kristoff@GENBANK.BIO.NET (Dave Kristofferson) (03/23/90)
RESEARCH DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SERIOUS AND CHRONIC
CONDUCT PROBLEMS
RFA AVAILABLE: MH-90-13
P.T. 34; K.W. 0715020, 0745027, 0403004
National Institute of Mental Health
Application Receipt Date: June 18, 1990
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) seeks applications for research
demonstration projects aimed at the prevention of serious and chronic conduct
disorders during adolescence and early adulthood. These projects are expected
to use multi-faceted preventive interventions with components for which there
is an empirical or conceptual basis for expecting significant preventive
effects and are expected to involve comprehensive and scientifically rigorous
evaluations of these preventive effects in large, representative populations.
Applications may be submitted by any nonprofit or for-profit organization
including units of State and local government. Women and minority
investigators are encouraged to apply.
Applicants are urged to give added attention (where feasible and appropriate)
to the inclusion of women and minorities in study populations. If minorities
and women are not included, a clear rationale for their exclusion should be
provided
Support for research demonstration projects under this announcement should be
requested through applications for research demonstrations (R18).
In fiscal year 1990, it is estimated that approximately $4,000,000 will be
available to support research demonstration projects under this announcement.
Funding in future years will depend on annual appropriations.
Applications must be received by the June 18, 1990, deadline.
Potential applicants should contact the following NIMH staff as early as
possible for information and guidance in planning high quality research
demonstrations:
Doreen Spilton Koretz, Ph.D.
Prevention Research Branch, NIMH
Room 14C-02, 5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 443-4283
or
James Breiling, Ph.D.
Antisocial and Violent Behavior Branch, NIMH
Room 18-105, 5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 443-3728
RESEARCH DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF YOUTH SUICIDE AND SUICIDAL
BEHAVIOR
RFA AVAILABLE: MH-90-15
P.T. 34; K.W. 0404020, 0745027, 0715020, 0403004
National Institute of Mental Health
Application Receipt Date: June 18, 1990
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) seeks applications for research
demonstration projects aimed at the prevention of youth suicide and suicidal
behavior. These projects are expected to use multi-faceted preventive or
treatment interventions with components for which there is an empirical or
conceptual basis for expecting preventive effects and involve comprehensive
and scientifically rigorous evaluations of these preventive effects in large,
representative populations.
Applications may be submitted by any nonprofit or for-profit organization
including units of State and local government. Women and minority
investigators are encouraged to apply.
Applicants are urged to give added attention (where feasible and appropriate)
to the inclusion of women and minorities in study populations. If women and
minorities are not to be included, a clear rationale for their exclusion must
be provided.
Support for research demonstration projects under this announcement should be
requested through applications for research demonstration grants (R18). In
fiscal year 1990, it is expected that up to $1,000,000 will be available to
support research demonstration awards under this Request for Applications
(RFA). Funding in future years will depend on annual appropriations.
Applications must be received by the receipt date of June 18, 1990.
NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 12, March 23, 1990 - Page 5
Potential applicants should contact the following NIMH staff as early as
possible for information and guidance in planning high quality research
demonstrations:
Peter Muehrer, Ph.D.
Prevention Research Branch
Room 10-104
Telephone: (301) 443-5944
Irma Lann, M.Ed.
Child and Adolescent Disorders Research Branch
Room 10-104
Telephone: (301) 443-5944
Kelly Kelleher, M.D., M.P.H.
Biometric and Clinical Applications Branch
Room 18C-14
Telephone: (301) 443-1330
The address for all of the above is:
National Institute of Mental Health
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
RESEARCH DEMONSTRATIONS ON EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENTS
RFA AVAILABLE: MH-90-19
P.T. 34, AA; K.W. 0715129, 0730050, 0403004
National Institute of Mental Health
Application Receipt Date: June 18, 1990
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and
Mental Health Administration, in collaboration with the Pediatric Emergency
Medical Services Program, Bureau of Maternal and Child Health and Resources
Development, Health Resources and Services Administration.
The purpose of this announcement is to encourage research demonstrations to
provide emergency mental health services to children and adolescents who are
in need of acute psychiatric intervention, who have suffered a physical injury
that may be associated with an antecedent emotional disturbance, or who
present with other physical conditions or physical trauma that place them
and/or their families at risk for mental health problems. Research
NIH GUIDE - Vol. 19, No. 12, March 23, 1990 - Page 7
demonstrations to be supported under this announcement are expected to provide
services to children and their families and incorporate a sophisticated and
rigorous evaluation of the services provided. The demonstrations may also
include training for emergency medical and psychiatric personnel who will be
caring for these families and children. Special emphasis is given in this
announcement to projects for minority and rural populations.
Applications may be submitted by any public or private nonprofit or for-profit
organization including units of State and local government. Women and
minority investigators are especially encouraged to apply.
Applicants may request support for up to five years of research demonstration
projects. It is recognized that applicants may want to extend the time to
continue a longitudinal study of subjects. When such a design is considered,
applicants should outline the full scope of the project and propose to reapply
after four years for competitive continuation funding.
It is anticipated that up to $500,000 will be available to support new grant
awards under this announcement during fiscal year 1990, subject to
availability of funds. Funding in future years will depend on annual
appropriations.
Applications must be submitted by June 18, 1990.
Inquiries and requests for additional information and consultation may be
directed to:
Ann A. Hohmann, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Biometric and Clinical Applications Branch
Division of Biometry and Applied Sciences
National Institute of Mental Health
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-C-14
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 443-3364
Arthur S. Funke, Ph.D.
Child/Adolescent Health
Office of Maternal and Child Health
Bureau of Maternal and Child Health and Resource Development
Health Resources and Services Administration
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-21
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 443-4026
PATHOBIOLOGY OF PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII IN THE LUNG
RFA AVAILABLE: 90-HL-08-L
P.T. 34; K.W. 0715008, 0765035, 0715165
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: July 16, 1990
Application Receipt Date: September 14, 1990
PURPOSE
The Division of Lung Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute (NHLBI), invites grant applications for
support of research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms
underlying the interactions between Pneumocystis carinii (P.
carinii) and lung cells in the alveolus. The primary
objectives of this special grant program are to elucidate the
fundamental mechanisms by which P. carinii attaches to and
injures host lung cells and to explore how these events are
affected by immunosuppression and infection with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
DISCIPLINES AND EXPERTISE
Among the disciplines and expertise that may be appropriate
for this research program are pulmonary cell biology,
biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, pathology,
virology, parasitology, infectious diseases, and pulmonary
medicine.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 1981, approximately 122,000 Americans have been
diagnosed as having AIDS. More than 70,000 of these people
have died from the various complications associated with
their HIV infection. Pulmonary infections are the most
common of the life-threatening complications seen in AIDS
patients. P. carinii pneumonia is by far the most prevalent
opportunistic infection affecting HIV infected hosts,
accounting for up to 60 percent of respiratory infections in
AIDS patients. Additionally, the organism causes significant
morbidity and mortality in other groups of immunocompromised
patients, causing pneumonia in up to 43 percent of
immunosuppressed children with cancer. Nevertheless,
serologic surveys have shown that P. carinii is widely
encountered in the general population without causing any
overt disease.
P. carinii pneumonia is probably acquired by inhalation. It
is characterized by preferential attachment of the organisms,
mostly trophozoites, to the type I alveolar epithelial cells,
and selective injury to these cells. Proliferation of type
II cells, and increased numbers of alveolar macrophages are
also seen. The inflammatory reaction to the infection is
minimal in patients with AIDS. Despite the availability of
animal models of P. carinii pneumonia, the organism and its
pathogenic mechanisms are still poorly understood. The
purpose of this announcement is to encourage research to
determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying
the interactions between P. carinii and target host lung
cells, and to explore how immunosuppression and HIV infection
might affect these interactions. It is hoped that these
approaches will lead to increased understanding of how
interactions between P. carinii and lung alveolar cells lead
to the clinical manifestations of P. carinii pneumonia in
patients infected with HIV, and suggest new approaches to its
early detection, management, and prevention.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
Applications should have as their main objective the study of
cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the
interactions of P. carinii with alveolar epithelial cells and
alveolar macrophages. Applications are invited for
innovative, multidisciplinary studies that aim to advance
understanding of the means by which P. carinii attaches to
and injures host target lung cells and the effects of this
injury on target lung cell functions.
The major emphasis in all applications must be on the
fundamental mechanisms that characterize the selective
interactions between P. carinii and alveolar lung cells. The
effects of HIV infection on these cellular events are of
particular interest. Both in vitro and in vivo studies may
be used to address the aims of this announcement. Studies on
human lung cells and tissues and the use of molecular
biological approaches are especially encouraged.
The grant applications submitted in response to this
announcement should clearly define the rationale, background
and specific aims of proposed studies and should provide
details of the methods and procedures to be used. Some
issues relevant to the objectives of this Request for
Applications (RFA) are cited below
in order to provide a perspective of the scope of research
that would meet the goals of this program.
o Adherence Mechanisms of P. Carinii To Alveolar Lung Cells.
Several studies have suggested that P. carinii preferentially
adheres to alveolar epithelial type I cells. Yet, many
questions remain about this association, and the factors that
may affect it. For example, virtually nothing is known about
the fundamental mechanisms that determine this selective
interaction. The roles of specific cell surface receptors,
adhesion molecules, or lectins in the recognition and
attachment process have not been identified. How the
alveolar milieu, lung surfactant, and alveolar extracellular
matrix components, might affect interactions between alveolar
cells and P. carinii is unknown. Although P. carinii
appears to attach preferentially to the type I cell, it also
interacts with type II cells and with alveolar macrophages,
which can ingest it. The nature and consequences of these
interactions remain to be determined.
o Mechanisms of Alveolar Wall Injury Induced by P. Carinii.
Little is known about the direct effects of P. carinii on
host target lung cell functions. P. carinii infections in
the lung are associated with evidence of damage to the
alveolar wall. The cellular nature of this injury to lung
alveolar target cells has not been determined. For example,
whether membrane transport functions of alveolar epithelial
type I cells or other alveolar cells are affected by P.
carinii infection is unknown. The involvement of type I and
II cells, and alveolar macrophages in the alveolar injury
induced by P. carinii needs to be elucidated.
o Influence of HIV Infection on Pathobiology of P. Carinii
in Lung Alveoli. The role of immunosuppression in promoting
adherence of P. carinii to type I alveolar epithelial cells
or in influencing susceptibility of target lung cells to
infection with P. carinii is not understood; nor are the
means by which type I cells may protect themselves against P.
carinii infection. How HIV infection might affect alveolar
epithelial cell-cell interactions or the interactions of
alveolar cells with P. carinii is unknown. Studies to
elucidate the factors that may determine or influence
susceptibility of target lung cells to infection by P.
carinii are encouraged. A more complete understanding of the
pathogenesis of P. carinii pneumonia in patients with HIV
infection should eventually lead to improved strategies of
its prevention and treatment.
EXCLUSIONS
A major focus of this initiative is on the various
interactions between pulmonary alveolar epithelial type I and
type II cells and P. carinii, and how this causes lung injury
in the HIV infected host. Lung macrophages may play a
central role in these processes and not much is known about
the fate of P. carinii once it is phagocytized by alveolar
macrophages. However, studies that focus solely on P.
carinii-phagocyte interactions and do not include lung
epithelial cells will not be considered responsive.
Applications that investigate the life cycle of P. carinii or
the testing of drugs to combat P. carinii will also not be
acceptable under this program. Studies of protozoans other
than P. carinii and applications that address only the
development of animal models of P. carinii will also not be
acceptable.
It is our goal to encourage multidisciplinary studies.
Therefore, applications that focus solely on anatomical
studies of the attachment of P. carinii to alveolar cells
will not be considered responsive. Descriptive studies that
do not address mechanisms of the interactions between P.
carinii and lung cells or the resultant functional
derangements will not be supported under this program. For
example, applications which focus solely on in vivo studies
of lung permeability changes or lung edema formation
following infection with P. carinii would not be responsive
to this announcement.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
The support mechanism for this program will be the
traditional, individual research grant. Although
approximately $1,000,000 for this program is included in the
financial plans for fiscal year 1991, award of grants
pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon receipt of funds for
this purpose. The specific amount to be funded will,
however, depend on the merit and scope of the applications
received and the availability of funds. Since a variety of
approaches would represent valid responses to this
announcement, it is anticipated that there will be a range
of costs among individual grants awarded. While
multidisciplinary approaches are encouraged, it is not the
intent of this announcement to solicit applications for
large studies encompassing a variety of individual
subprojects, i.e., program projects. If collaborative
arrangements through subcontracts with other institutions
are planned, consult the NHLBI Grants Operations Branch
regarding procedures by calling (301) 496-7255.
Upon initiation of the program, the Division of Lung Diseases
will sponsor periodic meetings to encourage exchange of
information among investigators who participate in this
program. In the budget for the grant application,
applicants should request travel funds for a one-day meeting
each year, most likely to be held in Bethesda, Maryland.
Applicants should also include a statement in their
applications indicating their willingness to participate in
these meetings.
Applicants (who will plan and execute their own research
programs) are expected to furnish their own estimates of time
required to achieve the objectives of the proposed research
project. Up to five years of support may be requested. At
the end of the initial award period, renewal applications may
be submitted for peer review and competition for support
through the regular grant program of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). It is anticipated that support for this
program will begin in March 1991. Administrative adjustments
in project period and/or amount may be required at the time
of the award.
All current policies and requirements that govern the
research grant programs of the NIH will apply to grants
awarded under this RFA. Awards under this announcement to
foreign institutions will be made only for research of very
unusual merit, need, and promise, and in accordance with
Public Health Service policy governing such awards.
REVIEW PROCEDURE AND CRITERIA
Review Method. All applications submitted in response to
this RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit
by an initial review group, which will be convened for this
purpose, by the Division of Extramural Affairs, NHLBI. Upon
receipt, applications will be reviewed for their
responsiveness to the objectives of this RFA. If an
application is judged unresponsive, the applicant will be
contacted and given an opportunity to withdraw the
application or to have it considered for the regular grant
program of NIH. If an application submitted in response to
this RFA is identical to a research grant application already
submitted to the NIH for review, the applicant will be asked
to withdraw the pending application before the new one is
accepted. Simultaneous submission of identical applications
will not be allowed.
Review Criteria. The factors to be considered in the
evaluation of scientific merit of each application will be
similar to those used in the review of traditional research
project grant applications including the novelty,
originality, and feasibility of the approach; the training,
experience, and research competence of the investigator(s);
the adequacy of the experimental design; the suitability of
the facilities; and the appropriateness of the requested
budget to the work proposed.
METHOD OF APPLYING
Letter of Intent. Prospective applicants are asked to
submit a letter of intent and include a descriptive title
and the names of any other participating institutions or
investigators. A letter of intent is not binding, and it
will not enter into the review of any application
subsequently submitted, nor is it a necessary requirement
for application. Such letters are requested for the purpose
of obtaining an indication of the number of applications to
be received. The NHLBI staff will not provide a response to
a letter of intent. This letter should be received no later
than July 16, 1990, and sent to:
Dr. Charles L. Turbyfill
Review Branch
Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
National Institute of Health
Westwood Building, Room 553
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Format for Application: Submit applications on form PHS-398,
(revised 10/88), the application form for the traditional
research project grant. This form is available in an
applicant institution's office of sponsored research. Use
the conventional format for research project grant
applications and ensure the points identified in the section
on "Review Procedures and Criteria" are fulfilled. To
identify the application as a response to this RFA, check
"yes" on item 2 of page 1 of the application and enter the
title "Pathobiology of Pneumocystis Carinii in the Lung,
90-HL-08-L."
THE RFA LABEL FOUND IN FORM PHS-398 APPLICATION KIT MUST BE
AFFIXED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FACE PAGE OF THE ORIGINAL
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM PHS-398. 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.
Application Procedure. Send or deliver the completed
application and four (4) signed, and completed photocopies of
it to:
Division of Research Grants
Westwood Building, Room 240
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20892**
SEND 19 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE APPLICATION TO DR. CHARLES
TURBYFILL AT THE ADDRESS LISTED UNDER LETTER OF INTENT. IT
IS IMPORTANT TO SEND THESE 19 COPIES AT THE SAME TIME AS THE
ORIGINAL AND FOUR COPIES ARE SENT TO THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH
GRANTS. OTHERWISE THE NHLBI CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE
APPLICATION WILL BE REVIEWED IN COMPETITION FOR THIS RFA.
Applications must be received by September 14, 1990. An
application not received by this date will be considered
ineligible.
Timetable.
Letter of Intent July 16, 1990
Application Receipt Date September 14, 1990
Review by National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Advisory Council February 1991
Anticipated Award Date March 1991
Inquiries. Inquiries regarding this announcement may be
directed to the program administrator:
Dorothy Berlin Gail, Ph.D.
Chief, Structure and Function Branch
Division of Lung Diseases, NHLBI
Westwood Building, Room 6A07
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7171
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance, No. 13.838. Grants will be awarded under the
authority of the Public Health Service Act, Title III,
Section 301 (Public Law 78-410, as amended: 42 USC 241) and
administered under PHS grant policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program
is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements
of Executive Order 12372 or to review by a Health Systems
Agency.