Recovery Act Limited Competition: Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15)

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act or ARRA) on February 17, 2009. This unprecedented effort aims to stimulate our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and address multiple challenges so our country can thrive.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is among the initiatives being offered by the NIH and by individual Institutes, including the NICHD, and Centers to help fulfill the goals of the ARRA by stimulating the economy through support of biomedical research.

The purpose of the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program is to stimulate research at educational institutions which provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of U.S. research scientists, but which have not been major recipients of NIH support previously. AREA Program grants create opportunities for scientists and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs so they, too, can contribute to the nation's biomedical and behavioral research effort. AREA Program grants are intended to support small-scale health-related research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible, domestic institutions.

Additional information about the Recovery Act FOAs and related NIH opportunities is available through the Office of Extramural Research at http://grants.nih.gov/recovery.

Areas of Scientific Priority for NICHD

The NICHD places priority on using Recovery Act funds for AREA projects in the following scientific areas:

• Developmental Biology and Perinatal Medicine
  Complex biological processes, which determine health and well-being, begin even before conception, and fetal and early childhood development set the stage for physical, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes throughout life. A major NICHD priority is to advance fundamental and clinical knowledge about maternal health and problems of child development. This research includes (but is not limited to):
• • Basic research on the biochemical, molecular biology, genetic, and cellular mechanisms of early development; contact: Tyl Hewitt, Ph.D., Chief, Developmental Biology, Genetics, and Teratology (DBGT) Branch, (301) 496-5543, hewittt@mail.nih.gov;
  • Biomedical, biobehavioral, clinical, and translational research to prevent or ameliorate intellectual and developmental disabilities, including (but not limited to) such conditions as intellectual disability, Fragile X, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and Down syndrome; contact: Melissa Parisi, M.D., Chief, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Branch, (301) 435-6880, parisima@mail.nih.gov; and
  • Basic, clinical, and translational research on maternal health, pregnancy, fetal well-being, labor and delivery, newborn screening, and the developing child; contact: Catherine Spong, M.D., Chief, Pregnancy and Perinatology (PP) Branch, (301) 435-6894, spongc@mail.nih.gov. 
• Maternal and Child Health
  To improve maternal and child health in the United States and worldwide, a major priority of the NICHD is to conduct research to address major areas. This research includes (but is not limited to): 
  • Basic, translational, and clinical research on serious threats to health and quality-of-life, including gestational diabetes, obesity and overweight, mechanisms of cognition and learning, growth retardation, HIV/AIDS, and other congenital infections and diseases; contact: Gilman Grave, M.D., Chief, Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Growth (ENG) Branch, (301) 496-5578, graveg@mail.nih.gov; contact: Lynne Mofenson, M.D., Chief, Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS (PAMA) Branch, (301) 435-6870, mofensol@mail.nih.gov; 
  • Applied research on the psychological, psychobiological, language, behavioral, and educational development of children; contact: Peggy McCardle, Ph.D. M.P.H., Chief, Child Development and Behavior (CDB) Branch, (301) 435-6863, mccardlp@mail.nih.gov; and
  • Advanced clinical research to understand the effects and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals on maternal and child health; contact: Anne Zajicek, M.D., Pharm. M.D., Acting Chief, Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology (OPP) Branch, (301) 435-6865, zajiceka@mail.nih. 
• Contraception, Reproduction, and Population Research
  Understanding reproductive health and biology for both men and women is crucial to improving health and quality-of-life around the world. Improved knowledge about human population dynamics is also essential to successful and sustainable communities. This research includes (but is not limited to): 
  • Basic and clinical research in reproductive health to ultimately improve diagnosis and treatment of reproductive health conditions, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, infertility, and pelvic floor and pain disorders, among others; contact: Louis DePaolo, Ph.D., Chief, Reproductive Sciences (RS) Branch, (301) 435-6970, ld38p@nih.gov;
  • Efforts to develop safe, effective, inexpensive, reversible, and acceptable contraceptive methods; contact: Trent Mackay, M.D., M.P.H, Chief, Contraception and Reproductive Health (CRH) Branch, (301) 435-6988, mackayt@mail.nih.gov; and
  • Studies to improve understanding of the causes and consequences of population size and distribution changes, including fertility, migration and immigration, population diversity, and family functioning contact: Rebecca Clark, Ph.D., Acting Chief, Demographic and Behavioral Sciences (DBS) Branch, (301) 496-1175, rclark@mail.nih.gov. 
• Medical Rehabilitation Research
  Medical rehabilitation research is essential to developing scientific and technical knowledge needed to enhance health, productivity, independence, and quality-of-life for people with disabilities. This research includes (but is not limited to):
  • Studies to elucidate the scientific underpinnings of clinical rehabilitation and to understand the mechanisms of recovery and adaptation; contact: Ralph Nitkin, Ph.D., Chief, Biological Sciences and Career Development (BSCD) Program, (301) 402-4206, nitkinr@mail.nih.gov;
  • Applying technological advances in engineering and bioengineering to improve the human-environment interface and to restore or enhance an individual’s functional capabilities through assistive technologies, such as prosthetics, wheelchairs, and biomechanical devices; contact: Louis Quatrano, Ph.D., Chief, Behavioral Sciences and Rehabilitation Technologies (BSRT) Program, (301) 402-4221, quatranol@mail.nih.gov; contact: Nancy Shinowara, Ph.D., Chief, Spinal Cord and Musculoskeletal Disorders and Assistive Devices (SMAD) Program, (301) 435-6838, shinowan@mail.nih.gov;
  • Basic and clinical research to understand the underlying mechanisms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and stroke, and to assess medical rehabilitation therapies and interventions for people with these conditions; contact: Beth Ansel, Ph.D., Chief, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Stroke Rehabilitation (TSR) Program, (301) 402-2242, anselb@mail.nih.gov; and
  • Research on pediatric critical care and rehabilitation to ultimately improve outcomes for children who are survivors of trauma, congenital anomalies, neonatal asphyxia, infections, septic shock, and other less common, but still devastating childhood injuries and illnesses; contact: Carol Nicholson, M.D., Chief, Pediatric Critical Care and Rehabilitation (PCCR) Program, (301) 435-6843, nicholca@mail.nih.gov. 

Funding Priorities for NICHD

The NICHD is interested in funding a wide-range of eligible institutions, from across the United States, in the areas noted above. If you are interested in applying for an AREA Grant in one of these specific scientific areas, please contact the Program Official listed for that subject in the Areas of Scientific Priority for the NICHD section above.

Key Dates

• Application Due Date: September 24, 2009
• Earliest Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2010
• For additional dates and deadlines, please see the RFA.

Contacts

For more information, contact:

Eugene Hayunga, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Extramural Policy
Office of the Director, NICHD
National Institutes of Health
Phone: (301) 435-6856
E-mail: ehayunga@mail.nih.gov

For more information about programs and activities aimed at women’s colleges/universities and degree-providing colleges and universities, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges, that have a traditionally high (more than 50 percent) minority student enrollment, please contact:

Regina Smith James, M.D.
Acting Director
Division of Special Populations, NICHD
National Institutes of Health
Phone: (301)-435-2692
E-mail: rjames@mail.nih.gov

For Financial or Grants Management questions, contact:

Bryan S. Clark, M.B.A.
Chief Grants Management Officer
Grants Management Branch, Office of the Director, NICHD
National Institutes of Health
Phone: (301) 435-6975
E-mail: clarkb1@mail.nih.gov