NIDA SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

RELEASE DATE:  September 25, 2002

PA NUMBER:  PA-02-170 (see Notice of Inactivation NOT-DA-03-003)

EXPIRATION DATE:  September 30, 2005, unless reissued.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 
 (www.nida.nih.gov)

THIS PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT (PA) CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o Purpose of the PA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanism of Support 
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o Special Requirements 
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE OF THIS PA  

This announcement updates and replaces PAR-00-059, NIDA Small Grants Program, 
published in the NIH Guide for Contracts and Grants, February 10, 2000.  NIDA 
provides research support of up to $50,000 per year (direct costs) for up to two 
years in order to conduct research relevant to any area of NIDA's programmatic 
mission.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The small grants program accepts applications that fall within any of the 
scientific program interests of NIDA.  This includes a wide variety of 
biomedical, biobehavioral, clinical, health services, epidemiological, 
behavioral, and prevention research areas relevant to the study of drug abuse or 
addiction processes.  It is not necessary that drugs of abuse be studied 
directly or that drug abusing populations be included, but the relevance of the 
research to drug abuse or drug addiction should be clearly established in the 
application.  Potential investigators should contact the staff listed in the 
Inquiries section of this announcement in order to determine if their research 
is relevant to a NIDA program area. Applications not relevant to NIDA program 
areas will be returned without review. 

In addition to the scientific priorities of NIDA, program priorities under this 
small grants program include: 

1.  Newer, less experienced investigators.

2.  Investigators at institutions without well-developed research traditions and 
resources.

3.  More experienced investigators for exploratory studies, which represent a 
significant change in research direction for them.

4.  More experienced investigators for testing new methods or techniques.

Applications that fit one of these priority categories (1 through 4 above) 
should include an introductory paragraph in the research plan section of the 
application identifying which priority category is relevant and providing 
explicit justification for its applicability.  If the application does not fall 
into any of the priority categories, this should be stated.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This PA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) small grant (R03) award 
mechanism. Support may be requested for up to two years at $50,000 per year in 
direct costs, plus allowable indirect costs.  It is not renewable.  A no-cost 
extension of up to one year may be granted to the grantee institution prior to 
expiration of the project period.  Support for subsequent years may be requested 
through the regular research grant program.  All format specifications should be 
included in the PA.

This PA uses just-in-time concepts.  It also uses the modular budgeting format. 
(see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm).  

ELIGIBILE INSTITUTIONS

You may submit (an) application(s) 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 Domestic 
o Faith-based or community based organizations

Foreign institutions are not eligible for this award.  

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.   

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The award may not be renewed after an initial period of funding, which may be up 
to two years. 

Small grant support may not be used to supplement research projects already 
being supported or to provide interim support of projects under review by the 
Public Health Service.  Simultaneous submissions of both a small and regular 
research grant application on the same topic will not be accepted.  Small grant 
support may not be requested for thesis or dissertation research, except that 
certain types of dissertation research, as well as other special programmatic 
initiatives, use the R03 mechanism exclusively.  Information on those 
initiatives may be found at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/, then 
Funding/Opportunities.

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage your inquiries concerning this PA and welcome the opportunity to 
answer questions from potential applicants.  Inquiries may fall into two areas:  
scientific/research and financial or grants management issues:

o Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to:

Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research, MSC 9589
Kathleen Etz, Ph.D.
Telephone:  (301) 402-1749
E-mail:  ke25p@nih.gov

Division of Treatment Research and Development, MSC 9551
Jamie Biswas, Ph.D.
Telephone:  (301) 443-8096
E-mail: jb168r@nih.gov

Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, MSC 9555
Beth Babecki, MA
Telephone:  (301) 443-1887
E-mail:  mb128t@nih.gov

Center on AIDS and Other Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse, MSC 9593
Paul Coulis, Ph.D.
Telephone:  (301) 443-2105
E-mail:  pc58q@nih.gov

o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:

Gary Fleming, J.D., M.A.
Chief, Grants Management Branch, MSC 9541
Telephone:  (301) 443-6710
Email:  GF6S@NIH.GOV

The mailing address for above staff is:  National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6001 
Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application 
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).  The PHS 398 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.

The title and number of the program announcement must be typed in Section 2 on 
the face page of the application.

The application must be completed according to the instructions accompanying the 
form PHS 398, with two exceptions: (1) The narrative portion of the small grant 
application that describes the research plan (Items a-d) may not exceed 10 pages 
of text; and (2) An introductory paragraph to the research plan should identify 
which of the four priority categories listed in the beginning of this program 
announcement applies and provide an explanation of how that priority category 
applies, or a statement that the application does not fit one of the categories 
should be included. 

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES: Applications submitted in response to this program 
announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines, which are 
available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/dates.htm.  Application deadlines are 
also indicated in the PHS 398 application kit.

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODULAR GRANT APPLICATIONS: Applications requesting up 
to $50,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a modular grant format.  
The modular grant format simplifies the preparation of the budget in these 
applications by limiting the level of budgetary detail.  Applicants request 
direct costs in $25,000 modules.  Section C of the research grant application 
instructions for the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step-by-step 
guidance for preparing modular grants.  Additional information on modular grants 
is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: 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, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD  20892-7710
Bethesda, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by or mailed on or before 
the receipt dates described at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm.  The CSR will not 
accept any application in response to this PA that is essentially the same as 
one currently pending initial review unless the applicant withdraws the pending 
application.  The CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the 
same as one already reviewed.  This does not preclude the submission of a 
substantial revision of an application already reviewed, but such application 
must include an Introduction addressing the previous critique.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Applications submitted for this PA will be assigned on the basis of established 
PHS referral guidelines.  An appropriate scientific review group convened in 
accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures 
(http://www.csr.nih.gov/refrev.htm) will evaluate applications for scientific 
and technical merit.  

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

o Receive a written critique
o Undergo a selection 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
o Receive a second level review by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
	
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 discuss the following aspects of 
your application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research 
will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals: 

o Significance 
o Approach 
o Innovation
o Investigator
o Environment
  
The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria in 
assigning your application's overall score, weighting them as appropriate for 
each application.  Your 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, you may propose to carry out important work that 
by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

(1) 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?

(2) 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?

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

(4) 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)?

(5) 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, your application 
will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

PROTECTIONS:  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.

INCLUSION:  The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all 
racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the 
scientific goals of the research.  Plans for the recruitment and retention of 
subjects will also be evaluated. (See Inclusion Criteria included in the section 
on Federal Citations, below)

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

In applying the above criteria, reviewers take into consideration the
stage of scientific career development of the Principal Investigator and the 
purpose of the proposed research.  For example, some studies may not require 
extensive preliminary data, while pilot data may be appropriate for other 
studies.

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications submitted in response to a PA will compete for available funds with 
all other recommended applications.  The following will be considered in making 
funding decisions:  

o Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review
o Availability of funds 
o Relevance to program priorities

In addition, Institute staff will consider the reviewers' evaluation of the 
justification for the small grant priority category.  While this program 
announcement does not specially exclude applications that do not fall into one 
of the priority categories, applications that are in these areas will be given 
priority in funding.  Accordingly, applicants not designating a priority 
category are advised to consider applying for regular research grants or grants 
under other mechanisms even if they are requesting support that is within the 
small grant program dollar and time limits.

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS 

MONITORING PLAN AND DATA SAFETY AND MONITORING BOARD: Research components 
involving Phases I and II clinical trials must include provisions for assessment 
of patient eligibility and status, rigorous data management, quality assurance, 
and auditing procedures.  In addition, it is NIH policy that all clinical trials 
require data and safety monitoring, with the method and degree of monitoring 
being commensurate with the risks (NIH Policy for Data Safety and Monitoring, 
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, June 12, 1998: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).  

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH: It is the policy of the 
NIH that women and members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be 
included in all NIH-supported clinical research projects unless a clear and 
compelling justification is provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate 
with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This 
policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public 
Law 103-43).

All investigators proposing clinical research should read the AMENDMENT "NIH 
Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical 
Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts on October 9, 2001 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete 
copy of the updated Guidelines are available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.  
The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical 
research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB 
standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical 
trials consistent with the new PHS Form 398; and updated roles and 
responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community.  The policy 
continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all 
applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans 
to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender 
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) 
investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses, 
as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS: The 
NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) 
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the 
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This 
policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates 
after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion of children as participants in 
research involving human subjects that is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm. 

REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS: NIH policy 
requires education on the protection of human subject participants for all 
investigators submitting NIH proposals for research involving human subjects.  
You will find this policy announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.

HIV/AIDS COUNSELING AND TESTING POLICY FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE:  
Researchers funded by NIDA who are conducting research in community outreach 
settings, clinical, hospital settings, or clinical laboratories and have ongoing 
contact with clients at risk for HIV infection, are strongly encouraged to 
provide HIV risk reduction education and counseling.  HIV counseling should 
include offering HIV testing available on-site or by referral to other HIV 
testing services.  Persons at risk for HIV infection including injecting drug 
users, crack cocaine users, and sexually active drug users and their sexual 
partners.  For more information see 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-01-001.html.

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DRUG ABUSE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR THE 
ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS TO HUMAN SUBJECTS:  The National Advisory Council on 
Drug Abuse recognizes the importance of research involving the administration of 
drugs to human subjects and has developed guidelines relevant to such research.   
Potential applicants are encouraged to obtain and review these recommendations 
of Council before submitting an application that will administer compounds to 
human subjects.  The guidelines are available on NIDA's Home Page at 
www.nida.nih.gov under the Funding, or may be obtained by calling (301) 443-
2755.

HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (hESC): Criteria for federal funding of research on 
hESCs can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/stem_cells.htm and at  
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html.  Only 
research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem 
Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (see http://escr.nih.gov).   
It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the official NIH 
identifier(s)for the hESC line(s)to be used in the proposed research.  
Applications that do not provide this information will be returned without 
review. 

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.

Applicants may wish to place data collected under this PA in a public archive, 
which can provide protections for the data and manage the distribution for an 
indefinite period of time.  If so, the application should include a description 
of the archiving plan in the study design and include information about this in 
the budget justification section of the application. In addition, applicants 
should think about how to structure informed consent statements and other human 
subjects procedures given the potential for wider use of data collected under 
this award.

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 PA is 
related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a 
copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS: This program is described in the Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance No. 93.279, and is not subject to the intergovernmental 
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.  
Awards are made under authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health 
Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and administered under NIH grants 
policies described at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm and under 
Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.

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.

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