Title: Diabetes Research Centers (P30)
Announcement Type
This is a renewal of RFA-DK-04-007
which was previously released February 12, 2004.
Request For Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-DK-06-012
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.847
Key Dates
Release Date: April 7, 2006
Letters of Intent
Receipt Date(s): June 26, 2006
Application
Receipt Date(s): July 26, 2006
Peer Review Date(s):
Oct–Nov 2006
Council Review Date(s):
Feb 21-22, 2007
Earliest Anticipated
Start Date: April
01, 2007
Additional
Information To Be Available Date (Url Activation Date): N/A
Expiration Date:
July 27, 2006
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Additional Overview
Content
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Part I
Overview Information
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity
Description
1. Program Objectives
2. Center Structure and Activities
Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility
Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application and
Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application
Information
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt and Review and
Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of
Intent
B. Sending an Application to
the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements
Section V. Application Review
Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review
Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award
Dates
Section VI. Award Administration
Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
3. Reporting
Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information
- Required Federal Citations
Part II
- Full Text of Announcement
1. Program Objectives
The National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) invites applications for Diabetes Center grants to support research in diabetes mellitus and its complications, and
in related areas of endocrinology and metabolism.
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the United States is reaching epidemic proportions and accounts for a huge national burden of morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditures. The mission of the Diabetes Centers is to serve as a key component of the NIDDK supported research effort to develop new therapies and improve the health of Americans with diabetes and related endocrine and metabolic disorders. The Centers promote new discoveries and enhance scientific progress through support of cutting-edge basic and clinical research related to the etiology and complications of diabetes, with the goal of rapidly translating research findings into novel strategies for the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes and related conditions.
To accomplish this mission, the Diabetes Centers:
2. Center Structure and Activities
The NIDDK Diabetes Centers are part of an integrated program of research support designed to enhance multidisciplinary cutting-edge research in diabetes and in related areas of endocrinology and metabolism. Diabetes Centers are intended to improve the efficiency and collaborative nature of diabetes research by providing shared access to specialized technical resources and expertise. In addition, centers enhance translational research by providing a framework for fostering synergy between basic scientists and clinical investigators, with the goal of promoting rapid progress toward a treatment or cure for diabetes and its complications. Diabetes Endocrinology Research Centers (DERCs) support three primary research-related activities: (1) Biomedical Research Cores that provide resources to enhance the efficiency, productivity, and multidisciplinary nature of research in designated topic areas; (2) a Pilot and Feasibility Program designed to foster development of new investigators and to provide seed-support for innovative high-risk projects; and (3) an Enrichment Program to promote interdisciplinary interaction and training of investigators in areas of NIDDK interest. A Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC) provides all three elements of a DERC, with an additional focus on support for diabetes prevention and control research through dedicated cores and Pilot & Feasibility awards.
Institution and Research Base
A DERC or DRTC must be an identifiable unit within a single institution such as a university medical center, or within a consortium of cooperating institutions. In either case, Diabetes Center applications must be associated with an existing program of excellence in biomedical research in diabetes and in related areas of metabolism and endocrinology. Program excellence is measured through a consistent and outstanding record of productivity and peer-reviewed research funding in diabetes and related research areas. In the case of the DRTC, the research base must also include a substantial number of investigators with a proven track record of productivity and peer-reviewed funding in research focused on diabetes prevention and control. A high level of integration and close collaboration among center personnel from diverse scientific disciplines is an important feature of a successful Diabetes Center. Accordingly, the applicant should clearly state considerations for center membership with specific reference to the potential of members to form interactive, collaborative and synergistic relationships. Center applicants should identify one or more central themes or focus areas that link center investigators and their research programs.
Diabetes research often requires the use of specialized technologies and resources to support a cohesive research effort. The goal of the Diabetes Center program is to make state-of-the art technologies and resources readily accessible to a broad spectrum of investigators who are pursuing studies in relevant topic areas.
Administrative Core
Diabetes Center applications must include an administrative core that will be responsible for allocation and oversight of Center resources. The Administrative core will also be responsible for planning an enrichment program and for implementing a process for solicitation, review and selection of projects for the center Pilot and Feasibility Program. In addition, all Diabetes Centers will be required to maintain a center website, with the administrative core taking primary responsibility for its curation and oversight, as well as for ensuring proper and seamless integration of the center website with the NIDDK center program website. The Core Center Director should provide at least 10% effort on the Administrative Core and a total of 20% effort distributed among the Administrative and other components of the Center. One or more Associate Directors should be named who will be involved in the administrative, scientific, or training efforts of the center and who will serve as Acting Center Director in the absence of the Director.
Biomedical Resource Cores
Diabetes Centers are designed around cores that provide shared specialized technical resources and/or expertise that enhance the efficiency, productivity, and multidisciplinary nature of research performed by center-affiliated investigators. In a Diabetes Center, cores are intended to facilitate basic, clinical and translational research in diabetes, endocrinology and metabolic diseases in order to accomplish the stated goals of the individual center and of the NIDDK center program.
Each biomedical research core should provide state-of-the art services to multiple funded research projects. A Center may support research at a single or set of cooperating institutions through an Institutional Core, or may serve a wider scientific community on a geographic or national level through the establishment of a Regional/National Shared Resource Core. With a regional or national core, the center will service a specific research base that is expanded beyond investigators at the center-affiliated institution. In addition, Diabetes Center applicants may propose to share core services or functions with other centers in the Diabetes Center program in order to expand, enhance, or increase the cost-effectiveness of research activities at the center institution. Examples of biomedical cores that would be considered responsive to this Request for Applications include:
These cores are not listed in any particular order, nor do they represent a comprehensive list of possibilities. In responding to this RFA, applicants are encouraged to propose cores that address specific objectives based on the unique requirements of investigators at the applicant institution. Particular emphasis should be placed on services that support and foster interdisciplinary, integrated and translational approaches to research in Diabetes Center topic areas. Preference will be given to core support services that are not readily available or cost-effective when supplied from commercial sources, and techniques or technologies that may be technically challenging or require specialized expertise, equipment or infrastructure.
The need for core support from the Diabetes Center must be well justified, with clear documentation of a broad user base of NIDDK-funded investigators pursuing research activities in center topic areas. Participants in the Diabetes Center program are encouraged to become fully integrated into, and synergistic with, other NIDDK and NIH funded core centers within their institutional setting. This includes the clinical research homes being established by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards supported by the National Center for Research Resources (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-06-002.html) and other related NIH roadmap activities, existing NCRR-supported General Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs) at the institution (http://www.gcrconline.org/), and any related NIDDK funded center programs such as the Obesity/Nutrition Research Center Program (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/fund/other/centers.htm#Obesity-Nutrition#Obesity-Nutrition). Applicants should provide information on other programs supporting related resources at their institution and describe the nature of synergy and integration between the Diabetes Center and these other activities. Applicants must clearly describe how duplication or redundancies of effort, services and resources will be avoided.
Prevention and Control Core (P60 DRTC proposals)
Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC) proposals must direct a minimum of 20-25% of center direct costs to support dedicated core(s) and Pilot & Feasibility projects in topic areas related to diabetes prevention and control research. Prevention & Control (P&C) cores should focus on activities supporting research designed to enhance translation of research advances into clinical or community practice. Services should support research into identification of barriers to widespread adoption of new practices, and into development and testing of interventions to overcome these barriers under real world conditions. Prevention and Control Cores should address how they may support and foster activities pursued under other ongoing NIDDK translational research programs (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-153.html; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-060.html). In addition, applicants are encouraged to focus on underserved populations that may be disproportionately affected by diabetes. P&C cores will also be expected to establish a Prevention & Control webpage within the context of the center website that will be used to support networking to and from other P&C Core sites within the Diabetes Center Program. P&C Core directors should indicate willingness to facilitate adoption of a unified presence for P&C activities supported by the Diabetes Center Program at-large.
Pilot and Feasibility Program
The Diabetes Center Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) program provides seed support for new and innovative research projects directed at basic biomedical, clinical and translational research questions relevant to diabetes and its complications. To be considered a viable P&F program, the center must support a minimum of two pilot projects and direct no more than 30% of the center direct costs, exclusive of equipment, into P&F projects. In addition, DRTC applicants will be expected to include and provide for a substantial focus on prevention and control projects in the DRTC P&F program.
Funding and Duration of Support: It is anticipated that up to $50,000 in direct costs per year for up to two years will be provided for the majority of approved P&F projects. However, a limited number of proposals may be selected for support as enhanced P&F awards with prior NIDDK approval. Enhanced P&F awards will be selected from worthy proposals in the following three project categories: clinical and translational research awards, clinical and basic research innovative partnership awards, or technology research and development awards. These enhanced awards may be funded at up to $100,000 direct costs per year and for up to 3 years. Efforts to increase the number of P&F awards and availability of funds for the program through the use of program income or alternative funding sources are particularly encouraged.
Eligibility: The P&F program is particularly directed at new investigators and established investigators new to diabetes research. Established diabetes investigators pursuing high
impact/high risk projects or projects that are a significant departure from their usual work are also eligible for support under the Diabetes Center P&F program. P&F programs may also be structured to provide support for establishing interdisciplinary collaborations and to help forge new partnerships between basic scientists and clinical researchers. While the distribution of P&F funds to be used in each award category is ultimately at the discretion of the center P&F committee, it is expected that the center P&F program will, where possible, place particular emphasis on funding innovative clinical and translational research projects.
Enrichment Program
The Diabetes Center enrichment program should be designed to advance translational research in diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism and promote scientific exchange among investigators with research interests in these topic areas, and to enhance interactions between diabetes researchers and investigators from other fields with relevant expertise. The enrichment program can support activities such as seminars, guest speakers, visiting scientists, consultants, and workshops. Although funds are not provided directly for training purposes, applicants should describe any training opportunities afforded by the Diabetes Center for center participants, and document ways the center may facilitate, enhance or foster the institutional training environment. Specifically, center applicants should provide information on related NIDDK T32 programs at the center institution(s), and describe how the Diabetes Center will help to integrate, facilitate and enhance activities of T32 trainees. A letter from the PI of any related NIDDK-funded T32 at the center institution should be included that acknowledges and details how the PI of the T32 intends to promote cohesive interactions between the two programs.
Additional Features
Cooperation, Coordination and Integration: applicants from institutions with a General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/clinical/cr_gcrc.asp) are strongly encouraged to utilize the GCRC as a resource for enhancing clinical research programs within the Diabetes Center. In such a case, a letter of agreement from the GCRC program director or principal investigator should be included with the application. Similar plans for appropriate integration and synergy with programs supported under the new NCRR Clinical and Translational Science Award program (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-06-002.html) should be documented with appropriate letters of support provided. In addition, applicants should address the potential for integration, harmonization, and enhancement of Diabetes Center activities through cooperation with other NIH supported core facilities at the applicant institution. Other NIH-supported centers and associated cores at the institution should be identified, and assurances provided that overlap or redundancy in core services will be avoided unless expressly required to fulfill the mission of the Diabetes Center.
The Diabetes Center must provide support for enrichment activities to foster multidisciplinary approaches to diabetes research and to attract new investigators or investigators with relevant expertise to diabetes research. While many of these activities occur at the grantee institution, applicants are encouraged to suggest coordinated efforts, such as educational activities, that might operate on a regional or national level and involve multiple Diabetes Research Centers. The application should include a statement regarding willingness to participate in such activities.
The proposed budget should include travel for the Principal Investigator and Associate Center Director, or other key personnel, to attend an annual Diabetes Centers meeting. The application should include a statement of willingness to attend this annual meeting of Diabetes Research Center Directors.
Core access and Cost Recovery: core resources must precisely define issues regarding access to core services, including investigator eligibility requirements for services, and policies and procedures for prioritization of services when demand exceeds capacity. Financial considerations such as calculations that justify investment of funds in core services and policies for cost recovery from investigators for use of services should also be included.
Center Evolution: centers must document policies and procedures for ensuring continuing evolution of core services in response to changing needs. New technologies or services might appear that should be supported, existing technologies might become less important, or economic changes might obviate the need for core services, such as the availability of cost-effective commercial services or core services provided by the research institution. Cores should address the issue of allocation of resources to development of new technologies versus provision of services with existing technologies. In addition, cores must have well-defined policies to insure that intellectual property is identified and appropriately protected, but that IP issues do not impede sharing of resources.
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
This funding opportunity
will use the NIH
Core Centers Grant (P30) and NIH Comprehensive Center (P60) award mechanism(s).
As an applicant, you
will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed
project.
This funding opportunity
uses the just-in-time budget concepts. It also uses the non-modular budget
format described in the PHS 398 application instructions (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html).
A detailed categorical budget for the "Initial Budget Period" and the
"Entire Proposed Period of Support" is to be submitted with the
application.
2. Funds Available
The NIDDK intends to commit up to 5.5 million dollars in FY 2007 to fund 3 new and/or competing
continuation grants in response to this RFA. An applicant for a DERC may
request a project period of up to 5 years and a budget for direct costs up to
1.0 million dollars per year. An applicant
for a DRTC may request a project period of up to 5 years and a budget for direct
costs up to 1.25
million dollars
per year. These budget limits are exclusive of: (a) first year equipment
costs, (b) direct costs on subcontracts for the purpose of establishing
collaborations and providing access to the research infrastructure to
investigators at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), health
departments, community health centers or other agencies that focus on
underserved populations to foster health disparities research in populations
disproportionately affected by diabetes, and (c) F&A costs on consortium and
subcontract arrangements.
Because the nature and
scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is
anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. Although
the financial plans of the IC(s) provide support for this program, awards
pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of
funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Facilities and
administrative costs requested by consortium participants are not included in
the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.
Section
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
You may submit (an)
application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:
1.B. Eligible Individuals
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.
Because a
Diabetes Center has a large and complex administrative structure, the
principal investigator must have strong leadership abilities and demonstrated
proficiency in managing a large, multi-component project.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost-sharing or matching is
not required.
The most current Grants Policy Statement can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/nihgps_Part2.htm#matching_or_cost_sharing
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Research Base: successful Diabetes Center applications require an existing program of excellence in biomedical research in the
area of diabetes, its complications, and in related research in endocrine and
metabolic diseases. To justify Center support, the DERC or DRTC must serve a
large research base that has a consistent and outstanding record of NIH and
other peer-reviewed funding in Center-relevant areas. The research base
of the DRTC must also include investigators with an established track record of
productivity and funding support in prevention and control research that is
directed toward translating current diabetes research findings into clinical
and/or community practice. Suggestions for describing and presenting this research
base in the application are included in the Administrative Guidelines for NIDDK
Diabetes Research Centers (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/fund/other/guidelines.pdf).
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Information
The PHS 398 application
instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html
in an interactive format. Applicants must use the currently approved version of
the PHS 398. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301)
435-0714, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
Telecommunications for
the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-0088.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Applications must be
prepared using the most current PHS 398 research grant application instructions
and forms. Applications must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for Federal grants or
cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866)
705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com/us/.
The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398
form.
The title and number of this funding opportunity must
be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box
must be checked.
Page limits for the
narrative, non-tabular sections of proposals will be strictly enforced. These
limits will be 120 pages for the DERC (P30) proposals, and 140 pages for the
DRTC (P60) proposals. Failure to abide by these page limits will result in
return of the application without review.
3. Submission Dates and Times
Applications must be
received on or before the receipt date described below (Section
IV.3.A). Submission times N/A.
3.A.
Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
Letter of Intent Receipt
Date: June 26, 2006
Application
Receipt Date(s):
July 26, 2006
Peer Review Date(s): Oct - Nov 2006
Council Review
Date(s): Feb 21-22, 2007
Earliest
Anticipated Start Date: April 01, 2007
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
Prospective applicants
are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.
The letter of intent
is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning of this document.
The letter of intent
should be sent to:
Francisco O. Calvo, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707 Democracy
Boulevard, Rm. 752
Bethesda, MD
20892-5452
(for express/courier
service: Bethesda, MD 20817)
Telephone: (301)
594-8897
FAX: (301) 480-3505
Email: fc15y@nih.gov
3.B. Sending an
Application to the NIH
Applications must be
prepared using the research grant applications found in the PHS 398
instructions for preparing a research grant application. Submit a signed,
typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and
three 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 (U.S. Postal Service Express
or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service;
non-USPS service)
Personal deliveries of
applications are no longer permitted (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-040.html).
At the time of
submission, two additional copies of the application and all copies of the
appendix material must be sent to:
Francisco O. Calvo, Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707 Democracy
Boulevard, Rm. 752
Bethesda, MD
20892-5452
(for express/courier
service: Bethesda, MD 20817)
Telephone: (301)
594-8897
FAX: (301) 480-3505
Email: fc15y@nih.gov
Using the RFA Label: The RFA label available in
the PHS 398 application instructions must be affixed to the bottom of the face
page of the application. Type the RFA number on the label. Failure to use this
label could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may
not reach the review committee in time for review. In addition, the RFA title
and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and
the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/labels.pdf.
3.C. Application
Processing
Applications must be received on or before the
application receipt date(s) described above (Section IV.3.A.).
If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the
applicant without review. Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for
completeness by the CSR and responsiveness by the NIDDK. Incomplete and non-responsive
applications will not be reviewed.
The NIH will not
accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is
essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the
applicant withdraws the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded
application, originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is
to be submitted in response to a funding opportunity, it is to be prepared as a
NEW application. That is, the application for the funding opportunity must not
include an Introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the
text must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded
version of the application.
Information on the
status of an application should be checked by the Principal Investigator in the
eRA Commons at: https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This
initiative is not subject to intergovernmental
review.
5. Funding Restrictions
All NIH awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can
be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
Pre-Award Costs are
allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur
obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning
date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award if
such costs: are necessary to conduct the project, and would be allowable under
the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures
would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval
before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be
incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period
of a new or competing continuation award.
The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a
competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make
the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made
for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award
costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs
result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not
impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the
approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project.
See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.
6. Other Submission Requirements
The Research plan in Diabetes
Center applications (Items A-D; PHS 398) shall be limited to 120 (P30 DERC) or
140 (P60 DRTC) pages exclusive of form pages, tabular information and
appendices. Content and order of information to be provided should be presented
in the form and format as described in the Diabetes Center guidelines http://www.niddk.nih.gov/fund/other/guidelines.doc)
with adjustments as indicated in this RFA. An overview of the structure
of a responsive center application is provided below, with all non-formatted
pages that will be subject to the page limitations marked (*). Every
effort should be made to provide information in tabular or chart form where
indicated in the guidelines to facilitate application preparation and review. Failure
to comply with these instructions will result in return of the application
without review.
SECTION 1: OVERVIEW
SECTION 2: ADMINISTRATIVE COMPONENT
SECTION 3: BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH COMPONENT
For competing renewal applications include: Total number and titles of all P&F submissions received during the prior project period, selection process and funding success rate, single paragraph synopses of Pilot and Feasibility studies awarded during the last project period and productivity associated with each (publications, presentations, grant awards)*
Plan for Sharing
Research Data
The precise content of
the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and how
the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants who are planning to
share data may wish to describe briefly the expected schedule for data sharing,
the format of the final dataset, the documentation to be provided, whether or
not any analytic tools also will be provided, whether or not a data-sharing
agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such an agreement
(including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and whether or
not any conditions will be placed on their use), and the mode of data sharing
(e.g., under their own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data on their
institutional or personal website, through a data archive or enclave).
Investigators choosing to share under their own auspices may wish to enter into
a data-sharing agreement. References to data sharing may also be appropriate in
other sections of the application.
All applicants must
include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The data sharing
policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing.
All investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a
description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data
sharing is not possible.
The reasonableness of
the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
Sharing Research Resources
NIH policy requires that
grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for
research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community
after publication (NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm
and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any
related data sharing plans will be considered by Program staff of the funding
organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The
effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the
administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm).
See Section VI.3. Reporting.
Section
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Only the review criteria
described below will be considered in the review process.
The following will be
considered in making funding decisions:
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications that are
complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for scientific and
technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the NIDDK in accordance with the review
criteria stated below.
As part of the initial
merit review, all applications will:
The
goals of NIH supported research are to advance our understanding of biological
systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their
written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following
criteria in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have
a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will
be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as
appropriate for each application. Note that an 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, an investigator may
propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is
essential to move a field forward.
Significance: Does this study address an
important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will
scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect
of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services,
or preventative interventions that drive this field?
Approach: Are the conceptual or
clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well
integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the
applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
Innovation: Is the project original and
innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or
clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to
progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts,
approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?
Investigators: Are the investigators
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? Does the investigative team bring complementary and
integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?
Environment: Does the scientific
environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of
success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific
environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative
arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
2.A. Additional Review
Criteria:
The
following additional review considerations apply to all new and competing continuation
Diabetes Research Center Applications. Foremost, does the research base to
be supported by the center show evidence of a strong and consistent record of
productivity and peer-reviewed funding in center-related research areas? Do the
proposed cores fill a need present in the diabetes research community, and will
they provide services that would otherwise be unavailable to most laboratories,
or be more cost-effective to conduct centrally? Is the necessary
technical and analytical expertise available? Does the application
demonstrate ability to monitor use and utility of the cores, and provide
approaches to ensure continuing development and evolution of services as needs
of the community change? Do existing centers show clear evidence of successful
implementation of a charge-back structure to support expanded and/or evolving
center activities? Do new proposals document a clear intent to implement
a charge-back structure to support expanded and/or evolving center activities?
The following evaluation criteria will be used to assess the progress of competing continuation Diabetes Center applications. Competing applications should demonstrate productivity as following:
Research Base:
Biomedical Cores:
Pilot & Feasibility Program:
In
addition to the above criteria, the following items will continue to be
considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score:
Protection
of Human Subjects from Research Risk: The involvement of human subjects and protections from
research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be
assessed (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form
398).
Inclusion
of Women, Minorities and Children in Research: 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 will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects
will also be evaluated (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in
the PHS Form 398).
Care and
Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If vertebrate animals are to
be used in the project, the five items described under Section F of the PHS
Form 398 research grant application instructions will be assessed.
Biohazards: If materials or procedures
are proposed that are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the
environment, determine if the proposed protection is adequate.
2.B. Additional Review
Considerations
Budget: The reasonableness of the
proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed
research. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the
budget.
2.C. Sharing Research Data
Data Sharing Plan: The reasonableness of the
data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data
sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
The presence of a data sharing plan will be part of the terms and conditions of
the award. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data
sharing policy.
2.D. Sharing Research
Resources
NIH policy requires that
grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for
research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after
publication (See the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/part_ii_5.htm#availofrr
and http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/rt_guide_final.html).
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a sharing
research resources plan addressing how unique research resources will be shared
or explain why sharing is not possible.
Program staff will be
responsible for the administrative review of the plan for sharing research
resources.
The adequacy of the
resources sharing plan will be considered by Program staff of the funding
organization when making recommendations about funding applications. Program
staff may negotiate modifications of the data and resource sharing plans with
the awardee before recommending funding of an application. The final version of
the data and resource sharing plans negotiated by both will become a condition
of the award of the grant. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be
evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant
Progress Report (PHS 2590). See Section VI.3. Reporting.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Not applicable
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able
to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the NIH eRA Commons.
If
the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request
"just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details,
applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and
Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm).
A formal notification in the form of a Notice
of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA
signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all
administrative and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be
generated via email notification from the awarding component to the grantee
business official (designated in item 12 on the Application Face Page). If a
grantee is not email enabled, a hard copy of the NoA will be mailed to the
business official.
Selection of an application for award is not an
authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the
NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the
extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See Also Section
IV.5. Funding Restrictions.
2. Administrative and National
Policy Requirements
All NIH grant and
cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of
the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II:
Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm)
and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and
Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm).
3. Reporting
Awardees will be
required to submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, Form 2590
annually (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm)
and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Section VII. Agency Contacts
We
encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the
opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall
into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants
management issues:
1. Scientific/Research Contacts:
Kristin Abraham, Ph.D.
Division of Diabetes,
Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707 Democracy
Boulevard,
Rm. 795
Bethesda, MD 20892-5460
Telephone: (301)
451-8048
FAX: (301) 480-3503
Email: ka136s@nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Francisco O. Calvo,
Ph.D.
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases
6707 Democracy Boulevard,
Rm. 752
Bethesda, MD 20892-5452
Telephone: (301) 594-8897
FAX: (301) 480-3505
Email: fc15y@nih.gov
3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
Randi Freundlich, R.D.
Grants Management Specialist
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707
Democracy Boulevard, Rm. 723
Bethesda , MD
20892-5456
Telephone: (301)
594-8825
FAX: (301) 480-3504
Email: rf160d@nih.gov
Section
VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Use of Animals
in Research:
Recipients of PHS
support for activities involving live, vertebrate animals must comply with PHS
Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf)
as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm),
and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm)
as applicable.
Human Subjects
Protection:
Federal regulations (45CFR46) require that applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with
reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against
these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others,
and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Data and Safety
Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety
monitoring is required for all types of clinical trials, including physiologic
toxicity and dose-finding studies (phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II);
efficacy, effectiveness and comparative trials (Phase III). Monitoring should
be commensurate with risk. The establishment of data and safety monitoring
boards (DSMBs) is required for multi-site clinical trials involving
interventions that entail potential risks to the participants (NIH Policy for
Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing Research
Data:
Investigators submitting
an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year
are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not
possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing).
Investigators should seek guidance from their
institutions, on issues related to institutional policies and local IRB rules,
as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy
Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the
plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority score.
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 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 funding opportunity 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.
Sharing of Model
Organisms:
NIH is committed to
support efforts that encourage sharing of important research resources
including the sharing of model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm).
At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to
elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding
pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm).
All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning
with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the
application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will
permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public
funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a
cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications
where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
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
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is 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 Clinical Research:
The NIH maintains a
policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included
in all clinical research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are
scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.
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 (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 applications for research involving human subjects and
individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Human Embryonic Stem
Cells (hESC):
Criteria for federal
funding of research on hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp
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 (http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility
of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the
application as appropriate, 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.
NIH Public Access
Policy:
NIH-funded investigators
are requested to submit to the NIH manuscript submission (NIHMS) system (http://www.nihms.nih.gov) at PubMed Central
(PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript upon acceptance
for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or in part with
direct costs from NIH. The author's final manuscript is defined as the final
version accepted for journal publication, and includes all modifications from
the publishing peer review process.
NIH is requesting that
authors submit manuscripts resulting from 1) currently funded NIH research
projects or 2) previously supported NIH research projects if they are accepted
for publication on or after May 2, 2005. The NIH Public Access Policy applies
to all research grant and career development award mechanisms, cooperative
agreements, contracts, Institutional and Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein
National Research Service Awards, as well as NIH intramural research studies.
The Policy applies to peer-reviewed, original research publications that have
been supported in whole or in part with direct costs from NIH, but it does not
apply to book chapters, editorials, reviews, or conference proceedings.
Publications resulting from non-NIH-supported research projects should not be
submitted.
For more information
about the Policy or the submission process please visit the NIH Public Access
Policy Web site at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/ and
view the Policy or other Resources and Tools including the Authors' Manual (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/publicaccess_manual.htm).
Standards for Privacy
of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS) issued final modification to the "Standards for
Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information", the
"Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002 . The Privacy Rule is a federal
regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually identifiable health
information, and is administered and enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights
(OCR).
Decisions about applicability and implementation of
the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides information
on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set of decision
tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the impact of the
HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review, funding, and progress
monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and research contracts can be
found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
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 at http://www.cfda.gov/
and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive
Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the
authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as
amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost
principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The
NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
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.
Loan Repayment
Programs:
NIH encourages
applications for educational loan repayment from qualified health professionals
who have made a commitment to pursue a research career involving clinical,
pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health disparities related areas.
The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the
next generation of researchers by providing the means for developing a research
career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is
not required for eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications
are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing
the LRP recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP
awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week
based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research. For further
information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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