RFA Number: RFA-OD-05-001

Participating Organizations:
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)

Components of Participating Organizations
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), (http://obssr.od.nih.gov)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), (http://nccam.nih.gov/)
National Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.nci.nih.gov/)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm)
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/)

Announcement Type
New

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

• December 6, 2004 (NOT-OD-05-012) - NIH and Offices have posted a set of FAQs regarding the preparation of the K07 application in RFA-OD-05-001.

Eligible institutions include those that have a domestic school of medicine or osteopathy. Each institution may submit only one grant application per medical school. Eligible principal investigators (PIs) include those with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed curriculum development to develop an application for support. The principal investigator should possess the research and training expertise, and leadership and administrative capabilities required to develop, and implement or enhance a curriculum of behavioral and social science for use in medical schools. Further, the PI must have demonstrated a commitment to medical education for students and have a regular appointment (i.e., not adjunct) at the rank of associate or full professor in the medical or osteopathic school.

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-452-0088.

Table of Contents

Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)

Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations and References

Part II - Full Text of Announcement

1. Research Objectives

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites applications for Career Development Awards (K07s) to support individuals interested in enhancing medical education through behavioral and social sciences content and curricula.

This RFA has three important objectives. The first objective of the Curriculum Development Award in Behavioral and Social Sciences in Medical Schools is the development of enhanced courses, curricula and education designed to increase medical students' knowledge and skills in the behavioral and social sciences related to health. Secondary targets of these curricula include physicians in training, faculty, other researchers, and practicing physicians. The second objective is to provide curriculum and other products for dissemination to other medical schools as well as other health care professional schools. The third objective is to foster health-related research and careers in behavioral and social science within medical school settings. This latter objective is to catalyze further development of behavioral and social sciences in schools of medicine and osteopathy in order to advance the health of the nation.

This award is intended to support schools of medicine and osteopathy at various stages of involvement in behavioral and social sciences curricula. The programmatic priorities are set to ensure that a diverse set of schools are funded with regard to educational approach, size, and maturity of existing curriculum in the behavioral and social sciences.

This RFA was strongly influenced by a recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) study: Improving Medical Education: Enhancing the Behavioral and Social Science Content of Medical School Curricula which was in part supported by the NIH. In its recent report, the Institute of Medicine reached an overarching conclusion: No physician's education would be complete without an understanding of the role played by behavioral and social factors in human health and disease, knowledge of the ways in which these factors can be modified, and an appreciation of how personal life experiences influence physician-patient relationships. P. 60 The following training objectives will enhance the social and behavioral science content of the educational programs in medical schools; examples not inclusive:

- Mind-Body interactions in health and disease: Psychology, biological, social and behavioral factors and influences on health and disease
- Patient Behavior: Health promoting and health damaging behaviors, principles of behavior change, influences on health behavior patterns
- Physician role and behavior: Understanding of physician beliefs, behaviors and values on patient care, physician self-care, and Physician-patient interactions
- Physician-patient interactions: Communication and decision-making, managing difficult interactions
- Social and cultural issues in health care: Social determinants of health outcomes, role of complementary and alternative medicine
- Health policy and economics: Economic factors influencing health behaviors and patient care

o The development of educational curricula and relevant experiences spanning the entire duration of the medical school experience (not restricted to just pre-clinical years).

o The development of competencies that will significantly increase the knowledge and skills of medical students, physicians in training, faculty, and practicing physicians. These competencies will promote the understanding of the role of psychological, social, cultural, and economic factors in health and illness, and develop clinical competencies in medical interviews, communication, counseling, behavioral management, and behavioral interventions.

o The promotion of research studies in behavioral and social sciences at the awardee's institution, funded by other support. Increasing research and clinical activities require an integrative approach across traditional disciplinary and professional boundaries. This requires skilled physicians working cooperatively in research and clinical teams. The NIH is interested in the educational experiences that encourage the integration of traditional biomedical and clinical sciences with the behavioral and social science disciplines, and other non-conventional disciplines, such as complementary and alternative approaches to health care.

o The promotion of the professional development of the awardee so s/he can serve as a focal point for multidisciplinary interactions promoting integration of behavioral and social sciences into the approaches, teaching, research, clinical care, and training of other health care professionals.

o The development or enhancement of an infrastructure at the awardee's institution to continue educational and training programs when the award is concluded. The program may include the six domains, clinical competencies, and other relevant topics areas within behavioral and social sciences.

o Through collaboration with other awardees and their institutions, develop strategies, curricula, and training modules that can be adapted and used by other academic training units and institutions.

o Evaluate the impact of the proposed program.

2. Funds Available

The participating ICs intend to commit approximately $1.5 million dollars in FY 05 to fund five to ten new and/or competitive continuation grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may request a project period of up to five years and a budget for direct costs up to $250,000 per year. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the ICs 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.

You may submit (an) application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:

• For-profit organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories
• Domestic institutions/organizations
• Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply
• Faith-based or community-based organizations

You may submit an application if your institution has a domestic school of medicine or osteopathy. Each institution may submit only one grant application per school of medicine or osteopathy.

1.B. Eligible Individuals

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs.

Principal Investigators (PI) should possess the research and training expertise, and leadership and administrative capabilities required to develop, and implement or enhance a curriculum of behavioral and social science for use in medical schools. The PI should have demonstrated a commitment to medical education for students. PI must have a regular appointment (i.e., not adjunct) at the rank of associate or full professor at the medical or osteopathic school. The PI must devote 25-50% of his/her full-time professional effort on course(s) and curriculum development for the period of the award . Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs. Principal Investigators must be U.S. citizens or non-citizen nationals, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Card or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident.

2. Cost Sharing

Cost sharing is not required (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/nihgps_Part2.htm#matching_or_cost_sharing )

3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria

Program: The Principal Investigator is expected to develop courses or curricula and educational experiences that address the six general domains of behavioral and social science knowledge identified in the Institute of Medicine report and listed above: mind-body interactions in health and disease, patient behavior, physician role and behavior, patient interactions, social and cultural issues, and finally health policy and economics. The applicant may offer an alternative approach based on their scientific knowledge and expertise and may expand beyond the six general domains to include other relevant domains by providing a justification. The curricula may be organized around an interdisciplinary theme that provides a framework for merging concepts and approaches from multiple disciplines into an integrated course/curriculum. These efforts should also encourage collaboration and interaction across behavioral-social science faculty and biomedical or clinical faculty. Educational approaches and materials should be designed to enable dissemination and adoption by other medical or osteopathy schools and illustrate models for consideration by schools of other health professionals.

Environment: The institution must demonstrate a commitment to the further development and implementation of these courses and curricula following the award. The institution must provide assurance that the Principal Investigator is an integral part of its research and academic programs, and demonstrate a sufficient research base in behavioral and social sciences related to health to refine and advance knowledge in this field.

Allowable costs:

Salary: This award will provide salary and fringe benefits for the Principal Investigator for levels of effort between 25 and 50 percent. The total salary requested must be based on the Principal Investigator's full-time, 12-month staff appointment. It must be consistent both with the established salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other staff members of equivalent qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. If full-time, 12-month salaries are not currently paid to comparable staff members, the salary proposed must be appropriately related to the existing salary structure. The salary will always be pro-rated for the percentage of time/effort of a full-time position, based on the institutional salary scales, keeping the DHHS salary cap as a maximum for which the amount is determined.

The institution may supplement this award contribution up to a level that is consistent with the institution's salary scale; however, supplementation may not be from Federal funds unless specifically authorized by the Federal program from which such funds are derived. In no case may DHHS funds be used for salary supplementation. Institutional supplementation of salary must not require duties or responsibilities that would interfere with the purpose of the Curriculum Development Award.

Salary support may be requested for other collaborating faculty members.

Annual principal investigator meeting with NIH personnel: The applicant should budget for one annual trip to NIH for an investigator's meeting.

Research Support: A maximum of $50,000 per year may be requested for ancillary needs, such as collaborators, consultants, equipment, computer time, etc. All requests for ancillary support must be justified. In no case will the allowance provided exceed $50,000. Salaries for mentors or for secretarial, technical and/or administrative assistance are not allowed.

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs: F&A costs will be reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs, or at the actual indirect cost rate, whichever is less.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

• Descriptive title of proposed research
• Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institutions
• Number and title of this funding opportunity

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 by the date listed at the beginning of this document.

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Dr. Lynn Nielsen-Bohlman
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Room 3089F, MSC 7848
Bethesda, MD 20892-7848 (20817 for express/courier delivery)
Telephone: (301) 594-5287
FAX: (301) 480-1056
Email: NielsenL@csr.nih.gov

3.B. Sending an Application to the NIH

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms as described above. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, five signed photocopies, and all copied of the appendix material in one package to:

Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 (U.S. Postal Service Express or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS service)

Using the RFA Label: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application instructions 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: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf .

3.C. Application Processing

Applications must be received on or before the application receipt date listed in the heading of this funding opportunity. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. Applications will be evaluated for completeness by CSR.

The NIH will not accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded application, originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be submitted in response to a funding opportunity, it is to be prepared as a NEW application. That is, the application for the funding opportunity must not include an Introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the text must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded version of the application.

Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within eight (8) weeks.

4. Intergovernmental Review

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review .

5. Funding Restrictions

All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm (See also Section VI.3. Award Criteria)

6. Other Submission Requirements

The application must address the following issues:

Principal Investigator:

Describe the Principal Investigator's commitment to developing and implementing a course(s) or curricula, which meet the scientific and educational requirements of the behavioral and social science content in medical school education. Provide evidence that the Principal Investigator has the capacity to develop and implement course(s) or curricula that are based on sound research concepts and educational principles.

Course or Curriculum Development Plan:

Describe the plan and how it fits into the institutional plans and goals. Explain how this curriculum is distinguished from other curricula within the existing educational infrastructure and framework of the applicant institution. Describe the immediate and long-term objectives of the award and how those objectives will meet the needs for expansion or enhancement of the academic or research capacity of the institution in the behavioral and social science content of medical school curricula.

Environment and Institutional Commitment:

The institution must provide evidence of commitment and support for the proposed program. There must be evidence of support for the Principal Investigator and his/her course and/or curricula development and implementation plans and for the further enhancement of the behavioral and social science area. The institution should demonstrate a commitment in sustaining the support beyond the funding period.

Collaborator's Statement:

Principal Investigators must include information about any collaborator(s) including her/his research and training qualifications. The application must also include information describing the nature and extent of collaboration that will occur during the proposed award period.

Budget:

Budget requests must be provided according to the instructions in form PHS 398. The request for ancillary support, i.e., essential books, travel, consultants, equipment, computer time, etc., must be justified and specified by category.

Plan for Sharing Research Data

A plan for sharing research data is not required.

Sharing Research Resources

Not applicable to this announcement.

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

• Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score.
• Receive a written critique
• Receive a second level of review by the appropriate national advisory councils or boards.

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. The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria in assigning the application's overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application.

• Evidence of the Principal Investigator's excellence in research and academic activities, and the quality and breadth of prior scientific training experience.
• Commitment to developing and implementing academic course(s) or curricula which meet the scientific and educational requirements of enhancing the behavioral and social science content of medical school curricula.
• Identification of appropriate collaborator(s) from the relevant biomedical and clinical disciplines who will agree to collaborate on the development of the course(s) and curricula.
• Evidence of the capacity to develop and implement course(s) or curricula that are based on sound research concepts and educational principles.
• Evidence of potential to become a leader in developing educational behavioral and social science scientific programs at the institution(s).
• Evidence of support from the Dean and appropriate departmental chair persons of the institution.

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?

• Long term commitment of the institution to strengthening behavioral and social science research and education activities in areas of interest to the NIH beyond the funding period. For example, an institutional commitment to revise several courses or develop several new courses would be regarded as compelling evidence of institutional support.
• Merit of the institution's plan to strengthen and incorporate behavioral and social science topics into the curriculum through the entire length of medical education, including residency.
• Scope and nature of collaboration among participating departments.

Course/Curricula Development Plan:

• Quality, feasibility and innovation of course and curricula development and implementation plans for enhancing the behavioral and social science content of medical school curricula throughout the entire length (preclinical and clinical components) of medical school education.
• Appropriateness of the plan to the goals of this program. Adequacy of the justification provided for the need for the proposed curriculum relative to other on-going education and/or training activities being currently sponsored within the school.
• Immediate and long-term objectives of the award and how those objectives will meet the needs for expansion or enhancement of the academic or research capacity of the institution in the behavioral and social science area.
• Quality of plan to disseminate the materials nationwide.

3.A. Additional Review Criteria:

In addition to the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score:

Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk: The involvement of human subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be assessed (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).

Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children in Research: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).

Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If vertebrate animals are to be used in the project, the five items described under Section F of the PHS Form 398 research grant application instructions will be assessed.

3.B. Additional Review Considerations

Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the budget.

3.C. Sharing Research Data

A data sharing plan is not required.

3.D. Sharing Research Resources

Not applicable to this announcement.

1. Award Notices

After the peer review of the application is completed, the Principal Investigator will also receive a written critique called a summary statement.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part4.htm

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of award will be provided to the applicant organization. The notice of award signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document.

Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NGA (Notice of Grant Award) are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

The NGA will be submitted via e-mail.

2. Administrative Requirements

All NIH Grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the notice of grant award. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm .

The following Terms and Conditions will be incorporated into the award statement and will be provided to the Principal Investigator as well as to the appropriate institutional official, at the time of award.

3. Award Criteria

The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review
• Availability of funds
• Relevance of program priorities

4. Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit the PHS Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, Form 2590 annually:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

Catherine M. Stoney, Ph.D.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Blvd. , Room 401
Bethesda , MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 402-1272
FAX: (301) 480-3621
Email: stoneyc@mail.nih.gov

Michael Stefanek , Ph.D.
Chief, Basic Biobehavioral Research Branch
Behavioral Research Branch
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Blvd. , EPN 4066
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-8776
FAX: (301) 594-6787
Email: Ms496r@nih.gov

Jared Jobe , Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Behavioral Medicine Scientific Research Group
Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 8120
Bethesda, MD 20892-7936
Telephone: (301) 435-0407
FAX: (301) 480-1773
Email: jobej@nhlbi.nih.gov

Deborah N. Ader, Ph.D.
Director, Behavioral and Prevention Research Program
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-5032
FAX: (301) 480-4543
Email: Aderd@mail.nih.gov

2. Peer Review Contacts:

Dr. Lynn Nielsen-Bohlman
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Room 3089F, MSC 7848
Bethesda , MD 20892-7848 (20817 for express/courier delivery)
Telephone: (301) 594-5287
FAX: (301) 480-1056
Email: NielsenL@csr.nih.gov

3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:

Victoria P. Connors
Grants Management Team Leader
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health
6100 Executive Blvd.
Room 8A17P, MSC 7510
Bethesda , MD 20892-7510 (regular mail)
Rockville , MD 20852 (express mail)
Telephone: (301) 496-5482
FAX: (301) 451-5510
Email: connorsv@mail.nih.gov

George Tucker
Grants Management Officer
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
6707 Democracy Blvd. , Room 401
Bethesda , MD 20892-5475
Telephone: (301) 301-594-9102
FAX: (301) 480-1552
Email: tuckerg@nccam.nih.gov

Crystal Wolfrey
Team Leader, DCCPS
Grants Administration Branch
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
6120 Executive Blvd., Suite 243
Bethesda, MD 20892 (for regular mail)
Rockville, MD 20852 (for hand delivered mail)
Telephone: (301) 496-8634
FAX: (301) 496-8601
Email: wolfreyc@mail.nih.gov

Melinda Nelson
Chief, Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20892-4872
Telephone: (301) 594-3535
FAX: (301) 480-5450
Email: nelsonm@mail.nih.gov

Tanya McCoy
Grants Management Specialist
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive , Room 7154
Bethesda , 20892
Telephone: (301) 435-0171
FAX: (301) 480-0422
E-mail: mccoyt@nhlbi.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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