SCIENCE EDUCATION DRUG ABUSE PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Release Date:  March 23, 1999

PA NUMBER:  PAR-99-076

P.T.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

This program announcement replaces PAR-94-008, Science Education Drug Abuse
Partnership Award (SEDAPA), published in the NIH Guide, Vol. 22, No. 39, October
29, 1993.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the SEDAPA Program is to fund the development and evaluation of
innovative model programs and materials for enhancing knowledge and understanding
of neuroscience and the biology of drug abuse and addiction among K-12 students,
the general public, health care practitioners, and other groups.  The award
provides support for the formation of partnerships between scientists and
educators, media experts, community leaders, and other interested organizations
for the development and evaluation of programs and materials that will enhance
knowledge and understanding of science related to drug abuse. The intended focus
is on topics not well addressed in existing efforts by educational, community,
or media activities.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion
and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national
activity for setting priority areas.  This PA, Science Education Drug Abuse
Partnership Award, is related to the priority areas of alcohol and other drugs. 
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: 
Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 
20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Domestic organizations with a scientific and/or educational mission are eligible
to submit applications.  Such entities include colleges and universities, state
and local education agencies, professional societies, museums, research
laboratories, media producers, private foundations and industries, and other
public and private education-related organizations, for-profit or non-profit. 
Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are
encouraged to apply as principal investigators.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Awards under this PA will use the education projects (R25) grant mechanism. 
Because of the wide range of programs that may be proposed, it is anticipated
that the duration and size of awards may vary.  However, annual direct costs may
not exceed $250,000.  Indirect costs will be reimbursed at eight percent of total
allowable direct costs.

Conditions of Award

All publications, audiovisual materials and other products resulting from SEDAPA
activities supported entirely or in substantial part by NIH/NIDA should include
the following or comparable acknowledgement of support:

"This project was supported by a Science Education Drug Abuse Partnership Award
from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health."

An annual progress report must be filed with the Grants Management Office, NIDA,
and a final report is due within 90 days of the end of the project period. 
Reports should summarize the goals, methods, and results of the activity
undertaken.  It should be accompanied by at least two copies of any materials
intended for dissemination that were developed through the SEDAPA Program.

Any products derived from the project activity must be publicized and must be
freely available in the public domain.  Products may be distributed under a cost
recovery system.  Any project funded under the SEDAPA Program may not be used to
endorse or publicize any profit-making activities.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

In recent years there has been increasing awareness of the need to improve
efforts in science education in order to maintain U.S. competitiveness and meet
future demands in the international technology marketplace.  Furthermore, in
order for NIH to fulfill its mission, there is a need to ensure that adequate
numbers of students are entering science education tracks and eventually pursuing
careers in biomedical sciences.  It is also important to the mission of NIH that
other groups, such as the general public, health care workers, etc. are
scientifically literate.  This science literacy should not only include basic
science knowledge, but also an understanding of the process of biomedical
research and an ability to evaluate the quality of research studies that are
reported in the media.

It is particularly important to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) that
all members of society understand the role of science, biology, and technology
as they relate to neuroscience and drug abuse and addiction research.  There is
a lack of public understanding of behaviors that increase the risk for drug
abuse, the use of animals in drug abuse related behavioral and biomedical
research, and the necessity for basic research to make progress toward improving
health.  Furthermore, there is a substantial misunderstanding about the nature
of addiction as a biologically based brain disorder.  To address all of these
issues, it is imperative that efforts be made to educate our nation's school
children, the general public, health care workers, members of the judicial
system, the media, and other groups about the science of addiction.

Description of the Program.  To address the above issues, NIDA is continuing the
SEDAPA Program.  To address the goals of the SEDAPA Program, proposed science
education projects should be developed for one or more of the following groups:
1) students and teachers at the kindergarten through 12th grade levels; 2) the
general public; 3) health care practitioners; 4) members of the judicial system;
5) members of the media; and 6) other groups that have a need to be
scientifically literate.  Programs aimed at school children should convey the
scientific process in a way which makes learning science fun and interesting for
the students and which captures their enthusiasm for science.  Programs aimed at
other groups should be directed to increasing their knowledge of scientific
terms, concepts, reasoning, and their ability to understand scientific public
policy issues.  Regardless of the intended audience, all projects must involve
a partnership between scientists and educators, media experts, community leaders,
or other interested organizations.  To gain maximum benefit from the program,
priority will be given to projects that are innovative, that do not duplicate
existing programs, that have the potential to be replicated for widespread use
and that build on existing science education programs whenever possible.  Funding
will not be provided to maintain ongoing programs.  Programs which support
science education for the special needs of underrepresented groups are
encouraged.

Programmatic activities must propose to increase science literacy and
understanding among one or more of the groups listed above.  These activities
must focus on topics not well addressed through existing efforts by educational,
community, or media activities in the geographic area(s) which the program will
reach.  Wherever relevant and possible, activities must focus on conveying the
importance of the responsible use of animals in research.  Activities may
include, but are not limited to, the following types:

Provision of training, resources, and support for scientists to speak to
students, the general public, teachers, parents, health care practitioners, the
media or other audiences, such as at PTAs, in classrooms, at workshops for
teachers, the media, parents or students, etc.

Preparation and/or presentation of media programs on the science of drug abuse
and addiction.  These may include television, radio, motion pictures (including
videotape and videodisc), newspaper articles, magazine articles, books,
experiments, computer software, CD-ROMs, Internet sites, or other written,
electronic, or audiovisual presentations designed to educate about the biology
of drug abuse and addiction.

Preparation of programs in settings designed to educate the public about the
biology of drug abuse and addiction.  These may be in museums, shopping centers,
public buildings, schools, science fairs, or any other suitable place, which is
open to all or to a segment of the public.

Development of programs to provide innovative mentorships for students wishing
to learn more about science.  This activity may be in formal school settings or
may be in community settings.  The activity may provide for qualified persons who
serve as teachers, as resource persons, or as consultants.  Such activities might
include working with gifted and talented programs or setting university-based
programs for high school students with local school systems.

The description of the program must contain the following elements:

Specific goals to be achieved.

Activities to be completed, with discussion of how these activities can
accomplish the stated goals.

Why this is a model program or innovative project.

For those projects that focus on K-12 science education, how the project
incorporates the National Science Education Standards and how the project will
be incorporated into the classroom.  A copy of the National Science Education
Standards is available on the World Wide Web at
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/.

A clear demonstration of an education and scientific partnership(s) with a
description of the nature and extent of partnerships and collaborations to be
developed (or, for those already established, plans for expansion or
modification), and the roles of key participants in the planning and conduct of
the project.  Documentation of the interest and commitment of partnership members
to the project must be provided.

The administrative plan to organize and manage the overall project, and the
timetable for the various tasks and activities for the entire project period
requested.

How materials will be disseminated to a broad audience or how model programs may
be replicated, including to underrepresented groups in science, such as
minorities and women.

Plans for continuation of the project after the grant period has ended.

Assessments/evaluations for determining if the project is successful in achieving
its objectives.

The applicant institution's commitment to the SEDAPA Program, including a
discussion of 1)  the incentives that would be offered to individuals who elect
to participate, and 2) institutional resources that would be devoted to the
program.  Such incentives might include the awarding of sabbaticals, time
released from other duties, or special recognition to individuals to permit them
to participate in the program.  Institutional resources might include office and
workshop space, computer facilities, and administrative and technical services.

A statement of the applicant institution's capabilities and experiences which are
relevant to the stated goals.

Include names and qualifications of all relevant personnel, with biosketch forms
completed.

Identification of scientists and educational experts who would participate in the
development or delivery of the program of how suitable people for these tasks
will be located and recruited for the program.  Biosketches for identified
persons should be provided.  Types of scientists might include neuroscientists,
pharmacologists, physiologists, psychologists, chemists, biologists, clinicians,
and epidemiologists.

Letters stating their commitment to the project from agencies, groups, or persons
whose cooperation is important to the achievement of the stated purpose, such as
school officials, museum boards, television station directors, newspaper or
magazine editors, or community groups.  These should be in the appendix.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev.
4/98) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines as indicated in
the application kit.  Application kits are available at most institutional
offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural
Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge
Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email:
GrantsInfo@nih.gov.  Application kits also are available on the internet at: 
http://www.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm

The title and number of the program announcement must be typed on line 2 of the
face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and five signed photocopies in one package to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 þ MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical
merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by NIDA in accordance with the
standard NIH peer review procedures.  As part of the initial merit review, all
applications will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which only
those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top
half of applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority
score.  Those applications that receive a priority score may subsequently receive
a second level review by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse.

Review Criteria

As stated above, the purpose of the SEDAPA Program is to fund the development of
innovative model programs and materials for enhancing knowledge and understanding
of neuroscience and the biology of drug abuse and addiction among K-12 students,
the general public, health care practitioners, and other groups.  In the written
comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects of the
application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed project will have
a substantial impact on the pursuit of the program's goals.  Each of these
criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score,
weighting them as appropriate for each application.

Significance:  Does the project meet relevant science education goals?  Does the
project address currently unmet needs?  How will the proposed project advance
science and drug abuse education and literacy?  Does the project have the
potential for widespread dissemination or impact?

Approach:  Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately
developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project?  Is the
evaluation well developed and able to measure the impact of the project?  Is the
project feasible?  Does the project address the goals of the SEDAPA Program?  Are
the National Science Education Standards addressed for those projects that focus
on K-12 education?  Is the program likely to be continued after the grant funding
ends?  How well developed and feasible are the dissemination plans?

Innovation:  Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches, or methods?  Are
the aims original and innovative?  Does the project focus on topics not well
addressed through existing efforts by educational, community, or media activities
in the geographic area(s) which the program will reach?

Personnel:  Are the personnel appropriately trained and well suited to carry out
this project?  Is the proposed project appropriate to the experience level of the
key personnel and other participants (if any)?

Environment:  Does the environment in which the project will be done contribute
to the probability of success?  Have appropriate scientific-educational
partnerships been formed?  Is there adequate institutional commitment from
partnership members?  Does the proposed project take advantage of unique features
of the educational or scientific environment or employ useful collaborative
arrangements?  Is there evidence of institutional support? Are resources adequate
to conduct and complete the project?

In addition to the above criteria all applications will also be reviewed with
respect to the following:

The adequacy of plans to include both genders, minorities, and their subgroups
as appropriate for the goals of the project.
The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the
proposed project.
The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals, or the environment,
to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project proposed in the
application.
The adequacy of plans for including children as appropriate for the scientific
goals of the project.

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved
applications.  The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of
funds, and program priority.  Because of their under-representation among
scientists and the special needs of many minority group members, NIDA will give
priority to programs which seek to reach female and minority populations.  Also,
the inclusion of children, where appropriate, will be considered.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify issues or questions for
potential applicants is welcome.

Direct inquires regarding programmatic issues to:

Cathrine A. Sasek, Ph.D.
Office of Science Policy and Communications
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5226, MSC 9591
Bethesda, MD  20892-9591
Telephone:  (301) 443-6071
FAX:  (301) 443-6277
Email:  csasek@nih.gov

Direct inquires regarding fiscal matters to:

Gary Fleming, J.D., M.A.
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3131, MSC 9541
Bethesda, MD  20892-9541
FAX:  (301) 594-6847
Email:  gf6s@nih.gov

Direct inquires regarding review issues to:

Teresa Levitin, Ph.D.
Office of Extramural Program Review
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3158, MSC 9547
Bethesda, MD  20892-9547
Telephone:  (301) 443-2755
FAX:  (301) 443-0538
Email:  tl25u@nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
93.279.  Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act,
Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241
and 285) and are administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations
42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR part 74.  This program is not subject to the
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems
Agency review.

The Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all grant recipients to
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-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 the facility) in which
regular or routine education, library, day care, healthcare 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.

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