BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE TRACK AWARDS FOR RAPID TRANSITION-NIDA
NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 9, March 21, 1997
PA NUMBER: PAR-97-046
P.T. 34
Keywords:
Behavioral/Social Studies/Service
Psychology
Social Psychology
Drugs/Drug Abuse
Cognitive Development/Process
National Institute on Drug Abuse
PURPOSE
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) invites newly independent
investigators to submit applications for small-scale, exploratory
(i.e., pilot) research projects related to NIDA's behavioral sciences
mission. The Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition
(B/START-NIDA) will provide rapid review and funding decisions of
applications. Experimentally-based research applications are
encouraged across a wide variety of behavioral factors in drug abuse,
including neurocognitive, cognitive and perceptual processes,
psychosocial, and more broadly motivational, social and community
factors in drug abuse. Given the role that drug abuse plays in
HIV/AIDS transmission, studies applying basic behavioral science
models and methods to address this issue are especially encouraged.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This PA,
Behavioral Science Track Awards for Rapid Transition-NIDA, is related
to the priority area of alcohol and other drugs. Potential
applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone
202-512-1800).
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. Racial/ethnic minority
individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to
apply as principal investigators.
To be eligible for a B/START-NIDA award, the proposed principal
investigator must be independent of a mentor at the time of award but
be at the beginning stages of her/his research career. If the
applicant is in the final stages of training, he/she may apply, but
no B/START award will be made to individuals in training status. The
proposed principal investigator may not have been designated
previously as principal investigator on any Public Health Service
(PHS)-supported research project. Previous receipt of National
Research Service Award funds (i.e., Institutional Training Grant or
Individual Fellowship) is permissible. Foreign organizations are not
eligible to apply.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
The funding mechanism that will be used to support this initiative is
the small grant (R03). Each award is not to exceed $50,000 in direct
costs and is for a period of one year only. The award is not
renewable.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), through the issuance of
this Program Announcement (PA) hopes to facilitate the entry of
beginning investigators into the field of behavioral science
research. It is well-documented that the number of investigators
entering basic behavioral sciences research is declining. This is of
special concern to NIDA because understanding behavioral processes is
fundamental to curbing drug abuse and addiction.
Because of the importance of this public health mission, the pipeline
of behavioral science investigators who will make the next important
discoveries in drug abuse must not run dry. Recently NIDA has pursued
several initiatives to emphasize its interest in the behavioral
sciences. The purpose of this PA is to underscore NIDA's commitment
and interest in expanding the scope of basic behavioral sciences
research in drug abuse. NIDA supports both animal and human basic
research to elucidate underlying behavioral mechanisms, determinants
and correlates of drug abuse (both licit and illicit), and to
characterize the harmful sequelae of drug abuse and addiction.
Animal and human research applications are encouraged in the
following broad areas (specific research examples shown are
illustrative only; research topics will not be restricted to those
listed). While the proposed project is not required to use drugs of
abuse or to study drug abusers in the research protocol, the
application should advance our understanding of and be related to
drug abuse and addiction.
o Behavioral genetic approaches either in animal models (e.g.,
transgenic animals, development of simple high-input behavioral
screens) or human subject studies (e.g., establishment of pedigrees,
twin studies).
o Cognitive effects and causative factors (learning and memory,
information processing, perceptual processes including pain and
analgesia, attention, problem solving, concept formation, spatial
ability, neuropsychology and neurocognition, animal cognition).
o Psychosocial, social and personality factors (psychosocial risk
factors, group and interpersonal processes, risk taking and HIV/AIDS,
social influence, social values, social attitudes and cognition,
persuasion conformity and compliance).
o Motivational bases of behavior (self-control, behavioral
alternatives, craving, appetitive and ingestive behaviors, emotion).
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 subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported
biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects,
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided
that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the
subjects or the purpose of the research. This policy results from
the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law
103-43).
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the
Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH
Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS
398 (rev. 5/95). Applications kits are available at most
institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from
the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources,
National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910,
Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/435-0714, email:
ASKNIH@odrockm1.od.nih.gov.
The title and number of the program announcement must be typed in
Section 2 on the face page of the application. The application
length should not exceed 10 typewritten pages. Additionally, the new
NIH Just-in-Time application procedures apply for B/START-NIDA
submissions such that Other Support and detailed budgetary
information is not required until the application is likely to be
funded. See the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Volume 25, Number
10, March 29, 1996 for further information.
The completed original application and three legible copies must be
sent or delivered to:
DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20897 (if using courier/express service)
To permit an expedited review of the application, applicants must
simultaneously send two complete copies to:
Office of Extramural Program Review
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10-42
Rockville, MD 20857
In FY 97, the regular receipt date of June 1 for R03 applications
applies. For FY 98 and beyond, there will be two receipt dates per
fiscal year: October 1 and February 1.
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
Applications that are complete and responsive to the program
announcement will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by
appropriate peer reviewers. As part of the merit review, all
applications will receive a written critique.
Scientific reviews will be conducted on receipt of the application.
In about five months, applicants will be notified by NIDA staff
whether or not their application will be funded. No funding will
occur during the months of October and November. Revised B/START-
NIDA applications are not allowed.
Review Criteria
o scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality of
proposed research;
o appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and
methodology proposed to carry out the research;
o availability of the resources necessary to perform the research;
o adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities as
appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the
recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.
The reviewers will also examine the provisions for the protection of
human and animal subjects, and the safety of the research
environment.
AWARD CRITERIA
It is anticipated that up to $500,000 for FY 1997 will be available
to support projects submitted under this program announcement.
Future years' support will depend upon available appropriations. The
following will be considered in making funding decisions: Quality of
the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of
funds, and program priority.
INQUIRIES
Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or
questions from potential applicants is welcome.
Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:
Jaylan Turrkan, Ph.D.
Division of Basic Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A31
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 443-1263
Email: jaylan@helix.nih.gov
Harold Gordon, Ph.D.
Division of Clinical and Services Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10A-46
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 443-4877
Email: hg23r@nih.gov
Meyer Glantz, Ph.D.
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9A-55
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 4432974
Email: mg115g@nih.gov
Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:
Dr. Gary Fleming Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8A-54
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: (301) 443-6710
Email: gf6s@nih.gov
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.279. Awards are made under authorization of the
Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as
amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered
under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45
CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental
review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency
review.
The Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all grant
recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use
of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-
Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in
some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine
education, library, day care, health care or early childhood
development services are provided to children. This is consistent
with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental
health of the American people.
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