Subject: RFA HG-9l-04 Full text
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 02 Apr 91 13:01 EST

Hi,
  Please post this to the NIH Listserver as:
     RFAHG-91-04.910329
                       Dottie
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
 
$$FT BEGIN HG-91-04 **************************************************** P1O1
 
HUMAN GENOME PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTAL GRANTS
 
RFA:  HG-91-04
 
P.T. 44; K.W. 1215018, 0790010, 0755045
 
National Center for Human Genome Research
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Dates:  May 9, 1991; September 14, 1991
Application Receipt Dates:  July 9, 1991; November 14, 1991
 
The National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR)
announces the availability of developmental grants (P20) to
provide support to groups of outstanding investigators who
wish to develop interdisciplinary research programs on
genome problems.  The P20 grant allows such investigators to
develop scientific strategies, carry out pilot projects, and
establish collaborations that are needed for the conduct of
interdisciplinary research.  P20 grants are not renewable;
however, continued support for the interdisciplinary
research groups and scientific projects developed through
the use of the P20 mechanism may be sought through an
application for a program project or center grant.
 
BACKGROUND
 
The National Institutes of Health is currently engaged,
along with several other Federal, private, and international
organizations, in a research program designed to
characterize the genomes of selected organisms, including
the human.  This research program, that has been named the
Human Genome Project, has the following interrelated
scientific 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 development of technology
to determine 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 genome data; (5) the development of appropriate
new technologies to achieve these goals; and (6) the
examination of the ethical, legal, and social implications
of the Human Genome Project itself.  The product of the
Human Genome Project will be a set of information and
material resources that will be available to the entire
research community and will facilitate further research and
application of the knowledge gained to the prevention,
diagnosis, and therapy of disease.
 
The detailed scientific goals for the first five years of
the NCHGR research program include:  expanding the human
genetic map to a resolution of two to five centimorgans;
constructing complete physical maps of the DNA of certain
model organisms and, in cooperation with the Department of
Energy, all human chromosomes; and developing new technology
to increase both the efficiency and accuracy as well as
lower the cost of physical mapping and DNA sequencing.
Attaining these goals will require a considerable amount of
innovative research.  Many important research efforts in
this field will be of a scope appropriate to a single
investigator or a small number of investigators.  However,
other necessary research efforts will be of a scope and
complexity that will require interdisciplinary approaches
that can only be adequately pursued by a group of
investigators, representing diverse disciplines, working
cooperatively.
 
In the cases of both individual investigator-led and
interdisciplinary research projects, outstanding investigators
may be interested in developing approaches that would
significantly advance the Human Genome Project but that may not
be well enough realized to compete for an individual research
(R01), program project (P01), or center (P30, P50) grant.  In the
case of the former, the NCHGR has initiated a program of grants
for support of pilot projects/feasibility studies that would
allow such ideas to be evaluated and plans for a regular research
project to be developed (see NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts,
Vol. 19, No. 28, July 27, 1990, p. 3).
 
Similarly, the establishment of the interdisciplinary
collaborations and/or large research projects that are
normally supported by program project and center grants often
requires extensive planning, strategy development, or
execution of preliminary experiments before a group of
investigators is ready to submit a grant application.
Planning such an effort requires considerable commitment and
may also require funding.  To encourage investigators to
undertake the effort of planning complex projects and
acquiring the necessary preliminary data and key biological
reagents, the NCHGR will offer non-renewable developmental
grants (P20) of limited size and duration.
 
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF HUMAN GENOME PROGRAM (HGP)
DEVELOPMENTAL GRANTS
 
The primary purpose of the HGP developmental grant will be
to provide support for a group of investigators to develop
interdisciplinary collaborations and strategies, to obtain
preliminary results to demonstrate feasibility, and to
develop a research plan addressing a major research goal of
the Human Genome Project to be used as the basis for an
application for an HGP program project or center grant.  The
objectives for an HGP developmental grant may include, but
are not limited to:
 
1.  Preliminary or feasibility studies to gather sufficient
data to demonstrate the potential of an idea or the validity
of an approach, to acquire or demonstrate technical
competence, or to evaluate other technical factors involved
in the development of a project that addresses a major goal
of the Human Genome Program;
 
2.  Recruitment of new investigators whose expertise would
strengthen the overall program project or center grant
application;
 
3.  Inter- or intra-institutional planning to develop
research strategies, including the establishment of a
timetable or milestones, for the program project or center
grant application.
 
It is important to note that the award of a developmental
grant by the NCHGR does not imply a commitment to future
funding of any program planned with the support of such a
grant.  A separate application must be submitted for such a
program; such an application will be evaluated on the basis
of its own merit.
 
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES
IN RESEARCH STUDIES
 
NIH policies concerning research on human subjects apply to
this program.  For projects involving clinical research, NIH
requires applicants to give special attention to the
inclusion of women and minorities in study populations.
Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues
cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded
from this requirement.  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 must be addressed by applicants.
 
ELIGIBILITY
 
Investigators at academic, nonprofit, and for-profit
institutions in the United States are eligible.  Usually,
only one developmental grant will be funded at an
institution.  While a single institution must be the
applicant, a multi-institutional arrangement (consortium) is
possible if there is a compelling reason for it and if there
is clear evidence of close interaction among the
participants.
 
Collaboration with industry is encouraged.  In such a
collaboration, plans for the industrial contribution should
be well-integrated into the design and execution of the
project, to encourage cross-fertilization of ideas and rapid
application of the research to practical purposes.
 
ALLOWABLE COMPONENTS OF HGP DEVELOPMENTAL GRANT (P20)
APPLICATIONS
 
Each applicant should consider the strengths and weaknesses
of the planned research group plus the expertise and the
preliminary data that would be required to demonstrate the
technical competence necessary for a successful
interdisciplinary program project or center grant
application.
 
The following components are allowable in HGP developmental
grant applications.  Any of them may be incorporated into
the structure that will best fit the needs of the applicant.
 
1.  Pilot projects/Feasibility studies.   Research projects
of limited scope to generate data needed to demonstrate
technical feasibility, to validate an experimental approach,
and/or to provide key reagents needed to undertake an
interdisciplinary genome research project may be proposed.
Costs required for carrying out individual projects may be
requested.
 
Generally, funds for renovation of existing facilities or to
purchase substantial amounts of equipment will not be
allowed.  If such requests are made, they must be justified
in terms of the critical nature of the equipment for the
success of the overall objectives of the developmental
grant, rather than for the planned program project or center
grant.  Start-up funds for feasibility studies to be carried
out by new faculty who will be needed for the proposed
interdisciplinary study can be requested under this
component.
 
2.  Administrative/Planning core.  Each developmental
project must designate a director who will be the key figure
in the scientific planning and subsequent administration of
the proposed HGP project.  Planning efforts should be
described in terms of the necessary feasibility studies,
recruitment of new investigators, establishment of new
collaborations, development of plans for data release and
outreach to the scientific community, and other components
that will strengthen and broaden any existing programs in
the research area of the proposed project.  An internal
steering committee is strongly recommended.  Funds may be
requested for the purpose of obtaining outside advice and
for necessary administrative personnel.
 
Costs are allowable in accordance with the cost principles
outlined in OMB Circulars A-110, A-21, and A-122, and the
provisions in DHHS Administration of Grants Federal
Regulations Title 45 Part 74 and the PHS Grants Policy
Statement, provided they fall into one of the categories
below.  It is important to recognize that, even though a
cost may be allowable, it is the responsibility of the
applicant to adequately justify the inclusion and amounts of
all items for which funding is requested.
 
NONALLOWABLE COSTS FOR HGP DEVELOPMENTAL GRANTS
 
Funds from HGP Developmental grants (P20s) may not be used
to provide salary and support for central institutional
administrative personnel usually paid from institutional
overhead charges.
 
TERM OF SUPPORT
 
The funding level for HGP developmental grants will be
$750,000 total costs per year for a maximum of three years.
It is anticipated that up to five developmental grants (up
to $3,750,000) will be awarded depending upon the
appropriation of funds for this purpose and the quality of
the applications received.  The awards are not renewable and
usually supplements are not allowed.
 
The Human Genome Initiative has established a series of
specific objectives and milestones to be accomplished in a
limited period of time.  As the initial objectives are
reached, the focus of the HGP program projects and center
grants will change.  In order to ensure that developmental
grants remain focused on appropriate goals and make
sufficient progress towards establishing the
interdisciplinary effort needed to apply for a program
project or center, frequent programmatic assessments will be
necessary.  In addition to yearly staff review through
progress reports, the directors of developmental grants will
be asked to attend the annual center directors meetings.
 
METHOD OF APPLYING
 
Applicants must use standard form PHS 398, revised 10/88, and is
available from most institutional 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).  In order to assure proper
identification of the application, line 2 of the application form
should state "Human Genome Program Developmental Grant,
HG-91-04."  Applications are limited to 30 pages in length.  As a
guideline, it is suggested that approximately ten pages will be
sufficient to describe the planned mission and structure of the
proposed project and three to five pages to describe each
feasibility study.  Each project should be presented in the
format used for the NIH research grant (R01), but in greatly
abbreviated form.  Further information about the format of the
application is included in "Human Genome Program Developmental
Grant Instructions," that is available from Dr. Peterson at the
address below.
 
The RFA label contained in the 10/88 revision of 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 your application such that it may not
reach the review committee in time for review.
 
In order to be reviewed promptly, applications must be
complete when submitted.  Late submission of material
designed to either complete or expand the application may
result in deferral of the application.
 
The original and four copies of the application must be
submitted to:
 
Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**
 
To assist the review staff of NCHGR in conducting a timely
review, applicants are requested to send, at the same time
the application is submitted, two copies of the completed
application to the Office of Scientific Review at the
following address:
 
Office of Scientific Review
National Center for Human Genome Research
National Institutes of Health
Building 38A, Room 604
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 402-0838
 
LETTER OF INTENT
 
Applicants are strongly urged to contact the individual
listed below by telephone and with a letter of intent, to
indicate that they plan to submit an application for an HGP
developmental grant.
The
letter should include the name of the Principal Investigator
and key co-investigators, the title and subject of the
planned research, and a descriptive title.
The letter of intent is due two months prior to the receipt dates
and must be sent to:
 
Jane L. Peterson, Ph.D.
Chief, Research Centers Branch
National Center for Human Genome Research
National Institutes of Health
Building 38A, Room 610
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7531
 
REVIEW PROCEDURES
 
There will be two receipt dates for this RFA:  July 9, 1991
and November 14, 1991.  Future RFAs for HGP developmental
grants will be published if there is a continuing need to
stimulate interdisciplinary genome research.
 
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 that 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.
 
Applications received in response to this announcement will
be reviewed in accordance with the usual NIH peer review
procedures.  Applications will first be screened for
responsiveness to this RFA by NIH staff.  Those deemed non-
responsive will be returned to the applicant.  If a large
number of applications is received, they may undergo a
preliminary peer review to identify the most meritorious
ones.  Principal Investigators on applications that are
deemed non-competitive by this peer review will receive only
a brief critique, and these applications will not be
reviewed further.  The remaining applications will then be
evaluated for scientific merit by the Genome Research Review
Committee.  Subsequent to evaluation by this initial review
committee, applications will receive a second-level review
by the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research.
Applications will be accepted in accordance with the
following schedule:
 
Letter of Intent Receipt:  May 9, 1991    September 14, 1991
Application Receipt:       July 9, 1991   November 14, 1991
Initial Review:            October 1991   February 1992
Council Review:            January 1992   May 1992
Anticipated Award Date:    April 1, 1992  July 1, 1992
 
REVIEW CRITERIA
 
The following criteria will be used in reviewing
developmental grant applications:
 
1.  The potential of the plans for leading to a project that
will make a significant contribution to achieving the goals
of the Human Genome Program;
 
2.  The qualifications and capabilities of the Principal
Investigator and other key investigators for mounting an
interdisciplinary research program of high merit;
 
3.  The scientific merit of the pilot and feasibility
studies and their potential for contributing to the overall
project;
 
4.  The adequacy of the available resources and the quality
of the research environment.  It is important that
interdisciplinary genome projects be in a strong and diverse
research environment that will augment the ability of the
program to address the goals of the Human Genome Project, to
facilitate future application of the research results, and
to provide the opportunity for multidisciplinary
collaborations;
 
5.  The adequacy of the planned administrative structure,
including the ability of the Principal Investigator to
provide the intellectual and administrative leadership for
the project;
 
6.  The institutional commitment to the program, including
commitment to any personnel recruitments that may be needed to
complement existing scientific expertise;
 
7.  Provisions for the protection of human subjects and the
humane care of animals; and
 
8.  Appropriateness of the requested budget for the work
proposed.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
Applications will compete for available funds with all other
approved applications assigned to NCHGR.  The following will
be considered in making funding decisions:
 
1.  Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer
review;
 
2.  Programmatic balance of NCHGR research.  Before
preparing an application, it is extremely important that
investigators communicate with NCHGR staff, who can provide
information about areas of genome research supported by
NCHGR and assistance in choosing a focus for the
application;
 
3.  Availability of funds.
 
INQUIRIES
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Jane L. Peterson, Ph.D.
Chief, Research Centers Branch
National Center for Human Genome Research
National Institutes of Health
Building 38A, Room 610
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7531
 
For information regarding NIH grants policy, please contact:
 
Alice H. Thomas
Grants Management Officer
National Center for Human Genome Research
National Institutes of Health
Building 38A, Room 613
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 402-0733
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.172.  Awards will be made under the
authority of the Public Health Service Act, Sections 301
(Public Law 78-410, as amended by 42 U.S.C. 241) and
administered under PHS grants 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 Health System Agency review.
 
$$FT END ***************************************************************