Clarifications Issued - January 2008

What changes can PIs make in response to the CTSA Funding Guidelines?

The recent constraints on funding have made it likely that individual CTSAs may have to pursue a more focused effort than had been originally proposed. Such concentration of effort in areas of institutional interest and expertise remains compatible with the broad based goals of the original RFA, given that the CTSAs, together with NCRR, operate as a consortium. Provided that they remain within scope of the individual award components of the CTSA, PIs may adjust the distribution of resources available to them to respond to such constraints, the emergence of novel opportunities and benchmarks of productivity as their program evolves. (View the Guidelines.)

How can CTSAs best interact with other NIH-funded centers?

NCRR funded infrastructure awards serve the needs of all NIH institutes and Centers, so CTSAs are encouraged to collaborate with other NIH-funded Centers programs. CTSA and other center programs should augment, rather than duplicate, other institutional resources and support. In cases where funds are determined to duplicate already-existing centers/resources, rebudgeting flexibility should be exercised under the provisions of the NIH Grants Policy Statement and within the conditions of the awarding program.