ELUCIDATION OF THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS OF PLACEBO EFFECT

Release Date:  November 8, 2001

RFA:  RFA-AT-02-002

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
 (http://nccam.nih.gov)
John E. Fogarty International Center
 (http://www.nih.gov/fic)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
 (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)
National Institute on Aging
 (http://www.nih.gov/nia)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
 (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
 (http://www.niaid.nih.gov)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
 (http://www.niams.nih.gov)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
 (http://www.niddk.nih.gov)
National Institute on Drug Abuse
 (http://www.nida.nih.gov)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
 (http://www.nigms.nih.gov)
National Institute of Mental Health
 (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
 (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  March 1, 2002
Application Receipt Date:       April 11, 2002

THIS RFA USES "MODULAR GRANT" AND "JUST-IN-TIME" CONCEPTS.  MODULAR INSTRUCTIONS 
MUST BE USED FOR RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATIONS REQUESTING LESS THAN $250,000 PER 
YEAR IN ALL YEARS.  MODULAR BUDGET INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROVIDED IN SECTION C OF THE 
PHS 398 (REVISION 5/2001) AVAILABLE AT 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html

PURPOSE

The goal of this initiative is to stimulate crossing cutting, integrative 
research aimed at delineating the underlying mechanisms by which a placebo leads 
to its ultimate physiological and psychological effects. In the context of this 
initiative, integrative research is defined as the combined use of approaches 
from several different scientific disciplines such as sociology, psychology, 
cell biology, physiology, genetics, and/or molecular biology to probe 
neurological, endocrinological, immunological and other relevant systems in 
order to define the mechanisms underlying placebo effects. 

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion 
and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national 
activity for setting priority areas.  This Request for Applications (RFA), 
"Elucidation of the Underlying Mechanisms of Placebo Effect" is related to one 
or more of the priority areas.  Potential applicants may obtain "Healthy People 
2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, for-profit and non-
profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, 
hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible 
agencies of the Federal government.  Racial/ethnic minority individuals, 
women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal 
Investigators.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project 
grant (R01) and the developmental/exploratory grant (R21) award mechanisms.  
Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed 
project will be solely that of the applicant.  The total project period for an 
application submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed 4 years for R01 
grants and 2 years for R21 grants. At this time, it is not known if this RFA 
will be reissued. Therefore, future unsolicited competing continuation 
applications will compete with all investigator-initiated applications and be 
reviewed according to the customary peer review procedures.  The earliest 
anticipated award date is September 2002.

FUNDS AVAILABLE 

NCCAM intends to commit approximately 1.13 million dollars in total costs in FY 
2002 and/or FY 2003 to fund 4 to 6 new grants. In addition, FIC, NIA, NHLBI, 
NIAMS, NIDA, NIGMS, NIMH, AND NINDS intend to contribute a total of 
approximately 2.11 million dollars in FY 2002 and/or FY 2003 to fund additional 
grants applications that respond to this RFA. Finally, NIAAA, NIAID, and NIDDK 
may provide support to other meritorious applications that fit their program 
objectives.  

R21 grant applicants may request a project period of up to two years with a 
total direct cost per year of $125,000. R01 grant applicants may request a 
project period of up to 4 years. A direct cost budget limit is not specified for 
R01 grants. 

Because the nature and scope of the research proposed may vary, it is 
anticipated that the size of each award will also vary.  Although the financial 
plans of the NCCAM and other NIH Institute/Centers provide support for this 
program, awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of 
funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. 

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

The benefits of therapeutic interventions in clinical practice are often 
enhanced by placebo effects. Placebo effects can be defined as the positive 
physiological or psychological changes associated with the use of inert 
medications, sham procedures, or therapeutic symbols within a healthcare 
encounter. Placebos can also be active substances or real procedures that 
produce unexpected beneficial effects. For example, antibiotics may be 
considered placebos when prescribed for viral respiratory illnesses that are not 
expected to respond to antibiotic action. Placebo effects may also be viewed as 
a subset of a larger group of mind-brain-body effects such as the psycho- 
physiological effects of religious beliefs and devotional practices, meditation, 
faith-based healing, hypnosis, and the effects of cultural and social economic 
systems on the prevalence and severity of specific diseases. These effects have 
been scientifically documented by an increasing body of research.
Mind-brain-body effects, including placebo effects, are not fully appreciated in 
contemporary medicine. This may be explained, in part, as a legacy of the 
Cartesian model that envisions the mind as being something discrete from brain 
and body, and by the powerful reductionist approach of the current biomedical 
model. This reductionist model characterizes conventional medicine in that 
healthcare practitioners are trained to focus primarily on finding and 
eliminating physiologically demonstrable pathology. 
Placebos were assigned a negative connotation when the term was first coined in 
the early 19th century to describe a medicine "adapted more to please than 
benefit the patient." With the scientific transformation of medicine, 
particularly since the Second World War, this pejorative connotation was 
reinforced as the randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial 
emerged as the "gold standard" allowing investigators to subtract the "noise" of 
placebo effects from the actual therapeutic responses to newly developed drugs 
and medical/surgical procedures. Yet, prior to the development of the 
armamentarium of contemporary drugs and medical/surgical techniques in the 
second half of the last century, medicine included what we now call placebos as 
part of clinical practice. And with such treatments, patients sometimes felt 
better and even showed improvements in health status.
Now we are witnessing a further evolution in how placebo and other related 
effects are perceived, facilitated by a substantial body of research that 
provides compelling evidence of mind-brain-body interactions at the organismal, 
cellular, and molecular levels. At a recent meeting convened by the John D. & 
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Network on Mind-Body Interactions and NIH, 
scientists reported on the biology of social interactions, the neurobiology of 
emotions, and molecular neuroendocrine and neural factors in inflammatory and 
infectious disease. Research presented at this meeting highlighted the many ways 
through which the mind can influence the brain and body. 
Another recent meeting, "The Science of the Placebo: Towards an 
Interdisciplinary Research Agenda" outlined a multilayer model in which placebo 
effects operate through psychosocial mechanisms such as belief, conditioning, 
expectancy, and meaning response. These mechanisms, in turn, evoke physiological 
responses that may affect biological pathways in neurological, immune, 
endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and/or other organ systems to 
relieve disease symptoms. The purpose of this meeting was to develop an 
interdisciplinary research agenda on the science and ethics of the placebo, 
based on a scholarly assessment of the field. The participants developed 3 sets 
of recommendations: (1) to further elucidate the basis of placebo effects, (2) 
to investigate the use of placebo effects in clinical practice; and (3) to study 
the placebo effects as they relate to methodology and ethics of clinical trials. 
This RFA is informed by the two recent NIH meetings described above and focuses 
on the elucidation of the underlying biological mechanisms of placebo effects. A 
companion RFA pertains to the use of placebo in clinical practice to improve 
health.

Further understanding of the placebo effect also has important implications for 
clinical trials. To determine the efficacy of pharmacological, procedural, or 
behavioral interventions, clinical trials methodology must be designed to 
account for placebo effects. In particular, it is important to distinguish 
placebo effects from measurement and methodological factors as well as effects 
of the actual treatment being tested.  These other factors may be biological, 
behavioral, or methodological.  They include the natural history of the disease, 
investigator and patient biases, the reliability of measurements taken, 
regression to the mean, reactivity of the measurement, practitioner and observer 
bias, spontaneous remissions, and confounded therapeutic procedures. 
Unfortunately, these measurement and methodological factors are sometimes 
grouped inappropriately with placebo effects. They can best be distinguished 
from placebo effects when a no treatment control is included in the study 
design.  Complicating things further, the relationship between placebo and 
treatment effects may not be purely additive, but rather dynamically 
interactive. Furthermore, the question of whether the use of placebo in clinical 
trials under some circumstances is even ethical has engendered a lively debate 
centered around the recently revised Declaration of Helsinki. Participants in 
the "Science of the Placebo" meeting discussed a number of methodological and 
ethical issues that needed to be addressed related to the use of placebo 
controls in clinical trials.  Another solicitation from NIDDK will call for 
applications to address these issues related to clinical trials.

Goals and Scope

The overall objective of this initiative is to elucidate the underlying 
biological pathways that lead to placebo effects. Recent research has shown that 
placebos and the effects they elicit may have value far beyond their role as 
controls in clinical trials. Placebos themselves may have powerful therapeutic 
effects. Scientific investigations of the biological mechanisms by which placebo 
effects are manifested may elucidate and enhance both complementary and 
alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional medical therapies used in clinical 
practice. Innovative, interdisciplinary  research including, but not limited to, 
the following is needed: 

o Investigations on how psychosocial effects that may be related to placebo           
such as meaning, personality, social learning, conditioning, expectation, 
memory, emotion, etc., may lead to biological changes and eventually to final 
placebo effects are needed. For example, what are the underlying biological 
pathways through which these psychosocial variables elicit placebo responses? 
Does each kind of psychosocial effect operate through a different 
physiological/biological pathway? What are the initial steps that intervene 
between the psychosocial stimulus and the physiological/biological pathways that 
will eventually lead to a placebo effect? For example, when does the effect 
start in relation to a proposed intervention?  What is the shape of the placebo 
response?  Is the effect size sustained throughout the therapeutic intervention?

o  Research is needed to elucidate a related question on how pharmacological or 
other medical treatments, both CAM and conventional, interact with psychosocial 
effects to enhance placebo responses. For example, what is the relationship 
between biological changes elicited by placebo and those elicited by the 
pharmacological or medical treatments in conventional and CAM therapeutic 
interventions? Also, further exploration of the biological basis of 
pharmacological conditioning, as it relates to the placebo effect, is needed.

o  Investigations are encouraged to expand placebo research by the use of the 
full palette of contemporary biomedical techniques. For example, a variety of 
brain imaging tools can be applied to explore underlying neurological 
mechanisms. In addition, creative cellular, molecular and/or immunological 
approaches may be needed to dissect biological components of placebo effect and 
to identify the signaling pathways between the endocrine, neurological and 
immune systems. One example would be investigations on how regulation of the 
neuroendocrine stress response pathway is related to placebo effect and to the 
effect conditioning is said to have on immunity. 

o  Better animal models are needed to investigate specific types of placebo 
effects such as those related to placebo analgesia, stress, depression, 
epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, multiple sclerosis, Pavlovian 
conditioning, expectancy, etc. Such model systems could allow a systematic 
approach to elucidating biological pathways and to test each variable that may 
influence a specific type of placebo effect. To fully explore placebo effects in 
animal systems, both healthy animals and animals with specific disease models 
could be used. 

o  Research using human subjects, both healthy volunteers and patients with 
defined clinical conditions, under controlled situations is also needed to 
elucidate the biological pathways leading to specific placebo responses. In this 
context, research aimed at identifying new types of placebo effects is also 
encouraged. Investigations are needed to determine whether there is one or 
several placebo effects.  For example, are the biological characteristics of the 
placebo effect person or situation dependent?  Is the effect disease or 
intervention specific?  

o  Additional research is needed to better characterize subjective, conditioned 
physiological, and neurobiological effects and cognitive expectancies associated 
with placebos in human drug abusers and in preclinical studies investigating 
drug abuse and addiction; and to compare these effects produced by placebos with 
the known effects of drugs of abuse.  This would include investigation of these 
variables in the expression of placebo effects in situations where drug-seeking 
or drug taking is also being examined. Related to this, research is needed to 
determine how, or if, placebo effects modulate the effects of drugs of abuse, 
and how these placebo effects contribute to the changing drug experiences, and 
underlying neurobiological substrates, that results from chronic or continued 
drug use.  Finally, research examining these same placebo effects in the 
treatment of drug addiction is sought.

Several NIH Institutes and Centers have joined NCCAM to support this initiative.  
Examples of specific topics of interest to individual NIH Institutes/Centers are 
listed under INQUIRIES in this announcement along with contact information for 
each NIH Institute and Center.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

o  Monitoring Plan and Data Safety and Monitoring Board:

Research components involving Phase I and II clinical trials must include 
provisions for assessment of patient eligibility and status, rigorous data 
management, quality assurance, and auditing procedures.  In addition, it is 
NIH policy that all clinical trials require data and safety monitoring, with 
the method and degree of monitoring being commensurate with the risks (NIH 
Policy for Data Safety and Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, 
June 12, 1998:  https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).  

NCCAM requires that all masked clinical trials, regardless of size, establish 
an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB).  Funds should be 
budgeted for these activities.  They should not duplicate internal review and 
monitoring systems that are already in place at the institution.

o Adverse Events Reporting:
  
All studies should have a structured adverse event determination, monitoring 
and reporting system, including standardized forms and protocols for referring 
and/or treating subjects experiencing adverse events.  The proposed schedule 
for reporting adverse events to the DSMB, the NIH Program Officer and/or the 
FDA should be described.

NIA Requirements for Human Intervention Studies 
NIA may request specific information related to human intervention studies prior 
to award. Information describing these requirements, "Implementation of Policies 
for Human Intervention Studies" are available at: 
http://www.nih.gov/nia/funding/policy/humint.htm. 

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and 
their sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and 
behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and 
compelling rationale and justification are provided indicating that inclusion 
is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of  
the research.  This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 
(Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). 

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
AMENDED "NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
 Subjects in Clinical Research - Amended, October, 2001," 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm,  
announced in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on October 9, 2001: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html.  The amended 
policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical research; updated 
racial and ethnic categories; clarification of language governing NIH-defined 
Phase III clinical trials consistent wtih the new PHS Form 398; and updated 
roles and responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community with this 
policy.  The amended policy provides additional guidance on the analyses and 
reporting of analyses of sex/gender, racial/ethnic and relevant subpopulation 
differences in intervention effects for NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials. 

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) 
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the 
NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.  
This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt 
dates after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on Inclusion of Children as Participants in 
Research Involving Human Subjects," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts, March 6, 1998, and available at: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.  

Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff 
listed under INQUIRIES.  Program staff may also provide additional relevant 
information concerning the policy.

REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS

NIH policy requires education on the protection of human subject participants 
for all investigators submitting NIH proposals for research involving human 
subjects.  This policy announcement is found in the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts Announcement dated June 5, 2000, at the following website: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.

URLS IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES

All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within 
specified page limitations.  Unless otherwise specified in an NIH 
solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide 
information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation 
to view the Internet sites.  Reviewers are cautioned that their anonymity may 
be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to 
provide public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) under some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a 
project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2) cited 
publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has 
the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed through FOIA.  
It is important for applicants to understand the basic scope of this 
amendment.  NIH has provided guidance at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm

Applicants may wish to place data collected under this RFA in a public 
archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the 
distribution for an indefinite period of time.  If so, the application should 
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include 
information about this in the budget justification section of the application. 
In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent 
statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider 
use of data collected under this award.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit 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 this RFA.  
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 NIH staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan 
the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to Nancy J. Pearson, Ph.D. at the 
address listed under INQUIRIES, below, by March 1, 2002.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001) 
available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html must be 
used in applying for these grants. This version of the PHS 398 is available in 
an interactive, searchable format.  For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, 
Telephone 301/710-0267, Email:  GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODULAR GRANT APPLICATIONS

The modular grant concept establishes specific modules in which direct costs may 
be requested as well as a maximum level for requested budgets. Only limited 
budgetary information is required under this approach.  The just-in-time concept 
allows applicants to submit certain information only when there is a possibility 
for an award. It is anticipated that these changes will reduce the 
administrative burden for the applicants, reviewers and NIH staff.  The research 
grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html must be used in applying 
for these grants, with modular budget instructions provided in Section C of the 
application instructions.  Additional information about Modular Grants is also 
available on this site.

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR R21 GRANT APPLICATIONS

Applicants who anticipate submitting an R21 grant application should review the 
NCCAM website at http://nccam.nih.gov/research/instructions/r21/index.htm 
for specific information about this mechanism.

The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) application form must be 
affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.  Type the RFA number 
on the label.  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.  In addition, the RFA title and number must be typed on line 2 of the 
face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label 
is also available at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.
  
Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the 
Checklist, and five signed photocopies, in one package to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

Applications must be received by the application receipt date listed in the 
heading of the RFA. If an application is received after that date, it will be 
returned to the applicant without review.

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in 
response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending 
initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application.  The 
CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one 
already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial 
revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include 
an introduction addressing the previous critique.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and 
for responsiveness to this RFA by NCCAM.  Incomplete and/or non-responsive 
applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. 
 
Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for 
scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group 
in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of the initial 
merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and may undergo a 
process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific 
merit, generally the top half of the applications under review, will be 
discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the 
appropriate national councils or advisory boards of the participating NIH 
institutes and centers. 

Review Criteria

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of 
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health.  In 
the written comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects 
of the application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research 
will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals.  Each of these 
criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, 
weighting them as appropriate for each application.  Note that the application 
does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major 
scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score.  For example, an 
investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not 
innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

(1) Significance:  Does this study address an important problem?  If the aims 
of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced?  
What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive 
this field?

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

(3) Innovation:  Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or 
methods?  Are the aims original and innovative?  Does the project challenge 
existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?

(4) Investigator:  Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited 
to carry out this work?  Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience 
level of the Principal Investigator and other researchers (if any)?

(5) Environment:  Does the scientific environment in which the work will be 
done contribute to the probability of success?  Do the proposed experiments 
take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ 
useful collaborative arrangements?  Is there evidence of institutional 
support?

In addition to the above criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all 
applications will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

o  The adequacy of plans to include both genders, minorities and their 
subgroups, and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the 
research.  Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be 
evaluated.

o  The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the 
proposed research.

o  The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals or the 
environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project  
proposed in the application.

For exploratory/developmental (R21) grant applications, preliminary data as 
evidence of feasibility of the project are not required, since this grant award 
mechanism is designed to support exploratory, innovative ideas. However, the 
applicant does have the responsibility for developing a sound research plan 
approach, including appropriate statistical analyses and sample size 
calculations where appropriate.  Innovation of the project and potential 
significance of the proposed research will be major considerations in the 
evaluation of this mechanism. 

SCHEDULE

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:    March 1, 2002
Application Receipt Date:         April 11, 2002
Peer Review Date:                 June/July 2002
Council Review:                   September/October 2002
Earliest Anticipated Start Date:  September 2002

AWARD CRITERIA

Criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o  scientific merit (as determined by peer review)
o  availability of funds
o  programmatic priorities.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. Examples of topics of interest to 
specific NIH Institutes/Centers are listed below. The opportunity to clarify any 
issues or answer questions from potential applicants is welcome.  

Direct general inquiries to:

Nancy J. Pearson, Ph.D.
Program Officer
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6707 Democracy Blvd.
Democracy 2, Room 106, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-0519
Email:  pearsonn@mail.nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Victoria Carper
Grants Management Officer
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6707 Democracy Blvd/Rm 106/MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-9102
FAX:  (301) 480-3621
Email:  carperv@mail.nih.gov


Direct inquiries regarding specific programmatic issues to the staff of the 
appropriate Institute or Center:

JOHN E. FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER

FIC is interested in research on placebo and placebo effects that involve 
international sites or international collaborations.

Aron Primack, MD, MA
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
Bldg 31, Room B2C39
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD  20892-2220
Telephone:  (301) 496-4596
Fax:  (301) 402-0779
Email:  aron_primack@nih.gov

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

While not formally participating in this RFA, NCI is interested in research 
relevant to the exploration of mechanisms underlying the placebo effect. This 
research may apply to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment or 
survivorship, and may involve pre-intervention or intervention research 
applications.

Michael Stefanek, Ph.D.
Basic Biobehavioral Research Branch
Behavioral Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard/EPN 4066
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  301-496-8776
Email:  ms496r@nih.gov

NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

NCCAM is interested in research on the underlying mechanisms of placebo effects 
as they relate to the impact on treatment outcomes of complementary and 
alternative therapies.

Nancy J. Pearson, Ph.D.
Program Officer
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6707 Democracy Blvd.
Democracy 2, Room 106, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-0519
Email:  pearsonn@mail.nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

NIA is interested in determining whether the placebo effects vary across age, 
especially whether older individuals exhibit different placebo-mediated effects, 
both psychologically and physiologically.

Andrew A. Monjan, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Chief, Neurobiology of Aging Branch
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Suite 3C307
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD  20892-9205  (For courier delivery, use 20814 as ZIP)
Telephone:  (301) 496-9350
FAX:  (301) 496-1494
E-mail:  am39m@nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM

NIAAA is interested in research on mechanisms underlying placebo effects 
relating to treatment outcomes for alcohol dependence and abuse.  Meritorious 
applications received under this RFA will be considered for funding by NIAAA 
based on funding availability.

Charlene E. LeFauve, Ph.D.
Treatment Research Branch
Division of Clinical and Prevention Research
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Willco Bldg., Suite 505
6000 Executive Blvd.
Bethesda, MD  20892-7003
Telephone:  (301) 402-9401
FAX:  (301) 443-8774
E-mail:  clefauve@nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

NIAID is interested in applications that study the effect of placebos on immune-
mediated diseases, such as Asthma and Allergic Diseases, Autoimmune Diseases and 
Transplant rejection, and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

Stephen M. Rose, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Clinical Applications
Acting Chief, Transplantation Immunobiology Branch
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation
NIAID, NIH
6700-B Rockledge Drive, Room 5133
Bethesda, MD  20892-7640
Telephone:  (301) 496-5598
Fax:  (301) 402-2571
Email:  srose@niaid.nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES

NIDDK is interested in studies of the underlying mechanisms of placebo effects 
as they relate to therapeutic treatments for diabetes and digestive and kidney 
diseases.

Leroy M. Nyberg, Jr., Ph.D., M.D.
Director, Urology Programs, DKUHD
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Democracy 2, Room 627
Bethesda, MD  20892-5458
Telephone:  301-594-7717
FAX:  301-480-3510
Email:  NybergL@extra.niddk.nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

NIDA is interested in studies of the subjective, conditioned, cognitive, 
physiological and neurological effects of placebos as they relate to drug abuse 
and addiction.  Research examining these placebo effects in the treatment of 
drug addiction is also sought.

Lisa Onken, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Behavioral Treatment Research
Chief, Behavioral Treatment Development Branch
Division of Treatment Research & Development
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4229 MSC 9563
Bethesda, MD  20892-9563
Telephone:  (301) 443-2235
E-mail:  lonken@mail.nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

NIGMS is interested in research on the biological mechanisms mediating the 
placebo effect relating to studies in anesthesiology, the response to injury, 
including wound healing, and clinical pharmacology.

Michael E. Rogers, Ph.D.
Director, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry Division
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Rm 2As.49c, Bldg 45
Bethesda, MD  20892-6200
Telephone:  301-594-3827
FAX:  301-480-2802
Email:  rogersm@nigms.nih.gov

NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE

NHLBI is interested in studies that delineate the psychosocial mechanisms (e.g., 
conditioning, expectancy, beliefs, affective states, cognitions) and biological 
pathways (e.g., molecular, cellular, autonomic, neuroendocrine, 
neuroimmunological) through which placebos exert their effects. Of interest are 
studies that measure and describe the sensory (visual, tactile, taste, smell) 
and psychological cues (e.g., meaning, perception, emotion, stress, cognitions) 
that might trigger placebo effects, as well as studies that delineate, through 
biomedical technologies such as neuroimaging, neuropharmacology and molecular 
genetic techniques, how these processes affect endocrine, autonomic and immune 
responses, ultimately leading to effects on specific organ systems involved in 
diseases and disorders of the heart, lung, blood vessels and sleep.   

Susan M. Czajkowski, Ph.D.
Behavioral Medicine Scientific Research Group
Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Rockledge 2, Room 8114
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  301-435-0406
FAX:  301-480-1773
E-mail:  CzajkowS@nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES

NIAMS is interested in research to elucidate mechanisms underlying placebo 
effects relevant to the muscle, bone, and skin systems and disorders of those 
systems.

Deborah N. Ader, Ph.D.
Director, Behavioral and Prevention Research Program
NIAMS
45 Center Drive, Bldg. 45, Rm. 5A19H
Bethesda, MD  20892-6500
Telephone:  (301) 594-5032
FAX:  (301) 480-4543
Email:  aderd@mail.nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

NIMH is interested in research on the biological mechanisms underlying placebo 
response in mental disorders, particularly in major depressive disorder.   

Linda Brady, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7185
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 443-5288
FAX:  (301) 402-4740
Email:  lb@helix.nih.gov

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is interested in 
research that elucidates the neurobiological mechanisms of the placebo response 
in the context of pain, epilepsy, as well as in developmental, progressive, and 
chronic neurological disorders.  Model systems where the molecular and genetic 
mechanism of the placebo may be studied are particularly encouraged.

Cheryl A. Kitt, Ph.D.
Program Director
Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience
NINDS
6001 Executive Blvd., Rm. 2116
Rockville, MD  20892
Telephone:  301-496-9964
FAX:  301-402-2060
Email:  kittc@ninds.nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 
93.213(NCCAM); 93.989(FIC); 93.837,93.838(NHLBI); 93.866(NIA); 93.273(NIAAA); 
93.855,93.856(NIAID); 93.846(NIAMS); 93.279(NIDA); 93.849(NIDDK); 93.859 
(NIGMS); 93.242(NIMH), and 93.853 (NINDS). Awards are made under authorization 
of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 
and 284) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 
CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.  This program is not subject to the 
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health 
Systems Agency review.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free 
workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products.  In addition, 
Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain 
facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or 
routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood 
development services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the 
PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the 
American people.


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