Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!news.cs.indiana.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!uwm.edu!bionet!GENBANK.BIO.NET!kristoff From: kristoff@GENBANK.BIO.NET (Dave Kristofferson) Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources Subject: NIH Guide, vol. 19, no. 44, 7 December 1990 Message-ID: Date: 6 Dec 90 00:17:56 GMT Sender: kristoff@genbank.bio.net Lines: 1917 NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 NOTICES NATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON "PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS" ...(86/204)............ 1 National Institutes of Health Food and Drug Administration Index: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs AND RFAs) MINORITY FELLOWSHIPS FOR DOCTORAL AND/OR POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING IN NEUROSCIENCES - REVISION (RFA MH-91-01) .............(210/238)........... 2 National Institute of Mental Health Index: MENTAL HEALTH PHYSICAL FRAILTY IN MINORITY OLDER POPULATIONS (RFA AG-91-03) .............. 3 National Institute on Aging (241/391, 644/877) Index: AGING NATIONAL MULTI-PURPOSE RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTERS (RFA DC-91-01) ........ 5 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Index: DEAFNESS, COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (401/482, 880/1602) ONGOING PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS PUBLIC-ACADEMIC LIAISON FOR RESEARCH ON SERIOUS MENTAL DISORDERS - ADDENDUM .....................................(488/531)..................... 6 National Institute of Mental Health Index: MENTAL HEALTH SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS PROGRAM (PA-91-14) ............... 6 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (534/599, 1605/1991) Index: HEART, LUNG, BLOOD NOTICES NATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON "PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS" P.T. 42; K.W. 0783005 National Institutes of Health Food and Drug Administration The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are continuing to sponsor a series of workshops on responsibilities of researchers, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), and institutional officials for the protection of human subjects in research. The workshops are open to everyone with an interest in research involving human subjects. The meetings should be of special interest to those persons currently serving or about to begin serving as a member of an IRB. Issues discussed at these workshops are relevant to all other Public Health Service agencies. The current schedule includes the following: I. SOUTHWEST WORKSHOP DATES: February 4-5, 1991 WORKSHOP SITE: Meridien Hotel 50 Third Street San Francisco, CA 94103 SPONSOR: University of California at San Francisco Box 0400 San Francisco, CA 94143 REGISTRATION CONTACT: Ms. Phyllis Colbert Workshop Contact Person University of California at San Francisco Box 0400 San Francisco, CA 94143 Telephone: (415) 476-1881 TOPIC: "The Use of Human Subjects in Research: AIDS as a Model of Complexity" II. MIDEAST WORKSHOP DATES: March 4-5, 1991 WORKSHOP SITE: Friday Center Laurel Hill Parkway Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1020 SPONSORS: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 300 Bynum Hall Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4100 Shaw University 118 E. South Street Raleigh, NC 27611 REGISTRATION CONTACT: Mr. Al Dawson Director Friday Center Laurel Hill Parkway C. B. 1020 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1020 Telephone: (919) 962-1106 TOPIC: "Problems in Interpreting the Federal Code for the Protection of Human Subjects" NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 - Page 1 III. MIDWEST WORKSHOP DATES: April 11-12, 1991 WORKSHOP SITE: Hyde Park Hilton 4900 Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60615 SPONSORS: University of Chicago 970 East 58th Street Chicago, IL 60637 Chicago State University 95th Street at King Drive Chicago, IL 60628 REGISTRATION CONTACT: Mr. Arnold L. Aronoff Associate Director Faculty and Administrative Services University Research Administration University of Chicago 970 East 58th Street Chicago, IL 60637 Telephone: (312) 702-8669 TOPIC: "Cultural Diversity, Ethics, and Research: A Workshop on Human Subject Protections" NIH/FDA have planned national human subject protections workshops in other parts of the United States. For further information regarding these workshops contact: Darlene Marie Ross Executive Assistant for Education Division of Human Subject Protections Office for Protection from Research Risks National Institutes of Health 9000 Rockville Pike Bldg. 31, Room 5B43B Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-8101 NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs AND RFAs) MINORITY FELLOWSHIPS FOR DOCTORAL AND/OR POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING IN NEUROSCIENCES - REVISION RFA: MH-91-01 P.T. 22, FF; K.W. 0720005, 1002030 National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announces a change in the receipt date on the Request for Applications (RFA), Minority Fellowships for Doctoral and/or Postdoctoral Training in Neurosciences, MH-91-01 (NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts dated November 2, 1990, Vol. 19, No. 39), from January 10, 1991, to April 8, 1991. The revised Application Receipt and Review Schedule of the RFA is as follows: Receipt date: April 8, 1991 Initial Review Group Meeting: June 1991 Council Meeting: September 1991 Earliest Possible Start Date: September 30, 1991 Additional information concerning this RFA may be obtained by contacting: Stanley F. Schneider, Ph.D. Division of Basic and Behavioral Sciences National Institute of Mental Health Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-4347 FAX: (301) 443-4822 NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 - Page 2 PHYSICAL FRAILTY IN MINORITY OLDER POPULATIONS RFA AVAILABLE: AG-91-03 P.T. 34, CC, FF; K.W. 0710010, 0715043, 0710095, 1002019, 0745027 National Institute on Aging Application Receipt Date: May 17, 1991 I. BACKGROUND Progressive impairments in physical functional abilities contribute significantly to loss of independence and long-term care needs among older minority populations. In some minority populations, the severity of such impairments has been shown to be equal to, or greater than, the general population. In other populations, even basic descriptive data are lacking. These data are needed to increase our understanding of impairments and functioning in various cultural groups and to determine needs for appropriate health care and services among these populations. Data are sparse on the relationship of physical frailty to chronic degenerative conditions of later life in minority populations. Better knowledge of genetic, environmental, nutritional, cultural, and socioeconomic factors affecting the severity and progression of such conditions would be useful in the design of intervention and prevention programs. Involvement of minority investigators and/or minority institutions is strongly urged, especially in those projects that require extensive subject recruitment or seek collaboration with minority institutions. II. RESEARCH GOALS AND SCOPE The National Institute on Aging (NIA) solicits applications for support of research projects to increase knowledge on the above issues. Specifically, applications are requested for studies of the following: o The relationship of specific functional impairments to severity of specific degenerative conditions in minority populations. o Differences in the sequelae of chronic conditions among different minority populations. o Prevalence and incidence of conditions responsible for impaired physical functioning in daily living activities. o Genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors affecting severity and progression of these conditions in specific minority populations. o Efficacy in specific minority groups of interventions to prevent and/or reduce physical frailty. On the above topics, NIA encourages attention to special problems related to interactions of cognitive impairment (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) with physical disability in specific minority groups. III. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Support of this program will be through the Public Health Service grant-in-aid. The R01 grant mechanism will be used. This Request for Applications (RFA) is a one-time solicitation. Up to $1.2 million (total cost) for first-year expenses and additional approved expenses for up to five years will be committed to fund applications submitted in response to this RFA. Applications are required to include, where feasible and appropriate, women as well as men in the study populations for all clinical research efforts and to analyze, where appropriate, differences between these populations. If women are not to be included, a clear rationale for their exclusion must be provided. The National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) is also interested in receiving and funding research proposals concerned with frailty. For information contact: Dr. Sharlene Weiss, Chief, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Branch, NCNR, Building 31, Room 5B03, Bethesda, MD 20892 NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 - Page 3 The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases also is interested in research in this area. For information contact: Dr. Joan McGowan, Director, Bone Biology and Bone Diseases Program, NIAMS, Westwood Building, Room 403D, Bethesda, MD 20892. IV. REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA Applications will be received by the NIH Division of Research Grants. Responsive applications will be assigned to a special Institute review group for review. Proposals judged to be non-responsive (those not directed at the goals of this RFA) will be administratively withdrawn and returned to the applicant without review. Proposals may first receive a preliminary review by a subcommittee of the review panel to establish those applications deemed to be competitive. Those proposals judged non-competitive will be so designated, and an abbreviated summary statement noting the major areas of concern will be sent to the Principal Investigator. Applications judged to be competitive will be given full review. Following review by the initial review group, the applications will be considered by the National Advisory Council on Aging. The major review criteria are: o scientific merit of the research proposed; o significance of the research project to the goals of the RFA; o qualifications, experience, and commitment of the investigators and their ability to devote the required time and effort to the project; o appropriateness of the total budget and budgetary requests; o institutional commitment to the requirements of the project. V. METHOD OF APPLYING Applications should be submitted on the standard PHS 398 (rev. 10/88) application form (available at most institutional business offices or from the Division of Research Grants, NIH, 301-496-7441). The deadline for receipt of applications is May 17, 1991. On item 2 of the face page of the application, applicants should enter: NIA RFA AG-91-03--Physical Frailty in Minority Older Populations. The RFA label available in the 10/88 revision of the Application Form 398 must be affixed to the bottom of the face page. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application and prevent it from reaching the review committee in time for review. The completed application and four copies should be sent to: Application Receipt Office Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** At the same time the application is submitted to the Division of Research Grants, two copies of the application should be sent to: Chief, Scientific Review Office National Institute on Aging Building 31, Room 5C12 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 VI. STAFF CONTACT A complete copy of the RFA may be obtained from the E-Guide or by writing or calling: Stanley L. Slater, M.D. Geriatrics Program National Institute on Aging Room 5C27, Building 31 National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-6761 NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 - Page 4 NATIONAL MULTI-PURPOSE RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTERS RFA AVAILABLE: DC-91-01 P.T. 34, 44; K.W. 0715055, 0720005, 0410001, 0785035, 1004017 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 30, 1991 Application Receipt Date: February 21, 1991 The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) invites applications for National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers [RTC (P60)] for the multi-disciplinary study of communication sciences and disorders. Applications must be multi-disciplinary in focus and involve basic and clinical research, research training, continuing education for health professionals, and information dissemination to the general public in one or more of the major scientific areas of the Institute (hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language). Two centers may be supported in response to this Request for Applications (RFA). BACKGROUND In 1988, Congress established the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders in Public Law 100-553, which mandated that the Institute provide for the development, modernization, and operation of new and existing Centers for studies of disorders of hearing and other communication processes. The law further specified that each Center shall conduct: basic and clinical research in disorders of hearing and other communication processes, research training programs for health professionals, information and continuing education programs for health professionals, and programs of information dissemination to the general public. In 1989, over 100 U.S. scientists, representing a broad range of specialties in the communication sciences, met to develop a research plan for the NIDCD. One panel of these scientists addressed the National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers, identifying and elucidating the critical features of such Centers. In FY 1990, an RFA was issued for Research and Training Centers. Three Centers were awarded. The purpose of this current RFA is to request additional applications for RTCs. Investigators should be aware that NIH requires applicants to give added attention, where feasible and appropriate, to the inclusion of minorities and women in study populations. Gender and minority population differences should be noted and analyzed wherever possible. If minorities and/or women are not included in a given study, a clear reason for their absence must be provided. Merely including an arbitrary number of minority group and women participants in a given study is insufficient to guarantee generalization of results. MECHANISM, NUMBER OF YEARS, AND BUDGET This RFA will be funded through the National Multi-purpose Research and Training Center (P60) mechanism. Five (5) years of support must be requested at an annual direct cost not to exceed $1 million for the first year. Budget increments after the first year will be limited to necessary cost-of-living increases. At present, the Institute plans to award renewals of one or more additional periods of not more than five (5) years of support. This is a one-time RFA with plans to fund two centers in FY 1991. INQUIRIES Applicants may request additional information and the following requisite materials -- complete 1991 RFA for the National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers, Application Guidelines: National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers, and PHS 398 (rev. 10/88) Application Form -- from: Ralph F. Naunton, M.D. Director Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Executive Plaza South, Room 750 6120 Executive Boulevard Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-1804 NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 - Page 5 To facilitate Institute planning, applicants are requested to submit a letter of intent by January 30, 1991 to the contact person identified above. ONGOING PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS PUBLIC-ACADEMIC LIAISON FOR RESEARCH ON SERIOUS MENTAL DISORDERS - ADDENDUM P.T. 34; K.W. 0715129, 1014006 National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announces an addendum to its program announcement, Public-Academic Liaison (PAL) for Research on Serious Mental Disorders, published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on September 30, 1988, Vol. 17, No. 31. The restriction under the Terms and Conditions of Support section of this announcement, with respect to maximum total direct costs of regular research grant applications submitted in response to this announcement, no longer applies. Applicants may request in excess of $250,000 in total direct costs per year. The appropriateness of budget requests is considered when applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit. The great increase in the number of PAL applications to NIMH has made it impractical for NIMH to convene regular meetings of PAL participants (also described under Terms and Conditions of Support in the announcement). Applicants for a PAL grant do not need to include funds for such meetings in their budget requests. Potential applicants should contact staff listed below for consultation concerning submission of projects in response to this announcement: Darrel Kirch, M.D. Chief, Schizophrenia Research Branch Division of Clinical Research National Institute of Mental Health Room 10C-06, 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-3524 or Thomas Lalley, M.A. Chief, Services Research branch Division of Applied and Services Research National Institute of Mental Health Room 18C-14, 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-3364 SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR MINORITY STUDENTS PROGRAM PA: PA-91-14 P.T. 44, FF; K.W. 0720005, 0715032, 0715040, 0715165 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Application Receipt Date: February 8, 1991 The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) announces a program to support short-term training for minority students in order to provide opportunities for minority students to become exposed to biomedical research. The program is designed to attract highly qualified minority students at the undergraduate and graduate level into biomedical and behavioral research careers and to bolster the already short supply of minority investigators in the areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic diseases. Grants in this program will be made to domestic institutions or organizations, including minority institutions, engaged in health-related research in areas related to heart, lung, or blood disorders. These grants will support short-term research training experiences of 2 to 3 months duration for minority undergraduate students, minority students in health professional schools, and minority graduate students. Trainees appointed to the program need not be from the grantee institution, but may include a number of minority NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 - Page 6 students from other institutions, schools, colleges, or universities. Special attention should be given to the recruitment of individuals from minority groups that are underrepresented nationally in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, i.e., Blacks, Hispanics, native Americans, Alaskan natives, and Pacific Islanders. Guidelines and supplemental instructions for preparing applications for this program may be obtained from any of the following: John Fakunding, Ph.D. Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 3C04 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1724 Helena Mishoe, Ph.D. Division of Blood Diseases and Resources National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 504D Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-6931 Sydney Parker, Ph.D. Division of Lung Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 640A Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7668 This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers 93.837-93.839. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Title III, Section 487 (Public Law 78-410, as amended; 42 USC 288) and administered under PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations at 42 CFR Part 66. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. **THE MAILING ADDRESS GIVEN FOR SENDING APPLICATIONS TO THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS OR CONTACTING PROGRAM STAFF IN THE WESTWOOD BUILDING IS THE CENTRAL MAILING ADDRESS FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. APPLICANTS WHO USE EXPRESS MAIL OR A COURIER SERVICE ARE ADVISED TO FOLLOW THE CARRIER'S REQUIREMENTS FOR SHOWING A STREET ADDRESS. THE ADDRESS FOR THE WESTWOOD BUILDING IS: 5333 Westbard Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20816 NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 44, December 7, 1990 - Page 7 ------------------------- Full text of RFAs ------------------------- PHYSICAL FRAILTY IN MINORITY OLDER POPULATIONS RFA: AG-91-03 P.T. 34, CC, FF; K.W. 0710010, 0715043, 0710095, 1002019, 0745027 National Institute on Aging Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 7, 1991 Application Receipt Date: May 17, 1991 I. BACKGROUND Progressive impairments in physical functional abilities contribute significantly to loss of independence and long- term care needs among older minority populations. In some minority populations, the severity of such impairments has been shown to be equal to, or greater than, the general population. In other populations, even basic descriptive data are lacking. These data are needed to increase our understanding of impairments and functioning in various cultural groups and to determine needs for appropriate health care and services among these populations. Data are sparse on the relationship of physical frailty to chronic degenerative conditions of later life in minority populations. Existing data indicate important differences among different minority populations in the severity and progression of these conditions. For example, osteoporosis may be less severe in Black than in Nonblack populations, while diabetes appears to be more severe among many native American populations, compared to the general population. Better knowledge of genetic, environmental, nutritional, cultural, and socioeconomic factors affecting the severity and progression of such conditions would be useful in the design of intervention and prevention programs. In addition, such programs could be improved through better knowledge of the relationship of disease severity to specific types of functional impairment in individual minority populations, or among several minority populations. Involvement of minority investigators and/or minority institutions is strongly urged, especially in those projects that require extensive subject recruitment or seek collaboration with minority institutions. II. RESEARCH GOALS AND SCOPE The National Institute on Aging (NIA) solicits applications for support of research projects to increase knowledge on the above issues. Specifically, applications are requested for studies of the following: o The relationship of specific functional impairments to severity of specific degenerative conditions in minority populations, or subgroups of these populations, such as black females, various Hispanic subgroups (e.g., Cuban- Americans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans), or differing native American tribal groups. Studies over the full range of functional impairment are of interest. Studies of high-risk populations, such as nursing home residents or older persons living alone, are of particular interest. o Differences in the sequelae of chronic conditions among different minority populations. o Prevalence and incidence of conditions responsible for impaired physical functioning in daily living activities (e.g., walking, climbing stairs, shopping, cooking, housework, bathing, driving) among specific older minority populations. Conditions of interest include, but are not limited to, osteoarthritis, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, diabetic neuropathy, and other chronic diabetic complications. Data on persons eighty years of age are of particular interest. o Genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors affecting severity and progression of these conditions in specific minority populations. As above, studies of high-risk populations are of special interest. o Efficacy in specific minority groups of interventions to prevent and/or reduce physical frailty. III. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Support of this program will be through the Public Health Service grant-in-aid. The R01 grant mechanism will be used Awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 82-50,000, revised October 1, 1990. This Request for Applications (RFA) is a one-time solicitation. Up to $1.2 million (total cost) for first-year expenses, and additional approved expenses for up to five years, will be committed to fund applications submitted in response to this RFA. This funding level is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. It is anticipated that approximately 4-6 awards will be made. The award of grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent on the availability of funds for this purpose. Generally, future unsolicited competing renewal applications will compete with all investigator-initiated applications and be reviewed by the Division of Research Grants (DRG). However, should the NIA determine that there is a sufficient continuing program need, the RFA will be reissued. The earliest feasible start date for the initial awards will be September 30, 1991. Applications are required to include, where feasible and appropriate, women as well as men in the study populations for all clinical research efforts and to analyze, where appropriate, differences between these populations. If women are not to be included, a clear rationale for their exclusion must be provided. The National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) is also interested in receiving and funding research proposals concerned with frailty. For information contact: Dr. Sharlene Weiss, Chief, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Branch, NCNR, Building 31, Room 5B03, Bethesda, MD 20892. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases also is interested in research in this area. For information contact: Dr. Joan McGowan, Director, Bone Biology and Bone Diseases Program, NIAMS, Westwood Building, Room 403D, Bethesda, MD 20892. IV. REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA Applications will be received by the NIH Division of Research Grants. Responsive applications will be assigned to a special review group for review. Proposals judged to be non-responsive (those not directed at the goals of this RFA) will be administratively withdrawn and returned to the applicant without review. Proposals may first receive a preliminary review by a subcommittee of the review panel to establish those applications deemed to be competitive. Those proposals judged non-competitive will be so designated, and an abbreviated summary statement noting the major areas of concern will be sent to the Principal Investigator. Applications judged to be competitive will be given full review. Following review by the initial review group, the applications will be considered by the National Advisory Council on Aging. Listed below are the major review criteria to be used in the evaluation of the applications received in response to this RFA: o scientific merit of the research proposed; o significance of the research project to the goals of the RFA; o qualifications, experience, and commitment of the investigators and their ability to devote the required time and effort to the project; o appropriateness of the total budget and budgetary requests; o institutional commitment to the requirements of the project. V. METHOD OF APPLYING A letter of intent to submit an application, while not required, is requested by January 7, 1991. The letter should include a brief descriptive title, the name of the Principal Investigator and other key investigators, and the names and addresses of any other participating institutions. This letter should be addressed to the staff contact listed below (see Section VI). Applications should be submitted on the standard PHS 398 (rev. 10/88) application form (available at most institutional business offices or from the Division of Research Grants, NIH, 301-496-7441). The deadline for receipt of applications is May 17, 1991. On item 2 of the face page of the application, applicants should enter: NIA RFA AG-91-03--Physical Frailty in Minority Older Populations. The RFA label available in the 10/88 revision of the Application Form 398 must be affixed to the bottom of the face page. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of the application and prevent it from reaching the review committee in time for review. The completed application and four copies should be sent to: should be sent to: Application Receipt Office Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** At the same time the application is submitted to the Division of Research grants, two copies of the application should be sent to: Chief, Scientific Review Office National Institute on Aging Room 5C12, Building 31 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 Failure of these copies to be received by the deadline may prevent the application from being reviewed under this announcement in time to be considered for an award. VI. STAFF CONTACT Potential applicants interested in obtaining further information may write or call: Stanley L. Slater, M.D. Geriatrics Program National Institute on Aging Room 5C27, Building 31 National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-6761 This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, No. 93.866, Biology of Aging Program. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Section 301 (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 review by a Health Systems Agency. REQUEST FOR RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATIONS: RFA RFA: DC-91-01 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders NATIONAL MULTI-PURPOSE RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTERS P.T. 34, 44; K.W. 0715055, 0720005, 0410001, 0785035, 1004017 Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 30, 1991 Application Receipt Date: February 21, 1991 PURPOSE The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) announces its intent to designate and support a limited number of National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers (RTC) for the multi-disciplinary study of communication sciences and disorders. The goal of the RTC is the support of basic and clinical research; research training; continuing education for health professionals; and dissemination of information to the general public in one or more of the program areas of the Institute. A National Research and Training Center is a national resource and is dedicated to working with the NIDCD in furthering the goals of the Institute through a multi-disciplinary, coordinated approach involving basic and clinical research, research training, continuing education for health care professionals, and dissemination of information to the public. An RTC may focus on one or more of the major scientific areas of the Institute (hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language), but each of the components including the research training and education components, must relate to the central theme of the Center. All of the components must be of high quality as judged by the NIH standards for biomedical and behavioral research excellence. BACKGROUND In 1988, Congress established the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders in Public Law 100-553 that mandated that "the Director of the Institute shall, after consultation with the advisory council for the Institute, provide for the development, modernization, and operation (including care required for research) of new and existing centers for studies of disorders of hearing and other communication processes". The law further specified that each Center shall conduct-- "(1) basic and clinical research into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control and treatment of disorders of hearing and other communication processes and complications resulting from such disorders, including research into rehabilitative aids, implantable biomaterials, auditory speech processors, speech production devices, and other otolaryngologic procedures; "(2) research training programs for physicians, scientists, and other health and allied health professionals; "(3) information and continuing education programs for physicians and other health and allied health professionals who will provide care for patients with disorders of hearing or other communication processes; and "(4) programs for the dissemination to the general public of information-- "(A) on the importance of early detection of disorders of hearing and other communication processes, of seeking prompt treatment, rehabilitation, and of following an appropriate regimen; and "(B) on the importance of avoiding exposure to noise and other environmental toxic agents that may affect disorders of hearing or other communication processes". In 1989, over 100 U.S. scientists representing various specialties in the communication sciences met to develop a research plan for the NIDCD. One panel of these scientists addressed the issue of the National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers. With the Congressional mandate providing guidance, the Task Force identified and elucidated the critical features of such Centers, that is, research, training, continuing education, and information dissemination. In FY90, a Request for Applications (RFA) (DC-90-01, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, December 22, 1989, Vol. 18, No. 45), was issued for Research and Training Centers. Three Centers were awarded. The purpose of this current RFA is to request additional applications for Research and Training Centers. ELIGIBILITY Any of the following organizations are eligible to apply: non-profit institutions of higher education; other non-profit and for-profit organizations; state and local governments and their agencies; and authorized Federal agencies. Holding an NIDCD or other currently-funded NIH Program Project, Clinical Research Center Grant, or Institutional Training Grant does not preclude an organization from applying. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE The purpose of the National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers is to enhance research in communication sciences and disorders. The Centers will stimulate important areas of basic and clinical research. By utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, these Centers will provide broad-based solutions to complex human communication problems. Each Center must have research activity in the basic sciences. This activity may include disciplines such as molecular biology and genetics, cellular biology, neurochemistry, immunology, microbiology, epidemiology, and biomedical engineering. Ideally, the Center will draw together the multidisciplinary resources of the institution to study or investigate the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of specific communication impairments. The Center may also undertake/conduct population-based studies and genetic studies related to the specific communication disorder(s) being studied. Clinical research and/or clinical investigations will focus on the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of specific impairments. Suggested areas may include deafness and hearing disorders in children; presbycusis; balance or vestibular disorders, particularly in the elderly; aphasia; stuttering; and disorders of smell and taste. Clinical research-oriented activities may also include studies of implantable biomaterials and biomechanical diagnostic and assistive devices. Each Center should seek to establish the effectiveness of new and improved methods of detection, referral, and diagnosis of individuals at risk for developing the particular disorder of hearing or other communication process that is the focus of the research program of the Center. The Center will provide research training opportunities, thereby strengthening the quality and increasing the number of investigators in communication sciences. Residents, pre- and post-doctoral fellows, visiting scientists, and students will benefit from research training in a multidisciplinary environment. Special emphasis may be placed on independent investigators who apply such disciplines as immunology or molecular biology to problems of deafness, balance, and so forth. In addition, research training for clinical professionals such as otolaryngologists, speech-language pathologists, or audiologists, is encouraged. Each Center should develop programs of information and continuing education for physicians and other health care professionals who will provide care for patients with the disorder(s) that is (are) the research focus of the Center. Educational programs should provide didactic materials on current methods of early diagnosis and treatment. These programs should seek to disseminate the results of research, screening, and other activities and develop means of standardizing patient data and record keeping. Centers will also include programs for the dissemination to the general public of information on the importance of early detection of the particular disorders or impairments under study, of seeking prompt treatment, rehabilitation, and when indicated, of following an appropriate therapeutic regimen. When appropriate, these public information programs may also focus on the importance of avoiding exposure to noise or other environmental toxic agents that may effect the impairments under examination. It is essential that the continuing education programs for health professionals and the public information programs utilize evaluation methodology that measures the effectiveness of the outreach strategies so that useful techniques may be shared with other Centers and health care providers. The NIDCD expects each Center to develop its own program in accordance with local strengths, talents, interests, and resources. Each RTC must be willing to cooperate actively with other Centers awarded under this and other Center solicitations. The NIDCD program officer will coordinate plans for any special activities of mutual interest to the Institute and the RTC. This may include training, information techniques, or continuing education, for example. The program officer will make periodic visits to the RTCs and will be responsible for evaluating progress. To foster cooperation among Centers, the Center Directors must agree to meet together at least once a year with the NIDCD program officer to review progress and coordinate similar activities. Representatives of each Center will form working groups in the four major areas of Center activity, that is, basic and clinical research, research training, continuing professional education, and information dissemination to the public. MECHANISM, NUMBER OF YEARS, AND BUDGET National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers will be funded through the Comprehensive Center grant mechanism (P60). Five (5) years of support must be requested at a direct cost not to exceed $1 million for the first year. Budget increments after the first year will be limited to necessary cost-of-living increases. At present, the Institute plans to award renewals of one or more additional periods of not more than five (5) years of support. Supplements to the Center grant are discouraged. However, one per project period is allowable. BUDGET GUIDELINES o Requests for travel should include an estimate for one meeting per year of the Center Director with NIDCD program staff in Washington, DC. In addition, requests for travel should include meetings of the working groups in the four major areas of center activity (see "Objective and Scope"). o Alteration and renovation costs must be limited to $200,000 total for the five-year period. Renovation must be limited to facilities that are required solely to support Center activities. Please refer to the PHS Grants Policy Statement DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 82-50,000 (revised October 1, 1990) for guidance on the information which must be made available to and approved by NIDCD should an award include significant funds for alterations and renovations. o Stipends for research trainees should be set at the level of NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA) program. o Consideration should be given in budget planning to those activities that would not be able to start immediately such as continuing education or information dissemination. Costs should be phased in for these activities based on realistic start dates. o All costs must be well justified by the programmatic activities of the Center. Although this solicitation is included in the plans for Fiscal Year 1991, support of grants pursuant to this request for applications is contingent upon availability of funds for this purpose. It is anticipated that two Centers will be funded under this RFA. The level of funding of individual Centers will be influenced by the individual merit of the proposals, the level of support recommended by the initial scientific review, and the amount of funds available to the NIDCD. It is expected that investigators collaborating within the Center will not necessarily derive all of their support from the Center grant mechanism. However, if proposed projects within the Center grant mechanism overlap with current support (for example, with an ongoing R01), the investigator must accept the project support only within the Center grant mechanism. While the development of new instrumentation or assistive devices may be a part of the Center, support for such development alone should not be funded in the RTC. In general, funds will not be provided for the purchase and installation of expensive equipment. Institute staff should be consulted if an applicant has questions regarding these limitations. METHOD OF APPLYING Applications should be developed in close cooperation with the NIDCD extramural program official(s) who will provide guidance to applicants on both scientific and administrative issues prior to submission. To facilitate Institute planning, applicants are requested to submit a letter of intent to the NIDCD on or before January 30, 1991. The letter should include a descriptive title, names of investigators who might be involved, and names of any participants outside the applicant institution. The Institute requests such letters only for the purpose of providing an indication of the number and scope of applications to be received and, therefore, usually does not acknowledge their receipt. A letter of intent is not binding; it will not enter into the review of any application subsequently submitted, nor is it a requirement. A letter of intent should be sent by January 30, 1991 to: Ralph F. Naunton, M.D. Director Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institutes of Health Executive Plaza South, Room 750 6120 Executive Boulevard Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-1804 Fax: (301) 402-6250 The applicant should prepare a complete application on research grant application Form PHS 398 (revised 10/88). Copies of this form are available in the applicant institution's office of sponsored research, or may be obtained from the following: Office of Grants Inquiries Division of Research Grants Westwood Building, Room 449 National Institutes of Health 5333 Westbard Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892 Applicants should utilize the instructions described in the document "Application Guidelines: National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers (RTC) ," available upon request from the contact person identified above. To identify the application as a response to this RFA, check "yes" in Item Number 2 on the face page of the application and enter the title "National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers" and the RFA number DC-91-01 in the space provided. The RFA label found in the Form PHS-398 application kit must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the original completed application form. 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. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Applicants for the "National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers" Grant Award must propose a program that includes: 1) Basic and Clinical Research: The research program must have a central theme, involving basic research and clinical research into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, and treatment of one or more disorders of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. There must be three or more related and integrated research projects of high quality that provide a multi-disciplinary yet unified approach to the problems being investigated. Each project must be described fully. Each individual research component must be meritorious. The Center Director coordinates all projects included in the Center and must have recognized skills as both a scientist and a research administrator. Investigators should be aware that NIH requires applicants to give added attention, where feasible and appropriate, to the inclusion of minorities and women in study populations. Gender and minority population differences should be noted and analyzed wherever possible. If minorities and/or women are not included in a given study, a clear reason for their absence must be provided. Merely including an arbitrary number of minority group and women participants in a given study is insufficient to guarantee generalization of results. One or more cores, for the support of resources serving the research projects, may be included. These cores are most appropriate for common resources such as equipment, tissue culture, biostatistics, and so forth. 2) Research Training: The training program enables cross-disciplinary training for physicians, pre- and post-doctoral fellows, visiting scientists, and students in the areas of communication sciences and disorders which are the focus of the RTC. The research training component of the RTC must provide research training opportunities for individuals with varying levels of research experience. Plans for recruitment of underrepresented minorities, women and individuals with disabilities must be included within this component of the application. In the preparation of an application, it is required that a description of the institution's plan to provide instruction on ethics in research training be included (see the announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts dated August 17, 1990, Vol. 19, No. 30). 3) Continuing Education: Educational programs are designed for physicians and other health and allied health professionals who will provide care for individuals with disorders of hearing or communication processes. The design, scope, and steps in implementation of these programs are left to the applicants to develop. 4) Information Dissemination: Information from the Center is disseminated to the public and, when appropriate, technology is transferred for clinical utilization and commercial product development. This component of the RTC should include programs for the dissemination to the general public of information on the importance of early detection of disorders of the communication processes which are the focus of the Center, of seeking prompt treatment, rehabilitation, and of following an appropriate therapeutic regimen. Other Activities: In addition, where appropriate, the Centers may pursue the following activities: a) Evaluation of the effectiveness of existing, new, and improved methods of habilitation and rehabilitation (especially with hearing-impaired and language-impaired children, the elderly, and multi-cultural populations); and detection, assessment, and treatment of communication disorders. b) Epidemiologic and genetic studies related to specific communication disorders. Basic and clinical research should comprise approximately fifty percent of the activity and resources of the Center. Research training should also be a significant proportion of the Center activity. The remaining resources may be distributed among information dissemination, continuing education and other activities (if included). The Center director must be a scientist who can provide strong and effective administrative leadership. This Center director will be responsible for the organization and operation of the RTC and for communication with NIDCD on scientific and operational matters. Interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary collaboration among scientists working within the Center is considered a necessity for an effective center grant. Each application should contain a plan to assure continuing interaction among participating scientists and among other NIDCD-funded research and training Centers. Scientific personnel and institutional resources capable of providing a strong research base in the field of communication sciences and disorders must be available. In addition, the applicant institution and pertinent department(s) should show a strong commitment to the Center's support. The Center should typically share common resources, including technical, clerical and administrative personnel, instrumentation, computer resources, subject populations, and data bases. The Center may be a consortium of institutions, organizations, and medical facilities. TIMETABLE FOR RECEIPT AND REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS The original and four copies of the application are due in the Division of Research Grants on or before February 21, 1991. Awards will be made by September 1991. Applications received after February 21, 1991 will be considered ineligible. Applications must be sent to: Application Receipt Office Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** One additional copy of the application must be sent to the Scientific Review Branch, NIDCD, at the same time as the original and four copies are sent to the Division of Research Grants. Otherwise, the NIDCD cannot guarantee that the application will be reviewed in competition for this RFA. Send to: Chief, Scientific Review Branch Division of Extramural Activities National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Executive Plaza South, Room 750 6120 Executive Boulevard Rockville, MD 20852 REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA Applications will be reviewed by NIDCD for responsiveness to the RFA and scientific merit. Applications that do not meet the specified criteria will be returned to the applicants. Those applications judged to be responsive will be further evaluated for scientific and technical merit by a Special Review Committee in the NIDCD, and site visits or applicant interviews in Bethesda, Maryland, will be held. The final level of review will be made by the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council for funding in September 1991. The Special Review Committee will use the following criteria in evaluating the applications: a) The criteria for reviewing the program as an integrated effort are: o relevance of the proposed program to the NIDCD mission; o the integration of the multidisciplinary enterprise with adequate plans for interaction and communication of information among the collaborating investigators; o the coordination and interrelationship among the individual research projects and cores and the relationship of the project objectives to the common theme, including the relationship of the basic science projects to the clinical research components; o leadership ability and scientific stature of the Center director and her/his ability to devote adequate time and effort to provide effective leadership; o participation of a suitable number of responsible, experienced investigators; o an organizational and administrative structure appropriate for effective attainment of program objectives; o arrangements for internal quality control of ongoing research, the allocation of funds, day-to-day management, collaborative arrangements with other institutions, if any, and internal communication and cooperation among the investigators in the program; o extramural advice and consultation; o evidence of a history of successful coordination and cooperation among a variety of disciplines; o the adequacy of facilities to support the various components of the RTC, including the availability of space, equipment, and subjects; o the rationale for and cost of the modernization and remodeling of facilities which will serve the RTC; o institutional commitment to the requirements of the program; o appropriateness of the overall budget for the proposed program; and o for cores: the technical merit and justification of each core unit; the appropriateness of each research project's use of core services; and the cost effectiveness and quality control of core units. b) The criteria for reviewing the basic and clinical research components are: o the advantages of pursuing the proposed research within an RTC grant rather than through individual research grants; the appropriateness of the size of the program (small enough to afford effective interaction focused on a specific central theme and large enough to achieve greater synergy and economies not provided by regular research grants); o the scientific merit of each project in the context of the proposed program, including the originality and feasibility of the approach, and the adequacy of the experimental design; o the specific scientific objectives of each project that will benefit significantly from, or depend upon, collaborative interactions with other projects in the program (i.e., objectives that can be uniquely accomplished or specific contributions to the accomplishments of objectives that can be achieved with greater effectiveness and/or economy of effort; o qualifications, experience, and commitment of the investigators and their ability to devote the required time and effort to the program; o the appropriateness of the budget for each research project; o the adequacy of the means proposed for protecting against risks to human subjects, animals, and the environment; o the adequacy of internal and external procedures for monitoring and evaluating the quality of research in progress; and o Investigators should be aware that NIH requires applicants to give added attention, where feasible and appropriate, to the inclusion of minorities and women in study populations. Gender and minority population differences should be noted and analyzed wherever possible. If minorities and/or women are not included in a given study, a clear reason for their absence must be provided. Merely including an arbitrary number of minority group and women participants in a given study is insufficient to guarantee generalization of results. (See NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 19, No. 31, August 24, 1990, and Vol. 19, No. 35, September 28, 1990, for further information). c) The criteria for reviewing the research training component are: o the proposed research training objectives and program design; o the need for research personnel in the proposed area of research training; o appropriateness of recruitment plan, including o an affirmative plan for the recruitment of underrepresented minorities, women and disabled individuals, which may include any or all of the following: advertisements in scientific or science-oriented journals; posters and/or flyers for display and distribution at scientific meetings; visits by program director and/or preceptors to minority institutions to advertise training opportunities; cooperative programs with nearby minority colleges; specific procedures of the institution's Office of Graduate Studies or Research Administration to identify potential applicants; and invitations to prospective minority applicants to visit the Center. (See NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 18, #20, June 9, 1989 for further information). o characteristics of the training environment (including the qualifications and research experience of the participating faculty; laboratory and clinical facilities; access to patients); o characteristics of the training plan: uniqueness and appropriateness (including length of training, didactic program, and basic and clinical research opportunities); o the previous training record of the research program and its ability to attract high caliber trainees; and the successful transition of trainees as independent investigators; o the extent of the institutional commitment; and o opportunities for the more established investigator to: oo acquire new research capabilities, oo attain or enlarge command of an allied research field, and oo increase capabilities in health-related research. o In the preparation of an application, it is required that a description of the institution's plan to provide instruction on ethics in research training be included (see the announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts dated August 17, 1990, Vol. 19, No. 30). d) The criteria for reviewing the continuing professional education component are: o the major continuing education goals and functions of the sponsoring organization; o the audience served, that is, the range of professionals who would participate; o procedures to be used to determine the continuing education needs of the audience served; o the adequacy of the proposed program content and plans for its provision; o qualifications of the individual responsible for continuing education component and the teaching staff; o appropriateness, range, and scope of the educational programs offered to health-related professionals; o administrative support and physical facilities available for these activities; and o adequacy of evaluation methodology to determine the effectiveness of the continuing education program. e) The criteria for reviewing the dissemination of information are: o The appropriateness of the proposed methods to assure the quality of information disseminated (for example, review by peers in the field); o the adequacy of the proposed plan for information dissemination and technology transfer; o the format and content of the information to be disseminated; o the breadth or range of audiences which will be served; o previous experience of the applicant organization in information dissemination and technology transfer; and o adequacy of evaluation methodology to determine the effectiveness of the information dissemination programs. The criteria for reviewing Other Activities (if included) are: o evaluation of effectiveness of methods of habilitation and rehabilitation: the criteria (as appropriate) noted above for review of the basic and clinical research component. Rating of these studies would occur within the basic and clinical research component. o epidemiologic and genetic studies: the criteria (as appropriate) noted above for review of the basic and clinical research component. Rating of these studies would occur within the basic and clinical research component. FUNDING It is anticipated that 2 awards will be made in FY 1991. The award of National Multi-purpose Research and Training Centers grants is contingent upon the assessment of the applications by peer review and the allocation of appropriated funds for this purpose. Funding for Center grants beyond the initial period will be subject to competitive renewal. INQUIRIES For further information, potential applicants may call or write to: Ralph F. Naunton, M.D. Director Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institutes of Health (See Method of Applying) Executive Plaza South, Room 750 6120 Executive Boulevard Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-1804 Fax: (301) 402-6250 This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.173, Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Section 301 (42 USC241), and administered under PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to review by a Health Systems Agency. NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program PA: PA-91-14 P.T. 44, FF; K.W. 0720005, 0715032, 0715040, 0715165 Application Receipt Date: February 8, 1991 I. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM The Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program is intended to: 1. Provide minority undergraduate students, graduate students, and students in health professional schools exposure to opportunities inherent in research careers in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic* diseases. * Within NHLBI, the term "hematologic" covers research on thrombosis and hemostasis, immunohematology, blood cell disorders, sickle cell disease, blood resources including blood component and derivative therapy, blood substitutes and blood resource management, aspects of AIDS-products in AIDS prevention and treatment, and AIDS-related bone marrow and hematologic disorders. Other Institutes of the NIH are responsible for research on disorders of white cells, including the leukemias and other blood malignancies, and basic immunology related to the lymphoid system. Therefore NHLBI cannot provide support for such studies. 2. Attract highly qualified minority students into biomedical and behavioral research careers in the areas of heart, lung, or blood disorders. 3. Bolster the already short supply of qualified minority investigators. II. BACKGROUND There is a need for minority students to participate in research activities to develop their investigative talents and increase the pool of accomplished minority biomedical investigators. Of the approximately 3,760 life science doctoral degrees awarded in science in 1987, only 163 of these were awarded to underrepresented minority individuals and less than 3 percent of individuals holding a Ph.D. degree in science are Black, Hispanic, native American, Alaskan natives, or Pacific Islanders. The 820 Black graduates of medical schools in 1987 represent 5 percent of total medical school graduates and only 2 percent of medical school faculty in the United States are Black. While there is strong interest in the scientific community in attracting minority students into research careers, few minority students opt for science degrees and research careers, and few minority graduates of health professional schools go on to investigative careers. The shortage of qualified minority investigators in research positions may even exacerbate the situation due to a lack of visible role models for students. There are existing programs at the National Institutes of Health that are designed to answer the need for more minority investigators. These include the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, the Minority Access to Research Careers Program, the NHLBI Minority Institutional Research Training Grant and Minority School Faculty Development Award Programs, and the Minority Research Supplement Program. While these programs are successful in meeting their specific objectives and career development goals, the need to attract minority students to research careers continues to exist. This NHLBI Short-Term Training for Minority Students program is designed to provide opportunities for underrepresented minority students at the undergraduate and graduate level to become exposed to biomedical research in areas relevant to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases through a short-term research experience. Authority: Under authority of Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 288), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awards National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-term Training for Students in Health Professional Schools (STSHPS) institutional grants. These grants, by supporting short-term research training experiences of two to three months, expose talented students in health professional schools to the opportunities inherent in a research career. The Short-Term Training for Minority Students program is based on the STSHPS program and is designed to help ameliorate the shortage of minority biomedical and biobehavioral investigators in the areas of heart, lung, and blood diseases by attracting highly qualified minority students in their developmental stages, increasing their awareness of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases, and acquainting them with career opportunities in biomedical and behavioral research. III. ELIGIBILITY A. Applicant Institutions Domestic non-federal private or public nonprofit institutions or organizations engaged in health-related research may apply for grants. The applicant institution must have the available research facilities, personnel, and support for the program in either the cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic disease area. Minority institutions with staff and resources in these research areas are encouraged to apply. Only one application per institution may be submitted for a given receipt date and an institution may have only one active NHLBI short-term Training for Minority Students award at any time. B. Trainees The applicant institution will be responsible for the selection and appointment of trainees. Trainees should have successfully completed at least one undergraduate year at an accredited school or university or have successfully completed one semester at a school of medicine, optometry, osteopathy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, public health, or an institution with an accredited graduate program, prior to participating in the program. These grants are intended to introduce students to research that would not otherwise be available through their regular course of studies. For graduate students, this may include minority graduate students in programs such as mathematics, who would not normally be exposed to biomedical research or minority graduate students who may need a specialized research experience to supplement their normal graduate education. Individuals holding Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M. or equivalent doctoral degrees in the health sciences are not eligible. Trainees must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residency (i.e., in possession of the Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551 or I-151) at the time of appointment. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Trainees need not be affiliated with the applicant institution. The applicant's program can be designed to include research experiences for qualified minority individuals at the applicant institution but applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a program that includes a number of individuals from other institutions, schools, colleges, or universities. The only requirement for student selection is that the trainees fulfill the above referenced eligibility requirements. IV. PROGRAM ELEMENTS Each institution is invited to develop an application that is best suited to its own strengths and characteristics. Applicant institutions need not propose a program that encompasses all types of students, i.e., undergraduate, graduate, and health professional students, but specific types of students should not be excluded without careful consideration and justification. The goal is to identify a cadre of minority students with the potential to pursue careers in biomedical and biobehavioral research in the areas of heart, lung, and blood diseases and provide the students with a research training experience that may stimulate interest in pursuing a research career. The training program director should have a demonstrated record of success in conducting research and in working with research trainees. Each application should describe a plan for widely advertising the program to ensure active competition for appointments. Special attention should be given to the recruitment of individuals from minority groups that now are underrepresented nationally in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, i.e., Blacks, Hispanics, and native Americans, Alaskan natives, and Pacific Islanders. The overall training is not necessarily restricted to activities in a single discipline or department but must be limited to research activities in the areas of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases. The choice of participating training sites and mentors should be carefully described, to show that the institution's best environments and role models have been selected. It is expected that students will be assigned to the institution's strongest research and training programs that may involve basic or clinical research or a combination of both. Each institution will be expected to encourage among the trainees a sense of belonging to a community of scientists. Among the methods that may be used is providing a special seminar series addressing such topics as research methodology, instrumentation, or experimental design. A plan for evaluating the impact of the program on the institution and the trainee is required. Grants will be awarded to support no fewer than 4, and not more than 24 trainees per budget period, based on a full-time three-month appointment. A trainee may be appointed for only one three-month period during a budget period, but may be appointed for more than one budget period, e.g., two successive summer research experiences. A student may be appointed, in special circumstances, to more than one three-month period during a budget period, provided prior approval is obtained from the staff of the NHLBI. All research training must be full-time during the specific training sequence. It is expected that most programs will be designed to provide a summer research experience but other innovative program designs and time schedules will be considered. V. PROVISIONS OF THE AWARD A. Period of Support Institutions applying for new or competitive continuation (renewal) Short-Term Training for Minority Students grants may request up to five years of support. B. Trainee Expenses The stipend level for trainees is $708 per month. Stipends may be supplemented by an institution from non-Federal funds. No Federal funds may be used for stipend supplementation unless specifically authorized under the terms of the program from which the supplemental funds are derived. Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation detract from or prolong the training. C. Training Related Expenses Up to $125 per month for each participating student may be requested to defray other costs of training such as staff salaries, consultant costs, and research supplies. In addition, up to $700 per trainee may be requested to cover domestic trainee travel to and from the training site. Trainee tuition and fees, where necessary to the research training, must be covered by the Training Related Expenses. D. Indirect Costs Indirect costs will be awarded based on 8 percent of total direct costs with no exclusions from the base for training- related expenses. E. Trainee Reporting Requirements A Statement of Appointment of Trainee form (PHS 2271) will be required to be submitted at the start of each trainee appointment and reappointment. Individuals trained under this program will not be required to sign an NRSA Payback Agreement or submit an NRSA Termination Notice (PHS 416-7). Applicants for competitive renewal applications will be required to provide information concerning past trainees in the program, the accomplishments of the program, and whether students supported by the program have pursued research careers. F. Other Terms and Conditions Except as modified by this announcement, the terms and conditions in the National Research Service Awards, Guidelines for Individual Awards - Institutional Grants (January 6, l984), as amended, will be applicable to grants made under this program. VI. REVIEW PROCEDURES All applications responding to this announcement will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by the Research Training Review Committee of the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI, followed by a second level review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. Review Criteria The factors to be considered in the evaluation of the proposed training program are: o Design of the proposed training program and the qualifications of the program director and participating faculty; o Adequacy of facilities, environment, and resources for the proposed research training; o Methods of recruiting, selecting and assigning minority students; o Commitment of the institution and participating faculty to the goals of the training program; o Procedures for evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and the impact of the program on the students involved. VII. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Submit applications on Form PHS-398 (Rev. 10/88), Application for Public Health Service Grant using the Institutional Research Service Award substitute pages LL-NN. This form is available at the applicant institution's office of sponsored research. An application may also be obtained from the three program offices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute listed below. When submitting the application, identify the Short-Term Training for Minority Students Program, PA-91-14, on the face page in line 2. Special instructions for preparing the application can be obtained from the program offices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute listed below. The RFA label (found in the 10/88 revision of application form PHS 398) must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the original copy of the application. Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of your application such that it will not reach the review committee in time for review. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the following office prior to application preparation: Executive Secretary Research Training Review Committee Division of Extramural Affairs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 550 Bethesda, MD 20892 Applications Send the completed application and four (4) signed exact photocopies by the announced receipt date to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Room 240, Westwood Building Bethesda, MD 20892** Two additional copies of the application should be sent to the Executive Secretary of the Research Training Review Committee listed above. Program Offices Information regarding this program and guidelines for preparing applications may be obtained from one of the following: John Fakunding, Ph.D. Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 3C04 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1724 Helena Mishoe, Ph.D. Division of Blood Diseases and Resources National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Federal Building, Room 504D Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-6931 Sydney Parker, Ph.D. Division of Lung Diseases National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 640A Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-7668 This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers 93.837-93.839. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Title III, Section 487 (Public Law 78-410, as amended; 42 USC 288) and administered under PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations at 42 CFR Part 66. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com