MICROARRAY CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
 
RELEASE DATE:  April 23, 2004
 
RFA Number:  RFA-NS-05-002

EXPIRATION DATE:  August 10, 2004

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
 
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
 (http://www.nih.gov)

COMPONENTS OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
 (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBERS: 93.853, 93.242 
 
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE:  July 12, 2004
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE:  August 9, 2004
 
THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o Purpose of this RFA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanism of Support 
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o Special Requirements 
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE OF THIS RFA 

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and 
the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) invite applications for 
support of Microarray Centers.  These Centers will support gene 
expression profiling in the nervous system through the application of 
microarray technologies.  The Microarray Centers, which will function 
as a consortium, will provide reagents, services, and training to the 
neuroscience community, on a fee-for-service basis.
 
The NINDS/NIMH Microarray Consortium was originally funded for three 
years in June 2002 under RFA-NS-02-001 as a consortium of three 
Microarray Centers.  Information on the structure of the consortium and 
on the products and services offered to users is available on the 
consortium website (http://arrayconsortium.tgen.org).  Further 
information on this initiative is available by viewing the transcript 
of a pre-application meeting that was held at NIH on June 7, 2001 
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/technology_development/rfa-ns-02-001/
meeting_summary.htm).  No pre-application meeting will be held for 
this RFA, which is a reissue of the original RFA.  This recompetition 
of the Microarray Center awards will renew the consortium for five 
years.
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background:

Oligonucleotide and cDNA microarrays are used to make quantitative or 
relative measurements of gene expression.  The microarrays contain 
nucleotide sequences corresponding to known genes or expressed sequence 
tags.  A single array can contain thousands of genes, which may 
represent a significant subset of the genes, or even the entire genome, 
of an organism.  A comparison of cells or tissues from experimental and 
control preparations provides data on differences in expression levels 
between the two conditions.  Changes in gene expression of ubiquitously 
expressed genes might reveal clues to underlying, widespread 
alterations of cellular physiology.  Changes in expression patterns of 
genes that are regulated temporally or spatially within the organism 
might provide information on developmental or disease processes.  
Changes in one or a few genes might lead to the discovery of individual 
molecular targets for drug therapy.

Drawbacks to the application of microarray technologies to research 
problems include the expense of performing the experiments, and, in 
some cases, significant technical barriers to success.  It is the goal 
of this RFA to establish up to three Microarray Centers that will work 
together in a consortium arrangement to provide microarray reagents, 
services, advice, and training to the neuroscience community at a 
reasonable cost.

Objective and Scope:

NINDS and NIMH will use the U24 Resource-Related Research Projects – 
Cooperative Agreements funding mechanism to establish up to three 
Microarray Centers.  The Centers will serve as regional and national 
resources to the neuroscience community.  Each Center will be directed 
by a Principal Investigator (PI), and will receive guidance from NINDS 
and NIMH program staff to assist with identification and implementation 
of appropriate strategies and priorities.  Although the Centers may 
specialize with regard to equipment, expertise, and proprietary 
reagents, they will work closely together in a consortium arrangement.  
The efforts of the Centers will be coordinated, strategically and 
functionally, with the result that the Centers will function as a 
single, national resource.

Coordination of the Centers will be accomplished through close 
collaboration between the Center PIs, leadership and direction from 
NINDS and NIMH program staff, and oversight by a Steering Committee.  A 
Consortium Advisory Panel (CAP), composed of experts not affiliated 
with the Centers, will be formed.  The CAP will advise Center PIs and 
NINDS and NIMH program staff on the organization and operation of the 
microarray consortium.  The CAP will address long-term strategic issues 
and policies, and will also assist with the development of general 
guidelines for daily operations, including the acceptance/rejection of 
projects and prioritization of workload.

The Microarray Centers will provide services to NINDS-funded and NIMH-
funded investigators to support microarray analyses on the nervous 
system.  These services will include a broad spectrum of activities.  
In addition to providing commercial arrays, the Centers will produce 
arrays for use by the neuroscience community.  These arrays may be 
standard arrays designed by the Centers for general use, or they may be 
custom arrays suited to the needs of smaller groups of investigators.  
The Centers will run array experiments, including hybridization 
reactions, array reading, and data analyses.  The Centers will also 
advise and train the neuroscience community.  They will assist with 
experimental design, and advise on how best to obtain experimental 
results.  The Centers will train neuroscientists on the effective use 
of microarray experimental techniques, in an effort to disseminate 
expertise throughout the neuroscience community.  The services provided 
by the Centers will be on a fee-for-service basis.  Fees charged will 
recover product costs and service delivery costs.  Research and 
development costs for array production and development of best 
practices will not be recovered, except in specific cases where custom 
arrays are developed for limited uses.  A portion of the funding may be 
requested for equipment.  Applications in response to this RFA should 
include detailed plans for the advisory, training, research and 
development, and fee-for-service functions of the Centers.  Research 
projects associated with the Centers, including those of the PIs, are 
expected to have independent funding.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Program Income:

Fees charged by the Centers will constitute Program Income.  Program 
Income is gross income earned by the awardee that is directly generated 
by a supported activity or earned as a result of the award (see 45 CFR 
74.2 and 74.24 for additional information).  An estimate of the amount 
and source of Program Income that will be generated as a result of the 
award must be included on the Checklist Page of all competing and non-
competing continuation applications.  Net program income earned during 
a budget period must be reported on the annual Financial Status Report 
(FSR) (except for Program Income earned as a result of inventions, to 
which special rules apply).  Costs incident to the generation of 
Program Income may be deducted from gross income to determine Program 
Income to be reported on the FSR, provided that these costs have not 
been charged to the award. 

Program Income earned during the project period shall be retained by 
the award recipient and used in the following way:

The first $25,000 earned during a budget period is added to funds 
committed to the project or program, and used to further eligible 
project or program objectives;

Any amount over $25,000 earned during a budget period is to be deducted 
from the total project or program allowable costs in determining the 
net allowable costs on which the federal share of costs is based.  The 
NINDS and NIMH may offset a future award by this amount or reauthorize 
it for expenditure on a future award.

Biannual Meetings:

Center PIs and scientists, along with NINDS and NIMH program staff, 
will make up a Steering Committee that will meet twice annually at the 
NIH.  Applications in response to this RFA should include a request for 
funds to cover the expense of attending the biannual Steering Committee 
meetings in Bethesda, Maryland.

Data Sharing:

Genomic data from microarray analyses are useful for many purposes.  It 
is very important that the data generated from experiments supported by 
the Centers are shared with the broader scientific community.  The 
consortium of Centers will require data sharing by users of the 
Centers’ products and services.

The NINDS/NIMH Microarray Consortium (http://arrayconsortium.tgen.org) 
has developed and implemented a web portal for submission and review of 
projects and a data repository for the archiving and sharing of 
microarray data.  Applications in response to this RFA should include 
plans for the local handling of microarray data and for communication 
with the consortium web portal and data repository.

Terms and Conditions of Award:

These special Terms of award are in addition to and not in lieu of 
otherwise applicable OMB administrative guidelines, HHS Grant 
Administration Regulations at 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92, and other HHS, 
PHS, and NIH Grant Administration policy statements.

The administrative and funding instrument used for this program is a 
cooperative agreement (U24).  As described previously, the dominant 
role and prime responsibility for the activity resides with the 
awardee(s) for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and 
activities in carrying out the project will be shared among the 
awardees, NINDS and NIMH program staff, and the CAP.

1. Awardee Rights and Responsibilities

Awardees, as Center PIs, have primary responsibilities to define 
objectives and approaches, and to plan and conduct the activities of 
the Centers that they manage.  Awardees will collaborate with other 
Center PIs, and coordinate Center developmental and fee-for-service 
activities with those of the other Centers.  Each Center PI must agree 
to participate with NINDS and NIMH program staff and the CAP in 
coordinating the activities of the Centers, with the result that the 
Centers will function as a single consortium.  Although each Center 
will be independently funded and managed, the planning and 
implementation of Center activities will be done in a way to maximize 
the overall effectiveness of the consortium of Centers.

Each Center will maintain a log of Center usage by NINDS and NIMH 
grantees that records the products and services provided to the 
grantees, the fees charged for the products and services, and the 
institute (NINDS or NIMH) from which the grantee receives support.

Prior to each non-competing renewal of these awards, each Center will 
submit to the NIH a progress report that describes the activities and 
accomplishments of the Center for the preceding award period, and the 
goals to be accomplished during the renewal period.  The progress 
report will include the log of Center usage.  The contents of the 
progress report will be used by NINDS and NIMH program staff, along 
with other information, to determine the amount of funding the Center 
will receive for the renewal period.

Center PIs will attend, and participate in, biannual Steering Committee 
meetings at the NIH.  Awardees will be voting members of the Steering 
Committee, and will accept any modification, deletion, or addition of 
Center activities that is approved by the Steering Committee.

2. NINDS and NIMH Program Staff Responsibilities

NINDS and NIMH program staff, as Project Scientists, will have 
substantial scientific-programmatic involvement during conduct of this 
activity, through technical assistance, advice, and coordination above 
and beyond normal program stewardship for grants.

The NIH Project Scientists will have a single, combined vote on the 
Steering Committee, and will participate with the other members of the 
committee in planning the overall structure and strategy of the 
consortium of Centers.  Microarray technologies are evolving rapidly, 
and program staff will play an active role in assuring that Centers 
remain on the cutting edge of the research technologies.  This role 
will be carried out by assisting the Center PIs and the CAP with 
assessing the current state of the technologies and methodologies for 
gene expression profiling.

The Project Scientists will select and recruit the members of the CAP, 
who will each serve a five-year term.  The Project Scientists will also 
have the responsibility of replacing CAP members that choose to leave 
the CAP.  Project Scientists may, but are not required to, consult with 
Center PIs, CAP members, or other outside advisors when recruiting 
members of the CAP.

NINDS and NIMH program staff will determine the amount of support that 
will be awarded to each Center as a non-competing renewal.  The 
progress report received from each Center, along with other 
information, will be used to make this determination.  The criteria 
used for this decision will include, but not be limited to, Center 
production, customer satisfaction, and successful performance of the 
Center as a member of the consortium.

NINDS and NIMH program staff will assist with and facilitate the 
coordination and research efforts of the Centers, but will not direct 
these activities.

3. Collaborative Responsibilities

Consortium Advisory Panel

The CAP will be composed of between four and six experts not associated 
with the Centers.  This panel will provide oversight to the consortium, 
and advice to the Steering Committee and NIH.  CAP members will provide 
technical and operational advice concerning both long-term developments 
and day-to-day operations at the Centers.

The CAP members will choose a chairperson, who will coordinate 
communication among the members, and between the CAP, the Centers, and 
the Project Scientists.  The CAP members will not vote on the Steering 
Committee, but may be invited to attend Steering Committee meetings, if 
attendance would significantly facilitate Steering Committee business.

Periodically, at intervals determined by the Steering Committee, a 
formal request for advice on specific subjects will be submitted to the 
CAP.  The CAP will convene to consider and formulate opinions on the 
questions submitted to it.  NINDS and NIMH program staff will consider 
the opinions of the CAP with regard to overall consortium functioning, 
and the performance of individual Centers, when making determinations 
for renewal funding.

Steering Committee

A Steering Committee composed of the Center PIs, one additional manager 
or scientist from each Center, two NINDS Project Scientists, and one 
NIMH Project Scientist, will convene at the NIH twice annually.  Each 
year the Steering Committee will select a chairperson who will serve a 
one-year term.  The chairperson of the Steering Committee may not be a 
NINDS or NIMH Project Scientist.  Each Center will have one Steering 
Committee vote, and the NIH will have one Steering Committee vote.  In 
cases where members do not agree, any member may ask the chairperson to 
solicit a vote.  In order for a decision or course of action to be 
finalized by the Steering Committee, a majority of the possible votes 
must be cast in favor of the decision or course of action.

The Steering Committee will be the main governing board of the 
consortium of Microarray Centers.  The committee may take actions, 
deemed appropriate by vote of the members when necessary, to facilitate 
the functioning of the consortium.  Such actions might include, but are 
not limited to, formation of sub-committees, consultations with outside 
persons, and specialization of the Centers.

Awardees will be required to accept and implement the common protocol 
and procedures approved by the Steering Committee.

4. Arbitration

Any disagreement that may arise on scientific/programmatic matters 
(within the scope of the award) between award recipients and the NINDS 
or the NIMH may be brought to arbitration.  An arbitration panel will 
be composed of three members – one chosen by the Steering Committee 
(with NIH not voting) or by the individual awardee in the event of an 
individual disagreement, a second member selected by the NINDS and 
NIMH, and the third member selected by the two prior selected members.  
This special arbitration procedure in no way affects the awardee’s 
right to appeal an adverse action that is otherwise appealable in 
accordance with the PHS regulations at 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart D and 
HHS regulation at 45 CFR Part 16.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

The administrative and funding instrument to be used for this program 
will be the NIH Resource-Related Research Projects – Cooperative 
Agreements award mechanism (U24), an “assistance” mechanism in which 
substantial NIH scientific and/or programmatic involvement with the 
awardee is anticipated during performance of the activity.  Under the 
cooperative agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and/or stimulate 
the recipient’s activity by involvement in and otherwise working 
jointly with the award recipient in a partner role, but it is not to 
assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the 
activity, as described under the section "Cooperative Agreement Terms 
and Conditions of Award."

The total project period for an application submitted in response to 
this RFA may not exceed five years.  At this time, NINDS and NIMH have 
not determined whether or how this solicitation will be continued 
beyond the present RFA.  The anticipated award date is June 1, 2005.

This RFA uses just-in-time concepts.  It does not use the modular 
budgeting format. 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm).  

FUNDS AVAILABLE 
 
NINDS and NIMH intend to commit up to $3.8 million in total costs to 
fund up to three successful applications in FY 2005 in response to this 
RFA.  Applicants may request up to five years of support.  Although the 
financial plans of NINDS and NIMH provide support for this program, 
awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of 
funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious 
applications. 
 
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS
 
You may submit an application if your institution has any of the 
following characteristics:
   
o For-profit or non-profit organizations 
o Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges,             
hospitals, and laboratories 
o Units of State and local governments
o Eligible agencies of the federal government  
o Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. 
 
INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS   

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to 
carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their 
institution to develop an application for support.  Individuals from 
underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with 
disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs.   

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity 
to answer questions from potential applicants.  Inquiries may fall into 
three areas:  scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants 
management issues:

Direct inquiries regarding scientific and other application-related 
issues, and inquiries specific to NINDS to:

Thomas Miller, Ph.D.
Technology Development
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 2139
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel: 301-496-1779
Fax: 301-402-1501
Email: tm208y@nih.gov

Direct inquiries specific to NIMH to:

Steven O. Moldin, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience & Basic Behavioral Science
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 7191, MSC 9643
Bethesda, MD 20892-9643
Tel: 301-443-2037
Fax: 301-443-9890
Email: smoldin@mail.nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding review issues to:

Alan L. Willard, Ph.D.
Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 3201
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel: 301-496-9223
Fax: 301-402-0182
Email: aw135y@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Denise E. Chatman
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 3269
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel:  301-496-3993
Fax:  301-402-0219
Email: dc55g@nih.gov

LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that 
includes the following information:

o Descriptive title of the proposed research
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel 
o Participating institutions
o Number and title of this RFA 

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does 
not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information 
that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review 
workload and plan the review.
 
The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning 
of this document.  The letter of intent should be sent to:

Thomas Miller, Ph.D.
Technology Development
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 2139
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel: 301-496-1779
Fax: 301-402-1501
Email: tm208y@nih.gov

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant 
application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).  Applications must 
have a DUN and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 
number as the Universal Identifier when applying for Federal grants or 
cooperative agreements.  The DUNS number can be obtained by calling 
(866) 705-5711 or through the web site at 
http://www.dunandbradstreet.com/.  The DUNS number should be entered on 
line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form.  The PHS 398 document is 
available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in 
an interactive format.  For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, 
Telephone (301) 435-0714, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
 
USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 
5/2001) application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page 
of the application.  Type the RFA number on the label.  Failure to use 
this label could result in delayed processing of the application such 
that it may not reach the review committee in time for review.  In 
addition, the RFA title and number must be typed on line 2 of the face 
page of the application form and the YES box must be marked.  The RFA 
label is also available at: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/labels.pdf.
 
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten 
original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed, 
photocopies, in one package to:
 
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD  20892-7710
Bethesda, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)
 
At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and 
all copies of the appendix material must be sent to:

Alan L. Willard, Ph.D.
Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 3201
Bethesda, MD 20892
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Tel: 301-496-9223
Fax: 301-402-0182
Email: aw135y@nih.gov
 
APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received on or before the 
application receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA.  If an 
application is received after that date, it will be returned to the 
applicant without review. 

Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an 
application, applicants are generally notified of the review and 
funding assignment within 8 weeks.
 
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application 
in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently 
pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending 
application.  However, when a previously unfunded application, 
originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be 
submitted in response to an RFA, it is to be prepared as a NEW 
application.  That is, the application for the RFA must not include an 
introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the text 
must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded 
version of the application.  

PEER REVIEW PROCESS  
 
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR 
and responsiveness by NINDS. Incomplete applications will not be 
reviewed.  If the application is not responsive to the RFA, it will not 
be reviewed.

Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be 
evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer 
review group convened by NINDS in accordance with the review criteria 
stated below.  As part of the initial merit review, all applications 
will:

o Undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the 
highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications 
under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score
o Receive a written critique
o Receive a second level review by the National Advisory Neurological 
Disorders And Stroke Council and the National Advisory Mental Health 
Council. 
 
REVIEW CRITERIA

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of 
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health.  
In the written comments, reviewers will be asked to evaluate the 
application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research 
will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals.  The 
scientific review group will address and consider each of the following 
criteria in assigning the application’s overall score, weighting them 
as appropriate for each application. 

o Significance 
o Approach 
o Innovation
o Investigator
o Environment
  
   The application does not need to be strong in all categories to be 
judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high 
priority score.  For example, an investigator may propose to carry out 
important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to 
move a field forward.

SIGNIFICANCE: Does this study address an important problem?  If the 
aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be 
advanced?  What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or 
methods that drive this field?

APPROACH: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses 
adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of 
the project?  Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas 
and consider alternative tactics?

INNOVATION: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or 
methods?  Are the aims original and innovative?  Does the project 
challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or 
technologies?

INVESTIGATOR: Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited 
to carry out this work?  Is the work proposed appropriate to the 
experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers 
(if any)?

ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be 
done contribute to the probability of success?  Do the proposed 
experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific 
environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements?  Is there 
evidence of institutional support?  

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, the 
following items will be considered in the determination of scientific 
merit and the priority score:

o The adequacy of the proposed plan to provide advice and training to 
the neuroscience community.

o The adequacy of the proposed fee-for-service plan, including 
administration and funds management

CARE AND USE OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN RESEARCH: If vertebrate animals 
are to be used in the project, the five items described under Section f 
of the PHS 398 research grant application instructions (rev. 5/2001) 
will be assessed.  

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Sharing Research Data

Applicants requesting more than $500,000 in direct costs in any year of 
the proposed research must include a data sharing plan in their 
application.  The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the 
rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the 
reviewers.  However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data 
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or priority 
score.  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/

BUDGET:  The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested 
period of support in relation to the proposed research.

RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: July 12, 2004
Application Receipt Date: August 9, 2004
Peer Review Date: November 2004
Council Review: February 2005
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: June 1, 2005

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review)
o Availability of funds
o Programmatic priorities, and program balance
o Geographic balance
 
REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS 

SHARING RESEARCH DATA: Investigators submitting an NIH application 
seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are 
expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not 
possible. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing  
Investigators should seek guidance from their institutions, on issues 
related to institutional policies, local IRB rules, as well as local, 
state and federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy Rule. 
Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the 
plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority 
score.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT: 
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been 
revised to provide public access to research data through the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) under some circumstances.  Data that are (1) 
first produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with 
Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency 
in support of an action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a 
regulation) may be accessed through FOIA.  It is important for 
applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment.  NIH has 
provided guidance at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.

URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and 
proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page 
limitations.  Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, 
Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information 
necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to 
view the Internet sites.  Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their 
anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010: The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to 
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of 
"Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority 
areas.  This RFA is related to one or more of the priority areas.  
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at 
http://www.healthypeople.gov/.

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject 
to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 
or Health Systems Agency review.  Awards are made under the 
authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act 
as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 
and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.  All awards are subject to the terms and 
conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the 
NIH Grants Policy Statement.  The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be 
found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and discourage the use of all tobacco products.  In 
addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits 
smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a 
facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, 
health care, or early childhood development services are provided to 
children.  This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and 
advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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