INCREASE IN TOTAL COSTS FOR PROGRAM PROJECTS 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 31, September 19, 1997
 
P.T.


Keywords:
 
National Institute of Dental Research
 
The National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) announces a change
in policy regarding program project grants (P01).  Currently, in
order for a grant to be funded as a P01 it must consist of a minimum
of three research projects, not including cores, and the first year
direct costs may not exceed $500,000.  Grants that include consortium
arrangements may exceed the cap by the amount of the indirect costs
associated with the consortium.
 
This policy has been in effect for approximately the past five years.
During this time the average first year direct costs for
investigator-initiated individual research grants (R01) has
surpassed, by nearly twenty-five percent, the average costs for a
single project which is part of a P01, thus leading to the situation
whereby research supported by the P01 mechanism may be at a fiscal
disadvantage to that supported by the R01 mechanism.
Also, for fiscal planning purposes, the Institute finds it more
effective to place limits on maximum levels of funding in terms of
total (i.e., direct plus indirect) costs rather than direct costs
alone.
 
Therefore, effective immediately, the NIDR modifies its policy and
will accept applications for all new (Type 1) and competitively
renewed (Type 2) program projects whose total first year costs (i.e.,
direct plus indirect costs) do not exceed $1.125 million.  This
represents an increase of approximately one-third and brings the
average direct cost of an individual project included in a P01 more
in line with the current average direct costs for an R01 funded by
the NIDR.  While the minimum number of fundable research projects
required for a P01 still remains at three, applicants are strongly
encouraged to plan research supported through P01s to include a
minimum of four fundable projects of high scientific merit.
 
Potential applicants are reminded of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) policy (NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 25,
Number 14, May 3, 1996) that requires that all applicants receive
prior written approval before submitting a formal investigator-
initiated Type 1 application whose first year direct costs equal or
exceed $500,000.  Prior to submitting a P01 or any other grant
application with first year direct costs above $500,000, applicants
must telephone the extramural scientific program director responsible
for the administration of the scientific subject matter of the
proposed research.  A full listing is available through the NIDR Home
Page (http://www.nidr.nih.gov) and applicants are encouraged to
review the information about extramural scientific program interests
and priorities listed there.  For projects of this size, applicants
should be prepared to provide the following information to NIDR
staff:
 
o  Overall objectives and goals of the P01 as a whole.
o  Specific aims of each research project as it relates to the
objectives and goals of the P01.
o  Overall and individual project/core budgets including any
consortium costs.
o  Names and institutions/departments of affiliation of key
personnel.
 
Following review by Institute staff, a written response indicating
whether or not the application falls within the programmatic
interests of the NIDR will be forwarded to the applicant within 15
working days.
 
INQUIRIES
 
Additional information regarding these policies can be obtained from
extramural scientific program directors within the Division of
Extramural Research or from Dr. Norman S. Braveman, Assistant
Director for Program Development, Division of Extramural Research,
National Institute of Dental Research (Telephone: (301) 594-2089;
Email: BravemanN@de45.nidr.nih.gov).
 


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