IC Directors' Meeting Highlights |
November 7, 2005
Discussion Items I. RICC Recommendations for Roadmap Initiative Life-cycle and Mid-course Progress Review Dr. Kleinman updated the group on the activities of the RICC and presented its recommendations on how to manage Roadmap initiative life cycles and multi-phase initiatives. She explained where we have been:
Then she summarized discussions at the 2005 Roadmap and NIH Leadership Budget retreats that:
After discussing the IC Directors' pre-meeting responses to the RICC recommendations, she presented a summary table of initiatives that propose phases and extend beyond FY 2009. IC Directors’ pre-meeting responses included:
IC Directors then discussed the proposed general approach for managing initiatives with multiple phases and supported RICC’s recommendations that:
A productive discussion followed. Dr. Collins raised a question about the implications of setting a funding time frame for large, cross-cutting initiatives that benefit all ICs. Dr. Nabel expressed her opinion that a limit should be set for such initiatives. Several IC Directors who are RICC members then gave their perspectives on the recommendations. Dr. Tabak noted the important issues that the above discussion raises but stressed that RICC members are committed to ensuring that the Roadmap cultural changes persist through the transition. He emphasized that the concept of trans-NIH accountability is critical to a successful transition. Dr. Katz agreed that these RICC mid-year planning recommendations were made early in the cycle meaning formal transition plans were not yet doable. He also raised the need to ensure that the academic health centers know and understand that this is a trans-NIH cultural change. Dr. Landis addressed the future issue that when the ICs do take on funding, the ICs must clearly communicate and be accountable to disease specific advocacy groups so they understand that these trans-NIH activities are beneficial to all and cost effective. Dr. Zerhouni concluded the group discussion by noting that this activity required all to be nimble in maintaining the critical balance between specific disease focus and mission and the basic ability of NIH to synergistically conduct and support the best transformational science. Dr. Kleinman ended her presentation by saying that the RICC will move ahead with caution and will regularly bring key issues and updates to the IC Directors. II. A Vision for Change: Integrating NIH Clinical Research Resources to Foster the Discipline of Clinical and Translational Science Dr. Alving discussed the ongoing reengineering of the early Roadmap effort in this area. In accord with the agreement that this effort should be truly transformative, the goals are to —
The C/D/Is are envisioned as encompassing the following functions:
RFAs, which will be published annually for the next several years, will first be published early this fall. Academic institutions may apply for either a planning grant ($150,000 direct costs) or a full Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA). Applications will be due in late March 2006 and, after review, grants will be funded in September 2006. The length of the awards will be 5 years. The funding plan for 2006 will be about $327 million covering both the GCRCs and the CTSAs. It is anticipated that the funding sources/plans for the CTSAs, which are anticipated at $488 million in the 2012 round, will come from converted GCRCs, base building, Roadmap, and other NCRR programs. The group then addressed future funding plans. Dr. Straus applauded the transforming vision but warns that we must find ways of folding GCRCs into this new plan. Dr. von Eschenbach noted that while this is part of the Roadmap effort and thus Roadmap funds will be available, it is important to consider the implications for the future NCRR budget. Dr Zerhouni noted that NCRR will work with GCRCs that don't apply for CTSAs immediately so that they have assistance in working toward CTSA funding. He thanked the group for this bold effort to transform the conduct of science. III. Conflict of Interest Update Dr. Zerhouni announced that later this morning the Conflict of Interest final regulations will be released and that they will be effective next Tuesday. He emphasized the three principles that had been paramount in adjusting the interim final rule:
Stressing that communication is critical and that he is committed to ensuring that employees and ICs have access to learning resources, he encouraged the Directors to suggest ways that we could most effectively serve employees in understanding the final rule. Dale Johnson cc: |
This page was last reviewed on September 27, 2006 . |
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