Subject: (Copy) NIH GUIDE - V21(12) 03/27/92 - P3/3
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 92 09:08 EST

Hi,
   Please post to the NIH LIstserver as:
   NIHGUIDE3.920327
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
 
$$XID NIHGUIDE 19920327 V21N12 P3O3 ************************************
so that they can foresee the biological potential of the compounds with
which they work and apply chemical principles for the design of new
compounds to answer biological questions.  There is also a clear need
for biologists, who increasingly pursue biological problems of interest
at the molecular level, to complement their primary expertise with a
greater understanding of fundamental chemistry.  Additional training in
molecular recognition, design, synthesis, and reactivity, coupled with
additional experience in chemical investigative approaches, should
expand the range of tools available to biologists and enable them to
explore molecular bioscience to a greater depth.  This new program is
intended to provide significant training in the biological sciences to
chemists and significant training in chemistry to biologists and to
foster a greater level of interaction between practitioners of the two
fields.
 
Applications requesting support should reflect the following
programmatic considerations:
 
o  Significant cross-training between chemistry and biology as the
essential criterion:  This must not be at the expense of training in
depth in a core discipline.  It is expected that training of the
desired breadth and the necessary depth can be accomplished without
lengthening the period of time required to obtain the doctorate degree.
 
o  An identity of the proposed program separate from those of the
individual departments that comprise them:  Programs should produce
graduates that have identifiable skills, knowledge, and abilities
unique to graduates of that program within the university setting.
Programs will not be supported that are judged to exist mainly to
procure additional departmental funding for predoctoral training.
 
o  Laboratory rotations for students prior to selection of a thesis
mentor:  Although not commonly required by chemistry departments, these
should be considered as an approach for trainees to expand the breadth
of their training.  Especially encouraged is a cross-training
experience outside the mentor's laboratory for a period of three to six
months.  Such an experience could be obtained through an extended
rotation in a different academic laboratory or an internship in an
industrial setting, before or after selection of a mentor.
 
o  A mechanism whereby trainees develop a common language: Biologists
and chemists do not routinely speak the same language.  For example,
the word "molecular" has different meanings to each group.  Encouraged
is the implementation of a mechanism for trainees to develop a common
language, such as a joint seminar program.
 
o  A strong institutional commitment:  This is an important review
criteria.  One measure of the institutional commitment is cost-sharing,
such as through stipend supplementation.
 
o  Complementarity to existing institutional training grants:  Staff
making awards will give attention to other existing predoctoral
programs at the applicant's institution.  Overlap will be considered as
well as the impact of the proposed program on the existing programs.
It is expected that a program with a mechanistic/synthetic focus can be
implemented that will complement existing programs without significant
overlap in the trainee pool or research opportunities.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398
(rev. 9/91).  Applicants must indicate in item 2a on the face page that
the application is being submitted in response to this program
announcement.  Application materials are available from most university
business offices and from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of
Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood Building, Room
449, Bethesda, MD  20892, telephone 301/496-7441.
 
Deadlines for receipt of applications are January 10, May 10, and
September 10.  It is anticipated that a limited number of awards will
be made as early as September 1993.  Therefore, those interested in FY
1993 awards should plan to submit applications no later than January
10, 1993.  Thereafter, the latest date for applications seeking support
for a given fiscal year will be May 10 of the preceding year, and start
dates for awards will be July 1.
 
The signed original and five copies of the application must be sent to:
 
Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892 **
 
REVIEW PROCEDURES
 
Applications will be assigned on the basis of established Public Health
Service referral guidelines and reviewed for scientific and technical
merit by an existing or ad hoc study section within the assigned ICD.
The applications will also receive a second level review by an
appropriate national advisory council.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
In making funding decisions, the following will be considered:  quality
of the proposed program as determined by peer review, availability of
funds, and program balance among training areas of the announcement.
 
INQUIRIES
 
Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to
clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcomed.
 
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
 
Michael E. Rogers, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Pharmacological Sciences Program
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 919
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7181
 
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal issues to:
 
Toni K. Holland
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist
Office of Program Affairs
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 933
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7897
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
No. 93.859.  Awards are made under the Public Health Service Act, Title
IV, Part A (Public Law 99-158, as amended) and administered under PHS
grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 66.  This program
is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of
Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
 
$$P7 END ************************************************************
 
$$P8 BEGIN PA-92-64 *************************************************
 
RESEARCH ON HERITABLE DISORDERS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 12, March 27, 1992
 
PA NUMBER:  PA-92-64
 
P.T. 34; K.W. 0705050, 1002019, 0755020, 0785035
 
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
 
PURPOSE
 
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases (NIAMS) and National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD) invite grant applications for basic and clinical
research projects on heritable disorders of connective tissue.
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, non-profit and
for-profit, public and private organizations, such as universities,
colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local
governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government.  However,
foreign institutions are not eligible for the First Independent
Research Support and Transition (FIRST) Award (R29) and the career
development awards (K04, K08, K11).  Applications from minority
individuals and women are encouraged.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
Support will be offered through research projects grants (R01), FIRST
awards (R29), fellowship training (F32, F33, T32), and career
development awards (K04, K08, K11).
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 
Over 200 distinct disorders are recognized as being caused by mutations
in genes that encode matrix proteins or in genes that ultimately affect
the structure of the extracellular matrix.  Collectively, these
disorders are termed heritable disorders of connective tissue.  There
is a wide range of anatomic sites and clinical manifestations that can
result from these conditions.  In total, it is estimated that heritable
disorders of connective tissue account for major and, in some cases,
life-threatening illnesses in approximately half a million people in
the United States.
 
Some mutations in genes may give rise to severe abnormalities, while
others may produce milder symptoms.  There is also recent scientific
evidence that mild phenotypes may appear in more common disorders, such
as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
 
On April 9-11, 1990, the NIAMS, the NICHD, and the Coalition for
Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue sponsored a Workshop on
Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue at the National Institutes of
Health.  The focus of the Workshop was to review the current status of
research in this field and to identify important directions for future
research.  Major advances have been achieved in identifying molecular
components of the extracellular matrix, in isolating and characterizing
the genes that encode these proteins, in defining biosynthetic pathways
and interactions between proteins, and in characterizing specific
mutations in some disease categories.
 
The Workshop participants described the need for continued integration
of insights gained from collaborative research perspectives, such as
molecular biology, biochemistry, physical biochemistry, anatomy, and
clinical genetics, the need to identify cohorts of patients and
families with rare disorders, and the need to recognize
structure-function relationships in interpreting genetic mutations.
Some broad areas of recommended research directions include, but are
not limited to:
 
o  Identification and characterization of mutations in many disease
phenotypes;
o  Structure-function relationships of normal matrix molecules;
o  Developmental regulation of matrix formation;
o  Multi-disciplinary analysis of disease mechanisms;
o  Clinical studies:  natural history and clinical trials in these
disorders;
o  Identification and study of animal models using transgenic
technologies;
o  Application of genetic linkage strategies to these inherited
disorders;
o  Pursuit of the molecular/genetic basis of selected common diseases.
 
The above examples of research areas related to heritable disorders of
connective tissue are not presented in a priority order and are not
intended to restrict the wide range of meritorious areas in which
investigators may apply.  A complete report of the 1990 Workshop is
available upon request from Dr. Stephen L. Gordon at the address below.
 
STUDY POPULATIONS
 
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 are 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 must 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 must 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 must be included in the form PHS 398 in
Section 2, 1-4 of the Research Plan and summarized in item 5, 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 must be provided.
 
For the purpose of this policy, clinical research is defined as 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 review will be deferred until the information is provided.
 
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.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 416-
1 (rev. 4/89) for individual fellowships, for other awards use PHS 398
(rev. 9/91) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines
indicated in the application kit.
 
Application kits are available at most institutional business offices
and may be obtained from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of
Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood Building, Room
449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone 301/496-7441.  The title and number
of the announcement must be typed in Section 2a on the face page of the
PHS 398.
 
The completed original application and five legible copies of the PHS
398 or two copies of the PHS 416-1 must be sent or delivered to:
 
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**
 
REVIEW PROCEDURES
 
Applications will be assigned on the basis of established Public Health
Service referral guidelines.  Applications will be reviewed for
scientific and technical merit by initial review groups of the Division
of Research Grants, NIH, or by the review group of the relevant
Institute, Center, or Division (ICD), in accordance with the standard
NIH peer review procedures.  Following scientific-technical review, the
applications will receive a second-level review by the appropriate
national advisory council.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved
applications assigned to that ICD.  The following criteria will be
considered in making funding decisions:
 
o  Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review;
o  Availability of funds;
o  Program balance among research areas of the announcement.
 
INQUIRIES
 
Written and telephone inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to
clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.
 
Direct inquiries for the NIAMS regarding programmatic issues to:
 
Stephen L. Gordon, Ph.D.
Chief, Musculoskeletal Diseases Branch
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Westwood Building, Room 407
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7495
 
Direct inquiries for the NICHD regarding programmatic issues to:
 
Delbert Dayton, M.D.
Chief, Genetics & Teratology Branch
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Executive Plaza North, Room 643
Rockville, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-5541
 
Direct inquiries for the NIAMS regarding fiscal matters to:
 
Ms. G. Carol Clearfield
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 726B
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-6529
 
Direct inquiries for the NICHD regarding fiscal matters to:
 
Douglas Shawver
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Executive Plaza North, Room 505
Rockville, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-1303
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
No. 93.846, Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease Research,
93.862, Genetics Research, 93.865, Research for Mothers and Children.
Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act,
Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78- 410, as amended by Public Law 99-158,
42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants policies and
Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order
12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
 
$$P8 END ************************************************************
 
                                ERRATUM
 
$$E1 BEGIN R2 19920320 APPEND RFA NICHD-CD-92-11 SHORT *****************
 
BI-COMPARTMENT TRANSDERMAL CONTRACEPTIVE DELIVERY SYSTEM
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 12, March 27, 1992
 
RFP AVAILABLE:  NICHD-CD-92-11
 
P.T. 34; K.W. 0750020, 0740021, 0760025
 
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
 
The notice of availability of the requests for proposals (RFP) NICHD-
CD-92-11 was announced in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on
March 20, 1992, Vol. 21, No. 11.  This erratum is to change the receipt
data for proposals.  Proposals will be due on June 30, 1992.
 
Copies of the RFP may be obtained by sending a written request to:
 
Paul J. Duska, Contracting Officer
Contracts Management Branch, OGC
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Executive Plaza North, Room 610
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD  20892-9903
FAX:  (301) 402-0915
 
$$E1 END ************************************************************