Part I Overview Information

Department of Health and Human Services

Participating Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)

Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (http://www.nida.nih.gov)

Title: Health Disparities in HIV/AIDS: Focus on African Americans (R01)

Announcement Type
New

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

• December 7, 2006 - The R01 portion of this funding opportunity has been replaced by PA-07-116, which now uses the electronic SF424 (R&R) application for February 5, 2007 submission dates and beyond.

Looking Ahead: As part of the Department of Health and Human Services' implementation of e-Government, during FY 2006 the NIH will gradually transition each research grant mechanism to electronic submission through Grants.gov and the use of the SF 424 Research and Related (R&R) forms. Therefore, once the transition is made for a specific grant mechanism, investigators and institutions will be required to submit applications electronically using Grants.gov.. For more information and an initial timeline, see http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/. NIH will announce each grant mechanism change in the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html). Specific funding opportunity announcements will also clearly indicate if Grants.gov submission and the use of the SF424 (R&R) is required. Investigators should consult the NIH Forms and Applications Web site (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm) for the most current information when preparing a grant application.

Program Announcement (PA) Number: PA-06-069

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.279, 93.242

Key Dates
Release Date: November 10, 2005
Application Submission Dates(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm for details.
AIDS Application Submission Dates(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS for guidance on dates
Peer Review Date(s): see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for guidance on dates.
Council Review Date(s): see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for guidance on dates.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for guidance on dates.
Additional Information To Be Available Date (Url Activation Date): Not applicable.
Expiration Date for R01 Non-AIDS Applications: November 2, 2006
Expiration Date for R01 AIDS and AIDS-Related Applications: January 3, 2007

Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable

Additional Overview Content

Executive Summary

The purpose of this Program Announcement is to encourage drug abuse and mental health research to better understand the disparities in HIV/AIDS in minority populations, particularly among African Americans, who as a group, have experienced exceptionally high rates of new HIV infections and worse survival rates than other ethnic/racial groups in this country. Drug abuse research on HIV among African-Americans is encouraged to elucidate the relationship between drug use, abuse, and dependence on the incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS and AIDS-related morbidity and mortality; to develop effective, culturally sensitive prevention, intervention, and treatment programs for drug abuse and HIV/AIDS; and to understand the nexus of drug abuse, criminal justice involvement, and HIV/AIDS. Research on mental health issues in HIV risk and HIV infection among African Americans is encouraged on determinants of risk taking in a variety of contexts, the impact of neuropsychiatric comorbidities associated with HIV, development of a spectrum of culturally appropriate HIV interventions targeting mental health aspects, testing of behavioral interventions for their sustainability and translation to real-world settings, and improvement of mental health and HIV service utilization.

• Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, the size and duration of each award likely also will vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend on the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.
• This PA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project grant (R01) award mechanism.
• Eligible organizations include public or private institutions and organizations, for-profit or non-profit, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories, units of State and local governments, eligible agencies of the U.S. Federal government, domestic institutions, and faith-based or community-based institutions.
• Eligible principal investigators include any individual with the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research.
• Applicants may submit more than one application, provided they are scientifically distinct
• See Section IV.1 for application materials.
• Telecommunications for the hearing impaired is available at: TTY 301-451-5936

Table of Contents

Part I Overview Information

Part II Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives

Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available

Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria

Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Submission and Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Sending an Application to the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements

Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting

Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)

Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations

Part II - Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Research Objectives

Purpose

Supporting research to advance understanding of the development and progression of diseases and disabilities that contribute to minority health and other health disparities is a major goal of National Institutes of Health’s strategic research plan to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities. There are few areas that are more critical to improving the Nation’s health than understanding the disparities in HIV/AIDS in minority populations. Furthermore, high rates of new HIV infections among African Americans and differences in survival rates for HIV infected African Americans require focused research to understand the factors leading to disparities and to develop interventions to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and its consequences.

African Americans in the U.S. are greatly over-represented among persons affected by HIV/AIDS and other infections (e.g., hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections). The purpose of this Program Announcement is to encourage drug abuse and mental health research on HIV/AIDS among African Americans. Drug abuse research is encouraged on: 1) the relationship between drug abuse and the incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS and AIDS-related morbidity and mortality among African Americans; 2) effective HIV prevention, intervention and treatment programs and services for African Americans; 3) the nexus of criminal justice involvement, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS among African Americans. Mental health research is encouraged on: 1) co-occurring psychosocial health problems or psychological cofactors and HIV risk; 2) mental illness risk for HIV infection; (3) mental health correlates to substance abuse in HIV infection; 4) impact of severe mental illness and other neuropsychiatric comorbidities in the context of HIV; 5) best practices for prevention, behavioral intervention and treatment of HIV/AIDS based on research evidence; 6) effective service delivery for mental health and for HIV disease. Topics of interest include but are not limited to studies to characterize the extent and nature of the disparities in the rates HIV infection and occurrence of co-infections and comorbid conditions among drug using African Americans (taking into account age, gender, education, sexual identity, geographic region, socio-economic status, etc.). In addition studies investigating progression of disease, including the relationship to treatment and services availability and utilization by African Americans are encouraged. Studies are also needed to characterize risk and protective factors in order to develop culturally sensitive prevention interventions to reduce acquisition and transmission of HIV and to minimize health consequences associated with HIV infection and comorbid conditions.

Background and Significance:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HIV/AIDS surveillance data have identified HIV/AIDS as a health crisis for African Americans. In 2001, HIV/AIDS was among the top three causes of death for African American men 25-54 years of age and among the top four causes of death among African American women 25-54 years of age. HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death among African American women aged 25-34 years compared to being the sixth leading cause of death in all women aged 25-34. Of persons diagnosed with AIDS since 1995, a smaller percentage of African Americans (60%) were alive after nine years compared with whites (70%). This difference in survival for African Americans may in part be accounted for by data that African Americans predominate among late testers; 56% of those receiving an AIDS diagnosis within one year of testing positive for HIV were African American. Late testers represent lost opportunities for treatment and prevention. Although African Americans comprise approximately 12% of the U.S. population, they account for a growing number of HIV/AIDS cases. In 2003, fifty percent of estimated new HIV/AIDS cases were African Americans. Through 2001, African American youth aged 12-24 accounted for 56% of HIV infections ever reported in this age group.

Since the AIDS epidemic began, drug abuse has fueled the epidemic. Injection drug use (IDU)-associated AIDS has affected racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately. Injection drug use is the second leading cause of HIV infection for African American women and third leading cause of infection for African American men. Non-injection drug use is also strongly associated with HIV/AIDS in inner-city communities. In addition, substance abusers are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors such as unprotected sex when they are under the influence of drugs. Furthermore, African Americans experience disproportionate rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the presence of certain STDs can increase the likelihood of contracting HIV by 3-5 fold and can also increase the risk of transmitting HIV. Sexual network analysis has shown that the higher prevalence of STDs in African Americans is a function of intraracial sexual network effects, i.e., high numbers of sexual contacts between those in the core and periphery, as well as interracial effects, i.e., African Americans are relatively segregated from other racial and ethnic groups.

Since the start of the AIDS epidemic through 2003, men who have sex with men (MSM) have accounted for two thirds of AIDS diagnoses in men. Approximately one third of MSM living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2003 were African American. There is a high prevalence of HIV among young African American MSM--a CDC survey in seven cities during 1994-1998 found an HIV prevalence rate of 14% in African American MSM aged 15-22. A recent study found that young MSM are unlikely to be aware of their HIV status. This is especially true for young African American MSM; 9 out of 10 HIV+ young African American MSM compared to 6 out of 10 HIV+ white MSM were unaware of their HIV infection. African American MSM are also much more likely to have sex with women than other MSM, and their female partners are usually unaware that these men are MSM because African American MSM may not self-identify as gay or bisexual despite having sex with other men. The link between drug use and HIV risk behavior among MSM is well established, but more research is needed to better understand substance use and HIV risk behavior among African American MSM.

Moreover, the criminal justice system has an over representation of African Americans, as well as a disproportionate burden of infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis (TB). Arrestees have been found to have a high prevalence of substance abuse. Of juveniles arrested in 1999, approximately 72% were white, 25% African American, and 3% other racial/ethnic groups. However, minority youth were much more likely to be detained; residential placement was 40% African American and 18% Hispanic. Adult jail and prison populations also have an over representation of minorities. In 2000, the adult incarcerated population was 46% African American, 36% white, 16% Hispanic, and 2% other. All adults and the majority of juveniles lose access to usual public and private health care and disease prevention systems upon being incarcerated. Many also experience restrictions to public health care services upon release of their incarceration. Thus, incarcerated populations present unique challenges and unique opportunities for public health interventions to prevent and/or treat substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases as well as other comorbid conditions.

These and other findings highlight the need for better understanding of the epidemiology, prevention and treatment service needs related to drug abuse, mental health, and HIV/AIDS among African Americans.

Specific Areas of Research Interest

Applicants are encouraged to consider multidisciplinary approaches, as appropriate, in their study designs, drawing from the behavioral, biomedical, and social sciences, and utilizing both qualitative and quantitative measures and methods. Research sought under this PA is organized under four broad headings: cross-cutting issues, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse issues, intersection of HIV/AIDS and criminal justice involvement, and HIV/AIDS and mental health issues. Suggested research topics on priority areas are listed under each heading, but research supported under this PA is not limited to these topics

Cross-cutting Issues A number of broad research topics on the disparities in HIV/AIDS seen in African Americans, the bases for these disparities, and interventions to reduce these disparities are of interest to both the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National institute of Mental Health:

• Systematic studies of HIV/AIDS progression including involvement of different physiological or biochemical systems and comorbid conditions as a function of race/ethnicity and drug of abuse (e.g., drugs of choice, level of drug involvement, and patterns of use) and/or the relationship to treatment and services availability and utilization by drug using African Americans.
  
  
• Studies that characterize the disparities in the prevalence, incidence, and correlates of HIV. Such correlates may include individual (e.g. drugs of choice, level of drug involvement, and patterns of use, mental health), social (e.g. social and sexual networks), and environmental factors (e.g., structural/contextual variables).
  
  
• Studies to delineate the underlying mechanisms of HIV acquisition and transmission associated with disparities in HIV infection rates within and between various racial/ethnic groups (e.g. studies of sexual or injection drug use network characteristics).
  
  
• Research on the determinants of risk taking in African Americans in a variety of contexts (social, interpersonal, community) and testing of interventions to sustain risk reduction over time.
  
  
• Research on the sociocultural and structural determinants of HIV disparities in African Americans by identifying factors that enhance, sustain or perpetuate health disparities (e.g., poverty, homelessness, racism, homophobia)
  
  
• Studies exploring the role of stigma, including perceived stigma, and fear of recrimination based on past experiences of discrimination, as it may influence risk behaviors associated with HIV acquisition and transmission; seeking HIV counseling/testing, or treatment; and accessing & utilizing clinical care, prevention, and treatment services.
  
  
• Research with African American adolescents and adults on stigma, discrimination, social norms and other factors that affect disclosure to female partners by men who have sex with men
  
  
• Theoretically based, developmentally appropriate, and culturally sensitive HIV preventive interventions targeting individual, social, and environmental factors for vulnerable African American populations (e.g., MSM, sex workers, and youth).
  
  
• Studies of the role of the internet in high risk sexual partnering and as a potential vehicle for delivering HIV/AIDS risk reduction and educational information, prevention interventions, and resources for referral and clinical care.
  
  
• Research to identify and evaluate barriers to care and adherence for HIV infection, including factors related to patient’s mental health or drug abuse, provider characteristics, organizational structure of care and contextual factors (e.g., poverty, homelessness, incarceration, disparities in health care) for affecting African Americans and ways to overcome these barriers to treatment and service provision.
  
  
• Studies that examine the health consequences of differential access and utilization of HIV/AIDS medical care.
  
  
• Intervention studies that explore diverse delivery contexts such as: faith-base organizations, community organizations, drug abuse treatment settings, and primary care settings.
  
  
• Research to translate effective prevention and adherence programs into practice, to integrate programs across mental health, drug abuse treatment, and public health care systems and to disseminate these programs in African American communities.

HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse Issues African Americans, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status, drug users, and those with HIV/AIDS have frequently been marginalized by society. Given the changing demographics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is imperative that research efforts be devoted to addressing HIV/AIDS in African Americans who use drugs of abuse.

• Studies of the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis of medical conditions associated with drug abuse and HIV/AIDS or opportunistic infectious diseases.
  
  
  • Research on the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and health outcomes of African American children and adolescents who have been exposed to drugs of abuse in utero and/or to drug abusing environments during development and to HIV/AIDS and/or antiretroviral therapy. Exposure to HIV/AIDS includes children and adolescents infected with HIV/AIDS, children exposed in utero but not infected, and children affected by HIV/AIDS, that is children with a parent, caregiver, or family member with HIV/AIDS.
    
    
• Studies to develop, implement, and evaluate HIV prevention interventions for drug abusers with comorbid mental health disorders, and/or histories of trauma and/or maltreatment.
  
  
• Interventions to encourage HIV testing and early engagement in treatment for AIDS, drug abuse, and related comorbid conditions.
  
  
• Studies of the interactions between drugs of abuse and medications used in the treatment of drug addiction (e.g., methadone, buprenorphine) and treatment of infections (e.g., antiretroviral medications-Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy HAART).
  
  
• Studies of factors that influence adherence to HIV treatment regimens among drug using population.
  
  
• Stage I, II, and III Behavioral Treatment Research (see (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-126.html):
  
  
  • Development and testing of behavioral and integrative drug abuse treatments for HIV positive African Americans.
  • Development and testing of HIV risk reduction interventions for African Americans in drug abuse treatment.
  • Development and testing of behavioral interventions to improve adherence to HAART in African Americans.
    
    
• Studies that examine access to and quality of HIV treatment and services available to drug abusing African Americans.
  
  
• Studies in drug abusers of barriers to HAART utilization and utilization of other health care services such as HBV immunization, STD screening and treatment, and HCV testing and treatment.
  
  
• Using NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network as a research platform to study:
  
  
  • Prevalence, incidence, treatment or outcome studies of HIV/HCV in African American women in community drug treatment facilities;
  • Incidence of HCV/HIV infection among African American youth in community drug treatment facilities;
  • Outreach options for HIV prevention aimed at African American women, youth in community treatment facilities; and/or
  • Conducting secondary data analyses on completed Clinical Trials Network protocols.

Intersection of HIV/AIDS and Criminal Justice Involvement - Because African Americans are over-represented in the criminal justice system and have a disproportionate burden of HIV and other infectious diseases, NIDA is interested in addressing the intersection of these two areas. Studies may include but are not limited to:

• Studies to determine whether and to what extent cycling in and out of prison or jail may impact HIV spread, the public health burden of disease, and access and/or utilization of prevention, treatment, and services for drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.
  
  
• Studies of the impact of incarceration and criminal justice supervision on drug use and HIV infection.
  
  
• Investigations of the individual and combined or interactive contributions of risk and protective factors in shaping trajectories of drug use, criminal behavior, and HIV risk behaviors.
  
  
• Studies determining when risk for acquisition and transmission of HIV is greatest (e.g. during community-based supervision, in prison/jail, or during re-entry).
  
  
• Studies to identify characteristics of community-based services (e.g. organizational, financing, management, access, delivery, cost-effectiveness, linkage, and coordination) that can be augmented, enhanced, or modified to improve outreach, HIV/AIDS prevention, and treatment programs for substance abusing African American youth and adults involved in the criminal justice system.
  
  
• Studies to characterize (e.g., determining the types, accessibility, utilization, effectiveness, and cost) of HIV prevention and treatment services available for substance abusing African American youth and adults involved at various points in the criminal justice system (e.g. pre-trial, jail/detention/prison, probation, community re-entry).
  
  
• Studies to develop effective, culturally competent HIV prevention programs for African Americans drug users involved in the criminal justice system.
  
  
• Studies to test innovative HIV prevention strategies designed to address the unique needs of substance abusing African American youth and adults involved in the criminal justice system.

HIV/AIDS and Related Mental Health Issues--The Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/dahbr/dahbr.cfm) has a long history of concern and action related to health disparities in African-Americans as well as in other racial/ethnic populations and underrepresented groups (i.e., women, children, disabled) for both its mental health and HIV/AIDS research agendas. As HIV continues to spread, important mental health issues that have arisen in African American populations need urgently to be addressed by mental health researchers, health care practitioners and policy makers, especially the behavioral research needs and challenges of new treatments relating to AIDS as a chronic illness. There is a critical need for mental health data to help guide the development of evidence-based programs for the African American population in HIV prevention, treatment and service provision. Specific topics of research interest that address these priority areas include, but are not limited to the following:

• Research that focuses on the most HIV-vulnerable African American populations who suffer from mental health comorbidities (e.g., women, youth, men who have sex with men) and on factors contributing to diversity within the African American population (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, rural/urban residence).
  
  
• Research on relevant mental health correlates and psychological factors in African Americans that influence HIV high risk behaviors and lead to adverse social, behavioral and health consequences and the subsequent targeting of these risk variables in intervention development.
  
  
• Research on mental and physical health behaviors among perinatally infected African American adolescents.
  
  
• Research on developing assessment tools and mental health support strategies and on examining the impact of changing caretaker on mental health and cognitive development in African American children, infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, to deal with the growing numbers of orphaned, fostered and inadequately cared for children and youth.
  
  
• Research to identify empirically-based effective interventions to enhance the mental health of African Americans, at risk for HIV or HIV-infected, through strategies that are tailored to African Americans, culturally and contextually appropriate and theoretically-driven.
  
  
• Research to develop optimal models of integrated care (individual, program and systems levels) for HIV infection and its associated neuropsychiatric comorbidities in African American populations, to test the effectiveness of coordinated care and to identify the most effective components of an integrated comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment plan.
  Health

See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations, for policies related to this announcement.

Section II. Award Information

1. Mechanism(s) of Support

This funding opportunity will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project (R01) award mechanism. The total project years for an application submitted in response to this PA may not exceed five years for the R01.

As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project.

This funding opportunity uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular as well as the non-modular budget 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 budget format described in the PHS 398 application instructions. Otherwise follow the instructions for non-modular research grant applications.

2. Funds Available

NIDA intends to commit a total of $3 million in FY 2006 to this Program Announcement with set-aside funds (PAS).

• Approximately 10 new awards will be made.
• The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism, duration, and costs of the applications received, and are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
• The average funding per award is anticipated to be approximately $350,000 in direct cost per year.
• The anticipated start date for new awards is September 2006.

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 the IC(s) provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Facilities and administrative costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

1.A. Eligible Institutions

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

• For-profit organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories
• Units of State government
• Units of local government
• Eligible agencies of the Federal government
• Domestic Institutions
• Faith-based or community-based organizations

1.B. Eligible Individuals

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.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

No cost sharing is required.

The most current Grants Policy Statement can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/nihgps_Part2.htm#matching_or_cost_sharing

3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Not applicable.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Information

The PHS 398 application instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. Applicants must use the currently approved version of the PHS 398. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Applications must be prepared using the most current PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms. Applications must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com/us/. The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form.

The title and number of this funding opportunity must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be checked.

3. Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV.3.A for details.

3.A. Submission, Review and Anticipated Start Dates

Application Submission Dates(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm for details.
AIDS Application Submission Dates(s): Standard dates apply, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#AIDS for guidance on dates
Peer Review Date(s): see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for guidance on dates.
Council Review Date(s): see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for guidance on dates.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm#reviewandaward for guidance on dates.

3.A.1. Letter of Intent
A letter of intent is not required for the funding opportunity.

3.B. Sending an Application to the NIH

Applications must be prepared using the research grant application forms found in the PHS 398 instructions for preparing a research grant application. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and five 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 (U.S. Postal Service Express or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS service)

Personal deliveries of applications are no longer permitted (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-040.html).

3.C. Application Processing

Applications must be submitted on or before the application receipt/submission dates described above (Section IV.3.A.) and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/dates.htm.

Upon receipt applications will be evaluated for completeness by CSR. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The NIH will not accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial merit review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The NIH 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 application must include an Introduction addressing the previous critique.

Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within eight (8) weeks.

4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

5. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

Pre-Award Costs are allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award if such costs: are necessary to conduct the project, and would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award.

The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project. See NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.

6. Other Submission Requirements

Specific Instructions for Modular Grant applications.
Applications requesting up to $250,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a modular budget format. The modular budget format simplifies the preparation of the budget in these applications by limiting the level of budgetary detail. Applicants request direct costs in $25,000 modules. Section C of the research grant application instructions for the PHS 398 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step-by-step guidance for preparing modular budgets. Applicants must use the currently approved version of the PHS 398. Additional information on modular budgets is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.

Specific Instructions for Applications Requesting $500,000 (direct costs) or More per Year.
Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year must carry out the following steps:

1) Contact the IC program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the application, i.e., as you are developing plans for the study;

2) Obtain agreement from the IC staff that the IC will accept your application for consideration for award; and,

3) Include a cover letter with the application that identifies the staff member and IC who agreed to accept assignment of the application.

This policy applies to all investigator-initiated new (type 1), competing continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended or revised version of these grant application types. Additional information on this policy is available in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, October 19, 2001 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-004.html.

Plan for Sharing Research Data

The precise content of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and how the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants who are planning to share data may wish to describe briefly the expected schedule for data sharing, the format of the final dataset, the documentation to be provided, whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided, whether or not a data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and whether or not any conditions will be placed on their use), and the mode of data sharing (e.g., under their own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data on their institutional or personal website, through a data archive or enclave). Investigators choosing to share under their own auspices may wish to enter into a data-sharing agreement. References to data sharing may also be appropriate in other sections of the application.

All applicants must include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The data sharing policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing. All investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data sharing is not possible.

The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.

Sharing Research Resources

NIH policy requires that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication (NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part7.htm#_Toc54600131). Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing is not possible.

The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any related data sharing plans will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm). See Section VI.3. Reporting.

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications submitted for this funding opportunity will be assigned to the ICs on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines.

Appropriate scientific review groups convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures (http://www.csr.nih.gov/refrev.htm) will evaluate applications for scientific and technical merit.

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

• Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score.
• Receive a written critique
• Receive a second level of review by an appropriate national advisory council or board.

The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review
• Availability of funds
• Relevance of program priorities

The goals of NIH supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following criteria in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that an 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, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

Significance: Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Approach: Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?

Innovation: Is the project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?

Investigators: Are the investigators appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?

Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?

2.A. Additional Review Criteria:

In addition to the above criteria, the following items will continue to be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score:

Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk: The involvement of human subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be assessed (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).

Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children in Research: 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 will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).

Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If vertebrate animals are to be used in the project, the five items described under Section F of the PHS Form 398 research grant application instructions will be assessed.

Biohazards: If materials or procedures are proposed that are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, determine if the proposed protection is adequate.

2.B. Additional Review Considerations

Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the budget.

2.C. Sharing Research Data

Data Sharing Plan: The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score. The presence of a data sharing plan will be part of the terms and conditions of the award. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data sharing policy.

2.D. Sharing Research Resources

NIH policy requires that grant awardee recipients make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication (See the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/part_ii_5.htm#availofrr and http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/rt_guide_final.html). Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a sharing research resources plan addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing is not possible.

Program staff will be responsible for the administrative review of the plan for sharing research resources.

The adequacy of the resources sharing plan will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. Program staff may negotiate modifications of the data and resource sharing plans with the awardee before recommending funding of an application. The final version of the data and resource sharing plans negotiated by both will become a condition of the award of the grant. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590). See Section VI.3. Reporting.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Not applicable

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm).

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document. Once all administrative and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email notification from the awarding component to the grantee business official (designated in item 14 on the Application Face Page). If a grantee is not email enabled, a hard copy of the NoA will be mailed to the business official.

Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See Also Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the Notice of Award. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm) and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm).

3. Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, Form 2590 annually (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm) and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management issues:

1. Scientific/Research Contacts:

NIDA Contact
Lynda Erinoff, Ph.D.
AIDS Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd.
Room 5274 MSC 9581
Bethesda, MD 20892-9581
Telephone: (301) 402-1972
FAX: (301) 443-9127
Email: le30q@nih.gov

NIMH Contact

David Stoff, Ph.D.
Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS
National Institute on Mental Health/NIH/DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 6210, MSC 9619
Bethesda, MD 20892-9619
Telephone: (301) 443-4625
FAX: (301) 443-9719
E-mail: dstoff@nih.gov

2. Peer Review Contacts:
Not applicable

3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:

Deborah S. Wertz
Senior Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch/OPRM
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
6101 Executive Boulevard, Room 270
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 443-6710
FAX: (301) 594-6849
Email: gfleming@nida.nih.gov

Rita V. Sisco
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist
National Institute of Mental Health/NIH/DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 6120
Rockville, MD 20892
Tel: (301) 443-2805
Fax: (301) 443-6885
Email: rr46w@nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Required Federal Citations

Human Subjects Protection:
Federal regulations (45CFR46) require that applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).

Data and Safety Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety monitoring is required for all types of clinical trials, including physiologic toxicity and dose-finding studies (phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II); efficacy, effectiveness and comparative trials (Phase III). Monitoring should be commensurate with risk. The establishment of data and safety monitoring boards (DSMBs) is required for multi-site clinical trials involving interventions that entail potential risks to the participants (NIH Policy for Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).

Sharing Research Data:
Investigators submitting an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this is not possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing).

Investigators should seek guidance from their institutions, on issues related to institutional policies and local IRB rules, as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority score.

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 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 funding opportunity 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.

Sharing of Model Organisms:
NIH is committed to support efforts that encourage sharing of important research resources including the sharing of model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm). At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm). All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications where the development of model organisms is anticipated.

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 "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html); a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is 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 Clinical Research:
The NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included in all clinical research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.

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 (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 applications for research involving human subjects and individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC):
Criteria for federal funding of research on hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html. Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC line(s)to be used in the proposed research. Applications that do not provide this information will be returned without review.

NIH Public Access Policy:
NIH-funded investigators are requested to submit to the NIH manuscript submission (NIHMS) system (http://www.nihms.nih.gov) at PubMed Central (PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript upon acceptance for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or in part with direct costs from NIH. The author's final manuscript is defined as the final version accepted for journal publication, and includes all modifications from the publishing peer review process.

NIH is requesting that authors submit manuscripts resulting from 1) currently funded NIH research projects or 2) previously supported NIH research projects if they are accepted for publication on or after May 2, 2005. The NIH Public Access Policy applies to all research grant and career development award mechanisms, cooperative agreements, contracts, Institutional and Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards, as well as NIH intramural research studies. The Policy applies to peer-reviewed, original research publications that have been supported in whole or in part with direct costs from NIH, but it does not apply to book chapters, editorials, reviews, or conference proceedings. Publications resulting from non-NIH-supported research projects should not be submitted.

For more information about the Policy or the submission process please visit the NIH Public Access Policy Web site at http://www.nih.gov/about/publicaccess/ and view the Policy or other Resources and Tools including the Authors' Manual (http://www.nih.gov/about/publicaccess/publicaccess_Manual.htm).

Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued final modification to the "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002 . The Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced by the DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Decisions about applicability and implementation of the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review, funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.

HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Policy for the National Institute on Drug Abuse : Researchers funded by NIDA who are conducting research in community outreach settings, clinical, hospital settings, or clinical laboratories and have ongoing contact with clients at risk for HIV infection, are strongly encouraged to provide HIV risk reduction education and counseling. HIV counseling should include offering HIV testing available on-site or by referral to other HIV testing service for persons at risk for HIV infection including injecting drug users, crack cocaine users, and sexually active drug users and their sexual partners. For more information see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-01-001.html.

National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse Recommended Guidelines for the Administration of Drugs to Human Subjects : The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse recognizes the importance of research involving the administration of drugs to human subjects and has developed guidelines relevant to such research. Potential applicants are encouraged to obtain and review these recommendations of Council before submitting an application that will administer compounds to human subjects. The guidelines are available on NIDA's Home Page at http://www.nida.nih.gov under the Funding, or may be obtained by calling (301) 443-2755.

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 PA 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: This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found 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.

Loan Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages applications for educational loan repayment from qualified health professionals who have made a commitment to pursue a research career involving clinical, pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health disparities related areas. The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the next generation of researchers by providing the means for developing a research career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is not required for eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing the LRP recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research. For further information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov.

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NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

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