Request for Information: Input Regarding Current Capacity in Africa for Consideration in Development of an Human Heredity and Health (H3Africa) Ethical, Legal and Societal Implications (ELSI) of Genomic Research Program


Notice Number: NOT-RM-12-014

Key Dates

Release Date: February 17, 2012

Issued by

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund)  

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to seek information from potential applicants in Africa (i.e., research investigators with a full or part time appointment in an African institution) regarding their existing capacity to perform research in Africa on the ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) in genetics and genomics research, including information about the areas of research in which they are currently or have previously been involved.  This information will provide valuable input to H3Africa program staff as they develop an H3Africa ELSI program.  Researchers, who have relevant research expertise, are asked to reply to this RFI within a month of its issuance with information about their existing capacity and specific research interests.  Information about the H3Africa initiative can be found at http://h3africa.org.

Information Requested

Answering the following questions is optional, not all questions have to be addressed and the responses given will not influence the eventual review of applications. Furthermore, the decision not to submit any responses does not preclude one for applying for future funding from the H3Africa ELSI program.

  1. Please describe any experiences you have had with conducting research on ethical, legal, or societal issues relating to biomedical research.
  2. Please describe any experiences you have had with conducting research on ethical, legal, or societal issues relating to genetics or genomics.
  3. Please describe what research you would envision pursuing under an H3Africa FOA focused on ethical, legal, and societal issues in genetics and genomics research.
  4. Please describe your current research capacity.  Here we would like to find out about your academic setting, infrastructure, qualifications, possible masters and/or post-graduate students in your research team, any prior grant awards or any experience or circumstances that you believe enhances your ability to conduct research of this nature in Africa.
  5. Please describe resources or training opportunities you may need in order to enhance your ability to conduct research on ethical, legal, or societal issues in genetics and genomics research.
  6. Please describe those issues that you identify as research priorities for research in Africa relating to ethical, legal, or societal issues in genetics and genomics research.

How to submit a response

Responses can be submitted by either sending an e-mail to h3africa@mail.nih.gov or electronically at the following web address (http://www.commonfund.nih.gov/globalhealth/h3africa/rfi.aspx). Comments will be accepted for 30 days from date of release of this Notice.

General Information

Applicants and applicant institutions, interested in participating in the H3Africa ELSI program are urged to begin preparing now for the NIH electronic submission process as applications for the H3Africa ELSI program are likely to be submitted electronically. Obtaining the necessary registration numbers can take more than a month to complete and can be initiated now.  See Electronic Submission of Grant Applications (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/foreign/electronic_submission.htm and http://h3africa.org/grant_applicant_resources.cfm#al-3).

If you would like to be added to the H3Africa mailing list to receive updates about this program, please send an e-mail request to h3africa@mail.nih.gov.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Jean E. McEwen, Ph.D, J.D.
Jane L. Peterson, Ph.D.
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institutes of Health
5635 Fishers Lane, Suite 4076, MSC 9305
Bethesda, MD 20892-9305
Phone: 301 496 7531
Fax: 301 480 2770
Email: jean_mcewen@nih.gov
Jane_Peterson@nih.gov
H3Africa website: http://H3Africa.org