Subject: RFA AG-91-03 NIH Guide, l2/7/90
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 05 Dec 90 14:31 EST

Hi Paul,
   This is the second of three items from the l2/7/90 NIH Guide.  Please
post this one as: RFAAG-91-03.901207.
    Thanks.
           Dottie
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
 
PHYSICAL FRAILTY IN MINORITY OLDER POPULATIONS
 
RFA:  AG-91-03
 
P.T. 34, CC, FF; K.W. 0710010, 0715043, 0710095, 1002019, 0745027
 
National Institute on Aging
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  January 7, 1991
Application Receipt Date:  May 17, 1991
 
I. BACKGROUND
 
Progressive impairments in physical functional abilities
contribute significantly to loss of independence and long-
term care needs among older minority populations.  In some
minority populations, the severity of such impairments has
been shown to be equal to, or greater than, the general
population.  In other populations, even basic descriptive data are
lacking.  These data are needed to increase our understanding
of impairments and functioning in various cultural groups and
to determine needs for appropriate health care and services
among these populations.
 
Data are sparse on the relationship of physical frailty to
chronic degenerative conditions of later life in minority
populations.  Existing data indicate important differences
among different minority populations in the severity and
progression of these conditions.  For example, osteoporosis
may be less severe in Black than in Nonblack populations,
while diabetes appears to be more severe among many native
American populations, compared to the general population.
 
Better knowledge of genetic, environmental, nutritional,
cultural, and socioeconomic factors affecting the severity and
progression of such conditions would be useful in the design
of intervention and prevention programs.  In addition, such
programs could be improved through better knowledge of the
relationship of disease severity to specific types of
functional impairment in individual minority populations, or
among several minority populations.
 
Involvement of minority investigators and/or minority
institutions is strongly urged, especially in those projects
that require extensive subject recruitment or seek
collaboration with minority institutions.
 
II.  RESEARCH GOALS AND SCOPE
 
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) solicits applications
for support of research
projects to increase knowledge on the above issues.
Specifically, applications are requested for studies of the
following:
 
o    The relationship of specific functional impairments to
     severity of specific degenerative conditions in minority
     populations, or subgroups of these populations, such as
     black females, various Hispanic subgroups (e.g., Cuban-
     Americans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans), or
     differing native American tribal groups.  Studies over
     the full range of functional impairment are of interest.
     Studies of high-risk populations, such as nursing home
     residents or older persons living alone, are of
     particular interest.
 
o    Differences in the sequelae of chronic conditions among
     different minority populations.
 
o    Prevalence and incidence of conditions responsible for
     impaired physical functioning in daily living activities
     (e.g., walking, climbing stairs, shopping, cooking,
     housework, bathing, driving) among specific older
     minority populations.  Conditions of interest include,
     but are not limited to, osteoarthritis, peripheral
     vascular disease, congestive heart failure, diabetic
     neuropathy, and other chronic diabetic complications.
     Data on persons eighty years of age are of particular
     interest.
 
o    Genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors
     affecting severity and progression of these conditions
     in specific minority populations.  As above, studies of
     high-risk populations are of special interest.
 
o    Efficacy in specific minority groups of interventions to
     prevent and/or reduce physical frailty.
 
III. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
Support of this program will be through the Public Health
Service grant-in-aid.  The R01 grant mechanism will be used
Awards will be administered under PHS grants policy
as stated in the Public Health Service Grants Policy
Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 82-50,000, revised
October 1, 1990.
 
This Request for Applications (RFA) is a one-time
solicitation.  Up to $1.2 million
(total cost) for first-year expenses, and additional approved
expenses for up to five years, will be committed to fund
applications submitted in response to this RFA.  This funding
level is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of
applications of high scientific merit.  It is anticipated
that approximately 4-6 awards will be made.  The award of
grants pursuant to this RFA is contingent on the availability
of funds for this purpose.
 
Generally, future unsolicited competing renewal applications
will compete with all investigator-initiated applications and
be reviewed by the Division of Research Grants (DRG).
However, should the NIA determine that there is a sufficient
continuing program need, the RFA will be reissued.  The
earliest feasible start date for the initial awards will be
September 30, 1991.
 
Applications are required to include, where feasible and
appropriate, women as well as men in the study
populations for all clinical research efforts and to analyze,
where appropriate, differences between these populations.  If
women are not to be included, a clear
rationale for their exclusion must be provided.
 
The National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) is also interested
in receiving and funding research proposals concerned with
frailty.  For information
contact:  Dr. Sharlene Weiss, Chief, Health Promotion and Disease
Prevention Branch, NCNR, Building 31, Room 5B03, Bethesda, MD  20892.
 
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases also is interested in research in this area.  For
information contact:  Dr. Joan McGowan, Director, Bone Biology
and Bone Diseases Program, NIAMS, Westwood Building, Room 403D,
Bethesda, MD 20892.
 
IV. REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA
 
Applications will be received by the NIH Division of Research
Grants.
Responsive applications will be assigned to a special review
group for review.  Proposals judged to be non-responsive
(those not directed at the goals of this RFA) will be
administratively withdrawn and returned to the applicant
without review.  Proposals may first receive a preliminary
review by a subcommittee of the review panel to establish
those applications deemed to be competitive.  Those proposals
judged non-competitive will be so designated, and an
abbreviated summary statement noting the major areas of
concern will be sent to the Principal Investigator.
Applications judged to be competitive will be given full
review.  Following review by the initial review group, the
applications will be considered by the National Advisory
Council on Aging.
 
Listed below are the major review criteria to be used in the
evaluation of the applications received in response to this
RFA:
 
o    scientific merit of the research proposed;
 
o    significance of the research project to the goals
     of the RFA;
 
o    qualifications, experience, and commitment of the
     investigators and their ability to devote the
     required time and effort to the project;
 
o    appropriateness of the total budget and budgetary
     requests;
 
o    institutional commitment to the requirements of the
     project.
 
V. METHOD OF APPLYING
 
A letter of intent to submit an application, while not required,
is requested by January 7, 1991.  The letter should include a
brief descriptive title, the name of the Principal Investigator
and other key investigators, and the names and addresses of any
other participating institutions.  This letter should be
addressed to the staff contact listed below (see Section VI).
Applications should be submitted on the standard PHS 398 (rev.
10/88) application form (available at most institutional business
offices or from the Division of Research Grants, NIH,
301-496-7441).  The deadline for receipt of applications is May
17, 1991.  On item 2 of the face page of the application,
applicants should enter:  NIA RFA AG-91-03--Physical Frailty in
Minority Older Populations.  The RFA label available in the 10/88
revision of the Application Form 398 must be affixed to the
bottom of the face page.  Failure to use this label could result
in delayed processing of the application and prevent it from
reaching the review committee in time for review.  The completed
application and four copies should be sent to:  should be sent
to:
 
Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**
 
At the same time the application is submitted to the Division
of Research grants, two
copies of the application should be sent to:
 
Chief, Scientific Review Office
National Institute on Aging
Room 5C12, Building 31
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD  20892
 
Failure of these copies to be received by the deadline may
prevent the application from being reviewed under this
announcement in time to be considered for an award.
 
VI. STAFF CONTACT
 
Potential applicants interested in obtaining further
information may write or call:
 
Stanley L. Slater, M.D.
Geriatrics Program
National Institute on Aging
Room 5C27, Building 31
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-6761
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance, No. 93.866, Biology of Aging Program.  Awards will be
made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act,
Section 301 (42 USC 241) and administered under PHS grant policies
and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR part 74.  This
program is not subject to review by a Health Systems Agency.