Full Text AA-92-03
 
ALCOHOL RESEARCH CENTER GRANTS
 
NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 20, May 29, 1992
 
RFA AVAILABLE:  AA-92-03
 
P.T. 34

Keywords: 
  Alcohol/Alcoholism 
  Etiology 
  Diagnosis, Medical 
  Disease Prevention+ 
  Disease Control+ 
  Rehabilitation/Therapy, Emotional 

 
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  October 1, 1992
Application Receipt Date:  December 10, 1992
 
PURPOSE
 
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides
grant support for Alcohol Research Centers to conduct interdisciplinary
research on alcoholism and alcohol abuse.  The Center grants program is
interrelated with and complementary to all other research support
mechanisms and scientific activities that comprise the NIAAA programs
of research on the nature, causes, diagnosis, treatment, control,
prevention, and consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
 
A center is expected to be a source of scientific excellence and,
through sustained excellence, to become a significant regional or
national research resource.  In addition, the applicant institution is
expected to afford opportunities for research training to persons from
various disciplines and professions.
 
Support from the initial five-year grant awards for two of the existing
centers will expire on November 30, 1993.  Research within each of
these two centers is organized around a central theme, respectively,
alcohol and aging, and alcohol and immunology including the acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection.  It is the intent of NIAAA to continue to support a center
addressed to research questions on alcohol and aging.  It is also the
intent of the NIAAA to continue to support a center that addresses
research issues on alcohol and immunology, although other themes may be
considered.  Applications for new centers will be evaluated with
applications from currently funded centers seeking renewal support
beyond November 30, 1993. Center grants are typically awarded for a
five-year period.
 
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000
 
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This Request
for Applications (RFA), Alcohol Research Center Grants, is related to
the priority area of alcohol abuse and alcoholism reduction.  Potential
applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00474-0), or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325, telephone
(202) 783-3238.
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Any domestic public (non-Federal) or private non-profit or for-profit
institution may apply for a center grant. However, the proposed center
must be affiliated with an institution, such as a university, medical
center, or research center that has the resources to sustain a long-
term, coordinated research program.  An applicant institution must
demonstrate the ability to attract high-quality scientists from
biomedical, behavioral, and/or social science disciplines who are
willing to make a long-term commitment to research.  An application
must also have a detailed five-year plan for a proposed research
program.  In addition, the applicant must assure that research training
opportunities will be available.  Women and minority investigators are
encouraged to apply.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
A Specialized Center Grant (P50) is a comprehensive, broadly
based multidisciplinary, multi-investigator, long-term program of
combined research and research support activity planned around a
specific major research objective or research theme.  In addition to
providing support for shared resources, this type of center supports a
full range of basic, developmental, clinical, and/or applied research
components; allows for growth and development through pilot projects;
and is intended to provide state-of-the-art leadership in the alcohol
field.
 
Terms and Conditions of Support
 
Center grant funds may be requested for support of core components and
individual research components associated with the center program.
Core resources may include, for example, salaries of personnel
responsible for management of the center, services and facilities to be
shared by center personnel, program enrichment activities such as
special lectures, visiting scientists, symposia, seminars, and shops,
and costs related to dissemination of research information to the
scientific community and lay public.  Funds may be requested for costs
associated with individual research components which are part of the
center program.  Examples of such costs include:  research staff
salaries, supplies, travel, special consultation, research patient
costs, publication costs, and the like.  Funds also may be requested
for the allowable indirect costs of the applicant organization.  In
addition, costs of advisory committees, steering committees, and
consultants may be included in the administrative core.  Consultants
for specific research components must be included in the budgets for
those components.  If committees are included, specific plans as to how
the committees will be selected and how they will function must be
presented in the application.
 
Alcohol Research Center grant funds may be used only for costs that are
necessary to carry out the research and research support activities of
the center program and must be in conformance with HHS cost principles
(encompassed in 45 CFR Part 74) and the Public Health Service Grants
Policy Statement (Rev. 10/1/90).
 
Funds provided under this program may not be used for the purchase of
land; nor for the purchase, construction, preservation, and repair of
any building.  However, costs of alteration and renovation of existing
facilities necessary to accomplish the objectives of the grant may be
allowed subject to PHS grants policy limitations.  Funds provided
through center grants may not be used for support of trainee stipends,
fees, and other expenses directly relating to training activities.
Support will be provided for a period of up to five years (renewable
for subsequent periods) subject to continued availability of funds and
scientific progress.  Applicants may request up to $1.7 million total
cost (including direct and indirect costs combined) per year.  The
actual amount of support awarded will depend upon consideration of
factors listed in the section entitled, AWARD CRITERIA.
 
The center grant is neither expected nor intended to cover all costs of
running a successful Alcohol Research Center program.  Research and
training activities associated with the center may receive additional
funding from Federal sources and from State and local sources.  The
NIAAA expects and encourages the institution and scientists attracted
to such centers to seek and compete actively for such funding.
Research staff in funded centers may submit applications for
independent research project grants for support of research projects
that do not overlap with the center project.  Requests for funds to
expand the scope or number of research components within the center
grant must be discussed with NIAAA staff before an application is
prepared.
 
Centers will be required to submit detailed annual progress reports
including substantive information about research results to date,
status of ongoing research, research plans for the next year, and any
modifications in long-term research plans.  Also required are reporting
of inventions, reports of expenditures, final reports, and other
reports in accordance with PHS policy.
 
FUNDS AVAILABLE
 
It is estimated that approximately $3-4 million will be available in FY
1994 to fund approximately two centers.
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 
All proposed research to be conducted within a center must be clearly
directed toward one or more of the following goals:  prevalence,
etiology, diagnosis, prediction, clinical course, management or
treatment of alcohol abuse; alcoholism or alcohol-related health
problems; consequences of alcoholism or alcohol abuse; and factors that
relate to prevention of alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and other problems
associated with alcohol consumption.
 
The Alcohol Research Center grant provides a mechanism for fostering
interdisciplinary cooperation in a group of established investigators
conducting high-quality alcohol research.  Therefore, existence of a
strong research capability is fundamental to the establishment of a new
center or the continuation of an existing center.  A center should be
an identifiable organizational unit within an institutional or
organizational structure such as a university, medical center, or a
consortium of affiliated cooperating institutions.
 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
 
A.  Definitions
 
1.  Administrative Core Component
 
A center should promote synergistic interaction of broad and diverse
elements that require clearly specified lines of authority and
accountability by appropriate institutional officials.  The purpose of
the administrative core component is to provide the organizational
framework for the management, direction, and coordination of the
center.  The administrative core component must be managed by the
Center Director or Scientific Director and may include funds for
scientific enrichment activities such as special lectures, visiting
scientists, symposia, seminars, and workshops; and for education and
research dissemination activities for the public.
 
2.  Scientific Core Components
 
Core components for this RFA are defined as shared research resources
that enhance productivity or in other ways assist a group of
investigators working in alcohol-related research to accomplish the
stated goals of the center.  A core component is a laboratory,
facility, service, or resource that interacts synergistically with
research projects of the center.  Research projects that use the core
may be funded primarily from the center grant award (Specialized
Research Center), from other support mechanisms such as Research
Project Grants, Program Projects, or a combination thereof.  Core
components should provide investigators with some technique,
instrumentation, service, or resource in a way that will enhance
research progress and contribute to effectiveness.  Each core component
is directed by an investigator with established expertise relative to
the support or service to be provided, usually a faculty-level
individual.  Some examples of research support that core components
typically provide are:  (1) technology that lends itself to automation
or large batch preparation; (2) tissue and/or cell culture facilities;
(3) complex instrumentation, e.g., electron microscopy, mass
spectrometry, electrophysiology; (4) animal care and preparation; (5)
service and training; (6) patient coordination; and (7) information
processing, data management, and statistical services.
 
3.  Research Components
 
Research components are individual, scientifically meritorious,
research projects that are interrelated within the overall center
program so that the components contribute collectively to the goals of
the center program to a greater extent than if each project were
pursued separately.  Each research component must be a highly focussed
project under the direction of a component director who may also be the
Center Director.  The component director should be an established
researcher of independent and scientifically recognized standing who is
responsible for the scientific direction and conduct of the individual
research component.
 
4.  Pilot Project Component
 
The purpose of pilot projects is to provide the center with a flexible
means to develop and explore new research activities or directions, and
unique scientific opportunities that could evolve into independently
funded research projects.  These funds are not intended to supplement
ongoing research projects.  Pilot projects should be in a separate
pilot project core component that incorporates all of the pilot studies
of the proposed center grant.
 
B.  General Requirements
 
Details for preparing the application are provided in the supplemental
instructions (see INQUIRIES below).
 
Center grant applications should be logically organized into discrete
components that comprise a proposed program of research.  Each
component is either a research component or a core component for which
a separate detailed budget is included in the application.  The
application must include an administrative core and at least three
research components, and may also include shared resource cores and/or
a pilot project core component.
 
A maximum and minimum number of components that will be accepted for
center grant applications has been established.  The minimum acceptable
combined number of research components and core components is four
(three of which must be research components).  The maximum combined
number of research components and core components, including any pilot
project core component, is 10 for the total project period.  The
research plan for each core component and each research component is
limited to 25 pages.  Pages not used for one component may not be used
to extend the page limit of other components/cores.  These page limits
do not apply to pilot projects.  For pilot project requirements, see
the section entitled "Pilot Project Component," (below).
 
1.  Administrative Core Component
 
The administrative core component will play a key role in the
coordination and operation of the center.  This core should be
described in sufficient detail to assure that all proposed components
and related activities will function optimally. An important function
of this core is the administration of the budget.  Through this
component, the Center Director provides substantive leadership and
manages the administrative core component.  This component may also
include the costs of scientific enrichment, education, and information
dissemination activities.  The administrative core should also provide
integration of center functions.
 
2.  Scientific Core Components
 
Each shared resource component should be clearly described in terms of
the services/resources to be provided to investigators.  The
description should include a discussion of the core's contributions to
the research objectives of the Center.  Relevant aspects of cost
effectiveness, time saving, and increased efficiency attributable to
the existence of the cores should also be addressed.  A core component
may support center grant research components and separately funded
research project grants that are related to the center's theme.  Each
separately funded research project associated with the Center and
utilizing core facilities should have a two-page description that
includes its research objectives and how the center's core facility
will impact upon it.  The minimum number of research
components/projects supported by a core component is two.  A core
component director who has acknowledged experience and scientific
expertise relative to the purpose of the core must be designated for
each core.  This person should be an established scientist in his or
her field.  The description of the organization and mode of operation
of the shared resource core should include discussion of quality
control for the service or resource, and the procedures for evaluating
and selecting projects eligible for use of the facility.  Training in
complex techniques and methods should be described if they are
functions in proposed cores.  Core components are intended to enhance
opportunities for investigators at the center to include new
technologies that broaden their research initiatives.  Research is an
appropriate initiative of a core when it is directly related to
improving the operation, function, quality, or utility of the core.
 
In renewal applications, ongoing or completed core activity that has
enhanced or facilitated research should be described.  Past performance
and accomplishments of cores should be described, as should the effect
of services provided by cores on investigators' productivity.
 
3.  Research Components
 
For each proposed research component, a clear description of the major
goals, objectives, and its integration with the other components in
relation to the overall center program should be provided to include:
 
-  The question(s) to be addressed and the hypotheses to be tested by
the proposed research should be highly focused and fully explained.
 
-  A discussion of the design and procedures should describe the
strategies proposed to accomplish the specific aims of the project and
innovative aspects of the approach.
 
-  A description of the resources and working arrangements required to
implement and conduct the proposed research should be fully elaborated
with particular attention devoted to a description of necessary
resources, subjects, clinical populations, and tissue resources that
will be involved in proposed studies.
 
All proposed research components need not be ongoing at any one time,
but may be phased in at different time points during the life of the
proposed center grant.  This aspect should receive careful attention in
the application and individual component preparation.
 
4.  Pilot Project Component
 
Pilot projects should be adequately, though concisely described.
Although the specific number of pilot projects to be proposed is at the
discretion of the applicant, requested funding for pilot studies may
not exceed $200,000 or 20 percent (whichever is larger) of the total
direct cost budget proposed for any one year.  All proposed pilot
projects need not be ongoing at any one time, but may be phased in at
different points during the life of the proposed center grant.  It is
also recognized that the relative priority or need for specific pilot
projects may change over the course of time.
 
Although the center's framework for management of pilot funds and the
mechanism for operating the program are left to the discretion of the
center, the application must provide specific information to enable
adequate scientific review.  The application must include:
 
-  A description of each proposed pilot study including its rationale,
objectives, approach, investigators, and significance for the center.
The research description of any individual pilot project may not exceed
8 pages; the entire narrative for this Pilot Project Component may not
exceed 50 pages irrespective of the number of pilot projects proposed.
 
-  A full description of the management of the pilot project component
including a description of the process to be followed by the Center
Director in selecting new pilot projects, should a need arise to
replace any of the pilots contained in the application.
 
-  For competing renewal applications, information should be provided
on the past experience of the center in utilizing pilot funds to
further the goals.  The narrative should include an assessment of the
overall benefits derived from the availability of pilot resources.
 
See attached "Special Instructions" for information on pilot project
description requirements.
 
C.  Renewal Applications
 
A comprehensive progress report is required for competing continuation
(renewal) applications.  A statement must be included in the
application regarding the progress made by the center as a whole in its
development as a national or regional research resource.  In addition,
for each research component of the existing center grant, a succinct
account of its published and unpublished results must be provided,
indicating progress toward achieving aims regardless of whether the
component has been submitted for renewal.  More specific details are
provided in the special instructions that are available from the
contact listed under INQUIRIES.
 
D.  Facilities and Environment
 
Applicants must demonstrate the availability of adequate laboratory,
clinical, and office facilities needed to carry out the objectives of
the proposed center program.  Although not required, it is desirable
for all centers to have a commitment for sufficient contiguous space so
that the center has a high degree of cohesion and visibility.
Reference facilities affording access to the relevant literature must
be readily available.  It is expected that such reference facilities
will be the primary repository of additional reference materials that
may be obtained through center funding.  Relevant support services,
including adequate data processing facilities, must also be readily
accessible within or through the institution.  Assurances of such
support must be included with the application.
 
E.  Organization and Administration
 
A center must be an identifiable organizational unit with an
administrative structure and clear lines of authority that will
facilitate coordination among center personnel to assure maximum
accountability and efficiency in center operations.  An applicant must
designate an institutional official to serve as Principal Investigator
for the center grant and as director of the center.  The institutional
appointment of this person must provide sufficient authority to
allocate space, personnel, and other resources essential to the center.
This individual must demonstrate ability to organize, administer, and
direct the center.  The director of the center will have responsibility
for planning and coordination of the center program, preparation of the
budget, and oversight of expenditures, staff appointments, space
allocation, and other aspects of management and operation of the
center.
 
Overall program management, coordination, communication, progress
assessment, and quality control are typically responsibilities of the
director and are facilitated through the administrative core.  The
administrative core should be described in sufficient detail to assure
that all proposed components and related activities will function
optimally.  In addition, day-to-day operations involving procurement,
finances, personnel, planning, and budgeting should be detailed in the
description of this core.
 
The applicant may also designate a Scientific Director who will be
responsible to the Center Director and provide direct supervision of
the scientific and operational aspects of the research program.  Such
a person should be an individual who has established scientific
credentials and who is capable of providing the leadership essential to
the success of the research program.  The Scientific Director will be
responsible for assuring interaction and collaboration among scientists
conducting research within the center to facilitate a concerted
approach to the research goals of the Center.  The Scientific Director
also will be responsible for the direct monitoring of ongoing research
and for identifying (with the assistance of colleagues) research
activities to be expanded or decreased and needs for additional
resources or reallocation of resources.
 
Key professional staff, such as directors of individual research
components and core components of the center, should have the necessary
training/experience to assure that the objectives and goals of the
proposed studies will be achieved.  Such persons must be established
investigators with proven track records.
 
A Program Advisory Committee shall be established and chaired by the
Center Director.  Its membership, selected by the Center Director from
individuals outside the center, should be composed of at least five
members.  Members should be persons of recognized scientific standing
who are generally familiar with the center's activities and represent
a cross section of disciplines that are relevant to the work of the
proposed center.  It shall be the responsibility of this Committee to
review and make recommendations to the Center Director on the conduct
of all activities of the center.
 
F.  Training
 
Although the primary function of each center is the conduct of
high-quality interdisciplinary research, an important component related
to the center and its research efforts is the training of research and
clinical personnel.  The applicant institution must therefore
demonstrate or give reasonable assurances that it has:
 
(a)  the capacity to train predoctoral and/or postdoctoral students for
careers in alcohol research;
 
(b)  the capacity to conduct programs of continuing education in the
center's designated research theme in the medical and health service
fields.
 
Although the center need not necessarily have formal training programs
of its own, there must be specific provision for coordination between
the center and the training programs of the applicant institution
and/or affiliated institutions.  Center grant funds may not be used to
pay stipends or other trainee costs; however, center staff may
participate in the development of training programs, and center
resources may be made available for use of trainees.
 
Relationship to NIAAA
 
In view of the special significance of this program, close coordination
and communication between the NIAAA staff and staff of the Alcohol
Research Centers is intended.  The NIAAA program official will have
responsibility for maintaining liaison with appropriate center
leadership, serving as resource consultant to the center program, and
keeping NIAAA staff informed on progress and accomplishments of the
Centers.  In addition, the program official with other NIAAA staff and
consultants will, from time to time, make on-site visits for purposes
of program coordination and exchange of information.
 
STUDY POPULATIONS
 
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INCLUSION OF MINORITIES AND WOMEN AS SUBJECTS
IN RESEARCH
 
Applications for grants and cooperative agreements and proposals for
contracts that involve human subjects are required to include
minorities and both genders in study populations so that research
findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease,
disorder or condition under study; special emphasis should be placed on
the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases,
disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect them.  This
policy applies to all research involving human subjects and human
materials, and applies to males and females of all ages.  If one gender
and/or minorities are excluded or are inadequately represented in this
research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear
compelling rationale for exclusion or inadequate representation should
be provided.  The composition of the proposed study population must be
described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group, together with a
rationale for its choice.  In addition, gender and racial/ethnic issue
should be addressed in developing a research design and sample size
appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study.
 
Applications are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including
the broadest possible representation of minority groups.  However, NIH
and ADAMHA recognize 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., American Indians, or
Alaskan Natives, Asians or Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics).
Investigators must provide the rationale for studies on single minority
population groups.
 
Applications for support of research involving human subjects must
employ a study design with minority and/or gender representation (by
age distribution, risk factors, incidence/prevalence, etc.) appropriate
to the scientific objectives of the research.  It is not an automatic
requirement for the study design to provide statistical power to answer
the questions posed for men and women and racial/ethnic groups
separately; however, whenever there are scientific reasons to
anticipate differences between men and women, and racial/ethnic groups,
with regard to the hypothesis under investigation, applicants should
include an evaluation of these gender and minority group differences in
the proposed study.  If adequate inclusion of one gender and/or
minorities are impossible or inappropriate with respect to the purpose
of the research, because of the health of the subjects, or other
reasons, or if in the only study population available, there is a
disproportionate representation on one gender or minority/majority
group, the rationale for the study population must be well explained
and justified.
 
The NIH/ADAMHA funding components will not make awards of grants,
cooperative agreements or contracts that do not comply with this
policy.  For research awards which are covered by this policy, awardees
will report annually on enrollment of women and men, and on the race
and ethnicity of subjects.
 
LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit by October 1, 1992, a letter
of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research,
the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator,
the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions,
and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the
application is being submitted.
 
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does
not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information
that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications.
It allows NIAAA staff to estimate the potential review workload and to
avoid possible conflict of interest in the review.  Letter of intent
are to sent to Dr. Ernestine Vanderveen at the address provided in
INQUIRIES.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
Applicants are to use the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91).
The title and number of this RFA, Alcohol Research Center Grants,
AA-92-03, must be typed in item number 2a on the face page of the PHS
398 application form.
 
When using the PHS 398 application form to respond to an RFA,
applicants must affix the RFA label available in the application kit to
the bottom of the face page.  Failure to use this label could result in
delayed processing of the application, such that it may not reach the
review committee in time for review.
 
Application kits containing the necessary forms and instructions may be
obtained from business offices or offices of sponsored research at most
universities, colleges, medical schools, and other major research
facilities.  If such a source is not available, the following office
may be contacted for the necessary application material:
 
Centers Program
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Division of Basic Research
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 16C-06
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-1273
 
The receipt date for applications is December 10, 1992.  The signed
original and four permanent legible copies of the application must be
sent or delivered to:
 
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892
 
In addition, it is requested that one copy be sent to:
 
National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Office of Scientific Affairs
Parklawn Building, Room 16C-20
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD  20857
 
Applications received after the December 10, 1992, receipt date will be
returned to the applicant without review.
 
Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research
Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources
may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting the proposed
research.  In such a case, a letter of agreement from either the GCRC
program director or Principal Investigator must be included with the
application.
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
Each center application will be reviewed by a group of experts to
evaluate the scientific and technical merit of the applications.
Recommendations from this review will be presented to the National
Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to make a final
recommendation to the Director, NIAAA.  Grant awards will be made with
a start date of December 1, 1993, or later.
 
Review Criteria
 
The initial review for scientific and technical merit of applications
will emphasize two major aspects:  (1) review of the center as an
integrated research effort focused on a central theme, including the
administrative core, and (2) the review of each research component and
all other core components.  The review will also include an assessment
of the academic and physical environment and special considerations,
e.g., compliance with human subject and animal welfare requirements,
and compliance with policies concerning inclusion of women and
minorities in clinical research study populations.
 
1.  The Center as an Integrated Effort
 
o The significance of the overall research goals and development of a
well-defined central research theme.
 
o  Multidisciplinary scope of the center; its cohesiveness,
coordination, and interrelation; and the synergistic potential among
the center components and core units.
 
o The stature, experience, and administrative competence of the Center
Director; and his or her commitment and ability to devote substantial
time and effort to the center.
 
o The scientific ability of the Scientific Director and his or her
professional experience and leadership.
 
o  The justification of the core components in terms of accomplishing
the center objectives, and their usefulness to the research components
and/or independently supported investigators who utilize the core
services or facilities.
 
o The scientific stature of the directors of the research project
components and/or the core components, the extent to which each of the
directors will contribute to overall center goals, and their commitment
to the center.
 
o Administrative arrangements and organizational structure of the
administrative core to facilitate and monitor attainment of center
objectives and maintain quality control of ongoing projects.  These
factors include:
 
- plans for communication and cooperation among investigators involved
in the center;
 
- mechanisms for allocation of funds and core resources and selecting
meritorious pilot projects;
 
- quality control, oversight;
 
- day-to-day management; long-term planning and periodic evaluation;
 
- contractual and consortium arrangements; and
 
- procedures for replacement of key persons, if necessary.
 
o Appropriateness of the overall budget for the work proposed in the
center.
 
o Potential of the center to become or maintain itself as a regional
and national resource, including capacity to provide quality research
training, opportunities for independent research career development,
and plans for research information dissemination and education
activities.
 
o In addition, applications for renewal support will be evaluated in
terms of the degree to which the center has achieved stated goals with
special attention to:
 
-  the scientific merit of completed research,
 
-  recruitment of new scientists into alcohol research,
 
-  development of a multidisciplinary research team, and
 
-  coalescence of the center staff into an effective team.
 
2.  Individual Research Components and Core Components
 
o The scientific and technical merit of each research component and
each core component.
 
o The significance of each research and core component and its relation
to the central theme of the center.
 
o Evidence of quality control of proposed core component's services,
resources, facilities.
 
o The qualifications, experience, and commitment of the component
director responsible for the research component and/or core component,
including his or her ability to devote adequate time and effort to the
center.
 
o The appropriateness of the budget request for each of the proposed
research project components and/or core components, administrative
core, and any pilot project core component.
 
3.  Resources and Environment
 
In addition to the scientific components, e.g., research project and
core components, the initial review group will also evaluate:
 
o The academic and physical environment in which the research will be
conducted, including availability of space, equipment, research
subjects and materials, and the potential for interaction with
scientists from other departments and other institutions.
 
o The institutional strength, stability, commitment to research and
support for the center, including fiscal responsibility and management
capability to assist the Center Director and staff in complying with
HHS, PHS, and ADAMHA policies.
 
o Opportunities for research training and education for persons from
various disciplines and professions.
 
4.  Other Considerations
 
o When an application proposes research or research-related activity
that involves potential risks to human subjects, animals, and/or the
environment, the adequacy of the proposed means for protecting against
such risks must be demonstrated for each component.
 
o Specific statements addressing compliance with ADAMHA policies on
inclusion of women and minorities in studies involving human subjects.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
Applications recommended by the NIAAA National Advisory Council will be
considered for funding on the basis of the overall merit of the
application as well as such considerations as program balance,
relevance to the mission and goals of the NIAAA, research program
priorities, equitable geographic distribution, continuity of support,
and availability of funds.  Awards will be made for up to five-year
project periods with separate fiscal awards made annually.
 
INQUIRIES
 
For a copy of the supplemental instructions and preapplication
consultation contact:
 
Dr. Ernestine Vanderveen
Associate Director
Division of Basic Research
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 16C-06
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-1273
 
Director inquiries relating to fiscal matters to:
 
Mr. Edward Ellis
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 16-86
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-4703
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
No. 93.891.  The statutory authorities for awards under this RFA are
Sections 301 and 511 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 241 and
290bb-1).  Federal Regulations at 42 CRF Part 54a, Subpart E "Grants
for National Alcohol Research Centers" apply to grants under this RFA.
This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review
requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
 
.

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