Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information
Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Funding Opportunity Title

NINDS Institutional Center Core Grants to Support Neuroscience Research (P30)

Activity Code

P30 Center Core Grants

Announcement Type

Reissue of PAR-08-116

Related Notices

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number

PAR-12-081

Companion FOA

None

Number of Applications

Only one application per institution is allowed as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

93.853

FOA Purpose

NINDS invites new and competing renewal applications for Center Core Grants that provide resources and facilities shared by a minimum of six NINDS-supported investigators. The proposed Centers will offer services and expertise that would be difficult or impractical to support in individual labs. The Centers are expected to capitalize on economies and synergies associated with shared resources, and to foster a collaborative environment among neuroscientists at host institutions.

Key Dates
Posted Date

January 17, 2012

Letter of Intent Due Date

March 3, 2012

Application Due Date(s)

April 3, 2012

AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Not Applicable

Scientific Merit Review

June-July 2012

Advisory Council Review

August 2012

Earliest Start Date(s)

September 30, 2012

Expiration Date

April 4, 2012

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the PHS398 Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. While some links are provided, applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Research Objectives

Overview

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) invites applications for Center Core Grants to support the NINDS mission, which is to reduce the burden of neurological disease. In pursuit of this mission, NINDS supports basic, translational, and clinical research on the normal and diseased nervous system. For an overview of NINDS, with links to more information, see http://www.ninds.nih.gov/about_ninds/ninds_overview.htm.

The Centers will provide cutting edge resources and facilities to investigators who have existing NINDS-funded research projects, and to other investigators pursuing research consistent with the NINDS mission. The Centers should enhance the effectiveness of ongoing research and facilitate new research directions. This support is intended to increase resource accessibility and to capitalize on potential economies and synergies that would not be attained through independent funding of separate research projects.

Qualifying Projects/Investigators

To receive a Center Core Grant, an institution or consortium must support at least six Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) who hold qualifying NINDS-funded research projects at the time of application submission. Qualifying projects include R01 and other larger scale awards, as specified in Section III.3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Center Usage

All of the qualifying investigators must be significant users of the Center, and no more than 25% of the effort from a single Core facility can be devoted to projects directed by any single investigator. The qualifying projects are necessary, but must not be the only projects supported by the Cores. Priority for usage shall be determined according to the Project Prioritization Plan described below.

P30 Center awards will not support independent research that is separate from the goal of service to Center users. Center personnel may receive partial funding from other sources for independent research, but their effort towards Center activities shall be documented as described below. In infrequent cases, technology development may be appropriate for a given Core, but only insofar as this development enhances the service to Center users. Applicants considering technology development efforts are encouraged to contact an appropriate NINDS Program Director to discuss alternative grant mechanisms.

Considerations for Research Core Suitability

In assessing the appropriateness of potential research Cores, applicants should weigh various considerations, including the following. Cores should provide services that would be impractical for individual labs, either because of ongoing requirements for specialized expertise, or because of associated economies of scale. If comparable services are available elsewhere either off-site (e.g., commercially) or via other facilities at the host institution, a Core must demonstrably add value both for potential users and for support of the NINDS mission. Added value may be in the form of lower overall cost to investigators and to the federal government, or it may be in the form of specialized services that are unique to the needs of NINDS-supported research. Core facilities and personnel should be focused on a service mission, with a goal of meeting the data needs of a variety of potential users. Cores are expected to add value to future research, in addition to currently supported projects.

The following is a non-exclusive list of types of activities that may be appropriate for individual Core facilities: Animal models, Animal surgery, Behavior, Cell Culture/Repositories, Genomics, Histochemistry, Imaging, Informatics, Metabolomics, Microscopy, Pathology, Proteomics, Optogenetics, Physiology, Statistical/Computational Analysis. The program will not provide funding for Cores that support clinical trials or provide patient services.

Co-funding by the applicant organization or by outside sources is encouraged, but the host institution’s existing facilities and available services should be clearly delineated from the facilities and services that are proposed for funding via this FOA, in the Resources section of the application (see Section IV. Application and Submission Information). There should be no overlap between the requested NINDS-funded core facilities and other pre-existing core facilities at the host institution.

Center Requirements

Dissemination and Access Plan: Center applicants should propose, or have in place, a mechanism for thorough dissemination and advertisement of available services and resources to the full community of neuroscience investigators at the host institution. In addition, each application should propose or have in place a concrete plan for facilitating access to the Center resources, such as a website in which users can sign up for services or equipment.

Steering Committee: Each Center will be directed by a Steering Committee chaired by the PD/PI of the Center Core Grant. The committee will include the directors of the individual Cores, at least two of the PD(s)/PI(s) of the qualifying projects, and a Department Chair or Vice President/Provost for Research, or equivalent, from the applicant organization. The Steering Committee will establish guidelines to determine the most appropriate methods for providing access to the Core facilities and services, as specified in the Project Prioritization Plan described below. The Steering Committee will also advise the Center PD/PI on strategic and operational issues, to maximize the impact of the Center on NINDS-relevant research at the institution. For consortium arrangements between multiple applicant organizations (see Section III.3. Additional Information on Eligibility), the composition of the proposed Steering Committee must include representation from the respective organizations sufficient to fully support the interests of potential users from each organization.

Project Prioritization Plan: For each of the proposed Cores, the application must include a Project Prioritization Plan that details how the capacity of the proposed Core will be evaluated and allocated by the Steering Committee. Prioritization may be established by virtue of a fee structure or by a formal project evaluation mechanism, or by other appropriate considerations. NINDS funded projects shall be given priority over pilot research and over research that is funded from other sources. In all cases, the relevance of the research to the NINDS mission of reducing the burden of neurological disease shall be a primary consideration, with recognition that this mission includes support for basic research on fundamental processes of nervous system function. The plan should permit some level of access to NINDS mission-relevant research for PD(s)/PI(s) who do not hold NINDS qualifying grants, even during busy periods of usage. Centers should serve as resources for early stage as well as established investigators.

Activity Reports: Annual Activity Reports for each of the Cores shall be submitted to the Steering Committee and to the assigned NINDS Program Officer. The reports will document that effort is maintained at the reported level for each individual supported by Center funds, and they will contain quantitative information regarding usage by individual projects and PD(s)/PI(s) for each of the Cores. The Steering Committee shall evaluate the Activity Reports to ensure compliance with Center usage requirements, and to assess the ongoing value of Core services. The format for reporting quantitative information depends on the nature of the services and deliverables provided by the various cores. This format for reporting activities must be specified in the application, as indicated in Section IV.2., Content and Form of Application Submission.

Section II. Award Information
Funding Instrument

Grant

Application Types Allowed

New
Renewal
Resubmission (A1) applications will be accepted for applications previously submitted in response to PAR-08-116 if the A0 application was originally submitted for the May 25, 2009 receipt date or later.
Revision

The OER Glossary and the PHS398 Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations, and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. NINDS anticipates funding 3 awards in response to the current announcement.

Award Budget

Applications may request up to $400,000 per year in direct costs.

Award Project Period

The maximum project period is 5 years.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Higher Education Institutions

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

For-Profit Organizations

Governments

Other

Foreign Institutions

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the PHS398 Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.

All Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least4-6 weeks prior to the application due date.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s))

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization 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 support.

Multiple PD(s)/PI(s) are not allowed in this FOA.

2. Cost Sharing

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

Only one application per institution (normaly identified by having a unique DUNS number of NIH IPF number) is allowed.

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. Resubmission applications may be submitted, according to the NIH Policy on Resubmission Applications from the PHS398 Application Guide.

An applicant organization is eligible for a maximum of one NINDS Center Core Grant.

Qualifying Research Projects: On the date of application submission, eligible applicant organizations shall have a minimum of six qualifying research projects directed by at least six separate Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s). All qualifying projects must be significant users of the Center. For the purpose of this FOA, qualifying projects are defined as NINDS-funded research projects using the following grant mechanisms: R01, U01, R37, P01, P50 and U54. Investigators holding smaller research projects (R21 and R03), fellowships, and career (K) awards shall be eligible for Center services, but they do not count toward the minimum required number of investigators. Multicomponent awards such as Program Projects (P01) and Centers (P50 or U54) each count as only one qualifying project toward the minimum requirement. In the case of Centers that include consortium agreements between multiple applicant organizations, qualifying investigators may be included from each institution.

Consortium Agreements: Consortium arrangements between applicant organizations are allowed. Applications with participation by more than one organization must demonstrate that facilities and services will be local and accessible for users from each organization, and that users from each organization have a compelling need for the services of the proposed Center. The composition of the proposed Steering Committee must include representation from the respective organizations sufficient to fully support the interests of potential users from each organization.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

Applicants are required to prepare applications according to the current PHS 398 application forms in accordance with the PHS 398 Application Guide.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the PHS398 Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Letter of Intent

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Edmund Talley, Ph.D.
Neuroscience Center, Room 2132
6001 Executive Boulevard, MSC 9521
Bethesda, MD 20892
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: 301-496-1917
Email (strongly preferred):TalleyE@mail.nih.gov

Application Submission

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application forms and instructions for preparing a research grant application. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and three 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)

At the time of submission, two additional paper copies of the application and all copies of the Appendix files must be sent to:

Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Room 3201, MSC 9529
6001 Executive Boulevard, MSC 9521
Bethesda, MD 20892
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: 301-496-9223
Email: nindsreview.nih.gov@mail.nih.gov

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the PHS398 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed, with the following exceptions or additional requirements:

The Research Strategy section is limited to six pages for the Center Overview, plus six pages for each non-administrative Core. Administrative Cores should be described in the Center Overview section.

Budget

The budget section of the application must include an overall summary budget for the Center that includes the cost of the individual cores, and a separate detailed budget for each proposed core.

Resources

The Resources section must include the following components:

Research Plan

All instructions in the PHS398 Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Research Strategy

The Research Strategy should include the following items. For specific Center requirements and criteria, see Research Objectives in Section I.

Overview of the Center: 6 pages maximum. Include information on the following:

Proposed Core facilities: 6 pages per Core. Include information addressing:

Resource Sharing Plan

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the PHS398 Application Guide, with the following modification:

Appendix

Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix (please note all format requirements) as described in the PHS398 Application Guide.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates.

Information on the process of receipt and determining if your application is considered on-time is described in detail in the PHS398 Application Guide.

Applicants may track the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

4. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

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.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Allowable Costs:

Specific limits appear below as well as certain items that may be requested.

6. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be received on or before the due dates in Part I. Overview Information. If an application is received after that date, it will not be reviewed.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.

Post Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Overall Impact - Overall

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Scored Review Criteria - Overall

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Will the Center and each of the Cores enhance research output in ways that would not be practical for individual research projects? Do the Cores convincingly add value over comparable facilities and services, either on- or off-site? Do the Cores contribute to the unique needs of NINDS-supported research? Does the Center provide special synergies or influence the host research environment in tangible ways? Do the long-term research goals of the qualifying users align with the NINDS mission?

Investigator(s)

Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD(s)/PI(s), do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project? Is the Program Director(s)/PrincipalInvestigator(s) well qualified to effectively administer the Center? Are each of the Core directors and personnel appropriately trained and suitably positioned for their respective roles? Are they able to devote adequate time and effort to Core activities? Do they have a history of performing services for their colleagues, outside the needs of their own research? Is the steering committee appropriate for effective oversight of the Center?

Innovation

Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed? Are features of the Center organization or its services unique? Are the technologies especially forward-ranging in their implementation? Do the Center and/or individual Cores have potential to serve as exemplars for outstanding research service?

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?

If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed? Do the Cores provide advanced techniques and services? Are they maximally appropriate for the anticipated research needs of the investigators? Are the facilities and equipment optimal? Are plans for Center administration, including procurement and personnel management, appropriate? Does the Dissemination and Access Plan ensure that facilities and services will be widely used, with easy and fair access to the appropriate users? Is the Project Prioritization Plan sufficient to ensure optimal allocation of Center resources? For each of the Cores, is the format for the annual Activity Report appropriate for ensuring compliance with Center usage guidelines, and for assessing the ongoing value of Core services?

Environment

Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements? Is the host institution a locus for top notch neuroscience and/or biomedical research? Are the qualifying investigators (the primary users) at the top of their fields? Is there a large base of investigators, outside those holding the minimum qualifying projects, who will derive benefits from the Center? Has the host institution demonstrated tangible commitments in the support of the Center and/or in support of research towards the goals of the NINDS mission?

Additional Review Criteria - Overall

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Resubmissions

For Resubmissions previously described in Section II. Award Information, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.

Renewals

For Renewals, the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.

Revisions

For Revisions, the committee will consider the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application that was not for recommended approval by the committee, then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are clearly evident.

Additional Review Considerations - Overall

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.

Applications from Foreign Organizations

Not Applicable.

Select Agent Research

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Resource Sharing Plans

Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).

Budget and Period of Support

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by the NINDS,, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Review assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD(s)/PI(s) will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

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 as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. 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.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

Not Applicable.

3. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Application Submission Contacts

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov

eRA Commons Help Desk(Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Edmund Talley, Ph.D.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Telephone: 301-496-1917
Email: TalleyE@mail.nih.gov

Peer Review Contact(s)

Chief, Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Telephone: 301-496-9223
Email: nindsreview.nih.gov@mail.nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Tijuanna Decoster
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Telephone: 301-496-9231
Email: decostert@mail.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Authority and Regulations

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 Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.


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