PLANNING AWARDS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IN U.S.
DENTAL SCHOOLS
RELEASE DATE: August 8, 2002
RFA: DE-03-006
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
(http://www.nidcr.nih.gov)
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: November 15, 2002
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: December 17, 2002
THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
o Purpose of this RFA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanism(s) of Support
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o Special Requirements
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Supplemental Instructions
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations
o Appendix
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
invites applications to enhance the research infrastructure of U.S.
dental schools. Applications are encouraged through this RFA for the
purpose of developing an institutional Infrastructure Improvement Plan.
This will strengthen research programs through the creation of a
critical mass of researchers in a pre-selected area(s) and through
improvements in the research support infrastructure, including research
personnel and equipment. The strengthening of research capacity
resulting from this initiative will enhance the ability of U.S. dental
schools to conduct cutting edge research in oral, dental and
craniofacial diseases and disorders.
Definitions of several terms used in this RFA are given in the
Appendix.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Background
Oral, dental and craniofacial diseases and disorders are among the most
common problems affecting the health and well being of the U.S.
population. As highlighted in the U.S. Surgeon General"s Report "Oral
Health in America," oral health is essential to general health and
means much more than healthy teeth. The challenge is to understand
complex diseases caused by the interaction of multiple genes with
environmental and behavioral variables and to translate research
findings into improved care and healthier lifestyles. NIDCR has
expanded its research support portfolio to address these complex
interactions in the genesis of oral, dental and craniofacial diseases
and disorders. The growth in the scientific areas of interest has been
accompanied by a parallel shift in research emphasis from traditional
disciplines to new approaches involving molecular medicine and other
tools of modern biomedical research. The areas of scientific
opportunity include genomics, proteomics, stem cell biology,
biomimetics and bioengineering, pharmacogenetics, gene transfer and
gene therapy, clinical genetics and molecular epidemiology, cell
engineering and bioinformatics. Of special importance is the
application of basic science advances to clinical research. These
areas of scientific opportunity require not only an appropriate
research infrastructure, but also cross-disciplinary interactions
between investigators with solid skills and competencies in new and
expanding areas of science.
A large portion of dental, oral and craniofacial research is performed
in the nation"s dental schools, but these institutions" research
infrastructure and workforce capacity need to be strengthened in order
to help them take advantage of the new opportunities in research and to
remain competitive and full participants in the modern research
enterprise. This initiative is designed to provide the necessary
resources for dental schools to develop and to implement comprehensive
institutional plans to improve their research infrastructure, to
strengthen their research capabilities by recruiting and retaining
research personnel and to establish institutional linkages that augment
and expand their research capacity. The proposed initiative is an
outgrowth of a summit conference held at NIDCR in October 2001 with
dental school deans, associate deans for research and officials from
the associated parent university. The participants addressed four
major topics: 1) the role of research in the dental school mission, 2)
issues in the recruitment and retention of students and faculty into
research, 3) issues of costs, personnel needs and infrastructure
requirements for basic and clinical research and 4) partnerships that
can enhance the research agenda. A number of recommendations emerged
from this meeting, including the need for institutional needs
assessments and strategic planning on the part of the schools and the
need for external support for these activities. The NIDCR has
partnered with the other sponsors of the Conference (American Dental
Education Association, American Association for Dental Research,
American Dental Association) in identifying "next steps" actions
following the Conference. The activities to be funded through the
present RFA are an important part of this joint effort.
Objectives and Scope
Grants for this overall initiative will be awarded in two phases. The
present RFA will support Phase I, which consists of two related parts.
The first part is an Assessment of Critical Needs to improve the dental
school"s research infrastructure. For this RFA, critical research
infrastructure needs may include hiring, supporting and mentoring
clinical, basic, translational or behavioral research investigators in
tenure-track (or equivalent) positions, recruiting outstanding
experienced scientists for tenured positions, retraining senior
scientists as necessary, and providing a well-organized biomedical
research environment that includes technical support personnel,
appropriate equipment, supplies, shared resources, and inter- and
intra-institutional linkages. The second part of Phase I is the
preparation of an Infrastructure Improvement Plan that is based on the
Assessment of Critical Needs. The Infrastructure Improvement Plan must
address the critical research infrastructure needs such that the dental
school"s capability to perform outstanding research is enhanced, as
measured by obtaining research grants from the NIH and other entities.
Successful Phase I applicants will receive a one year planning grant of
up to $100,000 (direct costs). Funds awarded for this RFA (Phase I)
can be used for (a) salaries for key personnel and supplies to support
the administrative work, (b) technical assistance, (c) focus groups or
workshops addressing the institutional evaluation and needs assessment,
(d) support staff, and (e) supplies and services related to the
development of the plan. The detailed Infrastructure Improvement Plan
developed in Phase I will be the basis for the subsequent Phase II
grant application. Therefore, the Infrastructure Improvement Plan
should NOT be included in the Phase I application. The phase I planning
application should only describe how funds will be used to DEVELOP the
detailed Infrastructure Improvement Plan.
Phase I, Part 1 (Assessment of Critical Needs)
This consists of developing a process to assess the institution"s
current research situation and then performing a needs assessment in a
specific area(s) of research. This portion of the application should
describe the approach that will be used to assess the area(s) of
research focus and the critical infrastructure needs to improve the
institution"s capacity for conducting state-of-the-art research. To
facilitate this activity, the Principal Investigator must organize two
Advisory Committees: 1) an Institutional Planning Committee and, 2) an
External Advisory Committee. The Institutional Planning Committee
should be comprised of staff from the dental school and must be formed
during Phase I, Part 1. This Committee will have responsibility for
assisting the Program Director in conducting the Critical Needs
Assessment and in developing the Infrastructure Improvement Plan. In
addition, an External Advisory Committee, composed of distinguished
senior scientists from outside the dental school, must be organized and
will provide independent external consultant expertise. The specific
types of expertise should be delineated, however, the names of
Committee members are not required.
Phase I, Part 2 (Infrastructure Improvement Plan)
In Phase I, Part 2, the applicant must develop a comprehensive,
institution-wide Infrastructure Improvement Plan, based on the
Assessment of Critical Needs, that will result in the desired
infrastructure for the area(s) of research identified in Part 1. The
application for this award must include the proposed process and
methods for developing the Infrastructure Improvement Plan. The
Infrastructure Improvement Plan that is developed in Phase I, part 2 as
a result of a successful R24 award should contain at least the
following elements:
o Area(s) of research focus that will be developed or strengthened and
rationale for its selection. This should build on the existing
research strengths or expertise at the applicant institution.
o A plan to create or improve the necessary research infrastructure,
including:
1. A description of existing infrastructure. This MUST include
human resources (e.g., researchers and support personnel), equipment,
physical structure, space layout, shared resources and infrastructure
pertinent to the research focus of the institution.
2. Steps needed to create a critical mass of researchers (clinical,
basic, translational, behavioral science or combination) in the
selected area(s) of research,
3. Plans to recruit, integrate, mentor and support relatively
junior scientists (e.g., through creation of tenure-track or equivalent
positions) and established investigators who can attract additional
collaborators and trainees,
4. Well justified plans to acquire modern research supplies and
equipment,
5. Plans for intra- and inter-institutional links and shared
research cores that may be developed to enhance the research program
(This will discuss how cooperative linkages and partnerships would be
formed with these centers or institutions. Evidence of strong
collaborations with research-intensive institutions is encouraged by
the NIDCR both within and outside the parent university or Academic
Health Center.),
6. Plans to create or renovate research facilities (if indicated)
using non-Federal dollars,
7. Plans to develop research training and career development
programs for existing faculty, students and junior scientists,
8. Plans for evaluating the effectiveness of the Infrastructure
Improvement Plan, and
9. A time-line specifying the processes, steps and benchmarks for
implementing the Infrastructure Improvement Plan.
It is especially important to propose a plan for obtaining
institutional commitment to this entire program by the institution"s
leadership (President of the health science center or Chancellor of
university) to help support the development of the dental school"s
research infrastructure and enhance the school"s capacity to carry out
research throughout the two-year funding period and beyond the award.
This long term plan must specifically indicate how the investigators
and facilities will be supported after the Phase I and II award periods
end, such as through partnering and leveraging. The statement must
address specific resources that will be dedicated to the objectives of
this RFA, protected time for faculty, space that will be dedicated to
this effort, and discretionary resources that will be made available to
the Principal Investigator.
Overview of Phase II
An RFA for Phase II will be released at a later date such that there
will be continuity of support and no break in funding for the overall
objectives proposed for this activity. The Phase II application will
consist of detailed methods, outcome evaluation and costs of
implementing the Infrastructure Improvement Plan. This plan will be
expected to focus on activities that include: (1) Recruiting tenure-
track or tenured scientists to create a critical mass of researchers in
the selected area(s) of research. Junior scientists should be provided
with at least two years of support (supplies, equipment, lab space,
etc.) to enable them to start their research career. (2) Supporting
"magnet" investigators who can attract postgraduate trainees and other
outstanding scientists to the institution. "Magnet" investigators may
be new recruits to the institution or may be existing investigators who
need support to free time for mentorship. (3) Creating or improving
the institutional infrastructure, including the purchase of equipment,
costs for shared resources and other related activities. (4)
Establishing intra- and inter-institutional links to enhance the
research program, including the development of shared research cores
with collaborating institutions. (5) Developing research training and
career development programs for faculty and students. (6) Performing
an evaluation and preparing a final report after completion of Phase
II. The report will detail exactly what was done during the years of -
support and how the institution plans to continue its efforts after the
award is completed. Support will be provided for administrative costs
to manage the project, such as salaries for key personnel and supplies
to support the administrative work. No funds can be used for either
construction of new facilities or renovation of existing facilities.
Phase II awards can be approximately $1 million direct costs for each
of two consecutive years. Institutions can apply for the Phase II
awards if they have not received a Phase I planning award. However,
the Phase II application MUST be based on an assessment of critical
research infrastructure needs and a detailed Infrastructure Improvement
Plan developed by the applicant as outlined in this RFA for Phase I.
By the completion of the three-year funding period for Phases I and II,
grantees will be expected to have strengthened their capability to
proceed with the submission of scientifically meritorious grants in the
identified specific research area(s), to have established partnerships
or collaborations with other academic institutions (either within or
outside their particular university), and to have initiated or
strengthened existing research training and career development programs
relevant to the mission of the NIDCR.
MECHANISM(S) OF SUPPORT
This RFA is for Phase I and will use the NIH R24 award mechanism. As
an applicant you will be solely responsible for planning, directing,
and executing the proposed project. The anticipated award date is July
1, 2003. Unsolicited, competing-continuation applications based on
this project will compete with all investigator-initiated applications
and will be reviewed according to the customary peer review procedures.
This RFA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the non-modular
budgeting format. (see
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm) because a
detailed, categorical budget is needed for purposes of review.
FUNDS AVAILABLE
Phase I
The NIDCR intends to commit approximately $1,500,000 in FY 2003 to fund
up to ten new Phase I grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may
request a project period of up to twelve months and a budget for direct
costs of up to $100,000. Because the nature and scope of the proposed
projects will vary by application, it is anticipated that the size of
each grant also will vary. Although the financial plans of the NIDCR
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. This Planning Phase RFA
may be reannounced in FY 2004. If so, up to ten new Phase I grants may
be awarded in FY 2005.
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS
Only dental institutions that received LESS THAN $6 MILLION from the
NIDCR in FY 2001 are eligible to submit an application. This
information can be obtained from the internet at
www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/supportedSchools/rank2001dental.htm.
The applicant Institution is encouraged to propose collaborative
affiliations with other entities, including dental, medical, public
health, engineering and graduate institutions. The collaboration can
be with entities from within the parent institution as well as outside
institutions and should be for the purpose of facilitating and
addressing the objectives outlined in this RFA.
INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
The Institution should designate a Principal Investigator who
preferably is a faculty member with NIH research funds or a senior
official, such as Associate Dean/Director for Research. Individuals
from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals
with disabilities are encouraged to serve as a Principal Investigator.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
There are a number of Special Requirements and Provisions that each
institution MUST comply with:
o Where applicable, NIDCR encourages applicants to build on existing
research projects and training and career development opportunities
developed from NIDCR or NIH funded grants.
o The R24 application MUST include a "Letter of Commitment" from the
Institutional leadership (e.g., Health Science Center President or
University Chancellor). The letter should detail the resources the
institution is willing to provide during at least Phase I. For
example, the Institution may contribute resources in terms of released
time for the PI and support for clerical and administrative personnel,
travel, consultants and meetings.
o For each collaborative partner there must be written "Letters of
Commitment" from a senior official of the institution illustrating the
type of support to ensure that these partnerships will have the maximum
chance for success.
WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES
We encourage written, email and telephone inquiries concerning this
RFA, particularly early in the application development process.
Inquiries may fall into three areas: programmatic, peer review, and
financial or grants management issues:
o Direct your questions about programmatic issues to:
Dr. James A. Lipton
Division of Population and Health Promotion Sciences
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
45 Center Drive, Room 3AS-37J
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-2618
Fax: (301) 480-8318
Email: James_Lipton@nih.gov
o Direct your questions about peer review issues to:
Dr. George Hausch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
45 Center Drive, Room 4AN-44F
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-2904
Fax: (301) 480-8303
Email: George.Hausch@nih.gov
o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters
to:
Mr. Kevin Crist
Grants Management Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
45 Center Drive, Room 4AN-44F
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-4800
Fax: (301) 402-1517
Email: Kevin.Crist@nih.gov
LETTER OF INTENT
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that
includes the following information:
o Descriptive title of the proposed project
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel that will be involved in the project
o Participating institutions
o 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 NIDCR staff to estimate the potential review
workload and plan the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning
of this document. The letter of intent should be sent to:
Dr. George Hausch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
45 Center Drive, Room 4AN44F
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-2904
FAX: (301) 480-8303
Email: George.Hausch@nih.gov
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant
application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). The PHS 398 is
available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in
an interactive format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo,
Telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Application Requirements
Phase I (the Planning Phase) has two specific parts that must be
addressed in the application. The first part of the application shall
consist of a plan to complete an Assessment of Critical Needs to
improve the research infrastructure. The second part of the
application should describe how the Infrastructure Improvement Plan
will be developed. The Infrastructure Improvement Plan developed as a
result of this award will serve as the basis for preparation of the
Phase II application.
NIDCR encourages pre-application consultations with NIDCR staff. In
addition, there may be several regional meetings held by NIDCR staff to
which interested faculty, students and research administrators will be
invited. Topics to be discussed include science opportunities, NIDCR
portfolio and priorities, current and future research initiatives,
training opportunities and programs, and this RFA.
Allowable Costs
Support may be requested for, but is not limited to, the following:
o Costs for conducting the Assessment of Critical Needs and for
developing the Infrastructure Improvement Plan
o Administrative costs for general management, such as salaries for key
personnel and supplies to support the administrative work.
o Costs for travel and per diem of key personnel for internal and
external activities, such as technical assistance and expenses for
workshops, seminars, retreats, focus groups and other forums to perform
the Assessment of Critical Needs and identify new research areas of
opportunity and high priority,
o Costs for staff, supplies and services related to the development and
preparation of the Infrastructure Improvement Plan that will be submitted
to the NIDCR as part of the Phase II application.
o Costs for consultants who can help in the development of the
institutional plan.
A detailed statement by the key leadership of the parent university or
health science center should be provided as to the specific financial
resources committed by the Institution for all necessary activities in
Phase I.
NIDCR funds cannot be used for pilot research projects or construction
and/or renovation of research facilities.
USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/01)
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 marked. The RFA label is
also available at:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten
original of the application, including the Checklist, and three signed,
photocopies, in one package to:
Center For Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
At the time of submission, two additional copies and all appendix
material of the application must also be sent to:
Dr. George Hausch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
45 Center Drive, Room 4AN-44F
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by the
application receipt date listed in the heading of this 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 the 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. Applications must meet all eligibility
requirements as described above and must address all programmatic
requirements (see SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS above) in the RFA.
PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR
and responsiveness to eligibility requirements and responsiveness to
the Special Requirements and Provisions by the NIDCR. 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 convened by the Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) at
NIDCR in accordance with the review criteria stated below. As part of
the initial merit review, all applications will:
o Receive a written critique
o 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 and assigned a priority score
o Receive a second level review by the National Advisory Dental and
Craniofacial Research Council.
REVIEW CRITERIA
For this RFA, the review criteria are not organized under the
traditional headings of Significance, Approach, Environment,
Investigator and Innovation typically used for NIH research grants.
Reviewers will have to use considerable flexibility in determining the
merit of a broad range of possibilities that can strengthen the
research capabilities of dental schools, expand training and career
development opportunities for faculty and students, and increase the
effectiveness of dental schools in establishing partnerships or
collaborations with other institutions. A well-prepared application
should reflect a close, effective interaction between the Principal
Investigator, the School"s leadership and the faculty.
A key aspect of the review involves the level of institutional support
to ensure achievement of objectives of this RFA, as indicated by:
o Assurances of direct support and, specifically, the adequacy of the
resources that the dental school and the collaborators/partners will
provide to promote the successful achievement of the priorities and
objectives of this partnership.
o Letters of support and the degree to which the letters of support
from the institutional leaders address the need for mentoring of
faculty inexperienced in research who will serve as future
investigators or for specific institutional commitments to ensure the
success of the collaboration.
o The level of authority of institutional officials (e.g., university
Chancellor or health science center President) committing to this
effort and collaborators/partners that gives confidence that these
commitments will be stable and long lasting.
o The degree to which the letters of commitment from the leadership of
the dental school and the collaborators/partners address and fully
support the priorities and objectives of the implementation plan of the
partnership.
o Evidence that this initiative will continue after grant support has
ended.
Phase I, Part 1:
The criteria that will be used to evaluate this part of the application
include the adequacy of plans that describe how the Assessment of
Critical Needs will be done. This is indicated by:
o The process and methods that are proposed to assess institutional
needs, opportunities and the capacity to conduct research,
o The rationale for selection of a particular area(s) of research for
enhancement, and
o Acknowledgment of potential problems and consideration of
alternatives.
Phase I, Part 2:
The criteria that will be used to evaluate this part of the application
include:
o Qualifications of project personnel
o Appropriateness of research focus
o Adequacy of the proposed process and methods for developing the
Infrastructure Improvement Plan
o Appropriateness of all proposed costs.
RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
For the Phase I activity, the following schedule will be followed:
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 15, 2002
Application Receipt Date: December 17, 2002
Peer Review Date: February-March, 2003
Council Review: May 2003
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2003
AWARD CRITERIA
Criteria that will be used to make award decisions for Phase I include:
o Technical merit of the plan (as determined by peer review)
o Availability of funds
o Programmatic priorities
REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS
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 a 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. Furthermore, we caution
reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly
access an Internet site.
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 RFA is
related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may
obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS:
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
No. 93.121 (NIDCR) Oral Diseases and Disorders Research Awards and is
not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive
Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency Review. 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 described at
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm and under Federal
Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and discourage the 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.
APPENDIX - Definition of several terms used in this RFA
Research Infrastructure:
For this RFA, critical research infrastructure is defined as hiring,
supporting and mentoring clinical, basic, translational or behavioral
research investigators in tenure-track (or equivalent) positions,
recruiting outstanding experienced scientists for tenured positions,
retraining senior scientists as necessary, and providing a well-
organized biomedical research environment that includes technical
support personnel, appropriate equipment, supplies, shared resources,
and inter- and intra-institutional linkages.
Assessment of Critical Needs:
The development of a process to evaluate the institution"s current
research situation and critical infrastructure and then performing a
needs assessment in a specific area(s) of research. The assessment
will serve as the basis for developing an Institutional Infrastructure
Improvement Plan.
Infrastructure Improvement Plan:
A plan to improve the institution"s capacity for conducting state-of-
the-art research through enhancing the research infrastructure. The
detailed Infrastructure Improvement Plan developed in Phase I will be
the basis for the Phase II application. Therefore, the Infrastructure
Improvement Plan should NOT be included in the Phase I application. The
phase I planning application should describe how funds will be used to
DEVELOP the detailed Infrastructure Improvement Plan.
Institutional Commitment:
Support provided by the institution or parent university/health science
center for the development of the dental school"s research
infrastructure and enhancement of the school"s capacity to carry out
research throughout the project funding period and beyond the award.
The Institution may contribute resources in terms of released time for
the PI and support for clerical and administrative personnel, travel,
consultants and meetings, faculty support, core facilities and space,
equipment, etc.
Institutional Planning Committee:
A committee comprised of staff from the dental school that must be
formed during Phase I, Part 1. This Committee will have responsibility
for assisting the Program Director in conducting the Critical Needs
Assessment and in developing the Infrastructure Improvement Plan.
External Advisory Committee:
Committee composed of distinguished senior scientists from outside the
dental school. It should be organized and will assist during Phases I
and II by providing independent external consultant expertise.