American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Package)

Recovery Act Limited Competition for NIH Grants: Core Centers for Supporting New Faculty Recruitment Enhancing Research Capacity in U.S. Academic Institutions (P30)

March 31, 2009

The Core Center Grants are institutional awards that provide funding to hire, enhance start-up packages, and develop pilot research projects for newly-independent investigators, with the goal of augmenting and expanding the institution's biomedical research efforts. Start-up packages can include supplies, equipment and support for technical personnel. Newly-independent investigators will be expected to develop pilot research projects that are chosen to complement and expand existing research activity at the institution. Such projects should enable these investigators to gather preliminary data, which can be used to prepare applications for independent research project grants. The institution will be expected to work with each newly-hired faculty member to develop a career development plan.

Areas of Scientific Priority

NIAMS accepts proposals related to its mission of research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, and the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research.

Funding Priorities

The NIAMS offers the P30 Core Center Grant program to enhance capacity in all areas relevant to the NIAMS mission by providing support for the hiring of new tenure-track faculty. Applications for the support of basic, translational and clinical research should specify the department(s) or center(s) in which this P30 capacity building will be focused. As described in the FOA, highest priority will be given to institutions that provide 1) institutional support concomitant with P30 support and 2) assurance that appropriate salary support, and other resources necessary for success, will be provided for newly hired individual(s) for two or more years following the termination of this P30 grant. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the NIAMS program officers to discuss application plans.

Recruitment plans and draft offer letters to prospective new faculty are subject to review by the NIAMS Program Contact to insure that they are consistent with the requirements and goals of this FOA. Priority will be given to applications that identify the new faculty to be appointed. Prospective faculty candidates must not be recipients of K99/R00 or K22 grant support.

Letter of Intent

Letters of Intent (LOI) are suggested prior to submission of an application. While the LOI is neither required nor binding, NIAMS strongly recommends that one be submitted. An LOI allows NIAMS to provide feedback as to responsiveness, and thus may save time and effort on the part of potential applicants. The LOI should be sent to:

Elijah Weisberg
Program Analyst
NIAMS/NIH/DHHS
6701 Democracy Blvd, Room 847
Bethesda, MD 20892-4872 (20817 if using an express courier)
Letters of Intent may be sent as a PDF attachment via e-mail to: weisberge@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-1002
Fax: 301-480-1284

Budget Guidance and Funds Available

NIAMS will accept up to two applications per institution or school.

Under most circumstances, NIAMS will give preference to applications requesting no more than $1,000,000 in direct costs.

Mechanisms for funding through ARRA are still in development, and thus the final distribution of the ARRA funds that are apportioned to NIAMS remains to be determined. Preliminarily, NIAMS anticipates that potentially $5,000,000 will be available for the ARRA P30 Research Capacity grants, but this may be adjusted according to the number of highly meritorious applications received.

Submission Instructions

Instructions for submission are as given in the NIH Notice. Please note the specific instructions related to allowable costs.

Key Dates

Release Date: March 30, 2009
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: April 29, 2009
Application Receipt Date: May 29, 2009
Peer Review Date: July 2009
Council Review Date: August 2009

Reporting Requirements

Funds provided by the Recovery Act are not "business as usual." Final guidance on reporting is still being developed. By submitting an application for ARRA funding, the PI and the institution are agreeing to abide by the reporting requirements, once released. Preliminary guidance can be obtained here.

Contact Information

See above for instructions for submission of LOI.

Scientific/Research Contact(s):

Joan McGowan, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Musculoskeletal Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 864
Bethesda, MD 20892-4872
Phone: 301-594-5055
Fax: 301-402-1284
E-Mail: NIAMShelp-FacultyP30@mail.nih.gov

For questions related to administrative or budgetary requirements, please contact:

Andrew Jones
Acting Chief Grants Management Officer
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 829
Bethesda, MD 20892-4872
Phone: (301) 435-0610
Fax: 301-480-5450
E-mail: jonesan@mail.nih.gov

For peer review questions, please contact:

Helen Lin, Ph.D.
Acting Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
6701 Democracy Boulevard, Room 814
Bethesda, MD 20892-4872
Phone: (301) 435-0610
Fax: 301-402-2406
E-mail: linh1@mail.nih.gov