The FY 2005 President's Budget for NIA (including AIDS) is $1,055,666,000 an increase of 3 percent over the FY 2004 final conference amount of $1,024,598,000. Funding for AIDS- related research increases from $5,489,000 in FY 2004 to $5,503,000 in FY 2005 an increase of 0.3 percent. Also included in the FY 2005 request is NIA's support for the trans-NIH Roadmap initiatives, estimated at 0.63% of the FY 2005 budget request.
The FY 2005 President's Budget for NIH (including AIDS) increases from $28,041,057,000 in FY 2004 to $28,804,757,000 in FY 2005, an increase of 2.7 percent.
NIH's highest priority is the funding of medical research through research project grants (RPGs). Support for RPGs allows NIH to sustain the scientific momentum of investigator-initiated research while providing new research opportunities. The FY 2005 NIA request provides an aggregate average cost increase for RPGs at 1.9 percent for direct recurring costs in noncompeting continuation awards. Competing RPGs are based on an average cost increase of 1 percent over the FY 2004 Conference level. In FY 2005, total RPGs funded will be 1,378 awards, a decrease of 12 awards below the FY 2004 appropriation.
Promises for advancement in medical research are dependent on a continuing supply of new investigators with new ideas. In the FY 2005 President's Budget, NIA will support 584 pre- and postdoctoral trainees in full-time training positions. Stipend levels for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral recipients supported through the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards are set to (remain at) FY 2004 levels.
The FY 2005 request includes funding for 1,378 research project grants, compared to 1,390 in FY 2004 and 1,361 in FY 2003. Of these 1,378 awards, 410 will be competing research project grants and 968 will be noncompeting awards. In addition, the request includes funding for 94 SBIR/STTR grants.
Funding for the Centers mechanism increases by 3 percent over the final FY 2004 conference level.
The FY 2005 request includes an increase of 1.3 percent over the final FY 2004 conference level for Other Research .
Funding for Contracts in FY 2005 increases by 7.7% percent over the final FY 2004 conference.
The FY 2005 request includes a 3 percent increase above the FY 2004 final conference for Intramural Research and a 2.4 percent increase above the FY 2004 final conference for RMS .
(Contact: Mr. David Conrad, FMO, Ph: 301-496-9147)
As part of the Institute's measures to ensure that we continue to support a diverse portfolio of research during years of small increases in the NIA research budget, NIA has recently posted the following new policies on our website (www.nia.nih.gov/GrantsAndTraining/Policies).
NIA has experienced a 38 percent increase in the number of new and competing applications received from FY 2003 to FY 2004 and a 40 percent increase in total funds requested by these applications. At the same time, the FY 2004 NIA extramural budget has increased by approximately $28 million or 2.9 percent. To manage its resources, consider program priority areas, and to support a full range of excellent research, NIA announces the following funding policy:
In FY 2003, NIA funded 411 competing Research Project Grants (RPGs) at a total cost of $159 million. In FY 2004, NIA plans to support a similar number of grants at a total cost of $165 million. NIA expects to fund Research Project Grants (R01, P01, U01, R03, R21, R15) to approximately the 15th percentile at this time. To reach this pay line, NIA will reduce competing grants by an average of 18 percent below levels recommended in peer review. Reductions for other non-RPG mechanisms will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Further adjustment in the pay line may be made as the fiscal year proceeds.
NIA is instituting a dollar cap on Program Project (P01) applications. To continue to fund a diverse research portfolio that fulfills the mandate of the NIA, new and competing continuation P01 applications (Type 1 and 2) will be limited to no more than $1.5 million in direct costs in the first year (exclusive of facilities and administrative [F&A] costs on subcontracts). Budget increases in non-competing years will be at the level of the standard NIH adjustments that reflect the Biomedical Research & Development Index.
This policy becomes effective with applications submitted for the June 1, 2004, receipt dates. Exceptions to this cap will be allowed rarely and only after approval by the NIA-wide Planning Group.
On February 2, 2004, the President proposed the following amounts for FY2005: NIH - $28,804,757,000 and NIA - $1,055,666,000. This is approximately a 3 percent or $764 million increase over the FY 2004 budget request. On March 11, the Senate passed its version of the FY2005 Budget Resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution 95) by a vote of 51-45. The committee-reported budget included the same levels for NIH as in the President's request, a program level of $28.7 billion. S. Con. Res. 95 included an amendment sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) to increase the recommended funding level for NIH by $1.3 billion over the roughly $0.8 billion included in the Resolution's assumptions. This brings the Resolution's overall recommendation for NIH (which is NOT binding on the Appropriations Committees) to about $30 billion, which would bring the increase to approximately 7 percent. The amendment was “offset” by reducing another budget function called “allowances” by $1.3 billion. The Specter amendment was passed by a 72-24 vote. On March 25, the House Budget Resolution, H. Con. Res. 393, passed by a 215-212 vote. The House plan reduces discretionary spending for Budget Function 550 (health), which includes NIH, from $46.78 billion in FY2004, to $46.32 billion in FY 2005 and does not designate which agencies should have their funding reduced. The House and Senate Budget Resolutions will now have to be reconciled in conference.
NOTE: NIA is a member of the AoA/DoJ Elder Justice Interagency Working Group. The Elder Justice Interagency Working Group brings together Federal officials responsible for carrying out elder justice activities, including elder abuse prevention, research, grant and program- funding, and prosecution. Since 2001, members have met informally and on a regular basis to discuss emerging issues, promising practices, and ways to coordinate their efforts.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) submitted their report on February 2, 2004, to Congress on NIH Extramural Center Programs: Criteria for Initiation and Evaluation . No specific recommendations were made for NIA's Centers.
(For Information, contact: Ms. Tamara Jones, NIA Legislative Point of Contact, Ph: 301-496-3121)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the appointment of three new members to the National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) in January. Two-thirds of the 18-member Council are from the health and scientific disciplines, particularly the biological and medical sciences, and one-third from the general public, including public policy, law, health policy, economics, and management. Council members are appointed for overlapping terms of four years. The NIA, a component of the National Institutes of Health within HHS, is the lead federal agency supporting and conducting biomedical, social, and behavioral research and training related to aging and the special needs of older people.
The new members are:
John T. Cacioppo, Ph.D. Dr. Cacioppo is the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, Director of the University of Chicago Social Psychology Program, and Co-Director of the University's Institute for Mind and Biology. As a social neuroscientist, Dr. Cacioppo investigates how societal influences and personal relationships affect cognition, emotions, and personality processes as well as the immune, endocrine, and autonomic functions. His current research focuses on social isolation and health across the lifespan, with an emphasis on underlying mechanisms, and individual differences in affective processing. Among Dr. Cacioppo's honors are the National Academy of Sciences Troland Research Award, the Society for Psychophysiological Research's Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychophysiology, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology's Campbell Award for outstanding scientific contributions to personality and social psychology, the Society for Psychophysiological Research's Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Psychophysiology, and the American Psychological Association's Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Psychology. He is a fellow in five different divisions of the American Psychological Association and in six other scientific societies.
Alan M. Garber, MD, Ph.D. Dr. Garber is Director of both the Center for Health Policy and the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research at Stanford University in Stanford, California. As an economist and general internist, Dr. Garber investigates methods for improving health care in settings of limited resources. His research includes two complementary areas: developing methods for determining the cost-effectiveness of health interventions and structuring incentives to ensure that cost-effective care is actually delivered. His ongoing research includes both methodological and applied work in cost-effectiveness analysis in health care, measurement of quality of life, studies of the role of financial incentives in the utilization of hospital and nursing home care among the elderly, projections of Medicare and other health expenditures, and international comparisons of health care financing and health outcomes.
Dr. Garber is a member of the: American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Association of American Physicians.
Virginia M.-Y. Lee, Ph.D., M.B.A. Dr. Lee is a Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She is also Director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research and first recipient of the John H. Ware 3rd Professorship in Alzheimer's Research. Her research interests focus on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and frontotemporal dementias. She has a particular interest in major lesions found in the brains of patients with AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. She uses a multi-disciplinary approach (including biochemical and molecular studies of neuronal culture systems, animal models and human tissues obtained at autopsy) in the laboratory to address research issues that these neurodegenerative diseases may have in common. Dr. Lee has received a number of awards including the Allied Signal Award for Aging Research, the Metropolitan Life Foundation Award for Alzheimer's Disease Research, the Potamkin Award for Research on Alzheimer's, Pick's and Related Neurodegenerative Disorders, and the Bristol Myers Squibb Biomedical Research Award in Neuroscience.
Kenneth G. Pugh, M.D., LCDR, MC, USN , was appointed by the Department of Defense in April as an ex-officio member on the National Advisory Council on Aging. Lieutenant Commander Pugh's selection is based on the experience, professionalism, and cooperative spirit he brings to his field. Dr. Pugh completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Harvard Medical School, and was awarded a Hartford Junior Faculty development grant. He completed the Program in Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard School of Public Health. His current position is as head of geriatric clinical services at the Naval Medical Center Bethesda, MD. His research interests center on subcortical vascular dementia and the cognitive impact of cardiovascular risk factors among elderly persons. He is board certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine and is a member of several geriatric specialty organizations.
Ms. Stephanie Whittier from the Administration on Aging, who joined NIH as part of the Emerging Leaders Program with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), left her first rotation site in the Behavioral and Social Research (BSR) Program on December 23, 2003, to join the DHHS Assistant Secretary's Office for Legislation.
Mr. Kevin Laser , Chief, Financial Management Branch, left the NIA in March to accept a position as Budget Officer for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
Dr. Bita Nakhai joined the Scientific Review Office as a Scientific Review Administrator in January. Dr. Nakhai received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India, in 1992. She accepted a position with the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at NIAAA in 1992 as a postdoctoral Fogarty Fellow, and joined the Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, NINDS, in 1995. In 1997 she accepted a Scientist position at Cambridge Biotech Corporation and in 1998 she joined Boston Biomedica, (BBI) as a Project Scientist. In her tenure at BBI Dr. Nakhai, submitted and was awarded multiple grants from NIH. Her research findings have been published in several leading international journals.
Andre Premen, Ph.D. , formerly an extramural scientist administrator in the GCG Geriatrics Branch, left NIA on March 9, 2004. He has accepted a position with the Center for Scientific Review, NIH.
Sergei Romashkan, M.D. Ph.D., CCRA has joined NIA as an extramural scientist administrator in the GCG Clinical Trials Branch. Dr. Romashkan's prior position was at KAI Research Inc., where he was the Director of Clinical Operations. Dr. Romashkan earned his medical degree in Kiev, Ukraine, specializing in endocrinology and his Ph.D. is in Medical Science. His fellowship training was in diabetology.
Daniel Foley, M.S. , a Staff Scientist in the Biometry Section of the Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, IRP, and a NIA employee since l981, transferred to the Survey and Analysis Branch in the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), DHHS on April 4, 2004.
Ms. Anne Hardman , Deputy Chief, Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation (OPAE), Office of the Director, retired from NIA on April 1 after over 34 years of federal service. Ms. Hardman, who was employed by NIA since 1990, was responsible for providing oversight of the NIA's Scientific Coding System. Prior to joining the NIA, Ms. Hardman served in the former Division of Research Grants and in a laboratory at the National Institute of Mental Health.
The Performance Measurement Workshop (exploratory) was held on December 12, 2003 in Bethesda, MD. The Behavior and Social Research Program (BSR) frequently funds demographic and epidemiological population-based studies that have historically relied on self-reported measures of disability, e.g., traditional ADL (Activities of Daily Living) and IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) to assess physical functioning. BSR is interested in developing a set of recommendations for possible inclusion of performance tests as adjuncts to traditional self-reported measurement tools in such studies. Dr. Teresa Seeman of the University of California, Los Angeles and a BSR IPA staff member, organized a one-day meeting in Bethesda on effective uses of physical performance measures in population-based studies. This meeting reviewed existing performance protocols and discussed a number of important issues relating to their use in population-based studies. As part of this effort, BSR has been working on developing a consensus document that will outline the various physical performance protocols that are available for use in various types of studies of aging. The ultimate goal of this effort is to develop a reference manual that would be useful to researchers interested in using such performance protocols in their studies. (Contact: Ms. Angie Chon-Lee, BSR, Ph: 301-496-3138)
The first (advisory) meeting of the National Academy of Sciences Panel on Assessing Behavioral and Social Science Research on Aging was held on January 19, 2004, in Washington, D.C. BSR contracted with the NAS to explore methodologies for assessing the progress and vitality of areas of behavioral and social science research on aging, and to identify the factors that contribute to the likelihood of discoveries in areas of aging research. (Contact: Dr. Richard Suzman, BSR, Ph: 301-496-3131)
The NLMS and LEHD Users Workshop (exploratory) was held on January 22, 2004, in Cambridge, MA. BSR contracted with the NIA-funded Demography Center on the Economics of Aging at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) to host a data workshop on the National Longitudinal Mortality Study (NLMS) and Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics (LEHD), datasets which are partially sponsored by BSR through Interagency Agreements with the US Bureau of the Census. This one-day workshop introduced the NLMS and LEHD to researchers from NIA's eleven Demography Centers and others, with the goal of generating new NIA applications proposing analysis of these data. (Contact: Ms. Elayne Heisler, BSR, Ph: 301-496-3138)
The National Academy of Sciences Planning Meeting for a Follow-Up to Cells and Surveys (exploratory) was held February 7, 2004, in Washington, D.C. As a follow up to the BSR-sponsored volume Cells and Surveys: Should Biological Measures Be Included in Social Science Research (2000) which examined the potential costs and benefits of collecting biological indicators in household surveys, BSR sponsored this planning meeting to explore the latest developments in biomarker data collection and to identify what form a potential follow-up activity in this area might take. The meeting was chaired by Dr. James Vaupel and attended by over 20 experts from academia, government, and the Academy. Participants agreed that a follow-up NAS workshop could make a significant contribution to the on-going process of advancing research in this area, by mapping out a framework for the informed use of genetic data, by providing an opportunity for a talented group of researchers to interact and exchange ideas on the challenges of collecting biologic information and modeling gene-environment interactions within the context of aging research, by highlighting exemplars of good research, by identifying promising directions for future types of data collection, and by producing a volume that would inform and advance the field. (Contact: Ms. Elayne Heisler, BSR, Ph: 301-496-3138)
The Symposium on Cognitive Training Interventions for Older Adults , an exploratory meeting, was held on March 1, 2004, in Bethesda, MD. Public and scientific interest in cognitive training for older adults indicated a need for reliable information and advancement of the area. This need is particularly important within the context of the aging worker, advances in technology, and use of non-work time. Leading researchers, who are studying training processes, were assembled to develop an exploratory document on use of training to benefit cognitive processes of the elderly. Parts of the discussions of this meeting were presented at the National Academy of Sciences Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, Monday, March 29. Publication of the meeting presentations is being planned. This meeting was very helpful in pointing out the various approaches to cognitive training and the shift in thinking from using specific training to improve general function, to thinking about interventions thatoffer overall cognitive engagement and the effect of that approach on specific cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. (Contact: Dr. Jeffrey Elias, BSR, Ph: 301-594-5942).
Frontiers of Knowledge in Sleep & Sleep Disorders: Opportunities for Improving Health and Quality of Life , an exploratory meeting co-sponsored by NIA, was held in Bethesda, MD, on March 29 and 30, 2004. This National Conference was an innovative two-day program that assembled health care providers, public health and education experts, policy makers, patient advocacy organizations, sleep medicine specialists, individuals affected by sleep disorders, and other stakeholders. The key issues addressed were “How can current knowledge about sleep and sleep disorders be translated into cost-effective strategies for (1) improving individual knowledge, attitudes and sleep-related behaviors; (2) improving rates of diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders; (3) reducing health care costs due to untreated sleep disorders; and (4) improving public health and quality of life”. (Contact: Dr. Andrew A. Monjan, NNA, Ph: 301-496-9350)
Neuroimaging in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia , an informational (exploratory) meeting cosponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), was held on April 5, in Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting focused on the scientific evidence for the use of neuroimaging techniques (positron emission tomography [PET], single photon emission tomography [SPECT], and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. Questions addressed included whether imaging aids early diagnosis, whether such early diagnosis improves patient-oriented outcomes, and the cost-effectiveness of the use of imaging procedures. With recommendations from CMS, the Alzheimer's Association, and the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, NIA assembled a group of expert clinicians, Alzheimer's researchers, imaging scientists, a neuropathologist, an epidemiologist, scientists who have researched the cost-effectiveness of PET in AD diagnosis, and representatives from the Alzheimer's Association and the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry to discuss topics pertaining to these issues. Speakers presented on all three imaging modalities throughout the day, with discussions facilitated by prominent AD researchers. The impact of the appearance of a drug with disease-modifying effects was considered, and the views of representatives from the Alzheimer's Association and the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry were presented. (Contact: Dr. Susan Molchan, NNA, Ph: 301-496-9350)
A New Paradigm for Aging Research: When Do the Biological Changes of Aging Begin , an exploratory workshop, was held May 5-7, 2004. The workshop was organized by the Systems Branch of the Biology of Aging Program (BAP) as part of a series to bring together junior and senior grantees and additional experts on important questions in aging tissue biology. Past workshops were held in 2002 (GH/IGF and Aging Tissues) and 2003 (Apoptosis and Aging Tissues). Research on early changes in aging tissues and the clinical manifestations of those changes were featured. Discussions centered on the feasibility of, potential productivity of, and approaches to studying aging changes in tissues at the earliest detectable times in order to determine early steps in aging changes and their causes. (Contact: Dr. Jill Carrington, BAP, Ph: 301-496-6402)
Lipids and the Pathobiology of Obesity , an exploratory workshop co-sponsored by NIA, the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) was held in Washington, DC, on May 10-11, 2004. The workshop focused attention on how alterations in lipid metabolism and signaling impact the development of obesity and its complications. The workshop attempted to define the current state-of-the-art and provide a blueprint for development of new initiatives designed to address the role of lipid metabolism in the obesity epidemic. The invited speakers and attendees were asked to help provide this blueprint through a variety of inputs, including platform presentations, posters, and discussions. (Contact: Dr. David Finkelstein, BAP, Ph: 301-496-7847)
National Institute on Aging Exploratory Workshop on Survival Curve Data , an exploratory workshop sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), was held on May 11-12, 2004, in Bethesda, MD. The workshop focused on uses of survival outcome data to help characterize differences in effects on survival patterns produced by various clinical, biological, genetic, and environmental factors. Survival outcome data is defined as a set of favorable exceptional survival outcomes including, survival to extreme old age (exceptional longevity), unusually long survival before the occurrence of significant morbidity (health span), or unusually long survival before the occurrence of significant disability (active life expectancy). The workshop, jointly sponsored by the NIA Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology Program, Biology of Aging Program, and the Behavioral and Social Research Program included biologists, epidemiologists, gerontologists, and demographers. Issues covered at the meeting included: (1) Review of existing data on the effects on survival properties produced by specific mutations and interventions that extend life span in experimental animals, and differences among human populations; (2) Assessment of how such effects might best be reported in the scientific literature in the future, to improve interpretability and comparability of studies on factors affecting survival outcomes; (3) Exploration of ways that this information might be used to guide hypothesis-based testing of mechanisms responsible for extending life span and/or health span; and (4) Identification of needs for new methods for use in experimental, epidemiologic, and demographic studies. (Contact: Dr. Evan Hadley, GCG, Ph: 301-496-6761)
Performance Measures/Vignettes in Large Scale Surveys, an exploratory workshop, will be held in June 2004. BSR frequently funds demographic and epidemiological population-based studies that have historically relied on self-report measures of disability (e.g., traditional Activities of Daily Living [ADL] and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADL] scales) to assess physical functioning. BSR is planning a workshop to develop a set of recommended performance tests that staff might encourage researchers to use, when appropriate, in BSR-funded studies. (Contact: Ms. Angie Chon-Lee, BSR, Ph: 301-594-5943)
Exploratory Workshop on Applications of Imaging and Sensor Technologies to Measure Aging-Related Changes . The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Bioimaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) are planning an exploratory workshop on the integration of imaging and sensor technologies into existing aging studies to help answer important aging research questions on physiologic, morphologic, and/or biochemical processes for which new or better in vivo real-time measures are needed to best understand their contributions to aging changes over varying time intervals in the life span. The workshop is planned for mid-June 2004 in Bethesda, MD. Participants will include clinical researchers in aging, bioimaging researchers and biosensor researchers. For each of the important aging questions identified by the researchers in aging, the bioimaging and biosensor participants will provide descriptions of technologies that already exist that could help answer the questions, whether it is possible to improve existing technologies to help answer the questions and/or whether new technologies could be developed to best answer the questions. (Program contact: Winnie Rossi, GCG, Ph: 301-496-6761)
NIA Exploratory Workshop on Inflammation, Inflammatory Cytokines and Aging . A trans-NIA group (comprised of staff from the Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology [GCG] program, the Biology of Aging Program [BAP], the Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging [NNA] Program and the NIA Intramural Research Program [IRP]) is collaborating on a workshop to be held in Bethesda in September 2004. This multidisciplinary workshop will assess the current state of knowledge on the role of inflammation and age-related changes in cytokine activity on (1) aging phenotypes in a variety of tissues, and (2) on outcomes characteristic of morbidity and frailty. The overarching goal will be to explore the role of inflammation as a common pathway for age-related comorbidities while attempting to delineate primary versus secondary inflammatory changes in disease processes. Additional goals of the workshop are to identify gaps in understanding and opportunities for future research. (Contact: Dr. Sherry Sherman, GCG, Ph: 301-496-6761)
Bench to Bedside: Estrogen as a Case Study , an NIA-sponsored advisory workshop, will be held on September 28 and 29. This two-day workshop will bring together scientists in the fields of basic science, reproductive epidemiology, and clinical trials. The focus of the workshop will be on the presentation of data in hand to determine why the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) gave different results than expected. Among the topics to be considered will be the effects of formulation, timing, route, duration, and dose of estrogen and progesterone administration, and their respective effects on cognitive function with age. Information presented at this workshop will aid in consideration of whether future epidemiological studies and clinical trials should take place, and if so, how they should be planned. A number of NIH-supported investigators, NIA staff, and NIH/DHHS staff will participate. This workshop will be co-funded by NIMH. (Contact: Dr. Marilyn Miller, NNA, Ph: 301-496-9350)
Dr. Elizabeth H. Blackburn , Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, (and NIA Council member) has been awarded the Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for Medicine for 2004 for “identifying the structure of chromosome ends (telomeres) and discovering the enzyme telomerase.” Dr. Blackburn will be a guest of the Heineken Foundations for one week, during which she will deliver lectures throughout the country at different universities and research institutes. Some of these lectures are open to the general public; others are for an invited audience. The lectures of the Heineken laureates are organized by the Academy in close co-operation with universities and research institutes. The scientific program of the Heineken Prizes Week 2004 will be available in September 2004. To be eligible for the Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for Medicine, nominees should be active scientists who are expected to continue their research activities for at least ten years. Their achievements in the field of medical research are outstanding and have potential clinical application or have already led to an important clinical application.
The Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) received several recent awards:
(For more information, contact Ms. Jane E. Shure, OCPL, Ph: 301-496-1752.)
In FY 2003 NIA received 57 clinical loan repayment applications of which two were withdrawn prior to award. Forty-five of the remaining applications were paid, representing a success rate of 82%. Among those individuals receiving awards the majority (25) listed their final degree as an MD.
NIH overall in FY 2003 awarded 1,197 loan repayment contracts, 65.6% more than in FY 2002. The success rate was 63 percent. More than 50 percent of awards went to MDs, over a third to PhDs, and 8 percent to MD/PhDs.
The NIA television Public Service Announcement, Madame Eterno , won a 25 th Anniversary Classic Telly Award. This competition honors outstanding non-network television, film, and video production. (For more information about OCPL public service announcements, contact Jane E. Shure, OCPL, Ph: 301-496-1752.)
The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) website (www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers) received an Award of Excellence in the 2003 Aesculapius Awards for excellence in health communications. Aesculapius Awards are sponsored by the Health Improvement Institute and given to producers of health-related radio and television public service announcements and websites that the judges consider excellent in communicating health information to the public.
(For more information about the ADEAR website, contact Jane E. Shure, OCPL, Ph: 301-496-1752.)
The Office of Communications and Public Liaison wrote and distributed five press releases on research findings ranging from recognition of a link between testosterone levels and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in older men, to new eggs continuing to develop in adult mice, to identification of predictors for AD longevity. The most current NIA press releases can be found online at www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/WhatsNew.htm.
The Office of Communications and Public Liaison wrote, printed, and distributed two new publications:
In addition, OCPL updated/reprinted the following publications:
NIA and ADEAR publications were distributed at a variety of meetings and exhibits including the AMA Media Briefing on AD; American Academy of Family Practitioners' National Education Courses in Sports Medicine, Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine; Duke ADC Conference; Women's Heart Health Fair (NIH/Office of Research on Women's Health [ORWH]); Public Library Association; American Association of Geriatric Psychiatrists; National Hispanic Medical Association; Montgomery County Women's Health Fair; and Radio One Lifestyle Expo.
During the first quarter of 2004, there was a steady rise in the numbers of people using http://nihseniorhealth.gov. Since the October launch, the site has had 198,270 visitors, over 40,000 in March alone. Since the launch, there have been 1,762,101 page views, with an average of over 12,000 pages views per day in March. Alzheimer's Disease and Exercise for Older Adults are the two most popular topics, with Balance Problems, Arthritis, Prostate Cancer and Lung Cance r vying for slots among the top five. The following IC's have committed to developing these topics:
NIDDK: Diabetes NIAMS: Osteoporosis; Paget's Disease of Bone NIGMS: Taking Medications NEI: Low Vision and Macular Degeneration NINDS: Stroke NIA: Falls and Fractures; Sleep and Aging NINR: End-of-Life Issues NIDCR: Oral Health ODS: Dietary Supplements NIDCD: Sensory Loss
Upcoming activities include:
(For more information, contact: Ms. Jane E. Shure, OCPL, Ph: 301-496-1752.)
From the NIH Guide - From Decemver 24, 2003 – April 30, 2004 Published since the last National Advisory Council on Aging Meeting. Also check our NIA website for “Current Funding Opportunities” (Shown here are selected Notices relevant to NIA and selected Initiatives)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants ProgramsRelease Date: January 6, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-016 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-016.html SBIR/STTR Grant Application Submission Dates: April 1, 2004, August 1, 2004, December 1, 2004 AIDS and AIDS-related SBIR/STTR Grant Application Submission Dates: May 1, 2004, September 1, 2004, January 2, 2005
The purpose of this notice is to (1) announce the issuance of the Solicitation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant Applications (PHS 2004-2) and (2) inform the public about the opportunities that the SBIR/STTR programs offer to small business concerns. The NIH, CDC, and FDA invite eligible small business concerns to submit Phase I grant applications for the Calendar Year (CY) 2004 SBIR program and, applicable to NIH only, for the STTR program.
Banking Genetic Samples from NIA-Funded Studies Through the NIA Aged Cell BankRelease Date: January 15, 2004 Notice: NOT-AG–04-002 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AG-04-002.html
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) offers investigators assistance with archiving and sharing cell lines from genetic studies funded through the NIA. Many epidemiological and clinical studies include collection of blood samples and generation of transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines as a renewable source of DNA. These collections of genetic samples from population-based studies and case-control studies are valuable resources and it is in the best interests of all – the NIH, the research community, and the taxpayers who fund the research and benefit from the results – for maximum use to be made of these resources. The NIH sharing policy urges that unique resources developed from NIH-funded research be made available to the research community (Sharing Biomedical Research Resources, http://ott.od.nih.gov/NewPages/64FR72090.pdf.
National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award (NDPA) Release Date: January 23, 2004Notice : NOT-RM-04-007 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-RM-04-007.html Nominations for This Award Had to Be Submitted by Midnight, April 1, 2004
The NIH Director's Pioneer Award (NDPA) program was established to identify and fund investigators of exceptionally creative abilities and diligence, for a sufficient term (five years) to allow them to develop and test far-ranging ideas. History suggests that leaps in knowledge frequently result from exceptional minds willing and able to explore ideas that were considered risky at their inception, especially in the absence of strong supportive data. Such individuals are more likely to take such risks when they are assured of adequate funds for a sufficient period of time, and with the freedom to set their own research agenda. Awardees are expected to commit the major portion of their effort to activities supported by the NDPA.
NIA Intervention Testing Program Solicits Proposals for Compounds to Test for Anti-Aging Activity in Mice Release Date: January 28, 2004 Notice: NOT-AG-04-003 http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AG-04-003.html
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) Interventions Testing Program (ITP) was established to investigate diets and dietary supplements purported to extend lifespan and/or delay the onset of disease and disability. The NIA ITP tests such compounds in mice, using a variety of measured endpoints to assess the efficacy of interventions. There are currently two sites, one at the University of Michigan and one at the Jackson Laboratory, with the potential for a third site to be incorporated this year. In the first year, 4 compounds were accepted for study. The NIA ITP is soliciting proposals for compounds to enter the study in 2004. The next deadline for receipt of proposals is March 1, 2004. Information on the NIA ITP and guidelines for proposal development are posted at: www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ScientificResources/InterventionsTestingProgram.htm
NIH Opens ESNAP to Federal Demonstration Partnership MembersRelease Date: February 05, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-024 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-024.html
Effective January 1, 2004, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites all Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) members to participate in its NIH electronic Research Administration (eRA) electronic Streamlined Non-competing Award Process (eSNAP) pilot. eSNAP, a component of the NIH eRA Commons system, enables extramural grantees to submit an electronic version of the SNAP Type 5 (non-competing) progress report through a Web interface. As part of the eSNAP pilot, NIH is testing potential changes in certain SNAP progress report business processes. Therefore, before granting eSNAP access, NIH requires that the participating institutions agree to test these new business processes through an up-front agreement. Users are welcome to visit the eRA Commons demonstration site at https://commonsdemo.era.nih.gov/commons-demo/index.jsp to simulate the entire eSNAP process from initiation through final submission. An eSNAP users guide is also available online at: http://era.nih.gov/Docs/eSNAP_UG_August2003.pdf.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipend Increase and Other Budgetary Changes Effective for Fiscal Year 2004Release Date: February 5, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-023 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-023.html
The budgetary changes described in this notice for Fiscal Year 2004 Kirschstein-NRSA awards affect the stipend levels for undergraduate, predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and fellows. In addition, for informational purposes only, the Training Related Expenses for trainees and the Institutional Allowance for individual fellows are shown. These budget categories are not being increased. Only undergraduate, predoctoral and postdoctoral stipends are increased this fiscal year.
Salary Limitation on Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts Release Date: February 13, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-025 (see NOT-OD-04-034 for update) http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-025.html
This notice provides updated information regarding the salary limitation for NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards and extramural research and development contract awards. On March 18, 2003, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 information on the salary limitation was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.
June 29-30 Workshop on Animal Welfare and Good Laboratory Practices in Detroit Release Date: February 24, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-031 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-031.html
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) will co-sponsor a focused workshop, “Balancing Animal Welfare and Regulatory Compliance Issues in Preclinical Studies,” with the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, on June 29-30, 2004, in Detroit, Michigan. The conference will bring together internationally recognized leaders of the scientific and regulatory communities to identify the issues and to discuss harmonization of animal welfare standards in biomedical research.
Applications for Intervention Studies on Effects of Androgens in Older MenRelease Date: March 4, 2004 Notice: NOT-AG-04-004 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AG-04-004.html
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is developing plans for clinical trials of testosterone therapy in older men, related to recommendations of a recent report by the Institute of Medicine, “Testosterone and Aging: Clinical Research Directions.” This report recommended that such testosterone trials be coordinated through a cooperative agreement or similar mechanism to produce a common core data set that would maximize the information obtained from different studies. A summary of the report and information on how to obtain the full report are available at: http://www.iom.edu/file.asp?id=16440
Sixth Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference, June 23-24, 2004Release Date: April 5, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-037 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-037.html
The Sixth Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference is scheduled for June 23-24, 2004, and will be held on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This two-day meeting will focus explicitly on the Small Business Innovation Agenda and registration information are available at the conference website http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/SBIRConf2004/presentations.htm.
NIA Announcement: New Policy for Program Project Applications Release Date: April 15, 2004 NOTICE: NOT-AG-04-005 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AG-04-005.html
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is instituting a dollar cap on Program Project (P01) applications. To continue to fund a diverse research portfolio that fulfills the mandate of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), new and competing continuation P01 applications (Type 1 and 2) will be limited to no more than $1.5 million in direct costs in the first year (exclusive of facilities and administrative (F&A) costs on subcontracts). This policy becomes effective with applications submitted for the June 1, 2004 receipt dates.
NIH Announces May 2004 Conference on the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Research Release Date: April 1, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-036 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-036.html
Continuing its efforts to educate the research community, the NIH is holding a one-day conference on May 26, 2004 entitled, “HIPAA and the Privacy Rule: One Year Into Privacy Rule Implementation.” The conference will examine how research has been affected by the implementation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Topics to be covered include: clinical research, repositories and databases, health services research, mental health research, and public health activities. Speakers include officials from NIH, the HHS Office for Civil Rights, the HHS Office for Human Research Protections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. There are no fees to attend this meeting, but participants must pay their own travel and lodging costs. You need to register to attend at: http://www.capconcorp.com/hipaa04/
Change in Direct Cost Limitations on Solicited ApplicationsRelease Date: April 30, 2004 Notice: NOT-OD-04-040 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-040.html
NIH announces a revision of its policy on direct cost limitations on solicited applications published after this notice. Applications in response to those Program Announcements (PAs) and Requests for Applications (RFAs) that include a limitation on direct costs are to exclude from that limit the facilities and administrative (F&A) costs requested by consortium participants. The F&A costs requested by the consortium will be reflected in the PHS 398 application according to current instructions, and F&A costs awarded under these programs will continue to be awarded under the current practice. However, these consortium F&A costs will not be counted as a direct cost when determining if an applicant is in compliance with a direct cost limitation on a solicited application.
(Sorted by most recent release date)
ELSI Regular Research Program (R01) Release Date: January 15, 2004 PA Number: PA-04-050 http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-050.html
Application Receipt Date(s): Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines.
Purpose of this PA: This PA is designed to solicit research projects that anticipate, analyze and address the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of the discovery and use of new information and technologies resulting from human genetic and genomic research.
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to: Jennifer Harris, PhD Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 533 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Phone: (301) 496-3138 Fax: (301) 402-0051 E-mail: HarrisJe@nia.nih.gov
ELSI Small Grant Research Program (R03)Release Date: January 15, 2004 PA Number: PA-04-051 http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-051.html
Purpose of this PA: This PA is designed to solicit research projects that anticipate, analyze and address the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of the discovery and use of new information and technologies resulting from human genetic and genomic research. This Small Grant PA, which is limited to applications requesting up to $50,000 in direct costs per year for no more than two years, makes use of a streamlined application process and is designed to encourage the development of small, focused research projects by legal, historical, ethics and social sciences scholars whose analytical style of inquiry often has not been adequately encouraged or supported by the more traditional NIH R01 application process.
Alzheimer's Disease Core Centers (P30)Release Date: January 30, 2004 RFA: RFA-AG-04-012 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-04-012.html
Application Receipt Date(s): May 18, 2004
Purpose of this RFA: This initiative invites applications from qualified institutions for support of Alzheimer's Disease Core Centers (ADCCs).
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to: Creighton H. Phelps, Ph.D. Program Director, Alzheimer's Disease Centers Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 350 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9350 FAX: (301) 496-1494 Email: phelpsc@nia.nih.gov
Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (P50)Release Date: January 30, 2004 RFA: RFA-AG-04-011 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-04-011.html
Purpose of this RFA: This initiative invites applications from qualified institutions for support of Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs). These are designed to support and conduct research on Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to serve as shared research resources that will facilitate research in AD and related disorders, distinguish them from the process of normal brain aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and lead to better diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Technology And Aging: NIA SBIR/STTR Program Initiative (R41, R42, R43 & R44) Release Date: February 20, 2004 PA Number: PA-04-064 http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-064.html
Purpose of this PA: This initiative seeks small business applications in specific areas to enhance the coordination and optimization of the SBIR and STTR grant programs across and within NIA's four programs of research: Behavioral and Social Research, Biology of Aging, Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, and Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging.
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues with primary emphasis on the biology of aging to: Rebecca Fuldner, Ph.D. Biology of Aging Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 2C231 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-6402 Email: fuldnerr@nia.nih.gov
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues with primary emphasis on behavioral and social research on aging to: Elayne Heisler, Ph.D. Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 533 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-3138 Email: heislere@nia.nih.gov
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues with primary emphasis on geriatric and clinical gerontological research to: Winifred K. Rossi, M.A. Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 3E327 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-6761 Email: rossiw@nia.nih.gov
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues with primary emphasis on the neuroscience and neuropsychology of aging to: Neil Buckholtz, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 3C307 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9350 Email: buckholn@nia.nih.gov
Neurovascular Mechanisms of Brain Function and Disease (R01 & R21) Release Date: March 5, 2004 PA Number: PAS-04-072 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-04-072.html
Purpose of this PA: This initiative invites applications for studying the integration of neurobiological and cerebrovascular mechanisms in the adult, aged and pediatric brain in health and disease. This PAS encourages studies focused on improving our understanding of the dynamic interactions within the neurovascular unit (NVU), a construct consisting of brain microvascular endothelium, glia, neurons and the extracellular matrix that maintains spatial relations among them.
Direct inquiries regarding scientific/research issues to: Dr. Bradley C. Wise Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 350 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-9350 FAX: (301) 496-1494 Email: wiseb@nia.nih.gov
Research Partnerships for Improving Functional Outcomes (R01)Release Date: March 18, 2004 PA Number: PAR-04-077 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-04-077.html
Application Receipt Date(s): October 13, 2004, October 13, 2005, October 13, 2006
Purpose of this PA: This initiative invites applications for R01 awards to support Research Partnerships for Improving Functional Outcomes (RPIFO) for basic, applied, and translational multi-disciplinary research that addresses important biological, behavioral, medical, and/or psychosocial research problems related to rehabilitation or health maintenance of individuals with acute or chronic disease.
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to: Sidney M. Stahl, Ph.D. Chief, Individual Behavioral Processes Branch Behavioral and Social Research Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, 533, MSC 9205 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 402-4156 FAX: (301) 402-0051 Email: Sidney_Stahl@nih.gov
Additional Genotyping for the Human Haplotype Map (U54)Release Date: April 16, 2004 RFA Number: RFA-HG-04-005 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-04-005.html
Application Receipt Date(s): June 25, 2004
Purpose of this RFA: This RFA solicits applications for a cooperative agreement to augment the International HapMap Project by supporting the genotyping of approximately 2.25 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genome in 270 samples from four populations, at high quality and at a cost of about 1 cent per genotype. This RFA builds on a previous RFA, HG-02-005 Large-Scale Genotyping for the Haplotype Map of the Human Genome (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-02-005.html).
Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Program Director early in the process of preparing an application.
Direct your questions about scientific and research issues to: Anna McCormick, Ph.D. National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 2C231 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-6402 Email: am38k@nih.gov
Long-Term Weight Maintenance: Basic and Clinical Studies (R01 & R21)Release Date: April 13, 2004 PA Number: PA-04-092 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-092.html
Purpose of this PA: The goal of this program announcement is to invite research applications investigating basic and clinical aspects of long-term weight maintenance. Applications investigating mechanisms underlying weight stability and/or weight regain after intentional weight loss, as well as clinical studies investigating the role of behavioral, nutritional, exercise, or other interventions in enhancing long-term weight maintenance will be supported. Collaborations between basic and clinical researchers are particularly encouraged under this solicitation.
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to: Chhanda Dutta, Ph.D. National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Suite 3C-307 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Phone: (301)435-3048 Fax: (301)402-1784 Email: duttac@nia.nih.gov
Heterogeneity of Fat Depots: Underlying Basis and Association with Morbidity (R01 & R21)Release Date: April 22, 2004 PA Number: PA-04-098 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-098.html
Purpose of this PA: This initiative invites investigator-initiated Research Projects (R01 and R21) to investigate the life cycle of adipocytes and other cell types present in various fat depots, such as macrophages, neurons, and endothelial cells. The long term goal of this initiative is to identify markers of obesity associated with disease risk that could yield new targets for therapeutics to disrupt this link.
Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to: David B. Finkelstein, Ph.D. Biology of Aging Program National Institute on Aging 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2C231 Bethesda, MD 20892-9205 Telephone: (301) 496-7847 FAX: (301) 402-0010 E-mail: df18s@nih.gov
Initiatives under the NIH Roadmap will help enable the agency to sustain its historic record of cutting-edge contributions that are central to extending the quality of healthy life for people in this country and around the world. All NIH Institutes and Centers participate in Roadmap initiatives. (Headings and subheadings shown below reflect a partial list of research areas in the NIH Roadmap Initiatives program).
High Throughput Molecular Screening Assay DevelopmentMolecular Libraries Screening Centers Network (MLSCN)
Meetings and Networks for Methodological Development in Interdisciplinary Research
| Disclaimer | Accessibility | Policies | Contact Us | FOIA | Site Map
