SPECIALIZED CENTERS OF RESEARCH ON SEX AND GENDER FACTORS AFFECTING 
WOMEN'S HEALTH

Release Date:  December 18, 2001

RFA:  RFA-OD-02-002 (This RFA has been reissued, see RFA-OD-06-003)

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
 (http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
 (http://www.niams.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
 (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
 (http://www.nidr.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
 (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
 (http://www.nida.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
 (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
 (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
 (http://www.fda.gov/womens/default.htm)

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  February 14, 2002
Application Receipt Date:       March 14, 2002

PURPOSE

The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) serves as a focal point 
for women's health research at the NIH.  The ORWH promotes, stimulates, 
and supports efforts to improve the health of women through biomedical 
and behavioral research. ORWH works in partnership with the NIH 
institutes and centers to ensure that women's health research is part 
of the scientific framework at NIH and throughout the scientific 
community. 

The ORWH now seeks to establish a new program, Specialized Centers of 
Research on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women's Health.  These 
centers will provide new opportunities for interdisciplinary approaches 
to advancing studies on how sex and gender factors affect women's 
health.  Each SCOR should develop a research agenda bridging basic and 
clinical research on sex/gender factors underlying a priority health 
issue.  The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and 
Skin Diseases (NIAMS) will be the service center for the administration 
of this program. 

The ORWH has published "An Agenda for Research on Women's Health for 
the 21st Century" that provides at outline of research needs identified 
through national taskforces.  The executive summary of this report is 
available at the following URL:  http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/research.html.  
This web site also provides the FY 2001 research priorities identified by the 
Institutes and Centers at NIH working with the ORWH.

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), SPECIALIZED CENTERS OF RESEARCH ON SEX AND GENDER 
FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN'S HEALTH, 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/.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic, 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. Foreign institutions are 
not eligible for center grants.  Racial/ethnic minority individuals, 
women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as 
Principal Investigators.  Established research programs in areas 
related to the SCOR theme must be present.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) P50 award 
mechanism.  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 5 years.  This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  
Future unsolicited competing continuation applications will compete 
with all investigator-initiated applications and be reviewed according 
to the customary peer review procedures.  The anticipated award date is 
September 1, 2002.

FUNDS AVAILABLE 

The ORWH intends to commit approximately $10 million in FY 2002 to fund 
9 - 10 new grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may request a 
project period of up to 5 years and a budget for direct costs of up to 
$750,000 in the first year.  Although the financial plans of the ORWH 
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. At this time, it is not 
known if this RFA will be reissued.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background
The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) and cosponsors seek to 
promote interdisciplinary research in sex/gender factors through 
Specialized Centers of Research (SCOR).   Each SCOR will promote 
interdisciplinary collaborations and develop a research agenda bridging 
basic and clinical research on sex/gender factors underlying a priority 
health issue.  The SCOR program will complement other Federally 
supported programs addressing women's health issues.  Such programs 
include the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's 
Health (BIRCWH, see http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/bircwh.html), The 
Women's Reproductive Health Research Career Development Centers 
(http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/sept99/nichd-13a.htm) and numerous NIH 
RFAs and PAs (see http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/res2.html).

Description of a SCOR

Guidelines have been developed to assist in developing a SCOR 
application.  These guidelines are available at the following URL:  
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/grantapps/Guide_pre_grants_app/guide_grant_app.htm#specific

The objective of the SCOR program is to expedite interdisciplinary 
development and application of new knowledge to human diseases, to 
learn more about the etiology of these diseases, and to foster improved 
approaches to treatment and/or prevention. 

Each SCOR should have a central theme related to the disease area to 
which individual projects relate and which serves as an integrating 
force.  The SCOR must provide an interdisciplinary approach utilizing 
both laboratory and clinical research to focus on a particular health 
problem and provide for a mutually supportive interaction between basic 
scientists and clinical investigators. Emphasis in proposed projects 
should be on interdisciplinary development of innovative approaches, 
elaboration of new and significant hypotheses, and generation of 
improved strategies for approaching current issues relating to the 
disease area addressed.  Collaboration among institutions is encouraged 
within a given SCOR to share scarce patient resources.

A SCOR consists of at least three individual, but interrelated, 
research projects, each with high scientific merit and clear research 
objectives and, in the aggregate, devoted to a specific major health 
area.  Both basic and clinical research must be present.  An 
administrative core must be proposed to coordinate the research 
program, providing intellectual leadership as well as basic management 
functions. Funding may also be requested for one or more core 
resources.  A core is defined as a resource shared by multiple 
investigators that enhances research productivity and increases the 
functional capacity of the SCOR.

NIH defines human clinical research as: (1) Patient-oriented research.  
Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin 
such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an 
investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects.  
Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human 
tissues that cannot be linked to a living individual.  Patient-oriented 
research includes: (a) mechanisms of human disease, (b) therapeutic 
interventions, (c) clinical trials, or (d) development of new 
technologies, (2) Epidemiologic and behavioral studies, (3) Outcomes 
research and health services research. 

Support for large clinical trials or for applications that contain 
exclusively clinical or exclusively basic studies will not be provided 
within this SCOR program.

Applicants from institutions which have a General Clinical Research 
Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources 
may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting the proposed 
research.  Details of the interactions of the SCOR staff with the GCRC 
staff and research personnel may be provided in a statement describing 
the collaborative linkages being developed.  A letter of agreement from 
the GCRC Program Director must be included with the application.

In summary, a SCOR must include a:

1.  broad interdisciplinary theme capturing an important issue in 
sex/gender factors in a priority health issue (See Research Scope, 
below);

2.  Administrative Core with a Center Director, Associate Director and 
executive committee with outstanding interdisciplinary credentials for 
advancing the research theme; and

3.  minimum of three highly meritorious interdisciplinary research 
projects, representing both basic and clinical research. 

Additional core(s) supportive of two or more of the proposed projects 
may also be requested.

Research Scope

The research scope for the SCOR program derives from three sources:

1.  The Institute of Medicine report, "Exploring the Biological 
Contributions to Human Health, Does Sex Matter?" defined the use of  
"sex" and "gender" (p. 8 and 176) as follows.  In the study of human 
subjects, the term "sex" should be used as a classification, generally 
as male or female, according to the reproductive organs and functions 
that derive from the chromosomal complement. In the study of human 
subjects, the term "gender" should be used to refer to a person's self-
representation as male or female, or how that person is responded to by 
social institutions on the basis of the individual's gender 
presentation.  In most studies of nonhuman animals, the term "sex" 
should be used.  (See http://www.nap.edu and 
http://www.iom.edu/IOM/IOMHome.nsf/Pages/does+sex+matter+summary).

2.  The intellectual background for establishing SCORs in sex/gender 
factors is also presented in the ORWH publication, "An Agenda for 
Research on Women's Health for the 21st Century".  This outline 
represents the recommendations from three national topic meetings 
examining research needs for women's health: (1) Scientific Areas, (2) 
Sex and Gender Perspectives Throughout the Life Cycle; and (3) 
Differences Among Populations of Women Throughout the Life Cycle.  The 
executive summary of these outcomes is available at the following URL:  
http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/research.html.  The research areas 
identified through these meetings overlap and the SCOR program will 
address them through the perspective of sex/gender factors.  

3.  Current research priorities have been identified by the Institutes 
and Centers at NIH working with the ORWH and are found at the following 
URL:  http://www4.od.nih.gov/orwh/FY01Respriorities.html.  The following 
research areas are examples of selected priority research areas.  They 
should by no means be viewed as exhaustive, and are intended only as 
examples of those that may be most amenable to a theme relating to 
sex/gender factors in women's health:

o Conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, or 
autoimmune diseases, which may be chronic and/or multi-systemic. 

o  Influence of toxic environmental factors on women's health.  
Examples include, but are not limited to, role of gender in biologic 
response, metabolism and disease patterns resulting from exposure to 
toxic agents found in the environment, including products used by 
women; action of environmental estrogenic compounds; biomarkers of 
exposure and disease in women;
gene-environmental interactions, such as environmental exposures, diet, 
and environmental tobacco smoke, in diseases that particularly impact 
women; differences in susceptibility to environmental carcinogens; 
critical exposure windows during sexual development and aging; role of 
maternal exposure to toxicants in fetal development, disease, and 
pregnancy outcomes. 

o  Allergic, immune, and autoimmune diseases, in particular, 
resistance/susceptibility genes, environmental influences, mechanisms 
of sex and/or gender factors, immunological mechanisms, target organ 
influence, role of innate immunity, development of surrogate markers, 
and immune therapy.

o  Neurological diseases, in particular, the influence of sex and/or 
gender factors, the effect of life events such as pregnancy and 
menopause on neurological disease, the roles of hormonal, genetic, or 
environmental factors in etiologies and outcomes of neurological 
diseases, and development of animal models.  Sex and/or gender factors 
in acute and chronic pain conditions or syndromes, the perception of 
pain, and analgesic response.

o  Kidney disorders including the impact of pregnancy, diabetes, and 
hypertension on renal function; preeclampsia; causes of altered renal 
hemodynamics during pregnancy; sex and/or gender factors in renal 
transplantation, dialysis, and acute renal failure; mechanisms of 
analgesic nephropathy; effect of hormones and the menstrual cycle on 
renal function and drug pharmacokinetics; and the effect of collagen 
vascular diseases on the kidney.

o  Urologic and urogynecologic disorders including recurrent and 
chronic urinary tract infections; vesicoureteral reflux during 
pregnancy; effect of hormones on bladder function; interstitial 
cystitis; pelvic floor disorders encompassing genital prolapse and 
consequent urinary incontinence; sexual dysfunction; impact of bladder 
physiology of childbirth, exercise, diet, obesity, and hormone 
deficiency; and outcome measures for surgical, medical, and behavioral 
treatment of urinary incontinence, bladder dysfunction and pelvic floor 
disorders..

o  Gastrointestinal and digestive health and diseases, including the 
effect of hormones and the menstrual cycle on the digestive system; 
irritable bowel syndrome; functional bowel disorders and gut motility.
  
o  Addiction and Mental Health:  Biological and behavioral risk 
factors, including sex and/or gender factors, in the development of 
mental disorders, including addictive behaviors, schizophrenia, mood, 
anxiety, and eating disorders.  Adverse health consequences of alcohol 
and tobacco, licit and illicit drug use, addiction, trauma, and abuse, 
including the role of sex and/or gender factors, and interactions with 
HIV/AIDS and cancer.  

o  Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics, including 
hormone and drug interaction, in drug-drug interactions, drug-
supplement interactions, and in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics 
during pregnancy.

o  Oral health research as related to sex and/or gender factors in 
disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involving orofacial pain 
and tenderness localized to the masticatory muscles or the TMJ.

o  Developmental biology of the vascular system and role of the fetal 
environment in programming lifelong cardiovascular function.  Molecular 
and physiological mechanisms of hormone action in the cardiovascular 
system.  Cardiovascular complications of diabetes and obesity.  
Prevention, detection, and management of cardiovascular disease in 
high-risk populations, such as octogenarian and older women from racial 
and ethnic minorities.  Impact of patient and health care professional 
behaviors on cardiovascular disease developments and prevention in 
women. 

o  Natural history of menopause and its endocrinological, biological, 
psychosocial, cultural, lifestyle, and environmental determinants, 
concomitants, and/or sequelae; role of menopause in the chronic 
diseases of aging; menopause-related pathophysiology; effects of 
hormone replacement therapy and/or selective estrogen receptor 
modulators as preventives and their potential role in cancer etiology; 
and the development of new strategies, including dietary supplements 
and complementary and alternative medicine, for alleviating the short-
term, clinical problems of the peri- and postmenopausal periods and the 
prevention of menopause-related diseases of old age.

o  Ophthalmic diseases, including dry eye with and without rheumatic 
disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The director and co-director should budget for an annual one day 
meeting in Bethesda, MD with ORWH staff.  The director should be 
prepared to devote at least 15 percent effort as the director and 20 
percent effort as a project PI.  Each project and core PI should be 
prepared to devote at least 20 percent effort.

To be funded, a SCOR must include at least three highly meritorious 
projects approved for five years.  One of these must have the SCOR 
director as the principal investigator, and the highly meritorious 
projects must include both basic and clinical research.

Guidelines have been developed to assist in developing a SCOR 
application.  These guidelines are available at the following URL:  
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/grantapps/Guide_pre_grants_app/guide_grant_app.htm#specific.

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 
clinical research projects unless a clear and compelling justification 
is 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 clinical research should read the AMENDMENT 
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in 
Clinical Research - Amended, October, 2001," published 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); 
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines are available at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.  
The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH 
definition of clinical research; updated racial and ethnic categories 
in compliance with the new OMB standards; clarification of language 
governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials consistent with the new 
PHS Form 398; and updated roles and responsibilities of NIH staff and 
the extramural community.  The policy continues to require for all NIH-
defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all applications or 
proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans to 
conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender 
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) 
investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting 
analyses, as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group 
differences.

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 the Inclusion of Children as 
Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects that was published in 
the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available 
at the following URL address: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.

Investigators also may obtain a copy of this policy 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 the RFA in response to which the application 
may be submitted.  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 IC staff to 
estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. Julia Freeman by February 14, 2002.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 
5/2001) 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 

Guidelines have been developed to assist in developing a SCOR 
application.  These guidelines are available at the following URL: 
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/grantapps/Guide_pre_grants_app/guide_grant_app.htm#specific.

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 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 of the application 
must be sent to:

Dr. Tommy L. Broadwater
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 
Natcher Building, Room 5AS.25U - MSC 6500
Bethesda, MD  20892-6500
Bethesda, MD  20814 (for express/courier service)

Applications must be received by March 14, 2002.  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 responsiveness by the NIAMS.  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 NIAMS in accordance with the review 
criteria stated below.  As part of the initial merit review, all 
applications will receive a written critique and 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 National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 
Advisory Council.

Site visits will not be made.

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.

Review Criteria

Major factors to be considered in evaluation of applications will 
include:

1.  How the proposed SCOR combines basic and clinical research into the 
scientific goals and research theme;

2.  If a competing continuation application, the quality and 
significance of the progress made in the previous funding period;

3.  Scientific merit of each proposed project.  [Each project will 
receive a priority score.  This score reflects not only the feasibility 
of the project and adequacy of the experimental design, but also the 
design of the project to advance both the theme of the SCOR and the 
interaction between basic research and clinical investigation];

4.  Scientific merit of combining the component parts into a SCOR;

5.  Technical merit and justification of each core unit;

6.  Competence of the investigators to accomplish the proposed research 
goals, their commitment, and the time they will devote to the research 
program;

7.  Adequacy of facilities to perform the proposed research, including 
laboratory and clinical facilities, instrumentation, and data 
management systems, when needed;

8.  Adequacy of plans for interaction among investigators, and the  
integration of the various projects and core units;

9.  Qualifications, experience and commitment of the SCOR Director and 
his/her ability to devote time and effort to provide effective 
leadership;

10.  Scientific and administrative structure, including internal and 
external procedures for monitoring and evaluating the proposed research 
and for providing ongoing quality control and scientific review;

11.  Institutional commitment to the program, and the appropriateness 
of resources and policies for the administration of a SCOR;

12. Adequacy of plans to include both genders and 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.

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review).  The primary factors 
determining the award will be the priority score, the overall balance 
of meritorious projects (clinical and basic research) within the 
application relative to the disease area.  Since the ORWH is  
interested in funding only the best research, individual projects or 
cores of lesser quality may not be funded, even if approved, under the 
"umbrella" of the SCOR mechanism.
o Availability of funds.
o Programmatic priorities.

Schedule

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:    February 14, 2002
Application Receipt Date:         March 14, 2002
Peer Review Date:                 April/May 2002
Council Review:                   September 2002
Earliest Anticipated Start Date:  September 2002

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.  The opportunity to 
clarify any issues or answer questions from potential applicants is 
welcome.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Dr. Julia B. Freeman
Centers Program, EP
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 
Natcher Building, Room 5AS.19F -  MSC 6500
Bethesda, MD  20892-6500
Bethesda, MD  20814 (for express/courier service)
Telephone:  (301) 594-5052
FAX:  (301) 480-4543
Email:  Julia_B_Freeman@nih.gov

Copies of the guidelines for the ORWH SCOR on Sex and Gender Factors 
Affecting Women's Health  may be obtained from the internet at the 
following site:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/grantapps/Guide_pre_grants_app/guide_grant_app.htm#specific.

Contact information for program staff in participating Institutes:

Estella Parrott, M.D., M.P.H.
Program Director, Reproductive Medicine Gynecology 
Reproductive Sciences Branch, Center for Population Research 
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 8B01
Bethesda, MD  20892-7510
Telephone:  (301) 496-6515
Fax:  (301) 496-0962
Email:  ep61h@nih.gov

Patricia S Bryant, Ph.D.
Program Director, Behavior and Health Promotion Research
Division of Population and Health Promotion Studies
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
45 Center Dr, Bldg 45, Rm 4AN24E
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 594-2095
Fax:  (301) 480-8318
Email:  BryantP@de34.nidr.nih.gov

Josie Briggs M.D.
Director, Kidney, Urology, Hematology Division
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Building 31 C, Rm 9A17
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD  20892-2560
Telephone:  (301) 496-6325
Fax:  (301) 402-4874
Email:  Jbriggs@nih.gov

Cora Lee Wetherington, Ph.D.
Women & Gender Research Coordinator
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4282, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD  20892-9555
Telephone:  (301) 445-1319
Fax:  (301) 594-6043
Email:  cwetheri@ngmsmtp.nida.nih.gov

Michael E. McClure, Ph.D.
Chief, Organs and Systems Toxicology Branch
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
111 T.W. Alexander Boulevard, MD-EC-23
Building 101, Room EC 3417
Research Triangle Park,  NC
Telephone:  (919) 541-5327
Fax:  (919) 541-5064 
Email:  mm461@nih.gov

Mary C. Blehar Ph.D.
Chief, Women's Mental Health Program
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8125, MSC 9569
Bethesda MD  20892-9659
Telephone:  (301) 443-2847
Fax:  (301) 443-8022
Email:  mblehar@mail.nih.gov

Susan F. Wood, PhD
Director, Office of Women's Health
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
5600 Fishers Lane, HF-8
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 827-0350
Fax:  (301) 827-0926
Email:  swood1@oc.fda.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Melinda Nelson 
Chief Grants Management Officer, Extramural Program
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 
Natcher Building Room 5AS.49F - MSC 6500
Bethesda, MD  20892-6500
Telephone:  (301) 594-3535
FAX:  (301) 480-5450
Email:  nelsonm@exchange.nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
No. 93.121(NIH).  Awards are made under authorization of Title III, 
Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act (Public Law 78-410, as 
amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241).  The Code of Federal 
Regulations, Title 42 Part 52, and Title 45 Part 74, are applicable to 
this program.  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.


Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices


Office of Extramural Research (OER) - Home Page Office of Extramural
Research (OER)
  National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Home Page National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Home Page Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
  USA.gov - Government Made Easy


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