Full Text HD-94-012 ADOLESCENT MEDICINE HIV/AIDS RESEARCH NETWORK NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 7, February 18, 1994 RFA: HD-94-012 P.T. Keywords: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Health Resources and Services Administration Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 30, 1994 Application Receipt Date: May 13, 1994 PURPOSE The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), in responding to identified research needs in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and at risk adolescents (U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Adolescent Health- Volume I; Summary and Policy Options, OTA-H-468 (Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, April 1991)) and Public Law 103-43-- National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993, Title X, Subtitle D, Section 1031--Prospective Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health, invite applications for cooperative agreements to participate in a clinical network to plan and conduct research on the medical, biobehavioral, and psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS, including access to care and its utilization in adolescents infected with HIV through sexual or drug-taking behaviors. The network will initially focus on adolescents between ages 15 and 19 years and, as funding becomes available, expand to include adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 years. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Division of Services for Children with Special Needs (DSCSN), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will provide the funds to support clinical sites to (1) develop the comprehensive health care infrastructure necessary to support clinical research where such infrastructure does not exist and (2) develop and disseminate treatment and policy guidelines specific to HIV-infected adolescents. Applicants for the Basic Science Group should have research experience pertinent to the objectives delineated in this RFA. Applicants for the Clinical Science Group must provide health care services to HIV-infected adolescents. Furthermore, they must demonstrate the proven capacity to reach sufficient numbers of adolescents with HIV infection and provide comprehensive adolescent HIV-related health care and support services (Track A) or submit a plan to provide comprehensive adolescent HIV-related health care and support services in support of clinical research (Track B). In addition, applicants for either Track A or Track B in the Clinical Science Group must be willing and able to participate in a cooperative program of research and evaluation with other successful applicants. Applicants are encouraged, where appropriate, to apply as a consortium in order to satisfy site, service, and recruitment requirements. Existing and operational consortia are preferred to those convened around grant requirements. Consortia may apply in Track A or Track B. Track A consortium applicants must demonstrate the capacity for comprehensive health care services at each participating site; Track B consortium applicants must submit a plan for using limited Track B funds to provide comprehensive health care services in support of clinical research at all participating sites where such service does not exist. The network will consist of a Basic Science Group and a Clinical Science Group; applicants may apply for funding in either group component or both. Applicants to the Clinical Science Group must indicate Track A or Track B consideration. NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA also invite applications for a cooperative agreement with a Data and Operations Center for the Network. This Data and Operations Center will manage data from surveys, studies, and interventions at the funded sites, consult on and perform the appropriate statistical analyses of the data, maintain the communications link for the network, and support the activities of research planning, protocol design, and information dissemination. This center will be functionally independent of all research sites, although it could be physically located at one of them. The assistance mechanism used to support this research is the cooperative agreement, which is similar to a traditional research grant, but one in which NIH and HRSA scientific and program staff participate with study investigators as partners in the research effort. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This Request for Applications (RFA), Adolescent Medicine HIV/AIDS Research Network, is related to the priority areas of health and well-being of special population groups and HIV infection. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Minority investigators and women are encouraged to apply. It is expected that applicants for the Basic Science Group have research experience pertinent to the objectives of the network delineated in this RFA. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The administrative and funding instrument to be used for this program will be a cooperative agreement (U01), an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition" mechanism) in which substantial NIH and HRSA scientific and/or programmatic involvement with the awardee is anticipated during the performance of the activity. (PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS (OASH) 90-50,000 (rev. October 1, 1991). Under the cooperative agreement, the purpose of the NIH and HRSA is to support and/or stimulate the recipient's activity by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipient in a partner role, but it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activity. Specifically, members of the NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA scientific and program staff will cooperate with principal investigators as partners in the projects and serve as science collaborators or program managers. All parties will agree to accept the participatory and cooperative nature of the group process. Details of the responsibilities, relationship, and governance of the study to be funded under cooperative agreements are discussed later in this document under the section "Terms and Conditions of Award". The total project period for applications submitted in response to the present RFA may not exceed five years. The anticipated award date is September, 1994. At this time, NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA have not determined whether or how this solicitation will be continued beyond the present RFA. Awards and level of support depend on receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. FUNDS AVAILABLE NIAID funds available for the support of this program are $300,000 (total costs). The estimated NICHD funds available for support of the entire program in Phase I (consisting of six months for planning and base protocol/management guidelines development) and Phase II (consisting of the subsequent six months for protocol implementation and subject recruitment) during the first year are $2,400,000 (total costs). These funds will support the direct cost of activities of the Basic Science Group, the clinical research activities of the Clinical Science Group, and the operations/support activities of the Data and Operations Center. Direct costs are approximated as follows: (1) For all non-laboratory components of the Basic Science Group - $235,000 (direct costs) for 8-10 awards. (2) For the clinical research activities of the Clinical Science Group - $875,000 (direct costs) for 8-10 awards. This amount includes subject encounter costs for two visits of the base protocol in year one for all awardees in the Clinical Science Group. (3) For the data operations and support services of the Data and Operations Center - $450,000 (direct costs). (4) For the support of the virology laboratory that is part of the Basic Science Group - $120,000 (direct costs). (5) For the support of the immunology laboratory that is part of the Basic Science Group - $120,000 (direct costs). In addition, the estimated HRSA funds available for support of the Track B clinical sites in Phase II and the resource capacity of the clinical sites are $250,000 (total costs). It is expected that supplemental NIH funds will be added in future years to cover costs of full year research staff at clinical sites and special studies to be undertaken in the assembled cohort enrolled in the base protocol. Track B awards include additional HRSA money to support the health care infrastructure in augmented service delivery in support of the clinical research agenda of the Network. It is anticipated that 8-10 Basic Science Group including one virology laboratory and one immunology laboratory, 8-10 Clinical Science Group including two-three Track B sites, and one Data/Operations Center awards will be made. This level of support is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific and experiential merit. The number of awards and actual funds awarded depend on the overall scientific merit of the applications and the availability of funds. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background Through September 1993, 1,415 AIDS cases in adolescents (aged 13- 19 years) were reported to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although adolescents comprise less than one percent of all reported AIDS cases, the impact of HIV infection during adolescence is far more profound. First, the long incubation period between initial HIV infection and the development of AIDS-defining conditions suggests that the majority of AIDS cases in persons between 20 and 29 years of age, which constitute nearly 20 percent of all reported AIDS cases, can be attributed to infection as teenagers. Secondly, HIV infection, and to some extent AIDS cases under the new case definition, are not accurately estimated through reporting mechanisms because adolescents lack easy access to medical care for diagnosis. Many may actually succumb to competing causes of mortality (e.g., violence). Recent blinded HIV serosurveys indicate a range of estimates: from prevalence rates of 0.34 per 1000 in 17-19 year applicants to the military, 1.7 per 1000 in the users of student health services on selected college campuses, 3.9 per 1000 in Job Corps applicants, to 88 per 1000 in an urban homeless youth center. Of the groups affected by HIV, the U.S. adolescent population is the one in which basic biologic issues are the most poorly understood and the one in which therapeutic and clinical management trials have not been effectively initiated. At the present time, it is not known how HIV infection affects continuing development in those adolescents who have been infected through sexual or injecting drug use practices. It is not clear how age at infection influences the course of maturation nor is it clear how maturation might proceed in HIV+ adolescents with repeated HIV sexual exposure, sexually transmitted disease co-morbidity, and/or pregnancy. The heterosexual transmission of HIV is attaining increasing importance as a mode of HIV spread to uninfected individuals. This mode of HIV transmission is particularly important in the adolescent population due to the high prevalence of high-risk behaviors. The factors which modulate the heterosexual transmission of HIV have not been determined. However, it is likely that the replication of HIV at genital mucosal surfaces plays a major role in the likelihood of the occurrence of viral transmission following heterosexual exposure. Previous studies have documented the presence of HIV and antibodies in cervical and seminal secretions. However, the prevalence of these markers and the relationship to other microbial pathogens in the adolescent population has not been defined. The determination of the prevalence of specific markers of HIV infection is an important first step in defining the relationship between these markers and heterosexual transmission. Little is known about the normal range of many routine laboratory values during the steroid-mediated phase of growth and development, particularly in immunologic parameters. This deficiency makes the choice of precise and accurate clinical disease indicators problematic for adolescent subjects in trials. Research Goals and Scope: This initiative calls for a descriptive examination of the full spectrum of HIV disease and its behavioral manifestations in adolescents who have become infected with HIV through sex and drug-taking behaviors in order to identify and pursue HIV/AIDS- specific research agenda in the adolescent population between the ages of 15 and 19 years of age. Adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age may be incorporated in future potential expansions of the network. The ultimate goal of this project is to achieve a better understanding of HIV disease progression and co-morbidity in adolescents and thus improve health care management; this goal will be addressed through the enrollment of approximately 200 HIV-infected adolescents into a standardized base protocol to characterize population-based spectrum of disease, disease progression, and the effect of comorbidity with other sexually- transmitted diseases and pregnancy in the adolescent population; and the standardization and evaluation of health care services. A secondary goal involves the resolution of remaining questions related to HIV infection in adolescents through the development of special studies to be undertaken in the assembled cohort enrolled in the base protocol. These unresolved questions include, but are not limited to, the susceptibility, infectivity, and transmissibility of HIV in adolescents, particularly related to developing genital mucosa; the characterization of the variation in adolescent immune function; the identification of useful adolescent-specific clinical markers of HIV disease progression; the effect of HIV on adolescent neuropsychologic function and development; and the influence and effect of specific adolescent behavioral patterns on risk-taking and health-seeking activities. The network will also produce and evaluate clinical management guidelines for adolescent HIV infection that recognize the unique biological and behavioral features of this group. The network will assist member units in establishing an interface with adolescent-eligible clinical drug and vaccine trials through a variety of mechanisms that are appropriate to the clinical research issues facing the group and take in account particular issues facing adolescents. Cooperative agreements are sought to establish a research network and permit the conduct of a wide-ranging, multi-stage series of investigations that address one or more of the clinical facets of HIV infection in adolescents. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS The Adolescent Medicine HIV/AIDS Research Network will consist of two interactive groups, Basic Science and Clinical Science, managed by Steering and Executive Committees, supported by a Data and Operations Center, and advised by a Community Advisory Board. Organizational Components The Basic Science Group component will provide salary support to a group of scientists whose purpose is to set the scientific agenda for the Adolescent Medicine HIV/AIDS Research Network. The Basic Science Group will consist of one NICHD and one NIAID staff collaborator, 8-10 principal investigators who would include adolescent medicine specialist(s), immunologist(s), virologist(s), epidemiologist(s), endocrinologist(s), behavioralist(s), and other relevant disciplines with responsibility for setting the scientific agenda, refining the base study protocol, and developing substudy protocols to address the agenda and evaluation of the clinical management guidelines. Members of the Basic Science Group will participate in twice monthly conference calls during year 1 and attend two meetings per year: one specifically for the Basic Science Group and the other in conjunction with members of the Clinical Science Group and Community Advisory Board. Applications to become members of the Basic Science Group must include (1) documentation of clinical experience in adolescent health care or professional interest in adolescent issues; (2) record of published research relevant to adolescent health care issues; (3) submission of an original research module designed to further the adolescent HIV/AIDS research agenda. This research module may focus on any of the research areas listed in the Research Goals and Scope Section of this RFA or address unspecified research areas relevant to adolescent HIV infection that are consistent with the scope of this RFA. The Basic Science Group will hold its first meeting shortly after the grants are awarded. At that time, members will present briefly the research modules that formed the basis for their competitive awards. The purpose and scope of the cooperative agreement will be reviewed as will the current state of knowledge about the natural history of HIV infection in adolescents. The members of the Basic Science Group will prioritize the specific scientific goals and aims and construct a base study protocol that reflects these priorities and will address scientific questions concerning the natural history of HIV infection and disease in adolescents. Substudies that are also reflective of the research modules proposed by the Basic Science Group members and the overall goals of the cooperative agreement may be agreed upon at this time. Recognition that it will not be possible to implement all the research modules proposed for purposes of technical review is essential. Other limiting considerations will include: (1) studies that are feasible to undertake in the proposed research population; (2) the financial resources available to the Network; and (3) strategies that are likely to be most productive and cost-effective in addressing the research priorities of the Network. A format for pursuing special studies will be developed, implementation strategies will be discussed in preparation for interaction with the Clinical Science Group, and a timeline for submission to the Executive Committee will be drawn up. Laboratory support for the research network will consist of one AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG)- certified immunology laboratory and one ACTG certified virology laboratory; both funded to support specific study components. Investigators from these two sites will be included in the Basic Science Group. ACTG certification provides an established quality control evaluation. Applicants for these two reserved positions will be required to submit only a research module as outlined above for other members of the Basic Science Group (item 3 above) as well as documentation of research experience specific to their discipline. The Clinical Science Group component will provide salary and program support to clinical sites providing health care services to adolescent populations. The Clinical Science Group will consist of 8-10 principal investigators who are adolescent medicine specialists at clinical sites that can enroll at least 20 HIV-positive adolescents and 10 HIV-negative but high-risk adolescents, between the ages of 15 and 19 years, into the base study while providing comprehensive health care services through other funding mechanisms. Track A sites are those with established comprehensive health care services for adolescents through HRSA-funded Ryan White Care Act Title IV/Pediatric Demonstration Projects or other funding mechanisms; Track B sites are those sites with a well-developed and operationally-supported plan for the provision of comprehensive health care services, but require funding for its implementation. This comprehensive care infrastructure is necessary to support the clinical research agenda of this network. The Clinical Science Group will interact with the Basic Science Group and be responsible for the generation of clinical management guidelines, enrolling adolescents into selected substudies, and potentially enrolling adolescents into clinical drug and vaccine trials (that are already supported through other mechanisms, e.g., ACTG, CPCRA, AVEG, AmFAR). Members of the Clinical Science Group will participate in twice monthly conference calls during Phase I and monthly thereafter and attend one annual meeting in conjunction with members of the Basic Science Group and one separate meeting focusing on clinical management and policy issues. Applications to participate in the Clinical Science Group should include information in three areas: staff, site, and patient population/geographic location. Applicants should document their ability to recruit a sufficient number of participants between the ages of 15 and 19 years, discuss their capacity to participate in the program and their ability to interact effectively with the Data and Operations Center, and state their willingness to follow the common protocol that will be produced by the Basic Science Group and to implement subsequent protocols targeting adolescent-specific research questions. The Data and Operations Center will manage two meetings of the entire Network including the Steering Committee during Phase I; one annual scientific meeting for Basic Science Group and one annual management/policy meeting for the Clinical Science Group during Phase II of Year 1; twice-monthly conference calls for the Basic Science Group during Year 1; twice monthly conference calls for the Clinical Science Group during Phase I and monthly conference calls thereafter; and ad hoc calls as necessary. The Center will support protocol development and distribution. It will also assume responsibility for site registration, any protocol-related training, monitoring of sites for accurate and complete data collection, regulatory compliance, and research subject safeguards. The Center will provide support to the Clinical Science Group for the development and dissemination of treatment and policy guidelines, as well as provide resources to the Community Advisory Board. The Center will be responsible for the integrity of the scientific databases by editing and entering data, as well as designing and maintaining the study database(s). In addition, this center will provide statistical consultation to both Science Groups as needed and analytic support. Applicants should document past experience with conducting other programs that required responsibilities similar to those outlined above. The applicant should submit a detailed plan of activities with time lines that would successfully implement the effort required to support the research network program. Separate applications must be made for the Clinical Science Group, the Basic Science Group, and the Data and Operations Center, even if a single organizational entity is applying for more than one activity. Regardless of whether the Data and Operations Center is located at one of the cooperating sites, it will maintain strict independence. Study Phases: Phase I It is expected that Phase I (six months) will be devoted to identification of the research agenda, the development of the base protocol, and the development of the clinical management guidelines. Work on these tasks will ensue at an organizational meeting of the entire Network at which group chairs and vice chairs are elected soon after awards. Work will continue by twice monthly conference calls, monitored by the Executive Committee, and culminate with an implementation meeting of the Steering Committee and the entire Network at month six. Study Phases: Phase II This Phase involves the training of clinical research staff, the recruitment of study subjects, the implementation of the base protocol for the Clinical Science Group sites, and the further protocol development of special studies for the Basic Science Group members. During this phase, Basic Science Group faculty, data/operations center staff, and NICHD and NIAID staff collaborators will meet annually for a scientific retreat. The Steering Committee members in conjunction with the entire Network will meet annually for scientific interactive sessions. Terms and Conditions of Award The following terms of award are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable OMB administrative guidelines, HHS Grants Administration Regulations at 45 CFR Part 74 and 92 and other HHS, PHS, and NIH grant administration policies. Business management aspects of these awards will be administered by the NICHD Grants Management Office in accordance with HHS, PHS, and NIH Grants Administration policies. It is envisioned at this time that all awarded funds will be administered by the NICHD Grants Management Office. The administrative and funding instrument to be used for this program will be a cooperative agreement (U01), an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition" mechanism) in which substantial NIH and HRSA scientific and/or programmatic involvement with the awardee is anticipated during the performance of the activity. Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and/or stimulate the recipient's activity by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipient in a partner role, but it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activity. Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility for the activity resides with the awardees for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities in carrying out the studies will be shared among awardees and the NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA staff collaborators. 1. The Primary Rights and Responsibilities of the Awardees are as follows: Basic Science Group: The Basic Science Group will consist of those awardees whose submissions were chosen on scientific merit. The Basic Science Group, with a chair and vice chair elected by its members, will o Retain the primary responsibility for defining and prioritizing the research agenda and submitting the agenda to the Steering Committee for approval o Specify research objectives for the base study to characterize population-based spectrum of disease and disease progression and secondary special studies, develop corresponding protocols, provide for monitoring the progress of various studies, and analyze and interpret study protocol results. It is expected that this responsibility will be undertaken with significant interaction with the members of the Clinical Science Group. o Consult and review Clinical Science Group plans for the evaluation of clinical management guidelines that address the unique biological, biobehavioral and psychosocial issues of adolescence including pharmacologic prophylaxis, the scope and frequency of medical monitoring, and organization of services, among others. o Basic Science Group awardees, as a group, will retain custody of and have primary rights to the protocol data developed under these awards, subject to government rights of access consistent with current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies. Protocol development for special studies shall be undertaken when two-thirds of the Basic Science Group members approve the research concept. o Laboratory Support awardees of the Basic Science Group will be expected to satisfy all responsibilities of Basic Science Group members as outlined above. In addition, these two members will provide expertise in areas of immunology or virology to the Basic Science Group and furnish laboratory services to the Network to support protocol-specified evaluations. Clinical Science Group: The Clinical Science Group will consist of those awardees whose submissions were chosen on clinical experience and capacity. The Clinical Science Group, with a chair and vice chair elected by its members, will o Participate in the production of the research agenda through review and evaluation at regularly scheduled interactive Network meetings and by submitting concepts for study (both primary or secondary analyses). Clinical Science Group members will be strongly encouraged to submit research concepts to the Basic Science Group and may participate in their subsequent protocol development. Decisions related to protocol development and protocol team formation are the responsibility of the Basic Science Group. o Retain primary responsibility for the implementation of the base protocol and secondary protocols where feasible and the recruitment and monitoring of study participants, associated data collection, and quality control. o Awardees will be required to accept and implement the common protocol developed by the Basic Science Group and all procedures approved by the Steering Committee. o Derive clinical management guidelines for the standardization of health care delivery across network sites that address the unique biological, biobehavioral, and psychosocial issues of adolescence including pharmacologic prophylaxis, the scope and frequency of medical monitoring, and service organization, overcoming barriers to care, among others; and submit a corresponding evaluation plan to the Basic Science Group for consultation and review. o Clinical Science awardees, as a group, will retain custody of and have primary rights to the data specific to guidelines evaluation developed under these awards, subject to government rights of access consistent with current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies. Study development for the secondary analyses of data generated through the clinical management guideline evaluation shall be undertaken when two-thirds of the Clinical Science Group members approve the research concept. o Clinical Science awardees, as a group, will convene consensus panels on the dissemination of clinical management guidelines and the definition of adolescent-specific HIV policy among other tasks consistent with functioning as a national resource body. o Clinical Science Group members will recruit two adolescent/family member community representatives from each clinical site, at least one of whom from each site must be an adolescent between 15 to 19 years to serve on the Community Advisory Board o Track B Awardees will be required to comply with the reporting requirements imposed on HRSA funded Title IV/ Pediatric- Adolescent Demonstration Projects. 2. Program Staff Involvement The research effort will be a cooperative venture with participation by all awardees as outlined above, the NICHD, the NIAID and HRSA. One NICHD, one NIAID, and one HRSA staff collaborator will: o Participate in the Steering Committee that oversees the establishment and maintenance of the Network and its progress in achieving program goals. o Assist Basic Science Group in the selection of research topics and the development of protocols for specific studies and interventions. o Assist Clinical Science Group in the development and evaluation of clinical management guidelines. o Arrange, when necessary, for the external peer review of the protocols for the base study, special studies, and clinical management guideline evaluation, clearing these studies for implementation. o Explore mechanisms to offer study subjects the opportunity to participate in clinical drug trials funded through mechanisms outside the network and provide this information and organizational support to clinical sites. o Assist the Executive Committee in monitoring the progress of ongoing studies, including field data collection, standardization of methods across study sites, and adherence to protocol and quality control measures. o Assist in data analyses, interpretation and publication of study results One NICHD, one NIAID, and one HRSA program manager, in addition to routine program management duties, will: o Assist in identifying the need to terminate or curtail the study (or an individual award) in the event of nonparticipation in the committee/group activities, substantial shortfall in participant recruitment, followup, data reporting, quality control, or other major breach of protocol, or substantive protocol changes without prior approval from the staff collaborators and Basic Science Group. 3. Collaborative Responsibilities: The Research Network The Research Network is composed of all principal investigators of the Basic Science Group, all principal investigators of the Clinical Science Group, all representatives of the Community Advisory Board, the principal investigator and project coordinator from the Data and Operations Center, and the NICHD, the NIAID, and HRSA staff collaborators and program managers. The entire Network will attend interactive annual meetings to inform and review the research agenda. The Steering Committee The Steering Committee is the main governing body of the Network. The Committee is composed of the Chair, Vice Chair, and two elected representatives from the Basic Science Group; the Chair, Vice Chair, and two elected representatives from the Clinical Science Group; the Chair and Vice Chair of the Community Advisory Board; the principal investigator and project coordinator from the Data and Operations Center; and the NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA staff collaborators. All members will have one vote each; NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA will have one vote each, and motions will carry with simple majority. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Steering Committee will be elected by the entire committee from among the principal investigators of the Basic Science Group and the Clinical Science Group; none of the NICHD, NIAID, or HRSA staff collaborators are eligible to serve as Chair or Vice Chair of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will o Maintain primary responsibility for the identification of adolescent HIV/AIDS research issues. o Approve the direction of the research effort, and facilitate the conduct and monitoring of the studies. o Approve the research agenda specific to its feasibility and clinical relevance and advise on the development of implementation strategies. o Approve the clinical management guidelines addressing the unique biological, biobehavioral, and psychosocial issues of adolescence including pharmacologic prophylaxis, the scope and frequency of medical monitoring, and service organization, among others; and the plans for their evaluation. The Executive Committee An Executive Committee, composed of the Steering Committee chair, the chair and vice-chair of the Basic Science Group, the chair and vice chair of the Clinical Science Group, the principal investigator and project coordinator of the Data and Operations Center, and the NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA staff collaborators will supervise the functioning of the network and will o Establish timelines for the completion of tasks and monitor progress o Coordinate the integration of data collection for base protocol and guidelines evaluation procedures o Oversee site participation and performance informing the appropriate program managers o Define rules regarding access to data and publication and direct the publication process. o The Steering Committee chair will chair the Executive Committee as well. 4. Arbitration Process The specific terms and conditions above and the details of arbitration procedures below pertaining to the scope and nature of the interaction among NICHD, NIAID, HRSA, and participating sites will be incorporated into the notice of grant award. These procedures will be in addition to the customary programmatic and financial negotiations that occur in the administration of grants. Arbitration procedures will be invoked only when agreement cannot be reached on programmatic issues that may arise between awardee(s) and the project coordinator(s) after the award has been made. In that event, an arbitration panel will be composed of three members-- one selected by the executive committee (with the NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA staff collaborators not voting) or by the individual awardee in the event of an individual disagreement, a second member selected by the program officers, and a third member selected by the two prior selected members. The decision of the arbitration panel by majority vote will be binding. This special arbitration procedure in no way affects the awardee's right to appeal an adverse action that is otherwise appealable in accordance with the PHS Regulations at 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart D and HHS Regulation at 45 CFR Part 16. STUDY POPULATIONS SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS It is NIH policy that applicants for NIH clinical research grants and cooperative agreements (i.e., research involving human subjects) are required to include minorities and women in study populations so that research findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or condition under study; special emphasis must be placed on the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect them. This policy is intended to apply to males and females of all ages. If women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear and compelling rationale must be provided. The composition of the proposed study population at the clinical site must be described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. This information must be included in the form PHS 398 in Sections 1-4 of the Research Plan and summarized in Section 5, Human Subjects. Applicants are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of minority groups. However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in all research projects to include representation of the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., Native Americans [including American Indians or Alaskan Natives], Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics). It is envisioned that the cohort of adolescent study subjects assembled under the auspices of this cooperative agreement will exhibit appropriate and adequate ethnic, racial, and geographic representation of the affected population although individual sites may not each present the necessary balance. For the purpose of this policy, clinical research is defined as human biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention (and prevention strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of diseases, disorders or conditions, including, but not limited to, clinical trials. The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply. Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded. However, every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of the study broadly, and this should be addressed by the applicants. For foreign awards, the policy on inclusion of women applies fully; since the definition of minority differs in other countries, the applicant must discuss the relevance of research involving foreign population groups to the United States' populations, including minorities. If the required information is not contained within the application, the application will be returned. Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the scientific question addressed and the justification for the selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and reflected in assigning the priority score to the application. All applications for clinical research submitted to the NIH are required to address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by March 30, 1994, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. It allows ICD staff to estimate potential review workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Audrey Smith Rogers, Ph.D., M.P.H. Center for Research for Mothers and Children National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4B11 Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-7339 APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91). This application form is available in the office of sponsored research at most academic and research institutions and from the Office of Grants Information, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda MD 20892, telephone (301) 435-0714 and from the NIH program administrator listed under INQUIRIES. Additional Materials to Include in the Application To permit evaluation of the merits of an application (peer review), information is needed on the following topics. Applicants to the Basic Science Group: While the objectives of the Network specifically relate to unresolved basic and clinical scientific questions about adolescent HIV/AIDS, the unique behavioral features of this age group must be recognized. Consequently, multidisciplinary representation will be sought in the membership of the Basic Science Group while its basic and clinical science focus is maintained. Applications to become members of the Basic Science Group must include: (1) documentation of clinical experience in adolescent health care or professional interest in adolescent issues; (2) record of published scientific research with relevance to adolescent medical, biological, biobehavioral, and/or behavioral issues; and (3) submission of an original research module written to demonstrate personal expertise in a specific area of interest consistent with the overall research objectives of this RFA. This research module will be used to judge the scientific and technical proficiency of the applicant. It is not required to be a fully-developed protocol and therefore should not include sections on study implementation, study timelines, or budgetary considerations. The research module must include a carefully defined statement of the problem consistent with the overall research objectives of this RFA, a comprehensive review of relevant literature, a detailed study strategy including design issues and proposed analyses, and a discussion of problems to be encountered in implementing the study which take in account particular issues facing adolescents. This module may address any research question consistent with the scope of this RFA. The research module may focus on the design of the base protocol examining the spectrum of HIV disease to be implemented in the first year of the study or on other areas requiring special studies to be undertaken in the assembled cohort enrolled in the base protocol in subsequent years. These include, but are not limited to: HIV interaction with adolescent pregnancy; co-morbidity with STDs; the susceptibility, infectivity and transmissibility of HIV in adolescents, particularly related to developing genital mucosa; the characterization of the variation in adolescent immune function; the identification of useful adolescent-specific clinical markers of HIV disease progression; the effect of HIV on adolescent neuropsychologic function and development; and the influence and effect of specific adolescent behavioral patterns on risk-taking and health-seeking activities. THIS LIST OF POTENTIAL SUBJECT AREAS IS NOT INCLUSIVE; RESEARCH MODULES IN RELEVANT AREAS CONSISTENT WITH THE FOCUS OF THIS RFA ARE VERY STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. If the applicant is successful, the proposed research module may or may not be chosen subsequently by the constituted Basic Science Group to be incorporated into the scientific agenda undertaken by the Adolescent Medicine HIV/AIDS Research Network. The proposed module should, nonetheless, be designed for implementation in the projected Network study population (see below), and be consistent with the research objectives of the RFA. This part of the application should not exceed the 25 page limit (including graphics) for the entire submission. In the event that the applicant is not chosen to participate in the Basic Science Group of the Research Network or, if chosen, learns that the applicant's submission will not be incorporated into the scientific agenda nor implemented in the network, the applicant retains all rights to the material and is free to pursue the funding and conduct of such a study through other mechanisms. The budget for Basic Science Group members should include salary support at 0.10 FTE, flat fee for office support services, and travel to three meetings (two days each) in the Washington DC area for year one only; for two meetings in Washington DC per year thereafter. Applicants for the Basic Science Group: Immunology and Virology Laboratory Two positions on the Basic Science Group are restricted for applicants who can provide currently established ACTG-certified immunology or virology laboratory support to Network research efforts. Applicants for these two reserved positions will be required to submit only a research proposal as outlined above in (3) using and completing the PHS 398 application kit. The budget for the immunology laboratory should include funding for the ACTG- defined lymphocyte panel for the entire study population for two visits in Phase II Year 1 and every six months thereafter as well as salary support for the Basic Science Group member at 0.10 FTE, flat fee for office support services, and travel to three meetings (two days each) in the Washington DC area for year one only; for two meetings in Washington DC per year thereafter. The budget for the virology laboratory in the first year of the grant should include funding for the storage of samples for the entire study population at baseline and every six months thereafter as well as salary support for the Basic Science Group member at 0.10 FTE, flat fee for office support services, and travel to three meetings (two days each) in the Washington DC area for year one only; for two meetings in Washington DC per year thereafter. Applicants for the Clinical Science Group Since the objectives of the Network specifically relate to unresolved basic and clinical scientific questions about adolescent HIV/AIDS, the proposed network must consist of established clinical sites delivering appropriate health care and support services to substantial adolescent populations. This RFA should not be construed as a funding opportunity to establish an adolescent health care delivery service. Furthermore, since adolescent participation in research should be an opportunity presented to those for whom health care is available and never as a means of health care or a substitute for it, clinical sites in the network must have developed strategies and mechanisms for providing for the health care and support needs of their adolescent populations (Track A) or submit a well-developed and operationally-supported plan to augment comprehensive health care and support services requiring funding for its implementation (Track B). HRSA funds for Track B will be available to a limited number of established sites to augment existing services so that clinical research may be conducted in a population of individuals receiving adequate comprehensive health care. Applications to participate in the Clinical Science Group should include information in three areas: staff, site, and patient population/geographic location. The description of these facilities and equipment should be provided on the Resources and Environment page of the PHS 398 application kit. All applicants must submit the following: (1) Documentation of three or more years clinical experience in adolescent health care for the physician Clinical Science Group member applicant and the research nurse or associate (if identified at the time of submission) to be supported by this grant. (2) A description of the site(s) (physical structure and administrative arrangement) in which health care and support services are provided or arranged for, including hours of operation, provision for off-hour coverage, and established patterns of referral. (3) The source of funding for the delivery of health care and support services to adolescents served by the clinic should be delineated, particularly the proportion of services rendered for which third party reimbursement is received. (4) Evidence of an interdisciplinary approach to the delivery of adolescent health care and support services is expected and the breadth of available services and qualifications of the corresponding providers should be listed and described. (5) Description of the adolescent population categorized by ages 10-14 years, 15-19 years, and 20-24 years served by the clinic as such: (a) adolescents in the catchment area of the clinic; (b) adolescents seen within the last year by the clinic; and (c) adolescents who regularly attend the clinic (each succeeding group should be a subset of the former). This information will be used in determining future expansions of the network. (6) Descriptors of these defined groups should include (if available) gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic strata, educational achievement, blinded serosurveys of HIV infection, AIDS case numbers (cumulative and annual), STD and pregnancy rates, substance abuse statistics, and other evidence of high risk behaviors. If women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear and compelling rationale must be provided. (7) Evidence of ability to enroll 20 HIV-infected adolescents and 10 HIV-negative but high risk adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years in the six month period of Phase II. (8) Documentation concerning adherence to clinic appointments and referrals or other measures should be included as evidence of the population's capacity and willingness to participate in clinical research. (9) The interaction between the clinic and the community it serves should be described. Of specific interest are community advisory or consultative groups that have substantial adolescent participation, efforts at parental or community education, the clinic policies for adolescent involvement in their own care and, where relevant, for parental involvement in adolescent care, and details of community existing or planned outreach and prevention programs to identify adolescents and bring them to care. (10) Budgets for the Clinical Science Group sites should include physician principal investigator salary support at 0.10 FTE, clinical associate/research nurse at 1.0 FTE for Phase II only, and two clinical visits for study subjects (examination and minimal laboratory) for the base study during Phase II. Travel for the principal investigator to three meetings (two days each) in the Washington DC area should be included. This includes one management policy/meeting. In addition, budgets should include travel costs for two adolescent/family representatives from each clinical site to the annual Steering Committee meeting. Track B sites should include a clearly-marked and separate budget sheet for augmented services in support of clinical research. Track A Applicants must submit the following: (1) Demonstration of availability of on-site gynecologic services and case management, on-site or established and functioning referral networks for mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and enabling services such as childcare and transportation. (2) Evidence of collaboration with other institutions, agencies, or community-based organizations for outreach, case identification, and access to clinical drug trials should be detailed. Every collaborative initiative cited should be accompanied by a letter of commitment specific to the activity of this RFA. Track B Applicants must submit the following: (1) Submission of a plan to provide any of the following services in support of clinical research: on-site gynecologic services and case management, to articulate with other institutions, agencies, or community-based organizations for outreach, case identification, mental health and substance abuse services, and access to clinical drug trials. The plan should be detailed and every collaborative initiative cited should be accompanied by a letter of commitment specific to the activity of this RFA. (2) Documentation of the availability or evidence of collaboration with other institutions, agencies, or community-based organizations to provide services not addressed in plan required in (1). Applicants for the Data Center should include the following information: (1) Expertise in the design of surveys, case control studies, cohort studies, and interventions. Applicants should provide a description of their experience designing these different types of projects with special emphasis on the required statistical expertise, as well as examples of past or current projects requiring this expertise. They should also identify individuals with this expertise on staff or available as consultants and provide their biographical sketches in PHS 398 application kit. (2) Documentation of understanding of the basic elements required for a data coordinating center. This should include an understanding of computer logistics, programming, coding, data processing, file building, and file maintenance. (3) Ability to finalize research protocols and questionnaires and to monitor quality control. This should include prior or current experience relative to the development of protocols, questionnaires, other research instruments, and interacting with multi-disciplinary teams. An indication of procedures used for training staff in the use of these protocols and questionnaires and quality control of data collection across several sites would be most useful. (4) Documentation that the personnel proposed for involvement in data management and data processing aspects of the project have experience in the management of large datasets, designing appropriate systems, computer programming, data coding, data entry, data editing, quality control, file building, file manipulation, and data analysis should be provided. (5) Description of facilities and equipment available, including computer hardware and software that are intended for use by this project, should be provided. (6) Documentation of understanding of the basic elements required for maintaining an operations center. This should include an understanding of establishing and maintaining the communications link for the Network and supporting the activities of research planning, protocol design, and development through team conference calls and information dissemination. (7) Description of resources available to support the development and effective national dissemination of treatment and policy guidelines specific to HIV positive adolescents. (8) The budget for the Data and Operations Center should include 0.5 FTE salary support for a principal investigator, service costs for data entry, management, and analysis; 0.25 FTE salary support for a project coordinator, 1.0 FTE salary support for research nurse/site monitor, site visit travel, conference calls, meetings, and resources for protocol development and committee/board support. The Center will also assume costs of Clinical Science Group treatment and policy guidelines development and dissemination. The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page. 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 evaluation. In addition, the RFA title and number ("Adolescent Medicine HIV/AIDS Research Network, HD-94-012") must be typed on line 2A of the face page of the application form and the "YES" box must be marked. In addition to RFA title and number, applicants must further designate on the face sheet that the application is submitted for (1) Basic Science Group; (2) Basic Science Group- Immunology Lab; (3) Basic Science Group- Virology Lab; (4) Clinical Science Group- Track A; (5) Clinical Science Group -Track B; or (6) Data Center. The signed, typewritten original of the application including the Checklist and three signed photocopies must be sent or delivered in one package to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** In addition, two copies of the application must be sent, under separate cover to: Susan Streufert, Ph.D. Division of Scientific Review National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5E01 Bethesda MD 20892 Applications must be received by close of business May 13, 1994. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. The Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application in response to this announcement that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The DRG will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of a substantial revision of an application already reviewed, but such an application must follow the guidance in the form PHS 398 application instructions for the preparation of revised applications, including an introduction addressing the previous critique. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Pre-Review Assessment Upon receipt, applications will be examined by the Division of Research Grants for completeness. The NICHD will assess the applications for responsiveness. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications not responsive to the RFA will also be returned. Applications to the Clinical Science Group will be assessed for responsiveness by NICHD and HRSA program staff to determine their suitability for consideration in Track A or Track B relative to other applications received in response to this RFA. Applicants to the Clinical Science Group, therefore, may be notified of their ability to compete in a Track other than the Track for which they originally sought funding. Review Considerations Complete and responsive applications will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below for scientific/technical merit by a review group specifically convened by NICHD in consultation with NIAID and HRSA for this purpose. Further, applications to the Basic Science Group may be subjected to triage by an NICHD/NIAID peer review group to determine their scientific merit relative to other applications received in response to this RFA. The review criteria to be used are listed below. The NIH will withdraw from further competition those applications judged by triage to be noncompetitive for the award and notify the applicant PI and institutional official. Those applications, both to the Basic Science and the Clinical Science Groups, judged to be competitive will undergo further scientific merit review. The second level of review will be provided by the advisory councils of the participating awarding components. Review Criteria: o Scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of the proposed research; o Appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology to carry out the research; o Qualifications and experience of the principal investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research; o Availability of the resources necessary to perform the research; o Appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research; o Appropriateness of plans for the inclusion of women and minorities as subjects; o Appropriateness of methods and demonstrated willingness to work as a part of the cooperative study with the NICHD, NIAID, and HRSA scientists. In addition to these general criteria, additional review criteria will be used in evaluating several of the components as follows: Basic Science Group (Including Immunology and Virology Laboratories) o The degree to which the propose research promises to advance knowledge of adolescent HIV/AIDS and is concordant with current knowledge about this age group and disease. Clinical Science Group o Clinical training and experience specific to adolescent care o Evidence of interdisciplinary approach o Adequacy of site characteristics as detailed in the RFA Data and Operations Center o Expertise and experience in design and statistical analysis appropriate to this effort o Demonstrated ability or potential to serve as a center for multidisciplinary, multisite collaborative studies AWARD CRITERIA Applications recommended by the relevant National Advisory Councils will be considered for award based upon (a) scientific and technical merit as reflected in the priority score; (b) program balance including sufficient compatibility of features to make a successful collaborative program likely; (c) availability of funds; (d) geographic location of clinical sites; and (d) demographic and clinical characteristics of the population at the clinical site. Letter of Intent Receipt Date: March 30, 1994 Application Receipt Date: May 13, 1994 Review by NICHD Advisory Council: September 27, 1994 Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 1994 INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Two pre-submission conferences providing the same information will be held: March 9, 1994 from 11:00 AM-12:30 PM 6100 Building 5th Floor Conference Room 6100 Executive Boulevard Rockville, MD 20852 March 17, 1994 from 6:30-8:00 PM Century Plaza Hotel and Towers - Redwood Room 2025 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067-4696 Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Audrey Smith Rogers, Ph.D., M.P.H. Center for Research for Mothers and Children National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4B11 Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-7339 Tina Johnson, M.A. Division of AIDS National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 2A09 Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-8214 Direct inquiries regarding administrative/fiscal matters to: Mr. E. Douglas Shawver Office of Grants and Contracts National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 8A17F Rockville, MD 20852 Telephone: (301) 496-1303 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.856. Awards are made under the authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74 and 92. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
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