FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION AWARD PROGRAM

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992



PAR:  PAR-93-026



P.T. 34, 48



Keywords:

  Cancer/Carcinogenesis 

  Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl 



Fogarty International Center



Application Receipt Dates:  October 1, February 1, June 1



PURPOSE



The Fogarty International Center (FIC) provides small grants referred

to as Fogarty International Research Collaboration Awards (FIRCAs) to

U.S. grantee institutions to facilitate cooperation and collaboration

between U.S. scientists and scientists in Central and Eastern Europe,

Latin America, and the non-U.S. Caribbean.  This announcement expands

the FIRCA program to include cancer-related collaborative research

with scientists located in Sub-Saharan Africa.  This new effort is

supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). FIRCAs provide

funds to foreign collaborators, through the U.S. grantee institution,

for equipment and supplies at their home institution, and for travel

expenses for both the U.S. Principal Investigator and the foreign

collaborator.  These awards are intended to support the new and

expanded research efforts of U.S. scientists who are Principal

Investigators of currently funded National Institutes of Health (NIH)

research project grants on the general scientific subject of the

proposed collaboration.



ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS



U.S. scientists who are Principal Investigators of NIH research

project grants (R series, P series, or U-01 series) that will be

active and funded during the proposed grant award period (up to three

years) are eligible.  The small grants will be made for work

conducted in cooperation with scientists only in countries located in

the geographical regions commonly known as Central and Eastern Europe

(including the former USSR and the Baltic Republics), Latin America,

the non-U.S. Caribbean, and for cancer-related research, Sub-Saharan

Africa.  The foreign collaborator must hold a position at a public or

private non-profit institution that will allow him or her adequate

time and provide appropriate facilities to conduct the proposed

research.



MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT



The small grants (R03) will provide up to $20,000 per year for up to

three years in direct costs.  Funds may be used for materials,

supplies, and equipment for the foreign scientist's research

laboratory and for travel expenses for the Principal Investigator

and/or the foreign collaborator and their research associates, as

justified by the scientific needs of the project.  No salaries or

stipends for any of the collaborators, students, or technical

assistants will be offered under these awards.  Applicants must

request support to conduct research not already being supported by

the U.S. investigator's research grant; however, the research

proposal should be an extension of or related to the currently funded

research project.  The awards will be made to U.S. institutions,

which will be responsible for the expenditures.  The minimum small

grant project period will be for one year; the maximum will be for

three years.  Indirect costs will be calculated on the basis of the

off-site rates of the U.S. sponsoring institution.  The award of this

small grant is non-renewable, and the NIH awarding unit of the

"parent" grant is under no obligation to continue support for the

foreign research component as a component of a recompeting "parent"

grant.



RESEARCH OBJECTIVES



The main objective of this program is to facilitate collaborative

research efforts between U.S. and foreign scientists that will expand

and enhance the NIH-supported research program of the U.S. Principal

Investigator, while at the same time benefiting the scientific

interests of the collaborating foreign scientist.  These small grants

will provide funds to purchase supplies, materials, and small

equipment items necessary to conduct the collaborative research in

the foreign scientist's research laboratory at a non-profit public or

private institution in the eligible countries.  These awards will

also provide travel support, as necessary to conduct the

collaborative research effort, for the U.S. and/or the foreign

collaborator(s).  All biomedical and behavioral research topics

supported by the NIH are eligible for inclusion under this program in

Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the non-U.S.

Caribbean.  Research collaboration with scientists in Sub-Saharan

Africa is limited to cancer-related research only.  The U.S.

Principal Investigator must show evidence of ongoing NIH research

support in areas related to the small grant application, and this

support must be available during the entire proposed small grant

award period.  The application must demonstrate that the effort will

enhance the scientific contributions of both the U.S. and foreign

scientists and strengthen the contribution to the NIH-sponsored

research effort.



STUDY POPULATIONS



SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH

POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL

RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS



NIH policy is that applicants for NIH clinical research grants and

cooperative agreements are required to include minorities and women

in study populations so that research finding can be of benefit to

all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or condition under

study; special emphasis must be placed on the need for inclusion of

minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and conditions

which disproportionately affect them.  This policy is intended to

apply to males and females of all ages.  If women or minorities are

excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research,

particularly in proposed population- based studies, a clear

compelling rationale must be provided.



The composition of the proposed study population must be described in

terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and

racial/ethnic issues should be addressed in developing a research

design and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of

the study.  This information must be included in the form PHS 398

(rev. 9/91) in Sections 1-4 of the Research Plan AND summarized in

Section 5, Human Subjects.  Applicants are urged to assess carefully

the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of

minority groups.  However, NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible

or appropriate in all research projects to include representation of

the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority populations

(i.e., Native Americans (including American Indians or Alaskan

Natives), Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics).  The rationale

for studies on single minority population groups must be provided.



For the purpose of this policy, clinical research is defined as human

biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology,

prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of

diseases, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to

clinical trials.



The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also

apply.  Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues

cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded.  However,

every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and

racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of

the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants.



If the required information is not contained within the application,

the review will be deferred until the information is provided.



Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in

the application conforms to these policies.  If the representation of

women of minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the

scientific questions(s) addressed AND the justification for the

selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a

scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and will be

reflected in assigning the priority score to the application.



All applications for clinical research submitted to NIH are required

to address these policies.  NIH funding components will not award

grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these

policies.



APPLICATIONS PROCEDURES



Applications are to be submitted by the U.S. Principal Investigator

on the standard grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91), available

at most institutional offices of sponsored research and from the

Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National

Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, room 449, Bethesda, MD

20892, telephone (301) 496-7441.  The deadlines for receipt of

applications are October 1, February 1, and June 1 of each year.

Special instructions are necessary and are available from the address

below.  Credentials for the foreign collaborators must be included

with the application and the collaborative arrangements described in

a letter signed by both investigators.  Applicants must list the

active NIH research grant(s) that will be held during the proposed

project period of this award.  The foreign laboratory collaborating

with the Principal Investigator of the small grant must be located in

the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (including the former

USSR and the Baltic Republics), Latin America, the non-U.S. Caribbean

and for cancer-related research, Sub-Saharan Africa.



The title and number of the announcement must be typed on line 2a of

the face page of the application.  The complete original and five

legible copies must be sent or delivered to:



Division of Research Grants

National Institutes of Health

Westwood Building, Room 240

Bethesda  MD  20892**



REVIEW PROCEDURES



Applications will be assigned for review to, and awards will be made

by, the FIC, utilizing the customary NIH peer review process.

Scientific and technical merit will be evaluated by a Fogarty

International Center initial review group.  Second level review will

be provided by the Fogarty International Center Advisory Board.



AWARD CRITERIA



Initial award decisions will be announced within a month following

each board meeting and will be based on the scientific merit of the

applications and the availability of funds.



INQUIRIES



Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues and requests for the

guidelines to:



Dr. Mirilee Pearl

International Research and Awards Branch

Fogarty International Center

Building 31, Room B2C21

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-1653

FAX:  (301) 402-0779



Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:



Ms. Silvia Mandes

Grants Management Officer

Fogarty International Center

Building 31, Room B2C21

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-1653

FAX:  (301) 402-0779



AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS



This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance No. 93.934.  Awards are made under authorization of the

Public Health Service Act, Title III, Sections 301 and 307(b) as

amended, 42 USC 242(e).  This program is not subject to the

intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or

Health Systems Agency review.



.

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