NINDS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENTS: COUNTERTERRORISM AND NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH

RELEASE DATE:  May 22, 2003

NOTICE: NOT-NS-03-011

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) 
announces the availability of administrative supplements for research 
aimed at protecting the nervous system from the harmful effects of a 
chemical/biological terrorist attack.  Given the NINDS mission to 
reduce the burden of neurological disorders and the interest of the 
Department of Health and Human Services in counterterrorism-related 
research, NINDS is committed to improving our understanding of and 
treatments for the effects of chemical and biological agents on 
neurological function.  A total of $250,000 in FY2003 and $250,000 in 
FY2004 will be made available for this program. 

Eligibility

o Principal Investigators with Research Project (R01), Javits Award 
(R37), Exploratory/Development (R21), Phase II SBIR (R44), Program 
Project (P01), Specialized Center (P50 or U54), and Cooperative 
Agreement (U01) grants funded by NINDS are eligible to apply.

o Projects must have a Project Period End Date after the application 
receipt date (a no-cost extension beyond the original Project Period 
End Date does not confer eligibility).

o Only those requests demonstrating a clear relationship between 
neurological dysfunction and the chemical or biological agent will be 
considered responsive to this Notice.

o Only those requests clearly demonstrating the implications of the 
proposed study for counterterrorism will be considered responsive to 
this Notice.

A number of chemical agents and toxins that could serve as terrorist 
weapons are known to target the nervous system.  These include, but are 
not limited to:

o Organophosphate nerve agents, which disrupt the cholinergic pathway 
and lead to seizures, muscle paralysis, and death (e.g. sarin, VX)

o Blood agents, which prevent the normal transfer of oxygen from the 
blood into the brain and cause headache, vertigo, and seizures (e.g. 
cyanide)

o Neurotoxins, which affect neurotransmitter release at synapses and 
cause paralysis (e.g. botulinum toxin)

The nervous system is also vulnerable to several infectious agents that 
could be used in a terrorist attack.  Meningitis and cognitive deficits 
can result from anthrax infection, and paralysis and convulsions are 
associated with viral encephalitides. 

Additional information on chemical agents, toxins, and infectious 
agents that affect the nervous system is available at 
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research/counterterrorism/index.htm

NINDS currently supports a broad range of basic research related to 
counterterrorism, such as studies on peripheral and central cholinergic 
pathways, status epilepticus (persistent seizures), neurodegeneration, 
neuroprotection, and neuroimaging.  NINDS would like to encourage the 
submission of applications for supplemental funds for research directly 
related to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of 
neurological dysfunction caused by chemical and biological agent 
exposure and studies of the mechanisms by which these agents disrupt 
normal neurological function.

Appropriate projects include, but are not limited to:

o Studies to characterize the mechanisms of chemical or biological 
agent-induced seizures and resulting pathophysiology and to identify 
countermeasures against agent-induced seizures

o Development of compounds that could be used for pre- or post-exposure 
treatment to protect the nervous system from damage by chemical or 
biological agents

o Characterization of the pathophysiology and natural progression of 
biological or chemical agent-induced damage to tissues of the nervous 
system

o Examination of the long-term effects of low-dose exposure to 
individual biological or chemical agents or combinations of agents

While NINDS encourages research on a variety of chemical and biological 
agents, a clear link between the agent and neurological dysfunction 
must already have been established.

Evidence should be presented that the results of the supplemental 
assistance will enhance the pursuit of the Specific Aims of the 
original research project, without constituting an expansion of scope.  
Supplements are one-time awards and will not extend to subsequent 
budget periods.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should submit an original and five copies of a complete 
application, signed by an authorized business official at their 
institution, to Dr. David A. Jett at the address listed at the end of 
this notice. The following sections should be included:

1. A cover page citing this NOTICE and requesting an administrative 
supplement, including the PI name, grant number and title, amount 
requested, name and title of the institutional official, and phone, 
email, and address information for both the PI and institutional 
official.  Documentation of approval from the Institutional Animal Care 
and Use Committee (IACUC) for any proposed animal studies must be 
provided. 

2. A description of the project (5 page limit), including 

o Abstract 

o Rationale for the approach proposed, 

o Description of the agent selected,
 
o The model in which the agent will be studied,
 
o Conditions of experimental exposure and protective treatment,

o Choice of outcome measures,

o Relevance of the proposed study to counterterrorism (i.e., rationale 
for the choice of agent, model, study conditions, and outcome 
measures). 

o Description of the source, storage, use, and disposal of the agent, 
and inclusion of any necessary approvals or biosafety certifications. 
  
o Specific Aims of the original grant.

o Description of the relationship of the project to the Specific Aims 
of the parent grant.  Evidence should be presented that the results of 
the supplemental assistance will enhance the pursuit of the Specific 
Aims of the original research project without constituting an expansion 
of scope.  

o A modular budget with appropriate justifications for requested direct 
costs (see Budget Information below).
 
REVIEW CRITERIA

Applications will be reviewed administratively, and it is expected that 
for successful applications a resulting Supplemental Notice of Grant 
Award will be issued within three months of the receipt deadline.  All 
funding decisions are final and are not subject to appeal.  Review 
criteria will include the relevance of the proposed research to 
improving our understanding of and treatments for the effects of 
chemical and biological agents on neurological function.

BUDGET INFORMATION  

Supplements will be awarded as direct costs in modular amounts of 
$25,000 and are one-time awards.  Any facilities and administrative 
(indirect) costs should be added to the direct costs in the budget 
request.  For R01s, R21s, R37s, R44s, and U01s, the maximum request for 
direct costs is $50,000.  For P01s, P50s, and U54s, the maximum is 
$100,000 (a maximum of $50,000 per subproject).  Although the awarded 
budgets will be modular, applicants should provide a budget 
justification that details the budget items requested, including 
Facilities and Administrative costs.  If the planned experiments will 
not be fully supported by the supplemental funds from NINDS, the 
sources and amounts of additional funds should be specified. 

NINDS will commit $250,000 in FY2003 and $250,000 in FY2004 to fund 
applications for supplements submitted in response to this Notice.  
Awards pursuant to this Notice are contingent upon the availability of 
funds and the receipt of applications of high scientific merit.

Receipt Dates:          Earliest Award Date:

June 16, 2003              August 15, 2003
October 15, 2003           December 15, 2003
February 16, 2004          April 15, 2004
June 15, 2004              August 16, 2004

INQUIRIES

Inquiries are strongly encouraged, especially regarding the 
applicability of particular research proposals to counterterrorism.  
Direct inquiries regarding the program to:

Dr. David A. Jett
NINDS
6001 Executive Blvd. NSC Room 2152
Bethesda, MD 20892 (USPS)
Rockville, MD 20852 (FedEx and other couriers)
Tel: (301) 496-3102
Fax: (301) 594-5929
Email: jettd@ninds.nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Aricia Cottman
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch  
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke  
6001 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3253, MSC 9537  
Rockville, MD 20852 (Express Mail)  
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9537 (Regular Mail)  
Branch Phone Number: 301-496-8072 
Fax Number: 301-402-0219
Email: cottmana@ninds.nih.gov


Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices


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