kristoff@GENBANK.BIO.NET (Dave Kristofferson) (03/16/91)
$$XID RFA CA9111 CA-91-11 P1O1 *****************************************
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
RFA: CA-91-11
MINORITY ONCOLOGY LEADERSHIP ACADEMIC AWARD
P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0785140, 0745020, 0745027, 0745070, 0755030, 0795003
National Cancer Institute
Letter of Intent Date: April 5, 1991
Application Receipt Date: May 17, 1991
I. PURPOSE
The Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program, Division of Extramural
Activities, National Cancer Institute (NCI), invites academic health
centers or schools and other health professional schools that employ,
educate or serve a preponderance of minority faculty, staff, trainees
and communities to submit applications for the support of an individual
to pursue leadership activities in the development of research and
training programs in clinically oriented cancer research (defined as
including population research; surgical, medical or radiation oncology;
cancer prevention and control; epidemiology and biostatistics;
nutrition; clinical pharmacology and clinical trials; behavioral
medicine and related areas of cancer research).
II. BACKGROUND
The proportion of clinically trained biomedical investigators who are
members of minority groups is strikingly lower than the percentage of
minority U.S. citizens. For example, while 12 percent of the U.S.
population is African American, less than 1 percent of persons holding
an M.D. or equivalent degree are African American. Furthermore, the
number of doctorates, both M.D.s and Ph.Ds, in other underrepresented
ethnic minority groups (such as native Americans and Hispanics) is
correspondingly small. The percentage of minority clinicians on the
faculty of health professional schools in general is lower still, as is
their representation as investigators in research projects funded by
agencies of the Federal government.
At the same time, minority groups often are underrepresented as subjects
in research projects involving human populations. Such deficiencies in
representation may call into question the applicability of findings to
minority groups, or may fail to uncover significant diversity among
different populations that may lead to important new scientific
insights.
One method of addressing this problem is by broadening the experience of
faculty at minority health professional schools that serve these
populations in the initiation and participation in cancer research. In
doing so, the pool of clinical biomedical investigators in all aspects
of cancer research will be increased, and trainees will become more
cognizant of research opportunities in oncology and related disciplines.
These institutions represent a unique concentration of minority faculty,
trainees, and patients to address the needs outlined above.
III. GOALS AND SCOPE
This award is aimed at encouraging and assisting a designated leader in
any of the minority health professional schools to increase his/her
institution's efforts in clinical cancer research in the areas such as
medical oncology, prevention, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, or
control; and to aid in establishing a cadre of faculty and staff capable
of developing new research protocols and increasing participation in
intervention studies and clinical trials in these areas.
These awards offer opportunities for supporting start-up or expansion of
such activities, and are intended to meet needs that have not been
addressed by other types of awards available from the NCI or other
Federal agencies. Priority is given to those minority institutions with
an interest in and commitment to expansion of clinical cancer
research-related activities in local populations.
IV. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
Support of this program will be through the National Institutes of
Health grant-in-aid (K07). Applicants will be responsible for the
planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project. Except as
otherwise stated in this Request for Applications (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. Awards are non-renewable and non-transferable
from one awardee to another. Funding beyond the first year of the grant
is contingent on satisfactory progress during the preceding year.
Future program interest in this initiative will be announced through the
NIH Program Announcement mechanism.
Up to $350,000 in total costs per year will be committed specifically to
fund applications submitted in response to this RFA. It is anticipated
that between 2 and 4 awards will be made from the competition for this
K07 solicitation. 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. The earliest
feasible start date for the initial award is September 30, 1991.
Awards may be requested for a period of 3 to 5 years. Allowable costs
include:
A. A portion of the salary of the faculty leader up to a maximum of
$50,000 per year and related fringe benefits.
B. Costs for further optional preparation of the faculty leader in
additional clinical or basic research methodologies (this aspect of the
program is not to exceed the equivalent of one academic year total over
the duration of the award).
C. Domestic travel expenses for the awardee to attend professional
meetings, training courses, and an annual two-day awardee meeting in
Bethesda, MD.
D. Partial salary support up to $40,000 per year for one additional
faculty or staff researcher as a direct participant in research-related
activities or services.
E. Up to $10,000 per year in supplies for research activities.
F. Indirect costs not to exceed a maximum of 8 percent of direct
costs, exclusive of tuition fees, if any.
G. Categorical amounts cited above notwithstanding, the total award
may not exceed $100,000 in direct costs per year.
V. ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIRED ELEMENTS
A. Minority School
A minority health professional school is defined as a medical, dental,
pharmacy, public health, or equivalent school in which students of
minority ethnic groups including African Americans, Hispanics, American
Indians, and Asians or Pacific Islanders comprise a significant
proportion of the enrollments and that has a commitment to the special
encouragement of minority faculty, students, and investigators.
B. Candidate
To be eligible, candidates must:
o Have an appropriate clinical academic appointment at the institution
at the time the award is activated. The candidate must be a citizen, a
non-citizen national of the U.S., or have been lawfully admitted to the
U.S. for permanent residence.
o Have appropriate documented research experience and background in a
clinical oncology specialty and/or cancer research.
o Specify a program for enhancement of personal research skills as
needed, and for the conduct of research in one or more areas cited in
this announcement. Proposed research should be described in sufficient
detail for reviewers to evaluate the likelihood of success of this
element of the plan. All sources of support proposed for this activity
should be indicated.
o Present a program for developing or improving clinical cancer
research and training capabilities at the grantee institution.
o Commit a minimum of 60 percent total time and effort to the research
and development aspects of the program.
o Agree to report annually on the status of the program and to meet
annually to exchange information with NCI staff and other awardees.
o Specify a plan for evaluating the effect of this award on the
candidate and institution.
C. Institution
The institution must:
o Name and sponsor a senior or mid-level faculty member with research
competence and a major career interest in oncology and/or clinical
cancer research and related training programs.
o Present plans to develop or improve cancer-related research and
research training educational programs.
o Identify and document the availability of resources (populations,
patients, manpower, materials, equipment, laboratory facilities)
necessary to implement the proposed program.
o Provide the candidate with time to acquire any new skills necessary
for individual professional development and for the development of the
program.
o Provide access to facilities for clinical and related research
protocols.
o Provide evidence of commitment from the highest levels of
administration and from the sponsoring Departmental chairpersons to
implement the proposed program and to coordinate it with other ongoing
activities.
o State the mechanisms planned for continued institutional support of
the program in the future.
VI. REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA
REVIEW PROCEDURE
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed initially by the Division of
Research Grants (DRG) for completeness. Incomplete applications will be
returned to the applicant without further consideration. Evaluation for
responsiveness to the program requirements and criteria stated in the
RFA is an NCI program staff function. Applications that are judged
non-responsive will be returned to the applicant . Questions concerning
the relevance of proposed research to the RFA should be directed to
program staff as described in the INQUIRIES section.
Applications will receive technical review by an initial review group
appointed by the NCI, with secondary review by the National Cancer
Advisory Board.
REVIEW CRITERIA
A. Background and potential of the named candidate as a leader in
research and training activities in oncology and cancer, and
demonstration of effectiveness as a leader within the institution.
B. Merit of the candidate's personal plan for development and his/her
plans for fostering increased research and training within the
institution.
C. Scope and nature of the collaboration and commitment among
participating departments and/or schools.
D. Merit of the institutional plan to strengthen research and training
activities beyond the current status of activities and capacities.
E. Appropriateness and potential efficacy of the proposed use of funds
to achieve the goals of the award.
F. Potential of the institution for recruitment and utilization of
clinical populations and research training of clinical
researchers.
G. Commitment of the institution to strengthen clinical cancer
research and to support the candidate's efforts in this regard.
VII. METHOD OF APPLYING
The research grant application form PHS 398 (revised 10/88) must be used
in applying to this RFA. These forms are available at most
institutional business offices, from the Office of Grants Inquiries,
Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood
Building, Room 449, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, and
from the NCI program director named below.
The RFA label available in the application form PHS 398 must be affixed
to the bottom of the face page. Failure to use this label could result
in delayed processing of the application such that it may not reach the
review committee in the most timely manner. In addition, the RFA number
and title must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application
form.
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and four (4) signed, exact photocopies, in one package to DRG
at the address below. The photocopies must be clear and single sided.
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD 20892**
At time of submission, send two (2) additional copies of the application
to:
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activitis
National Cancer Institute
Westwood Building, Room 848
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892
Applications must be received by May 17, 1991. If an application is
received after that date, it will be returned. If the application
submitted in response to this RFA is substantially similar to a research
grant application already submitted to the NIH for review, but which 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.
Therefore, an application 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.
VIII. LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit by April 5, 1991, a letter of
intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the
name and address 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 is being submitted. The
letter of intent is of great benefit to the NCI in planning and
implementing the review process although the letter is not required, is
not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent
applications.
The letter of intent must be sent to the NCI Program Director:
Dr. Lemuel Evans
Division of Extramural Activities
Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program
National Cancer Institute
Building 31, Room 10A04
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7344
Fax: (301) 402-0062
IX. INQUIRIES
Written or telephone inquiries concerning the objectives and scope of
this RFA or inquiries about whether or not specific proposed research
would be responsive are encouraged and should be directed to Dr. Lemuel
Evans at the above address. The Program Director welcomes the
opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential
applicants.
For information regarding budgetary/administrative issues related to
this RFA, please contact:
Mr. Leo Buscher, Jr.
Chief, Grants Administration Branch
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza South, Room 216
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7753
This program is described in the catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
No. 93-398, Cancer Research Manpower. Awards are under the authority of
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 VCFR
Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review
requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
$$XID RFA DK9108 DK-91-08 P1O1 *****************************************
REQUEST FOR RESEARCH GRANTS APPLICATIONS
RFA: DK-91-08
P.T. 34; K.W. 0785095, 0755030, 0765033
STUDIES ON THE ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS OF
POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 17, 1991
Application Receipt Date: May 15, 1991
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK) through the Division of Kidney, Urologic
and Hematologic Diseases (DKUHD), invites research grant
applications directed at defining and further characterizing
the etiology and pathogenesis of Polycystic Kidney Disease
(PKD).
BACKGROUND
Polycystic Kidney Disease is the most common genetic
disease, affecting 500,000 Americans, with 7,000 new patients
recognized each year. Since 1982, the number of newly-
diagnosed patients has risen steadily, with a compound
annual rate of 5.7 percent. Each child of an affected
parent has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the gene.
Two major types of PKD are recognized, autosomal dominant
PKD and autosomal recessive PKD.
Polycystic Kidney Disease ranks first among the inherited
and congenital conditions leading to end-stage renal disease
(ESRD); it ranks fourth as a primary cause of ESRD and as a
basic diagnosis among newly identified ESRD patients. Males
and females are affected equally, and its worldwide
distribution appears to demonstrate that it affects all
races.
Although PKD was long considered to be primarily an adult
disease, it also has been found to be a common cause of
cystic disease in children, and thus must be considered in
the differential diagnosis of the pediatric patient. The
most common form of PKD in humans, autosomal dominant PKD
(ADPKD), has nearly complete penetrance, but variable
expression. About 25 percent of patients are unable to give
a family history consistent with ADPKD, suggesting the
possibility of a high rate of spontaneous mutations in the
"PKD locus". An alternative possibility is that
environmental or other factors may have a strong effect on
the expression of ADPKD.
A less frequent form of PKD in humans, autosomal recessive
PKD (ARPKD), is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
ARPKD is rarely recognized in parents of affected children,
occurring once in 6,000 to 14,000 live births. Patients
with less severe forms of the disease who survive the
newborn period often develop renal insufficiency at some
point during the course of the disease.
A newly recognized type of PKD, acquired PKD (ACPKD),
develops in kidneys injured by a variety of chronic renal
disorders, and leads to progressive renal insufficiency. It
also develops in long-term hemodialysis patients. This form
of PKD has been associated with a high incidence of
malignant transformation.
A major advance in understanding PKD etiology was made in
1985. Using gene linkage techniques, a gene for ADPKD was
localized to the short arm of chromosome 16. Although the gene
itself was not found, DNA markers near the gene were
identified. In 1988, an affected family was discovered in
which the PKD gene was found in a location other than
chromosome 16. That this was not a unique finding was
confirmed by the subsequent finding of similarly affected
families. The first gene, located on chromosome 16, has
been called ADPKD1. The other gene(s) not yet localized,
has been called ADPKD2 or non-ADPKD1, to convey the
possibility that there may be even more than two ADPKD genes
or loci. While ADPKD1 appears to account for 90 percent of all
ADPKD in the Caucasian population, the distribution between
the genotypes for other racial groups remains to be
determined. The significance of the apparent correlation of
the chromosomal localization with the time of onset of the
disease needs to be examined.
Thus, ADPKD, which appeared clinically to be one disease,
actually may result from different genetic defects. Because
the gene products are likely to be different, it is
reasonable to expect that the clinical manifestations also
will be different.
Because the pathogenesis of PKD remains undefined, it is not
possible to develop rational approaches to prevention and
treatment. The nature of the biochemical defect, which
leads to cyst formation and consequent cyst growth, and the
relationship between the extent of cyst formation and the
development of progressive renal insufficiency are not
understood. There are proponents of the idea that the renal
cyst may be one of a limited repertoire of responses of the
kidney to tubular epithelial injury, and that injurious
agents act in a limited number of pathways. However, there
is increasing evidence that the primary abnormality is one
of disordered cell growth whereby cyst formation and growth
are controlled by the combined action of growth-promoting
factors. Some evidence suggests that epidermal growth
factor may initiate cyst formation, and that cyclic AMP
accelerates cyst formation and expansion.
PKD presents in a variety of clinical forms, often with a
slow progressive course to renal insufficiency. Thus,
different avenues of research should be pursued in order to
gain a better understanding of the genetic factors leading
to PKD, the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to cyst
formation and growth, the diversity in clinical expression,
and the identification of effective treatment to prevent or
control this major problem.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
The purpose of this Request for Applications is to stimulate
high quality research efforts to further the understanding
of the etiology and pathogenesis of PKD. Examples of areas
for investigation include:
Isolation, sequencing and cloning of the ADPKD1 gene(s);
gene regulation studies; identification of linkage markers
to define chromosomal location for the non-ADPKD1 gene(s)
and for the ARPKD gene; examination of the heterogeneity of
ARPKD; and characterization of gene mutations.
Identification of key cellular and molecular pathogenetic
factors leading to cyst formation and growth, including
processes and factors resulting in epithelial proliferation,
fluid accumulation, and regulation of extracellular matrix
formation.
Development of in vitro models of renal cyst formation using
cell lines or isolates, such as those obtained by the
transfection with various types of genetic material or
immortalization of cells from affected persons.
Applications proposing clinical trials are not requested at
this time.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
The support mechanism for this program will be the
traditional, individual, investigator-initiated Research
Grant (RO1) Application, and it is governed by the policies
applicable to such awards. Approximately $1.2 million in
total direct and indirect costs are anticipated to be
available to fund applications submitted in response to this
RFA. However, the funding of such applications is
contingent on the actual availability of funds, and the
receipt of applications of sufficient scientific merit. It
is anticipated that five to seven awards will be made, for
an average of 4 years per award. The specific amounts
to be awarded will depend on the merit and scope of the
applications received. Furthermore, because diverse
approaches may represent valid responses to this
announcement, it is anticipated that there will be a range
of costs among individual awards. Awards may be made to
foreign institutions for research of unusual merit and
promise, in accordance with PHS policy governing such
awards. It is anticipated that support for successful
applications will begin on September 30, 1991.
Upon initiation of the program, the NIDDK will sponsor
periodic meetings to encourage exchange of information among
participating investigators, and with other investigators
with related interests. Therefore, the application budgets
must request travel funds for a two-day meeting each year,
most likely to be held in Bethesda, Maryland. The
application budget section also must include a statement
indicating willingness of the applicant to participate in
such meetings.
The current policies and requirements that govern the
review, funding, and performance of research grant programs
of the NIH will prevail.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF
NIH POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN
CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS
NIH and ADAMHA policy is that applicants for NIH/ADAMHA clinical
research grants and cooperative agreements will be required to
include minorities and women in study populations so that
research findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the
disease, disorder or condition under study; special emphasis
should be placed on the need for inclusion of minorities and
women in studies of diseases, disorders and conditions which
disproportionately affect them. This policy is intended to apply
to males and females of all ages. If women or minorities are
excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research,
particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear
compelling rationale should be provided.
The composition of the proposed study population must be
described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In
addition, gender and racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in
developing a research design and sample size appropriate for the
scientific objectives of the study. This information should be
included in the form PHS 398 in Section 2, A-D of the Research
Plan AND summarized in Section 2, E, Human Subjects.
Applicants/offerors are urged to assess carefully the feasibility
of including the broadest possible representation of minority
groups. However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or
appropriate in all research projects to include representation of
the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority
populations (i.e., Native Americans (including American Indians
or Alaskan Natives), Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics).
The rationale for studies on single minority population groups
should be provided.
For the purpose of this policy, clinical research includes human
biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology,
prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment
of diseases, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to
clinical trials.
The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also
apply. Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues
cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded.
However, every effort should be made to include human tissues
from women and racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to
apply the results of the study broadly, and this should be
addressed by applicants.
For foreign awards, the policy on inclusion of women applies
fully; since the definition of minority differs in other
countries, the applicant must discuss the relevance of research
involving foreign population groups to the United States'
populations, including minorities.
If the required information is not contained within the
application, the application will be returned.
Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research
plan in the application conforms to these policies. If the
representation of women or minorities in a study design is
inadequate to answer the scientific question(s) addressed AND the
justification for the selected study population is inadequate, it
will be considered a scientific weakness or deficiency in the
study design and will be reflected in assigning the priority
score to the application.
All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are
required to address these policies. NIH funding components will
not award grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply
with these policies.
APPLICATIONS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by the Division
of Research Grants (DRG) for completeness. Incomplete
applications will be returned to the applicant without
further consideration. Applications also will be evaluated
for responsiveness to the RFA. Those judged non-responsive
will be returned to the applicant but may be submitted
as investigator-initiated regular research grants at the
regular receipt dates. Questions concerning the
responsiveness of proposed research to the RFA should be
directed to Program staff (see the final page of this below).
If the application submitted in response to this RFA is
substantially similar to a research 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.
Therefore, an application cannot be submitted in response to this
RFA that 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.
In cases where the number of applications is large compared
to the number of anticipated awards, the NIH may conduct a
preliminary scientific peer review to eliminate those
applications which clearly are not competitive. The NIH
will withdraw administratively from competition those
submissions judged to be noncompetitive, and will notify the
applicant and the institutional business official.
Those applications judged to be both competitive and
responsive will be reviewed for scientific and technical
merit by an Initial Review Group convened by the Division
of Extramural Activities, NIDDK, solely to review these
applications. Review criteria include: extent of relevance
and/or contribution of the proposed research to the overall
goals and objectives of the RFA; significance and
originality of research goals and approaches; feasibility of
the research and adequacy of the experimental design;
experience and research competence of the investigator(s);
adequacy of available facilities; inclusion of women and
minorities (when applicable) or a clear rationale provided
for their exclusion; appropriate consent forms for patient
participation (when applicable); provision for the humane
care of animals (when applicable); and appropriateness of
the requested budget relative to the work proposed.
Funding decisions will be based on scientific merit, program
relevance, and availability of funds, and on recommendations
by the Initial Review Group and the National Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases Advisory Council.
METHOD OF APPLYING
LETTER OF INTENT: Prospective applicants are asked to
submit a letter of intent that includes a
descriptive title of the grant application, the name of
the Principal Investigator, and any participating
institutions. Such letters are requested in order to
determine the number and scope of applications likely to be
received. Their receipt will not be acknowledged. A letter
of intent is not binding and will not enter into the review
of any application submitted subsequently, nor is it
required for application. This letter of intent, which
should be received by April 17, 1991, must be sent to:
Robert D. Hammond, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch, DEA
National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 406
Bethesda, MD 20892
Applications must be submitted on form PHS 398 (revised
10/88) available in the Business or Research Grants Offices
of most academic or research institutions, and from the
Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants,
Room 449, Westwood Building, 5333 Westbard Avenue, National
Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892.
Applications will be accepted until close of business on
May 15, 1991. No extensions will be granted on the
application deadline.
The phrase "RFA DK-91-08: Studies on the
Etiology and Pathogenesis Polycystic Kidney
Disease" must be typed on line 2 of the face page of form
PHS 398. Applicants should request a start date of
September 30, 1991.
THE RFA LABEL (AVAILABLE IN THE 10/88 REVISION OF
APPLICATION FORM 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 THE
APPLICATION.
The completed original application and four (4) signed,
exact photocopies should be sent or delivered to:
Grants Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD 20892**
Two additional copies of the application should be sent to:
Robert D. Hammond, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch, DEA
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 406
Bethesda, MD 20892
IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEND THESE TWO COPIES AT THE SAME TIME
THAT THE ORIGINAL AND FOUR COPIES ARE SENT TO THE DIVISION
OF RESEARCH GRANTS. IF THESE ARE NOT SENT IT CANNOT BE
GUARANTEED THAT THE APPLICATION WILL BE REVIEWED IN
COMPETITION FOR THIS RFA PROGRAM.
TIME TABLE
Letter of Intent April 17, 1991
Application Receipt Date May 15, 1991
Review by Council September 12-13, 1991
Anticipated Award Date September 30, 1991
Inquiries regarding this announcement may be directed to:
Gladys H. Hirschman, M.D.
Director, Chronic Renal Diseases Program
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
Federal Building, Room 102
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-8218
For fiscal and administrative matters, contact:
Ms. Donna Huggins
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 653
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7467
These programs are described in the catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance No. 93.849 - Kidney, Urologic and
Hematologic Diseases Research - and awards will be made
under the authority of the Public
Health Service Act, Title III, Section 301 (Public Law 78-
4110, 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 subjected to the
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order
12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
$$XID RFA CA9113 CA-91-13 P1O1 *****************************************
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
RFA: CA-91-13
P.T. 34, FF; K.W. 0715035, 0710030
MINORITY SCHOOL FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARD
National Cancer Institute
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 5, 1991
Application Receipt Date: May 17, 1991
I. PURPOSE
The Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program, Division of Extramural
Activities, National Cancer Institute (NCI), invites academic health
centers or schools and other health professional schools that employ,
educate or serve a preponderance of minority faculty, staff, trainees,
and communities, to submit applications for support of activities
directed at the development of faculty investigators at minority schools
in areas relevant to cancer. The intent of the award is to provide the
awardee with increased access to research opportunities through
collaborative arrangements with outstanding cancer research scientists,
usually at institutions within a 100 mile radius of the applicant
organization.
II. BACKGROUND
Despite a variety of efforts directed toward increasing minority faculty
representation, the percentage of minority faculty in U.S. medical and
other health professional schools has remained at consistently low
levels. The continuation of this deficiency is projected by observing
the discrepancies between the proportion of underrepresented minorities
in the medical school population and the general population. While 12
percent of the U.S. population is African American, less than 1 percent
of persons holding a Ph.D. in science is African American and
percentages for other minority groups are correspondingly small.
The proportion of minority biomedical investigators, receiving funding
support from agencies of the Federal government is strikingly low. This
program is designed to offer support for cancer-related research to
minority school faculty members at the M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent level
who have the interest and capability to do state-of-the-art research in
this area.
III. GOALS AND SCOPE
The objective of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to broaden the
experience of faculty members at minority schools, to increase the pool
of biomedical and behavioral investigators in cancer research, and have
graduate and undergraduate students, most of whom will be minority
individuals, become more cognizant of research opportunities in cancer
research.
IV. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
Support of this program will be through the National Institutes of
Health grant-in-aid (K14). Applicants will be responsible for the
planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project. 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. Applicants may request three to five years of support. Awards
are non-renewable and nontransferable from one awardee to another.
Funding beyond the first year of the grant is contingent on satisfactory
progress during the preceding year. Future program interest in this
initiative will be announced through the NIH program announcement
mechanism.
A set-aside of approximately $300,000 in total costs per year has been
designated for this group of applications. The earliest feasible
starting date for the initial award will be September 30, 1991. It is
anticipated that three to four awards will be made. This funding level
is dependent upon 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 availability of funds for this purpose.
V. ELIGIBILITY
A Minority School
A minority school is defined as a medical or non-medical college,
university or equivalent school in which students of minority ethnic
groups including African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and
Asian or Pacific Islanders comprise a significant proportion of the
school enrollment and that has a commitment to the special encouragement
of minority faculty, students and investigators.
B Faculty Development Award Candidate
Candidates for this award are minority school faculty members who (1)
are citizens of the United States, noncitizen nationals or permanent
residents at the time of application, (2) have a M.D., PhD., or
equivalent in a biomedical or behavioral science, (3) wish to receive
specialized training in cancer research and (4) have the background and
potential to become an independent biomedical investigator. A minimum
of 50 percent effort annually must be committed to the award.
Applicants may not apply for, or accept, other Public Health Service
research grant support or its equivalent at the time of Minority School
Faculty Development Award application, nor may they apply currently for
any other type of academic award. However, they may apply for, and
accept research grant support subsequent to award of the Minority School
Faculty Development Award.
C Mentor at Research Center
Each candidate must also identify and complete arrangements with a
mentor, preferably at a nearby majority or minority institution (within
reasonable commuting distance) who is recognized as an accomplished,
independently funded investigator in the research area proposed and who
will provide guidance for the awardee's development and research plan.
Plans for an intensive training period should be developed with the
mentor.
The commitment of the mentor and his institution to both the summer and
academic year training must be evidenced by letters of support to be
included in the application. A commitment from the mentor's department
chairman must be included in the application.
D Allowable Costs
o Salary: The salary of the candidate may be requested up to a maximum
of $50,000, plus fringe benefits, per annum for the time and effort
committed to the activities of the award, consistent with similar pay
scales at the applicant institution.
o Research Support: A maximum of $10,000 annually for years 01 and 02
and $20,000 annually for succeeding years to provide for categories
listed below:
Equipment: Specialized research equipment essential to the proposed
program; in accordance with PHS policy, title to such equipment will
vest with the grantee institution.
Supplies: Consumable supplies essential to the proposed program.
Travel: Domestic travel for the awardee that is essential to the
proposed program.
Tuition and Fees: If essential to the awardee's individual research
development program; and
Other: Personnel, publication costs, computer costs, and other costs
necessary for the research program.
o Indirect costs will be provided for at a rate of eight percent of the
total direct costs of each award, exclusive of tuition, fees, and
expenditures for equipment.
VI. REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA
Review Procedures
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by the Division of Research
Grants (DRG) DRG for completeness. Incomplete applications will be
returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications
will be evaluated by NCI program staff to determine whether they are
responsive to this announcement and meet the stated goals and objectives
of this program. Applications that are judged non-responsive will be
returned to the applicant. Questions concerning the relevance of
proposed research to the announcement should be directed to program
staff, as described in the INQUIRIES section.
In cases where the number of applications is large compared to the
number of awards to be made, the NCI will conduct a preliminary
scientific peer review to eliminate those that are clearly not
competitive. The NCI will remove from competition those applications
judged to be noncompetitive for award and notify the applicant and
institutional business official.
Those applications judged to be both competitive and responsive will be
reviewed for scientific technical merit by an appropriate review group
convened by the Division of Extramural Activities, NCI. The second
level of review by the National Cancer Advisory Board considers the
special needs of the Institute and the priorities of the National Cancer
Program.
Review Criteria
o The overall merit of the candidate's plan for research and the
development of research skills.
o The background and potential of the proposed candidate for
development into an independent biomedical investigator.
o The candidate's commitment to a research career.
o The ability of both the minority institution and the training
center to provide facilities, resources, and opportunities
necessary for the candidate's research development.
o The commitment of the institution to the faculty candidate's
research and development must clearly be presented in the
application, including statement(s) from the sponsor and the
department chairman.
o The qualifications, ability, and plans of the mentor who will
provide the candidate with the guidance necessary for career
development in research. Recognition of the mentor as reflected
by receipt of support from national peer reviewed funding sources.
VII. METHOD OF APPLYING
A - Research grant application form PHS 398 (revised 10/88), must be
used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most
institutional business offices; from the Office of Grants Inquiries,
Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Room 449,
Westwood Building, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20892; and
from the NCI Program Director named below.
The RFA label available in the revised 10/88 revision of application
form PHS 398 must be affixed to the bottom of the face page. Failure to
use this label could result in delayed processing of your application
such that it may not reach the review committee in time for review. In
addition, the RFA number and title must be typed on line 2 of the face
page of the application form.
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and four (4) signed, exact photocopies, in one package to the
address below. The photocopies must be clear and single sided.
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD 20892**
At time of submission, send two (2) additional copies of the application
to:
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
Westwood Building, Room 838
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892
Applications must be received by May 17, 1991. If an application is
received after that date, it will be returned. If the proposed research
section of the application submitted in response to this RFA is
substantially similar to a research grant application already submitted
to the NIH for review, but which 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. Therefore, an application 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.
B - Instructions for Completing Applications
Items on the application form that require explanation are listed below.
Those not listed are considered to be self-explanatory. If additional
space is needed to complete any of the items, use continuation pages and
identify each item with its number.
o Face Page (Page 12 of application form): Numbers below refer to items
of Face Page.
1 - Title of Application must be the "NCI Minority School Faculty
Development Award: K-14."
2 - Total Period must be at least three and no more than five years.
3 - Enter the total amount requested for the entire three to five-year
project period (from the "Budget Estimates for All Years of Support
Requested," page five of the application form).
4 - The application form requires signatures of the candidate and an
authorized official of the applicant organization as certification that
they agree to abide by PHS policies if an award is made.
o Budget (Use pages four and five of application form and continuation
pages): Refer to the section of this announcement entitled:
"Provisions of the Award" for allowable budgetary items and amounts of
support that may be requested.
o Budget Justification: All budget items should be clearly labeled and
justified.
o Initial 12-month period: Present a detailed budget with justification
for all requested items.
o Future years: Indicate totals for each budget category and justify
items other than the awardee's salary for each of the four future years.
o Other support: The candidate should include all Federal and
non-Federal fellowship, grant and contract awards - past, current, and
pending. For each grant listed, give its number, subject of the
research and title of the candidate's position, (e.g., co-investigator,
research assistant) and level of effort.
o Reference letters: Ask three persons to submit letters of reference
to the following address by the application receipt date. Please list
the names, titles, and complete addresses of these individuals on the
last page of the grant application under the title "Reference Letters."
These letters are to be forwarded by the referees directly to:
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
Westwood Building, Room 838
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892
o Research and career development plans to be completed by the
candidate.
1. Describe the research and career development plans for the
requested five-year period of the award.
a. Background Information
i. Aspects of the candidate's education and training background that
qualify him/her for participation in the program described.
ii. Areas in the candidate's educational and training background that
can be developed by the proposed program.
b. Research Project
The candidate should follow the guidelines in the instructions for
PHS 398 (rev. 10/88) applications, pages 19-23.
The candidate should describe the proposed five-year research program
in sufficient detail to permit adequate evaluation. If, during the
course of the outlined study, the awardee should find that he/she
would like to alter the direction or emphasis of the research, such
a change may be made with the approval of the mentor and of the
NCI.
2. Information Provided by Mentor:
The mentor should describe in detail:
a. His/Her concept of the research and career development plan
of the awardee.
b. Specific plans for guidance counseling or any other formal
or informal training of the candidate.
c. How the supervision and training provided the candidate will
promote his/her transition toward the status of an independent
investigator in areas relevant to cancer by the end of the grant
award period.
d. His/Her curriculum vitae, bibliography, and research support.
3. Information Provided by Department Chairperson
The chairperson of the department sponsoring the candidate should
submit, as part of the application, a signed statement detailing
the Department's commitment to the candidate during the term of the
award.
4. Information Provided by the Mentor's Institution
The chairperson of the participating Department at the Mentor's
Institution should submit a signed statement detailing the
Department commitment to the development of the candidate during the
term of the award.
SIGNED STATEMENT BY THE CANDIDATE: Candidates should submit as part of
the application a signed statement indicating that they will abide by
the requirements in this RFA and the PHS policies for grants and awards.
VII. LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by April 5, 1991, a letter
of intent that includes descriptive title of the proposed research, the
name and address 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 is being submitted. The
letter of intent is of great benefit to the NCI in planning for and
implementing the review process although the letter is not required, is
not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent
applications.
VIII. INQUIRIES
Written or telephone inquiries concerning the objectives and scope of
the RFA or inquiries about whether or not specific proposed research
would be responsive should be directed to:
Dr. Lemuel A. Evans
Director
Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program
National Cancer Institute
Building 31, Room 10A04
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7344
FAX: (301) 402-0062
The Program Director welcomes the opportunity to clarify any issues or
questions from potential applicants, and to aid in identification of
institutions and potential mentors appropriate to the interests of the
applicant.
For information regarding budgetary/administrative issues related to
this RFA, please contact:
Mr. Leo Buscher, Jr.
Chief, Grants Administration Branch
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza South, Room 216
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7753
This program is described in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93,398, Cancer Research Manpower. Awards are under the
authority of 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.