JP2@CU.NIH.GOV (01/10/90)
Following is the program announcement for Human Genome Program
Center grants. Note that the first deadline date is February 1, 1990
and in order to be funded this fiscal year, applications must
be received by that date. The program plans to fund 2 to 3 centers
in FY'90. The plans are to fund 20 centers over the next five
years.
HUMAN GENOME PROGRAM CENTER GRANTS (P30, P50)
P.T. 34; K.W. 1215018, 0710030, 1002058, 0755045, 1004017, 0780000
National Center for Human Genome Research
First receipt date: February 1, 1990
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SUPERCEDES AND REPLACES THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HUMAN GENOME
PROGRAM CENTER GRANTS ISSUED IN VOLUME 18, NO. 25, JULY 21, 1989, OF THE NIH
GUIDE TO GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.
The National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) is interested in
facilitating the establishment of a number of centers in which research is
focussed on achieving the goals of the Human Genome Initiative. To this end,
an announcement was published in the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts
(referenced above) soliciting applications for Human Genome Program Center
Core Grants (P30s). After receiving comments from the scientific community,
the proposed organizational model for Human Genome Program Centers has been
considered further, and the NCHGR believes that the goals of the Human Genome
Initiative can, at present, best be achieved through support of both center
core grants (P30s) and grants for specialized centers (P50s).
Vol. 18, No. 36, October 13, 1989 - Page 8
This announcement contains a restatement of the characteristics of Human
Genome Program Centers and solicits applications for Human Genome Program
Center Grants using both the P30 and P50 mechanisms. The intent in allowing
the use of either mechanism is to give each applicant institution flexibility
in designing a center structure appropriate to its needs and capabilities. In
general, the P30 center core grant will be most appropriate for institutions
where there is a significant amount of ongoing and closely related genome
research already funded. The P50 specialized center grant will allow
institutions to propose a center that will include a significant amount of new
research. In either case, the overall research program of each proposed Human
Genome Program Center must address a specific defined goal of the Human Genome
Initiative and directly facilitate progress toward the goals of the program as
a whole.
BACKGROUND
The National Institutes of Health are currently engaged, along with several
other Federal, private, and international organizations, in a research program
designed to characterize the human genome and the genomes of selected model
organisms. This research program, which has been named the Human Genome
Initiative, has the following interrelated goals: (1) the construction of
high resolution genetic linkage maps; (2) the development of physical maps,
with an emphasis on methodology that allows investigators access to the mapped
DNA; (3) the determination of the complete nucleotide sequence of the DNA of
selected organisms, including the human; (4) the development of the capability
for collecting, storing, distributing and analyzing the data; and (5) the
development of appropriate new technologies to achieve these goals. The
product of the Human Genome Initiative will be a set of information and
material resources available to the entire research community to facilitate
further research as well as application of the knowledge gained to the
prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of disease.
Attaining the goals of the Human Genome Initiative will require research
projects of different magnitudes and complexities. While many important
projects will be of a scope appropriate to a single investigator or a small
number of investigators, other research projects envisioned will be large
undertakings that can only be addressed adequately by groups of investigators,
representing diverse disciplines, working cooperatively in centers focussed on
a goal of the Human Genome Initiative.
As one means of stimulating the development of directed, large-scale projects,
the NCHGR proposes to encourage the establishment of Human Genome Program
Centers (HGP Centers). It is envisioned that a substantial fraction of the
funds earmarked for the genome program will eventually be devoted to the
support of such centers, with the award of as many as 20 center grants over a
period of years.
Because the NIH Human Genome Program has been charged with reaching specific
goals within relatively short time periods, the P30 and P50 center grant
mechanisms will be used to facilitate the creation of HGP Centers in which
major goals of the program can be addressed in a focussed and comprehensive
way. The center grants will allow research programs to go forward that could
not be supported effectively by the RO1 or PO1 mechanisms. Center grants will
support new or significantly expanded research objectives. In addition, while
the center must be highly coherent in its research objective, it should also
be a hub for collaboration and outreach to the broader scientific community.
It is anticipated that a well-integrated and robust center will become a
resource for the genome community as a whole.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF HGP CENTERS
The primary purposes of the HGP Centers will be to develop the new technology
needed to accomplish the goals of the Human Genome Initiative and to apply
these technologies to the large-scale generation of mapping and sequencing
information. Each center must have tangible and, where possible, quantifiable
aims that define a specific goal that the center intends to accomplish during
the granting period. The center will be accountable for the attainment of
such milestones through yearly progress reports, an annual center directors
meeting and the competitive renewal process.
The specific objectives of the HGP Centers will be to:
1. Provide support for a group of investigators to collaborate in addressing
a major research goal of the Human Genome Initiative in a comprehensive and
coordinated way;
2. Expedite research by providing needed core resources;
Vol. 18, No. 36, October 13, 1989 - Page 9
3. Recruit new investigators, including nonbiologists;
4. Provide an environment in which large-scale projects can be accommodated
and receive stable support;
5. Stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration and sharing of data and ideas
with investigators who are not part of the center and with private sector
organizations.
In the case of a P30 center core grant, the goal of the center must be derived
from research that is already funded at the institution whereas for a P50
specialized center, new research may be proposed to define the goal.
Additional components that will be supported include an administrative
structure that will relieve individual investigators of the administrative
burden otherwise associated with a large-scale research program, resources to
be shared by the research groups within the center, recruitment of new
scientists into the center, and pilot projects. In many cases, the activity
proposed for the HGP Centers will demand new research directions for some
participants; this is encouraged. The principal investigator of the center
grant will be expected to provide scientific, intellectual and administrative
leadership to the entire HGP Center effort.
ELIGIBILITY
Investigators at academic, nonprofit, or for-profit institutions in the United
States are eligible. Only one center will be funded at any one institution.
While a single institution must be the applicant, multi-institutional
arrangements (consortia) are possible if there is a compelling reason for them
and if there is clear evidence of close interaction among the participants.
Collaboration with industry is encouraged. In such a collaboration the
industrial contribution should be well-integrated into the design and
operation of the center, to encourage cross-fertilization of ideas and rapid
application of the research to practical purposes.
ALLOWABLE COMPONENTS OF HGP CENTER GRANT (P30 and P50) APPLICATIONS
1. Administrative core. This component will include the costs of
administering the entire HGP Center. The portion of the salaries of the
principal investigator and other key individuals corresponding to the
percentage of time devoted to center administration can be included. The
center director must serve on a full-time or significant part-time basis and
should have authority over appointments and space within the center. Costs of
advisory committees, steering committees, and consultants can be included in
the administrative core. Such committees are not required, but it is strongly
recommended that the applicant outline an effective mechanism for obtaining
independent advice to ensure guidance of the center toward the attainment of
the stated goals.
2. Technical Core Facilities. Under this component the applicant should
request any shared facilities or equipment that will be required by the
proposed research program. Examples of shared facilities include a
polynucleotide or protein sequencing laboratory; a cytogenetics laboratory;
shared equipment; a data management and computational resource; or an
instrument development laboratory. This list of core facilities is not
intended to be limiting, nor is it expected that each center will include all
of those listed. Applicants should examine the needs of their particular
programs and request the technical core facilities that would best be suited
to fill these individual needs. It is expected that there will be
considerable diversity among centers in this regard. Resources necessary for
distribution of data or materials to external investigators should be taken
into account, where relevant, in requesting funds for core facilities.
3. Alterations and Renovations. Funds needed for renovation of existing
space may be requested, if such space is needed to house core facilities or
new or expanded research activities. The Public Health Service Grant
Management Policy limits the dollar amount to the lesser of $150,000 or 25
percent of total direct costs over a three-year period. Waivers may be sought
by the NCHGR in exceptional cases. Detailed justification and plans for use
of the space must be provided. Costs of equipping renovated laboratories may
be included if the items are directly related to the research being conducted
in the center.
4. Developmental Funds. The purpose of developmental funding is to provide a
flexible means for the center director to promote growth of the center and
progress toward achieving the research goals of the center. This component
may include: (1) the costs of recruiting new investigators; (2) research
support of new investigators for up to three years, until independent research
Vol. 18, No. 36, October 13, 1989 - Page 10
support is obtained; (3) support for innovative pilot projects not supported
under existing research funding or proposed as a part of the research
component of the center; (4) funds for the development of new resources or
core facilities.
ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS ALLOWABLE IN P30 CENTER CORE GRANTS
Within the administrative core, salary support for the principal investigators
of grants that will be part of the HGP Center may be requested to the extent
such salary is not recovered on the individual research grant(s). The limit
is 50 percent of the salary of the principal investigator involved. Only the
percent of time and effort devoted to the specific research project included
in the center may be claimed. Additionally, interim funds for HGP Center
investigators whose renewal applications were approved but not funded, may be
requested within the developmental funds.
ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS ALLOWABLE IN P50 SPECIALIZED CENTER GRANTS
At least three related, integrated and high quality research projects that
provide a unified approach to a goal of the Human Genome Initiative must be
proposed in the P50 specialized center application. The contribution made by
each project to the focussed theme of the center must be clearly established.
Projects currently supported by existing research grants (RO1s) or program
project grants (PO1s) may be proposed for incorporation into the HGP Center
Grant if they fit closely into the goals of the center. In this case, the
applicant must provide an explanation of the advantage of including the
research program in the center as opposed to maintaining it as a separately
funded entity.
TERM OF SUPPORT
The Human Genome Initiative has established a series of specific goals to be
accomplished in a limited period of time. As the initial goals are reached,
the focus of the HGP Centers and of individual grants will change. In order
to ensure that centers remain focussed on appropriate goals and make
sufficient progress, frequent scientific and programmatic reviews will be
necessary. In addition to yearly staff review through progress reports and
center directors meetings, this will be accomplished by allowing an initial
term of five years with review of any request for renewal of support after the
end of the third year. In the event that the review is not favorable, review
after the end of the first three years will allow sufficient time for
submission and review of a revised application or for orderly phase-out of the
grant. Further terms of support will be for a three- to five-year period.
Many institutions may find that the specialized center mechanism (P50) best
fits their needs at present since they do not have a substantial number of
closely related genome research projects in place. However, at the time of
renewal, the center core grant (P30) mechanism may be the most appropriate
mechanism for continuation and expansion of the center. Such a transition
from a P50 grant to a P30 grant will be encouraged in order to enhance the
flexibility of the center and ensure that high quality research continues to
be supported by NCHGR funds. It is anticipated that as the focus of the Human
Genome Initiative shifts there may be relocation of center grants to different
institutions where expertise exists to attain further goals in the program.
REVIEW PROCEDURES
The first receipt date for applications will be February 1, 1990. Thereafter,
the regular NIH receipt dates for center grant applications will pertain:
June 1, October 1, and February 1 of each year. In order to be considered for
funding in Fiscal Year 1990 (before September 30, 1990), applications must be
received by February 1, 1990.
Applications will be evaluated for scientific merit by an appropriate review
committee constituted for the purpose of evaluating Center Grant applications.
Site visits may be conducted as part of the review process. However,
applicants should present a complete and well-justified written proposal and
not depend on site visits to amplify their application. Subsequent to
evaluation by the initial review committee, applications will be reviewed by a
National Advisory Council.
METHOD OF APPLYING
Applicants should use Standard Form PHS 398, revised 10/88, available from
most institutional business offices or from the Office of Grants Inquiries,
Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard
Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. In order to assure proper identification of
Vol. 18, No. 36, October 13, 1989 - Page 11
the application, line 2 of the application form should state "Human Genome
Program Research Centers" and check the "YES" box.
INQUIRIES
Applicants are strongly urged to contact the individual listed below by
telephone to indicate that they intend to submit an application for a HGP
Center Grant. The purposes of such contact are to provide guidance to the
applicant on the eligibility and acceptability of the proposed center grant
structure and to assist staff in planning the review workload. In addition,
individuals who intend to apply for a HGP Center Grant should request a copy
of the complete application guidelines before initiating the application
process from:
Jane L. Peterson, Ph.D.
Chief, Research Centers Branch
National Center for Human Genome Research
Building 38A, Room 613
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20894
Telephone: (301) 496-7531
**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