Full Text AG-93-02 CENTERS OF RESEARCH ON APPLIED GERONTOLOGY NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 29, August 14, 1992 RFA: AG-93-02 P.T. 04 Keywords: Aging/Gerontology Behavioral/Social Studies/Service Sociology National Institute on Aging Letter of Intent Receipt Date: October 2, 1992 Application Receipt Date: November 18, 1992 PURPOSE This Request for Applications (RFA) seeks to establish Centers of Research on Applied Gerontology. The Centers' purpose will be to facilitate the process of translating basic behavioral and social research theories and findings into practical outcomes that will benefit the lives of older people. They will focus on strategies to improve quality of life, enhance productivity, and minimize the need for care. They will, therefore, have an emphasis distinct from the clinical and biomedical approaches that are sponsored through the Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Centers (RFA AG-91-05, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 20, No. 7, February 15, 1991). 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 priorities. This RFA, Centers of Research on Applied Gerontology, addresses several priority areas including chronic disabling conditions, physical activity and fitness, violent and abusive behavior and unintentional injuries as they relate to older people. 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, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202/783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Domestic public and private, for-profit and non-profit institutions and organizations are eligible to apply in response to this RFA, provided that some member of the proposed research team at the institution has received grant or contract funds or is currently active in research through an external peer-reviewed process. Applications from women and minority investigators and institutions are encouraged. Awards will not be made to foreign institutions. Questions about eligibility may be referred to the staff contacts listed at the end of this announcement. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The support mechanism for these awards will be the specialized center (P50) mechanism. Such awards cover a spectrum of activities that comprise a multidisciplinary attack on a particular problem area. A maximum of five years of support may be requested. At that time, funds may be available for competitive renewal of the Centers. All current policies and requirements that govern the research grant programs of the NIH will apply to grants awarded in connection with this RFA. Special Terms of Awards applying to projects funded in response to this RFA are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable OMB administrative guidelines, HHS grant administrative regulations at 45 CFR Part 74, and other HHS, PHS, and NIH grants administration policies. Awardees will maintain custody of and primary rights to the data developed under the awards, subject to Government rights of access, consistent with current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies. FUNDS AVAILABLE An estimated $3,000,000 will be made available in Fiscal Year 1993 for support of awards made under this RFA. It is expected that up to 6 awards will be made at a maximum of $400,000 direct costs per award for the first year. This level of support is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. Awards pursuant to the RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Researchers are encouraged to seek funding to apply the theories, paradigms, and methodology of the behavioral and social sciences to address practical problems of late middle aged and older people at work, in the home, in transportation, in health care, or in other areas of concern to the population. The focus of this initiative is on translating research result obtained in laboratory or other scientific settings into practical benefits for older adults. The organizing principle behind each center should reflect this aim of establishing a pattern of research translation from basic research to practical outcome. Each Center should focus on a single organizing theme, rather than cover the spectrum of problems that may be addressed by the initiative as a whole. The individual projects that are part of the Center should have as their goal a practical end-point---improvement in some indicator or indicators of functioning in these different environments. The research may apply to a real world situation, findings and methodologies previously identified through smaller or more selective studies. Alternatively, the research may apply broader scientific knowledge from a related domain to a particular problem. Improvements in aspects of behavioral indicators relevant to the practical domain (e.g., laboratory measures of cognitive functioning, health status, or subjective well-being) may be considered interim goals of the research strategy. However, the end-point is improvement in functioning in the practical domain itself. Thus the goal will not only be confirming a theory or discovering a new effect (though these may be expected from well-designed studies addressing practical problems). One highly desirable feature of the Centers will be a focus on special populations of older people. Growth in size of minority older populations has been, and will continue to be, substantial. The oldest old remain the population at greatest risk for dependency. Older adults who have been identified as retarded face particular problems in later life. Poor older adults in rural areas have severely limited access to health and general services. These and other special populations who have pressing needs warrant attention from researchers in aging. The focus on investigating a practical problem will require applicants to show familiarity with the practical domain or environment being investigated as well as with relevant aspects of aging research. That familiarity may be achieved by collaboration with specialists in the domain or community or by prior experience in applying aging research successfully to this domain. Because practical problems will likely cross disciplinary backgrounds and benefit from input from practice professionals as well as researchers, applications that reflect such broad-based expertise are particularly encouraged. The following examples illustrate potential research strategies in a number of different practical domains. These examples are illustrative only. Applications are welcomed from all domains that are important to older adults in daily life. o Use principles from human factors to design work environments that accommodate the needs of older workers o Use perceptual and cognitive theory and methods to derive valid functional tests of competence for work, for driving, and for other safety-related activities o Apply models of discourse analysis, text comprehension, and schema-based remembering to derive improved designs for medical and pharmacological information leaflets, insurance forms, and other structured material that older adults encounter o Use methods of task analysis and associated theory to identify environmental designs that facilitate independent activities of daily living in frail older adults o Use methodology and theory from the information processing tradition to foster the design of new service delivery systems and health monitoring systems for frail older adults living at home o Use training research and theory to seek ways to improve competence in critical skills that support independence o Use models of family systems and dysfunction to guide interventions for reducing family conflict in later life o Adapt known techniques for establishing and maintaining support groups for informal caregivers to the special cultural and language needs of families of minority older people o Adapt principles of health behavior change to modify health promotion programs for specific older populations or to address conditions affecting older people's health status (e.g., dietary change, exercise, self-help) o Use theories of organizational analysis (e.g., from medical sociology or from industrial or organizational psychology) to enhance the quality of life of older people in the formal care system o Use research on congregate housing patterns and arrangements for the elderly to develop housing models to accommodate those dependent elderly in need of daily assistance. Research incorporating findings related to ethnic minority elderly is especially encouraged o Use existing training theory and research to develop improved curriculum models that develop and enhance in-home and institutional nursing care skills o Use community organization theory to develop and evaluate centers or programs for older adults that focus on social activities, public service, or educational development Structure of the Centers The Centers will consist of (a) a management core, (b) individual projects, and (c) optionally, a recruitment core. Management Core The management core is central to each Center. It provides both the drive and the means to facilitate the process of research translation. Activities of the core should include: o monitoring individual projects that are part of the Center, assessing the progress and reassigning resources as needed during the course of the award. (Major changes must be approved by the NIA before going into effect.) o facilitating collaborative work across the different projects by coordinating data collection and providing technical support and guidance to the individual projects. o providing advice on possible applications that arise from the research projects, and materially assisting the application of these results. The day-to-day running of the management core will be coordinated by the Director of the Center. However, this core should have an advisory committee that oversees the functioning of the core and the individual projects. The Committee should consist of at least five members. The Director of the Center should be the chair of the committee. At least one member of the committee should have primary background in the proposed field of application through a service or commercial role in that field. At least one member of the committee should be an experienced researcher from another institution, whose only connection with the Center is through serving on the committee. Individual project leaders may serve on this committee, however, individual project leaders together with the Center Director cannot be a voting majority of the committee. The committee should meet at least twice annually to review the status of current projects and to recommend the appropriate level of future year funding for these projects. Major changes in individual projects, the deletion of projects, or the addition of new projects should be approved by the NIA prior to taking effect. Individual Projects The Center must at all times support at least two individual projects (with different PI). The overall PI of the Center generally must be a PI on one of these projects. The projects should each relate to the central organizing theme of the Center. They may be planned for any length of time up to the proposed duration of the Center. The rationale, method, and proposed data analysis for individual projects planned during the project period must be described in the application. Field Research - Intervention Phase This initiative is intended to generate practical outcomes. Therefore, all Centers should propose at least one project that has a plan for field research. The possible practical outcomes of such work should be clearly stated. It is also anticipated that the majority of Centers funded will have an intervention phase. Therefore, applications that do not include an intervention phase must explain why no intervention is appropriate. Interventions that are selected must be based on sound theory, have supporting pilot data and show a methodologically sound plan for evaluation of the intervention. The evaluation should contain a plan to monitor intended effects of the treatment and some means to monitor more obvious possible unintended and negative consequences. Recruitment Core Because this RFA encourages working with special populations and requires research involving practical situations, conventional methods of recruiting and testing subjects may not always be appropriate. Therefore, applicants may choose to set-aside up to $50,000 annually to establish and staff a recruitment core. The roles of this core would be to: o recruit and maintain contact with subjects; o assist in making testing arrangements either in the laboratory or at test sites; o collect demographic information from subjects; o administer any general performance testing battery (Applicants may choose to allocate more than $50,000 to the recruitment core if such performance testing is directly relevant to hypotheses being addressed either by the Center as a whole or by individual projects.); o assist project members in collecting information about subjects from public records; and o support modest payments for participation and transportation to facilitate recruitment and retention of hard-to-reach groups. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Annual Meeting Investigators are encouraged to request funds to travel once each year to meet with the other investigators who are funded through this RFA. The meetings will be held at the NIH, Bethesda, MD. The purpose of the meetings is to have investigators working in the same general area share information about research methods and findings. Applicants should include a statement in the application indicating a willingness to participate in such meetings and to cooperate with other researchers in the exchange of data, materials, and ideas. STUDY POPULATIONS SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS It is NIH policy that applicants for NIH clinical research grants will be required to include minorities and women 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 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 should 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 should be included in form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) in items 1-4 of the Research Plan and summarized in item 5, Human Subjects. Applicants are urged to carefully assess 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. The rationale for studies on single minority population groups should be provided. For the purpose of this policy, clinical research includes 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 application will be returned. Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the scientific question(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 the NIH are required to address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes identification of other participating investigators and institutions, and a descriptive title. The NIA requests such letters only for the purpose of providing an indication of the number and scope of applications to be received and, therefore, usually does not acknowledge their receipt. A letter of intent is not binding, and it will not enter into the review of any application subsequently submitted, nor is it a necessary requirement for application. The letter of intent is to be received no later than October 2, 1992, and is to be sent to: Dr. Robin A. Barr Behavioral and Social Research National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 2C234 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892 APPLICATION PROCEDURES Prospective applicants are advised to communicate with program and grants management staff listed below as early as possible in the planning phase of application preparation. NIA staff are available to assist applicants to ensure that the objectives, structure, and the budget format for the proposed Center are acceptable. The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used in applying for these grants. This form is available in the applicant institution's office of sponsored research or business office and from the Office of Grants Inquiries, National Institutes of Health, Room 449, Westwood Building, Bethesda, MD 20892-9912, telephone (301) 496-7441. The page limitations apply separately to the management core, the recruitment core (if proposed), and each individual research project. Complete information, including a budget, must be provided for each component project, the management core, and the recruitment core. Section C of the application is the Research Plan. Individual projects must follow the instructions for this section as described in the PHS 398 packet. For the management core, this section must describe at least: (1) The major theme and rationale for the Center; (2) the organization of the core; (3) the relation between the core and the individual projects, including oversight responsibilities; (4) the relation between the core and the community or service groups most likely to be affected by the research; and (5) the means by which the core will facilitate application of research results. For the recruitment core, this section must describe: (1) the nature and characteristics of the proposed recruitment sample; (2) any screening instruments used to select people as eligible for the study; (3) any proposed standard batteries of tests that will be administered to the whole sample; and (4) what recruitment and retention procedures will be used to obtain and maintain an adequate sample. To identify the application as a response to this RFA, Check "YES" on Item 2a of page 1 of the application and enter the title, "Research Centers on Applied Gerontology" and the RFA number AG-93-02. THE RFA LABEL ENCLOSED WITH THE PHS 398 FORM MUST BE AFFIXED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FACE PAGE OF THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION. FAILURE TO USE THIS LABEL COULD RESULT IN DELAYED PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATION Send or deliver the completed application and three signed, exact photocopies in a single package to the following office, making sure that the original application with the RFA label attached is on top: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, MD 20892** Send two additional copies of the application to: Chief Scientific Review Office National Institite on Aging Gateway Building, Room 2C212 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892 IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEND THESE COPIES AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ORIGINAL AND THAT THREE COPIES ARE SENT TO THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, NIA staff will review applications for completeness and responsiveness. Applications that are incomplete, nonresponsive to this RFA, or exceed the annual direct cost limit of $400,000 (including total costs for sub-contracts) will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. The NIA will withdraw from further competition those applications judged by triage to be noncompetitive for award and notify the applicant and institutional official. Applications judged to be competitive will undergo further scientific merit review by an initial review group (IRG) within the NIA. This review may involve an applicant interview or site visit. The second level of review will be provided by the National Advisory Council on Aging. The most important criterion for scientific merit review will be the proposed Center's demonstrated potential to act as a conduit between basic behavioral and social research and applied outcomes. Both the evidence of past involvement in related research and the specific plans for seeking applied outcomes described in the application will be considered part of that potential. A related and important criterion concerns the proposed Center's ability to address the needs of special populations of older people who are identified as having particularly pressing concerns. The following specific criteria reflect how these overall goals will be implemented in the review process. 1. Theoretically and empirically supported rationale for the particular approach to extending basic behavioral and social research into applied areas. The rationale with supporting materials must be described in the section on the management core. 2. Specific research plans for each individual project proposed for the duration of the Center. Each specific project must follow the structure and level of detail of independent research applications. Pilot data providing support for the likely success of particular strategies that apply basic theory or paradigms will be an advantage. The 25 page limit on the research plan is applied separately to the individual projects. 3. An evaluation plan for monitoring the effectiveness of any proposed interventions. Attention should be paid in the plan to possible negative consequences of the intervention as well as the intended positive outcomes. 4. A clear description of likely sub-groups of older people who may benefit from the proposed research and a statement indicating the sought-after gains (e.g., in health-status, cost-savings, increased independence, increased productivity) 5. Leadership ability, relevant experience in appropriate areas, and scientific stature of the program director. The time commitment of the Center Director must be sufficient to show substantial personal supervision of the various activities of the Center. A past history of applying basic behavioral and social research in a relevant area will be an important advantage. 6. Qualifications and experience of the core investigators and their investment of time in the project. 7. Qualifications and experience of the advisory committee to the Center. The presence and commitment of someone on the committee who has clear links to the communities or services likely to be affected by the research is essential. 8. Commitment from the host institution to the research activity and availability of appropriate facilities for the research activities proposed. 9. The appropriateness of the budget for the Center. 10. Adequacy of protection against risks to subjects involved in the research. 11. Appropriate inclusion of women and minorities (see section on STUDY POPULATIONS above) AWARD CRITERIA Awards will be made on the basis of the availability of funds with consideration being given to program balance, and also from results obtained through the NIH peer review mechanism. In addition, the NIA appreciates the value of complementary funding from other public and private sources, including foundations and industrial concerns, for activities that will complement and expand those supported by the NIA. INQUIRIES Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged in order to clarify issues or questions. The opportunity to clarify any issues or answer any questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct questions on programmatic issues related to the RFA to: Dr. Robin A. Barr Behavioral and Social Research National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 2C234 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-3136 FAX: (301) 402-0051 E-mail: Barr@NIHNIAGW.BITNET Questions on fiscal matters may be directed to: Ms. Linda Whipp Grants and Contracts Management National Institute on Aging Gateway Building, Room 2N212 7201 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1472 Commitment from the applicant will be considered in making final awards. AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, No. 93.866. Awards are made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Section 301 (42 USC 241) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations, most specifically at 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
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