EXCELLENCE IN PARTNERSHIPS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, RESEARCH ON HEALTH 
DISPARITIES AND TRAINING (CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE – RESOURCE RELATED 
RESEARCH GRANTS)

RELEASE DATE:  February 21, 2003
 
RFA:  MD-03-001

National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD)
 (http://www.ncmhd.nih.gov/)

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER(S): 93.307

LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: March 28, 2003

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: April 22, 2003

THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o Purpose of this RFA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanism(s) of Support
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o Special Requirements
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE

The National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) 
invites applications for establishing Resource Related Research Grants 
(R24)under a continuing program for Project EXPORT: Centers of 
Excellence, Excellence in Partnerships for Community Outreach and 
Research on Disparities in Health and Training. This Centers of 
Excellence Program was authorized by the Minority Health and Health 
Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000 and is in support of the 
Department of Health and Human Services initiatives to address and 
ultimately eliminate health disparities.  These R24 grant applications 
will focus on the development of resources and infrastructure at some 
institutions as a prelude to initiating full-scale health disparities 
research, community outreach, and training. 

Two other announcements inviting applications for Project EXPORT using 
the (P60) Comprehensive Centers (RFA MD-03-003) and the (P20) 
Establishment of Exploratory Research Centers (RFA MD-03-002) award 
mechanisms are presently available. A comparison of the requirements for 
submitting, and the unique characteristics for R24, P20 and P60 
applications, can be found at http://www.ncmhd.nih.gov.

In FY 2002, several R24 applications were funded in response to a 
similar RFA: RFA-MD-02-001. Please note that a number of changes have 
been made in the application requirements for the current version of 
this R24 RFA. 

The purpose of a resource-related research grant (R24) under Project 
EXPORT is to augment and strengthen the institutional infrastructure and 
capacity to conduct research (basic, clinical, behavioral, and/or social 
sciences) aimed at addressing and ultimately eliminating health 
disparities.

The expectation is that following the 3 years of support for the 
developmental/planning phase the recipients of R24 awards will be 
positioned to compete for a P20 or P60 application.  Thus, an 
application for an R24 must describe a 3-year plan that will allow the 
applicant institution to compete successfully for a P20 (See 
RFA–MD-02-001) or P60 (See RFA-MD-03-001). Partnering with an institution
with on-going Health Disparities research is encouraged during this 
developmental/planning phase.

Accordingly, the objectives of an R24 application initiative are to 1) 
build research capacity for health disparities research in minority-
serving and other designated institutions; 2) promote the participation 
of health disparity groups in biomedical and behavioral research and 
prevention and intervention activities; and, 3) promote planning for the 
conduct of minority health and/or other health disparities research. 

The range of activities that may be supported by this Project EXPORT 
activity includes the acquisition of data and analyses necessary to 
clarify/refine research questions, the identification and development of 
collaborative resources, recruiting research expertise; development of a 
testable hypotheses and theories, and/or the framework to which the 
research will contribute.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS

The NCMHD will conduct one technical assistance and information-sharing 
workshop, in Washington, DC (March 27,2003). This workshop will allow 
applicants and NIH staff to discuss and clarify any issues or questions 
related to this application. 

Please inform NCMHD staff of the anticipated numbers of attendees by 
contacting Dr. Teresa Chapa via email (chapat@NCMHD.nih.gov), or by 
telephone (301-402-0050). To accommodate individuals who cannot attend, 
a summary workshop will be posted on the NCMHD home page at: 
http://www.ncmhd.nih.gov.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

The mission of the National Center on Minority Health and Health 
Disparities (NCMHD) is to promote minority health and to lead, 
coordinate, support, and assess the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately 
eliminate health disparities.  In this effort, the NCMHD supports basic, 
clinical, social, and behavioral research; promotes research 
infrastructure and training; fosters emerging programs; disseminates 
information; and, reaches out to minority and other health disparity 
communities.

Although the diversity of the population in contemporary America is one 
of its greatest assets, the richness of this feature is overshadowed by 
the reality of the disproportionate burden of disease and illness that 
is borne by racial and ethnic minority populations and the rural and 
urban poor.  Compelling evidence of the disparate health status of 
America's racial and ethnic minority populations and the economically 
disadvantaged is documented in the form of shorter life expectancies and 
higher rates of cancer, birth defects, infant mortality, asthma, 
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.  Other areas in which 
racial and ethnic minorities and the medically underserved suffer a 
disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality include: HIV 
Infection/AIDS, autoimmune diseases such as lupus and scleroderma, oral 
health, sexually transmitted diseases, disease burden associated with 
mental disorders, drug use associated mortality, and viral borne 
diseases such as hepatitis C.  While studies cannot delineate with 
certainty why health disparities exist, data suggests that differential 
incidences of disease and health outcomes result from the interaction of 
a plethora of factors in complex and unsuspecting ways.

Observations and anecdotes provide clues about the etiology of the 
disproportionate burden of disease and illness, but it has only been 
through rigorous population and epidemiologic research that the medical 
community has been able to reasonably discern the extent of the 
healthcare crisis.  We are now poised to more completely define the 
scope of the problem and begin the process of identifying and evaluating 
new approaches to mitigating disparities in health.  Clearly, the 
soundest investment that can be made for the present and immediate 
future is a strengthened commitment to research, research training, and 
enhanced community involvement aimed at elucidating the etiology of 
health disparities, developing new diagnostics and treatment and 
prevention strategies, and the full implementation of such.

Project EXPORT is central to NCMHD's investment strategy for addressing 
disparities in health status.  Consistent with the goals of the trans-
NIH Strategic Plan, EXPORT Centers will focus on research aimed at 
reducing and eliminating health disparities, improving research 
capacity, and providing outreach and education.

In the first year of Project EXPORT Centers of Excellence Program, NCMHD 
supported the establishment of 6 Resource-Related Research Projects, (R-
24), 9 Exploratory Center Grants (P-20), and 11 (P-60) Comprehensive 
Center Grants.  This announcement is intended to expand the Centers of 
Excellence Program to include all geographic regions of the US and its 
territories and to ensure the establishment of centers that focus on 
disparities in health status for all health disparity populations, 
including African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian 
Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and 
other medically underserved populations (i.e., socioeconomically 
disadvantaged individuals in rural and urban areas).

Research Topics for Consideration

In developing the research question(s) to be considered, possible topics 
responsive to this RFA include, but are not limited to:

o   Interdisciplinary minority health and other health disparities 
research, including basic, clinical, behavioral and social 
sciences research to advance understanding of disease/disability 
development and progression. 

o   Research that improves approaches for diagnosis, prevention, and 
treatment.  

o   Potential pathways to disparities in health outcomes, 
environmental exposures, genetic variations and/or other 
underlying biological factors, ethnic and familial factors.

o   Developmental influences across the life span, specific health 
behaviors, and discrimination in health processes, psychosocial 
and socio-cultural influences, and socioeconomic (SES) related 
factors such as differential access to health care.  Health 
processes include the technical and interpersonal activities 
pertaining to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment that go 
on between patient and practitioner.

The research topics listed above are neither comprehensive, restrictive, 
nor in priority order.

Project EXPORT Developmental/Planning Activities. 
{Note that the planning phase for this R24 application requires detailed 
information on the functioning and proposed activities of the 
Administrative Core and the Advisory Committee. In order that external 
reviewers and NCMHD staff understand the proposed future research areas: 
a). Research questions, feasibility studies, pilot research directions, 
be sure to provide substantial detail(s) in the following component, b). 
Community Outreach and Information Dissemination Core, and c) Training 
or Mentoring activities}.
 
o   Administrative Core –- Mandatory -- 15-page maximum

The administrative core component plays a key role in the coordination 
and operation of the proposed EXPORT Center.  Through this core, the 
Center director provides substantive leadership as well as manages the 
administration of the budget.  This core should be described in 
sufficient detail to assure that all proposed components and related 
activities would function optimally and in an interactive, synergistic 
manner.  

o   Research Questions/Feasibility Studies/Pilot Research Component -- 
Mandatory -- 10-page maximum

The research questions/feasibility studies/pilot research component may 
include several proposed investigations under the direction of a 
component director. And overall, the projects within the component must 
be interrelated so that they collectively contribute to the goals of 
Project Export to a greater extent than if the projects were undertaken 
separately.  

The component should be thematic, highly focused, and interrelated areas 
of investigation. The descriptions of all proposed feasibility studies 
or pilot projects must be limited to 1 page each. This is in addition to 
the recommended 10-page maximum.

o   Community Outreach and Information Dissemination component --
Mandatory -- 15-page maximum

The mission of the Community Outreach and Information Dissemination 
Component is to integrate the EXPORT Centers into the local communities 
as a disease prevention and health and science education resource.  
Accordingly, there is a three-fold focus:  1) development and 
dissemination of culturally sensitive health information – directly 
related to the research of the Center or general health information 
presented in a culturally sensitive manner; 2) encouraging and equipping 
the community for potential participation in clinical studies and for 
partnering in the conduct of evidence based disease prevention and 
intervention activities; and 3) sponsorship of science education 
outreach activities (e.g., K-12 science programs with area middle 
schools and/or high schools).

Project EXPORT developmental grant applicants may create programs for 
disseminating evidence based minority health and health disparities 
research information as well as sponsor activities that encourage 
community participation in research either as study participants or 
equipping community based organizations for partnering in and/or 
conducting disease prevention and/or intervention activities.  In 
particular for information dissemination purposes, the audiences should 
include health care students and professionals, community based 
organizations and researchers at the host institution as well as 
investigators at other institutions.  Information transfer activities 
may include, but are not limited to activities such as training 
programs, short courses, telemedicine, presentations at professional 
meetings and publications. Information transfer refers specifically to 
activities that involve interactive exchanges between Project EXPORT 
staff and the community.

With respect to equipping health disparity communities to develop and 
manage culturally sensitive programs for educating their populations 
and/or participating in prevention and intervention activities, the 
focus could be on addressing risk factors for disease, chronic disease 
management, screening, prevention, and decision making with respect to 
available therapeutics.  Such activities may require a substantial 
portion of the first year for planning and development with actual 
implementation beginning near the second year and continuing in 
subsequent years.

The application should provide a clear description of the major goals 
and objectives and the methodology for accomplishing community outreach 
and information dissemination activities, which include health 
information dissemination and prevention and intervention activities.  
Issues of cultural sensitivity with regard to the intended audience 
should be addressed.  The items below reiterate and/or expand the issues 
that must be addressed in the community outreach/information 
dissemination component.

   a.  The design, plans and procedures for developing the component, 
including time lines and a description of strategies proposed to 
accomplish specific aims of the project(s) should be described.  
Innovative aspects of the approach to be used should be highlighted.

   b.  The resources, facilities, agencies, and/or institutions with 
which the Center would work to plan, implement and conduct the proposed 
activities should be fully addressed.  Particular attention must be 
devoted to a description of necessary resources, including specialized 
expertise, and the target audience, or participants who will derive 
benefit from the activity.  If core facilities or services are utilized, 
information on their use should be provided.

o   Plans to evaluate the success and/or effectiveness of the proposed 
community outreach/information dissemination activity should be 
described, with emphasis on the impact of the proposed activities 
on knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors.

o   Training Component —- Mandatory —- 15-page maximum

Project EXPORT developmental activities are expected to provide 
mentoring for junior investigators by experienced researchers.  New and 
established mentoring and training initiatives should represent true 
collaborations that function across institutional boundaries. 

o   Minority Health and Health Disparity Education -- Optional -- 15-page 
maximum.

An educational component could focus on efforts to augment existing or 
create new curricula among partner institutions that would apprize and 
culturally sensitize undergraduates and post baccalaureate trainees in 
research, medicine, or public health of the need to reduce and eliminate 
disparities in health status among the nation's ethnic and racial 
minority groups and the medically underserved.  It is anticipated, 
however, that such efforts will later lead to institutional commitments 
to make these curricula an inherent component of their educational 
systems.

The educational component must identify a proposed director and describe 
all planned educational and/or developmental minority health and health 
disparity related curriculum activities. The description should include 
strategies and timelines, and innovative aspects of the approach to be 
used should be highlighted.  The direct cost of the educational activity 
must be well justified.  A description of the strategies to evaluate the 
planned curriculum development activities should be provided with 
emphasis on its anticipated impact on knowledge and attitudes.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the NIH Resource-Related Research project (R24) award 
mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, 
directing, and executing the proposed project.  This RFA is a one-time 
solicitation.  Future unsolicited, competing-continuation applications 
based on this project will compete with all investigator-initiated 
applications and will be reviewed according to NIH peer review 
procedures.  The anticipated award date is September 29, 2003.

This RFA uses just-in-time concepts.  It also uses the modular as well 
as the non-modular budgeting formats. SEE: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm  

Specifically, if you are submitting an application with direct costs in 
each year of $250,000 or less, use the modular format.  Otherwise follow 
the instructions for non-modular research grant applications.

Allowable Costs

Funds may be requested for personnel, such as faculty release time and 
support for a program director and staff; and consultant services, 
including external advisors and collaborators.  Requests for office 
equipment, office supplies, travel, and other expenses should be limited 
to those necessary for program development and should be carefully and 
specifically justified.  Support will be provided for pilot research 
projects, research infrastructure, or students.  All requested items 
must be related to needs for a 36-month planning activity.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The NCMHD intends to commit approximately 3.5 million in FY2003 to fund 
10 to 12 new grants in response to this RFA.  An applicant may request a 
project period of up to three years and a budget for direct costs of up 
to $275,000 per year.  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 NCMHD provide support for this program, awards 
pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and 
the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.  At this 
time, it is not known if this RFA will be reissued.
 
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS

You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the 
following characteristics:

o   Public or private institution (i.e. University, College, Hospital 
and/or laboratory).
o   Do not have a comprehensive P-60 or Exploratory Center(P-20) grant 
funded by other NIH Institutes and Centers.

Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

For-profit or non-profit state, local and faith-based organizations, and 
Tribal governments must partner with eligible institutions in order to 
participate in this RFA. Additional requirements pursuant to the statute 
that authorized this program can be found in the section SPECIAL 
REQUIREMENTS.

INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

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.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 

Definitions

The definitions below are intended to clarify concepts that are 
expressed in this RFA.

APPLICANT INSTITUTION:  The applicant institution is the entity at which 
the EXPORT Center will be physically and/or integrated into its 
administrative structure.  The Center Director must have his/her primary 
appointment at the applicant institution.

COLLABORATING INSTITUTION:  The collaborating institution is the 
institution with which the applicant institution has partnered.

PREDOMINANTLY MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION:  A predominantly minority 
serving institution is an academic, health care or research institution 
with an enrollment and/or faculty that consists predominantly of racial 
and ethnic minorities. 

DESIGNATED INSTITUTION:  Pursuant to Public Law 106-525, a designated 
institution is an intuition of higher learning that has a history of 
enrolling and graduating racial and ethnic minority and 
socioeconomically disadvantaged students from their degree programs.  
The recruitment of racial and ethnic minority faculty and staff is also 
a priority at such institutions. The recruitment of racial and ethnic 
minority faculty and staff is also a priority at such institutions.  

Operationally, a Designated Institution is one that has:

o   Been effective in assisting racial and ethnic minority and 
students from other health disparity groups to complete a 
program of study or training and receive the advanced degree 
involved.

o   Made significant efforts to recruit minority students to enroll 
in and graduate from the institution, which may include 
providing means-tested scholarships and other financial 
assistance as appropriate. AND

o   Made significant recruitment efforts to increase the number of 
minority or other members of health disparity populations 
serving in faculty or administrative positions at the 
institutions.

o   NON-DESIGNATED INSTITUTION:  A non-designated institution is 
considered as any institution of higher learning that does not 
have a record of recruiting racial and ethnic minority students 
nor graduating such students from their degree programs.  

o   HEALTH DISPARITY POPULATIONS:  African Americans, Alaskan 
Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, 
Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and other medically 
underserved populations, which includes socioeconomically 
disadvantaged individuals in rural and urban areas (P.L. 106-525).

o   PARTNERSHIP AND CONSORTIUM ARRANGEMENTS. When a grant 
application includes research activities that involve more than 
one institution it is considered a partnership or consortium 
effort, depending on the number of institutions involved.  Such 
activities are encouraged in Project Export, but it is 
imperative that such applications be prepared so that the 
programmatic, fiscal and administrative considerations are 
explained fully.  In addition, the Project EXPORT thematic 
science focus must be evident in the application.  Applicants 
should exercise care in preserving the interactions of the 
participants and the integration of the partnership or 
consortium project(s) with those of the primary applicant 
institution, because synergism and cohesiveness can be 
diminished when projects are located outside of the group where 
the administration of Project EXPORT is carried out. 

Applicants are encouraged to review the NIH policy and procedures to  
consortium agreements, which are published as part of the NIH Grants 
Policy Statement, Part III, available on the NIH homepage at: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2001/index.htm.

Questions may be directed to the fiscal contact below.

DEMOGRAPHIC GOALS

Project EXPORT has a grass-roots strategy with a focus on matching the 
needs of the community with the strengths of local institutions.  
Therefore, establishing EXPORT Centers within geographic areas with 
specific demographic characteristics is an important emphasis. 
Accordingly, an applicant institution and/or its collaborating partner 
must also have at least ONE of the following demographic 
characteristics:

o   Be located within a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) where the 
density of racial and ethnic minorities within the general 
population is equal to or exceeds:  19 percent for Hispanic 
Americans or African Americans respectively, 10 percent for Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders, or 2 percent for Native Americans 
and Alaskan Natives.  In addition, the overall poverty rate within 
the geographic region to be served by the center must equal or 
exceed the national average of 11.3 percent. (Overview of Race and 
Hispanic Origin, Census 2000 Brief, Elizabeth Grieco and Rachel 
Cassidy.
http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/poverty00/tabled.pdf

OR

o   Be located within or near a Health Professional Shortage Area 
(HPSA) or within an officially designated area of underservice.  
For the purposes of this announcement a United States Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) designated HSPA is a geographical area 
having fewer than the generally accepted minimum number of 
clinicians (physicians, dentists and mental health workers) per 
thousand.  A listing of the USDA fully medically served and 
underserved HSAs can be found at: http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/  

An underserved area is a geographical region with a calculated 
score of 62 or less on the IMU (Index of Medical Underservice 
Scale).  The IMU index is a weighted score derived from four 
criteria: ration of primary medical care physicians per 1,000 
population, infant mortality rate, percentage of population below 
the federal poverty level, and percentage of the population 65 
years and older: http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/

OR

o   Be located within a Department of Health and Human Service Region 
where the density of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives in the 
general population equals to or exceed 200,000.  There are ten 
DHHS regions: http://www.hhs.gov/about/regions.  American 
Indians and Alaska Natives generally reside in the greatest 
numbers in DHHS regions IV, VI, VIII, IX and X with the overall 
highest density in regions VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, 
Oklahoma, and Texas) and IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, 
Pacific Basin, and Guam). See: 
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet

Any institution that meets the above criteria may form a consortium with 
Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Tribal health programs or with 
non-designated institutions.  Non-designated institutions are 
institutions of higher learning that do not meet the criteria outlined 
above but which have substantial federal research support and/or 
research infrastructure as reflected in the report on research 
institutions: http://thecenter.ufl.edu/research_data.html.  For a 
listing of HBCUs and HSIs see the following website address: 
http://www.sciencewise.com/.  A listing of TCUs may be found at: 
http://www.humboldt.edu/~hsuitepp/college.html.

Note that while partnerships among designated institutions are strongly 
encouraged, involvement in a partnership is not an absolute requirement 
for participation in Project EXPORT.  Also note that pursuant to Public 
Law 106-525 designated institutions are intuitions of higher learning 
that have a history of enrolling and graduating racial and ethnic 
minority and other socioeconomically disadvantaged students from their 
degree programs.  The recruitment of racial and ethnic minority faculty 
and staff is also priority at such institutions.

Examples of Allowable Costs for Developmental Activities

o   Planning, evaluation, and community analysis activities

o   Costs for travel for key personnel, start-up packages for newly 
recruited investigators in areas for development and stabilization 
as well as costs to merge existing programs to identify new areas 
of opportunity.

o   Emerging partnerships, which includes support for workshops, 
seminars, retreats and other forums to strengthen, stabilize and 
consolidate interactions and cooperation between partnering 
institutions for the purpose of identifying new areas of 
opportunity and high priorities as the partnership evolves.

o   Feasibility studies, development of research questions, pilot 
research projects.

Other Special Requirements

Each Project EXPORT developmental activity application must include the 
following: 

o   Letters of commitment from the leadership of each partnering 
institution. The letters should indicate full support for this 
activity and specify what efforts will be made to ensure the 
success of these planning activities. Such efforts might include 
protected faculty time, provision to recruit new faculty, space 
and facilities for the proposed new projects/programs, capital 
improvements, etc.

o   Budget for an annual meeting in Bethesda, Maryland with NCMHD staff.

Projects/Cores/Components

The minimum acceptable combined number of mandatory cores and components 
is four, and the maximum acceptable number of cores and projects is 
five. Each proposal must include an Administrative core, a Research 
questions/feasibility studies/Pilot Research component, a Training 
component, and a Community Outreach and Dissemination component.

o   Organization/Administration and Administrative Core. A Project EXPORT 
developmental activity must be an identifiable organizational unit 
with an administrative structure and clear lines of authority that 
will facilitate coordination among Center personnel to assure maximum 
accountability and efficiency in Center operations.

OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Each exploratory EXPORT Center application must include and/or address 
the following:

o Program Advisory Committee, comprised of at least three to five 
scientists, with national scientific reputations in their field; their 
expertise must be directly relevant to the scientific theme of the 
Project EXPORT activity. The advisory committee responsibilities include 
concept development, program planning, encouraging faculty development 
and mentoring, identifying resources, and evaluating progress toward 
stated goals. The committee will also review and approve candidates for 
replacement/substitute projects and investigators as required, before 
such requests are forwarded to NCMHD.  The committee must meet at least 
twice per year and minutes are to be recorded and made available for 
review by NCMHD program staff responsible for Project EXPORT.

If a committee other than the Program Advisory Committee such as a 
proposed Program Executive Committee is included specific plans 
regarding committee selection and function should be provided in the 
application.  An Executive Committee usually consists of the heads of 
all cores, representatives from the partnering institution (if 
applicable), and appropriate business officials.  The function of such a 
committee would be to assist the Director and Co-director with decisions 
with respect to the allocation of funds, the identification and 
selection of key personnel, and the planning and execution of the center 
activities

o Planning/Evaluation. There must be a common planning and evaluation 
core shared between the partnering institutions.  This core will be 
responsible for planning and implementing internal processes (e.g., 
workshops and other forums to identify areas of new opportunity as well 
as for strengthening, establishing and merging existing 
projects/programs). Internal processes must also have an evaluation and 
prioritization process in place for reviewing internal proposals for 
Pilot and full projects/programs, recruitment of research associates, 
new investigators and establishment of resources and infrastructure on 
the basis of their merit and potential to contribute effectively to 
achieving high priority goals and objectives.  In cases where a single 
institution is the applicant, such a planning mechanism is also 
required.

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity 
to answer questions from potential applicants.  Inquiries may fall into 
two areas: scientific/research and financial or grants management 
issues:

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Tommy L. Broadwater, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Division of Research
and Training Activities,  NCMHD/NIH
6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800 MSC 5465
Bethesda, MD 20892-5465
TEL:   301-402-1366
FAX:   301-480-4049
EMAIL: broadwat@NCMHD.nih.gov

Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:

Mr. Bryan Clark 
Grants Management Officer, NCMHD
6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800, MSC 5465
Bethesda, MD 20892-5465 
Telephone: (301) 402-1366 
Fax: (301) 480-4049
Email: Clarkb@NCMHD.nih.gov

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that 
includes the following information:

o Descriptive title of the proposed research
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel
o Participating institutions
o Number and title of this RFA

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: 

Project EXPORT
Tommy L. Broadwater, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Division of Research
and Training Activities,  NCMHD/NIH
6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800 MSC 5465
Bethesda, MD 20892-5465
TEL:   301-402-1366
FAX:   301-480-4049
EMAIL: broadwat@od.nih.gov

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant 
application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).  The PHS 398 is 
available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html are 
to be used in applying for these grants.  For further assistance contact 
GrantsInfo, Telephone 301.435.0714, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 
5/2001) application form 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 sample 
RFA label available at: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf has been 
modified to allow for this change.  Please note this is in PDF format.

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: 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
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and 
five copies of any appendix material must be sent to:

Tommy L. Broadwater, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Division of Research
and Training Activities, NCMHD/NIH
6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800 MSC 5465
Bethesda, MD 20892-5465
TEL:   301-402-1366
FAX:   301-480-4049
EMAIL: broadwat@od.nih.gov

APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by the application 
receipt date listed in the heading of this RFA.  If an application is 
received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without 
review.
 
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application 
in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently 
pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending 
application.  The CSR will not accept any application that is 
essentially the same as one already reviewed.  This does not preclude 
the submission of substantial revisions of applications already 
reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction section 
that addresses the previous critique.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS  
 
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR 
and responsiveness by NCMHD.  Incomplete and/or non-responsive 
applications will be returned to the applicant without further 
consideration.  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 NCMHD in accordance with the review 
criteria stated below.  As part of the initial merit review, all 
applications will:

o Receive a written critique
o Undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the 
highest scientific merit, generally the top half of the applications 
under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score
o Receive a second level review by the NCMHD Advisory Council.

REVIEW CRITERIA

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of 
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. 
In the written comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the 
following aspects of your application in order to judge the likelihood  
that the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit 
of these goals:

o Significance
o Approach
o Innovation
o Investigator
o Environment

The scientific review group will address and consider each of these 
criteria in assigning your application's overall score, weighting them 
as appropriate for each application.  Your 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, you may 
propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative 
but is essential to move a field forward.

(1) SIGNIFICANCE: Does your study address an important problem?  If the 
aims of your application are achieved, how do they advance scientific 
knowledge?  What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or 
methods that drive this field?

(2) APPROACH: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and 
analyses adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the 
aims of the project?  Do you acknowledge potential problem areas and 
consider alternative tactics?

(3) INNOVATION: Does your project employ novel concepts, approaches or 
methods?  Are the aims original and innovative?  Does your project 
challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or 
technologies? 

(4) INVESTIGATOR: Are you appropriately trained and well-suited to carry 
out this work?  Is the work proposed appropriate to your experience 
level as the principal investigator and to that of other researchers (if 
any)?

(5) ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which your work will 
be done contribute to the probability of success?  Do the proposed 
experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific 
environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements?  Is there 
evidence of institutional support?

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, your 
application will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

o PROTECTIONS: The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, 
animals, or the environment, to the extent they may be adversely 
affected by the project proposed in the application.

o INCLUSION: 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.  Plans for the 
recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.  (See 
Inclusion Criteria included in the section on Federal Citations, below)

o DATA SHARING: The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data. 

o BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested 
period of support in relation to the proposed research.

OTHER REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, your 
application will also be reviewed with respect to the following: 

o   Feasibility and timeliness of the proposed plan, based on the 
mission, recent development history and current biomedical research 
capability of the applicant institution.

o   Adequacy of the planning process, including concept development and 
involvement of advisory resources.

o   Appropriateness of the organizational and administrative structure 
established to accomplish planning grant goals.

o   Qualifications, experience and commitment of the Program Director, 
and his/her ability to provide effective leadership in developing the 
institutional plan.

o   Appropriateness of the Advisory Committee and its role.

o   Adequacy of institutional commitment to the proposed activities and 
the pursuit of biomedical research in terms of P60 or P20 application 
after the development/planning grant ends.

o   Merit of the applicant's institutional plan for developing an 
enhanced biomedical research infrastructure.

o   Appropriateness and feasibility of plans to establish, enhance and/or 
maintain collaborative agreements with doctoral degree-granting 
institutions.

o   Strength of the evidence that the researchers and faculty of the 
partnering institutions worked closely together in the preparation of 
the application.

o   The degree to which the letters of support from senior faculty and/or 
institutional leaders were supportive of the planning activities.

o   As applicable, the adequacy of provisions made for day-to-day 
oversight, coordination, support and logistical services needed to 
make the collaboration successful.

Planning 
o   The adequacy of the different planning methods proposed by the 
institutions to fully explore areas of opportunity and to ensure 
highly interactive and integrated efforts between individual 
scientists (e.g., research project) and/or between faculty and 
scientists (e.g., training program, education program).

o   The appropriateness and adequacy of the specific faculty and 
scientists identified to contribute effectively to each aspect of 
this planning effort.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Administrative Core

o Adequacy of the administrative core to manage the overall planning 
activities.

o Appropriate justification for the core, including the duplication of 
existing resources or services and anticipated future use of the core.

o Qualifications of the Director of the Administrative core (if 
applicable), including the ability of the center director to provide the 
scientific an administrative leadership for the planning activities, 
strategies to promote scientific planning, interaction, implementation, 
and evaluation; and arrangement for the fiscal management of the grant.

o Proposed composition and function of the Executive Committee to 
support the proposed activities.

o The proposed composition and function of the external Advisory 
committee to support a proposed EXPORT Center.

Research Questions/Feasibility Studies/Pilot Projects

o The scientific merit of the concepts for the proposed research and the 
importance of the information sought to the mission of the NCMHD.

o The process for selecting the pilot/feasibility studies to be included 
in the planning activities.
o How well the proposed research areas address a minority health or 
health disparities topic.

o The innovativeness and promise of the proposed methods to be used in 
the conduct of research.

o The novelty or originality of the proposed research concepts. 

o The appropriateness and justification of the requested budget for the 
proposed planning activities.

o The qualifications of the investigator that will lead the initiative 
to develop the research questions and/or plan feasibility studies.  If 
required, areas in which investigators will be recruited.

o Adequacy of plans to identify and address ethical concerns related to 
conducting health disparities research.

Mentoring Component

o Evidence of a strong commitment to and plans to help foster and 
facilitate the research career development of junior faculty.

o The plans to facilitate and monitor the research career trajectory and 
productivity of participants at both members of the partner institution 
and where applicable at all members of a consortia.

o Qualifications of the investigator that will lead the planning 
activities for research mentoring component.

Community Outreach/Information Dissemination (Mandatory)

o Adequacy of plans for establishing, sustaining, and evaluating 
research-based prevention and intervention studies with targeted 
communities, if applicable.

o Adequacy of plans for K-12 science education outreach, if applicable.

o A plan for disseminating health disparities research findings to 
participants, community groups, and lay and professional audiences, if 
applicable.

o The qualifications of the leadership of the planning activities for 
research outreach and dissemination.

Overall Research Resource Related Developmental Activity 

o Evidence of collaborative and/or interdisciplinary research, and 
interdisciplinary approach of the Project EXPORT activity.

o Adequacy of the available resources and the quality of the research or 
training environment.

o The institutional commitment to the Project EXPORT planning activity 
in terms of space, resources, administrative authority, and other 
necessary support, e.g., donated faculty time, and the extent to which a 
proposed EXPORT Center would be recognized as a major element within the 
organizational structure of the institution.

o The plans for developmental activities, including recruitment and 
expansion, insofar as the proposed research and/or training program 
justifies these.

o The plans for the provision of protection of human subjects and the 
humane care of animals.

o Appropriateness of the requested budget for the work proposed.

o The adequacy of plans to include both genders, and if applicable, 
other health disparity groups, and children as appropriate for the 
scientific goals of the proposed research.  Plans for the recruitment 
and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.

RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  March 28, 2003
Application Receipt Date:  April 22, 2003
Peer Review Date:  July-August 2003
Council Review:  September 2003
Earliest Anticipated Start Date:  September 30, 2003

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review)
o Availability of funds
o Programmatic priorities.

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS 

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 AMENDMENT 
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in 
Clinical Research - Amended, October, 2001," published in the NIH Guide 
for Grants and Contracts on October 9, 2001 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a 
complete copy of the updated Guidelines are 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 RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN 
SUBJECTS: The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals 
under the age of 21) must be included in all human subjects research, 
conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and 
ethical reasons not to include them. This policy applies to all initial 
(Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998. 

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 that is available at 
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 proposals for research 
involving human subjects.  You will find this policy announcement in the 
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.

PUBLIC 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 public 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 RFA 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.

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 RFA 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: The authority for the centers of excellence 
program was provided in the statute that established the National Center 
on Minority Health and Health Disparities.  Pursuant to Section 485F of 
the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 
2000, ?The Director of the Center shall make awards of grants or 
contracts to designated biomedical and behavioral research 
institutions…for the purpose of assisting the institutions in supporting 
programs of excellence in biomedical and behavioral research training 
for individuals who are members of minority health disparity populations 
or other health disparity populations. It is not subject to the 
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health 
Systems Agency review.  Awards are made under authorization of Sections 
301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 
284) and administered under NIH grants policies described 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.

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