Biomedical and Behavioral Research Innovations To Ensure Equity (BRITE) in maternal and child health

Biomedical and Behavioral Research Innovations To Ensure Equity (BRITE) in maternal and child health is sponsored by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH). This program aims to increase diversity in health equity research related to NICHD mission areas, including preterm birth, infant mortality, maternal mortality, and childhood/adolescent/adult obesity.

Expired PAR-12-093: Biomedical and Behavioral Research Innovations to Ensure Equity (BRITE) in Maternal and Child Health (R15) This notice has expired. Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices. Part 1.

Overview Information Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) Components of Participating Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development ( NICHD ) Funding Opportunity Title Biomedical and Behavioral Research Innovations to Ensure Equity (BRITE) in Maternal and Child Health (R15) R15 Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) August 6, 2015 - This PA has been reissued as PAR-15-319 .

October 18, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-003. Guidance on Resumption of NIH Extramural Activities Following the Recent Lapse in Appropriations. May 30, 2013 ( NOT-OD-13-074 ) - NIH to Require Use of Updated Electronic Application Forms for Due Dates on or after September 25, 2013.

Forms-C applications are required for due dates on or after September 25, 2013. June 27, 2012 - See Notice NOT-HD-12-022. The purpose of this Notice is to clarify and update, Part 2, Section I.

Funding Opportunity Description of the Areas of Research Focus. Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number Additional Information on Eligibility .

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) seeks to increase the diversity of the pool of researchers involved in health equity research related to NICHD mission areas including infant mortality; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); child, adolescent, and/or adult obesity; uterine fibroids; pediatric and maternal HIV/AIDS prevention; violence prevention; health literacy; and outreach and information dissemination.

The goal of the Biomedical and Behavioral Research Innovations To Ensure Equity (BRITE) in maternal and child health program is to stimulate maternal and child health equity research within institutions eligible for the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) R15 program.

Program priorities include AREA-eligible institutions that educate students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral science, including individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities as a strategy to contribute to a diverse research workforce.

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) Letter of Intent Due Date 30 days before applicable receipt date. April 3, 2012, October 11, 2012, (Extended to November 1, 2013 per NOT-OD-14-003 ), Originally October 11, 2013, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

AIDS Application Due Date(s) June/July 2012, February/March 2013, February/March 2014 August 2012, May 2013, May 2014 September 2012, July 2013, July 2014 (Extended to November 2, 2013 per NOT-OD-14-003 ), Originally October 12, 2013 Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in 424 (R&R) Application Guide , except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV . When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. Part 1. Overview Information Part 2.

Full Text of the Announcement Section I. Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III.

Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Section V. Application Review Information Section VI.

Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information I.

Funding Opportunity Description Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) seeks to increase the diversity of the pool of researchers involved in health equity research related to NICHD mission areas including infant mortality; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); child, adolescent, and/or adult obesity; uterine fibroids; pediatric and maternal HIV/AIDS prevention; violence prevention; health literacy; and outreach and information dissemination.

The goal of the Biomedical and Behavioral Research Innovations To Ensure Equity (BRITE) in maternal and child health program is to stimulate maternal and child health equity research within institutions eligible for the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) R15 program.

Program priorities include AREA-eligible institutions that educate students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral science, including individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities as a strategy to contribute to a diverse research workforce.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognize a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the NIH-funded biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences workforce.

The NIH expects efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups; improve the quality of the educational and training environment; balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nation’s capacity to address and eliminate health disparities.

Although the NIH currently provides multiple opportunities to develop research careers and improve participation for individuals from groups with low representation in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, reports from the National Science Foundation (NSF), (see http://www. nsf.

gov/statistics/wmpd/ ) and others, provide strong evidence that the lack of diversity remains an important problem that the entire research enterprise must actively address. There is abundant evidence that the biomedical and educational enterprise will directly benefit from broader inclusion. Recent studies have supported the argument that diversity enhances the quality of education in multiple settings.

Studies have suggested that racially and culturally concordant scientific staff may be more successful in recruiting individuals from minority groups into clinical trials. Racially similar physician-patient dyads also may be related to greater patient satisfaction in ways that could enhance communication and participation in clinical research settings.

There is no question that the need for a diverse workforce permeates all aspects of the nation's health-related Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) seeks to increase the diversity of the pool of scientists involved in health equity research related to NICHD mission areas including infant mortality; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); child, adolescent, and/or adult obesity; uterine fibroids; pediatric and maternal HIV/AIDS prevention; violence prevention; health literacy; and outreach and information dissemination.

While the Institute currently promotes diversity in the workforce by engaging AREA-eligible institutions in NICHD research mission areas, there is a critical need to broaden the NICHD AREA grant portfolio to include a greater representation of institutions with students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in research as a strategy for further increasing the diversity of the scientific research workforce and reducing health inequities.

Many AREA-eligible institutions (e.g., Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)) provide unique opportunities for access to students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research.

For example, in 2008, the National Science Foundation (NSF) reported that 20% of bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering granted to African Americans were received at HBCUs and 32% of bachelor s degrees in science and engineering granted to Hispanics were received in high-Hispanic enrollment institutions.

However, these institutions with largely untapped talent pools of students from underrepresented groups have not been major recipients of NIH support; thus, limiting opportunities for students to benefit from exposure to and participation in biomedical and behavioral Further, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately burdened by health disparities.

There is limited evidence that individuals who have participated in the NIH administrative supplement program preferentially conduct research in areas related to health disparities or minority health.

Expanding NICHD mission-related research opportunities for AREA-eligible institutions with students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in research to seek new knowledge in maternal and child health equity research is an important strategy for increasing the pool of researchers involved in research pertinent to the NICHD mission.

BRITE Program Goals and Objectives The overall goal of the NICHD BRITE Program is to stimulate maternal and child health equity research in AREA-eligible institutions that educate students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research.

The objectives of the program are to: (1) provide support for investigators to conduct independent research pertinent to the NICHD mission; (2) encourage and enable the use of innovative ways to strengthen the research environment and investigator record of research accomplishments; and (3) expose students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research to meritorious maternal and child health equity research.

BRITE grant awards will support meritorious small-scale, new projects in biomedical and behavioral maternal and child health equity Pilot research projects and feasibility studies Secondary analysis of available data sets To increase opportunities for student exposure to research, investigators are strongly encouraged to implement one structured activity during each year of the grant award that extends research exposure to students outside of the investigator's normal laboratory and classroom setting.

This annual structured activity may include journal clubs and research seminars on current topics and research opportunities in maternal and child health equity research. Applicants should provide a plan to address how these activities will be evaluated to measure the level of exposure to research, particularly among students from diverse groups underrepresented in research.

The AREA R15 program is a research grant program and not a training or fellowship program. Thus, applications should not focus on training objectives and training plans should not be provided.

However, it is important for the applicant to describe the research activities in which students will Program Outcomes and Evaluation To ensure the BRITE Program goals and objectives are being met, the NICHD will conduct a program evaluation five to seven years after the release of this FOA.

At its discretion NICHD may continue, modify, or terminate the program at that time if it is determined that the need no longer exists or that the program is not making progress towards the goal of stimulating maternal child health equity research in AREA-eligible institutions that educate students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research.

The program evaluation will focus on investigator accomplishments and level of student exposure to maternal and child health Key metrics to measure investigator accomplishments will Refereed articles as measured by citations and other indicators Presentations at national meetings that help enhance the reputation of the investigator’s research program and the NICHD relevant area Evidence of active pursuit of extramural grants and contracts to support future research goals Key metrics to measure level of student exposure to maternal and child health equity research will include: Characteristics of students participating in BRITE activities (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, disability status, class level, major course of Extent to which participation in BRITE activities increased interest in NICHD mission-related research Research Areas of Emphasis While infant mortality rates in the US have been declining over time, there still exist persistent disparate outcomes among racial/ethnic minority, low-income, and underserved populations.

During 2004-2006, the rates among non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and American Indians and Alaska Natives were 5. 7, 13. 5, and 8.

3 per 1,000 live births, respectively. Differences in these rates have long been explained by disparities in the leading causes of infant mortality (e.g., low birth weight, preterm birth, SIDS).

Risk factors such as lack of early prenatal care, smoking during pregnancy, prone sleep position, and low maternal education are also disproportionately experienced among racial/ethnic minority and low-income populations as well as individuals living in rural areas (e.g., southern Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among children ages one month to one year, accounting for 2,300 deaths in the US each year.

Most SIDS deaths happen between the ages of 2 months and 4 months. While SIDS rates have declined more than 50% since 1992, primarily due to increased educational efforts through the Back to Sleep Campaign, racial/ethnic minorities remain disproportionately affected. American Indians and Alaska Natives have 2 to 3 times the rates of non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks have 2 times the rates of non-Hispanic Whites.

Behavioral, environmental, and contextual factors implicated in disparate SIDS outcomes include lack of or wrong provider advice, prone sleep position, soft sleep surfaces, loose bedding, overheating, exposure to cigarette smoke, bed sharing, preterm birth and low birth weight. Adolescent, and/or Adult Obesity The obesity epidemic remains one of the most critical public health issues facing Americans.

In 2007-2008, 34% of US adults and 17% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years were reported as obese. Racial/ethnic minority, low-income, and underserved populations have significantly increased rates of obesity. For example, approximately 50% of non-Hispanic Black women and 43% of Hispanic women were characterized as obese in comparison to 33% of non-Hispanic White women.

Non- Hispanic Black girls and Hispanic boys aged 6 to 19 years had the highest childhood obesity rates, 25. 9% and 26. 7%, respectively.

Children and adults living in rural communities have significantly higher rates of obesity than their urban counterparts. These differences are exacerbated by high levels low education and low income among rural residents. Further, there is increasing evidence that obesity is more prevalent among youth with chronic physical and intellectual disabilities than youth without disabilities.

A myriad of factors have been examined in relationship to the differential distribution of obesity. Such factors include access to fresh foods, exposure to fast food advertisements, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, cultural perceptions of food and body weight, physical activity, television/video game use, weight loss goals, breastfeeding, stress, and poverty.

and Maternal HIV/AIDS Prevention Perinatal HIV transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or breastfeeding account for the largest proportion of HIV infection and AIDS cases in children. Perinatal transmission is more common among racial/ethnic minorities such that 69% of diagnoses during 2004-2007 were among African Americans and 16% were among Hispanics.

Further, women account for 25% of those living with HIV and African American women have HIV rates 15 times greater than that of White women. Targeted approaches to increase awareness of HIV status and awareness of antiretroviral therapy options among pregnant women are needed to reduce perinatal HIV transmission, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities who bear the greatest burden of disease.

These efforts would need to consider the role of other relevant factors associated with HIV screening rates such as stigma, fear, language Uterine leiomyomas (uterine fibroids) are the most common tumors of the female reproductive tract, affecting around 77% of reproductive-age women. Uterine fibroids are associated with negative outcomes such as preterm labor, miscarriage, and infertility.

Fibroid tumors are the leading cause of hysterectomies, accounting for more than 200,000 of these surgeries annually in the US alone. In comparison to White women, African American women are three times more likely to have fibroid tumors, more likely to receive diagnoses at younger ages, and have larger, more rapidly growing, and more frequently occurring tumors.

African American women also have more severe symptoms such as severe menstrual symptoms, severe pelvic pain, and anemia resulting in significantly increased rates of hysterectomy. Factors such as diet, alcohol use, levels of vitamin D, and obesity have been explored to explain racial/ethnic disparities in uterine fibroids. violence is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 24.

Nearly 700,000 young people ages 10 to 24 were treated in emergency departments for violence-related injuries in 2008. In 2009, 32% of high school students reported being in a physical fight, 20% reported being bullied in the school environment, and 17. 5% reported carrying a weapon such as a gun or knife in the past 30 days.

Violence disproportionately affects youth from racial/ethnic minority populations and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students are at increased risk of victimization as a result of stigma related to their sexual orientation. Risk factors for youth violence include individual, family, peer/school, and community factors.

Protective factors include connectedness to family or adults outside of the family and involvement in social activities. Literacy, Outreach, and Information Dissemination literacy as defined by Healthy People 2010 is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions .

It is estimated that only 12 percent of English-speaking adults in the US have proficient health literacy skills. Limited health literacy has been linked to poor health outcomes, poor understanding of nutrition labels and prescription medication instructions, and increases in hospital visits and admissions. Low parental health literacy has been implicated in negative health outcomes among children.

Racial/ethnic minorities, language minorities, and low socioeconomic populations are significantly impacted by limited health literacy which may also in turn account for higher rates of negative health outcomes within these groups.

High rates of limited literacy among populations who suffer the greatest burdens of health disparities increases the priority for identifying effective sources of outreach and dissemination of health information within these populations. Such sources must be deemed trustworthy and easily accessible and information should be perceived as culturally relevant (e.g., Black radio).

application for a BRITE award could include proposals for biomedical and/or behavioral research in areas including, but not limited to, the following: Studies that evaluate the role of individual-level health behaviors in disparate maternal and child health outcomes Studies that elucidate the role of social determinants (e.g., poverty) in disparate maternal and child health outcomes Studies that investigate the role of interactions among multiple factors in maternal and child health outcomes Studies that identify culturally- and age-appropriate strategies for improving health literacy and increasing dissemination of prevention messages among populations disproportionately affected by disparate health outcomes (e.g., racial/ethnic minority, low-income, disability, and underserved) Application Types Allowed Glossary and the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations, and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious maximum of $300,000 direct costs plus applicable Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs/indirect costs for the entire project period of up to three years.

No more than $150,000 may be spent in any single year without prior approval from NICHD. The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 3 years.

Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA. Section III.

Eligibility Information Higher Education Institutions Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education Private Institutions of Higher Education The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education: Hispanic-serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Some institutions provide unique opportunities for access to students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research.

Accordingly, NICHD strongly encourages applications from the following institutions: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving In addition, all organizations must meet the following two The applicant organization must offer baccalaureate or advanced degrees in the biomedical or behavioral sciences.

The applicant organization may not receive research grants and/or cooperative agreements from the NIH totaling more than $6 million per year (in both direct and F&A/indirect costs) in each of 4 of the last 7 years. that NIH research grants and cooperative agreements" includes all extramural awards designated by an activity code starting with R, P (except P20), M, T, K, or U, and also DP1, DP2, and D42.

The following activity codes are excluded: C, S, and G.

with Multiple Schools or Colleges For institutions composed of multiple schools or colleges, the criterion of financial eligibility is based on the amount of NIH research grant monies received, not by the institution (university or college) as a whole, but by the individual school/college or aggregation of "other academic components" (as defined in this section) where the PD(s)/PI(s) has an appointment (e.g., School of Medicine, College of Nursing, etc.).

Thus, each of the following should be considered independently when determining the financial eligibility of the applicant organization. Health professional school/college: Accredited public or non-profit private school that provides training leading to a degree related to the health sciences granted by that school (e.g., PhD, MD, DDS, MPT, DC, ND, RN, or equivalent degree).

The term "accredited" means a school or program that is accredited by a recognized body or bodies approved for such purpose by the Secretary of Education. schools or colleges of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary medicine, public health, optometry, allied health, chiropractic, naturopathy and podiatry.

Other academic component: Once the health professional schools have been excluded, other academic components refers to all remaining schools, colleges, and free-standing institutes of the institution taken as a Additional Eligibility Guidance To determine the eligibility of an institution, applicants should consult the list of ineligible schools/components on the AREA program website at http://grants. nih. gov/grants/funding/area.

htm . If the name of the school does not appear on the list, it is likelyeligible to apply for AREA grants. Applicants should check with their own institutions if An AREA grant is permitted to have a subcontract to a non-AREA-eligible institution.

However, applicants should keep the goals of the AREA program in mind when preparing the application, which include strengthening the research environment of the institution and exposing students Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement , are not allowed.

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award.

Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following Contractor Registration (CCR) must maintain an active registration, to be renewed at least annually All Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least 4-6 weeks prior to the application due date.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s)) Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s)(PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization 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 support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PD(s)/PI(s), visit the Multiple Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF 424 (R&R) For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PD(s)/PI(s), all PD(s)/PI(s) must have a primary faculty appointment at the AREA-eligible To be eligible for an AREA grant, the PD(s)/PI(s) must meet the following additional criteria.

: The PD(s)/PI(s) must have a primary faculty appointment at an AREA eligible institution. The PD(s)/PI(s) may not be the PD(s)/PI(s) of an active NIH grant, including another AREA grant, at the time of award of an AREA grant (although he or she may be one of the project personnel for an active NIH grant held by another PD(s)/PI(s)).

The PD(s)/PI(s) may not be awarded more than one AREA grant at a time (although he or she may hold successive new or competing renewal AREA This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement . Additional Information on Eligibility Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct..

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. Resubmission applications may be submitted, according to the NIH Policy on Resubmission Applications from the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Requesting an Application Package Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.

gov . Form of Application Submission It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in (R&R) Application Guide , except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced.

Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant 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 By the date listed in Part 1.

Overview Information , prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information: Descriptive title of proposed research Name, address, and telephone number of the PD(s)/PI(s) Names of other key personnel Participating institutions Number and title of this funding opportunity The letter of intent should be sent to: Director, Division of Special Populations (DSP) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5E03A, MSC 7510 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510 Rockville, Maryland 20852 (for express/courier Required and Optional Components The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, mandatory and optional.

Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional All page limitations described in the SF424 Application Page Limits must be followed.

SF424 (R&R) Other Project Information Component In addition to the information requested in the instructions, provide the following information as a PDF attachment in the Facilities & Other Resources section on the Research and Related Other Project A profile of available students of the applicant school/academic component and any information or estimate of the number who have obtained abaccalaureate degree and gone on to obtain an academic or professional doctoral degree in the health-related sciences during the last five years.

are strongly encouraged to include a description of the distribution of students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research as part of the profile of available students of the applicant school/academic component.

A description of the special characteristics of the school/academic component that make it appropriate for an AREA grant, where the goals of the AREA program are to: (1) provide support for meritorious research; (2) strengthen the research environment of schools that have not been major recipients of NIH support; and (3) expose available undergraduate and/or graduate students in such environments to research.

Include a description of the likely impact of an AREA grant on the PD/PI and the research environment of the school/academic component. Although it is expected that the majority of the research will be directed by the applicant investigator and conducted at the grantee institution, limited use of special facilities or equipment at another institution is permitted.

For any proposed research sites other than the applicant institution, provide a brief description of the resources. Collaborations with other investigators are also permitted if complementary expertise is required to accomplish the proposed specific aims.

are strongly encouraged to include a statement of institutional support and letter(s) of commitment from investigator(s) at collaborating institutions as part of the Letters of Support.

If relevant, a statement of institutional support for the proposed research project (e.g., equipment, laboratory space, release time, SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded Component In addition to the information requested in the instructions, provide the following information in the Biographical Sketch that is attached to the Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile form.

The PD(s)/PI(s) should include a summary of his or her previous and/or current experience in supervising students in research in the Personal The PD(s)/PI(s) should indicate which peer-reviewed publications involved students under his or her supervision. R&R or Modular Budget Component total budget for all years of the proposed project must be requested in Budget Period 1. Do not complete Budget Periods 2 or 3.

They are not required and will not be accepted with the application. only Budget Period 1 of either the PHS398 Modular Budget component or the submitting an application with direct costs of $250,000 or less (total for all years, excluding consortium Facilities and Administrative [F&A] costs) must use the PHS398 Modular Budget component.

Applicants submitting an application with direct costs of $250,001 - $300,000 (total for all years) must use the Research & Related (R&R) PHS398 Modular Budget Component (direct costs of $250,000 Follow all instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide, noting the following specifications for R15 applications. Direct Costs less Consortium F&A: Select the appropriate dollar amount from the drop-down list.

This number must NOT EXCEED $250,000. Consortium F&A: If applicable, enter the actual consortium F&A (e.g., $3,271). Total Direct Costs: This field auto-calculates so no data Period 1: Indirect Costs: If the F&A rate agreement has been established, indicate the type of agreement and the date.

All appropriate exclusions must be applied in the calculation of the F&A costs. If the F&A rate has not been established, enter None-will negotiate and include information for a proposed rate. Use the budget justification if additional space is needed.

Justification : Please attach the Personnel Justification and Consortium Justification. If the requested budget requires any additional justification, attach an Additional Narrative Justification. Justification: Follow all instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Since a primary objective of the AREA program is to expose students to meritorious research, PD(s)/PI(s) should include undergraduate (preferably, if available) and/or graduate students in the proposed research to the extent practical. If students are available and will