection by the virus; - Research on other retroviruses related to HIV; - Studies of maternal/pediatric HIV infections; - Cofactors involved in HIV infection; - Studies on the spread of HIV infection and AIDS into new locales; - The natural history of HIV infection; - Research on opportunistic infections and other disorders that result from immunosuppression by the AIDS virus; - Studies of emerging/reemerging microbes and diseases linked to factors known or suspected to relate to the spread of HIV; and - Research on the social and behavioral factors that affect HIV risk and transmission. Applicants should be aware that applicable provisions for protection of human research subjects and laboratory animals must be met in both domestic and foreign settings. See Title 45 CFR, Part 46, for information concerning the Department of Health and Human Services regulations for the protection of human subjects and the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. These are available from the Office for Protection from Research Risks, National Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7507, Suite 3B01, Rockville, MD, 20892- 7507. Information on these assurances is included in the special application instructions available from FIC (address below). INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 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 (59 FR 14508-14513) and printed in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES - Special application instructions are required and are available from the International Research and Awards Branch, FIC (address below). - The application consists of a portion to be completed by the U.S. Principal Investigator, and a separate portion to be completed by the foreign collaborator. Both portions of this application must be submitted as a single package, by the U.S. grantee institution. - Applications must be submitted by the U.S. Principal Investigator on standard form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95), which is available from most U.S. 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 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. Receipt dates for completed applications are September 1, January 2 and May 1. If the deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, it is automatically extended to the following workday. Applications received on these dates will be reviewed using the mandated AIDS-Expedited Review schedule. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be assigned to the Fogarty International Center. Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by the AIDS and Related Research Initial Review Group in the Division of Research Grants (DRG), NIH. Following scientific-technical review, the applications will receive a second level review by the Fogarty International Center Advisory Board. As part of the initial merit review, a process may be used by the initial review group in which applications will be determined to be competitive or non-competitive based on their scientific merit relative to other applications received in response to the program announcement. Applications judged to be competitive will be discussed and be assigned a priority score. Applications determined to be non-competitive will be withdrawn from further consideration and the Principal Investigator and the official signing for the applicant organization will be notified. Review Criteria - likelihood that the proposed research extends or enhances the ongoing funded research of the U.S. Principal Investigator; - ability of the foreign collaborator to undertake and direct the foreign research efforts; - appropriateness of the proposed collaborative effort as a format for accomplishing the stated aims; - appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research; - scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of proposed research; - appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; - availability of the resources necessary to perform the research; - and conformance with NIH Guidelines for the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications assigned to the Fogarty International Center. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of funds, and program priority. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Special application instructions are necessary to apply for this program. To obtain further information write, fax or phone the Fogarty International Center. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Dr. Jean Flagg-Newton Division of International Training and Research Fogarty International Center Building 31, Room B2C39 31 CENTER DRIVE MSC 2220 BETHESDA MD 20892-2220 Telephone: (301) 496-1653 FAX: (301) 402-0779 Email: flaggnej@ficod.fic.nih.gov For grants management and fiscal matters, contact: Ms. Susan Bettendorf Grants Management Specialist Fogarty International Center Building 31, Room B2C39 31 CENTER DRIVE MSC 2220 BETHESDA MD 20892-2220 Telephone: (301) 496-1653 FAX: (301) 402-0779 Email: bettends@ficod.fic.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.934. 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 PHS 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 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PA-97-026 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:09:24 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 431 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddob4$krt@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net ASPERGILLOSIS, EHRLICHIOSES AND DRUG RESISTANCE NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-026 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715125, 0765033, 0745020, 1002008, 0765012 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases PURPOSE The purpose of this program announcement (PA) is to stimulate research on selected topics in three separate areas:aspergillosis, the ehrlichioses, and antibacterial or antifungal drug resistance. For aspergillosis, the goal is to support research on clinically relevant aspects of Aspergillus fumigatus and/or A. flavus. For the ehrlichioses, the goal is to support investigations on the diagnosis and pathogenesis of the agents of human ehrlichiosis. For drug resistance, the goal is to support research projects elucidating the molecular biology and molecular epidemiology of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in health care associated bacteria and fungi, including the molecular mechanisms of acquisition, expression, maintenance, and dissemination of resistance genes. Specific organisms of interest include but are not limited to: vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant staphlyococci, drug-resistant pneumococci, Gram negative bacteria and the fungi of greatest significance in the nosocomial setting. Pathogens covered under other NIAID PAs or recent initiatives (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis) will not be considered responsive to this PA. 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 PA, Aspergillosis, Ehrlichioses and Drug Resistance, is related to the priority areas of immunization and infectious diseases. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-0325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Foreign institutions are not eligible for First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) awards. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Traditional research project grant (R01), FIRST award (R29), and small research grant (R03) applications may be submitted in response to this program announcement. Applications for R01 grants may request up to five years of support; applications for R29 grants must request five years of support. The NIAID uses R03 grants to support small, highly innovative or pilot projects. Applicants for R03 grants may request up to $50,000 annual direct costs for a period not to exceed three years. Funds and time requested should be appropriate for the research proposed. Applicants for R03 grants must follow the special application guidelines and Terms and Conditions of Award in the NIAID SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS brochure (September 1996); this brochure is available via the WWW at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/newsletter/maya/tools/broch.htm Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed research for all applicable mechanisms of support will be solely that of the applicant. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background The purpose of this initiative is to advance the development of research in three specific areas: aspergillosis, ehrlichioses and drug resistance. Aspergillosis: Aspergillosis is representative of a large group of health care associated infections caused by filamentous fungi. Aspergillosis is a disease with exceptionally high health care costs, not only because of the chronic course of disease and high mortality rates, but also because of the lost investment in expensive medical procedures such as bone marrow (BMTx) and organ transplantation that place patients at risks for infection. Incidence of aspergillosis is estimated at 10 to 20 percent of all BMTx, with >10,000 new transplants each year in the U.S. Incidence is also increasing in AIDS. Major limitations exist in diagnosis and treatment of this infection as highlighted in the June 1994 NIAID mycology workshop, Molecular and Immunologic Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Systemic Mycoses. Ehrlichioses: Several new or previously unrecognized vector-borne or zoonotic human diseases, such as human the ehrlichioses, either have just been described or have been found to be on the increase in recent years. Ehrlichia chaffeensis was considered to be the sole causative agent of human ehrlichiosis (human monocytic ehrlichiosis, HME); however, a second ehrlichial species now has been documented in human disease. The ability to cultivate the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) in vitro is a major advance and now opens up new possibilities. There is potential for the development of new and more sensitive diagnostic procedures for the rapid detection of Ehrlichia species, and for definitive studies on mechanisms of pathogenesis alteration of host cells and host defense mechanisms. A recent (September 1996) NIAID workshop on the human ehrlichioses identified research opportunities in relation to the natural history, transmission, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of disease. Antibacterial/Antifungal Drug Resistance: Antimicrobial resistance is emerging in virtually all nosocomial pathogen-antimicrobial combinations. Several bacterial infections may soon be untreatable. These include: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, and numerous Gram negative species. Factors leading to the emergence of resistance among nosocomial pathogens include: the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics; increasing numbers of susceptible, immunocompromised patients; technologic changes (implants, catheters, intravenous lines) leading to increased exposure to resistant microorganisms; and the breakdown in hygiene, infection control, and disease control programs that lead to increased transmission of resistant bacteria. Penicillin-resistant pneumococci have emerged as an important problem over the past decade. Clusters of isolates have been reported from five continents. In the United States, the prevalence of these resistant organisms increased from 3.6 percent to 14.5 percent between 1987 and 1994 according to reporting from 12 sentinel hospitals. Between 1989 and 1994, the percentage of reported nosocomial enterococcal infections that were due to vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) increased from 0.3 percent to 9.1 percent. In intensive care units (ICUs), the increase of VRE was even larger, growing from 0.4 to 13.6 percent; however, in 1994, the reports of VRE from other care units showed a much greater proportional increase (the percentage almost doubled) compared to the increase observed from ICUs, suggesting that VRE was spreading from the ICUs to other parts of the hospitals. The development of vancomycin resistant enterococci has coincided with the emergence of high levels of enterococcal resistance to penicillin and the aminoglycosides, which further limited the options available to physicians trying to care for patients infected with these organisms. Methicillin was one of the synthetic penicillins that was developed for treating infections due to staphylococci that were resistant to penicillin. Shortly after its introduction, methicillin resistant staphylococci began to appear. Their prevalence increased dramatically during the 1980's and by 1991, approximately 40 percent of isolates from large teaching hospitals were resistant. These developments highlight the need to stimulate further research into strategies aimed at preserving the effectiveness of currently available antibacterial agents and finding new classes of antibacterial agents. Research Objectives and Experimental Approaches Aspergillosis: Efforts should be focused on clinically relevant aspects of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Relevant projects for aspergillosis will address one or more of the following objectives: o The development of contemporary model systems for A. fumigatus or A. flavus that focus on the factors endowing these fungi with pathogenic potential. Basic biological studies should include components that hold short term potential to improve diagnosis or treatment of human disease. o The identification of fungal nucleic acids, antigens or products that can be utilized in a rapid, sensitive and specific assay to identify patients with aspergillosis. Projects should include specific aims that validate the choice of target in preliminary in vitro or animal model experiments. Ehrlichioses: Studies should be directed toward the agents of HME and HGE and could include any of the following: o Detailed and definitive studies on the mechanisms involved in the transmission and pathogenesis of the human ehrlichioses, especially those that influence intracellular growth and alter host defense functions. o Analysis of factors that influence susceptibility or resistance to infection. o Isolation and characterization of the major components or products of Ehrlichia for use in highly specific and more sensitive diagnostic procedures that will have practical (rapid, economically feasible) application, and/or their potential use in the development of vaccines to induce protective immunity. Antibacterial/Antifungal Drug Resistance: This announcement is intended to stimulate innovative research on drug resistance of health care associated pathogens with a strong emphasis on studies to develop improved means of rapid detection of resistance. Research efforts aimed at preserving the effectiveness of current antimicrobials could include: o Basic research toward understanding the molecular biology and genetics of resistance gene acquisition, maintenance, and transmission among health care associated bacterial and fungal pathogens. o Development of new diagnostic technologies to facilitate rapid detection of resistance. o Identification of new classes of antimicrobials or new targets for rational drug development and their validation in an appropriate preclinical model. o Evaluation of alternative technologies for the treatment of bacterial and fungal diseases where resistance is established. 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) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies (Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations) which have been in effect since 1990. The new policy contains some new provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines 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 14508-14513), and reprinted in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS of March 18, 1994, Volume 23, Number 11. Investigators may obtain copies from these sources or from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the program staff listed under INQUIRIES early in project development with any questions regarding the proposed project(s). Applications are to be submitted on the grant application for PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted on the standard application deadlines as indicated on the application kit and at the beginning of this PA. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.nih.gov. For purposes of identification and processing, the number and title of this program announcement must be typed in item 2 and the "YES" box must be marked. Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research Centers (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources may wish to identify the Center as a resource for conducting the proposed research. If so, a letter of agreement from the GCRC Program Director must be included in the application material. Applications for the FIRST Award (R29) must include at least three sealed letters of reference attached to the face page of the original application. FIRST Award (R29) applications submitted without the required number of reference letters will be considered incomplete and will be returned without review. Applicants for small research (R03) grants are to follow the application guidelines in the NIAID SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS brochure (September 1996), which is available from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES and via the WWW at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/newsletter/maya/tools/broch.htm. R03 applications that do not conform to the instructions in the brochure will be judged non-responsive and returned to the applicant. ALL APPLICANTS REQUESTING $500,000 OR MORE IN ANNUAL DIRECT COSTS. The NIH policy update on acceptance for review of unsolicited applications that request more than $500,000 direct cost for any one year applies to applications in response to this PA. The Policy Update was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 25, No. 14, May 3, 1996, and became effective June 1, 1996. NIAID has (1) policies that require pre-approval by the Institute before acceptance of applications that request $500,000 or more in annual direct costs and (2) guidelines for preparation of multi-project research grant applications. Potential applicants must contact the appropriate program staff listed in INQUIRIES below to initiate clearance processes for acceptance of their applications. The completed, signed original and five legible, single-sided copies of the application must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817-7710 (for express/courier service) REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Review Procedures Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Division of Research Grants (DRG). Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. R01 and R29 applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by study sections of the DRG in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council. R03 applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIAID. Review Criteria o scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of the proposed research; o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; o qualifications and research experience of the Principal Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research; o availability of the resources necessary to perform the research; o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research; o adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. The initial review group will also examine the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects and the safety of the research environment. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other favorably recommended applications. The following will be considered when making funding decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, program balance among research areas of the program announcement, and availability of funds. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Dennis M. Dixon, Ph.D. Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 3A-06 - MSC 7640 Bethesda, MD 20892-7640 Telephone: (301) 496-7728 FAX: (301) 402-2508 Email: dd24a@nih.gov Requests for the NIAID brochure "NIAID SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS" may be directed to: Olivia T. Preble, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4C19 Bethesda, MD 20892-7610 Telephone: (301) 496-8208 FAX: (301) 402-2638 Email: op2t@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Todd Ball Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B35 Bethesda, MD 20892-7610 Telephone: (301) 492-5512 FAX: (301) 480-3780 Email: tb22j@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is supported under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Sec. 301(c), Public Law 78-410, as amended. The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Citation is (No. 93.855 - Immunology, Allergy, and Transplantation Research and No. 93.856 - Microbiology and Infectious Disease Research [or] both of the preceding). Awards will be administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 24 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA HL-97-003 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:09:10 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 582 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddoam$kqo@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net PEDIATRIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA: HL-97-003 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715040, 0770005, 0403001 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: June 30, 1997 Application Receipt Date: December 11, 1997 PURPOSE This solicitation invites grant applications to enter a single open competition for Specialized Centers of Research (SCOR) in pediatric cardiovascular disease. This program is open to all investigators, including those who are participating in the current program and those who are not. The objective of this initiative is to foster interdisciplinary studies of the etiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of congenital and acquired cardiovascular disease in children in a context that will lead to more effective methods of treatment and prevention. To this end, investigators must present applications that encompass both basic and clinical science, and include studies of patients. Those studies must be designed to comply with NIH policies regarding gender and ethnicity unless exceptions can be scientifically justified. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000", a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease, is related to the priority areas of maternal and infant health, heart disease and stroke, diabetes and chronic disabling diseases, and immunization and infectious diseases. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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 Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit institutions, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories. The principal investigator should be an established research scientist with the ability to ensure quality control and the experience to administer effectively and integrate all components of the program. A minimum time commitment of 25 percent is expected for this individual. The principal investigator must also be the project leader of one of the component research projects. If, through peer review, this project is not recommended for further consideration, the overall SCOR application will not be considered further. If this project is judged by peer review to be of low scientific merit, it will markedly reduce the overall scientific merit ranking assigned to the entire application by the review committee. Project leaders must agree to commit at least 20 percent effort to each project for which they are responsible. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) specialized center of research grant mechanism (P50). Responsibility for planning the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed five years. The anticipated date of award is January 1, 1999. Upon initiation of the program, there will be required communications between SCORs, usually in the setting of a meeting of SCOR participants. Therefore, in the preparation of the budget, applicants should request travel funds for this purpose in fiscal years 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 of the budget. Applicants should include a statement in their applications indicating their willingness to participate in these meetings. FUNDS AVAILABLE New applications may request up to $1,140,000 direct costs, not including indirect costs for collaborating institutions, in the first year, with a maximum increase of no more than three percent in each future year requested in the application. Competing renewal applications may request no more than 10 percent above the direct costs awarded in the final budget period or $1,140,000, whichever is greater. It is anticipated to support three SCOR grants for a five year project period at an estimated first year total cost of $3.22 million. Award of grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon receipt of funds for this purpose. Designated funding levels are subject to change at any time prior to final award, due to unforeseen budgetary, administrative, and/or scientific developments. Equipment is included in the budget limitation. However, requests for expensive special equipment that cause an application to exceed this limit may be permitted on a case-by-case basis following staff consultation. Such equipment requires justification. Final decisions will depend on the nature of the justification and the availability of funds. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background According to the recent report of the American Heart Association Task Force on Children and Youth, cardiovascular disease affects more than 600,000 infants, children and youths in the United States. This number includes patients with congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVM), inherited progressive disorders such as Marfan's syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cardiac dysrhythmias and conduction disorders, and acquired diseases such as Kawasaki disease and rheumatic heart disease. Recent studies in flies, fish, frogs and mice have identified a large number of genes that are involved in cardiac and vascular morphogenesis, although for the most part the gene products and their functions have yet to be identified. In parallel with these discoveries, progress has been made in understanding the etiology of congenital heart disease with the important discovery that, contrary to earlier hypotheses, there is a relatively high incidence of inherited heart defects and many of these are single gene defects. However, as with animal studies, the gene products and their functions have yet to be elucidated. Thus, the field is now poised for fruitful collaborations between basic and clinical investigators who seek knowledge of how mutated or deleted genes perturb normal development. A goal of the SCOR program is to forge between experimental embryologists and clinical scientists a link that will rapidly increase knowledge of possible causes of CCVM and lead to new treatment and prevention strategies. For a number of different cell types, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular control of the life and death of a cell. However, the genes involved in proliferation of cardiac myocytes, their differentiation, withdrawal from the cell cycle, and programmed cell death remain to be elucidated. Furthermore, it is not known whether manipulation of gene expression could cause cardiac myocytes to re-enter the cell cycle or avoid apoptosis. Such research could provide an important foundation toward repair and regeneration of cardiac muscle in patients with myocardial cell deficiency as in hypoplastic left heart syndrome or cell loss resulting from disease. The potential for gene therapy for cardiac muscle defects and disease would be increased by such studies. The clinical health of the myocardium is determined by genetic and environmental factors. Adverse effects of these factors could result in dysfunction of myocytes, fibroblasts and endocardial endothelium. Injury may result from toxic agents, infections, inflammatory cells and neurohormonal influences. Little is understood of the effects of such factors and the possibilities of etiology-specific prevention strategies and therapeutics have yet to be explored. Immunologic rejection is a major cause of death and morbidity in pediatric cardiac transplantation. Immunologic factors may also be crucial in the pathogenesis of coronary vascular disease following transplantation. Studies to define mechanisms of these events in pediatric patients and to alter their occurrence by therapeutic interventions will be crucial in improving outcome. Arrhythmias are a substantial cause of mortality and morbidity in pediatric patients. Recently, molecular genetic studies of familial arrhythmias have been fruitful. Several genetic loci causing the long QT syndrome have been mapped and mutations in cardiac sodium and potassium channels defined. The mechanisms by which these mutations are arrhythmogenic need to be elucidated. Other familial rhythm disorders (WPW syndrome and RV dysplasia) are being studied by similar techniques. The etiologies and treatments of sporadic and post-operative arrhythmias remain as inviting challenges for investigation. Furthermore, little is known about the genes that control the initiation of the heart beat and development of conduction system or how the products of those genes control function of the heart. Recent success in the in utero repair of lung defects, congenital diaphragmatic hernia and resection of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations gives good reason to expect that similar results could be obtained for serious congenital cardiovascular malformations. Moreover, second trimester clinical fetal surgery has shown that tissue hypoplasia can be reversed if correction is made early. If the goal of early intervention is to be achieved, considerable effort must be placed on the detection of malformations earlier in fetal development than the current limit of 18 to 22 weeks of gestation for diagnosis of congenital heart defects by echocardiography . Early and accurate visualization of cardiac defects, for instance by ultrasound or MRI, would allow the option of in utero intervention, either by surgery or percutaneously delivered catheters, or perhaps ultimately by local delivery of constructs or genetically altered cells. Fetal somatic gene therapy with local delivery of vectors expressing essential genes or genetically altered cells may eventually prove to be the least traumatic way to alter aberrant cardiovascular development. In the meantime, refinement of current imaging techniques and miniaturization of interventional catheters for use in fetal therapy is essential. There is increasing evidence that a spectrum of congenital cardiovascular malformations and alterations in myocardial growth and function may be the result of maternal-fetal interactions. Important environmental influences include maternal diabetes, maternal systemic lupus erythematosus, maternal toxemia/placental insufficiency, cocaine addiction, HIV, alcoholism, and poor nutrition. Very little is known about the physiological effects of altered hemodynamics and changes in the hormonal, immune, and growth factor environment on the developing embryo and fetus. These topics are for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are expected to develop programs based on their knowledge of the field, their expertise and availability of patients. Basic and Clinical Research The overall concept of a SCOR program focuses on scientific issues related to diseases relevant to the mission of the NHLBI. It is essential, therefore, that all applications include both basic and clinical research projects. In the ideal SCOR, the basic research derives from, or is otherwise intimately linked to, the clinical research proposed by the investigators. Interactions between basic and clinical scientists are expected to strengthen the research, enhance transfer of fundamental research findings to the clinical setting, and identify new research directions. Plans for transfer of findings from basic to clinical studies should be described. Each SCOR grant application and award must include research involving human/patient subjects. Support may be provided for human biomedical studies of etiology, pathogenesis, prevention and prevention strategies, diagnostic approaches, and treatment of diseases, disorders or conditions. Small population-based studies, where the research can be completed within five years, may also be proposed. In addition, basic research projects must be included that relate to the clinical focus. A SCOR may also contain one or more core units that support the research projects. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Exclusions This RFA is intended to support Specialized Centers of Research grants. A SCOR provides the opportunity for investigators to engage in interdisciplinary and collaborative research which is focused on a specific disease or an area within a disease category. It is required that SCOR applications include studies of human subjects and/or human materials as well as basic studies clearly related to a disease area. The foundation of the clinical component should be strongly linked to the basic science projects; the basic science studies should be driven by the needs of the clinical projects. Thus, a SCOR has a central theme to which all research projects pertain. In addition, a SCOR may include CORE units to provide services to the various research projects and to support the organizational and administrative aspects of the program. Applications that include only basic or only clinical research will not be responsive to this RFA. In addition, clinical research projects focused on large epidemiological studies or large clinical trials will be considered unresponsive to this RFA. Awards will not be made to foreign institutions. However, under exceptional circumstances, a foreign component critical to a project may be included as a part of that project. In addition, to encourage women and underrepresented minority investigators to work within a SCOR project, to facilitate recruitment of new scientists to this area of research, and to foster cutting edge and innovative research directions, each SCOR program may support up to two investigators by utilizing up to $50,000 direct costs per year per investigator to fund pilot and feasibility projects. This will allow underrepresented minority investigators to acquire skills and data to make them more competitive in seeking independent research support (e.g. R01, R29). These funds will not be supplements, but rather specific dollars identified in the SCOR budget and restricted to be used for this purpose. The recipients would be chosen based on a proposal written by a SCOR investigator and reviewed by an internal review committee at the parent institution. Applicants should be aware that applications for supplemental funds will be accepted only under unusual and well defined circumstances. For example, the NHLBI may provide supplements to Centers to continue a project not funded for the entire project period. NHLBI staff must be consulted prior to submission of an application for supplemental funds. Supplemental grants for these purposes will not be awarded for the first 18 months or the last 12 months of a total project period. Length of SCOR Programs The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council, at its meeting in September 1992, recommended that each NHLBI SCOR program be limited to ten years of support. Exceptions to this policy will be made only if a thorough evaluation of needs and opportunities, conducted by a committee composed of non-federal experts, determines that there are extraordinarily important reasons to continue a specific SCOR program. Thus, under this policy, a given SCOR grant is awarded for a five-year project period following an open competition. Only one five-year competing renewal is permitted, for a total of ten years of support, unless the SCOR program is recommended for extension. The NHLBI comprehensive evaluation of the SCOR program in Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease will be conducted during the second project period according to the following schedule: Project Period (Second Competition) FY 1999 to FY 2003 Letters to SCOR Directors regarding FY 2001 (mid-way through year 02 SCOR evaluation Plans of 2nd project period) SCOR Evaluation Meeting FY 2001 (Late in year Notification of SCOR Directors FY 2002 (mid-way through year 03 of NHLBI decision period 2nd project period) Number of Applications The NHLBI does not limit the number of SCOR applications in a given SCOR program from one institution provided there is a different SCOR principal investigator for each application and each application is self-contained and independent of the other(s). This does not preclude cooperation among participants of SCORs after awards are made. Scientific overlap among applications will not be accepted. If more than one application is envisioned from an institution, the institution is encouraged to discuss its plans with the NHLBI SCOR program administrator. Consortium Arrangements If a grant application includes research activities that involve institutions other than the grantee institution, the program is considered a consortium effort. Such activities may be included in a SCOR grant application, but it is imperative that a consortium application be prepared so that the programmatic, fiscal, and administrative considerations are explained fully. The published policy governing consortia is available in the business offices of institutions that are eligible to receive Federal grants-in-aid. Consult the latest published policy governing consortia before developing the application. If clarification of the policy is needed, contact Mr. William Darby, Section Chief, Grants Operation Branch, NHLBI, (301) 435-0177. Applicants should exercise great diligence in preserving the interactions of the participants and the integration of the consortium project(s) with those of the parent institution, because synergism and cohesiveness can be diminished when projects are located outside the group at the parent institution. Indirect costs paid as part of a consortium agreement are excluded from the limit on the amount of direct costs that can be requested. At least 50 percent of the projects and cores and their associated costs must be at the parent institution. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 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 14508-14513), and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contract, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by June 30, 1997 a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address, and telephone number of the principal investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Dr. James Scheirer Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7220, MSC 7924 Bethesda, MD 20892-7924 Telephone: (301) 435-0266 FAX: (301) 480-3541 Email: James_scheirer@NIH.gov Upon receipt of the letter of intent, applicants will be contacted by program staff to discuss their proposed applications and to provide guidance to applicants not familiar with the SCOR concept. APPLICATIONS PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used in applying for these grants. Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. In addition potential applicants should contact Dr. Constance Weinstein, at the address listed under INQUIRIES, to obtain supplemental instructions for modifying the forms to accommodate a SCOR application. Applicants must follow these instructions for their application to be considered responsive. Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting the proposed research. If so, a letter of agreement from either the GCRC program director or principal investigator should be included with the application. 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, to identify the application as a response to this RFA, check "YES", enter the title, "Specialized Center of Research: Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease," and the RFA number HL-97-003 on Line 2 of the face page of the application. Send or deliver a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and three signed photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, SUITE 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for courier/express service) Send two additional copies of the application to Dr. James Scheirer, Review Branch, at the address listed under LETTER OF INTENT. It is important to send these two copies at the same time as the original and three copies are sent to the Division of Research Grants, otherwise the NHLBI cannot guarantee that the application will be reviewed in competition for this RFA. Applications must be received by December 11, 1997. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, or is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG and for responsiveness by the 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 peer group convened by the NHLBI in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, a process may be used by the initial review group in which applications will be determined to be competitive or non-competitive based on their scientific merit relative to other applications received in response to the RFA. Applications judged to be competitive will be discussed and be assigned a priority score. Applications determined to be non-competitive will be withdrawn from further consideration and the principal investigator/program director and the official signing for the applicant organization will be notified. Neither site visits nor reverse site visits are planned as a part of the review process, therefore each application must be complete on submission. Rosters of NHLBI reviewers are listed on the NHLBI Homepage at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meet/sep/devlop.asc. The review criteria for this RFA are: o the scientific merit of each proposed project in the application, including originality, feasibility of the approach, and adequacy of the experimental design; o the integration of the clinical and fundamental research into a coherent enterprise with adequate plans for interaction and communication of information and concepts among the collaborating investigators; o the technical merit and justification of each core unit; o the qualifications, experience, and commitment of the SCOR Director and his/her ability to devote adequate time and effort to provide effective leadership; o the competence of the investigators to accomplish the proposed research goals, their commitment, and the time they will devote to the program; o the adequacy of facilities to perform the proposed research including the laboratory and clinical facilities, access to subjects, instrumentation, and data management systems when needed; o the scientific and administrative structure of the program, including adequate internal and external arrangements and procedures for monitoring and evaluating the proposed research and for providing ongoing quality control and scientific review; o the institutional commitment to the program and the appropriateness of the institutional resources and policies for the administration of a research program of the type proposed; and o the appropriateness of the budget for the proposed program. AWARD CRITERIA Applications must fulfill all the eligibility criteria in order to be considered for funding. Since a variety of approaches would represent valid responses to this RFA, it is anticipated that there will be a range of costs among individual grants awarded. The most important criterion in selecting awardees will be the scientific merit as reflected in the priority score. However, factors such as program balance and available funds may enter into selection from among meritorious applications. Schedule Letter of Intent Receipt Date: June 30, 1997 Application Receipt Date: December 11, 1997 Review by NHLBAC: September 3-4, 1998 Anticipated Award Date: January 1, 1999 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: Dr. Constance Weinstein Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 9144 - MSC 7940 Bethesda, MD 20892-7940 Telephone: (301) 435-0510 FAX: (301) 480-1335 Email: weinstec@gwgate.nhlbi.nih.gov Inquiries regarding fiscal and administrative matters may be directed to: Mr. William Darby Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7128 - MSC 7926 Bethesda, MD 20892-7926 Telephone: (301) 435-0177 FAX: (301) 435-3310 Email: William_darby@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.837, Heart and Vascular Diseases. Awards will be made under the 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 PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirement of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA CA-97-003 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:08:51 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 472 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddoa3$kl7@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net MENTORED CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA: CA-97-003 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0715035 National Cancer Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 06, 1997 Application Receipt Date: May 08, 1997 PURPOSE The Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program, Division of Extramural Activities, National Cancer Institute (NCI), invites underrepresented minority research scientists who have been the recipient of an NIH Research Supplement for Underrepresented Minority Individuals in Postdoctoral Training (MIPT) or a Minority Investigator Supplement (MIS), funded by the NCI, who need an extended period of sponsored research as a way to gain scientific expertise while bridging the transition from a mentored research environment to an independent research/academic career to submit applications. This award offers opportunities for a mentored peer review experience in cancer research which will enhance the candidates knowledge and understanding of the peer review process with the intended purpose of developing skills with the expectation that the candidate will submit a grant application for nontargeted mechanisms (R29, R01). This award is aimed at fostering the cancer research careers of outstanding, junior minority scientists who: o have been the recipient of an NIH Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities award, funded by the NCI; o are located at a majority institution; and o are committed to developing and sustaining academic research programs. This award is a novel mechanism which is intended to support underrepresented minority scientists and enhance the likelihood of success for junior underrepesented minority investigators who have committed to basic and clinical research careers in cancer. 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 Application (RFA), Career Development Award, is related to the priority area of human resource development in cancer research. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS This award is designed to provide an intensive, supervised research experience for underrepresented minority investigators. For the purpose of this award, underrepresented minorities are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research. In making these awards, NCI will give priority to projects involving African American (Black), Latinos (Mexican American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Central American), Native Americans, and non-Asian Pacific Islanders or other ethnic or racial group members who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research nationally. All applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from established investigators and are encouraged to contact the NCI regarding their eligibility for this award (see Inquiries Section). In general, the candidate must have: o a research or a health professional doctorate or its equivalent and must have demonstrated productive research activity; o been the recipient of a minority supplement award at the postdoctoral (MIPT) or junior faculty (MIS) level, funded by the NCI; and o the potential for establishing an independent research program highly relevant to the understanding of human biology and human disease as it relates to the etiology, pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Applications may be submitted on behalf of candidates by domestic, non-profit and for profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State or local government, and eligible agencies of the Federal government or comparable institutions. Awards will be limited to individuals who are citizens or non-citizen alien nationals, and permanent residents of the United States. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Support for this program will be through the NIH grant-in-aid Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01). Planning, direction, and execution of the program will be the responsibility of the candidate and her/his mentor on behalf of the applicant institution. The project period for an application responding to the RFA will be for up to five years of support depending upon the number of years of prior research experience and the need for additional experiences to achieve independence. Awards are not renewable and are not transferable from one Principal Investigator to another. Funding beyond the first year is contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding year, as documented in the required Progress Report. Except as otherwise stated in this RFA, awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 90-50,000, revised October 1,1990. FUNDS AVAILABLE Up to $500,000 in direct costs the first year and up to $1,500,000 in future years will be committed specifically to fund applications submitted in response to this RFA. It is anticipated that approximately 5 awards will be made from the initial competition for this K01 solicitation at a direct cost level of $100,000 for the first year and $150,000 per year thereafter. This funding level is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of the NCI, the award of grants pursuant to this RFA is also contingent upon the continuing availability of funds for this purpose. This RFA will be reissued in FY 1998 and the terms of award will remain the same. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Environment: The majority institution must have well-established basic biomedical or behavioral and/or clinical cancer research programs and must have received an NIH Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities award funded by the NCI. Either the Principal Investigator of the NIH Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities award or other established investigator will serve as the mentor to the minority candidate. The candidate, mentor and institution must be able to describe a cancer research/career development program that will maximize the use of relevant cancer research and educational resources. Program: The award provides up to five consecutive 12 month appointments. The minority candidate must devote at least 75 % of the professional effort to cancer research-related and/or peer review pursuits consistent with the objectives of this award. The candidate must develop knowledge in the basic biomedical, clinical or population-based sciences and research skills relevant to his/her cancer research fields. Where appropriate, research areas in cancer which disproportionately affect minority populations should be incorporated. During the second year if funding, the candidate must plan to attend NCI-approved peer review activities, such as NCI-sponsored peer review workshops, and/or NIH review committees as an observer or a temporary member. This activities must be reflected in the career development plan. The candidate must agree to report annually on the status of the program and to meet annually to exchange information with NCI staff and other awardees. It is expected that the candidate will prepare and submit a research grant application for traditional research support during Phase II of the award (year 4/5). Mentor: The recipient must receive appropriate mentoring during both phases of the award. These activities are crucial during the mentoring peer review phase as well as during the development and preparation of the traditional investigator initiated grant application (R29, R01). The mentor must be a senior or mid-level faculty member with research competence and a major interest in the training of underrepresented minority investigators in cancer research. Where feasible, women and minority mentors should be involved as role models. ALLOWABLE COSTS Salary: This award will provide salary up to $75,000 plus related fringe benefits. The institution may supplement the NCI contribution up to a level that is consistent with the institution's salary scale; however, supplementation may not be from Federal funds unless specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such funds are derived. In no case, may PHS funds be used for salary supplementation. Institutional supplementation of salary may not require extra duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose of this award. Under expanded authorities, however, institutions may rebudget funds within the total costs awarded to cover salaries consistent with the institutions salary scale. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12 month staff appointment. Research Development Support: During Phase I of the award, $25,000 per year will be provided for the following types of expenses: a) research expenses; b) statistical services including personnel and computer time; c) tuition, fees, and books related to career development; d) travel to research meetings, and e) travel to an annual two-day NCI awardee meeting and for peer review related and training expenses. The amount of this support will increase to $75,000 in Phase II when the Principal Investigator moves to a new research environment, as opposed to the environment provided by a mentor, which includes an independent research position either at the same institution or at a different institution. During Phase II of the award funds may be requested for the purchase of equipment. Ancillary Personnel Support: Salary support for technicians is allowed in Phase II. Support for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistance, etc., is not allowed. Indirect Costs: Indirect costs will be reimbursed at eight percent of modified total direct costs. Categorical amounts cited above, notwithstanding, the total award may not exceed $100,000 in direct costs for the first year and $150,000 for subsequent years. TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF INSTITUTION When a grantee institution plans to terminate an award, the NCI must be notified in writing at the earliest possible time so that appropriate instructions can be given for termination (see INQUIRIES section for contacts). If the individual is moving to another eligible institution, career award support may be continued provided: o A formal request for transfer of award is submitted by the new organization. o The period of support requested is no more than the time remaining within the existing award period. o A final progress report, invention statement, and Financial Status Report are submitted upon either termination of an award or relinquishment of an award in a change of institutional situation. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 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 14508-14513), and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contract, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by March 6, 1997, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed career plan, the name, address, telephone, FAX, and E-mail numbers of the Principal Investigator and mentor, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which this application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows NCI staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Sanya A. Springfield, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Activities National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 620 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Telephone: (301) 496-7344 FAX: (301) 402-4551 Email: springfs@dea.nci.nih.gov APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used in applying for this grants. Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) 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 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Three sealed letters of recommendation addressing the candidate's potential for the research career must be included as part of the application. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, reference letters, current curriculum vitae with complete bibliography, including the Checklist, and the three signed photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, Md 20817 (express/courier service) At time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be sent to: Ms. Toby Friedberg Division of Extramural Activities National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 636 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Applications must be received by May 08, 1997. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The DRG will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of an application already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness and responsiveness. Incomplete or unresponsive applications will be returned without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NCI in accordance with the review criteria stated below. Review Criteria Candidate (Principal Investigator) o Evidence of Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities award funded by the NCI. o Commitment to an independent cancer research career in terms of effort and future plans. o Quality and breadth of prior scientific training and experience. o Recommendations of three well-established scientists attesting to the special potential of the individual to pursue an independent career in cancer research. Career Development Plan o Likelihood that the plan will contribute substantially to the scientific development of the candidate and the achievement of scientific independence. o Appropriateness of the career development plan in terms of the candidate's prior research and academic experience; and the stated career goals. o Clarity of the goals and scope of the plan and the need for the proposed research experience. o Quality of the proposed training in the peer review process. o Likelihood of successful planning, writing and submitting of traditional grant applications. Research Plan All applicants for this award will have had previous postdoctoral research experience and have been the recipient of an NIH Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities award funded by the NCI. A sound research project that is consistent with the development plan for an independent career in cancer research and the candidate's level of research development must be provided. o Usefulness of the research plan as a vehicle for enhancing existing research skills as described in the career development plan. o The originality and quality of the research hypothesis/question, design and methodology, judged in the context of the candidate's previous training and experience. o Appropriateness of the mentor's research qualifications in the area of the proposed research. o Quality and time commitment of the mentor to supervising and guiding the candidate during the entire phase of the award. o Previous experience of the mentor in fostering and developing minority cancer researchers. o History of research productivity. o Applicant institution's commitment to the scientific development of the investigator according to the terms of this award. o Applicant institution's assurance that the investigator will spend a minimum of 75 percent effort on the career development project. o Adequacy of research facilities and training opportunities. Budget The appropriateness of the budget in relation to career development goals and research aims and plans. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other scored applications submitted in response to this RFA. The following will be considered in making decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of funds and program priority. The NCI will notify the applicant of the National Cancer Advisory Board's (NCAB) action. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged, especially during the planning phase of the application. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Sanya A. Springfield, Ph.D. Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 620 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Telephone: (301) 496-7344 FAX: (301) 402-4551 Email: springfs@dea.nci.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Joan Metcalfe Grants Administration Branch National Cancer Institute 6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 243 Bethesda, MD 20892-7150 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Telephone: (301) 496-7800 ext 228 FAX: (301) 496-8601 Email: metcalfj@gab.nci.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATION This program is described in the catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.398. 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 PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52,45 CFR 92, and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive order 12372 or Health Systems Agency Review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA CA-97-008 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:08:28 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 521 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo9c$kgc@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net CLINICAL ONCOLOGY RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA: CA-97-008 P.T. 34; K.W. 0785140, 0755015 National Cancer Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 5, 1997 Application Receipt Date: April 29, 1997 PURPOSE The National Cancer Institute (NCI), through its Cancer Training Branch, invites applications for Institutional Physician Scientist program grants that will prepare medical doctors for clinical research careers in medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology and other clinical specialties with a focus on cancer. The high level of support and intense activity in basic cancer research over the past decades have resulted in the rapid growth and constantly increasing body of knowledge about the molecular biology, immunology, genetics, and cell biology of cancer. However, the clinical application of this knowledge to improve procedures that benefit cancer patients has not kept pace with the accumulation of research results. This RFA is intended to stimulate the recruitment and research career development of clinicians who will be oriented and skilled in the translation of basic research results into new clinical procedures and approaches that are of direct benefit to cancer patients. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program, is related to the priority area of cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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 Institution: Applications may be submitted by foreign and domestic, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. Applicant organizations should have well established research programs with adequate peer-reviewed grant support and highly qualified faculty in clinical and basic science departments. Clinical Candidates: All candidates must be U.S. citizens, nationals or lawfully admitted permanent residents of the U.S. All candidates must currently be physicians holding the M.D. or D.O. degrees. Appointments of clinical candidates to the program should be for a minimum of two years. A minimum 75 percent effort must be devoted to the basic/clinical research program. The remaining 25 percent can be divided among other clinical and teaching activities only if they are consonant with the program goals, i.e. the candidate's development into an independent clinical investigator. Programs: Proposed programs must demonstrate the potential to provide research career development opportunities in more than one clinical oncology research discipline (e.g., medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, etc.) i.e., not be limited to a single discipline. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Support of this program will be through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mentored clinical scientist development program (K12). Applicants will be responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project. Awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 90-50,000, revised October 1, 1990. If there is a current institutional (T32) National Research Service Award (NRSA) supporting a clinical or surgical oncology training program within the same milieu of this proposed institutional clinical oncology research development program (Kl2), the relationship between the existing and proposed program must be addressed (see Special Requirements). This RFA is a one-time solicitation. Generally, future competitive continuation applications will compete with all investigator-initiated applications. Should the NCI determine that there is a sufficient continuing program need, a request for competitive continuation and/or new applications will be announced. FUNDS AVAILABLE Total costs of $3.6 million will be committed to fund applications submitted in response to this RFA. It is anticipated that approximately ten awards will be made. This funding level is dependent upon the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed five years. The earliest feasible start date for the initial awards will be September 1997. Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of the NCI, the award of grants pursuant to this RFA is also contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Information: A workshop on "Training in Clinical Research in Oncology" was held on September 12, 1990 to identify the concerns and problems facing the clinical oncology community, and to examine the adequacy of NCI training and career grant mechanisms as well as institutional research environments for attracting and retaining physicians in clinical oncology research. A summary of the workshop was published in Cancer Research 51: 753-756, 1991. Participants included 20 clinicians representing a wide geographic distribution of oncology programs and cancer centers as well as NCI staff. There was unanimous agreement on the decline in the number of clinical oncologists pursuing careers in innovative clinical research, resulting in a shortage of properly trained research clinicians to translate salient basic research findings to patient populations. Conversely, interesting clinical observations and problems also need to be communicated to the basic research laboratory. In order to address this deficit in clinical oncology research, NCI initiated a new program career grant (Kl2) mechanism, and on the basis of peer-review made a number of awards to excellent clinical departments and cancer centers to provide greater flexibility in selecting and sustaining young physicians for the critical three to five year period during which these physician scientists will learn the skills needed for the successful transition to their own independently supported research program. Because progress has been sufficiently successful during the initial phase of this project, NCI is reannouncing this award for competitive peer-review of continuation and new applications. Goals and Scope: The objectives of this RFA are to increase the number of clinical oncologists who are motivated and properly prepared to: (1) interact and coordinate clinical research activities with basic research scientists in order to expedite the translation of basic research information into patient-oriented research; (2) perform independent clinical research that develops and tests rational scientific hypotheses based on fundamental and clinical research findings for improving the medical care of cancer patients; and (3) design and test innovative clinical protocols and manage all phases of clinical trial research. These clinical oncology research career development programs should involve staff and clinical candidates representing at least two clinical oncology disciplines such as medical, surgical, radiation, pediatric, and gynecologic oncology. Programs limited to one clinical oncology discipline are not responsive to the objectives of this initiative. Interaction during these early years of training might serve to enhance the kinds of coordination and team approach necessary for optimum cancer patient care. Applicants must propose a program designed to provide clinician candidates with the research skills that deal directly with aspects of cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of cancer patients. It is expected that these clinical oncology career development programs will include both a didactic component (e.g. formal courses, lecture series, seminars, and journal clubs) and a research component that focuses on the skills necessary for translating basic cancer research results into clinical experiments, procedures, and trials directly involving cancer patients in a clinical environment. For example, it will not be sufficient within the scope of this initiative to use human cells and other clinical materials in an isolated basic laboratory setting as the total research development program. Basic laboratory research experience is essential but it must be properly integrated with clinical research, thereby affording the candidate actual experience in the application of their own basic research to clinical research. The proposed program should have the flexibility to accommodate clinician candidates with different levels of research competence. While the end goal of this program is specifically to prepare physicians for dedicated careers in clinical oncology research and not basic research, candidates must be or become competent in the fundamentals of the scientific method, particularly hypothesis development, experimental design, and biostatistical methods that are usually gained through a significant hands-on basic research experience. The research environment will be a critical factor. It should be one where there are active basic/clinical research collaborations that exemplify a dynamic two-way exchange of information and ideas between laboratory and clinical scientists. The research environment should also promote rapid translation of basic research into clinical testing as well as stimulate new ideas and laboratory experiments, based on clinical observations and testing results. In most cases, candidates would acquire both basic and clinical research skills that will prepare them to become dedicated clinical researchers able to interact and communicate effectively with basic research scientists in the design and implementation of collaborative research involving patients. In this context, it might also be appropriate for the basic scientists to be involved in the clinical seminars, protocol planning sessions, and grand rounds. However, applicants may address these issues in other creative ways. Applicants should provide a detailed outline of the content and scope of the program for the career development of clinicians in innovative clinical oncology research and how it will provide the skills and experience necessary for the development and testing of new clinical procedures that will be of direct benefit to cancer patients. Additionally, applicants should clearly address the following issues: 1) the availability of a research environment that promotes the interactions and collaborations of clinical researchers and basic researchers which are necessary for the translation of basic research results into the clinical arena; 2) the qualifications of the faculty mentors, highlighting their clinical and basic research projects and how this research will promote the integration of basic and clinical research experiences to achieve the overall objectives of this RFA; 3) the availability of an appropriate mentor for each candidate who would have responsibility for his/her research program and day-to-day progress; 4) the procedures to be used to announce the program and to select appropriate candidates, mentors, and research projects; 5) the efforts that will be made to evaluate each candidate's level of research experience and needs and to report on the progress of each candidate in the program; and 6) the establishment of an Advisory Committee (see Special Requirements) to provide an oversight function and annual evaluation of the clinical research development program as a whole. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS The principal investigator must establish an Advisory Committee for this program. Clinical and basic science departments participating in this program should be represented on the committee by clinical investigators from the various oncology disciplines such as medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology and other oncology specialties as well as by basic research investigators. The committee's responsibilities might include: selecting physician candidates, assigning preceptors, approving each candidate's clinical research development plan, evaluating each candidate's progress, and monitoring the overall effectiveness of the program. A detailed description should be provided of the committee's composition, function, and frequency of meetings. A detailed report of the actions of the committee meetings should be provided in the annual progress report of the grant. Each clinical research candidate should have one or more preceptor/mentor(s) who are accomplished investigators in their field. The advisor(s) should assume responsibility for devising a career development and research plan with the candidate, obtaining the concurrence of the program Advisory Committee, and providing day-to- day advice. Plans for an annual evaluation of the program by the Advisory Committee should be described. The Annual Progress Report for the grant should provide a summary of this evaluation and include a description of the research and career progress of each candidate, describing how laboratory and clinical research and practice are being integrated. These Annual Reports will be closely monitored by NCI staff to ensure that the grant is achieving the goals of this Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program. Where there already exists an active institutional (T32) National Research Service Award (NRSA) supporting a surgical or other clinical oncology research training program, the applicant must address the relationship between the existing T32 and proposed K12 programs. If there is significant overlap in the programs, the T32 award can be merged into the K12 program or modified to remove areas of substantial overlap. ALLOWABLE COSTS In order to provide sufficient diversity and distribution of programs, direct costs for the (01) year should not exceed $350,000, and any increases in future year positions should be incremented gradually over the five year program with appropriate justification. Peer review will assess the quality of resources available to support the type of program proposed and the number of positions requested within the above limitations. Salary: Clinical research candidates will be provided salary support of up to $50,000 each year, plus fringe benefits commensurate with the applicant institution's salary structure for persons of equivalent qualifications, experience, and rank. The institution may supplement the NCI contribution; however, supplementation may not be from Federal funds unless specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such funds are derived. In no case, may PHS funds be used for salary supplementation. Institutional supplementation of salary may not require extra duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose of this award. Under expanded authorities, however, institutions may rebudget funds within the total costs awarded to cover salaries consistent with the institution salary scale. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12 month staff appointment. Other Expenses: $20,000 per candidate will be provided annually to partially support supplies, equipment, travel, tuition and other costs which are essential for the individual's clinical research development program. Indirect Costs: Indirect costs will be provided at a rate not exceeding eight percent of total direct costs of each award, exclusive of tuition, fees, and expenditures for equipment. Categorical amounts cited above, notwithstanding, the total award may not exceed $350,000 in direct costs for the first year. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are 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 14508-14513), and reprinted 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 March 5, 1997, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed program, the name, address, telephone, FAX, and E-mail numbers of the Principal Investigator, the names of other key personnel, the 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 NCI staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Dr. Vincent J. Cairoli Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis, and Centers National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza North, Room 520 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-8580 FAX: (301) 402-4472 Email: VC14Z@NIH.GOV APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used in applying for these grants. Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The completed original application and three legible copies must be sent to or delivered to: Division of Research Grants 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 must also be sent to: Ms. Toby Friedberg Division of Extramural Activities National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 636 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Applications must be received by April 29, 1997. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. If the application submitted in response to this RFA is substantially similar to a grant application already submitted to the NIH for review but has not yet been reviewed, the applicant will be asked to withdraw either the pending application or the new one. Simultaneous submission of identical applications will not be allowed, nor will essentially identical applications be reviewed by different review committees. An application, therefore, cannot be submitted in response to this RFA which is essentially identical to one that has already been reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG and responsiveness by the NCI. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NCI in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National Cancer Advisory Board. Review Criteria The review criteria set forth below are neither exhaustive nor prescriptive. Applicants are asked at a minimum, to address each criterion. Members of the peer review group convened by the NCI Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) will be requested to use their best professional judgment in evaluating the educational and scientific merit of any application under review. The review criteria, therefore, are more than a guide but less than an absolute requirement. o Scientific and administrative leadership qualifications and experience of the principal investigator. o Qualifications of faculty mentors: adequacy of peer-reviewed clinical and basic cancer research projects, publications and training experience in the context of achieving the objectives of this RFA. o Recruitment and selection plans for appointees and the availability of high quality candidates. o Appropriateness of detailed plans for a comprehensive program to provide physicians with the proper integration of basic and clinical research skills and experiences necessary for careers in clinical oncology research. o Adequacy of procedures for assessing each candidate's level of scientific research experience, ability and needs in order to optimize his/her research career development and as a prerequisite for clinical research. o Appropriateness of a research environment that provides collaborations among clinical and basic research scientists or of plans to establish and promote such collaborations. o Adequacy of facilities and other resources. o Availability of sufficient cancer patient populations and clinical materials to support appropriate clinical research experiences. o Adequacy of the membership and functions of the program Advisory Committee. o Effective plans for program oversight and evaluation to be reported in the Annual Progress Report. o Renewal applications: a detailed Progress Report summarizing the duration of training, accomplishments, and current status of candidates supported by this program. o Adequacy of the proposed means for protecting human subjects and vertebrate animals against hazardous or unethical research procedures and for protecting the privacy of human subjects. Budget The review group will critically examine the proposed budget and recommend an appropriate budget for each approved application within the guidelines stated above. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other scored applications submitted in response to this RFA. The following will be considered in making decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of funds and program priority. The NCI will notify the applicant of the National Cancer Advisory Board's (NCAB) action. 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: Dr. Vincent Cairoli Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis and Centers National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza North, Room 520 Bethesda, MD 20892-7390 Telephone: (301)-496-8580 FAX: (301) 402-4472 Email: VC14Z@NIH.GOV Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Sara Stone Office of Administrative Management National Cancer Institute Executive Plaza South, Room 243 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301)-496-7800, ext. 266 FAX: (301)-496-8601 Email: STONES@GAB.NCI.NIH.GOV AUTHORITY AND REGULATION This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 93.398, Cancer Research Manpower. Awards are made under the 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 PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke- free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public law 103- 227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or, in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA AG-97-003 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:08:10 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 383 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo8q$keq@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net MINORITY DISSERTATION RESEARCH GRANTS IN AGING NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA: AG-97-003 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0710010 National Institute on Aging Application Receipt Date: April 18, 1997 PURPOSE Small grants to support doctoral dissertation research will be available for minority doctoral candidates. Grant support is designed to aid the research of new minority investigators and to encourage minority individuals from a variety of academic disciplines and programs to study topics relevant to aging. 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), Minority Dissertation Research Grants in Aging, is related to several priority areas applicable to aging. Potential candidates for the awards may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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 For the purpose of this RFA, underrepresented minority students and investigators are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research. Awards will be limited to citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or to individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of an Alien Registration Receipt Card) at the time of award. In awarding grants for dissertation support, the NIA will give priority to dissertation candidates who are African American (Black), Hispanic American, Native American or Alaskan Natives, or Pacific Islanders, or other ethnic or racial group members who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research nationally. The doctoral candidate must have a dissertation topic approved by the named committee. This information must be verified in a letter of certification from the thesis chairperson and submitted with the grant application (see APPLICATION PROCEDURES). Research topics must be on aging-related issues and fit within one or more of the areas described below for each individual program (see RESEARCH OBJECTIVES). The applicant organization must be a domestic institution supporting doctoral level training, such as a university or college. The performance site may be foreign or domestic. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The mechanism of support is the NIH small grant (R03). Grants may be made for up to two years. Grants to support dissertation research will provide no more than $30,000 in total direct costs, and no more than $25,000 in direct costs in any one year. FUNDS AVAILABLE The NIA anticipates funding between 10 and 12 grants with a total cost of up to $300,000. These grants are not eligible for competitive renewal. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES This research initiative is to provide minority students assistance to complete their dissertation research on an aging-related topic and thereby increase the pool of minority researchers in aging. The descriptions of the four extramural programs below are provided to help potential applicants determine whether or not their topic may be appropriate for this initiative. Questions on the relevance of a particular topic may be addressed to the program contact listed under INQUIRIES. Information on other initiatives supported by NIA may be found at the following internet address: http://www.nih.gov/nia . Biology of Aging Program This program supports studies that focus on diseases associated with increasing age and the basic mechanisms involved in aging processes. The overall objectives of the program are related to understanding normal functions and alterations in them that can be induced by interaction with the environment and disease processes as aging proceeds. The program interests are in molecular and cellular biology, genetics, immunology, basic nutrition, and endocrinology. Behavioral and Social Research Program This program supports research on social and psychological aging processes and the place of older people in society and its social institutions. The emphasis is on promoting health, effective functioning, productivity, and independence throughout the middle and later years. Areas of special interest include health and behavior; cognitive functioning; health care and long term care; work, retirement and productivity; family and intergenerational relationships; the demography of population aging; biodemography; aging among minorities, women, oldest old, and rural populations; and the aging of adults who are retarded. Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program This program supports research on the structure and function of the aging nervous system and the behavioral manifestations of the aging brain. Areas of special interest include age-related changes in the nervous system, especially as these affect sensory processes, learning, cognition, memory and sleep. The study of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders associated with the aging nervous system, including the causes, diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment and management of such disorders is of special interest. Geriatrics Program This program supports research on clinical issues and problems that occur predominantly among middle-aged and older persons or that are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in older people. Areas of interest include cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, infectious diseases, osteoporosis, digestive diseases, rehabilitation, menopause, and physical function and performance in older persons. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Additional Material. In addition to the completed PHS 398 form described under APPLICATION PROCEDURES, applicants must also submit: o A letter from the faculty committee or university official directly responsible for supervising the development and progress of the dissertation research. The letter must be countersigned by a representative of the graduate school of the sponsoring institution. The letter must: (a) fully identify the members of the committee and certify their approval of the dissertation topic, (b) certify that the candidate is a member of an ethnic minority group underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral science (see ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS) (c) certify that the author of the letter has read the application and that it reflects the work to be completed in the dissertation, and (d) note that the university official or faculty committee expects the doctoral candidate to proceed with the approved project proposal with or without NIA support. o A transcript of the investigator's graduate school record o Biography of mentor, limited to 2 pages (use the Biographical Sketch page in form PHS 398) o Statement of the investigator's career goals to be placed under "Background" (see the Research Plan instructions in PHS 398) Although not required, identification of the investigator's particular minority group would be helpful so that NIA may continue to monitor and improve the effectiveness of this program. Grant Conditions. The following conditions apply to dissertation grants: o The doctoral candidate must be the designated principal investigator on the grant and the doctoral candidate must be the only individual on the grant for whom salary support is requested. o The principal investigator's salary may not exceed $12,000 per twelve months. o Work on the funded project must be initiated within three months after the date of the award. o An awardee may be invited to participate in a meeting or presentation with other NIA dissertation awardees. o The dissertation constitutes the final report of the grant. Two copies of the dissertation must be submitted. The dissertation must be officially accepted by the faculty committee or university official responsible for the candidate's dissertation and must be signed by the responsible officials. o Investigators may request support for up to 24 months. An application that requests support beyond this time will be returned. o Grantees who are approved for two years of support must submit a satisfactory progress report no later than 10 months after the start of the first year of the grant. This report should contain a brief summary of the work completed to date together with copies of any publications supported wholly or in part by the dissertation grant. An applicant who receives support for dissertation research under a grant from the NIA may not at the same time receive support under a predoctoral or fellowship grant awarded by any Federal agency, nor be supported under any other research project grant. Allowable Costs. Expenses usually allowed under PHS research grants will be covered by the NIA dissertation research grants, but may not exceed $30,000 for the project. Allowable costs include the investigator's salary (not to exceed $12,000 per 12 months); direct expenses such as travel to one scientific meeting per year (limited to $1000 per year), data processing, supplies, and dissertation costs. Any level of effort that is less than full time for the candidate must be fully justified. No tuition is allowed. It is expected that most equipment needed for the research will be available at the site or laboratory in which the dissertation is to be performed. Therefore, any requests for equipment must be specially justified. Indirect costs are limited to eight percent of requested direct costs, less equipment. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are 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 14508-14513) and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) 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 (Minority Dissertation Research Grants in Aging, AG-97-003) must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Instructions for completing the applications are found in the PHS 398 form. These instructions must be followed except that under C. Specific Instructions - Research Plan, no more than 10 pages may be used for items 1 to 4 (instead of 25 pages as stated in the standard instructions). Applications that exceed the 10 page limit for this section will be returned. Submit a signed original of the application (with the supporting letter and graduate school transcript), including the Checklist, and three signed photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for courier/overnight service) At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application (with the supporting letter and the graduate school transcript) must be sent to: Chief, Scientific Review Office National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 2C212 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 ATTN: Minority Dissertation Complete applications must be received by April 18, 1997. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The DRG will not accept an 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 that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIA in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score. Review Criteria o scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of the proposed research; o appropriateness and adequacy of the literature review, experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; o qualifications and research experience of the principal investigator (the student); o qualifications, research and training experience of the mentor, particularly, but not exclusively, in the proposed area of research; o quality and availability of research resources needed to complete the dissertation; o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research; o adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. The initial review group will also examine the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects and the safety of the research environment. AWARD CRITERIA The anticipated date of award is September 1997. Final funding decisions are based on the recommendations of the reviewers, the relevance of the project to NIA priorities, and the availability of funds. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. Interested investigators are strongly encouraged to contact the person named below who can provide clarifying information about material described in this RFA. The investigator will then be referred to the relevant program to discuss the suitability of the research topic. Dr. Robin A. Barr Office of Extramural Affairs National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2C218, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9322 FAX: (301) 402-2945 Email: rb42h@nih.gov Direct inquiries relating to fiscal matters to: Mr. Joseph Ellis Grants and Contracts Management Office 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2N212, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-1472 FAX: (301) 402-3672 Email: je14j@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.866. Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act Title IV, Part A (Public Law 79-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 DSC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45CFR Part 74. The requirements of Executive Order 12372,"Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," are not applicable to NIA research grant programs. 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA AG-97-004 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:07:52 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 552 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo88$kdg@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net WHI MINORITY INVESTIGATOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA: AG-97-004 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0755015, 0710010, 0730070 National Institute on Aging National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Office of Research on Women's Health Office of Research on Minority Health Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 7, 1997 Application Receipt Dates: April 18, 1997 PURPOSE The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to increase the number of underrepresented minority investigators participating in the clinical trial and observational study of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) using the mechanism of the NIH Mentored Career Development Awards. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, WHI Minority Investigator Career Development Award, is related to the priority area of human resource development. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS In general, candidates should be an underrepresented minority scientist or physician, in possession of a doctoral degree or equivalent. The NIH Career Development Grant Mechanisms are described in the NIH GUIDE, Volume 24, Number 15, April 28, 1995. All applicants are encouraged to contact one of the program officials listed in this RFA regarding their eligibility for the K01 or K08. Applications may be submitted by institutions on behalf of candidates at: (1) the site of the clinical coordinating center or one of the 40 clinical centers that are participating in the Women's Health Initiative; or (2) any other institution recognized as a minority institution or with significant minority enrollment. The candidate must identify a mentor at the site of the clinical coordinating center or one of the 40 clinical centers that are participating in the Women's Health Initiative. The mentor must have extensive research experience and provide guidance for the awardee's development and research. The candidate must be willing to spend a minimum of 75 percent of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development activities for the period of the award. Research will be conducted primarily at the mentor's institution. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Awards in response to this RFA will use the K01 or K08 mechanism. o MENTORED RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD (K01)--an award to provide research scientists with an additional period of mentored research experience as a way to gain expertise in a research area new to the applicant or in an area which would demonstrably enhance the applicant's scientific career. This award is generally reserved for individuals interested in switching to a new research field, for individuals who have interrupted their career because of illness or pressing family care responsibilities, or for faculty at minority institutions who wish to enhance their capacity for independent research. o MENTORED CLINICAL SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT AWARD (K08)--an individual award for clinicians who need an intensive period of mentored research experience. Planning, direction, and execution of the program will be the responsibility of the candidate and her/his mentor on behalf of the applicant institution. The project period may be for three, four, or five years and will depend upon the number of years of prior research experience and the need for additional experiences to achieve independence. Awards are not renewable. FUNDS AVAILABLE The NIH will allocate approximately $300,000 during fiscal year 1997. The actual amount may vary depending on the response to this RFA and the availability of funds. Three to four awards are anticipated. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background The NIH Women's Health Initiative is a research study focused on the major causes of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. It is designed to test whether long term preventive measures will decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer, and osteoporosis. Over 160,000 women in 40 clinical centers throughout the United States will be enrolled as participants in either clinical intervention trials or in a long term epidemiologic study. Ten of the clinical centers are specifically recruiting minority participants and all of the centers are committed to optimizing the diversity of the populations recruited. This project is currently underway and will provide training opportunities in epidemiology and clinical trials over the next decade and beyond. The Women's Health Initiative Policy Advisory Committee, a group that provided advice to the Director of NIH during the initial years of this project, and the Special Populations Committee, composed of scientists and clinicians within the study, have both suggested that the WHI would benefit from greater participation by minority investigators in the scientific and clinical activities of the project. Information on the background, current status and the participating clinical centers of the WHI can be accessed on the World Wide Web at: http://www.nih.gov/od/odp/whi or by contacting: Nancy Morris Women's Health Initiative Project Office National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 6A-09 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 402-2900 Email: Nancy_Morris@NIH.GOV Career development awards to minority scientists to facilitate participation in the WHI will serve two purposes: first, to enhance the research skills, training and development of the individual awardees, and second, to enhance the diversity of the investigator teams currently carrying out this project. Scientists and clinicians thus trained will be available to contribute to the next generation of clinical investigations. A. Environment: The institution must be one of the 40 clinical centers or the clinical coordinating center participating in the Women's Health Initiative or a qualifying minority institution willing to enter into an arrangement with one of the WHI centers. The WHI institution will provide a well-established research and/or clinical career development program(s) and qualified faculty to serve as mentors. The WHI Clinical or Coordinating Center must be able to demonstrate a commitment to the development of the candidate as a productive, independent investigator. If the minority institution submits an application on behalf of a candidate a letter signed by an institutional official must indicate that the candidate has the necessary research time available and that the institution has a strong commitment to the career development of the candidate. The candidate, mentor and institution must be able to describe a multi-disciplinary career development program that will maximize the use of relevant research and educational resources. B. Program: The award provides three to five consecutive 12 month appointments. At least 75 percent of the recipient's full-time professional effort must be devoted to the program and the remainder devoted to other research-related and/or teaching pursuits consistent with the objectives of the award. The candidate must develop knowledge in the clinical or biomedical sciences and research skills relevant to his or her career goals. The candidate should include relevant didactic and laboratory or field research experiences. C. Mentor(s): The recipient must receive appropriate mentoring throughout the three to five year program. Where feasible, women and minority mentors are encouraged to be involved as role models. D. Allowable Costs: 1. Salary: The NIH will provide salary and fringe benefits for the K award recipient. The awardee may receive up to a maximum of $50,000 per year plus fringe benefits for five years. The institution may supplement the NIH contribution up to a level that is consistent with the institution's salary scale; however, supplementation may not be from Federal funds unless specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such funds are derived. In no case, may PHS funds be used for salary supplementation. Institutional supplementation of salary must not require extra duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose of the MR/CSDA. Under expanded authorities, however, institutions may rebudget funds within the total costs awarded to cover salaries consistent with the institution's salary scale. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12-month staff appointment. It must be consistent both with the established salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other staff members of equivalent qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. If full-time, 12-month salaries are not currently paid to comparable staff members, the salary proposed must be appropriately related to the existing salary structure. 2. Research Development Support: Up to $20,000 per year may also be awarded for the following expenses: (a) tuition, fees, and books related to career development; (b) research expenses, such as supplies, equipment, and technical personnel; (c) travel to research meetings or training; (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time. 3. Ancillary Personnel Support: Salary for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistance, etc., is not allowed. 4. Indirect costs: Indirect costs will be reimbursed at eight percent of modified total direct costs, or at the actual indirect cost rate, whichever is less. F. Evaluation: In carrying out its stewardship of human resource related programs, the NIH may begin requesting information essential to an assessment of the effectiveness of this program. Accordingly, recipients are hereby notified that they may be contacted after the completion of this award for periodic updates on various aspects of their employment history, publications, support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program. G. Other Income: Fees resulting from clinical practice, professional consultation, or other comparable activities required by the research and research-related activities of this award may not be retained by the career award recipient. Such fees must be assigned to the grantee institution for disposition by any of the following methods: The funds may be expended by the grantee institution in accordance with the NIH policy on supplementation of career award salaries and to provide fringe benefits in proportion to such supplementation. Such salary supplementation and fringe benefit payments must be within the established policies of the grantee institution. The funds may be used for health-related research purposes. H. Special Leave: Awardees from minority institutions not at a WHI site are granted prior approval by NIH to spend the requisite time at a participating center of the Women's Health Initiative. A copy of a letter or other evidence from the institution where the leave is to be taken must be submitted to assure that satisfactory arrangements have been made. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 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 14508-14513), and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. Applicants are advised to consult the NIH Guide, Vol. 25, No. 10, March 29, 1996, and Vol. 25, No. 16, May 17, 1996 for additional information concerning "just-in-time" procedures to be used in completing mentored career award applications. The application must address the following issues: Candidate o Establish the candidate's commitment to a career in biomedical or behavioral research o Establish the candidate's potential to develop into a successful independent investigator. o Summarize the candidate's immediate and long-term career objectives, explaining how the award will contribute to their attainment. o Letters of recommendation. Three sealed letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate's potential for a research career must be included as part of the application Career Development Plan o Describe the career development plan, incorporating consideration of the candidate's goals and prior experience. It should describe a systematic plan to obtain the necessary basic biomedical or behavioral science background and research experience to launch or re-initiate an independent research career. o Candidates must describe plans to receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research. These plans must detail the proposed subject matter, format, frequency, and duration of instruction as well as the amount and nature of faculty participation. No award will be made if an application lacks this component. Research Plan o Describe the research plan and the use of a basic or clinical approach to a biomedical or behavioral problem. The candidate and mentor together must describe the research plan as outlined in form PHS 398 including sections on the Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Progress Report/Preliminary Studies, Research Design and Methods. Although it is understood that this application does not require the detail of regular research grant proposals, a fundamentally sound research plan should be provided. The research will involve either the main study or an ancillary project being carried out as part of the NIH Women's Health Initiative. Mentor's Statement o The application must include information on the mentor(s) including information on research qualifications and previous experience as a research supervisor. The application must also include information that describes the nature and extent of supervision that will occur during the proposed award period. Environment and Institutional Commitment o The mentor's institution must document a strong, well- established research program related to the candidate's area of interest including a high-quality research environment with staff capable of productive collaboration with the candidate. The sponsoring institution must also provide a statement of commitment to the candidate's development into a productive, independent investigator. This statement will include a description of a multi-disciplinary career development program that will maximize the use of relevant research and educational resources. If a minority institution is the sponsoring organization a commitment to the candidate's career development as well as approval of leave should be documented. Budget o Budget requests must follow "just-in-time"procedures described in the NIH Guide, Vol. 25, No. 10, March 29, 1996, and Vol. 25, No. 16, May 17, 1996. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) 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 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Submit a signed, original of the application with Checklist, and three signed photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS 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 must be sent to: Chief, Scientific Review Office National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, , Suite 2C212 - MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 ATTN: WHI Minority Investigator Career Development Award REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Division of Research Grants (DRG) and responsiveness to the RFA by the appropriate WHI project office staff. Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the National Institute on Aging in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council or board. The following review criteria will be applied: Candidate o Commitment to an independent research career; o Potential to develop (or evidence of the capacity to develop) as an independent investigator; o Quality and breadth of prior scientific training and experience, including, where appropriate, the record of previous research support and publications. Career Development Plan o Likelihood that the plan will contribute substantially to the scientific development of the candidate and the achievement of scientific independence; o Appropriateness of the research plan to the career goals of the candidate; o Appropriateness of the plan to update conceptual and theoretical knowledge, and the proposed award duration; o Consistency of the career development plan with the candidate's prior research and academic experience and the stated career goals; o Relevance to the goals of the Women's Health Initiative; o Clarity of the goals and scope of the plan and the need for the proposed research experience; and o Quality of the proposed training in the responsible conduct of research. Research Plan Candidates for this award will have had previous research experience and in some cases will have been Principal Investigators in other scientific fields. A sound research plan that is consistent with the career development plan and the candidate's level of research development must be provided. o Usefulness of the research plan as a vehicle for enhancing existing research skills as described in the career development plan; o Scientific and technical merit of the research question, design and methodology, judged in the context of the candidate's previous training and experience; o Relevance of the proposed research to the candidate's career objectives and to the research goals of the Women's Health Initiative; and o Adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. Mentor o Appropriateness of mentor's research qualifications in the area of this application; o Quality and commitment of the mentor to supervising and guiding the candidate throughout the award period; o Previous experience in fostering the development of researchers; and o History of research productivity and support. Institutional Environment and Commitment o Applicant institution's commitment to the scientific development of the candidate and assurances that the institution intends the candidate to be an integral part of its research program; o Adequacy of research facilities and training opportunities; o Quality of environment for scientific and professional development; and o Applicant institution's willingness to develop an appropriate mix of research, teaching and administrative responsibilities for the candidate. AWARD CRITERIA The awarding component of the NIH will notify the applicant of the national advisory board or council's action shortly after its meeting. Funding decisions will be made based on the recommendations of the initial review group and council/board, the need for research personnel in specific program areas, and the availability of funds. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged, especially during the planning phase of the application. For general information about the Women's Health Initiative, call: Loretta Finnegan, M.D. Women's Health Initiative National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 6A-09 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 402-2900 FAX: (301) 480-5158 Email: loretta_finnegan@nih.gov: For programmatic information about eligibility for career development awards or about the interests of specific institutes, call: Joan A. McGowan, Ph.D. Musculoskeletal Diseases Program National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 45 Center Drive, Room 5AS-43E, MSC 6500 Bethesda, MD 20892-6500 Telephone: (301) 594-5055 FAX: (301) 480-4543 Email: mcgowanj@ep.niams.nih.gov Dr. Robin A. Barr Office of Extramural Affairs National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 2C218, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9322 FAX: (301) 402-2945 Email: rb42h@nih.gov Joyce Rudick Office of Research on Women's Health National Institutes of Health Building 1, Room 201 Telephone: (301)-402-1770 FAX: (301)-402-1798 Email: rudickj@od1tm1.od.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS Awards made in this program are described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.846, 93.866. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Title III, Section 301 (Public Law 410, 78th Congress, as amended, 42 USC 241) and administered under PHS grant policies and Federal regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA NOT-97-003 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:07:34 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 57 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo7m$kco@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net POLICY ON THE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS SUBJECTS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 P.T. 34; K.W. 1014006, 0785035, 0770005 National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has embarked on a thoughtful deliberation to develop a policy and an implementation plan for requiring applicants proposing clinical research that addresses conditions or disorders that affect adults and may also affect children, to describe their plans for including or justifications for excluding children in the research. The NIH and the American Academy of Pediatrics held a joint workshop in June 1996 concerning the participation of children in clinical research. There is valid concern that treatment modalities developed based on research conducted on adults, without adequate data from children, are being used to treat children for many diseases/disorders. One of the outcomes of the workshop was the recommendation that the NIH develop a policy for including children in clinical research. The NIH concluded that when there is a sound scientific rationale for including children in research, investigators should be expected to do so unless there is a strong overriding reason that justifies their exclusion from the studies. Although this is the same scientific rationale that is the basis for the policy requiring the inclusion of women and minorities in clinical research, this policy does not mandate the inclusion of children in all clinical research. Because the issues and sensitivities surrounding children~s participation in research are significantly different from those regarding women and minorities, such a mandate would be inappropriate. Nonetheless, even though the inclusion of children is not an absolute requirement, applicants for NIH funding will be expected to address this issue in their proposals. The NIH recognizes that the development and implementation of this policy will require the education and preparation of the scientific community, parents, Institutional Review Boards, Initial Review Groups, Advisory Councils, and NIH program staff. The purpose of this notice is to provide information about ongoing efforts towards the new policy--ample advance notice will be provided prior to the formal implementation of the policy. In the meantime, investigators are encouraged to consider including children in clinical research projects. INQUIRIES Questions or concerns regarding this notice may be directed to: Belinda Seto, Ph.D. Office of Extramural Research Building 1, Room 252 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 402-9128 Email: bs11e@nih.gov From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH Guide, vol. 26, no. 03, pt. 1of2, 31 January 1997 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:03:38 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 1495 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo0a$jim@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net NIH GUIDE - Vol. 26, No. 3 - January 31, 1997 $$INDEX BEGIN ******************************************************* NOTICES $$INDEX N1 ********************************************************** POLICY ON THE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS SUBJECTS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH National Institutes of Health INDEX: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH $$INDEX N2 ********************************************************** SUPPLEMENTS FOR THE STUDY OF DRUG ABUSE AND HIV/AIDS National Institute on Drug Abuse INDEX: DRUG ABUSE $$INDEX N3 ********************************************************** NIDR GUIDELINES ON SUPPLEMENT APPLICATIONS National Institute of Dental Research INDEX: DENTAL RESEARCH $$INDEX N4 ********************************************************** LIMITATIONS ON NIGMS SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS National Institute of General Medical Sciences INDEX: GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs/RFAs/PAs) $$INDEX R1 04/18/97 ************************************************ WHI MINORITY INVESTIGATOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD (RFA AG-97-004) National Institute on Aging National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Office of Research on Women's Health Office of Research on Minority Health INDEX: AGING; ARTHRITIS, MUSCULOSKELETAL, SKIN DISEASES; WOMEN'S HEALTH; MINORITY HEALTH $$INDEX R2 04/18/97 ************************************************ MINORITY DISSERTATION RESEARCH GRANTS IN AGING (RFA AG-97-003) National Institute on Aging INDEX: AGING $$INDEX R3 04/18/97 ************************************************ CLINICAL ONCOLOGY RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (RFA CA-97-008) National Cancer Institute INDEX: CANCER $$INDEX R4 05/08/97 ************************************************* MENTORED CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD (RFA CA-97-003) National Cancer Institute INDEX: CANCER $$INDEX R5 12/11/97 ************************************************ PEDIATRIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (RFA HL-97-003) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute INDEX: HEART, LUNG, BLOOD $$INDEX P1 ********************************************************** ASPERGILLOSIS, EHRLICHIOSES AND DRUG RESISTANCE (PA-97-026) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases INDEX: ALLERGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES $$INDEX P2 ********************************************************** CENTERS FOR AIDS RESEARCH (PAR-97-027) National Cancer Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute of Mental Health INDEX: CANCER; HEART, LUNG, BLOOD; ALLERGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES; CHILD HEALTH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; DRUG ABUSE; MENTAL $$INDEX P3 ********************************************************** INDIVIDUAL POSTDOCTORAL AND SENIOR FELLOWSHIPS IN GENOMIC ANALYSIS AND TECHNOLOGY AND ELSI (PA-97-028) National Center for Human Genome Research INDEX: HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH $$INDEX P4 ********************************************************** IMMUNOLOGIC INTERVENTION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES (PA-97-029) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases INDEX: ALLERGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES $$INDEX P5 ********************************************************** OPPORTUNITIES FOR AIDS-RELATED RESEARCH AT RPRCs (PA-97-030) National Center for Research Resources INDEX: RESEARCH RESOURCES $$INDEX P6 ********************************************************** MINORITIES IN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY (PAR-97-031) National Cancer Institute INDEX: CANCER $$INDEX P7 ********************************************************** SMALL RESEARCH GRANT IN SECONDARY ANALYSIS IN DEMOGRAPHY AND ECONOMICS OF AGING (PAR-97-032) National Institute on Aging INDEX: AGING $$INDEX P8 ********************************************************** HIV, AIDS AND RELATED ILLNESSES COLLABORATION AWARD (PAR-97-033) Fogarty International Center INDEX: FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER The NIH GUIDE is available electronically via LISTSERV subscription, and is also on the nih gopher (gopher.nih.gov) and the NIH web site (http://www.nih.gov). Alternative access is available through the NIH Grant Line via modem (data line 301/402-2221); contact Dr. John James at 301/435-2801 for details on the NIH Grant Line. All competing (new, renewal, amended (revised) applications for grants, cooperative agreements, and fellowships from the National Institutes of Health must be sent to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) ASKNIH is a service of the Division of Extramural Outreach & Information Resources, Office of Extramural Research, Office of the Director, NIH. ASKNIH is the point of contact for obtaining general information about NIH extramural research & research training programs, requesting publications, and learning more about obtaining the NIH GUIDE and other information on the NIH web site. ASKNIH is also the contact to which organizations should request application kits and forms. ASKNIH NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH EMAIL: ASKNIH@ODROCKM1.OD.NIH.GOV FAX: (301) 480-0525 TELEPHONE: (301) 435-0714 INQUIRIES ABOUT THE NOTICES, PAS, AND RFAS IN THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE NIH STAFF MEMBER IDENTIFIED AT THE END OF EACH ITEM. 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. $$INDEX END ********************************************************* NOTICES $$N1 BEGIN NOT-97-003 FULL-TEXT ************************************* POLICY ON THE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS SUBJECTS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 P.T. 34; K.W. 1014006, 0785035, 0770005 National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has embarked on a thoughtful deliberation to develop a policy and an implementation plan for requiring applicants proposing clinical research that addresses conditions or disorders that affect adults and may also affect children, to describe their plans for including or justifications for excluding children in the research. The NIH and the American Academy of Pediatrics held a joint workshop in June 1996 concerning the participation of children in clinical research. There is valid concern that treatment modalities developed based on research conducted on adults, without adequate data from children, are being used to treat children for many diseases/disorders. One of the outcomes of the workshop was the recommendation that the NIH develop a policy for including children in clinical research. The NIH concluded that when there is a sound scientific rationale for including children in research, investigators should be expected to do so unless there is a strong overriding reason that justifies their exclusion from the studies. Although this is the same scientific rationale that is the basis for the policy requiring the inclusion of women and minorities in clinical research, this policy does not mandate the inclusion of children in all clinical research. Because the issues and sensitivities surrounding children~s participation in research are significantly different from those regarding women and minorities, such a mandate would be inappropriate. Nonetheless, even though the inclusion of children is not an absolute requirement, applicants for NIH funding will be expected to address this issue in their proposals. The NIH recognizes that the development and implementation of this policy will require the education and preparation of the scientific community, parents, Institutional Review Boards, Initial Review Groups, Advisory Councils, and NIH program staff. The purpose of this notice is to provide information about ongoing efforts towards the new policy--ample advance notice will be provided prior to the formal implementation of the policy. In the meantime, investigators are encouraged to consider including children in clinical research projects. INQUIRIES Questions or concerns regarding this notice may be directed to: Belinda Seto, Ph.D. Office of Extramural Research Building 1, Room 252 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 402-9128 Email: bs11e@nih.gov $$N1 END ************************************************************ $$N2 BEGIN ********************************************************** SUPPLEMENTS FOR THE STUDY OF DRUG ABUSE AND HIV/AIDS NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715008, 0404009, 0785055, 0404000 National Institute on Drug Abuse PURPOSE The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announces the availability of funds to supplement existing NIH research project grants for the study of issues related to drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. Funding will be available through administrative and competing supplements. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background The HIV/AIDS epidemic has demonstrated an increasing association with drug abuse, through transmission of the HIV by contaminated drug injection equipment, high risk sexual behavior with an infected drug user, and perinatal exposure of newborns from infected drug-abusing mothers. The proportion of cases attributed to injection drug use alone has steadily increased from 12 percent in 1981 to 32 percent in 1995. Clearly, the drug abuse links to the AIDS epidemic warrant a strong Federal research effort. The NIDA has responded to that challenge by building a multi-disciplinary program of research including, but not limited to: improved strategies to reduce drug-abuse related behaviors that are linked to the transmission of HIV, research on the epidemiology of drug-abuse related HIV disease, as well as studies of the biological and behavioral factors that influence HIV infection and disease progression. Areas of Interest In an effort to improve and expand its research on drug abuse-related aspects of HIV/AIDS, NIDA will consider requests from current grantees to expand and/or enhance ongoing research to include HIV/AIDS issues. The primary intent of this program is to encourage grantees who have not focused on AIDS-related issues to do so; however projects which do will also be eligible. Grantees are especially encouraged to examine ongoing projects which may not have been designed to examine AIDS-related issues for HIV/AIDS relevance. Current areas of research supported by NIDA that are considered HIV/AIDS-related include the following: Natural History and Epidemiology o Studies to determine the incidence and prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS among drug abusers, their sexual partners, and their newborns, including monitoring the trends in HIV infection and AIDS-related diseases. o Research on the natural history of HIV/AIDS in the above populations, including the dynamics of HIV transmission in sexual and drug using networks. o Research on the nature and extent of HIV risk behaviors and factors that affect risk in the above populations. o Research to develop improved survey designs, including interview protocols and measurement instruments, and new biostatistical techniques, to better measure and characterize HIV risk behaviors and transmission. Also of interest are studies to develop improved methods to measure reliability, validity, and estimation error. o Studies of the epidemiology and natural history of infectious diseases commonly transmitted by drug injection and/or sexual behavior associated with drug use, e.g. hepatitis, endocarditis, syphilis, or gonorrhea, which may serve to elucidate HIV infection. o Studies of the nature, extent, and progression of drug use and abuse, which include assessment of knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS, and/or the incidence, prevalence, and nature of drug-related HIV risk behaviors. Etiology and Pathogenesis o Studies to define the role of drugs of abuse and related compounds or drug abuse treatment medications on susceptibility, onset, and progression of HIV disease. o Studies to further develop and utilize experimental models to study the effects of drugs of abuse on the pathogenesis of lentivirus infections. o Studies of drugs of abuse and other factors contributing to HIV-related malignancies and other diseases, e.g., the role of nitrite inhalants and Kaposi's sarcoma. o Studies to investigate the role of drugs of abuse and related endogenous substances and other biological and environmental factors in modulating HIV-induced neuroAIDS. o Studies to identify and elucidate the role of drug abuse on immune susceptibility and development and progression of AIDS-related opportunistic infections, e.g., "smoking" drugs of abuse and bacterial pneumonias. o Studies of the role of patterns of drug abuse in HIV/AIDS progression among women, in perinatal transmission of HIV and the effects on the fetal and neonate nervous system, immune system, and placenta. o Studies of the effects of drugs of abuse and drug treatment medications on immune function, which may increase our knowledge of the immune dysfunction characteristic of HIV infection. o Studies of the interactions between drugs of abuse, the immune system, the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and the central nervous system. o Basic and clinical research on neurobiologic, neurologic, neuropsychological, and psychiatric consequences of drug abuse that have relevance for understanding the natural history of HIV/AIDS-related dementia in drug users. o Studies of unique receptor systems, e.g. opioid and cannabanoid, of immune cells and subsequent induction of immune cell responses including cytokine responses and other host factors. o Studies of structure-activity relationships of receptor ligands that modulate immune function. Therapeutics o Research to test the feasibility of enhancing recruitment of HIV infected drug users, their sexual partners, and infants into HIV/AIDS-therapeutics clinical trials. o Research to improve health services provided to and long-term therapeutic strategies designed for HIV-infected drug users, their sexual partners, and children, including studies of: a. strategies to improve adherence with HIV medications; b. recruitment and retention of HIV-infected drug users into HIV/AIDS treatment; c. delivery of linked medical and drug abuse treatment services through drug abuse treatment programs and/or other health services delivery programs; d. strategies to improve adherence with tuberculosis detection and treatment. o Research that investigates interactions between approved and investigational medications for drug addiction and HIV pharmacotherapies. Vaccines o Research on behavioral and/or biomedical aspects of delivery of HIV vaccine candidates to drug users. o Research to determine how drugs of abuse modulate immune responses against HIV. o Research to recruit injection drug users and other drug users at high risk of HIV infection into clinical trials of vaccines. Behavioral and Social Science Research o Research to develop, evaluate, and disseminate prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of HIV infection related to drugs of abuse, i.e. sharing of contaminated needles/syringes, high risk sexual behavior associated with drug use, perinatal transmission in drug-abusing mothers. These include: a. the study of community-based behavioral and social intervention strategies to reduce needle-sharing and high risk sexual behavior among injection drug users, crack cocaine users, and their sexual partners. b. the study of behavioral aspects of other prevention and intervention strategies, such as compliance with barrier methods, vaccine, and HIV therapeutics regimens. c. prevention strategies targeting youth or other groups at high risk for initiating injecting drug use and/or initiating sexual risk behaviors in association with drug use. o Studies of the determinants of risk behaviors known to transmit HIV and of the principles of behavioral change necessary to reduce the risk of HIV transmission among injecting drug users and their sexual partners, and non-injecting drug users who engage in high risk sexual behaviors associated with their drug use. o Studies of treatment interventions for drug dependence that meet all of the following criteria: a. designed to determine the efficacy or effectiveness of psychosocial and/or pharmacological treatment interventions for drug dependence that have a high probability of leading to reductions in HIV transmission; and b. the target population must be at high risk for HIV infection as a result of either drug injecting or sexual behavior associated with their drug use, or be HIV seropositive drug users where the intervention is intended to prevent further spread; and c. drug injection practices and/or sexual AIDS risk behaviors must be assessed as part of the research design; and d. HIV risk reduction counseling is either (1) provided to research subjects during the course of the study, or (2) included as part of the intervention under study and evaluated as part of the research design. o Studies of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the drug abuse treatment delivery system and on provision of HIV/AIDS services within drug treatment programs, including those provided under managed care. o Studies of the cost, cost-benefit, and cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce HIV risk behaviors and prevent the transmission of HIV. o Studies of the organization and management of services for HIV-positive drug abusers, including studies of the barriers to service access and utilization and strategies for overcoming them. o Research to enhance the effectiveness of other HIV prevention interventions, such as studies of the recruitment of injecting drug users and high-risk non-injecting drug users into drug abuse treatment. o Research to improve the understanding of basic principles of behavior, behavior change, maintenance of behavior change, and relapse that have implications for the prevention of HIV transmission that is drug-related. Information Dissemination o Research on mass media and other education strategies focused on AIDS and drug abuse. o Studies of education strategies for clinical professionals involved in HIV risk reduction and/or drug abuse and HIV/AIDS treatment. Research Mentoring and Career Development o Support for mentoring and career development opportunities designed to attract and support scientists and clinicians entering the HIV/AIDS field from every level of the career path, and to expand NIDA's research workforce to better represent the cultural, genetic and age diversity of drug-abusing populations and others at risk for HIV/AIDS. International Research Collaboration o Research support for collaborative national and international research with a focus on drug abuse-related links to HIV/AIDS. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Budget/Administrative Issues For FY 1997, approximately $2,500,000 will be available for the funding of both administrative and competing supplements to existing NIH research projects. Subject to the availability of funds, similar amounts will be made available in future years. Competing supplements are provided for expansion of a project's scope or the research protocol. These are treated as new applications for purposes of the review requirements and competition for funds, and are reviewed in accordance with NIH standard procedures, i.e., peer review/council review. Competing renewal supplement requests must be submitted in accordance with standard receipt dates; AIDS-related project dates are January 1, May 1, and September 1. Administrative supplements are provided to cover unanticipated cost increases that are associated with achieving the objectives within the original scope of a project, and include cost increases that result from making modifications in the scope of a project in order to take advantage of opportunities that would increase the value of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes. Administrative supplemental funding is generally limited to 25 percent of the Council-approved direct costs of the project or $100,000, whichever is less. These applications undergo program, grants management, and budget review within NIDA and may be submitted for the remainder of FY 1997, but no later than August 1, 1997. Neither administrative or competing supplements may exceed the stated life of the parent project. Neither supplement may represent changes in the basic goals or intent of the project or may alter the scope of the parent grant. AIDS-related supplement requests to either non-AIDS or AIDS-related grants will receive expedited review, according to Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act, (42 USC 241). INQUIRIES Inquires concerning this notice are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issue or questions from potential applicants are welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Steven W. Gust, Ph.D. Office on AIDS National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301)443-6480 Email: sg84q@nih.gov Direct fiscal inquiries to: Gary Fleming, J.D. Grants Management Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-6710 Email: gf6s@nih.gov $$N2 END ************************************************************ $$N3 BEGIN ********************************************************** NIDR GUIDELINES ON SUPPLEMENT APPLICATIONS NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 P.T. 34; K.W. 1014006 National Institute of Dental Research The National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) is announcing a change in its "Guidelines for Supplement Applications" (NIH Guide, Vol. 25, No 20, June 21, 1996). The NIDR is increasing the salaries of postdoctoral trainees on Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities and Research Supplements for Individuals with Disabilities. The NIH recently approved an increase of 3.5 percent in its stipend level for postdoctoral trainees with less than one year of experience and for trainees with one year of experience. No changes were made in stipends for individuals with two or more years of experience. Since candidates for the Supplements to Promote Reentry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers Program must have at least two years of postdoctoral experience to qualify for funding, no change in stipend for these individuals is anticipated. All awards using Fiscal Year 1997 funds will be adjusted to the new level of funding. The new stipend levels are as follows: Years of Postdoctoral Research Experience Salary/Year 0 $20,292 1 $21,420 2 $25,600 3 $26,900 4 $28,200 5 $29,500 6 $30,800 7 $32,300 INQUIRIES Questions concerning these changes may be directed to: Dr. Norman S. Braveman Division of Extramural Research National Institute of Dental Research Building 45, Room 4AN.24 - MSC 6402 Bethesda, MD 20892-6402 Telephone: (301) 594-2089 Email: Norman.Braveman@nih.gov Mr. Martin Rubinstein Division of Extramural Research National Institute of Dental Research Building 45, Room 4AN.24 - MSC 6402 Bethesda, MD 20892-6402 Telephone: (301) 594-4800 Email: Martin.Rubinstein@nih.gov $$N3 END ************************************************************ $$N4 BEGIN ********************************************************** LIMITATIONS ON NIGMS SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 P.T. 34; K.W. 1014006 National Institute of General Medical Sciences The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published guidelines for the support of National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (NIH Guide, Vol. 25, No. 31, September 20, 1996). That notice stated that individuals may receive up to three years of aggregate NRSA support at the postdoctoral level. The purpose of the postdoctoral fellowship is to provide support for research training. It is generally recognized that the longer an individual is in a given laboratory the less additional real training occurs. The purpose of this notice is to inform the applicant community that the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) will in general provide support for up to a maximum of three years, less any time that the fellow has already spent in the sponsor's laboratory at the time of award. For example, if an applicant has been in the sponsor's laboratory for one year at the time of award, NIGMS may provide NRSA support for an additional two years. In addition, applicants who will have already been in the sponsors laboratory for two or more years at the time of award should note that NIGMS will consider this factor in deciding whether or not to make an award. Applicants requesting or receiving only one year of support should recognize the responsibilities associated with NRSA payback obligations. This is not a new policy for NIGMS but rather the articulation of a standing practice. Extension of the award period beyond three years in the sponsor's laboratory may be requested for an unusual circumstance such as an unforeseen new training opportunity. INQUIRIES Dr. Michael R. Martin Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of General Medical Sciences 45 Center Drive MSC 6200 Bethesda, MD 20892-6200 Telephone: (301) 594-3910 Email: MARTINM@GM1.NIGMS.NIH.GOV $$N4 END ************************************************************ NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs/RFAs/PAs) $$R1 BEGIN AG-97-004 FULL-TEXT ************************************** WHI MINORITY INVESTIGATOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA AVAILABLE: AG-97-004 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0755015, 0710010, 0730070 National Institute on Aging National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Office of Research on Women's Health Office of Research on Minority Health Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 7, 1997 Application Receipt Dates: April 18, 1997 PURPOSE The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to increase the number of underrepresented minority investigators participating in the clinical trial and observational study of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) using the mentored research scientist development award (K01) and mentored clinical scientist development award (K08) mechanisms. The NIH anticipates that approximately $300,000 will be available in fiscal year 1997 to fund three to four awards. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, WHI Minority Investigator Development Award, is related to the priority area of human resource development. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). INQUIRIES The RFA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Loretta Finnegan, M.D. Women's Health Initiative National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 6A-09 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 402-2900 FAX: (301) 480-5158 Email: loretta_finnegan@nih.gov: Joan A. McGowan, Ph.D. Musculoskeletal Diseases Program National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 45 Center Drive, Room 5AS-43E, MSC 6500 Bethesda, MD 20892-6500 Telephone: (301) 594-5055 FAX: (301) 480-4543 Email: mcgowanj@ep.niams.nih.gov Dr. Robin A. Barr Office of Extramural Affairs National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 2C218, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9322 FAX: (301) 402-2945 Email: rb42h@nih.gov Joyce Rudick Office of Research on Women's Health National Institutes of Health Building 1, Room 201 Telephone: (301) 402-1770 FAX: (301) 402-1798 Email: rudickj@od1tm1.od.nih.gov $$R1 END ************************************************************ $$R2 BEGIN AG-97-003 FULL-TEXT ************************************** MINORITY DISSERTATION RESEARCH GRANTS IN AGING NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA AVAILABLE: AG-97-003 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0710010 National Institute on Aging Application Receipt Date: April 18, 1997 PURPOSE Small research grants (R03) to support doctoral dissertation research will be available for minority doctoral candidates. Grant support is designed to aid the research of new minority investigators and to encourage minority individuals from a variety of academic disciplines and programs to study topics relevant to aging. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) anticipates funding between 10 and 12 grants with a total cost of up to $300,000. These grants are not eligible for competitive renewal. 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), Minority Dissertation Research Grants in Aging, is related to the priority area of aging. Potential candidates for the awards may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The RFA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Dr. Robin A. Barr Office of Extramural Affairs National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2C218, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9322 FAX: (301) 402-2945 Email: rb42h@nih.gov $$R2 END ************************************************************ $$R3 BEGIN CA-97-008 FULL-TEXT ************************************** CLINICAL ONCOLOGY RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA AVAILABLE: CA-97-008 P.T. 34; K.W. 0785140, 0755015 National Cancer Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 5, 1997 Application Receipt Date: April 29, 1997 PURPOSE The Cancer Training Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announces the reissuance of the Institutional Physician Scientist Award (K12) program. The purpose of this program award is to increase the number of clinical oncologists who can: (1) interact and coordinate clinical research activities with basic research scientists in order to expedite the translation of basic research information into patient-oriented research; (2) perform independent clinical research that develops and tests rational scientific hypotheses based on fundamental and clinical research findings for improving the medical care of patients; and (3) design and test innovative clinical protocols and manage all phases of clinical trial research. There will be approximately ten awards made at a total cost level of $3.6 million per year. The maximum direct costs available per award for the first year support of the program is $350,000. 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), Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program, is related to the priority area of cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-0001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-0001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). INQUIRIES The RFA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Vincent Cairoli, Ph.D. Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis and Centers National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 520 MSC 7390 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Telephone: (301) 496-8580 FAX: (301) 402-4472 Email: C14Z@NIH.GOV $$R3 END ************************************************************ $$R4 BEGIN CA-97-003 FULL-TEXT ************************************** MENTORED CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA AVAILABLE: CA-97-003 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0715035 National Cancer Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 06, 1997 Application Receipt Date: May 08, 1997 PURPOSE The Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program, Division of Extramural Activities, National Cancer Institute (NCI), invites underrepresented minority research scientists who have been the recipient of an NIH Research Supplement for Underrepresented Minority Individuals in Postdoctoral Training (MIPT) or a Minority Investigator Supplement (MIS), funded by the NCI, who need an extended period of sponsored research as a way to gain scientific expertise while bridging the transition from a mentored research environment to an independent research/academic career to submit applications. This award offers opportunities for a mentored peer review experience in cancer research which will enhance the candidates knowledge and understanding of the peer review process with the intended purpose of developing skills with the expectation that the candidate will submit a grant application for nontargeted mechanisms (R29, R01). This award is aimed at fostering the cancer research careers of outstanding, junior minority scientists who (a) have been the recipient of an NIH Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities award, funded by the NCI; (b) are located at a majority institution; and (c) are committed to developing and sustaining academic research programs. This award is a novel mechanism which is intended to support underrepresented minority scientists and enhance the likelihood of success for junior underrepesented minority investigators who have committed to basic and clinical research careers in cancer. Support for this program will be through the NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01). The estimated total costs available for the first year support of this program is $500,000. There will be approximately five new awards made in response to this solicitation. 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 Application (RFA), Mentored Career Development Award, is related to the priority area of human resource development in cancer research. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). INQUIRIES The RFA, which describes the research training objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov). and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Sanya A. Springfield, Ph.D. Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 620 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Telephone: (301) 496-7344 FAX: (301) 402-4551 Email: springfs@dea.nci.nih.gov $$R4 END ************************************************************ $$R5 BEGIN HL-97-003 FULL-TEXT ************************************** PEDIATRIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 RFA AVAILABLE: HL-97-003 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715040, 0770005, 0403001 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Letter of Intent Receipt Date: June 30, 1997 Application Receipt Date: December 11, 1997 PURPOSE This solicitation invites grant applications to enter a single open competition for Specialized Centers of Research (SCOR) (P50) in pediatric cardiovascular disease. This program is open to all investigators, including those who are participating in the current program and those who are not. The objective of this initiative is to foster interdisciplinary studies of the etiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of congenital and acquired cardiovascular disease in children in a context that will lead to more effective methods of treatment and prevention. To this end, investigators must present applications that encompass both basic and clinical science, and include studies of patients. Those studies must be designed to comply with NIH policies regarding gender and ethnicity unless exceptions can be scientifically justified. Applicants may request up to $1,073,000 total costs, not including indirect costs for collaborating institutions, in the first year, with a maximum increase of no more than four percent in each future year requested in the application. It is anticipated that three SCOR grants for a five-year project period at an estimated first year total cost of $3.22 million will be awarded. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000", a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease, is related to the priority areas of maternal and infant health, heart disease and stroke, diabetes and chronic disabling diseases, and immunization and infectious diseases. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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) INQUIRIES The RFA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Dr. Constance Weinstein Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 9044 - MSC 7940 Bethesda, MD 20892-7940 Telephone: (301) 435-0510 FAX: (301) 480-1335 Email: weinstec@gwgate.nhlbi.nih.gov $$R5 END ************************************************************ $$P1 BEGIN PA-97-026 FULL-TEXT ************************************** ASPERGILLOSIS, EHRLICHIOSES AND DRUG RESISTANCE NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PA-97-026 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715125, 0765033, 0745020, 1002008, 0765012 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases PURPOSE The purpose of this program announcement (PA) is to stimulate research on selected topics in three separate areas: aspergillosis, the ehrlichioses, and antibacterial or antifungal drug resistance. For aspergillosis, the goal is to support research on clinically relevant aspects of Aspergillus fumigatus and/or A. flavus. For the ehrlichioses, the goal is to support investigations on the diagnosis and pathogenesis of the agents of human ehrlichiosis. For drug resistance, the goal is to support research projects elucidating the molecular biology and molecular epidemiology of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in health care associated bacteria and fungi, including the molecular mechanisms of acquisition, expression, maintenance, and dissemination of resistance genes. Specific organisms of interest include but are not limited to: vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant staphylococci, drug-resistant pneumococci, Gram negative bacteria and the fungi of greatest significance in the nosocomial setting. Pathogens covered under other NIAID PAs or recent initiatives (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis) will not be considered responsive to this PA. Research project grant (R01), FIRST award (R29), and small research grant (R03) applications may be submitted in response to this program announcement. 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 PA, Aspergillosis, Ehrlichioses and Drug Resistance, is related to the priority areas of immunization and infectious diseases. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-0325 (telephone 202-783-3238). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Dennis M. Dixon, Ph.D. Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 3A-06 Bethesda, MD 20892-7640 Telephone: (301) 496-7728 FAX: (301) 402-2508 Email: dd24a@nih.gov $$P1 END ************************************************************ $$P2 BEGIN PAR-97-027 FULL-TEXT ************************************* CENTERS FOR AIDS RESEARCH NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PAR-97-027 P.T. 04; K.W. 0715007, 0404000, 0785035 National Cancer Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute of Mental Health Application Receipt Date: June 18 PURPOSE Participating institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invite center core grants (P30) applications to support Centers for AIDS Research (CFARs). CFAR cores provide infrastructure and promote basic, clinical, behavioral and translational AIDS research activities at institutions that receive significant AIDS funding from multiple NIH Institutes or Centers. CFARs foster synergy and improve coordination of research, support emerging research opportunities, and promote economy of scale through resources shared by multiple independent laboratories. CFARs also encourage other activities that serve the requirements of AIDS research. CFARs are not intended to be "Centers of Excellence" in specific areas of AIDS research, but instead are intended to promote all AIDS research efforts at CFAR institutions. 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 PA, Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR), is related to the Priority area of HIV infection. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the CFAR program announcement website (www.niaid.nih.gov/cfarpa.htm), the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), the NIH website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Janet M. Young, Ph.D. Division of AIDS National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Solar Building, Room 2C36B - MSC 7620 Bethesda, MD 20892-7620 Telephone: (301) 496-6714 FAX: (301) 402-3211 Email: jy6r@nih.gov $$P2 END ************************************************************ $$P3 BEGIN PA-97-028 FULL-TEXT ************************************** INDIVIDUAL POSTDOCTORAL AND SENIOR FELLOWSHIPS IN GENOMIC ANALYSIS AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE ETHICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF HUMAN GENETICS RESEARCH NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PA-97-028 P.T. 22; K.W. 1215018, 1002019, 1014004 National Center for Human Genome Research Application Receipt Dates: April 5, August 5, December 5 PURPOSE This is a reissue of a Program Announcement that appeared in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. Vol 20, No. 46, December 12, 1991. Scientists and scholars who are well-trained in one or more of a variety of disciplines will be needed to accomplish the goals of the National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) research program and to use, for further research, the resources that the program will develop. Therefore, the NCHGR is offering both individual postdoctoral fellowships and senior fellowships to highly qualified individuals who are seeking training that will enable them to engage in research relevant to the genome project. Broad areas of research that are relevant include genomic analysis (including technology development) and the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genetics research. The NCHGR is interested in supporting fellowship training in both broad areas. Support for fellowships will be provided through the National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F32 and F33). The stipend levels for the individual postdoctoral fellowships range from $20,292 to $32,300 depending on the number of years of relevant experience subsequent to the award of the doctoral degree. 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 program announcement, Individual Postdoctoral and Senior Fellowships in Genomic Analysis and Technology and the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Human Genetics Research, is related to the priority areas of cancer, heart disease and stroke, diabetes and chronic disability conditions, maternal and infant health, and others. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Bettie J. Graham, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Research National Center for Human Genome Research Building 38A, Room 614 Bethesda, MD 20892-6050 Telephone: (301) 496-7531 Email: Bettie_Graham@nih.gov Eric M. Meslin, Ph.D. Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications Research Program National Center for Human Genome Research Building 38A, Room 617 Bethesda, MD 20892-6050 Telephone: (301) 402-4997 Email: Eric_Meslin@nih.gov $$P3 END ************************************************************ $$P4 BEGIN PA-97-029 FULL-TEXT ************************************** IMMUNOLOGIC INTERVENTION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PA-97-029 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715125, 0745045 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases PURPOSE With this Program Announcement (PA), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) invites applications for innovative preclinical and clinical research, in relevant animal models and human subjects, to identify and accelerate development of novel, immunologically-based, therapeutic interventions for infectious diseases, such as interventions based on targeted disruption of the contribution of cytokines to pathology in such diseases. Multidisciplinary research and a focus on studies in human populations are particularly encouraged. Since other NIAID initiatives have recently been available to support research on other high priority areas such as HIV, opportunistic infections in AIDS patients, Lyme disease, and tuberculosis, projects on these topics will not be considered responsive to this PA. This PA will use the research project grant (R01), First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) award, and Interactive Research Project Grant (IRPG) mechanisms. 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 PA, Immunologic Intervention in Infectious Diseases, is related to the priority area of immunization and infectious diseases. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-0325 (telephone 202-512-1800). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. B.F. Hall, M.D., Ph.D. Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 3A09 - MSC 7630 Bethesda, MD 20892-7630 Telephone: (301) 496-2544 FAX: (301) 402-0659 Email: bh24q@nih.gov $$P4 END ************************************************************ $$P5 BEGIN PA-97-030 FULL-TEXT ************************************** OPPORTUNITIES FOR AIDS-RELATED RESEARCH AT REGIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTERS NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PA-97-030 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715008, 1002002 National Center for Research Resources Application Receipt Dates: May 1, September 1, January 2 PURPOSE It is recognized that nonhuman primate research resources may not be readily available to all investigators who wish to use them in AIDS-related research. The purpose of this Program Announcement (PA) is to offer a mechanism through which these resources can be made more readily accessible to AIDS researchers. The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) thereby invites investigator-initiated research grant (R01) and First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) applications for AIDS-related research which utilizes nonhuman primates and other research resources at the seven Regional Primate Research Centers (RPRCs). The overall objectives of this initiative are to (1) promote cutting edge scientific research to identify basic pathogenic mechanisms of HIV/SIV infections and therapy, which are oriented toward the prevention and treatment of AIDS and related diseases; (2) enhance utilization of nonhuman primates and other resources within the RPRCs; and (3) promote coordinated research efforts with Center staff scientists at the seven RPRCs. 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 PA, Opportunities for AIDS-Related Research at Regional Primate Research Centers, is related to the priority areas of HIV/AIDS and cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The RFA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Jerry A. Robinson, Ph.D. Regional Primate Research Centers and AIDS Animal Models Programs National Center for Research Resources 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6030 - MSC 7965 Bethesda, MD 20892-7965 Telephone: (301) 435-0744 FAX: (301) 480-3819 Email: jerryR@ep.ncrr.nih.gov $$P5 END ************************************************************ $$P6 BEGIN PAR-97-031 FULL-TEXT ************************************* MINORITIES IN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PAR-97-031 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0785140, 0715035 National Cancer Institute Application Receipt Dates: June 1, October 1, February 1 PURPOSE The Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program, Division of Extramural Activities, National Cancer Institute (NCI) announces the availability of minority medical oncology awards. These awards are intended to encourage recently trained underrepresented minority clinicians to acquire research experience in medical oncology, and increase representation of minorities in medical oncology. These awards will provide the opportunity for recent, clinically trained underrepresented minority physicians and D.O.s to gain sufficient research expertise to become medical oncologists with experience in biomedical research. Support for this program will be through the NIH Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08). 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 Program Announcement (PA), Minorities in Medical Oncology, is related to the priority area of cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research training objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Sanya A. Springfield, Ph.D. Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 620 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Telephone: (301) 496-7344 FAX: (301) 402-4551 Email: springfs@dea.nci.nih.gov $$P6 END ************************************************************ $$P7 BEGIN PAR-97-032 FULL-TEXT ************************************* SMALL RESEARCH GRANT IN SECONDARY ANALYSIS IN DEMOGRAPHY AND ECONOMICS OF AGING NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PAR-97-032 P.T. 34; K.W. 0710010, 0413001, 0408006, 0755018 National Institute on Aging Application Receipt Dates: March 17, July 17, November 17, 1997 PURPOSE The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is soliciting small grant (R03) applications to: (1) stimulate and facilitate secondary analyses of data related to the demography and economics of aging; (2) provide support for pilot projects that could lead to subsequent applications for individual research awards; and (3) provide support for rapid analyses of new databases (including experimental modules) for the purpose of informing the design and content of future waves. 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 program announcement, Small Research Grant Program: Secondary Analysis in Demography and Economics of Aging, is related to several priority areas including chronic disabling conditions. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-11474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-11473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Georgeanne E. Patmios Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 533 - MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-3138 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Georgeanne_Patmios@nih.gov $$P7 END ************************************************************ $$P8 BEGIN PAR-97-033 FULL-TEXT ************************************* HIV, AIDS AND RELATED ILLNESSES COLLABORATION AWARD NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PAR-97-033 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715008 Fogarty International Center From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PAR-97-032 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:07:01 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 381 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo6l$kak@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net SMALL RESEARCH GRANT IN SECONDARY ANALYSIS IN DEMOGRAPHY AND ECONOMICS OF AGING NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PAR-97-032 P.T. 34; K.W. 0710010, 0413001, 0408006, 0755018 National Institute on Aging Application Receipt Dates: March 17, July 17, November 17, 1997 PURPOSE The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is seeking small grant (R03) applications to: (1) stimulate and facilitate secondary analyses of data related to the demography and economics of aging; (2) provide support for pilot projects that could lead to subsequent applications for individual research awards; and (3) provide support for rapid analyses of new databases (including experimental modules) for the purpose of informing the design and content of future waves. 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 program announcement, Small Research Grant in Secondary Analysis in Demography and Economics of Aging, is related to several priority areas including chronic disabling conditions. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-11474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-11473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Foreign organizations and institutions are not eligible. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. Participation in the program by investigators at minority institutions is strongly encouraged. Applications from new investigators and researchers new to aging are particularly encouraged. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Applicants may request up to $50,000 (direct costs) for one year through the small grant (R03) mechanism. However, the grants will be awarded under Expanded Authorities and are eligible for a single one-year no cost extension. These awards are not renewable. If applicable, before completion of the R03, investigators are encouraged to seek continuing support for research through individual research awards. Replacement of the Principal Investigator on this award is not permitted. FUNDS AVAILABLE It is anticipated that approximately $1,000,000 will be available to fund approximately 15 to 20 small grants, contingent on high scientific merit and program priorities. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The Small Grant program is designed to: support researchers interested in undertaking secondary analyses of data related to the demography and economics of aging; provide support for pilot projects that could lead to subsequent applications for individual research awards; and provide support for rapid analyses of new databases (including experimental modules) for the purpose of informing the design and content of future waves. International comparative analyses are permitted where relevant. New data collection involving human subjects is not permitted. Applications that are innovative and "high risk" with the likelihood for "high gain" are especially encouraged. Examples: o Biodemography of aging (e.g., the interface between demography of aging and the biological sciences, population genetics, evolutionary theory, and modeling of senescence). Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: large populations observed under controlled conditions; the influence of genetics on age-specific mortality rates; the population effects of genetic indicators of disease; precedents in nature for aging and intergenerational exchange; and population dynamics o Medical demography of aging, mortality, chronic diseases and functioning in late life and at extreme old ages (including centenarians); trends in chronic disease and disability and associated factors (e.g., early life experiences, education, Medicare); disability dynamics; family cascades of chronic disease; forecasting life and active life expectancy, health, medical services and long term care usage o Evaluations and simulations of the impact of changes in DHHS and SSA policies (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits) on the health, disability and well-being of the older population o Health, work and retirement, including: determinants of retirement, family labor supply, and saving; consequences of retirement for health and well-being; comparative studies of labor force activity; effects of psychological factors (e.g., expectations, personality) and mental health characteristics (e.g., depression) on economic behaviors (e.g., altruistic or precautionary saving for old age); employer- and organizational-level determinants of labor force participation at older ages o Interactions between health and economic status over time; improved measures of socioeconomic position for aging populations; racial and ethnic differentials in the trajectories of health and disability o Costs and impact of aging-related illnesses and disabilities; use of public and private resources in the period before death; economic determinants of health promotion and disease prevention behaviors o Demography and economics of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, and of AIDS in older populations o General demographic analyses of population aging, including: the aging of the babyboom cohort; immigration, immigrants and aging; the impact of state and small area characteristics on health; improved descriptive analyses of centenarian populations; macro and micro dynamics of intergenerational exchanges; and comparative international analyses using Census and other data o Analyses and simulations of the epidemiological transition in the global burden of disease and disability in developing countries Influence of age, medical condition and functional disability on transportation options Investigators are especially encouraged to undertake secondary analyses of existing datasets supported by the NIA which are already in the public domain. These include, but are not limited to: Asset and Health Dynamics of the Oldest-Old (AHEAD); Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ALSA); Early Indicators of Later Work Levels, Disease, and Death; Epidemiology of Chronic Disease in the Oldest Old; Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE); German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP); Health and Retirement Study (HRS); Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA); Supplement on Aging II (SOA II); Luxembourg Income Study (LIS); National Long-Term Care Survey (NLTCS): 1982-1994; National Longitudinal Survey (NLS): 1990 Resurvey of Older Males; National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) Reinterview; Odense Archive of Population Data on Aging; Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID); 1990 Public-Use Microdata Sample for the Older Population and the comparable samples from ECE countries; and Wisconsin Longitudinal Survey (WLS). While development, enhancement and assembly of new databases from existing data are permitted, primary data collection from human subjects is not permitted. Upon request, program staff listed under INQUIRIES will send applicants information about these and other datasets, including instructions on how the data can be accessed. Although this Program Announcement is oriented primarily to the demography and economics of aging, the datasets listed above, among others, may also be relevant to other areas in the behavioral and social sciences. For such programmatic information, contact staff listed under INQUIRIES. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects of 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 14508-14513) and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Schedule The submission, review, and award schedule for the Small Research Grant Program for 1997 is: Application Receipt Dates: Mar 17 Jul 17 Nov 17 Institute Committee Review: Jun/Jul Oct/Nov Feb/Mar Earliest funding: Sep Jan May Only one Small Grant application may be submitted by a principal investigator per receipt date. Applicants may not submit R01 or R29 applications on the same topic concurrent (to be considered at the same review cycle) with the submission of a Small Grant application. Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and prepared according to the directions in the application packet, with the exceptions noted below. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, e-mail: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The program announcement title and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Sections 1-4: Do not exceed a total of ten pages for the following sections: specific aims, background and significance, progress report/preliminary studies, and experimental design and methods. Tables and figures are included in the ten page limitation. Applications that exceed the page limitation or PHS requirements for type size and margins (Refer to PHS 398 application for details) will be returned to the investigator. The ten page limitation does not include Sections 5-9 (Human Subjects, Consortia, Literature cited). Appendix materials are not allowed. "Just-in-time" (JIT) is an initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Extramural Reinvention Laboratory under the auspices of the National Performance Review and government-wide efforts to create a government that works better and costs less. JIT postpones the collection of certain information that currently must be included in all competing applications when submitted. The information for the applications with a likelihood of funding is submitted "just-in time" for awards to be made. This program announcement is incorporating JIT procedures as described below. Some sections are modified and others in the application do not need to be completed for the submission of the application, but WILL be requested if your application receives a priority score in the fundable range. Form DD - Page 4 - DETAILED BUDGET PAGE FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD Do not complete form page 4 of the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). It is not required nor will it be accepted at the time of application. Form EE - Page 5 - BUDGET FOR ENTIRE PROPOSED PROJECT PERIOD Do not complete the categorical budget table on form page 5 in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). Only the requested total direct costs for each year and total direct costs for the entire proposed period of support should be shown. Begin the budget justification in the space provided, using continuation pages as needed. Budget Justification o List the name, role on project and percent effort for all project personnel (salaried or unsalaried) and provide a narrative justification for each person based on his/her role on the project and proposed level of effort. o Identify all consultants by name and organizational affiliation and describe the services to be performed. o Provide a narrative justification for any major budget items, other than personnel, that are requested for the conduct of the project that would be considered unusual for the scope of research. No specific costs for items or categories should be shown. o Indirect costs will be calculated at the time of the award using the institution's actual indirect cost rate. Applicants will be asked to identify the indirect cost exclusions prior to award. o If consortium/contractual costs are requested, provide the percentage of the subcontract total costs (direct and indirect) relative to the total direct costs of the overall project. The subcontract budget justification should be prepared following the instructions provided above. Submit a signed original of the application, including the checklist, and three exact photocopies in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 -MSC-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for courier/overnight service) In addition, to expedite the review of the application, submit two additional exact photocopies of the application directly to: Chief, Scientific Review Office National Institute on Aging Gateway Building Suite 2C212, MSC 9205 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 In order not to delay review, it is important that applicants comply with this request. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS A review committee of the NIA will evaluate each Small Grant application with respect to the following criteria: o Adequacy of approach and scientific originality and significance o Degree of innovation o "High risk" with likelihood for "high gain" o Feasibility of the proposed research o Availability of resources necessary for the research o Importance of the area to aging research o Appropriateness of the proposed budget and timetable in relation to the scope of the proposed research o Qualifications and research experience of the principal investigator. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; o availability of funds; o program priority INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. For information about the datasets described above, send your inquiry to: Donna Perry Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 533 - MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Email: Donna_Perry@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues (including those not related to the demography or economics of aging but that may be relevant to other areas in the behavioral and social sciences) to: Georgeanne E. Patmios Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 533 - MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-3138 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Georgeanne_Patmios@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Dave Reiter Grants and Contracts Management Office National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2N212 - MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1472 FAX: (301) 402-3672 Email: David_Reiter@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.866. 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 PHS 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 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PAR-97-031 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:06:43 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 449 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo63$k9n@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net MINORITIES IN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PAR-97-031 P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0785140, 0715035 National Cancer Institute Application Receipt Dates: June 1, October 1 and February 1 PURPOSE The Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program, Division of Extramural Activities, National Cancer Institute announces the availability of minority medical oncology awards. The purposes of these awards are to: o Encourage recently trained underrepresented minority clinicians to acquire research experience in medical oncology. o Increase representation of minorities in medical oncology. These awards will provide the opportunity for recent, clinically trained underrepresented minority physicians and D.O.'s to gain sufficient research expertise to become medical oncologists with experience in biomedical research. 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 Program Announcement (PA) for Minorities in Medical Oncology, is related to the priority area of cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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 This award is designed to provide an intensive, supervised research experience for underrepresented minority physicians. The award is intended for individuals with an M.D. or D.O. degree. For the purpose of this award, underrepresented minorities are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research. In making these awards, NCI will give priority to projects involving African American (Black), Latinos (Mexican American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Central American), Native Americans, and non-Asian Pacific Islanders or other ethnic or racial group members who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research nationally. Awards will be limited to individuals who are citizens, non-citizen alien nationals, and permanent residents of the United States. Candidates for the award should have broad clinical training, demonstrate individual competence in clinical activities, must document a serious intent for a research career in medical oncology, and must document a sensitivity to cultural issues impinging upon the practice of medicine among the major U.S. ethnic populations. The candidates must be nominated by an institution on the basis of qualifications, interests, accomplishments, motivation, and the potential for a career in medical oncology. Evidence of the institution's commitment to the applicant's research development must be documented. Candidates must have at least one sponsor or advisor who is recognized as an accomplished clinician, and at least one sponsor or advisor who is recognized as an accomplished independent investigator in the proposed research area. Applicants for this award may not concurrently submit an application for an NIH Research Career Development Award or a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01). Current Principal Investigators on PHS research grants are not eligible applicants. Applications may be submitted by domestic non-profit and for-profit organizations, public and private such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State or local government, and eligible agencies of the Federal government or comparable institutions with well-established training programs in medical oncology. Eligible institutions must also have active biomedical research programs in oncology including clinical trials with adequate numbers of highly trained faculty in the clinical and biomedical sciences areas as they relate to cancer. They must also demonstrate a commitment to the development of the research careers of young minority physicians in medical oncology. Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Awards in response to this PA will use the Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08). Planning, direction and execution of the proposed training program will be the responsibilities of the applicant and the sponsor(s). The total project period for an application submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed four years. Each award is non-renewable and non-transferable from one Principal Investigator to another. Funding beyond the first year of the award is contingent upon satisfactory progress during the preceding year, as documented in the required Progress Report. Except as otherwise stated in this PA, awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publications No. (OASH) 90-50,000, revised October 1, 1990. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Substantial national and local efforts have been made and are continuing to be made to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in the general population. However, in spite of these efforts, projections made for 1994 were 1.2 million newly diagnosed cancer cases and approximately 550,000 cancer deaths. Past patterns of cancer incidence and mortality predict that a disproportionate share of this increase in U.S. cancer incidence and mortality will be borne by minorities. Specifically, past and current SEER data show Hispanics have excessive cancer incidences of the prostate, breast, lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, and cervix. American Indians from New Mexico show excessive cancer rates for prostate, breast, colon and rectum, ovary, kidney, and renal pelvis cancers, with the incidence rate for gall bladder cancer being the highest of any racial group. Alaska Natives have the highest cancer incidence rates among any racial roup for cancer of the colon and rectum. Finally, cancer mortality rates for all sites for Blacks are almost 1.4 times greater than for Whites. Contributing to the cancer mortality of U.S. minorities is their limited access to physicians for treatment with appropriate cultural sensitivities. This is largely due to the small numbers of U.S. minority clinical oncologists. Data from the American Medical Association for 1994 show that of 11,224 U.S. oncologists, only 184 (1.6 percent) were of African American descent, 336 (3.0 percent) were of Hispanic descent, and 3 (0.03 percent) were of Native American descent. Current statistics on medical specialties among U.S. medical school graduates do not portend a significant change in this situation. Specifically, of the total 1993 medical school graduates, only 0.9 percent had selected oncology as their area of specialization, and only 0.2 percent of graduates selecting an oncology specialization were underrepresented minorities. In 1994, only 11.2 percent of all medical school applicants were underrepresented minorities, a proportion that had not changed significantly from the value of 10.8 percent six years earlier. A reduction in the overall cancer mortality rate in minority populations would substantially impact known cancer statistics. Cultural barriers to cancer diagnosis/treatment and to preventive health care advice will take on added importance as the techniques of molecular epidemiology are increasingly applied to identify minority individuals and family members at high risk for cancer. As a result of this new technology, physicians will increasingly be called upon to deal with culturally sensitive issues, such as prophylactic surgery for family members, and/or major changes in lifestyle, possibly even including childbearing. It is therefore imperative that a sufficient number of minority medical oncologist be available so that access to care is not limited by the number of oncologists sensitive to cultural issues. Additionally, the medical oncologist must have an understanding of the new technologies being developed that will assist in the diagnosis/treatment of cancers and the predictions of cancer risk. This understanding can best be provided by a research experience in the development/application of these technologies. Areas of research of particular interest for this purpose might include but are not limited to the development and application of biomarkers for assessing cancer risk in minority populations; cancer treatment or prevention clinical trials targeting minority populations; and psychosocial aspects of cancer prevention and control in defined populations. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of 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 14508-14513) and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted on or before the receipt deadlines indicated in the application kit (October 1, February 1 and June 1). Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov; and from the program administrator listed under INQUIRIES. To identify the application as a response to this program announcement, check "YES" on item 2 of page one of the application and enter NCI MINORITIES IN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AWARD (K08). Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed photocopies, in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (express/courier service) At time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be sent to: Ms. Toby Friedberg Division of Extramural Activities National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Suite 636 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Information to be Included in the Application: Candidates must provide a description of the proposed research and clinical career training development for the period of the award in section 2 of the application under "Research Plan." The candidate must be prepared to commit full-time effort to the objectives of this award. It is required that a minimum of 75 percent effort be devoted to the research program, and that the remaining 25 percent effort be devoted to clinical training in medical oncology. The percent effort devoted to research can be uniformly distributed over the four-year award period, or can be concentrated during one year of the four-year award period. The reasons for a commitment to research in medical oncology in underserved minority populations and to research in these populations must be clearly described. The sponsor(s)/advisor(s) for the clinical and research aspect of this award must provide: o Her/his concept of the research and clinical plan for the candidate. o A current curriculum vitae with a complete bibliography and listing of research support. o A letter indicating her/his evaluation of the proposed candidate and her/his willingness to provide guidance and support. Evidence of the commitment of the institution to the candidate's research and clinical training, and career development, must be provided. Finally, adequate access to underserved populations for the purposes of clinical training and research must be demonstrated. The applicant institution must provide a signed statement of the candidate's eligibility for this award in terms of both being a minority underrepresented nationally in clinical oncology and a U.S. citizen. Where appropriate, the candidate must provide a copy of the Alien Registration Receipt card. The candidate also must provide, where applicable, information on other past, current and pending awards, including all federal and non-federal fellowships, grants or contracts. For each grant listed, the candidate must provide the complete grant number, the subject of the research, the title of the candidate's position, and the candidate's percent effort. The candidate should provide a detailed plan for her/his research development program. This plan should not be prepared by the sponsor. The candidate's input should be shown clearly, as this input represents a criterion for evaluating the candidate's research potential. This plan should include the following information: o Aspects of the candidate's educational and training background that qualify her/him for participation in the program described; o Areas in the candidate's educational and training background that can be developed by the proposed program; o Sufficient detail in the description of the proposed research training program to permit adequate evaluation. (If, during the course of the outlined study, the awardee should find that she/he would like to alter the direction or emphasis of the research, such a change may be made with the approval of the sponsor and of the National Cancer Institute); o How these plans are intended to promote the candidate's career in medical oncology; o The strength of the commitment of the candidate to the practice of medical oncology in the U.S. minority population. o Adequate justification of all budget items; o A list of all centers, institutions or laboratories that will participate in the clinical and research development programs. This list should include the names of the sponsors and other investigators who have agreed to participate in the program, and the resources and space available to the candidate. Each sponsor and institution must provide a letter indicating support of this program and a commitment of space and resources. These letters must be submitted as part of the application; o Four copies of each of the candidate's publications. o Letters of recommendation. Three sealed letters of recommendation addressing the candidates potential for a research career must be included as part of the application. BUDGET Salary: The proposed salary should be based upon the candidate's training, experience and accomplishments, but should not exceed $50,000 per year (excluding fringe benefits). The salary must be consistent with the established salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other staff members of equivalent qualifications, rank and responsibilities. Allowable Costs: Supplies, Travel, Equipment, Fringe Benefits, and Other Expenses. The award will provide up to a total of $15,000 per year for the costs necessary for the pursuit of the objectives of this program. The award may not be used to support the Principal Investigator's private clinical practice, professional consultation, or other comparable activities. Any fees for providing medical services generated by the Principal Investigator must be handled as specified by PHS policy. A Principal Investigator may, however, engage in scholarly writing, deliver occasional outside lectures and serve in an advisory capacity to the public or to non-profit organizations, provided such activities are incidental in the amount of time involved and are consistent with institutional policy. Awards will not be made to individuals who have substantial administrative responsibilities. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG and responsiveness by the NCI program staff. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive to the PA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate NCI peer review group with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and may undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National Cancer Advisory Board. Review Criteria o the candidate's potential for a career in medical oncology. o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research. o the overall merit of the candidate's plan for research and the development of research skills appropriate to the practice of medical oncology. o the candidate's commitment to the servicing of the U.S. medically underserved populations. o the quality of the candidate's clinical training and experience. o objectives, design, and direction of the research training programs. o caliber of research advisors including successful competition for research support. o training environment, including the institutional commitment, the quality of the facilities, and the availability of research and clinical support. o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research. The initial review group will also examine the adherence to special requirements, and the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects, the safety of the research environment, and conformance with the NIH Guidelines for the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of funds, and program priority. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Sanya A. Springfield, Ph.D. Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 620 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Telephone: (301) 496-7344 FAX: (301) 402-4551 Email: springfs@dea.nci.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Joan Metcalfe Grants Administration Branch National Cancer Institute 6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 243 Bethesda, MD 20892-7150 Rockville, MD 20852 (express/courier service) Telephone: (301) 496-7800 ext 228 FAX: (301) 496-8601 Email: metcalfj@gab.nci.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.398. 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 PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52, 45 CFR 92, and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive order 12372 or Health Systems Agency Review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PA-97-030 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:06:28 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 347 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo5k$k79@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net OPPORTUNITIES FOR AIDS-RELATED RESEARCH AT RPRCs NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-030 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715008, 1002002 National Center for Research Resources Application Receipt Dates: May 1; September 1; January 2 PURPOSE It is recognized that nonhuman primate research resources may not be readily available to all investigators who wish to use them in AIDS-related research. The purpose of this Program Announcement (PA) is to offer a mechanism through which these resources can be made more readily accessible to AIDS researchers. The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) thereby invites investigator-initiated research grant (R01) and First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) applications for AIDS-related research which utilizes nonhuman primates and other research resources at the seven Regional Primate Research Centers (RPRCs). The overall objectives of this initiative are 1) to promote cutting edge scientific research to identify basic pathogenic mechanisms of HIV/SIV infections and therapy which are oriented toward the prevention and treatment of AIDS and related diseases; 2) to enhance utilization of nonhuman primates and other resources within the RPRCs; and 3) to promote coordinated research efforts with Center staff scientists at the seven RPRCs. 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 PA, Opportunities for AIDS-Related Research at RPRCs, is related to the priority areas of human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS and cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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 Applications may be submitted by foreign and domestic, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local governments and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators. Foreign institutions are not eligible for First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29). The proposed research must be conducted at one of the seven Regional Primate Research Centers (RPRCs), in collaboration with one or more RPRC staff scientists. To be eligible, the Principal Investigator must not currently be a center/core staff member receiving support (salary and/or other research support) from the NCRR-supported RPRC grant and may not be located at an RPRC. If the Principal Investigator's grantee institution is different than the grantee institution of the RPRC, a consortium or contractual agreement must be established with the RPRC. A consortium or contractual agreement is an agreement whereby a research project is carried out by the grantee and one or more other organizations that are separate legal entities; i.e. an agreement between two institutions. (See page 24 in the instruction booklet for "Application for a Public Health Service Grant, Form 398") MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Research support may be obtained through applications for an investigator-initiated research project grant (R01) or a FIRST (R29) Award. Applicants may request support for up to five years. FIRST Award applications must request five years of support. Total direct costs for the FIRST Award five-year period may not exceed $350,000, or $100,000 in any one budget period. FIRST awards are not renewable, but grantees may apply for R01 support to continue research on the same topics. FUNDS AVAILABLE Although NCRR desires to stimulate research in this area, the specific amount of funding available for this research area will depend on the level of annual appropriated funds, quality of research applications and program priorities at the time of the award. It is estimated that approximately $2.5 million will be available annually for this activity. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Nonhuman primate species have played a key role in advancing our knowledge base in understanding HIV and it is important that research efforts utilizing the nonhuman primate models be expanded. Although much progress has been made in the development of nonhuman primate animal model systems for AIDS-related research during the past 10 years, a cure for this disease and effective preventive measures are still in the future. It is clear that further studies are needed to identify the basic mechanisms of the disease process in order to develop methods for its prevention and/or control. The major objective of this announcement is to encourage the establishment of well integrated and coordinated research programs by active AIDS investigators who will effectively utilize nonhuman primate resources at the RPRCs through the investigator-initiated research project grant (R01) and FIRST Award (R29) mechanisms in collaboration with an RPRC-based investigator. This will be accomplished by: 1) Encouraging mechanistic studies on HIV/SIV to improve our understanding of its basic etiology and pathogenesis and, at the same time, to develop effective therapy to control and/or prevent the disease; 2) Providing support for maintenance and further development of nonhuman primate models at the relevant RPRCs. 3) Providing support for scientists (currently not receiving support from a RPRC) to utilize RPRC facilities, animals and the primate expertise of staff at the RPRCs to expand their AIDS-related research. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 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 14508-14513) and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted at the standard AIDS-related grant application deadlines indicated on page 21 of the application kit. Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301-435-0714, email: asknih@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The title and number of this program announcement must be typed in Section 2 on the face page of the application. Prior to application submission, an applicant must confirm the availability of resources at one of the RPRCs, and the application must contain a letter from the relevant RPRC director confirming the availability of the center resources. The research application must also propose a collaborative research arrangement with at least one RPRC-based investigator. In addition to a description of the proposed relationship with the RPRC, the application must also include appropriate budget expenses for utilization of the RPRC, including animal per diem costs. Detailed procedures for accessing a RPRC are published in the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts, Volume 25, January 1997. A RPRC Director (see list below) may be contacted directly or contact the NCRR program individual listed below regarding accessing RPRCs. The applicant must also acquire protocol approval from the RPRC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Applications for the FIRST award (R29) must include at least three sealed letters of reference attached to the face page of the original application. FIRST award (R29) applications submitted without the required number of reference letters will be considered incomplete and will be returned without review. The completed original application and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by DRG. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council. Review Criteria Criteria for scientific/technical merit review of applications for regular research grants (R01) are as follows: o scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of proposed research; o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; o qualifications and research experience of the Principal Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research; o availability of the resources necessary to perform the research; o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research; o adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. The initial review group will also examine the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects and the safety of the research environment. The review criteria for FIRST Awards (R29) are contained in the program announcements for that mechanism. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of funds, and program priority. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquires regarding programmatic issues to: Jerry A. Robinson, Ph.D. Comparative Medicine National Center for Research Resources 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6030 - MSC 7965 Bethesda, MD 20892-7965 Telephone: (301) 435-0744 FAX: (301) 480-3819 Email: jerryR@ep.ncrr.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Mr. Paul W. Karadbil Office of Grants and Contracts Management National Center for Research Resources 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6086 - MSC 7965 Bethesda, MD 20892-7965 Telephone: (301) 435-0844 FAX: (301) 480-3777 Email: paulk@ep.ncrr.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding a respective Regional Primate Research Center to: Andrew G. Hendrickx, Ph.D., Director California Regional Primate Research Center University of California, Davis Davis, CA 95616 Telephone: (916) 752-0420 FAX: (916)752-8201 URL: http://www.primate.ucdavis.edu/crprc/homepage.html Ronald D. Hunt, D.V.M., Director New England Regional Primate Research Center One Pine Hill Drive Southborough, MA 01772 Telephone: (508) 624-8002 FAX: (508)460-0612 M. Susan Smith, Ph.D., Director Oregon Regional Primate Research Center 505 N.W. 185th Avenue Beaverton, OR 97006 Telephone: (503) 645-1141 FAX: (503) 690-5532 URL: http://www.teleport.com/~orprc Peter J. Gerone, Sc.D., Director Tulane Regional Primate Research Center 18703 Three Rivers Road Covington, LA 70433 Telephone: (504) 892-2040 FAX: (504) 893-1352 URL: http://www.tpc.tulane.edu William R. Morton, V.M.D., Director Washington Regional Primate Research Center P.O. Box 357330 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7330 Telephone: (206) 543-0440 FAX: (206) 685-0305 Joseph W. Kemnitz, Ph.D., Interim Director Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center University of Wisconsin - Madison 1220 Capitol Court Madison, WI 53715-1299 Telephone: (608) 263-3500 FAX: (608) 263-4031 URL: http://www.primate.wisc.edu Thomas R. Insel, M.D., Director Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center Emory University 954 Gatewood Road, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30329 Telephone: (404) 727-7707 & 727-7721 FAX: (404) 727-0623 URL: http://www.cc.emory.edu/YERKES AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.306. Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title III, Part A, and Title IV of the Public Health Service Act and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routing 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PA-97-029 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:06:07 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 291 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo4v$k4l@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net IMMUNOLOGIC INTERVENTION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-029 P.T. 34; K.W. 0715125, 0745045 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases PURPOSE The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), invites applications for innovative preclinical and clinical research, in relevant animal models and human subjects, to identify and accelerate development of novel, immunologically-based, therapeutic interventions for infectious diseases, such as interventions based on targeted disruption of the contribution of cytokines to pathology in such diseases. Multidisciplinary research and a focus on studies in human populations are particularly encouraged. Since other NIAID initiatives have recently been available to support research on other high priority areas such as HIV, opportunistic infections in AIDS patients, Lyme disease, and tuberculosis, projects on these topics will not be considered responsive to this PA. 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 PA, "IMMUNOLOGIC INTERVENTION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES," is related to the priority area of immunization and infectious diseases. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-0325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Foreign institutions are not eligible for First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) awards. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Traditional research project grant (R01), FIRST award (R29), and Interactive Research Project Grant (IRPG) applications may be submitted in response to this program announcement. Applications for R01 grants may request up to five years of support; applications for R29 grants must request five years of support. The Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program (STTR) also solicit applications in this research area. SBIR and STTR solicitation packages may be requested from MTL, Inc., 13687 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, MD 20707-5096, telephone (301) 206-9385, FAX (301) 206-9722, Email: a2y@cu.nih.gov. If an IRPG is proposed, it must consist of a minimum of two independent applications (see PA-96-001, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 24, No. 35, October 6, 1995). An IRPG may consist of a combination of R01s and R29s or R01s only, but may not consist solely of R29 applications. An IRPG may also contain shared interactive resources (Cores), which must serve at least two of the research projects in order to facilitate achievement of the Group's common research goals. Collaborative arrangements involving more than one institution are especially encouraged, including participation of the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry where appropriate. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed research for all applicable mechanisms of support will be solely that of the applicant. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate, through the use of consortium arrangements or subcontracts, integrated approaches with individuals or institutions having relevant reagents and expertise in their use, demonstrated ability in a particular area of relevant research, or access to relevant patient populations so as to accelerate technical progress and clinical development of promising therapies. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background In a wide variety of infectious diseases inappropriate or excessive immune responses result in pathology rather than protection. For example, whether a deleterious or protective immune response is elicited may depend on which T lymphocyte subsets (i.e., Th1 or Th2) dominate the response to infection and elaborate characteristic cytokines. In the first four years of this initiative, during which it was restricted to research on protozoan and helminth diseases, investigators examined the role of cytokine-mediated pathology in leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, onchocerciasis, and malaria. Much of the importance of Interleukin-12 in inducing Th1 lymphocyte responses in parasitic diseases was developed in the models under investigation as a result of this initiative, and has contributed to current efforts to use Interleukin-12 either as an adjuvant or as therapy for a variety of infectious diseases, including viral, bacterial and fungal infections. These and similar observations on a variety of immunopathologic consequences of diverse infections indicate the need for a systematic and focused analysis of the relationship between cytokine effects and infectious disease, with the aim of developing new therapeutic strategies for intervention. Research Objectives and Scope The purpose of this Program Announcement is to stimulate innovative research to investigate novel therapeutic interventions based on targeted disruption of cytokine-induced pathology in infectious diseases, and to initiate or accelerate development of such therapies for clinical use. The specific goals of these studies may include, but are not limited to: (1) identification and definition at the molecular level of the immunopathogenic role played by individual cytokines in infectious diseases of humans; (2) production, characterization and/or improvement of specific inhibitors (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, counterregulatory cytokines, synthetic cytokine antagonists, or pharmacologic agents) of those cytokines found to have deleterious roles; and (3) testing the efficacy and safety of such inhibitors in ameliorating disease. While limited testing in animal models is permitted, studies involving human subjects (e.g., limited phase I/II trials in clinical settings) are particularly encouraged. It is likely that some potentially relevant inhibitors are already in existence or under development for other purposes in either private industry or public institutions. As noted above, in such cases collaborative research arrangements, including the use of consortia or subcontracts, are encouraged. 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 have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513), and reprinted in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS of March 18, 1994, Volume 23, Number 11. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the program staff listed under INQUIRIES early in project development with any questions regarding the proposed project(s). Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted on the standard application deadlines as indicated on the application kit and at the beginning of this PA. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.nih.gov. For purposes of identification and processing, the number and title of this program announcement must be typed in item 2 and the "YES" box must be marked. The completed, signed original and five legible, single-sided copies of the application must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817-7710 (for express/courier service) Applications for the FIRST Award (R29) must include at least three sealed letters of reference attached to the face page of the original application. FIRST Award (R29) applications submitted without the required number of reference letters will be considered incomplete and will be returned without review. Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources may wish to identify the Center as a resource for conducting the proposed research. If so, a letter of agreement from the GCRC Program Director must be included in the application material. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Review Procedures Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by study sections of the Division of Research Grants (DRG) in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council. Review Criteria o scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of the proposed research; o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; o qualifications and research experience of the Principal Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research; o availability of the resources necessary to perform the research; o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research; o adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. The initial review group will also examine the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects and the safety of the research environment. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other favorably recommended applications. The following will be considered when making funding decisions: quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, program balance among research areas of the program announcement, and availability of funds. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: B. Fenton Hall, M.D., Ph.D. Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 3A09 - MSC 7630 Bethesda, MD 20892-7630 Telephone: (301) 496-2544 FAX: (301) 402-0659 Email: bh24q@nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Todd C. Ball Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B35 - MSC 7610 Bethesda, MD 20892-7610 Telephone: (301) 402-5512 FAX: (301) 480-3780 Email: TB22J@NIH.GOV AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Nos. 93.855 and 93.856. This program is supported under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Sec. 301(c), Public Law 78-410, as amended. Awards will be administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PA-97-028 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:05:49 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 272 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo4d$k14@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net INDIVIDUAL POSTDOCTORAL AND SENIOR FELLOWSHIPS IN GENOMIC ANALYSIS AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE ETHICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF HUMAN GENETICS RESEARCH NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-028 P.T. 22; K.W. 1215018, 1002019, 1014004 National Center for Human Genome Research Application Receipt Dates: April 5, August 5, December 5 PURPOSE This is a reissue of a Program Announcement that appeared in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. Vol 20, No. 46, December 12, 1991. Scientists and scholars who are well-trained in one or more of a variety of disciplines will be needed to accomplish the goals of the National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) research program and to use, for further research, the resources that the program will develop. Therefore, the NCHGR is offering both individual postdoctoral fellowships and senior fellowships to highly qualified individuals who are seeking training that will enable them to engage in research relevant to the genome project. Broad areas of research that are relevant include genomic analysis (including technology development) and the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genetics research. The NCHGR is interested in supporting fellowship training in both broad areas. 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 program announcement is related to several priority areas affecting human health, including cancer, heart disease and stroke, diabetes and chronic disability conditions, maternal and infant health, and others. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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 Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United Stated are eligible for NRSA support. Before an NRSA award can be activated, the individual must have received a doctoral degree to be eligible for an individual postdoctoral fellowship (F32). To be eligible for a senior fellowship (F33), individuals must have received, as of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, a doctoral degree and must have had at least seven subsequent years of relevant research or professional experience. Individuals who have had a hiatus in their research career may also apply for an NRSA fellowship to develop skills or to update their knowledge in a particular area. Applications from women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Support for F32 and F33 fellowships will be provided through the National Research Service Award (NRSA). The stipend levels for the individual postdoctoral fellowships range from $20,292 to $32,300 depending on the number of years of relevant experience subsequent to the award of the doctoral degree. The stipend level for senior fellowships is $32,300 per annum. Beginning with competing postdoctoral fellowships awarded in fiscal year 1997, the NIH will provide an institutional allowance of $4,000 per 12-month period to non-federal, non-profit sponsoring institutions to help defray such awardee expenses as self-only health insurance, research supplies, equipment, and travel to scientific meetings. The NIH will provide up to $3,000 for fellows sponsored by Federal laboratories or for-profit institutions for expenses associated with self-only health insurance, travel to scientific meetings, and books. The NIH also will provide additional funds to offset the combined cost of tuition and fees for specific courses, which support the research training experience, at the following rate: 100 percent of all costs up to $2,000 and 60 percent of costs above $2,000. Individuals may receive up to three years of aggregate NRSA support at the postdoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards. Exceptions to the three-year limit require a waiver from the awarding unit. Individuals interested in a waiver should consult with staff of the awarding unit. Recipients of National Research Service Awards are subject to payback provisions. Details about this requirement and the policies governing this program can be found in the National Research Service Awards Guidelines (see NIH Home Page; URL is: http://www.nih.gov/grants/oep/f32.htm). Single copies are also available from this office. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The mission of the National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) is to characterize the human genome and the genomes of selected model organisms. The NCHGR's research program began in 1990 with an initial set of goals which were updated in 1993. The most recent goals are discussed in FS Collins and D Galas, "A New Five-Year Plan for the U.S. Human Genome Project", Science, 1993; 262:43-46. Significant progress has been made in the past six years, with some goals, (e.g., the genetic linkage maps of the human and mouse, the initial goals of the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications Program), having been achieved on or ahead of schedule Other goals,(e.g., physical maps of the human and mouse, complete DNA sequence of the genomes of several important non-human organisms), are expected to be met in the next one to two years, while the final goal initially set out for the Human Genome Project, the complete sequence of human DNA, is expected to be achieved by the year 2005, as originally set forth. Additional information about the National Center for Human Genome Research and its research interests can be found on the NCHGR Home Page; the URL is: http://www.nchgr.nih.gov. The goal of the Fellowship Program in the area of genomic analysis and technology is to train highly skilled scientists who will use the expertise gained to develop research programs in the mapping and sequencing of the human genome and the genomes of other organisms, in the analysis and interpretation of the resulting data, and in the development of biological, medical or biotechnological applications based on the data, or in technologies to support any of this research. The goal of the Fellowship Program in the area of ethical, legal and social implications of human genetics research is to increase the number of scholars who are knowledgeable in both genomic science and in social science, law, or philosophy and who are interested in examining the ethical, legal and social implications of human genetics research. The NCHGR will support fellowship training for: o molecular biologists and geneticists who wish to receive additional training in genomic analysis or other technical areas relevant to genome research; o non-biologists, such as those with degrees in the mathematical, physical, chemical, engineering, and/or computer sciences, who wish to obtain training in molecular biology or genetics in order to pursue interdisciplinary approaches to genome studies; o scientists with training in biology, mathematics, computer science or other relevant areas who wish to obtain training (or additional training) in bioinformatics or computational biology; o scientists and health professionals who wish to obtain training that will allow them to address the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of human genetics research; and o scholars trained in the humanities who wish to receive training in genomic or genetic research in order to pursue studies in the ELSI area. The F32 mechanism is used to support research training for individuals who wish to receive in-depth training in genomic research. Moreover, an individual who has already completed one postdoctoral fellowship in another scientific discipline may be eligible for a postdoctoral fellowship in genomic research, if the additional training can be justified in terms of the individual's future commitment to pursuing a career in genomic research. Similarly, an individual who has already completed one postdoctoral fellowship in a humanities discipline may be eligible for a postdoctoral fellowship in ELSI research, if the additional training can be justified in terms of the individual's future commitment to pursuing a career in the ELSI aspects of human genetics. The F33 mechanism is designed to provide research training for scientists or scholars who are at least seven years beyond their doctoral degree and who wish to update their skills or pursue new areas of research. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 416-1 (rev. 8/95). Three letters of recommendation must accompany the application. Application kits are available from 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 20892-7710, telephone (301) 435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. All individual fellowship applications are on an expedited review schedule. Receipt dates for applications are April 5, August 5, and December 5 annually. The original and two copies of the application must be submitted to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC-7710 Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) The earliest dates that awards can be made are September, January, and May, respectively. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be reviewed in accordance with the usual NIH peer review procedures. The following factors are considered in the review of fellowship applications: (1) the candidate's potential for a research career; (2) the scientific or scholarly merit and training potential of the research proposal; (3) the training environment and resources; and (4) the protections accorded human subjects and vertebrate animals. The second level or review is performed by the appropriate oversight group of the NIH awarding component. AWARD CRITERIA The following criteria will be used in making awards: the quality of the training experience, the relevance of the training to the awarding units goals; and the availability of funds. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this program announcement are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues and questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to the following staff: Individual and Senior Fellowships in Genomic Analysis and Technology: Bettie J. Graham, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Research National Center for Human Genome Research Building 38A, Room 614 Bethesda, MD 20892-6050 Telephone: (301) 496-7531 Email: Bettie_Graham@nih.gov Individual and Senior Fellowships in ELSI topics: Eric M. Meslin, Ph.D., Director Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications Research Program National Center for Human Genome Research Building 38A, Room 617 Bethesda, MD 20892-6050 Telephone: (301) 402-4997 Email: Eric_Meslin@nih.gov For information about PHS Grant Policy, applicants may contact: Ms. Jean Cahill Grants and Contracts Management Branch National Center for Human Genome Research Building 38A, Room 613 Bethesda, MD 20892-6050 Telephone: (301) 402-0733 Email: Jean_Cahill@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.172. Awards will be made under the authority of Public 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 grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CRF 52 and 45 CRF Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PAR-97-027 - V26(03) 01/31/97 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:05:04 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 722 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo30$jo7@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net CENTERS FOR AIDS RESEARCH NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 3, January 31, 1997 PA NUMBER: PAR-97-027 P.T. 04; K.W. 0715007, 0404000, 0785035 National Cancer Institute National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute of Mental Health Application Receipt Date: June 18 PURPOSE Participating Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invite applications for center core grants (P30) to support Centers for AIDS Research (CFARs). CFAR cores provide infrastructure and promote basic, clinical, behavioral and translational AIDS research activities at institutions that receive significant AIDS funding from multiple NIH Institutes or Centers. CFARs foster synergy and improve coordination of research, support emerging research opportunities, and promote economy of scale through resources shared by multiple independent laboratories. CFARs also encourage other activities that serve the requirements of AIDS research. CFARs are not intended to be "Centers of Excellence" in specific areas of AIDS research, but instead are intended to promote all AIDS research efforts at CFAR institutions. Before preparing an application to support a CFAR, investigators are encouraged to consult with the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Definitions Throughout this program announcement (PA) P30 applications to support CFARs are abbreviated as "CFAR applications" and the corresponding P30 awards to support CFARs are abbreviated as "CFAR awards." NIH CFAR awards support administrative, developmental, basic science and clinical science cores for AIDS research. AIDS research and AIDS-related research are abbreviated as "AIDS research." 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 PA, Centers for AIDS Research, is related to the priority area of HIV infection. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (tel 202-512-1800)." ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State or Local Government, and eligible agencies of the Federal Government. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, but CFAR cores may be located at foreign sites. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. o One CFAR award per Institution. No institution will receive more than one CFAR award. Institutions that have significant overlap in faculty, resources or administration should submit only one application. Independent campuses that are part of a large multiple city university are considered to be separate institutions. o Multi-Institutional CFARs. Two or more institutions that can demonstrate a credible plan for collaborative research networks using CFAR cores may submit an application for a single CFAR award involving multiple institutions. In particular, investigators at nearby institutions may prepare a more competitive application as a multi-institutional CFAR. A multi-institutional CFAR application must designate a prime institution that will receive the award and provide details of agreements regarding coordination and support of cores and activities at other participating institutions. With appropriate justification, CFAR awards may support a core at a distant site, including a foreign site, that provides a unique resource such as a primate facility or a high resolution NMR facility. To achieve administrative efficiency and foster a sense of community and collaboration, it is expected that each unique resource would serve as a core for only a single CFAR, and that all cores within any single institution would be part of the same CFAR award. o NIH AIDS Funded Research Base. The purpose of CFARs is to support the AIDS research activities of investigators at applicant institution(s) that have significant NIH funding for AIDS research (NIH AIDS funded research base). The NIH AIDS funded research base is measured by the total cost of research awards and the number of these awards to investigators participating in the CFAR. The research base includes peer-reviewed AIDS grants, cooperative agreements, and research contracts utilizing only the following mechanisms: P01, R01, R03, R21, R29, R35, R37, U01, U10, U19, and K series awards, R18, and N01 (excluding contracts that primarily fund the production of materials or services for support of research). Excluded from the NIH AIDS funded research base are all funds from any source other than NIH. Multi-institutional CFAR applications may combine the NIH AIDS funded research of the investigators participating in the proposed CFAR to meet the funding policies of participating Institutes described below. o Funding Policies of Participating Institutes. CFAR awards are intended to support AIDS research activities for applicants who receive significant NIH AIDS funds. Significant NIH AIDS funds are defined as an NIH AIDS Funded Research Base in excess of $6 million in annual total cost for the NIH fiscal year (October 1 to September 30) preceding receipt of CFAR applications. A CFAR award may include funds from multiple NIH Institutes. Usually, an Institute will contribute to a CFAR award only when that Institute has provided active AIDS awards totaling more than $1 million in annual cost to three or more principle investigators who agree to participate in the CFAR. Generally, the maximum amount of funds from each Institute will be 10 percent of the amount received by the applicant from that Institute for AIDS research as reported by the Office of AIDS Research for the NIH fiscal year preceding receipt of CFAR applications. The actual amount of funds will be influenced by the potential synergy and collaboration with Institute-supported investigators demonstrated by the CFAR application and the percent of Institute-supported AIDS investigators who agree to participate in the CFAR. A CFAR award (total cost) will be limited to 10 percent of the amount of funds received by the applicant for AIDS funding as reported by the Office of AIDS Research for the NIH fiscal year preceding receipt of the application. Also, no CFAR award will exceed $1.5 million annually and no participating NIH Institute will provide more than $1.2 million for any one award o Applications over $500,000. NIH Institutes participating in this CFAR program announcement have agreed to co-fund successful applicants through a review and award process administered by the NIAID. Applicants planning to submit a CFAR application requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year are advised that they must contact program staff listed under INQUIRIES as they begin to develop plans. Applicants should contact Dr. Janet Young at the address listed under INQUIRIES for guidance. Applications received without prior staff contact may be delayed in the review process or returned to the applicant without review (NIH GUIDE, Vol. 22, No. 45, December 17, 1993). MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The mechanism of support will be the Center Core Grant (P30). Responsibility for the planning, direction and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The total requested project period may not exceed five years and applicants are encouraged to apply for five years. However, applicants are notified that grants may be awarded for three, four, or five years. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background The NIAID CFAR program originated in 1988 and was renewed in 1993. The mission of the CFAR program and mechanisms for achieving this mission were developed by the CFAR directors in 1995 and revised in 1996. The mission of the CFARs is to support a multi-disciplinary environment that promotes basic, clinical, behavioral, and translational research in the prevention, detection, and treatment of HIV infection and AIDS. The CFARs accomplish this mission by: - Providing scientific leadership dedicated to AIDS research. - Providing institutional infrastructure dedicated to AIDS research. - Stimulating scientific collaboration and translational research. - Fostering scientific communication. - Sponsoring training and education. - Promoting knowledge of CFAR research findings and the importance of AIDS research through community outreach. - Facilitating development of AIDS therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics through promotion of scientific interactions between CFARs and industry. CFARs should promote and encourage activities that enhance collaboration and coordination of AIDS research and serve the requirements of all AIDS investigators at the applicant institutions regardless of funding source. CFAR awards support four different types of cores: administrative, developmental, basic science, and clinical studies. Each CFAR should have a single administrative and a single developmental core, and a number of basic and clinical science cores selected to support optimally the AIDS research at the applicant institution(s). The smallest CFAR would consist of one of each type of core. The definition of what constitutes a basic or clinical core should be considered sufficiently broad to meet the needs of the applicant institution(s) and may vary among CFAR applicants. For example, epidemiology, biostatistics, and behavioral cores could be classified as either basic or clinical cores. The successful management of AIDS resources with minimal CFAR funding is an important measure of a CFAR's value to AIDS investigators. Basic and clinical cores may be supported totally by CFAR funds, only in part by CFAR funds, or not at all by CFAR funds. Applicants are encouraged to develop creative collaborations to improve utilization of existing resources. Convincing justification will be necessary for duplication of any basic or clinical core that exists in a similar form elsewhere in the applicant institution(s). Applicants should describe how cores with partial or no CFAR funding will be used to enhance the research of CFAR investigators. For example, a CFAR core supported by other funding (e.g., an NIAID AIDS Clinical Trial Unit or a NCI core facility) may become more accessible to AIDS investigators through CFAR association and coordination. A CFAR has considerable flexibility within its budget to alter funding of a basic or clinical core, to delete a core, or to initiate a new core. Policies should be described for changes in CFAR funding levels of initially proposed cores and for the establishment of new cores as needed to meet research needs without additional funding. Applicants should describe how the proposed policies protect and incorporate the divergent needs of CFAR investigators. An applicant's initial choice of basic and clinical cores is an important measure of management process. Applicants should describe the basic and clinical cores to be supported at the time that the CFAR is awarded, how this choice of cores was selected, other potential cores that were evaluated but not selected, mechanisms for evaluating utilization of proposed cores, and criteria for increased or decreased funding of these cores during the course of award. Cores should be responsive to the needs of AIDS investigators at applicant institution(s). Applicants should describe in detail the operation of the each core (quality control, procedures, safety, training, etc.). Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff listed under "Inquiries" to discuss the choice of cores that they are planning. A CFAR has the responsibility to use its resources in the best manner to meet the needs of its investigators and the authority to alter allocation of resources within the guidelines of the CFARs operating policies and procedures. Applicants should describe how proposed policies and procedures provide oversight for different types or levels of decisions and how each of the following individuals or groups would participate in the decision process: a core director, the CFAR director, an internal advisory board, CFAR investigators, an external advisory board, NIH program staff. Additional CFAR supported activities are encouraged. Examples include industry collaborations, development of minority scientists in AIDS research, AIDS research communications to non-scientists, addressing problems in enrollment and retention of women and minority groups in AIDS clinical trials, international collaborations, and other activities that meet the AIDS research needs of applicant institutions. Applicants may wish to contact program staff to discuss the types of cores and additional activities that they are considering. Commitments for continued funding in the non-competitive continuation years of all NIH grants are dependent upon the availability of funds. CFAR awards that receive co-funding from multiple Institutes may encounter decreased funding if any of these Institutes decreases their funding commitment. Therefore, applicants should describe policies and processes for CFAR "down-sizing" decisions should decreased funding be necessary in continuation years. o Administrative core. The administrative core is led by a CFAR director (P30 grant's principal investigator) who should be a recognized leader in the field of AIDS research. The administrative core also may require a senior administrator, a CFAR office that is a clearly separate entity, and a modest staff for support of CFAR activities. The responsibilities and time allocation of each staff person and the proposed operation procedures for the administrative core should be described in detail. The administrative core is responsible for the management of all CFAR activities. The administrative core section of the CFAR application should present a management plan and strategic plan for the first year of operation. Applicants should describe how the CFAR director will involve other CFAR members in the decision making process for CFAR activities. These include formation and utilization of internal and external advisory committees; development of an annual CFAR strategic plan that includes objective milestones and addresses the missions of the co-funding Institutes; efficient allocation and utilization of basic science and clinical core funds; decisions on establishment of new cores and, if necessary, decreased CFAR funding of existing cores; management of developmental funds and decision policies to meet unforeseen emerging research opportunities; and development of CFAR-sponsored conferences, seminars and workshops related to the CFAR mission. The ability to manage the CFAR award will be judged by the clarity and thoughtfulness of the administrative core section of the proposal, and evidence for development of a management plan through acquisition of information, support, and participation of the AIDS investigators at the applicant institution(s). o Developmental Core. The intent of a CFAR developmental core is to support scientific studies for short periods of time to develop preliminary data for peer-reviewed research applications. Three general areas are eligible for support as developmental awards: investigators new to AIDS research who have not previously received R01-type awards in AIDS research, feasibility studies, and emerging research opportunities. Applicants may wish to consult with the program staff listed under "Inquiries" to discuss how developmental cores are used at current CFARs. The CFAR administrative core should establish the mechanisms for allocation of developmental funds and for annual evaluation of supported activities. CFAR applicants should describe the mechanism to be used for identification, peer-reviewed selection and outcome evaluation of projects supported by the developmental core. Applicants who have current CFARs should describe outcome evaluation of previously funded developmental projects. The developmental core section should contain a plan for the use of the first year developmental funds. o Basic Science Cores. Basic science cores support shared research activities that cannot easily be funded through standard research granting mechanisms. Basic science cores should provide economy of scale through use by multiple laboratories and foster collaboration between basic and clinical investigators. Basic science cores should not substitute for resources that are obtainable commercially or replace existing resources normally supported by individual research grants. CFAR applications should describe the mechanisms used to determine AIDS research basic core needs at the applicant institution(s), assign priorities to potential cores, and select the basic cores that are included in the application. CFAR applications should describe the basic science cores to be supported at the time of the award and any changes anticipated during the course of the award. A basic science core should be designed to support multiple AIDS investigators and applicants should indicate the anticipated users and the percent time of use by each. Mechanisms should be described to select users, evaluate annual use, and justify level of continued CFAR support in comparison with other AIDS research needs at the applicant institution(s). o Clinical Cores. Clinical cores should provide the resources for AIDS translational research collaboration between clinical and basic scientists. Activities that will not be supported by a CFAR clinical core are normal patient care including screening of clinical specimens, diagnosis, treatment or rehabilitation. CFAR applications should describe the mechanisms used to determine AIDS research clinical core needs at the applicant institution(s), to assign priorities to potential cores, and to select the clinical cores that are included in the application. Mechanisms should be described to select users, to evaluate annual use, and to justify level of continued CFAR support in comparison with other AIDS research needs at the applicant institution(s). o Institutional Commitment. Institutional commitment is particularly important for the coordination of resources across the broad areas and potential boundaries of research supported by the co-funding Institutes. The following are some potential indicators of institutional commitment to the CFAR: - The position and authority of the CFAR director in the applicant institution(s) organizational structure: the administrative level in the institution to whom the CFAR director reports, and the authority or influence that the CFAR director has with other AIDS projects and academic departments at the applicant institution(s). - The amount and location of CFAR-specific space allocated to and controlled by the CFAR director. - The CFAR director's authority in decisions on new faculty or support personnel. - The applicant institution(s) financial and other resource support for the CFAR. CFAR BUDGET ITEMS o Percent Effort. The percent effort requested should be limited to time devoted specifically to managing CFAR activities and not to research activities. The effort devoted to CFAR activities should not be that which would normally be supported by research grants. Information documenting the level of effort on CFAR activities must be included in the application. The need for all requested personnel costs should be thoroughly justified. The percent effort of the CFAR director should be justified with the director's other responsibilities. Administrative support (secretary or an administrative assistant) should be requested for the CFAR office only for matters directly pertaining to the CFAR. Core directors are CFAR members who are responsible for the overall technical excellence of a core facility. The CFAR supported percent effort of core directors involved in research activities should only include core management time. The CFAR may support technical staff to provide CFAR services in core facilities. Developmental core funds should only be used for salaries for junior faculty. Established investigators with R01-type grants are expected to have salary support from other sources. o Core Budgets. Core budgets may include equipment, supplies, support contracts and other necessary expenses. All items should be fully justified for allocation of CFAR funds. o Other Administrative Costs. This category includes the costs necessary for the central administration and fiscal management of the CFAR, including relevant and reasonable costs for reprints, graphics and publications, for developmental core users. o Travel. CFAR directors' meeting(s). The CFAR directors and one senior scientist per center will meet two times per year, at the NIH, at a CFAR site or at the site of a scientific conference that most of the directors plan to attend. Applicants should include travel funds specifically for these meetings in the CFAR administration core budget request. For budget purposes, applicants may assume a total annual cost for the CFAR directors meeting of $5000. Other Travel Applicants may request and justify travel funds in addition to the funds required for the two directors' meetings. These funds should not be used for travel to scientific meetings. For example, this travel could promote collaboration among CFAR investigators and AIDS investigators not in a CFAR program or at distant cores. These additional travel funds should not exceed $5000. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 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 14508-14513), and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contract, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact program staff early in application development with any questions regarding the responsiveness of their proposal to the goals of this PA. Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted once each year on the receipt date of June 18. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, tel: (301) 435-0714, email: asknih@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. Page limitations. The "Research Plan" section of the application includes the overall description of the CFAR and all cores. The page limitations have been increased from the normal 25 page limit for a "Research Plan." The new page limitation for the "Research Plan" is 50 pages including all tables, graphs, figures, diagrams or charts, but not including the descriptions of the basic and clinical cores. An additional 10 pages is allowed for each basic or clinical core. Applicants are strongly encouraged to be concise. Organization of Application. The CFAR web site includes suggestions on how to organize and present information in the CFAR application on proposed policies and procedures, management plan, strategic plan, and advisory committee(s) authority and responsibility. Applicants are encouraged to follow the application guidelines at the CFAR web site to facilitate review and award. The label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) 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 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The completed signed original application and three single sided copies must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) Two additional single sided copies of the application and all appendices must be sent or delivered to: Dianne Tingley, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard MSC 7610 Bethesda, MD 20892-7610 Telephone: (301) 496-2550 FAX: (301) 402-2638 Email: dt15g@nih.gov REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the NIH Division of Research Grants and for responsiveness to the goals of this PA by NIAID staff. Incomplete or non-responsive applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an Initial Review Group (IRG) of NIAID. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by an appropriate national advisory council(s) or board(s). Review Criteria Review criteria are based on the mission of the CFAR Program and mechanisms for achieving this mission. The initial review group (IRG) will evaluate CFAR applications for impact, approach, and feasibility. In these evaluations, the IRG will also look for evidence of successful performance from applicants that have had CFAR awards or similar programs at their institutions. Impact --The effect that a CFAR award would have on an applicant's AIDS research efforts. 1. The number and percent of all AIDS related research investigators at applicant institution(s) who agree to participate in the CFAR. 2. The degree of variety in AIDS research projects and disciplines that commit to participation in and coordination through the CFAR structure. 3. Institutional commitment, e.g., increased space, institutional financial support and other institutional resources that will be made available to AIDS investigators if the CFAR is funded. 4. The choice of cores to support the research base, foster synergy, coordinate AIDS research collaborations and produce an economy of scale. 5. The incorporation into the CFAR of resources (cores, projects, cohorts, trials, etc.) that are supported in part or not at all by CFAR funds. 6. Targets for scientific communication, outreach, training efforts, and collaborations with industry. 7. Plans for collaboration between investigators with divergent disciplines. Approach -- The quality of the CFAR planning and management process. 1. Annual strategic planning process. 2. Proposed advisory groups and methods for their selection. 3. Policy and procedures to judge value of cores and reassign funding priorities. 4. Policy and procedures of the developmental core. 5. Policy and procedures to judge the success of developmental core support. 6. Policy and procedures to promote translational research collaborations and technology transfer between basic scientists, clinical scientists and industry. 7. Methods for selection of basic and clinical core users and for prioritization of use. 8. Proposed AIDS collaboration efforts at the applicant institution(s). 9. Plans for scientific communication, outreach, training efforts, and collaborations with industry Feasibility -- The likelihood that a CFAR will achieve its objectives. 1. Choice of CFAR director, e.g., managerial experience, commitment, leadership in AIDS research and at the applicant institution. 2. Initial choice and quality of proposed cores to support collaborative studies. 3. Choice of core directors and key personnel, e.g., qualifications, competence and commitment. 4. Authority and responsibility of advisory groups. 5. Strategic plan for first year of CFAR award. 6. Evidence of research collaboration between basic and clinical scientists and indications that a CFAR award will enhance these collaborations. 7. Institutional commitment including space, institutional financial support and other institutional resources and oversight provided for CFAR activities. 8. Previous history of support for developmental projects that have successful outcomes. 9. Appropriateness of budget of the overall CFAR and of the individual cores. In addition, applicants must demonstrate adequate provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects, the safety of the research environment, and conformance with the NIH "Guidelines for the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research." AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review o availability of funds o institute's priority for area of proposed research Conditions of Award The Conditions of Award will incorporate the following items proposed by the applicant with potential modifications based on recommendations of the Initial Review Committee: CFAR Policies and Procedures. CFAR Management Plan. CFAR Strategic Plan. CFAR Advisory Committee(s) authority and responsibility. Any changes in these items from the Notice of Award will require concurrence of NIH. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this program announcement are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Applicants are encouraged to visit the CFAR web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/cfarpa.htm Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Janet M. Young, Ph.D Division of AIDS National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Solar Building, Room 2C36B - MSC 7620 Bethesda, MD 20892-7620 Telephone: (301) 496-6714 FAX: (301) 402-3211 Email: jy6r@nih.gov Margaret Holmes, Ph.D. Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis and Centers National Cancer Institute 6120 Executive Plaza Boulevard, Room 502 Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-8531 FAX: (301) 402-0181 Email: mh67g@nih.gov Elaine Sloand, Ph.D. AIDS Coordinator National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Building 31, Room 5A21 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-3245 FAX: (301) 354-1290 Email: es38n@nih.gov Anne Willoughby, Ph.D. Pediatrics, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS Branch National Institute of Child Health and Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B11H Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-7339 FAX: (301) 496-8678 Email: aw55g@nih.gov Steven W. Gust, Ph.D. Office on AIDS National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10-05 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-6480 FAX: (301) 443-4100 Email: sgust@nih.gov Dianne Rausch, Ph.D. Office on AIDS Research National Institute of Mental Health 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10-75 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-7281 FAX: (301) 443-7274 Email: dr89b@nih.gov Questions on fiscal issues may be directed to: Ms. Pamela Fleming Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Solar Building, Room 4C25 - MSC 7610 Bethesda, MD 20892-7610 Telephone: (301) 402-6580 FAX: (301) 480-3780 Email: pf49e@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, 93.856 - Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research and 93.855 - Immunology, Allergy and Transplantation Research. 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 PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Wed Feb 05 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH Guide, vol. 26, no. 03, pt. 2of2, 31 January 1997 Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:04:24 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 56 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ddo1o$jkv@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net PURPOSE The Fogarty International Center (FIC) is expanding its AIDS International Research and Training Program to provide small individual research grants for collaboration between U.S. and foreign scientists in any country, consistent with U.S. foreign policy considerations. Support is available for research on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and for research related to AIDS. Up to $20,000 per year for a maximum of three years is available for U.S. investigators and their foreign collaborators to conduct research mainly at the foreign site. U.S. investigators holding currently active NIH grants for research related to HIV infections, AIDS and other related health problems are eligible to apply with their foreign collaborator for the AIDS Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award (AIDS-FIRCA). A similar program of Fogarty International Research Collaboration Awards (FIRCA) is available in all non-AIDS biomedical sciences research subjects for collaborative projects involving U.S. scientists and investigators in developing countries: see program announcement number PA-95-011. AIDS-FIRCA grants will provide funds to the foreign collaborator, through the U.S. grantee institution, for supplies at the foreign institution; for expenses incurred at the U.S. institution to support the collaboration; and for research- related travel and subsistence expenses for both the U.S. and foreign investigators. If the foreign collaborator is in a developing country, applicants may also request funds for small pieces of equipment necessary to the AIDS-FIRCA project at the foreign site. For the purpose of this program, developing countries are considered to include those in the following regions: Africa, Asia (except Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East (except Israel and the Persian Gulf states), and the Pacific Ocean Islands (except Australia and New Zealand). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Dr. Jean Flagg-Newton 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: flaggnej@ficod.fic.nih.gov $$P8 END ************************************************************ From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sat Feb 08 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: usamraa@aibs.org (AIBS) Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: Persian Gulf War Illness Research Announcements Date: 9 Feb 1997 14:29:23 -0800 Organization: American Institute of Biological Sciences Lines: 166 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5dlj43$qje@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net The U.S. Army Medical Research and Acquisition Activity at Ft. Detrick, Maryland has recently placed three announcements in Commerce Business Daily (CBD) regarding Persian Gulf War Illness research. The most recent announcement, posted on 31 January 1997, amends two earlier announcements posted on 14 January 1997 and 10 December 1996. The 31 January 1997 CBD announcement modifies the amount of funds available for research as well as the proposal due dates. All three CBD announcements are included. Note that the 31 January 1997 CBD announcement takes precedence over the earlier two announcements. ____________________ COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF JANUARY 31, 1997 PSA#1773 DIRECTOR, USAMRAA, 820 CHANDLER ST, FORT DETRICK MD 21702-5014 PERSIAN GULF WAR ILLNESS RESEARCH SOL CBD700-0000-0001 POC Contracting Officer Craig D. Lebo (301) 619-2036 (Site Code DAMD17) The U.S. Army Medical Research and Acquisition Activity previously announced in the Commerce Business Daily the interest in obtaining proposals for the conduct of research in the area of Persian Gulf War Illnesses (see CBD Issue PSA #1738, dated December 10, 1996 and CBD Issue PSA #1761, dated January 14, 1997). These previous Department of Defense announcements, which solicited research proposals on four topics related to Persian Gulf War Illnesses are modified as indicated below with due dates as follows: (1) Determine the feasibility of epidemiological studies in human subjects, including those thought to be near Kamisiyah, Iraq during the first two weeks of March, 1991 or (2) Conduct animal studies, designed to assess the possible long-term or delayed clinical effects of low level or subclinical exposures to chemical warfare agents. Additional details concerning these two topics are provided in the first announcement (CBD Issue PSA #1738, dated December 10, 1996). There is approximately $2.0M available for this effort and proposals will be considered from federal and nonfederal agencies. Proposals must be received NLT 4:00 p.m. EST, 19 February 1997. (3) Investigation of causal relationships between illnesses and symptoms among Gulf War veterans and possible exposures to hazardous material; chemical warfare agents; stress; potentially hazardous combinations of inoculations (i.e., anthrax and botulinum toxin) and investigational new drugs (i.e., pyridostigmine bromide) during military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. Approximately $9.5M is available only to principal investigators and institutions independent of the Federal Government in accordance with the provisions of the Byrd Amendment. Proposals must be received NLT 4:00 p.m. EST, 11 March 1997. (4) Studies of historical war syndromes, including investigation of factors which create a confluence of cognitive, emotional and physical factors to produce chronic, non-specific symptoms and physiological outcomes (e.g., neurologic, immunologic and endocrine responses). There is approximately $5M available for proposals from federal and nonfederal agencies. Proposals must be received NLT 4:00 p.m. EST, 30 April 1997. Large scale epidemiological studies must include provisions for scientific and public advisory committees as recommended by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses and Persian Gulf Veterans Coordinating Board. Research proposals are customarily in two to four year durations. Proposals should be submitted in accordance with Broad Agency Announcement 95-1 which is available on the internet. The web site is http://www.usamraa.army.mil Send proposals to: Commander, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, ATTN: MCMR-AAA, Fort Detrick, MD NOTE: This CBD announcement can be downloaded at: http://www.ld.com/cbd/archive/1997/01(January)/31-Jan-1997/Asol019.htm ____________________ COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF JANUARY 14,1997 PSA#1761 DIRECTOR, USAMRAA, 820 CHANDLER ST, FORT DETRICK MD 21702-5014 PERSIAN GULF WAR ILLNESS RESEARCH SOL 074&&&-9701-0003 POC Contracting Officer Craig D. Lebo (301) 619-2036 (Site Code DAMD17) The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity previously announced in the Commerce Business the interest in obtaining proposals for the conduct of research in the area of Persian Gulf War Illness. (see CBD Issue PSA #1738, dated December 10, 1996). This previous Department of Defense announcement, which solicited research proposals on Persian Gulf War Illnesses research, is expanded to include two additional topics: (1) causal relationships between illnesses and symptoms among Gulf War veterans ad possible exposures to hazardous material; chemical warfare agents; stress; potentially hazardous combinations of inoculations (ie, anthrax and botulinum toxin) and investigational new drugs (ie, pyridostigmine bromide) during military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, and (2) studies of historical war syndromes, including investigation of factors which create a confluence of cognitive, emotional and physical factors to produce chronic, non-specific symptoms and physiological outcomes (e.g., neurologic, immunologic and endocrine responses). Large scale epidemiological studies must include provisions for scientific and public advisory committees as recommended by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses and Persian Gulf Veterans Coordinating Board. Approximately $9.5 M in additional funding is available only to principal investigators and institutions independent of the Federal Government in accordance with the provisions of the Byrd Amendment. Proposals should be submitted in accordance with broad Agency Announcement 95-1 and received NLT 19 February 1997. NOTE: This CBD announcement can be downloaded at http://www.ld.com/cbd/archive/1997/01(January)/14-Jan-1997/Asol006.htm ___________________ COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF DECEMBER 10,1996 PSA#1738 DIRECTOR, USAMRAA, MCMR-AAA, BLDG 820, FORT DETRICK, FREDERICK MD 21702-5014 PRE-FORMULATION STUDIES AND FORMULATION OF INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG SOL DAMD17-97-R-0001 DUE 123196 POC Contract Specialist Nancy G. Mohler (301) 619-7424 (301) 619-2937 FAX Contracting Officer Patricia M. McAllister (301) 619-7360 (Site Code DAMD17) The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) has as one of its responsibilities the development of new drugs to protect or treat soldiers confronted with threats on the modern battlefield or exposed to endemic diseases during deployment. Preformulation studies and formulation development are needed in the early stage of drug development. During the clinical study phases, production and delivery of clinical batches of formulated products are required. A contractor is needed (1) to determine the essential physical and chemical properties of candidate drugs with the ultimate goal of designing an optimal dosage form or drug delivery system, (2) to design, formulate, test, and produce clinical batches of solid oral, parenteral, or other dosage forms to support phase I, II and III clinical trials. All studies and productions must be in compliance with the current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) Regulations and be performed in an FDA-licensed facility. The contractor should be sufficiently flexible so as to be able to study more than one candidate drug and drug formulations simultaneously. The contractor must also be able to respond rapidly to changing priorities. The Army expects to award a 5 year contract. RFP DAMD17-97-R-0001 to be issued on/or about 06 January 1997. Only written requests will be accepted. Proposals will be due approximately 45 days after issue date. This CBD announcement amends and replaces the original announcement issued 18 November 1996. Contractors who have requested copies of the RFP as a result of the previous announcement need not resubmit their requests. NOTE: This CBD announcement can be downloaded at http://www.ld.com/cbd/archive/1996/12(December)/10-Dec-1996/Asol007.htm From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 09 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: Paul Wakfer <70023.3041@compuserve.com> Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: $10 Million Project Seeks Proposals Date: 10 Feb 1997 10:27:22 -0800 Organization: Prometheus Project Lines: 57 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <32FEC00D.7398@compuserve.com> Reply-To: 70023.3041@compuserve.com NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Recent developments in cryobiological research suggest that the time is now right to begin a concerted effort to achieve and perfect fully reversible long-term suspended animation of humans. Seven months ago a pledge campaign was begun to test the feasibility of funding the first ten years of such a project. Without detailed plans and with no promotional budget, the Prometheus Project, as it is now called, has garnered pledges of over $350,000 per year for a total of $3,500,000 over the initial ten years of the Project. The Project organizers are confident that once more detailed scientific and business plans are available, the pledge total, and the subsequent purchase of shares in a for-profit corporation to be formed for this purpose, can soon be increased to the full $1 million per year that the Project is estimated to require during its initial phase. Current plans for the Project entail pursuing a program to cryopreserve the central nervous system (CNS) for the first ten years probably based on the technique of vitrification. (For information on vitrification of organs see: http://www.prometheus-project.org/organ-cryopreservation.html) The convincing demonstration of the reversible cryopreservation and revival of the mammalian CNS with intact mental faculties, and the publication of this success in a peer reviewed journal, should provide additional feasibility that perfected whole-body suspended animation can be achieved. With this achievement funding for the full suspended animation project should be obtainable. Even during the first ten years, once research begins and interim results are obtained, it should be possible to increase our funding, if necessary, so that all goals can be achieve sooner. Our overall funding aim is to raise whatever money is necessary to perfect CNS cryopreservation within 10 years and suspended animation within 20. We believe that once suspended animation is perfected and shown to be a reversible procedure with a patient prognosis no worse than is currently the case with major medical operations, the medical community will have little choice but to accept this procedure and to make it available as an option for terminal patients whose condition is likely to be curable in the near future. Clearly, the effect of this development upon human culture will be nothing less than revolutionary. Fame and fortune will likely be forthcoming to those who play a major part in its achievement. All suggestions and proposals for the achievement of this goal should be sent to me at my email or postal address shown below. A decision concerning where the Project research will be pursued and the what scientists will be leading the Project is expected to be made by September or October of 1997. Paul Wakfer email:70023.3041@compuserve.com phone:909-481-9620 pager:800-805-2870 1220 E Washington St #24, Colton, CA 92324 HELP TO ACHIEVE - PERFECTED SUSPENDED ANIMATION WITHIN 20 YEARS! Check out the Prometheus Project web site at URL: http://www.prometheus-project.org/prometheus/ From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 09 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PA-97-034 - V26(04) 02/07/97 Date: 10 Feb 1997 15:40:09 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 393 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5dobkp$n0o@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net ROLE OF TOBACCO DEPENDENCE IN ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-034 P.T. 34; K.W. 0404001, 0404003 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism PURPOSE The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is seeking research grant applications to study the alcohol tobacco interaction in its implications for alcoholism treatment. The objective of this program announcement is to encourage research that will lead to improved strategies for treating alcohol and nicotine dependence in patients receiving care for problem drinking. Such research may identify and test relevant clinical intervention strategies; identify interactions between the two substances that have implications for relapse prevention, or further understanding of the alcoholism treatment process by investigating reinforcement mechanisms underlying conjoint abuse of the two substances. 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 program announcement is related to the priority areas of alcohol abuse reduction and alcoholism treatment. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0, 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 Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators. Foreign institutions are not eligible for First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) Awards. Regular research grant applications (R01) from foreign institutions are limited to three years. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Research support may be obtained through applications for a regular research grant (R01), FIRST Award (R29), or an Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21). Applicants for R01s may request support for up to five years. In FY 1996, the average total cost per year for new R01s funded by the NIAAA was approximately $200,000. Because the nature and scope of the research proposed in response to this program announcement may vary, it is anticipated that the size of an award will vary also. FIRST (R29) Award applications must be for five years. Total direct costs for the five-year period may not exceed $350,000 or $100,000 in any one budget period. exploratory/developmental grants are limited up to two years for up to $70,000 per year, for direct costs. FIRST Awards and Exploratory/Developmental Grants cannot be renewed, but grantees may apply for R01 support to continue research on the same topics. Potential applicants for FIRST Awards or Exploratory/Developmental Grants should obtain copies of the specific announcement for these programs from the NIAAA Home Page HTTP://NIAAA.NIH.GOV or from the program contacts listed under Inquiries. Program project grant applications (P01) will not be accepted for this announcement. Investigators who wish to submit an application that requests more than $500,000 for direct costs in any one year must contact program staff prior to submitting an application. Applicants may submit applications for Investigator-Initiated Interactive Research Project Grants (IRPG) (refer to PA-94-086, Vol. 23, No. 28, July 29, 1994). Interactive Research Project Grants require the coordinated submission of related research project grants (R01), and to a limited extent, FIRST Award (R29) applications from investigators who wish to collaborate on research, but do not require extensive shared physical resources. These applications must share a common theme and describe the objectives and scientific importance of the interchange of, for example, ideas, data, and materials among the collaborating investigators. A minimum of two independent investigators with related research objectives may submit concurrent, collaborative, cross-referenced individual R01 and R29 applications. Applicants may be from one or several institutions. Further information on these and other grant mechanisms may be obtained from the program contacts listed under INQUIRIES. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Behavioral Research During the past decade many lines of converging data have suggested that alcohol and tobacco consumption are correlated. For example, smokers consume two times as much alcohol per capita as do non-smokers (Carmody et al., 1985) and their risk of excessive drinking is also twice that of non-smokers, a relationship that holds across a broad range of demographic variables (Henningfield et al., 1990; Johnson and Jennison, 1992). Alcoholism itself is estimated as 10 to 14 times more prevalent among those who smoke than those who do not (DiFranza and Guerrera, 1990). In addition, heavy drinking tends to be associated with heavy smoking with 85 percent of currently drinking alcoholics smoking daily. Although smoking has substantially declined in the United States to approximately 30 percent of adults, it has diminished very little among alcoholics. Co-occurrence of smoking and excessive drinking has important treatment implications. For example, previous or current problems with alcohol and alcohol treatment bodes negatively for success in smoking cessation (Bobo et al., 1987; DiFranza and Guerrera, 1990; Sandor, 1991). On the other hand, smoking cessation prior to formal alcoholism treatment (Miller et al., 1983) appears to improve subsequent drinking outcome. Conversely, reducing drinking appears to improve the prospects for successful smoking cessation (Burling et al., 1982). Curiously, participation in a stop-smoking program conducted during the course of alcoholism treatment was found to enhance maintenance of sobriety, even though the intervention had little impact on smoking behavior itself (Burling et al., 1991). Discontinuation of smoking and long-term abstinence from drinking are also associated. Alcoholics who maintain sobriety longer have been reported as more successful in smoking cessation (Bobo et al., 1987; Hughes, 1993). Similarly, relapse to drinking may prompt smoking relapse (Shiffman et al., 1985; Sees and Clark, 1993). Several pharmacologic and behavioral mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association between smoking and drinking. At a pharmacologic level some degree of cross-tolerance seems to occur between nicotine and alcohol as sympathetic nervous system agents, each of which has both depressant and stimulant effects. Second, conjoint use of the two substances may also be due to accelerated metabolism of one substance following ingestion of the other. Third, nicotine and alcohol may somewhat counteract the aversive effects of each other, while potentiating reinforcing effects. Basic Science Administration of both alcohol and nicotine together to laboratory animals alters the responses to either drug when administered alone. For example, prior exposure to a low dose of nicotine increases alcohol consumption, whereas a high dose decreases consumption (Gauvin, Morre and Holloway, 1993). Animals respond more for lateral hypothalamic stimulation after nicotine treatment and less after ethanol treatment, compared to controls (Schaefer and Michael, 1992). However, when both agents are given together, responding is higher than after nicotine alone suggesting that alcohol is enhancing the reinforcing properties of nicotine. In discriminative stimulus studies, nicotine enhances the alcohol-like effects of nicotine in alcohol-preferring rats compared to non-preferring rats (Gordon, Meehan and Schecter, 1993). Further evidence of interactions between alcohol and nicotine derives >From comparative sensitivity and cross-tolerance studies suggesting that the sensitivity to alcohol and nicotine appears related. Mice selectively bred for alcohol sensitivity are also more sensitive to nicotine compared to alcohol-insensitive mice. In addition, alcohol-sensitive mice rendered tolerant to alcohol are also tolerant to nicotine (de Fiebre and Collins, 1993; Luo, Marks and Collins, 1994 and Majchrzak and Dilsaver, 1992) and nicotine-tolerant, alcohol-sensitive mice display cross-tolerance to alcohol (Collins et al., 1993). These effects are not observed in alcohol-insensitive mice. In other studies, nicotine can antagonize the motor incoordinating effect of alcohol (Dar and Bowman, 1994), whereas a nicotinic receptor antagonist partially blocks increased locomotor activity induced by alcohol (Blomqvist, Soderpalm and Engel, 1992). To better understand the treatment implications of alcohol and tobacco co-dependence, it is necessary to determine the mechanism of interaction of these two agents and how the actions are modified when both drugs are co-administered. Several lines of evidence suggest that although alcohol and nicotine have different molecular structures, they have actions in common. For example, both substances stimulate the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, (Imperato and Di Chiara, 1986a, 1986b), an area of the brain involved with the reinforcing properties of drugs. A role for dopamine is also suggested by the observation that blockade of dopamine receptors increases both alcohol and nicotine intake (Gauvin, et al, 1993; Dawe et al, 1995). Acetaldehyde is a pyrolysis product of tobacco and has been suggested to play a role in the reinforcing effects of alcohol. The rapid transport of acetaldehyde in an unmetabolized and undiluted form from the lungs through the heart to the brain may enhance the reinforcing properties of smoking. Areas of Research Interest The following list of topics is intended only to illustrate NIAAA interests; topics not specified should not be viewed as excluded from consideration. The primary objective of this program announcement is to enhance the efficacy of treatment for nicotine addicted, alcohol-dependent patients. To that end, research studies are solicited in the following areas. Research is needed to determine the conditions under which tobacco use serves as a salient risk factor for alcohol relapse. Research suggests several hypothesized mechanisms for the linkage in conjoint alcohol-tobacco use. Studies are needed to more clearly specify these putative mechanisms and understand their interactions. Studies are needed which identify the optimal sequencing of alcohol and smoking cessation in treatment programs. Studies are needed which investigate the use of new/existing pharmacologic agents as adjuncts to alcohol and smoking cessation and in the maintenance of abstinence. Research is needed which elucidates factors that underlie the joint vulnerability to alcohol and nicotine dependence. Research is needed to develop common assessment methodologies for alcohol and tobacco dependence which will lead to improved treatment efficacy. Research is needed to determine the extent to which alcohol acts through nicotinic receptors and other receptors and whether chronic nicotine exposure can alter those actions. Studies are needed which clarify the nature of the discriminative stimuli for alcohol and nicotine and how these stimuli interact. Studies are needed to determine whether conditioned cues associated with smoking enhance alcohol reinforcement. Studies are needed which assess the role of acetaldehyde in alcohol-nicotine interactions. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 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 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines as indicated in the application kit. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, Email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The title and number of the program announcement must be typed in section 2 on the face page of the application. Applications for the FIRST award (R29) must include at least three sealed letters of reference attached to the face page of the original application. FIRST award (R29) applications submitted without the required number of reference letters will be considered incomplete and will be returned without review. The completed original application and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817-7710 (for express/courier service) REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council. Review Criteria Criteria to be used in the scientific and technical merit review of alcohol research grant applications will include the following: 1. The scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of the proposed research. 2. The appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research. 3. The adequacy of the qualifications (including level of education and training) and relevant research experience of the principal investigator and key research personnel. 4. The availability of adequate facilities, general environment for the conduct of the proposed research, other resources, and collaborative arrangements necessary for the research. 5. The reasonableness of budget estimates and duration in relation to the proposed research. 6. Adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. 7. Where applicable, the adequacy of procedures to protect or minimize effects on human and animal subjects and the environment. The review criteria for Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21) and FIRST Awards (R29) are contained in their program announcements. AWARD CRITERIA Applications recommended for approval by the appropriate national advisory council will be considered for funding on the basis of the overall scientific and technical merit of the proposal as determined by peer review, programmatic needs and balance, and the availability of funds. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this program announcement are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding treatment aspects of proposed research to: Joanne Fertig, Ph.D. Division of Clinical and Prevention Research National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402 MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-0796 FAX: (301) 443-8744 Email: jfertig@willco.niaaa.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding the neuroscience and behavioral aspects of proposed research to: Walter Hunt, Ph.D. Division of Basic Research National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402 MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-4223 FAX: (301) 594-0673 Email: whunt@willco.niaaa.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Joseph Weeda Office of Planning and Resource Management National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 504 MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-4703 FAX: (301) 443-3891 Email: jweeda@willco.niaaa.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, No. 93.273. Awards are made under the authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Sections 301 and 464H, and administered under the PHS policies and Federal Regulations at Title 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 09 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA NOT-97-004 - V26(04) 02/07/97 Date: 10 Feb 1997 15:42:32 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 122 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5dobp8$ncj@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net NOTICE OF LEGISLATIVE MANDATES CONTAINED IN THE OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED FISCAL YEAR 1997 APPROPRIATIONS ACT, P.L. 104-208, SIGNED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 P.T. 36; K.W. 1014006 National Institutes of Health The purpose of this notice is to provide information on the following statutory provisions that limit the use of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, cooperative agreement, and contract awards: (1) Continued Salary Limitation (Section 205) (2) Anti-Lobbying (Section 503) (3) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products (Section 506) (4) Acknowledgment of Federal Funding (Section 507) (5) Continued Ban on Funding of Human Embryo Research (Section 512) (6) ROTC Access and Federal Military Recruiting on Campus (Section 514) (1) CONTINUED SALARY LIMITATION (Section 205) None of the FY 1997 appropriated funds for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shall be used to pay the salary of an individual, through grant, cooperative agreement, or contract, at a rate in excess of $125,000 per year. The information contained in NIH Guide Vol. 24, No.2, January 20, 1995, remains in effect for FY 1997 awards. Applications and proposals with direct salaries for individuals in excess of $125,000 per year will be adjusted in accordance with the legislative salary limitation. (2) ANTI-LOBBYING (Section 503) Language in this Act contains Anti-Lobbying provisions prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to pay the salary or expenses of any grant, cooperative agreement, or contract recipient or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence legislation or appropriations pending before the Congress or any State legislature. The FY 1997 Appropriations Act specifically extends the prohibition on the use of grant, cooperative agreement and contract funds for lobbying any State legislature. (3) PURCHASE OF AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS (Section 506) It continues to be the sense of Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with grant, cooperative agreement, or contract funds should be American-made. (4) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING (Section 507) Section 507 mandates that all grantees funded with Federal dollars, in whole or in part, acknowledge Federal funding when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other documents. Grantees are required to state (1) the percentage and dollar amounts of the total program or project costs financed with Federal money, and (2) the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs financed by nongovernmental sources. This requirement is in addition to the continuing requirement to provide an acknowledgment of support and disclaimer on any publication reporting the results of a grant supported activity (PHS GPS p. 8-15). (5) CONTINUED BAN ON FUNDING OF HUMAN EMBRYO RESEARCH (Section 512) The FY 1997 Appropriations Act contains language identical to that contained in the FY 1996 Balanced Budget Downpayment Acts I (P.L. 104-99) that prohibits NIH from using appropriated funds to support human embryo research. Grant, cooperative agreement and contract funds may not be used for (1) the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or (2) research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under 45 CFR 46.208(a)(2) and Section 498(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289g(b)). The term ~human embryo or embryos~ include any organism, not protected as a human subject under 45 CFR 46 as of the date of the Act, that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes. (6) ROTC ACCESS AND FEDERAL MILITARY RECRUITING ON CAMPUS (Section 514) Section 514 of the Appropriations Act prohibits NIH from providing grant, cooperative agreement and contract funds to educational institutions that the Secretary of Defense determines have a policy or practice (regardless of when implemented) that either prohibits, or in effect prevents (1) the maintaining, establishing, or operation of a unit of the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps at the covered education entity; or (2) a student at the covered educational entity >From enrolling in a unit of the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps at another institution of higher education. Under the same section, NIH funding is denied to educational institutions that have a policy or practice that prohibits or prevents (1) entry to campuses, or access to students (who are 17 years of age or older) on campuses, for purposes of Federal military recruiting; or (2) access by military recruiters for purposes of Federal military recruiting to information pertaining to students (who are 17 years of age or older) enrolled at the covered educational entity. These provisions will take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Appropriations Act, by which date the Secretary of Defense shall have published final regulations in consultation with the Secretary of Education to carry out this section. INQUIRIES For more information concerning this notice or other policies relating to grants or contracts, refer to the Office of Extramural Research (OER) portion (http://www.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm) of the NIH Home Page (http://www.nih.gov). Appropriate links to related regulations and policies have been provided with the copy of this notice published on the OER portion of the NIH Home Page. If additional questions remain, contact your awarding grants or contracts management office in the NIH Institutes and Centers. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 09 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PA-97-036 - V26(04) 02/07/97 Date: 10 Feb 1997 15:41:54 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 345 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5dobo2$n8d@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net BASIC RESEARCH ON THE METABOLISM OF IRON CHELATION NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-036 P.T. 34; K.W. 0765030, 0765035, 0740020, 1003002 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases PURPOSE The purpose of this program announcement is to stimulate basic research on the biochemistry of iron chelation in iron overloaded patients. Transfusional iron overload is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with thalassemia (Cooley's anemia). These patients urgently need a safe, inexpensive, orally active chelating agent which effectively promotes iron excretion. This announcement seeks to encourage research applications which would improve the basic understanding of iron chelation, and thus would facilitate the development of new iron chelating drugs. 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. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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 Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Foreign institutions are not eligible for First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) awards. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This PA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) individual research project grant (R01) and FIRST (R29) award mechanisms. Responsibility for planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. Because the nature and scope of the research proposal in response to this PA may vary, it is anticipated that the size of an award will vary also; however, the support of requests exceeding the NIDDK average grant size of $160,000 direct cost for R01 grants would be unusual and would require ample justification. FIRST (R29) awards are limited to $350,000 direct cost over the five year period. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Considerable effort has been directed toward the development of a new oral iron chelator for the treatment of transfusional iron overload, particularly for patients with thalassemia (Cooley's anemia). However, the likelihood of success of this effort remains uncertain. Basic understanding of chelation needs to be improved in such aspects as the kinetics of iron chelation, the identity of the iron pools addressed, and ways to enhance the chelating activity and reduce the toxicity of known iron chelators. Renewed efforts are needed to learn more about the biochemistry of iron chelation in iron overloaded patients. Despite the lengthy and active search for an alternative to the only currently available drug, desferrioxamine B, only a few clinical trials of a limited nature have been conducted with new candidate drugs (Olivieri, et.al., 1995; al-Refaie, et.al., 1995). The important goal remains to further the understanding of those characteristics which would make an iron chelator effective and safe in long term use. More detailed analysis of the intracellular pharmacology of potential new chelators is needed, including organelle uptake and metabolism. Studies are needed which would help to identify more precisely the characteristics which determine efficacy and those which are associated with toxicity. Potential research topics are described below; however, investigators are invited to propose other topics for study. Pathophysiology of iron overload. There is still a remarkable gap in our knowledge of what determines the actual tissue damage or dysfunction. This may have direct relevance to the choice of chelator or the way it is administered. Some have postulated that if free iron has a major role, an effective chelator must have a constant presence in the bloodstream (Fosburg and Nathan, 1990). Harmful iron levels. Despite various constructs regarding the level of iron overload that is potentially harmful or definitely harmful, little is known about the degree of iron overload that is associated with organ damage in transfusional hemochromatosis. For example, the data on liver iron concentrations often used to determine the effectiveness of investigational chelators is drawn >From the experience with primary hemochromatosis, a disease in which the major adverse outcome is cirrhosis, not heart failure as in thalassemia, so that the relevance is uncertain (Nielsen, et.al., 1996). Either animal models of transfusional iron overload or clinical, pathological, and biochemical correlates in humans would be helpful in addressing this issue. Measurement of iron overload. There are clear clinical needs in this area, since effective removal of iron by chelating drugs requires an accurate assessment of iron stores in the patient. Currently, there are three types of tests available, serum ferritin, biopsy, and the SQUID device, each with serious practical deficiencies. Serum ferritin, which is measured on drawn blood, is highly variable, and can be used only as a rough indication of the amount of stored iron. Biopsy of the liver results in accurate information, but can be performed only 1-2 times per year, at most, while biopsy of the heart is too risky. The SQUID device (Brittenham, et.al., 1982, Nielsen, et.al., 1995), whose development was funded by the NIDDK, gives accurate results for the liver, but there are only two such devices in the world, resulting in restricted access. Biochemical or physical methods such as MRI for iron determination need to be developed (Jensen, et.al., 1994). Particularly needed is a method for assessing cardiac iron. Investigation of the cellular origin, biochemistry, and regulation of serum ferritin. As alluded to above, despite the clinical importance of serum ferritin, the most fundamental aspects of its biogenesis, clearance, normal regulation, and mechanisms for observed pathological changes remain unknown. The molecular factors controlling ferritin biogenesis, release, and clearance via cellular uptake are unknown, and the molecular structure of serum ferritin and its relationship to other intracellular ferritins remains undefined. Because of the possibility that serum ferritin may remain the most practical means of assessment of iron status for some time to come, improved understanding of this protein is needed, including the molecular identification of the cDNAs and genes for serum ferritin, functional and biochemical properties associated with the protein, the characterization of its tissue origins, and the elucidation of the physiological control mechanisms regulating serum ferritin levels in normal and pathological conditions. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This new policy results >From the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies (Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations), which have been in effect since 1990. The new policy contains some provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies. 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 20, 1994 (FR 59 1450814513) and reprinted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program staff listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant information concerning the policy. ANIMAL WELFARE CONSIDERATIONS Investigators are encouraged to consider alternative methods and approaches in their research grant applications that do not require the use of whole animals, use alternative species such as nonmammals or invertebrates, reduce the number of animals required, and incorporate refinements to procedures that will result in the elimination or further minimization of pain and distress in animals. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines as indicated in the application kit. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research, or may be obtained from the Grants Information Office, Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: asknih@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. The program announcement title and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Applications for the FIRST Award (R29) must include at least three sealed letters of reference attached to the face page of the original application. FIRST Award (R29) applications submitted without the required number of reference letters will be considered incomplete and will be returned without review. Potential R29 applicants should refer to the announcement on Just-in-Time Procedures for FIRST and Career Awards (NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 25, No. 10, March 29, 1996)) for information on recent changes in guidelines for FIRST award format. The completed original application and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040-MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be assigned on the basis of established Public Health Service referral guidelines. Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened in accordance with NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council or board. Review Criteria o scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of proposed research; o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; o qualifications and research experience of the Principal Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research; o availability of the resources necessary to perform the research; o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research; o adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. The initial review group also will examine the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects, and the safety of the research environment. For Applications from Foreign Organizations: o availability of special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily available in the United States or that provide augmentation of existing U.S. resources. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with other approved applications assigned to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; o Availability of funds; o Program priority. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: David G. Badman, Ph.D. Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 45 Center Drive, Room 6AS-13C MSC 6600 BETHESDA, MD 20892-6600 Telephone: (301) 594-7717 FAX: (301) 480-3510 Email: David_Badman@nih.gov Inquiries regarding fiscal matters may be directed to: Aretina Perry Division of Extramural Activities National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 45 Center Drive, Room 6AN-38B, MSC 6600 BETHESDA, MD 20892-6600 Telephone: (301) 594-8862 Email: PerryA@ep.niddk.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.849. 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 PHS 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 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 PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. References Olivieri NF, Brittenham GM, Matsui D, Berkovitch M, Blandis LM, Cameron G, McClelland RA, Liu PP, Templeton DM, Koren G. Iron- chelation therapy with oral deferiprone in patients with thalassemia major, N Engl J Med 332(14):918-22, 1995. Al-Refaie FN, Hershko C, Hofbrand AV, Kosaryan M, Olivieri NF, Tondury P, Wonke B. Results of long-term deferiprone (L1) therapy: a report by the International Study Group on Oral Iron Chelators. Brit J Haematol 91(1):224-9, 1995. Fosburg, MT and Nathan DG. Treatment of Cooley's anemia, Blood 76(3): 435-444, 1990. Niederau C; Fischer R; Purschel A; Stremmel W; Haussinger D; Strohmeyer G, Long-term survival in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis, Gastroenterology 110(4):1107-19, 1996. Jensen PD; Jensen FT; Christensen T; Ellegaard J. Non-invasive assessment of tissue iron overload in the liver by magnetic resonance imaging, Brit J Haematol 87(1):171-84, 1994. Brittenham GM, Farrell DE, Harris JW, Feldman ES, Danish EH, Muir WA, Tripp JH, Bellon EM, Magnetic-susceptibility measurement of human iron stores, N Engl J Med 30;307(27):1671-5, 1982. Nielsen P, Fischer R, Engelhardt R, Tondury P, Gabbe EE, Janka GE, Liver iron stores in patients with secondary haemosiderosis under iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine or deferiprone, Br J Haematol 91(4):827-33, 1995. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 09 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PAR-97-035 - V26(04) 02/07/97 Date: 10 Feb 1997 15:41:04 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 496 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5dobmg$n5f@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net PILOT GRANTS IN BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE OF AGING NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 PA NUMBER: PAR-97-035 P.T. 34; K.W.. 0710010, 0404000 National Institute on Aging Application Receipt Dates: March 17, 1997, July 17, 1997 November 17, 1997 PURPOSE The Behavioral and Social Research Program (BSR) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is seeking small grant (R03) applications to stimulate and facilitate research in underdeveloped topics in the behavioral and social sciences of aging. This Small Grant (R03) Program provides support for pilot research that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research project grant (R01) or a First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) award application and/or a significant advancement of aging research. These R03 projects include, but are not limited to, research which is innovative and/or high risk. 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 Program Announcement, "Pilot grants (R03) in behavioral and social science of aging," is related to is related to several priority areas applicable to aging. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. Foreign organizations and institutions are not eligible. Participation in the program by investigators at minority institutions is strongly encouraged. To be eligible for this award, the proposed Principal Investigator must, at a minimum, be an independent investigator at the beginning of her/his research career as defined by the eligibility requirements for a FIRST (R29) award. That is, they should be genuinely independent of a mentor. Individuals in the final stages of training may apply, but individuals can not be in a training status at the time the award is made. Established investigators proposing research unrelated to a currently funded research program are also eligible to apply for these grants. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Applicants may request up to $50,000 (direct costs) for one year through the small grant (R03) mechanism. However, the grants will be awarded under Expanded Authorities and are eligible for a single one-year no cost extension. These awards are not renewable. Before completion of the R03, investigators are encouraged to seek continuing support for research through a research project grant (R01) or FIRST (R29) award. Replacement of the Principal Investigator on this award is not permitted. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The Small Grant program is designed to support new, junior, and established behavioral and social science researchers interested in conducting research on underdeveloped topics in the behavioral and social sciences of aging. Collection of new data or secondary analysis of existing data are allowed. Topics of interest are limited to the eight topics described below: Social Cognition in Adulthood and Old Age Social Cognition is the intersection between cognitive and social gerontology. Research on cognitive aging suggests that social reasoning and social comprehension are largely spared from deleterious aging processes. In fact, there is a small but growing body of evidence that points to the potential for developmental gains in cognitive performance when embedded in social contexts. Topic areas include, but are not limited to: metacognition, collaborative cognition, emotion and motivation, interpersonal relationships, life transitions, self regulation, self evaluation, and attitudes and beliefs including stereotypes and automaticity. Personality in Adulthood and Old Age Considerable data suggest that personality is stable during adulthood, although other data suggest that personality changes across the life span. Results vary as a function of sample, when personality is measured and the particular constructs measured. Topic areas include, but are not limited to: studies of stability and change in personality with age; age-related differences in personality by socioeconomic class, gender, and racial/ethnic groups. Behavior Genetics and Aging Molecular genetics research has begun to identify specific genes associated with behavior. This domain includes both single-gene traits and complex traits influenced by multiple genes as well as multiple environmental factors. Most geneticists agree that complex behaviors are not likely to be genetically simple. One research approach is the one-gene one-disorder or OGOD method in which many complex behaviors or disorders are assumed to result from many smaller behaviors, each the result of a different single gene which is a necessary and sufficient cause. Another approach is the quantitative trait loci or QTL method which assumes that genetic influence on complex behaviors and disorders is largely due to multiple genes with effects of varying sizes which contribute cumulatively and interchangeably. These new techniques can track the developmental course of genetic contributions to behavior, identify genetic heterogeneity, and explore genetic links between the normal and abnormal. Properly designed studies can also identify the importance of nongenetic factors. Some areas of opportunities for behavior genetics and aging research in both humans and animals include attention, processing speed, memory, intelligence, training, emotionality, sense of control, motivation, attention, and temporal organization. Direct inquiries on the topics of Social Cognition, Personality, and Behavior Genetics to: Jared B. Jobe, Ph.D. Adult Psychological Development National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 533 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-3137 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Jared_Jobe@NIH.GOV Interventions to Enhance Self Care in Older People Although the linkage between health behaviors and lifestyles to a wide range of health outcomes is now well documented, less is known about the development, maintenance, and modification of such behaviors over the life course. While calling for small scale research on the wide range of self care behaviors, this solicitation gives special encouragement to medical self-care--or how older people recognize and act upon new illness symptoms and/or manage everyday chronic conditions. Two types of research are solicited: 1) basic research exploring the patterns, dynamics and processes of self care behaviors practiced by older adults, and 2) the design, implementation, and evaluation of theoretically based self-care interventions to encourage the adoption of new health behaviors or to modify health impairing habits and lifestyles. Religiousness in Health and Aging Religiousness, whether defined as spiritual beliefs or organizational affiliation, is consistently associated with better well-being and increased longevity for elders. Research projects are invited that encourage a better understanding of the complex interrelationships among religious variables (beliefs or behaviors), other psychosocial mediating factors (e.g., health beliefs or coping styles), and health and functioning throughout the life course. Several specific research topics were identified in a 1995 NIA/Fetzer Conference on Methodological Advances in Religion, Health and Aging. Two are of special interest: 1) the biopsychosocial mechanisms by which religion, spirituality and/or religious affiliations may affect health and 2) the development of rigorous, but parsimonious scales and indices that can be embedded in more general studies of health and aging. AIDS in an Aging Society The behavioral and social implications of AIDS for the middle-aged and older population have been largely ignored. This is despite the fact that people fifty and older have constituted approximately ten percent of the reported AIDS cases since the beginning of the epidemic, and that AIDS has become a major public health problem affecting people of all ages. Research is recommended on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: 1) the social epidemiology of older people at risk, including transmission routes for those 50 and older; 2) factors affecting quality of life for older persons with HIV/AIDS and their families; 3) interventions to change older people's AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; 4) behavioral and social strategies for helping older people enhance their AIDS-related caregiving capacities (e.g., care for adult children or grandchildren); and 5) interrelationships between HIV/AIDS and changing health care structures. Direct inquiries on the topics of Interventions to Enhance Self Care in Older People, Religiousness in Health and Aging, and AIDS in an Aging Society to: Marcia G. Ory, Ph.D. Social Science Research on Aging National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 533 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 402-4156 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Marcia_Ory@NIH.GOV Social and Structural Factors in Health Care The basic thrust of this initiative is to understand the complex interactions between changing health care systems and the needs of aging persons in an aging society. The fluid organization and financing of health care, coupled with the health care needs of the growing U.S. older population will alter many features of health care delivery both for providers and for patients. Research topics in this area include, but are not limited to: 1) impact of the type of health care organization (e.g., structure, reimbursement mechanism, organizational control, and professional control) on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and/or provider satisfaction; 2) differences between "real" clinical outcomes and "perceived" outcomes in the elderly based on organizational characteristics; 3) health and social consequences of a change in the usual source, quality and quantity of health care at the time of Medicare enrollment; 4) effect of managed care's prevention model on clinical and behavioral outcomes in an aging patient base; and 5) the dynamic interplay between changing needs of aging persons and changing health care delivery system characteristics. Aging and Work Organizations There has been much public attention to the aging of our society, and the implications for health care and the economy. Less is known about the characteristics of work organizations, how they are changing, and the implications of these changes for the health of older workers who continue working. Possible topics to be explored for further development include: 1) the changing nature of the workplace and workforce; 2) how aging workers are perceived and dealt with in the workplace; 3) specification of characteristics of work/workplace that facilitate or impede the productivity of older workers and the ability of older workers to stay in the workforce (e.g., the aging of work organizations; flexible work rules; phased retirement plans, etc.); and 4) innovations in the workplace to accommodate older workers or parents of workers (e.g., development of elder care programs). Direct inquiries on the topics of Social and Structural Factors in Health Care, and Aging and Work Organizations to: Sidney M. Stahl, Ph.D. Health Care Organizations National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 533 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 402-4156 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Sidney_Stahl@NIH.GOV INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects of 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 14508-14513) and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The submission, review, and award schedule for the Small Grant Program for 1997/1998 is: Application Receipt Dates: Mar 17 Jul 17 Nov 17 Institute Committee Review: Jun 97 Oct 97 Mar 98 Earliest funding: Sep97 Jan 98 May 98 Only one small grant application may be submitted by a principal investigator per receipt date. Applicants may not submit R01 or R29 applications on the same topic concurrent (to be considered at the same review cycle) with the submission of a small grant application. Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and prepared according to the directions in the application packet, with the exceptions noted below. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Grants Information Office, Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, e-mail: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. On the face page of the application: Item 2 Type "Pilot Grants (R03) in Behavioral and Social Science of Aging." Check the "YES" box. Sections 1-4: Do not exceed a total of ten pages for the following sections: specific aims, background and significance, progress report/preliminary studies, and experimental design and methods. Tables and figures are included in the ten page limitation. Applications that exceed the page limitation or PHS requirements for type size and margins (Refer to PHS 398 application for details) will be returned to the investigator. The ten page limitation does not include Sections 5-9 (Human Subjects, Consortia, Literature cited). Appendix materials are not allowed. "Just-in-time" (JIT) is an initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Extramural Reinvention Laboratory under the auspices of the National Performance Review and government-wide efforts to create a government that works better and costs less. JIT postpones the collection of certain information that currently must be included in all competing applications when submitted. The information for the applications with a likelihood of funding is submitted "just-in-time" for awards to be made. This program announcement is incorporating JIT procedures as described below. Some sections are modified and others in the application do not need to be completed for the submission of the application, but WILL be requested if your application receives a priority score in the fundable range. Form DD - Page 4 - DETAILED BUDGET PLAN FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD Do not complete this form on page 4 of the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). It is not required nor will it be accepted at the time of the application. Form EE - Page 5 - BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE PROPOSED PROJECT Do not complete the categorical budget table form on page 5 in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). Only the requested total direct costs for each year and total direct costs for the entire proposed period of support should be shown. Begin the budget justification in the space provided, using continuation pages as needed. Budget Justification o List the name, role on project, and percent effort for all project personnel (salaried or unsalaried) and provide a narrative justification for each person based on his/her role on the project and proposed level of effort. o Identify all consultants by name and organizational affiliation and describe the services to be performed. o Provide a narrative justification for any major budget items, other than personnel, that are requested for the conduct of the project that would be considered unusual for the scope of the research. No specific costs for items or categories should be shown. o Indirect costs will be calculated at the time of the award using the institution's actual indirect cost rate. Applicants will be asked to identify the indirect cost exclusions prior to award. o If consortium/contractual costs are requested, provide the percentage of the subcontract total costs (direct and indirect) relative to the total direct costs of the overall project. The subcontract budget justification should be prepared following the instructions provided above. Biographical Sketch - A biographical sketch is required for all key personnel, following the modified instructions below. Do not exceed the two-page limit for each person. o Complete the education block at the top of the form page; o List current position(s) and those previous positions directly relevant to the application; o List selected peer-reviewed publications directly relevant to the proposed project, with full citation; o Provide information on research projects completed and/or research grants participated in during the last five years that are relevant to the proposed project. Title, principal investigator, funding source, and role on project must be provided. Other Support - Do not complete the other support page (format page 7 of the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95)). Information on active support for key personnel will be requested prior to award. Checklist - Do not submit the checklist page. For amended and competing continuation applications, applicants must complete the block in the upper right corner of the face page to indicate the previous grant number. A completed checklist will be required prior to award. Submit a signed, original of the application, including the checklist, and three exact photocopies in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 -MSC-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for courier/overnight service) In addition, to expedite the review of the application, submit two additional exact photocopies of the application directly to: Chief, Scientific Review Office National Institute on Aging Gateway Building Suite 2C212, MSC 9205 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 In order not to delay review, it is important that applicants comply with this request. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Small grant applications will be assigned on the basis of established Public Health Service referral guidelines. Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by a review committee of the National Institute on Aging, in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. Applications will be evaluated with respect to the following criteria: o Importance of the area to aging research o Feasibility of the proposed exploratory research o Likelihood of the proposed pilot project leading to the development of an R01/R29 grant application, or significant advancement of aging research. o Adequacy of approach and scientific originality and significance o Appropriateness of the proposed budget and timetable in relation to the scope of the proposed research o Qualifications and research experience of the principal investigator. o Availability of resources necessary for the research, including any needed to supplement the budget. o The adequacy of the proposed means for protecting against or minimizing potential adverse effects upon humans, animals, or the environment. o Adequacy of adherence to guidelines for including gender and minority representation in any study population. FUNDS AVAILABLE In fiscal year 1997, approximately $500,000 will be available to fund 7 - 10 small grants, contingent on high scientific merit and program priority. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; o availability of funds; o program priority. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to the contacts listed under Research Objectives. Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Mr. David Reiter Grants and Contracts Management Office National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 2N212 7201 Wisconsin Avenue MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1472 FAX: (301) 402-3672 David_Reiter@nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.866. 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 PHS 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 Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 09 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH Guide, vol. 26, no. 04, pt. 1of1, 7 February 1997 Date: 10 Feb 1997 15:39:32 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 1123 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5dobjk$mu2@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net NIH GUIDE - Vol. 26, No. 4 - February 7, 1997 $$INDEX BEGIN ******************************************************* NOTICES $$INDEX N1 ********************************************************** NOTICE OF LEGISLATIVE MANDATES CONTAINED IN THE OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED FISCAL YEAR 1997 APPROPRIATIONS ACT, P.L. 104-208, SIGNED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 National Institutes of Health INDEX: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH $$INDEX N2 ********************************************************** NIGMS GUIDELINES NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS National Institute of General Medical Sciences $$INDEX N3 ********************************************************** PREAPPLICATION MEETING FOR THE WOMEN'S INTERAGENCY HIV STUDY DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS CENTER National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs/RFAs/PAs) $$INDEX R1 05/16/97 ************************************************* MODULATION BY GROWTH FACTORS AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAYS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-INDUCED DISEASE/DYSFUNCTION (RFA ES-97-001) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences INDEX: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES $$INDEX P1 ********************************************************** ROLE OF TOBACCO DEPENDENCE IN ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT (PA-97-034) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism INDEX: ALCOHOL ABUSE, ALCOHOLISM $$INDEX P2 ********************************************************** PILOT GRANTS IN BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE OF AGING (PAR-97-035) National Institute on Aging INDEX: AGING $$INDEX P3 ********************************************************** BASIC RESEARCH ON THE METABOLISM OF IRON CHELATION (PA-97-036) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases INDEX: DIABETES, DIGESTIVE, KIDNEY DISEASES The NIH GUIDE is available electronically via LISTSERV subscription, and is also on the nih gopher (gopher.nih.gov) and the NIH web site (http://www.nih.gov). Alternative access is available through the NIH Grant Line via modem (data line 301/402-2221); contact Dr. John James at 301/435-2801 for details on the NIH Grant Line. All competing (new, renewal, amended (revised) applications for grants, cooperative agreements, and fellowships from the National Institutes of Health must be sent to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) ASKNIH is a service of the Division of Extramural Outreach & Information Resources, Office of Extramural Research, Office of the Director, NIH. ASKNIH is the point of contact for obtaining general information about NIH extramural research & research training programs, requesting publications, and learning more about obtaining the NIH GUIDE and other information on the NIH web site. ASKNIH is also the contact to which organizations should request application kits and forms. ASKNIH NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH EMAIL: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov FAX: (301) 480-0525 TELEPHONE: (301) 435-0714 INQUIRIES ABOUT THE NOTICES, PAS, AND RFAS IN THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE NIH STAFF MEMBER IDENTIFIED AT THE END OF EACH ITEM. 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. $$INDEX END ********************************************************* NOTICES $$N1 BEGIN NOT-97-004 FULL-TEXT ************************************* NOTICE OF LEGISLATIVE MANDATES CONTAINED IN THE OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED FISCAL YEAR 1997 APPROPRIATIONS ACT, P.L. 104-208, SIGNED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 P.T. 36; K.W. 1014006 National Institutes of Health The purpose of this notice is to provide information on the following statutory provisions that limit the use of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, cooperative agreement, and contract awards: (1) Continued Salary Limitation (Section 205) (2) Anti-Lobbying (Section 503) (3) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products (Section 506) (4) Acknowledgment of Federal Funding (Section 507) (5) Continued Ban on Funding of Human Embryo Research (Section 512) (6) ROTC Access and Federal Military Recruiting on Campus (Section 514) (1) CONTINUED SALARY LIMITATION (Section 205) None of the FY 1997 appropriated funds for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shall be used to pay the salary of an individual, through grant, cooperative agreement, or contract, at a rate in excess of $125,000 per year. The information contained in NIH Guide Vol. 24, No.2, January 20, 1995, remains in effect for FY 1997 awards. Applications and proposals with direct salaries for individuals in excess of $125,000 per year will be adjusted in accordance with the legislative salary limitation. (2) ANTI-LOBBYING (Section 503) Language in this Act contains Anti-Lobbying provisions prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to pay the salary or expenses of any grant, cooperative agreement, or contract recipient or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence legislation or appropriations pending before the Congress or any State legislature. The FY 1997 Appropriations Act specifically extends the prohibition on the use of grant, cooperative agreement and contract funds for lobbying any State legislature. (3) PURCHASE OF AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS (Section 506) It continues to be the sense of Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with grant, cooperative agreement, or contract funds should be American-made. (4) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING (Section 507) Section 507 mandates that all grantees funded with Federal dollars, in whole or in part, acknowledge Federal funding when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other documents. Grantees are required to state (1) the percentage and dollar amounts of the total program or project costs financed with Federal money, and (2) the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs financed by nongovernmental sources. This requirement is in addition to the continuing requirement to provide an acknowledgment of support and disclaimer on any publication reporting the results of a grant supported activity (PHS GPS p. 8-15). (5) CONTINUED BAN ON FUNDING OF HUMAN EMBRYO RESEARCH (Section 512) The FY 1997 Appropriations Act contains language identical to that contained in the FY 1996 Balanced Budget Downpayment Acts I (P.L. 104-99) that prohibits NIH from using appropriated funds to support human embryo research. Grant, cooperative agreement and contract funds may not be used for (1) the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or (2) research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under 45 CFR 46.208(a)(2) and Section 498(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289g(b)). The term ~human embryo or embryos~ include any organism, not protected as a human subject under 45 CFR 46 as of the date of the Act, that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes. (6) ROTC ACCESS AND FEDERAL MILITARY RECRUITING ON CAMPUS (Section 514) Section 514 of the Appropriations Act prohibits NIH from providing grant, cooperative agreement and contract funds to educational institutions that the Secretary of Defense determines have a policy or practice (regardless of when implemented) that either prohibits, or in effect prevents (1) the maintaining, establishing, or operation of a unit of the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps at the covered education entity; or (2) a student at the covered educational entity >From enrolling in a unit of the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps at another institution of higher education. Under the same section, NIH funding is denied to educational institutions that have a policy or practice that prohibits or prevents (1) entry to campuses, or access to students (who are 17 years of age or older) on campuses, for purposes of Federal military recruiting; or (2) access by military recruiters for purposes of Federal military recruiting to information pertaining to students (who are 17 years of age or older) enrolled at the covered educational entity. These provisions will take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Appropriations Act, by which date the Secretary of Defense shall have published final regulations in consultation with the Secretary of Education to carry out this section. INQUIRIES For more information concerning this notice or other policies relating to grants or contracts, refer to the Office of Extramural Research (OER) portion (http://www.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm) of the NIH Home Page (http://www.nih.gov). Appropriate links to related regulations and policies have been provided with the copy of this notice published on the OER portion of the NIH Home Page. If additional questions remain, contact your awarding grants or contracts management office in the NIH Institutes and Centers. $$N1 END ************************************************************ $$N2 BEGIN ********************************************************** NIGMS GUIDELINES NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 P.T. 22, 44; K.W. 0720005, 0710030 National Institute of General Medical Sciences The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) supports predoctoral and postdoctoral research training in the biomedical sciences under the auspices of the National Research Service Awards (NRSA) Act and through the programs and mechanisms listed below. This revision of the 1989 NIGMS training announcement describes, for the first time, how applicants can seek support for predoctoral programs that combine elements of two or more of the predoctoral areas specified. Several other recent changes in the predoctoral programs are described. INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING GRANTS (T32) Predoctoral The NIGMS accepts predoctoral research training grant applications >From eligible institutions for support of highly selected, promising individuals who seek biomedical research training in the areas specified below. It is the NIGMS goal in its predoctoral programs to provide trainees with broad access to research opportunities across disciplinary and departmental lines while maintaining high standards of depth and creativity. Cooperative involvement of faculty members >From several departments or doctoral degree programs is one essential aspect of this multidisciplinary emphasis. Another is breadth in the research training instruction, with regard to both the curriculum and laboratory rotations. Students are typically supported by the training grant for one to three years of graduate studies in Ph.D. programs or for two to six years in M.D.-Ph.D. programs. The NRSA limit of five years of support for predoctoral trainees can be waived, if strongly justified, for trainees in M.D.-Ph.D. programs. Following recent discussions on graduate education at meetings of the National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council, as well as at the National Research Council and elsewhere, NIGMS offers the following suggestions: o graduate programs supported by these training grants are encouraged to offer opportunities for interested trainees to obtain experience in teaching, o graduate programs are encouraged to offer opportunities for interested students to take industrial or other internships outside of the training institution, o graduate programs are encouraged to provide information to trainees and prospective applicants about career outcomes of recent graduates and to organize student seminars and workshops for discussions of career opportunities and options. As is currently the practice, predoctoral training grant applications will continue to be accepted in the Medical Scientist Training Program and in the seven Ph.D. support areas listed. In addition, the NIGMS recently has adopted a new option for the construction of grant applications for predoctoral training support. Training grant applications will now be accepted for graduate programs that combine two or more of the seven Ph.D. support areas listed. This change should facilitate the merger of existing training grant programs when the applicant determines this combination will remove barriers or improve access to multidisciplinary research training. It will also foster the development of new integrated programs from institutions that lack sufficient numbers of faculty in any one of the individual Ph.D. support areas. Institutions interested in following this new option should contact Dr. Norvell or other NIGMS staff as listed below Postdoctoral The NIGMS provides support for a small number of postdoctoral research training grants in more clinically related areas of research training and emphasizes the selection of M.D. degree holders as trainees for these programs. These postdoctoral training grants are limited to the support areas listed below. For these postdoctoral trainees, at least two years of rigorous research training should be provided, usually in basic science departments. For appropriate Ph.D. postdoctorals, training should focus on advanced and specialized areas of research and offer appropriate opportunities to study problems of clinical relevance. Programs for postdoctoral trainees should offer a range of research training opportunities as outlined below. Application Details All training grant applicants are expected to present detailed plans of the training program organization, criteria for trainee recruitment and selection, and mechanisms for evaluation of the quality and success of the training effort. Recruitment of trainees with a variety of undergraduate science backgrounds (or doctoral degree experiences for postdoctoral programs) is encouraged. The application should also give information on the qualifications of the proposed faculty participants, including their experience as trainers and their current research programs and support. Applicants must also describe their program plans and efforts to recruit individuals >From underrepresented minority groups as well as their success in recruitment, retention, and graduation of these individuals and must describe program plans to provide instruction in the responsible conduct of scientific research. The NIGMS training grant awards do not provide support for mixed predoctoral and postdoctoral research training. An application must request support for either predoctoral or postdoctoral research training. In general, only one award in each of the areas listed below will be made to an institution. This includes predoctoral applications from combined support areas. Information regarding dates of application and notification, trainee-related expenses, trainee eligibility, required payback provision, and current stipend information may be found in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 21, June 3, 1994. For general information about these institutional NRSA programs, contact: Dr. John C. Norvell Assistant Director for Research Training National Institute of General Medical Sciences 45 Center Drive MSC 6200 Bethesda, MD 20892-6200 Telephone: (301) 594-0533 Email, norvellj@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Before preparing an application, applicants are strongly urged to contact Dr. Norvell and the staff member who is responsible for the specific area of training. The contact person for the financial and grants management aspects of the training grant programs is Ms. Ruth C. Monaghan, Deputy Grants Management Officer, NIGMS; telephone, (301) 594-5135; email monaghar@gm1.nigms.nih.gov. Predoctoral Support Areas 1. Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences Training programs should be of a cross-disciplinary nature and involve in-depth study of biological problems at the level of the cellular and molecular sciences. The research training offered should encompass related disciplines, such as biochemistry, biophysics, chemistry, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular medicine, neurobiology, and pathology. These research opportunities should be available in the represented disciplines with faculty mentors from interacting departments and/or interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs. Dr. Marion Zatz Telephone: (301) 594-0943 Email: zatzm@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 2. Genetics Training programs in genetics should emphasize broad training in the principles and mechanisms of genetics and related sciences. Training in a variety of areas such as classical genetics, molecular genetics, population and behavioral genetics, and developmental genetics should be included. Programs may also include training and research opportunities in related disciplines such as biochemistry, cell biology, and statistics. These programs are generally expected to include faculty members in other disciplines, in addition to genetics. Dr. Marcus Rhoades Telephone: (301) 594-0943 Email: rhoadesm@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 3. Pharmacological Sciences Training programs in this area should be multidisciplinary and should emphasize exposure to the broadly-based field of pharmacological sciences. Individuals should receive training that will enable them to conduct research on the biological phenomena and related chemical and molecular processes involved in the actions of therapeutic drugs and their metabolites. Thesis research opportunities should be available with faculty members in a variety of disciplines, such as biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, cell biology, chemistry, medicinal chemistry, toxicology, as well as pharmacology. Students trained in this program should be able to contribute to the design and evaluation of therapeutic strategies based upon the competence they have acquired through specialized training in the pharmacological sciences. Dr. Rochelle Long Telephone: (301) 594-1826 Email: longr@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 4. Systems and Integrative Biology Training in this area should be directed toward building broad research competence required to investigate integrative, regulatory, and developmental processes of higher organisms and their functional components. The training program should bring together varied resources, approaches, and thesis research opportunities with faculty mentors of such disciplines/departments as physiology, biomedical engineering, and the neuro-and behavioral sciences, as well as biochemistry and cell and developmental biology. Graduates of the program should be well-versed in quantitative approaches to biology. Dr. Alison Cole Telephone: (301) 594-1826 Email: colea@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 5. Molecular Biophysics Multidisciplinary programs in this area are intended to provide training which focuses on the application of physics, mathematics, and chemistry to problems of biological structure, primarily at the atomic level. These programs should bring together faculty members >From departments such as chemistry, physics, and engineering with an interest in biologically related research with those faculty in biological science departments whose orientation is to the application of physical methods and concepts to biological systems. Dr. James Cassatt Telephone: (301) 594-0828 Email: cassattj@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 6. Biotechnology Training programs in this area should be multidisciplinary and focus on the applications of engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology to areas of basic biomedical research related to biotechnology. The programs should provide training that bridges the life sciences with the other sciences, and should involve the participation of faculty members from several departments/schools whose research emphases are on the areas mentioned above. Active participation by faculty members in engineering is particularly encouraged, as well as mechanisms to expose students to the biotechnology industry. Dr. Norka Ruiz Bravo Telephone: (301) 594-0943 Email: ruizbran@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 7. Chemistry - Biology Interface Training programs in this area should provide significant biological training to students receiving in-depth training in synthetic/mechanistic chemistry and provide significant training in synthetic/mechanistic chemistry to students being trained in depth in the biological sciences. It is expected that these programs will consist of faculty drawn from departments of chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and/or pharmaceutical chemistry and faculty from the biological disciplines, such as biochemistry, cellular biology, cell biology, immunology. Students trained at the chemistry-biology interface should be well-grounded in a core discipline and sufficiently well-trained in complementary fields to allow them to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team. Dr. Michael Rogers Telephone: (301) 594-3827 Email: rogersm@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 8. Medical Scientist Training Program Interdisciplinary programs in this training area should provide the integrated medical and graduate research training required for investigation relevant to diseases in man. The combination of Ph.D. and M.D. studies should be coordinated and should enhance both degrees. These programs should assure highly selected trainees a choice of a wide range of pertinent graduate programs in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences combined with training in medicine leading to the combined M.D.-Ph.D. degree. Programs are encouraged to provide a breadth of doctoral research training opportunities for MSTP trainees consistent with individual institutional strengths. In addition to the above disciplines, support of trainees in other disciplines such as computer sciences, social and behavioral sciences, economics, epidemiology, public health, bioengineering, biostatistics, and bioethics is appropriate. The proposed program should be flexible and adaptable in providing each trainee with the appropriate background in the sciences relevant to medicine and be rigorous enough to enable the individual to function independently in both basic research and clinical investigations. Dr. Bert Shapiro Telephone: (301) 594-3830 Email: shapirob@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Postdoctoral Support Areas 1. Medical Genetics Training programs should provide advanced and specialized research training in the principles of genetics with the goal of understanding human genetic disorders. Trainees, who will normally hold the M.D. degree, should be drawn from diverse backgrounds and should be offered opportunities for conducting research with faculty who represent a variety of approaches to genetics ranging from molecular genetics to human population genetics. Programs should provide rigorous training in basic or applied research, with an emphasis on human or medical genetic problems. For holders of the M.D. or other professional degrees, the program should provide training and research opportunities in areas of basic genetics. This training should build on, and complement, the trainee's clinical background. For holders of the Ph.D. degree, the research and training should be specifically designed to foster a career in human and medical genetics. Dr. Marcus Rhoades Telephone: (301) 594-0943 Email: rhoadesm@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 2. Clinical Pharmacology Individuals in these training programs should receive experience in the methodology and in the conduct of basic and clinical research to qualify them to investigate the effects and mechanisms of drug actions in humans. Trainees, most of whom would have the M.D. degree, will be expected to spend at least two years in the training program and should have the opportunity to acquire fundamental scientific knowledge and research techniques in areas such as basic pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology, molecular medicine and gene therapy, biostatistics, and other biomedical subdisciplines. For trainees with an M.D. or other professional degree, this experience should emphasize rigorous research training and complement their clinical backgrounds. For trainees with a Ph.D. degree, the research and training should be specifically designed to promote a career in clinical pharmacology. Dr. Alison Cole Telephone: (301) 594-1826 Email: colea@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 3. Trauma and Burn Multidisciplinary research training should be offered to postdoctoral trainees seeking to improve the understanding of the body's systemic responses to major injury and to foster the more rapid application of this knowledge to the treatment of trauma and burn-injured victims. The supervisory staff should include trauma surgeons and/or burn specialists as well as basic scientists. Trainees, most of whom would hold the M.D. degree, will be expected to spend at least two years in the training program and to apply such basic disciplines as biochemistry, physiology, immunology, microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical engineering, or behavioral sciences to the study of trauma. Dr. Scott Somers Telephone: (301) 594-5560 Email: somerss@gm1.nigms.nih.gov 4. Anesthesiology Training programs should offer training support to individuals with the M.D. degree who seek a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of anesthetic action. Trainees will be expected to spend at least two years in such basic science departments as pharmacology, physiology, or biochemistry to enable them to study the effects of anesthetic agents on the body at the level of the organ system as well as at the molecular and cellular level. Dr. Alison Cole Telephone: (301) 594-1826 Email: colea@gm1.nigms.nih.gov INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards (F32) The NIGMS is currently accepting individual NRSA pre- and postdoctoral fellowship applications from eligible individuals who seek advanced biomedical research training in broad areas related to the scientific programs of the NIGMS. Individuals holding an M.D. degree, as well as those holding a Ph.D. degree, are encouraged to apply. Information regarding dates of application and notification, tenure, stipend, eligibility, and payback requirements may be found in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 15, April 15, 1994. For additional general information about the individual National Research Service Postdoctoral Awards, contact: Dr. Michael Martin National Institute of General Medical Sciences 45 Center Drive MSC 6200 Bethesda, MD 20892-3910 Telephone: (301) 594-7753 Email: martinm@gm1.nigms.nih.gov For information specific to the listed program areas, call the indicated staff member. Anesthesiology: Dr. Alison Cole Telephone: (301) 594-1826 Email: colea@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Biochemistry: Dr. Peter Preusch Telephone: (301) 594-1832 Email: preuschp@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Biomedical Engineering: Dr. James Cassatt Telephone: (301) 594-0828 Email: cassattj@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Bio-related Chemistry: Dr. Peter Preusch Telephone: (301) 594-1832 Email: preuschp@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Dr. Pamela Marino Telephone: (301) 594-5560 Email: marinop@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Biotechnology: Dr. James Anderson Telephone: (301) 594-0943 Email: andersoj@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Cell Biology: Dr. James Deatherage Telephone: (301) 594-3832 Email: deatherj@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Clinical Pharmacology: Dr. Alison Cole Telephone: (301) 594-1826 Email: colea@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Genetics and Developmental Biology: Dr. James Anderson Telephone: (301) 594-0943 Email: andersoj@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Dr. Paul Wolfe Telephone: (301) 594-0943 Email: wolfep@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Molecular Biophysics: Dr. James Cassatt Telephone: (301) 594-0828 Email: cassattj@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Pharmacological Sciences, Physiological Sciences, and Trauma and Burn Dr. Alison Cole Telephone: (301) 594-1826 Email: colea@gm1.nigms.nih.gov Predoctoral Fellowship Awards for Minority Students (F31) The MORE Division administers and manages the NIGMS portfolio of Predoctoral Fellowship awards for Minority Students. These trans-NIH fellowships are individual National Research Service Awards made to minorities who are underrepresented in the biomedical research arena to help them pursue a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. Support is not available for individuals enrolled in medical or other professional schools unless they are enrolled in a combined professional degree-Ph.D. program such as the M.D.-Ph.D. A maximum of five years of support may be requested. NIGMS will also provide tuition allowance, fees, and trainee-related expenses such as research supplies and equipment. (See the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 24, No. 5, February 10, 1995.) Predoctoral Fellowship Awards for Students with Disabilities (F31) The NIGMS has a portfolio of Predoctoral Fellowship awards for students with disabilities. These trans-NIH fellowships are individual NRSAs made to students with disabilities to help them pursue a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. support is not available for individuals enrolled in medical or other professional schools unless they are enrolled in a combined professional degree-Ph.D. program such as the M.D.-Ph.D. A maximum of five years of support may be requested. NIGMS will also provide tuition allowance, fees, and trainee-related expenses such as research supplies and equipment. (See NIH Guide, Vol. 24, No. 5, February 10, 1995) For additional information, contact: Dr. Tony Rene National Institute of General Medical Sciences 45 Center Drive, MSC 6200 Bethesda, MD 20892-3910 Telephone: (301) 594-3833 Email: rene@gm1.nigms.nih.gov MINORITY ACCESS TO RESEARCH CAREERS PROGRAM The Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program supports several research training programs. Its goals are to increase the number and capabilities of scientists from underrepresented minorities who are engaged in biomedical research. These training programs are intended to strengthen science curricula and student research opportunities at institutions with substantial minority enrollment in order to prepare minority students for research careers. For additional information on all MARC Program grants, contact Dr. Adolphus Toliver, Chief, MARC Branch; telephone (301) 594-3900; e-mail, tolivera@gm1.nigms.nih.gov. 1. MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research Grants MARC's new Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U*STAR) grant replaces the MARC Honors Undergraduate Research Training Program. The emphasis of the U*STAR program is on the goals and specific measurable objectives which the applicant institution sets for itself in fulfilling the objectives of the program. These grants are offered to 4-year colleges, universities, and health professional schools with substantial enrollment of such ethnic minorities as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders. These grants support research training for undergraduate honors students in their third and fourth years and are intended to prepare these students to compete successfully for entry into graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. degree in a biomedical science. Honors programs should be designed to augment and enhance science curricula, faculty skills, and student laboratory experiences. In addition to a stipend, tuition, and limited travel costs for trainees, funds are provided for consultants, personnel, staff travel, and essential research training equipment and supplies. Arrangements should be made for special training during the summer recesses at research universities and laboratories other than those of the grantee institution. (See the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 25, No. 6, March 1, 1996. Current stipend information may be found in Vol. 23, No. 21, June 3, 1994.) 2. MARC Predoctoral Fellowships These fellowships are individual National Research Service Awards made to outstanding graduates of the former MARC Honors Undergraduate Research Training Program and the current MARC U*STAR Program to help them to pursue a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. Support is not available for individuals enrolled in medical or other professional schools unless they are enrolled in a combined professional degree/Ph.D. program such as the MD/Ph.D. A maximum of five years of support may be requested. NIGMS will also provide tuition, fees, and trainee-related expenses to the predoctoral fellow's sponsoring institution to help defray such trainee expenses as research supplies and equipment. 3. MARC Predoctoral Faculty Fellowships Fellowships are made to eligible faculty at minority or minority- serving institutions who lack the Ph.D. degree. These awards may provide support for a maximum of five years. Fellows may train at any private or public institution (the training institution) in the United States with suitable research facilities, which is not the Fellow's home institution. After completion of their training, Fellows are expected to return to their home institutions. Stipends are based on the current salary of the applicant, but not to exceed the stipend of a level 1 postdoctoral fellow. (See the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 7, February 18, 1994.) 4. MARC Faculty Senior Fellowships Fellowships are made to eligible faculty at minority or minority serving institutions to provide them the opportunity to update their research skills and/or move into new areas of research through a year long period of intensive research in a state-of-the-art research environment. Fellows are expected to return to their home institutions after completion of their training period. Annual stipends are equal to the applicant's actual annual salary, but cannot exceed the stipend of a level seven postdoctoral fellow. (See the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 7, February 18, 1994.) 5. MARC Visiting Scientist Fellowships The MARC Visiting Scientist Program provides funds for a scientist-teacher from a major research institution to spend up to one year working at an eligible minority institution. Awards may range from one academic quarter to a full year. Salary support is determined on an individual basis. (See the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts - Vol. 18, No. 12, April 7, 1989.) AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants made under the authority of Section 487 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act as amended and administered under Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 66. $$N2 END ************************************************************ $$N3 BEGIN ********************************************************** PREAPPLICATION MEETING FOR THE WOMEN'S INTERAGENCY HIV STUDY DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS CENTER NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 P.T. 34, II; 0715008, 0755018 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will hold a preapplication meeting concerning the Request for Applications (RFA) AI-97-001, Women's Interagency HIV Study Data Management and Analysis Center. Issues to be discussed include application and review procedures, program goals and objectives, the technical requirements of the data center, and the assessment of the scope of work. Time will be allocated for questions and answers. The meeting will be held in the Solar Building, Conference Room 1A1, 6003 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland. The meeting will be on Wednesday, February 19, 1997 and will start at 10:00am and will adjourn at 4:00pm. This meeting is open to the public and all interested parties are encouraged to attend. A summary of written questions and responses from the preapplication meeting, together with responses to questions received in writing by February 14, 1997 will be furnished to all prospective applicants who have requested the RFA and/or submitted a LETTER OF INTENT. INQUIRIES For further information, contact: Paolo Miotti, M.D., M.P.H Division of AIDS National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Telephone: (301) 402-0135 FAX: (301) 402-3211 Email: PM122M@NIH.GOV If attending the meeting contact: Ms. Maggaline Robinson Division of AIDS National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Telephone: (301) 402-0135 FAX: (301) 402-3211 Email: MR26K@NIH.GOV $$N3 END ************************************************************ NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs/RFAs/PAs) $$R1 BEGIN ES-97-001 FULL-TEXT ************************************** MODULATION BY GROWTH FACTORS AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAYS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-INDUCED DISEASE/DYSFUNCTION NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 RFA AVAILABLE: ES-97-001 P.T. 34; K.W. 0760020, 1007003, 0765014 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 18, 1997 Application Receipt Date: May 16, 1997 PURPOSE The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) invites research project grant (R01) applications focusing on the modulation by growth factors and by elements within signal transduction pathways in environmentally-induced altered gene function/expression. Accordingly, the objective of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to encourage innovative, mechanistically based research to elucidate how growth factors modulate environmentally induced altered gene expression; and conversely, how environmental agents alter or modulate the function of growth factors and the cellular signaling cascades. Studies are encouraged to determine the impact of environmental agents on the function of growth factors and growth factor receptors. Research may be aimed at gaining a better understanding of the molecular basis of tissue-specific and stage- specific gene expression of growth factors and their receptors following xenobiotic exposure, e.g., to identify and characterize factors that control cell specificity of gene expression and to utilize these cell-specific elements to explore the physiological consequences. New approaches may be developed to understand the modulation of cellular signaling pathways that lead to the xenobiotic-induced health effects. In addition, studies may be designed to improve our understanding of the correlation between chemical induction or suppression of programmed cell death or apoptosis and subsequent health consequences. Applications using the NIH individual research project grant (R01) award mechanism will be accepted in response to this RFA. The requested direct costs may not exceed $200,000 per year. The total estimated funds available for the first year of support for the entire program is $1,500,000. The anticipated number of awards is six. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, Modulation by Growth Factors and Signal Transduction Pathways of Environmentally-Induced Disease/Dysfunction, is related to the priority area of environmental health. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017- 001-00474-0 or Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). INQUIRIES The RFA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Jose Velazquez, Ph.D., Program Administrator Chemical Exposures and Molecular Biology Branch National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, 111 Alexander Drive, MD-3-04 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-4500 FAX: (919) 541-4937 Email: velazqu1@niehs.nih.gov $$R1 END ************************************************************ $$P1 BEGIN PA-97-034 FULL-TEXT ************************************** ROLE OF TOBACCO DEPENDENCE IN ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PA-97-034 P.T. 34; K.W. 0404001, 0404003 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism PURPOSE The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is seeking research grant applications to study the alcohol tobacco interaction in its implications for alcoholism treatment. The objective of this program announcement (PA) is to encourage research that will lead to improved strategies for treating alcohol and nicotine dependence in patients receiving care for problem drinking. Such research may identify and test relevant clinical intervention strategies; identify interactions between the two substances that have implications for relapse prevention, or further understanding of the alcoholism treatment process by investigating reinforcement mechanisms underlying conjoint abuse of the two substances. Research support may be obtained through applications for a regular research project grant (R01), First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) award, or exploratory/developmental (R21) grant. 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 program announcement, Role of Tobacco Dependence in Alcoholism Treatment, is related to the priority areas of alcohol abuse reduction and alcoholism treatment. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0, 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). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Joanne Fertig, Ph.D. Division of Clinical and Prevention Research National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402 MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-0796 FAX: (301) 443-8744 Email: jfertig@willco.niaaa.nih.gov $$P1 END ************************************************************ $$P2 BEGIN PAR-97-035 FULL-TEXT ************************************* PILOT GRANTS IN BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE OF AGING NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PAR-97-035 P.T. 34; K.W.. 0710010, 0404000 National Institute on Aging PURPOSE The Behavioral and Social Research Program (BSR) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is seeking small grant (R03) applications to stimulate and facilitate research in underdeveloped topics in the behavioral and social sciences of aging. This small grant (R03) program provides support for pilot research that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research project grant (R01) or a First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) award application and/or a significant advancement of aging research. These R03 projects include, but are not limited to, research that is innovative and/or high risk. 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 Program Announcement, Pilot Grants in Behavioral and Social Science of Aging, is related to is related to several priority areas applicable to aging. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Jared B. Jobe, Ph.D. Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 533 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-3137 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Jared_Jobe@NIH.GOV $$P2 END ************************************************************ $$P3 BEGIN PA-97-036 FULL-TEXT ************************************** BASIC RESEARCH ON THE METABOLISM OF IRON CHELATION NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PA-97-036 P.T. 34; K.W. 0765030, 0765035, 0740020, 1003002 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases PURPOSE The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), through its Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases, supports fundamental and applied research aimed at understanding the fundamental processes underlying the normal and pathologic function of blood cells and the blood forming system. The purpose of this program announcement is to stimulate basic research on the biochemistry of iron chelation in iron overloaded patients. Transfusional iron overload is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with thalassemia (Cooley's anemia). These patients urgently need a safe, inexpensive, orally active chelating agent which effectively promotes iron excretion. This program announcement seeks to encourage research applications that would improve the basic understanding of iron chelation, and thus would facilitate the development of new iron chelating drugs. Included within the scope of this program announcement are studies on the pathophysiology of iron overload, determination of the level of iron which is harmful to patients, development of new means for the measurement of iron overload (particularly non-invasive means), and investigation of the cellular origin, biochemistry, and regulation of serum ferritin, which currently is the most widely used clinical measure of iron status. 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. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000 (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The full test of this PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), the NIDDK Website (http://www.niddk.nih.gov), and by mail or email from the program official contact listed below. David G. Badman, Ph.D. Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 45 Center Drive, Room 6AS-13C MSC 6600 Bethesda, MD 20892-6600 Telephone: (301) 594-7717 FAX: (301) 480-3510 Email: David_Badman@nih.gov $$P3 END ************************************************************ From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 09 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA ES-97-001 - V26(04) 02/07/97 Date: 10 Feb 1997 15:39:50 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 361 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5dobk6$mv2@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net MODULATION BY GROWTH FACTORS AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAYS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-INDUCED DISEASE/DYSFUNCTION NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 4, February 7, 1997 RFA: ES-97-001 P.T. 34; K.W. 0760020, 1007003, 0765014 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 18, 1997 Application Receipt Date: May 16, 1997 PURPOSE Historically, the elimination of toxic agents from the environment has dominated the field of prevention. Although the causes of certain human diseases are known, explicit preventive strategies still cannot be offered for avoidance of numerous risk factors associated with many types of disease sequelae. Recently, control strategies involving a more mechanistic approach derived from chemical and biological research have received more emphasis. The objective of the strategies is eventual intervention through preventive/protection or other active means of modulating the risk factors. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has posed as one of its major goals of the 1990s the development of an effectual knowledge base that would equip clinicians to effectively treat people who are affected adversely by exposure to environmental agents. The mechanistic knowledge of environmental agent impact on the genome exists, either in actuality or conceptually; therefore, through the coupling with recent advances in molecular biology, the capability exists to intercede or modulate environmentally-induced toxic effects. Accordingly, the objective of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to encourage innovative, mechanistically based research to elucidate how growth factors modulate environmentally induced altered gene functions; and conversely, how environmental agents alter or modulate the function of growth factors and the cellular signaling cascades. Information derived from these studies opens the possibility of developing therapeutic strategies to protect normal tissues from environmental toxicants. The NIEHS is the principal Federal funding agency that supports research examining human health consequences of exposure to physical and chemical toxicants in the environment. Research supported by NIEHS spans many disciplines, including toxicology, molecular and cellular biology, epidemiology, and clinical research. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000", a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, "Modulation by Growth Factors and Signal Transduction Pathways of Environmentally Induced Disease/Dysfunction" is related to the priority area of environmental health. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017- 001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintended of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone:(202) 512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, for profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, unit of State or local governments and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Applications from minority individuals and women are encouraged. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT This RFA will use the NIH individual research project grant (R01) award mechanism. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant. The requested direct costs submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed $200,000 per year. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. FUNDS AVAILABLE The total estimated funds available for the first year of support for the entire program are expected to be $1,500,000 in fiscal year 1997. Although the actual number may vary, the anticipated number of awards is four to six. The level of support is dependent on the receipt of sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. Although this program is provided for within the financial plans of the NIEHS, awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background NIEHS has a continued commitment to stimulating research activities in the area of molecular intervention. Studies began in 1993 that focused on the use of molecular biomarkers as intermediate markers or endpoints to monitor the development, exacerbation or treatment of environmentally-induced diseases in clinical studies. These studies included biomarkers of inflammation in lung disease patients occupationally exposed to grain dust and endotoxins, immune markers in environmentally-induced asthma, biomarkers of dioxin-related compounds in humans and animals, molecular markers of response in beryllium-induced lung disease, and the development of markers to be used to measure success in interventional studies of lead in adults. As the results from these and other studies unfold, they will begin to have an impact on the Institute's research strategy to intervene at the molecular level in environmentally induced disease/dysfunction. Because of the diversity of this research area, this is the second such announcement; its focus is on the modulation of growth factors and by elements within signal transduction pathways in environmentally-induced altered gene function/expression. RESEARCH GOALS This RFA is part of a larger program, the "Molecular Interventions for Environmentally-Induced Disease Prevention". NIEHS's molecular intervention initiative is an element of the basic research agenda for Healthy People 2000, and is related to the national strategy for significantly improving the health of the Nation during the current decade. This initiative is aimed at encouraging investigator-initiated research to study basic molecular, biochemical, cellular, and structural mechanisms in the modulation of environmentally induced diseases or disorders. It is anticipated that these investigations will allow for innovative approaches in understanding the mechanism of the xenobiotic-induced molecular alterations in specific target cells and organs germaine to modulating gene expression, specifically by growth factors and/or signal transduction pathways. These studies would undoubtedly contribute to the development of specific therapies designed to amplify or decrease the susceptibility of individual cell types to specific environmental agents, and could form the basis for treatment of a variety of human diseases or disorders. Collaborative research efforts between investigators of the environmental health research community and molecular and structural biologists, molecular modeling scientists, and clinicians are especially encouraged. It is widely recognized that the response to cell damage is highly complex in its control and regulation, and includes direct interactions of xenobiotics with extracellular components, modulations of cell signaling pathways, transcriptional induction, cell cycle arrest, and effects on DNA structure and function. The following examples of research interest are not intended to be complete, and investigators may study these and other topics that meet the objectives of this RFA: o Studies targeted at determining how growth factors and their receptors modulate environmentally-induced altered gene function and structure; o Studies aimed at understanding how cellular signaling pathways modulate xenobiotic-induced gene expression; o Studies designed to improve our understanding of the correlation between chemical induction or suppression of programmed cell death or apoptosis, specifically as related to the use of this understanding in the potential modulation of such actions; o Research aimed at gaining a better understanding of the molecular and structural basis of tissue-specific and stage-specific gene expression of growth factors and their receptors following xenobiotic exposure, e.g., to identify and characterize factors that control cell specificity of gene expression and to utilize these cell- specific elements to explore the physiological consequences. To be responsive to this RFA, investigators should be able to illustrate how their proposed studies could contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent or ameliorate environmentally induced diseases or dysfunctions. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Annual meetings, to be held in Research Triangle Park, NC, are planned for the exchange of information among investigators. Applicants must budget travel costs associated with these meetings in their applications. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by April 18, 1997, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address and telephone number of the principal investigator, the identities of other key personnel and consultants, the 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 application, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. It allows NIEHS staff to estimate the potential review work load and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Ethel B. Jackson, D.D.S. Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O.Box 12233 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Building 17, Room 1716 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-7826 FAX: (919) 541-2503 Email: jackson4@niehs.nih.gov APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be used in applying for these grants. Applications kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained >From the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.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 and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and three signed, clear , and single sided photocopies in one package to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS 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 must be sent to: Ethel B. Jackson, D.D.S. Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O.Box 12233 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Building 17, Room 1716 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Applications must be received by May 16, 1997. If an application is received after that date, the DRG may contact the applicant to determine whether it will be returned to the applicant or be reviewed with unsolicited applications for the next regular receipt date. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The DRG will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not include the submission of substantial revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction addressing the previous critique. The following is the schedule planned for this initiative. It should be noted that this schedule may be changed without notification due to factors that were unanticipated at the time of the RFA. Contact the program official listed under INQUIRIES regarding any changes in the schedule. Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 18, 1997 Application Receipt Date: May 16, 1997 Initial Scientific Review: July 21-22, 1997 Advisory Council Review: September 1997 Anticipated Date of Funding: September 1997 REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications that are complete and responsive to this RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIEHS in accordance with NIH peer review procedures. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National Environmental Health Sciences Advisory Council. Applications considered non-responsive to the RFA will be returned to the applicant for submission through the competitive mechanism. Review Criteria The following criteria will be considered: o scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of the proposed research; o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research; o qualifications and research experience of the Principal Investigator and key personnel; o availability of resources necessary to perform the research; and o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research. AWARD CRITERIA The anticipated date of award is September 1997. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; o availability of funds; and o program balance among research areas of the announcement. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquires concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcomed. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Jose Velazquez, Ph.D. Chemical Exposures and Molecular Biology Branch National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233, 104 Alexander Drive, MD-3-04 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-4998 FAX: (919) 541-4937 Email: velazqu1@niehs.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Mr. David L. Mineo Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-1373 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.93.113, 93.114, and 93.15. 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, 43 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS 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 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. From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Mon Feb 10 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NSF - Summary of new documents on STIS, 8 February 1997 Date: 10 Feb 1997 16:02:45 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 97 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5docv5$q11@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net This message contains a summary of the documents added to the NSF STIS system for the week ending February 8, 1997. Reference material concerning STIS follows the summary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** NEW DOCUMENTS ON STIS ** Document Type: News Title: RELEASE OF PRESIDENT'S FY 1998 BUDGET REQUEST File size (bytes): 1304 STIS Filename: ma973.txt Document Type: Press Release Title: Scientists Correct Microscope "Vision Problem" File size (bytes): 3222 STIS Filename: pr976.txt Document Type: Recruit Title: Student Trainee (Auditor) File size (bytes): 5153 STIS Filename: vcep9733.txt Title: Student Trainee (Auditor) File size (bytes): 5152 STIS Filename: vgs9733.txt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** UPDATES TO EXISTING STIS DOCUMENTS ** Document Type: Letter Title: REULIST -- Current List of REU Sites File size (bytes): 90288 STIS Filename: reulist.txt Title: REULIST -- Current List of REU Sites File size (bytes): 90288 STIS Filename: reulist.txt Document Type: Phone Book Title: NSF Alphabetical Telephone Directory File size (bytes): 113894 STIS Filename: phnalpha.txt Also available: phnalpha.dlm Title: NSF Organization Directory File size (bytes): 128319 STIS Filename: phnorg.txt Document Type: Press Release Title: Major Changes in Mineral Chemistry and Properties at High Pressures Seen File size (bytes): 4193 STIS Filename: pr975.txt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** FOR YOUR REFERENCE (updated 8/23/96) ** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOW TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTS We are currently migrating to a completely Web-based information dissemination system. Please visit our Web site at the following URL: http://www.nsf.gov/ The above files refer to the STIS system, which is being replaced. If you are familiar with STIS, you can use the information above to retrieve these files: Documents via E-mail: Send a message to stisserve@nsf.gov Use the "STIS Filename" shown above in the "get" command. For example, to retrieve pr975.txt, the text of your message should be as follows: get pr975.txt Anonymous FTP: FTP to stis.nsf.gov. Use the "STIS Filename" shown above to retrieve a file. For example, to retrieve pr975.txt, you would enter: ftp> get pr975.txt If you want a *printed* copy of a document: Send your name and postal mailing address, and the document title and number to "pubs@nsf.gov". If you have problems with the above procedures: Send a message to "stis@nsf.gov". From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Sun Feb 16 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NSF - Summary of new documents on STIS, 15 February 1997 Date: 17 Feb 1997 15:23:30 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 120 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5eap9i$fa1@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net This message contains a summary of the documents added to the NSF STIS system for the week ending February 15, 1997. Reference material concerning STIS follows the summary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** NEW DOCUMENTS ON STIS ** Document Type: Press Release Title: Making the `Multimedia Future' A Reality: NSF Center Links Holloywood with Silicon Valley File size (bytes): 5974 STIS Filename: pr9712.txt Title: Science Takes Center Stage: OSCAR Recognizes NSF-Supported Films File size (bytes): 3658 STIS Filename: pr9713.txt Title: World's Most Innovative GPS Network to Monitor Southern California's Earthquake Faults File size (bytes): 4158 STIS Filename: pr979.txt Document Type: Recruit Title: Selective Placement Talent Bank File size (bytes): 5819 STIS Filename: vgs971d.txt Title: Auditor File size (bytes): 9351 STIS Filename: vgs9734.txt Title: Auditor File size (bytes): 9508 STIS Filename: vgs9735.txt Title: Summer Job Opportunities File size (bytes): 8339 STIS Filename: vgs9736.txt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** UPDATES TO EXISTING STIS DOCUMENTS ** Document Type: Committees Title: NSF Advisory Committee Meetings File size (bytes): 10277 STIS Filename: cmmtg.txt Document Type: Letter Title: REULIST -- Current List of REU Sites File size (bytes): 101372 STIS Filename: reulist.txt Title: REULIST -- Current List of REU Sites File size (bytes): 101372 STIS Filename: reulist.txt Title: REULIST -- Current List of REU Sites File size (bytes): 101372 STIS Filename: reulist.txt Document Type: Phone Book Title: NSF Alphabetical List File size (bytes): 114182 STIS Filename: phnalpha.txt Also available: phnalpha.dlm Title: NSF Organization Directory File size (bytes): 126983 STIS Filename: phnorg.txt Document Type: Press Release Title: World's Most Innovative GPS Network to Monitor Southern California's Earthquake Faults File size (bytes): 4158 STIS Filename: pr979.txt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ** FOR YOUR REFERENCE (updated 8/23/96) ** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOW TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTS We are currently migrating to a completely Web-based information dissemination system. Please visit our Web site at the following URL: http://www.nsf.gov/ The above files refer to the STIS system, which is being replaced. If you are familiar with STIS, you can use the information above to retrieve these files: Documents via E-mail: Send a message to stisserve@nsf.gov Use the "STIS Filename" shown above in the "get" command. For example, to retrieve pr979.txt, the text of your message should be as follows: get pr979.txt Anonymous FTP: FTP to stis.nsf.gov. Use the "STIS Filename" shown above to retrieve a file. For example, to retrieve pr979.txt, you would enter: ftp> get pr979.txt If you want a *printed* copy of a document: Send your name and postal mailing address, and the document title and number to "pubs@nsf.gov". If you have problems with the above procedures: Send a message to "stis@nsf.gov". From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Mon Feb 17 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH Guide, vol. 26, no. 05, pt. 1of1, 14 February 1997 Date: 18 Feb 1997 14:14:00 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 574 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ed9j8$5b5@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net NIH GUIDE - Vol. 26, No. 5 - February 14, 1997 $$INDEX BEGIN ******************************************************* NOTICES $$INDEX N1 ********************************************************** ADDENDUM - MEDICAL AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT (PA-96-010) National Institute on Drug Abuse INDEX: DRUG ABUSE $$INDEX N2 ********************************************************** NIDA SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE NIH CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS (K AWARDS) National Institute on Drug Abuse INDEX: DRUG ABUSE NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs/RFAs/PAs) $$INDEX R1 04/23/97 ************************************************* RAT GENE CATALOG AND EXPRESSED SEQUENCE TAG (EST) MAP (RFA HL-97-004) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute National Human Genome Research Institute National Cancer Institute National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute of Dental Research National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke INDEX: HEART, LUNG, BLOOD; HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH; CANCER; MENTAL HEALTH; CHILD HEALTH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; DIABETES, DIGESTIVE, KIDNEY DISEASES; DRUG ABUSE; ALCOHOL ABUSE, ALCOHOLISM; DEAFNESS, OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS; DENTAL RESEARCH; ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES; NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, STROKE $$INDEX P1 ********************************************************** PILOT GRANTS IN BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE OF AGING (PAR-97-037) National Institute on Aging INDEX: AGING The NIH GUIDE is available electronically via LISTSERV subscription, and is also on the nih gopher (gopher.nih.gov) and the NIH web site (http://www.nih.gov). Alternative access is available through the NIH Grant Line via modem (data line 301/402-2221); contact Dr. John James at 301/435-2801 for details on the NIH Grant Line. All competing (new, renewal, amended (revised) applications for grants, cooperative agreements, and fellowships from the National Institutes of Health must be sent to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) ASKNIH is a service of the Division of Extramural Outreach & Information Resources, Office of Extramural Research, Office of the Director, NIH. ASKNIH is the point of contact for obtaining general information about NIH extramural research & research training programs, requesting publications, and learning more about obtaining the NIH GUIDE and other information on the NIH web site. ASKNIH is also the contact to which organizations should request application kits and forms. ASKNIH NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH EMAIL: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov FAX: (301) 480-0525 TELEPHONE: (301) 435-0714 INQUIRIES ABOUT THE NOTICES, PAS, AND RFAS IN THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE NIH STAFF MEMBER IDENTIFIED AT THE END OF EACH ITEM. 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. $$INDEX END ********************************************************* NOTICES $$N1 BEGIN ********************************************************** ADDENDUM - MEDICAL AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT (PA-96-010) NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 5, February 14, 1997 P.T. 34; K.W. 0404009, 0765034, 0785055, 0755030 National Institute on Drug Abuse PURPOSE This notice is an addendum to program announcement Medical and Health Consequences of Drug Abuse, PA-96-010, published in the NIH Guide, Vol. 24, No. 42, December 8, 1995. The purpose of this addendum is to encourage research on the occurrence and distribution of drug-abuse related morbidity and mortality in both clinical and large population-based epidemiologic studies, as well as clinical studies of the natural history and etiology of morbidity and mortality associated with drug abuse. This includes surveillance studies, such as incidence and prevalence studies in general populations or subpopulations of drug users, as well as biomedical studies within clinical settings, such as primary care or drug treatment programs. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Systematic efforts are needed to respond to a lack of current information on the morbidity and mortality associated with patterns of drug abuse. Data on morbidity and mortality are needed on the infectious, neurologic, psychiatric, obstetric/gynecological, neonatal, and other pathophysiological consequences of drug abuse. The need for new data arises in part from multiple dynamic factors which influence drug abuse related morbidity and mortality. Such factors include: 1) the availability of new drugs and drug combinations, 2) routes of drug administration, 3) hygienic practices, 4) drug-related violent behaviors, 5) access, utilization, and availability of care, 6) emergence of new pathogens and resistance patterns, and 7) drug abuse patterns related to cultural, immigration and travel patterns. Types of currently funded studies appropriate for supplementation include: 1) Cohort studies of drug users which are examining the natural history of HIV disease in both seronegatives and seropositives; 2) Large population-based studies of the treatment careers or natural history of drug abuse 3) Health services research studies of access, availability, utilization, and effectiveness of medical and mental health services to drug users; 4) Community outreach and intervention studies which identify populations of active drug users otherwise difficult to access through drug treatment or primary care; and 5) Community epidemiology studies focused on identifying emerging patterns of drug abuse and/or HIV/AIDS. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS BUDGET/ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES There are no set-aside funds for this effort. Funding for the supplements is subject to availability of research program grant funds. Competing supplements are provided for expansion of a project's scope or the research protocol. These are treated as new applications for purposes of the review requirements and competition for funds, and are reviewed in accordance with NIH standard procedures, i.e., peer review/council review. Competing renewal supplement requests must be submitted in accordance with standard receipt dates; March 1, July 1, and November 1. Administrative supplements are provided to cover unanticipated cost increases that are associated with achieving the objectives within the original scope of a project, and include cost increases that result from making modifications in the scope of a project in order to take advantage of opportunities that would increase the value of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes. Administrative supplemental funding is generally limited to 25 percent of the Council-approved direct costs of the project or $100,000, whichever is less. These applications undergo program, grants management, and budget review within NIDA and may be submitted for the remainder of FY 1997, but no later than August 1, 1997. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this announcement are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issue or questions from potential applicants are welcome. For programmatic issues, contact: Jag Khalsa, Ph.D. Division of Clinical and Services Research National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-08 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-1801 FAX: (301) 594-6566 Email: jk98p@nih.gov For fiscal matters, contact: Gary Fleming, J.D., M.A. Grants Management Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8A-54 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-6710 Email: gf6s@nih.gov $$N1 END ************************************************************ $$N2 BEGIN ********************************************************** NIDA SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE NIH CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS (K AWARDS) NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 5, February 14, 1997 P.T. 34; K.W. 0710030, 0785035, 1014006, 0404009 National Institute on Drug Abuse PURPOSE This clarification to NIDA Supplemental Information (published in the NIH Guide, Vol. 24, No. 32, September 1, 1995) to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) career development program announcements (K Awards) is intended to provide additional information for potential applicants on the unique aspects of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) career development programs. Two sections have been added -- renewal of K02 and eligibility requirements of the K01. The NIH program announcements addressed by this supplement are the following: o PA-95-049: Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) o PA-95-050: Independent Scientist Award (K02) o PA-95-051: Senior Scientist Award (K05) o PA-95-053: Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) o PA-95-054: Mentored Clinical Scientists Development Program Award (K12) The guidelines and procedures outlined in the NIH program announcements must be followed closely when an application is being prepared for submission to the NIDA. Particular attention should be paid to the purpose of each award mechanism, its eligibility requirements, and its review considerations. For example, the K12 program mechanism will accommodate the research career pathways of clinicians in fields related to NIDA's research mission. Under the K12 award, support will be provided to eligible institutions to develop or enhance research training opportunities for clinicians selected by the institution, who are training for careers as independent researchers in the drug abuse and addiction area of biomedical and behavioral research. The K12 mechanism is designed to foster the development of advanced clinical research skills through didactic training and the mentored research experience. Potential applicants should contact appropriate NIDA staff for further information. Supplemental Information for NIDA Applicants The RESEARCH OBJECTIVES section of each program announcement should be followed carefully during the preparation of an application. Note especially that differences exist among various NIH Institutes regarding allowable costs. The unique aspects of NIDA allowable costs, specifically in the categories of salary (all Ks) and research development support (K01, K08), are listed below. Salary The NIDA contribution to the Principal Investigator's salary is geared to the institutional base salary as follows: Institutional Base Salary NIDA Contribution o Up to $45,000 100% of institutional base o $45,001 to $60,000 $45,000 o $60,001 and over 75% of institutional base salary, Up to $75,000 Research Development Support (K01, K08) The NIDA allows for funds up to $50,000 per year for research related costs outlined in each program announcement. Renewals (K02) The Independent Scientist Award (K02) is renewable one time only. Eligibility Requirements (K01) A candidate for the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) may not concurrently apply for any other PHS award that duplicates the provisions of this award nor have another application pending award. INQUIRIES Consultation with NIDA staff is encouraged especially during the planning phase of the application. Below are the names of the NIDA staff who can provide further information: Timothy P. Condon, Ph.D. Office of Science Policy and Communications National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-55 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-6072 FAX: (301) 443-6277 Email: TC52X@NIH.GOV Lucinda L. Miner, Ph.D. Office of Science Policy and Communications Telephone: (301) 443-6071 Email: CM171W@NIH.GOV Charles W. Sharp, Ph.D. Basic Research Parklawn Building, Room 10A-31 Telephone: (301) 443-lB87 FAX: (301) 594-6043 Email: CS107M@NIH.GOV Arthur Horton, Ed.D. Clinical and Services Research Parklawn Building, Room 10A-30 Telephone: (301) 443-4060 FAX: (301) 443-2317 Email: AH6lX@NIH.GOV Ann Blanken Epidemiology and Prevention Research Parklawn Building, Room 9A-55 Telephone: (301) 443-6S43 FAX: (301) 443-9847 Email: AB108V@NIH.GOV Jamie Biswas, Ph.D. Medications Development Parklawn Building, Room llA-55 Telephone: (301) 443-5280 (301) 443-2599 Email: JB168R@NIH.GOV $$N2 END ************************************************************ NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs/RFAs/PAs) $$R1 BEGIN HL-97-004 FULL-TEXT ************************************** RAT GENE CATALOG AND EXPRESSED SEQUENCE TAG (EST) MAP NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 5, February 14, 1997 RFA AVAILABLE: HL-97-004 P.T. 34; K.W. 0755045, 0755044 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute National Human Genome Research Institute National Cancer Institute National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute of Dental Research National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 28, 1997 Application Receipt Date: April 23, 1997 PURPOSE The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to expand the Rat Genome Project by soliciting applications for research projects to accomplish three objectives: 1) arraying and distributing existing rat cDNA libraries, 2) developing Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) from those libraries, and 3) mapping a subset of those ESTs. The overall goal of this effort is to construct a rat gene catalog and an EST map that will facilitate the mapping of genes in the rat and increase the value of the rat as a biomedical research model. This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) individual research grant (R01) mechanism. Applications are encouraged that address any one or all of the objectives listed. $3.5 million (including direct and indirect costs) is available for year -01 and $ 1 million for year -02. It is anticipated that three to six awards may be made. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, Rat Gene Catalog And Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) Map, is related to many priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The RFA which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line (301)-402-2221), the NIH Gopher (gopher.nih.gov), the NIH Home Page (http:\\www.nih.gov), by mail and e-mail from any of the program contacts listed below. Stephen C. Mockrin, Ph.D. or Susan E. Old, Ph.D. Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7940 Bethesda, MD 20892-7940 Telephone: (301) 435-0477 FAX: (301) 480-1336 Email: sm60d@nih.gov or so40y@nih.gov Jane L. Peterson, Ph.D. Large Scale Sequencing National Human Genome Research Institute Building 38A, Room 610 - MSC 6050 Bethesda, MD 20892-6050 Telephone: (301) 496-7531 FAX: (301) 480-2770 Email: petersoj@odder.nchgr.nih.gov Grace L. Shen, Ph.D, Hematology and Oncology for Extramural Program National Cancer Institute 6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 501, MSC 7381 Rockville, MD 20892-7531 Telephone: (301) 496-7815 FAX: (301) 496-8656 Email: gs35r@nih.gov Ljubisa Vitkovic, Ph.D. Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science National Institute of Mental Health 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11C-06 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-5288 FAX: (301) 443-4822 Email: vitkovic@helix.nih.gov Steven L. Klein, Ph.D. Developmental Biology, Genetics and Teratology Branch National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B01, (MSC 7510) Bethesda, MD 20892-7510 Telephone: (301) 496-5541 FAX: (301) 402-4083 Email: kleins@hd01.nichd.nih.gov Joan T. Harmon, Ph.D. Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Building 45, Room 5AN-18G, MSC 6600 Bethesda, MD 20892-6600 Telephone: (301) 594-8813 FAX: (301) 480-3503 Email: joan_harmon@nih.gov Thomas P. Jacobs, Ph.D. Division of Stroke, Trauma and Neurodegenerative Disorders National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 7750 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 8A13 Bethesda, MD 20892-9155 Telephone: (301) 496-4226 FAX: (301) 480-1080 Email: tj12g@nih.gov Theresa Lee, Ph.D. Division of Basic Research National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-19 Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-6300 FAX: (301) 594-6043 Email: tl37h@nih.gov Robert Karp, Ph.D. Division of Basic Research National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402, MSC 7003 Bethesda, MD 20892-7003 Telephone: (301) 443-2239 FAX: (301) 594-0673 Email: rkarp@willco.niaaa.nih.gov Kenneth A. Gruber, Ph.D. Division of Human Communication National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 6120 Executive Boulevard, Suite 400C, MSC 7180 Rockville, MD 20892-7180 Telephone: (301) 402-3458 FAX: (301) 402-6251 Email: kenneth_gruber@nih.gov Eleni Kousvelari, Ph.D. Division of Extramural Research National Institute of Dental Research Natcher Building, Room 4AN 18A Bethesda, MD 20892-6402 Telephone: (301) 594-2427 FAX: (301)480-8318 Email: kousvelari@de45.nidr.nih.gov William A. Suk, Ph.D., M.P.H. Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-0797 FAX: (919) 541-2843 Email: suk@niehs.nih.gov $$R1 END ************************************************************ $$P1 BEGIN PAR-97-037 FULL-TEXT ************************************* PILOT GRANTS IN BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE OF AGING NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 5, February 14, 1997 PA AVAILABLE: PAR-97-037 P.T. 34; K.W. 0710010, 0404000 National Institute on Aging PURPOSE The Behavioral and Social Research Program (BSR) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is seeking small grant (R03) applications to stimulate and facilitate research in underdeveloped topics in the behavioral and social sciences of aging. This Small Grant (R03) Program provides support for pilot research that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research project grant (R01) or a First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) award application and/or a significant advancement of aging research. These R03 projects include, but are not limited to, research that is innovative and/or high risk. 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 Program Announcement, Pilot Grants in Behavioral and Social Science of Aging, is related to is related to several priority areas applicable to aging. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 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). INQUIRIES The PA, which describes the research objectives, application procedures, review considerations, and award criteria for this solicitation, may be obtained electronically through the NIH Grant Line (data line 301/402-2221), the NIH GOPHER (gopher.nih.gov), and the NIH Website (http://www.nih.gov), and by mail and email from the program contact listed below. Jared B. Jobe, Ph.D. Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 533 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-3137 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Jared_Jobe@NIH.GOV $$P1 END ************************************************************ From owner-sci-resources@net.bio.net Mon Feb 17 22:00:00 1997 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH GUIDE - PAR-97-037 - V26(05) 02/14/97 Date: 18 Feb 1997 14:14:18 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 500 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <5ed9jq$5ei@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net PILOT GRANTS IN BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE OF AGING NIH Guide, Volume 26, Number 5, February 14, 1997 PA NUMBER: PAR-97-037 P.T. 34; K.W. 0755045, 0755044 National Institute on Aging Application Receipt Date: March 17, July 17, November 17, 1997 PURPOSE The Behavioral and Social Research Program (BSR) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is seeking small grant (R03) applications to stimulate and facilitate research in underdeveloped topics in the behavioral and social sciences of aging. This Small Grant (R03) Program provides support for pilot research that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research project grant (R01) or a First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) (R29) award application and/or a significant advancement of aging research. These R03 projects include, but are not limited to, research that is innovative and/or high risk. 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 Program Announcement, Pilot Grants in Behavioral and Social Science of Aging, is related to is related to several priority areas applicable to aging. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 2202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. Foreign organizations and institutions are not eligible. Participation in the program by investigators at minority institutions is strongly encouraged. To be eligible for this award, the proposed Principal Investigator must, at a minimum, be an independent investigator at the beginning of her/his research career as defined by the eligibility requirements for a FIRST (R29) award. That is, they should be genuinely independent of a mentor. Individuals in the final stages of training may apply, but individuals can not be in a training status at the time the award is made. Established investigators proposing research unrelated to a currently funded research program are also eligible to apply for these grants. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Applicants may request up to $50,000 (direct costs) for one year through the small grant (R03) mechanism. However, the grants will be awarded under Expanded Authorities and are eligible for a single one- year no cost extension. These awards are not renewable. Before completion of the R03, investigators are encouraged to seek continuing support for research through a research project grant (R01) or FIRST (R29) award. Replacement of the Principal Investigator on this award is not permitted. In fiscal year 1997, approximately $500,000 will be available to fund 7 to 10 small grants, contingent on high scientific merit and program priority. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The Small Grant program is designed to support new, junior, and established behavioral and social science researchers interested in conducting research on underdeveloped topics in the behavioral and social sciences of aging. Collection of new data or secondary analysis of existing data is allowed. Topics of interest are limited to the eight topics described below: Social Cognition in Adulthood and Old Age Social cognition is the intersection between cognitive and social gerontology. Research on cognitive aging suggests that social reasoning and social comprehension are largely spared from deleterious aging processes. In fact, there is a small but growing body of evidence that points to the potential for developmental gains in cognitive performance when embedded in social contexts. Topic areas include, but are not limited to: metacognition, collaborative cognition, emotion and motivation, interpersonal relationships, life transitions, self regulation, self evaluation, and attitudes and beliefs including stereotypes and automaticity. Personality in Adulthood and Old Age Considerable data suggest that personality is stable during adulthood, although other data suggest that personality changes across the life span. Results vary as a function of sample, when personality is measured and the particular constructs measured. Topic areas include, but are not limited to: studies of stability and change in personality with age; personality, health and disease; personality and environment; personality and genetics; and age- related differences in personality by socioeconomic class, gender, and racial/ethnic groups. Behavior Genetics and Aging Molecular genetics research has begun to identify specific genes associated with behavior. This domain includes both single-gene traits and complex traits influenced by multiple genes as well as multiple environmental factors. Most geneticists agree that complex behaviors are not likely to be genetically simple. One research approach is the one-gene one-disorder or OGOD method in which many complex behaviors or disorders are assumed to result from many smaller behaviors, each the result of a different single gene which is a necessary and sufficient cause. Another approach is the quantitative trait loci or QTL method which assumes that genetic influence on complex behaviors and disorders is largely due to multiple genes with effects of varying sizes which contribute cumulatively and interchangeably. These new techniques can track the developmental course of genetic contributions to behavior, identify genetic heterogeneity, and explore genetic links between the normal and abnormal. Properly designed studies can also identify the importance of nongenetic factors. Some areas of opportunities for behavior genetics and aging research in both humans and animals include attention, processing speed, memory, intelligence, training, emotionality, sense of control, motivation, attention, and temporal organization. Direct inquiries on the topics of Social Cognition, Personality, and Behavior Genetics to Dr. Jared B. Jobe at the address listed under INQUIRIES. Interventions to Enhance Self Care in Older People Although the linkage between health behaviors and lifestyles to a wide range of health outcomes is now well documented, less is known about the development, maintenance, and modification of such behaviors over the life course. While calling for small scale research on the wide range of self care behaviors, this solicitation gives special encouragement to medical self-care--or how older people recognize and act upon new illness symptoms and/or manage everyday chronic conditions. Two types of research are solicited: 1) basic research exploring the patterns, dynamics and processes of self care behaviors practiced by older adults, and 2) the design, implementation, and evaluation of theoretically based self-care interventions to encourage the adoption of new health behaviors or to modify health impairing habits and lifestyles. Religiousness in Health and Aging Religiousness, whether defined as spiritual beliefs or organizational affiliation, is consistently associated with better well-being and increased longevity for elders. Research projects are invited that encourage a better understanding of the complex interrelationships among religious variables (beliefs or behaviors), other psychosocial mediating factors (e.g., health beliefs or coping styles), and health and functioning throughout the life course. Several specific research topics were identified in a 1995 NIA/Fetzer Conference on Methodological Advances in Religion, Health and Aging. Two are of special interest: 1) the biopsychosocial mechanisms by which religion, spirituality and/or religious affiliations may affect health and 2) the development of rigorous, but parsimonious scales and indices that can be embedded in more general studies of health and aging. AIDS in an Aging Society The behavioral and social implications of AIDS for the middle-aged and older population have been largely ignored. This is despite the fact that people fifty and older have constituted approximately ten percent of the reported AIDS cases since the beginning of the epidemic, and that AIDS has become a major public health problem affecting people of all ages. Research is recommended on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: 1) the social epidemiology of older people at risk, including transmission routes for those 50 and older; 2) factors affecting quality of life for older persons with HIV/AIDS and their families; 3) interventions to change older people's AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; 4) behavioral and social strategies for helping older people enhance their AIDS-related caregiving capacities (e.g., care for adult children or grandchildren); and 5) interrelationships between HIV/AIDS and changing health care structures. Direct inquiries on the topics of Interventions to Enhance Self Care in Older People, Religiousness in Health and Aging, and AIDS in an Aging Society to Dr. Marcia G. Ory at the address listed under INQUIRIES. Social and Structural Factors in Health Care The basic thrust of this initiative is to understand the complex interactions between changing health care systems and the needs of aging persons in an aging society. The fluid organization and financing of health care, coupled with the health care needs of the growing U.S. older population will alter many features of health care delivery both for providers and for patients. Research topics in this area include, but are not limited to: 1) impact of the type of health care organization (e.g., structure, reimbursement mechanism, organizational control, and professional control) on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and/or provider satisfaction; 2) differences between "real" clinical outcomes and "perceived" outcomes in the elderly based on organizational characteristics; 3) health and social consequences of a change in the usual source, quality and quantity of health care at the time of Medicare enrollment; 4) effect of managed care's prevention model on clinical and behavioral outcomes in an aging patient base; and 5) the dynamic interplay between changing needs of aging persons and changing health care delivery system characteristics. Aging and Work Organizations There has been much public attention to the aging of our society, and the implications for health care and the economy. Less is known about the characteristics of work organizations, how they are changing, and the implications of these changes for the health of older workers who continue working. Possible topics to be explored for further development include: 1) the changing nature of the workplace and workforce; 2) how aging workers are perceived and dealt with in the workplace; 3) specification of characteristics of work/workplace that facilitate or impede the productivity of older workers and the ability of older workers to stay in the workforce (e.g., the changes in work organizations; flexible work rules; phased retirement plans, etc.); and 4) innovations in the workplace to accommodate older workers or parents of workers (e.g., development of elder care programs). Direct inquiries on the topics of Social and Structural Factors in Health Care, and Aging and Work Organizations to Dr. Sidney M. Stahl at the address listed under INQUIRIES. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects of 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 14508-14513) and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23, No. 11, March 18, 1994. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The submission, review, and award schedule for the Small Grant Program for 1997/1998 is: Application Receipt Dates: Mar 17 Jul 17 Nov 17 Institute Committee Review: Jun 97 Oct 97 Mar 98 Earliest funding: Sep 97 Jan 98 May 98 Only one small grant application may be submitted by a principal investigator per receipt date. Applicants may not submit R01 or R29 applications on the same topic concurrent (to be considered at the same review cycle) with the submission of a small grant application. Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) and prepared according to the directions in the application packet, with the exceptions noted below. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, e-mail: ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov. On the face page of the application: Item 2 Type "Pilot Grants (R03) in Behavioral and Social Science of Aging." Check the "YES" box. Sections 1-4: Do not exceed a total of ten pages for the following sections: specific aims, background and significance, progress report/preliminary studies, and experimental design and methods. Tables and figures are included in the ten page limitation. Applications that exceed the page limitation or PHS requirements for type size and margins (Refer to PHS 398 application for details) will be returned to the investigator. The ten page limitation does not include Sections 5-9 (Human Subjects, Consortia, Literature cited). Appendix materials are not allowed. "Just-in-time" (JIT) is an initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Extramural Reinvention Laboratory under the auspices of the National Performance Review and government-wide efforts to create a government that works better and costs less. JIT postpones the collection of certain information that currently must be included in all competing applications when submitted. The information for the applications with a likelihood of funding is submitted "just-in-time" for awards to be made. This program announcement is incorporating JIT procedures as described below. Some sections are modified and others in the application do not need to be completed for the submission of the application, but WILL be requested if your application receives a priority score in the fundable range. Form DD - Page 4 - DETAILED BUDGET PLAN FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD Do not complete this form on page 4 of the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). It is not required nor will it be accepted at the time of the application. Form EE - Page 5 - BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE PROPOSED PROJECT Do not complete the categorical budget table form on page 5 in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/95). Only the requested total direct costs for each year and total direct costs for the entire proposed period of support should