AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT:
A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the Recovery Act, provides more than $787B for programs and initiatives to facilitate recovery from the current economic situation. Of particular interest to the GW Medical Center, the Recovery Act provides more than $21B in funding for biomedical, behavioral, and public health research and facilities improvement. These opportunities are highly competitive and time sensitive.

In light of these opportunities, our goals are to obtain the maximum funding possible to enhance and expand our research portfolio and signature programs and to improve our infrastructure and facilities. Another objective is to better position GW Medical Center for future research, partnership, and funding opportunities.

This webpage provides information about the Recovery Act and supports faculty, administrators, and Medical Center leadership attract funds.This page includes:

•  Recovery Act Opportunities for GW Medical Center
•  GW Medical Center Recovery Act Steering Committee and Strategy
•  New NIH Funding Opportunities (PARs/RFAs) by Due Date
•  New NIH Supplemental/Competitive Revision Funding Opportunities
•  NIH Review Criteria, Scoring System, Suspension of Appeals Process
•  Grants.gov
•  Links to Key Sites and Federal Agencies

The GW Medical Center community is urged to pursue these opportunities. If you are considering submitting an application for Recovery Act funding, please notify the Office of Medical Center Research (Joyce Javois at resjdj@gwumc.edu) to facilitate collaboration and preparation of your application and to assure coordination of the many grant opportunities being pursued across GW.

Research is a core mission and top priority for GW. The Medical Center leadership team looks forward to working with you to ensure we maximize the support available through the Recovery Act.

Sincerely,
                                               
John F. Williams, MD, EdD, MPH
Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs

Recovery Act Opportunities for GW Medical Center

The $787B economic stimulus bill, formally called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is designed to create or save 3.5 million American jobs during the next two years and stimulate technological advances in targeted industries, including education, science, healthcare, and emerging technologies.

The Act provides unprecedented funding opportunities for research in the coming years. Just as importantly, the Act contains strong indicators of future trends and priorities in government-supported funding for science and research.

Following is an overview of the Recovery Act funding activities (presented alphabetically by organization) that are directly pertinent to the GW Medical Center. This is designed to give the GW Medical Center community concise information.

For broader information about the Recovery Act, please see the GW University Research Recovery Act website: http://www.gwu.edu/~research/ame_recovery.htm and the Federal Recovery Act website: www.Recovery.gov.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

AHRQ is allotted $300M to building on its existing comparative effectiveness research program, which is designed to provide patients, clinicians, and others with evidence-based information to make informed decisions about health care. AHRQ is undertaking a process to determine what will be funded, and is seeking input. Comments on the comparative effectiveness programs funded at AHRQ may be emailed to EffectiveHealthCare@ahrq.hhs.gov.

AMTRAK

AMTRAK is slated to receive $1.3B in grant funding through the Recovery Act. The purpose of this funding is to increase ridership, make Amtrak as safe as possible, and repair and update critical infrastructure.

The GW Center for Preparedness and Resilience (GWCPR) provided Amtrak personnel with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear explosives (CBRNE) training and incident management. Prior to the Recovery Act, AMTRAK expressed interest in developing response teams similar to the air marshal teams. This infusion of funding to AMTRAK may present an opportunity for GWCPR to facilitate this initiative and to expand/enhance CBRNE and incident management training.

Health Care Information Technology Funding

The Recovery Act slates approximately $19B to accelerate the adoption of health information technology systems, including approximately $2B in discretionary funds allocated for health care information technology research in the following areas:

• Interfaces between human information and communications technology systems
• Voice-recognition systems
• Software that improves interoperability and connectivity among health information systems
• Software dependability in systems critical to health care delivery
• Measurements of the impact of information technologies on the quality and productivity of health care
• Health information enterprise management
• Health information technology security and integrity
• Relevant health information technology to reduce medical errors

It is likely these funds will be awarded through the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) in coordination with the National Science Foundation (NSF). The remaining $17B is slated for investments and incentives offered through the Medicare and Medicaid programs to help the use of “health IT” in hospitals and other medical facilities.

There may be opportunities for the GW Medical Center in these areas. GW Medical Faculty Associates (GW MFA) is a national leader in the utilization of electronic medical records and health care information technology to improve patient care, health care delivery, and business processes, and has worked closely with Allscripts, a corporate leader in software, systems, information and connectivity solutions to deliver best-in-class patient safety, clinical outcomes and financial results. Also, GW MFA and GW Hospital participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs and thus may benefit from the investments and incentives slated to be offered through these programs.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

$10.4B was assigned to NIH, with the following breakdown:

• $8.2 billion for research projects, of which $7.4B is being transferred to the individual Institutes and Centers (ICs) and the Common Fund, in the same proportion as the FY2009 appropriation
• $1B to the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) for renovation, improvement, and new construction of extramural research facilities
• $300M to NCRR for shared instrumentation
• $500M to NIH’s buildings and facilities account for intramural facilities
• $400M for comparative effectiveness research

There are several key points to this funding. The funds must be obligated by September 30, 2010. The purpose of these funds is to create and preserve jobs and have a short- and long-term economic impact in local communities, while at the same time generating significant scientific advances within a 2-year period of time.

NIH Recovery Act funding of external research projects is allocated into 11 categories:

1. Meritorious RO1s and related mechanisms:
   
   After the FY2008 funding cycle, approximately 14,000 applications were approved for funding by councils but unfunded. These applications, as well as some from early FY2009, will be reviewed to see if there are any reasonable expectations that two year funding of these awards would be productive. This will not be done in formulaic manner; rather it will be based on the programmatic priorities identified by the ICs and NIH leadership. Though it is expected funding will be awarded primarily for R01s, there may be opportunity for funding R21 and other mechanisms that lend themselves well to the 2-year time frame.
    
2. Supplements and competitive revisions to existing grants and contracts:
   
   This funding mechanism expands existing grants. Investigators with active NIH research grants may request administrative supplements and competitive revisions. The purpose of this funding program is to accelerate the tempo of scientific research, promote job creation and economic development along with accelerating the pace and achievement of scientific research.
   
   There are various application due dates for supplemental and competitive revision funding.
   
   For more information, see New NIH Supplemental Funding Opportunities below.
    
3. Shared instrumentation and equipment ($100K-$500K)
   
   PAR-09-028 solicits applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade commercially available instruments that cost $100K - $500K. To be eligible to apply, three (3) or more NIH funded investigators who will be users of the requested instruments must be identified. There is no limit on the number of applications an institution may submit provided the applications are for different types of equipment. The NCRR intends to commit approximately $43 million in FY2010 to fund approximately 125 new awards.
   Applications were due March 23, 2009
   PAR: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-028.html
    
4.  High-End Instrumentation Grant Program ($600K+)
   
   PAR-09-118 encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase a single major item of equipment for biomedical research and that costs at least $600K (maximum award is $8M). Additionally, it is expected the funds will be expended expeditiously, within 18-24 months from the date of the award. To be eligible to apply, three (3) or more NIH-funded investigators who will be users of the requested equipment must be identified. There is no limit on the number of applications an institution may submit provided the applications are for different types of equipment. NCRR intends to commit approximately $160M to fund approximately 40 awards.
   
   PAR: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-118.html
   Letters of Intent are due April 6, 2009
   Applications are due May 6, 2009
    

5. Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders (R01)
   
   Solicits applications for measurement development, biomarkers/biological signatures, immune and central nervous system interactions, genetics/genomics, environmental risk factors, model development, treatment and intervention, and services research relevant to the heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). NIH intends to commit approximately $57M to fund between 40-50 grants.
   
   Four RFAs with essentially identical scientific scope are running in parallel for these funding opportunities and with the same due dates. The difference between the RFAs is the grant mechanism:

   • RFA-MH-09-170 uses the R01 grant award mechanism
   • RFA-MH-09-171 uses the R01 Collaborative Research Grant award mechanism
   • RFA-MH-09-172 uses the R21 Exploratory/Development Research Grant mechanism
   • RFA-MH-09-173 uses the R34/Collaborative R34 Clinical Exploratory/Development Research Grant award mechanisms

   RFA 170: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-170.html
   RFA 171: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-171.html
   RFA 172: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-172.html
   RFA 173: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-173.html
   Letters of Intent are due April 12, 2009
   Applications are due May 12, 2009
    

6. Challenge Grants (up to $1M for 2 years)
   
   NIH designated at least $200 million for this new initiative called NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research, which supports research on topic areas that address specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, health research challenges, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in specific ways. The broad challenge areas are:
   
   (01)   Behavior, Behavioral Change, and Prevention
   (02)   Bioethics
   (03)   Biomarker Discovery and Validation
   (04)   Clinical Research
   (05)   Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER)
   (06)   Enabling Technologies
   (07)   Enhancing Clinical Trials
   (08)   Genomics
   (09)   Health Disparities
   (10)   Information Technology for Processing Health Care Data
   (11)   Regenerative Medicine
   (12)   Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education
   (13)   Smart Biomaterials – Theranositics
   (14)   Stem Cells
   (15)   Translational Science
   
   Also, most NIH institutes and centers have identified more than 200 sub-challenge topics. Additional information is presented in the section titled New Funding Opportunities (PARs/RFAs) by Due Date.
   
   RFA: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-003.html
   Applications due April 27, 2009
    
7. GO Grants (more than $1M for 2 years)
   
   NIH established GO Grants (Research and Research Infrastructure Grand Opportunities Grant Program) to support large-scale research projects that accelerate critical breakthroughs, early and applied research on cutting-edge technologies, and new approaches to improve the synergy and interactions among multi- and interdisciplinary research teams. The initiative seeks novel approaches in areas that address specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. Applicants may propose to address either a specific research question or propose the creation of a unique infrastructure/resource designed to accelerate scientific progress in the future. This program encompasses basic, biomedical, clinical, health care delivery, public health, multi- and interdisciplinary and translational research.
   
   RFA: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-004.html
   Letters of Intent are due April 27, 2009
   Applications are due May 27, 2009
   
   Additional information is presented in the section titled New Funding Opportunities (PARs/RFAs) by Due Date.
    
8. Extramural Research Facilities Improvement Program (C06):
   
   The major objective of this limited competition program is to facilitate and enhance the conduct of public health service-supported biomedical and behavioral research by supporting the costs of improving non-Federal basic research, clinical research, and animal facilities to meet the biomedical or behavioral research, research training, or research support needs of an institution. Applicants will consider green/sustainable technologies and design approaches. Awards are expected to create and/or maintain American jobs. The total project period may not exceed five years. Each institution may submit no more than three (3) applications.
   
   RFA: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-09-008.html
   Applications for $2M - $5M projects are due May 6, 2009
   Applications for $10 - $15M projects are due June 17, 2009
   Applications for $5 - $10M projects are due July 17, 2009
    
9. Core Facility Renovation, Repair, and Improvement (G20):
   
   The major objective of this limited competition is to upgrade core facilities to support the conduct of public health service-supported biomedical and behavioral research. Support can be requested to alter and renovate the core facility as well as the general equipment in the core facility or to purchase general equipment for specialized groups of researchers. Specialized equipment over $100K in cost may not be requested. Applicants will consider green/sustainable technologies and design approaches. Awards are expected to create and/or maintain American jobs. The total project period may not exceed five years. Each institution may submit no more than two (2) applications.
   
   RFA: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-09-007.html
   Applications are due September 17, 2009
    
10. New Faculty Recruitment to Enhance Research Resources through Biomedical Research Core Centers (P30)
    
    $100M in Recovery Act funding is slated for this initiative, and in which a Core is defined as "a community of multidisciplinary researchers focusing on areas of biomedical research relevant to NIH, such as centers, departments, programs, and/or transdepartmental collaborations or consortia."
    
    These Core Center Grants provide funding to hire/promote, provide start-up packages, and develop pilot research projects for newly independent investigators, with the goal of augmenting and expanding the institution's community of multidisciplinary researchers focusing on areas of biomedical research relevant to NIH.
    
    An institution may submit more than one application. The number of applications permitted per institution and the budgets vary among the participating institutes/centers (listed on the RFA). Funding is for up to two years.
    
    RFA: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-005.html
    Letters of Intent are due April 29, 2009
    Applications are due May 29, 2009
     
11. Comparative Effectiveness Research
    
    The Recovery Act designated $400M to NIH for comparative effectiveness research. The legislation calls on the Institute of Medicine to recommend research priorities for these funds and to gather stakeholder input. Also, $300M was designated to AHRQ and $400M was designated to HHS for comparative effectiveness research. A report is due June 30, 2009.
     

National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST)

The Recovery Act provides NIST, which is part of the Department of Commerce, with approximately $610M, which includes:

• $180M for a competitive construction grant program for funding research science buildings outside of NIST—and this is designed to create construction jobs and lead to sustained economic growth by advancing US leadership in science and technology
• $20M for standards-related research that supports the security and interoperability of electronic medical records to reduce health care costs and improve the quality of care

Details describing eligibility, application requirements, and other guidance related to these opportunities have not yet been released.

Link to NIST Recovery Act Information: http://www.nist.gov/recovery/
 

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF was allocated approximately $2.5B through the Recovery Act and will support all research divisions. NSF is not soliciting any new grant proposals at this time. Most of the funds will be utilized for existing meritorious applications submitted to NSF. Young investigators, high risk, high return, and multidisciplinary research may be given priority.

Link to NSF Recovery Act Information: http://www.nsf.gov/recovery/
 

US Department of Education (DOE)

The Recovery Act designated more than $100B to education. Of this, $44B becomes available to states by the end of March. An additional $49B will become available between summer and fall 2009, and this may present opportunities for GWUMC for enhancing education through technology and teacher quality enhancement. Also, over the next two years there will be funding for institutions of higher education for modernization, renovation, and repair. This funding will be available through state funds at the discretion of the governor. The process and mechanism for DC have not yet been determined.


US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Recovery Act designated $400M to the Office of the HHS Secretary to fund comparative effectiveness research. The legislation calls on the Institute of Medicine to recommend research priorities for these funds and to gather stakeholder input. Also, $300M was designated to AHRQ and $400M was designated to NIH for comparative effectiveness research. A report is due June 30, 2009.

HHS announced an additional $268M in Recovery Act funding to help pay hospitals to treat uninsured, vulnerable patients through the Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Program. Specifically, HHS designated an additional $1.5M in funding for Washington, DC. This may result in some additional funding for GW Hospital, which provides a significant amount of uncompensated care to uninsured and vulnerable patients in Washington, DC.

Additional National Health Service Corps Scholarships are being offered. Scholarships include tuition, fees, and living expenses. Scholarships are tax free, except for the $1,269/month living stipend. Applicants must be enrolled or have accepted enrollment in an accredited training program for primary care nurse practitioners, primary care physician assistants, or primary care medical training
(e.g. internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry). Scholarship applications are due April 6. There may be students enrolled or accepted for enrollment at GWUMC interested in this scholarship opportunity. Link: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/applications/scholarship/

Recovery Act funding also allots significant funding to the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration. $2B is designated for grants to community health centers (e.g. community-based and patient-directed organizations). Additional Recovery Act funding opportunities are being developed and will be announced
when available.

Link to HSS Recovery Act Information: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/
 

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Medical Center Recovery Act Steering Committee
and Strategy

The Recovery Act presents GW Medical Center with a broad range of unprecedented opportunities. These opportunities are highly competitive and time sensitive.

Thus, Provost and VPHA Williams established the Medical Center Recovery Act Steering Committee. The members of the Steering Committee and the primary area they represent are:

Dr. John F. Williams, Provost and VPHA (Committee Chair)
Ms. Astra Bain-Dowell, Resources Management
Mr. Jerry Bass, Health Economics
Ms. Ronna Halbgewachs, Planning and Project Management
Dr. Anne HIrshfield, Medical Center Research
Dr. Jean Johnson, Health Sciences
Dr. Josef Reum, School of Public Health and Health Services
Dr. Jim Scott, School of Medicine and Health Sciences

The primary objective of the Steering Committee is to obtain the maximum funding possible to expand the Medical Center research and programmatic portfolio and to improve our infrastructure and facilities. Other objectives are to better position the Medical Center for future research, partnership, and funding opportunities; to enhance and expand the three Medical Center signature programs—cancer, cardiovascular and related diseases, and HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases; and, to reiterate that research is a top priority for the GW Medical Center and University.

To achieve these objectives, the Medical Center is utilizing a synergistic three-pronged strategy:

•   Investigator driven proposals
        -     NIH Equipment Grants
        -     NIH Challenge Grants
        -     NIH GO Grants
        -     NIH Autism Research Grants
        -     NIH Meritorious Applications (previously submitted)
        -     NIH Supplemental Funding
        -     NIH Competitive Revision Funding
•   Initiative/program driven proposals
        -     Research Space Renovation
        -     Core Facility Renovation
        -     Signature Program Opportunities (e.g. Challenge Grants, GO Grants)
                       a.   Cancer
                       b.   Cardiovascular and Other Related Diseases
                       c.   HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases
        -     Homeland Security Opportunities (e.g. AMTRAK)
        -     Comparative Effectiveness Research Opportunities
        -     Health Care Information Technology Opportunities (e.g. GW MFA)
        -     HHS Disproportionate Share Hospital Opportunity (e.g. GW Hospital)
        -     National Health Service Corps Scholarship Opportunity
        -     Other
•   Facilities driven proposals
        -     Research Space Renovation
        -     Core Facility Renovation
  

The Steering Committee will oversee and guide the Medical Center’s pursuit of funding and strategy implementation; serve as a forum for coordination, communication, and collaboration across the Medical Center and with the University; harness ideas and opportunities; support faculty and administrators’ pursuit of grant funding; and, facilitate the development and processing of grant proposals and applications. The Recovery Act presents the GW Medical Center with critical and strategic opportunities as we strive to achieve our vision and mission. Please feel free to contact members of the Steering Committee to discuss opportunities or for more information about the Recovery Act.

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New NIH Funding Opportunities (PARs/RFAs) by Due Date

Encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase a single major item of equipment for biomedical research and that costs at least $600K (maximum award is $8M). Additionally, it is expected the funds will be expended expeditiously, within 18-24 months from the date of the award. To be eligible to apply, three (3) or more NIH-funded investigators who will be users of the requested equipment must be identified. There is no limit on the number of applications an institution may submit provided the applications are for different types of equipment. NCRR intends to commit approximately $160M to fund approximately 40 awards.

Solicits applications for measurement development, biomarkers/biological signatures, immune and central nervous system interactions, genetics/genomics, environmental risk factors, model development, treatment and intervention, and services research relevant to the heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). NIH intends to commit approximately $57M to fund between 40-50 grants.

Four RFAs with essentially identical scientific scope are running in parallel for these funding opportunities and with the same due dates. The difference between the RFAs is the grant mechanism:

• RFA-MH-09-170 uses R01 Grant award mechanism
• RFA-MH-09-171 uses R01 Collaborative Research Grant award mechanism
• RFA-MH-09-172 uses R21 Exploratory/Development Research Grant award mechanism
• RFA-MH-09-173 uses R34/Collaborative R34 Clinical Exploratory/Development Research Grant award mechanisms

Other key points of these funding opportunities

• Two year projects
• More than one PD/PI may be designated
• Applicants may submit more than one proposal
• Renewals are not permitted
• Resubmissions not permitted
• For RFA 170 (R01): Budgets do not have funding limits
• For RFA 171 (R01): Budgets do not have funding limits
• For RFA 172 (R21): Budgets are limited to $175K in direct costs/year and a maximum of $350K in direct costs for the project period
• For RFA 173 (R34): Budgets are limited to $225k in direct costs/year and a maximum of $450K in direct costs for the project period

NIH has designated at least $200 million for this new initiative called NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research, which supports research on topic areas that address specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, health research challenges, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in specific ways. Following are the broad challenge areas, and the RFP provides detailed descriptions of each.

(01) Behavior, Behavioral Change, and Prevention
(02) Bioethics
(03) Biomarker Discovery and Validation
(04) Clinical Research
(05) Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER)
(06) Enabling Technologies
(07) Enhancing Clinical Trials
(08) Genomics
(09) Health Disparities
(10) Information Technology for Processing Health Care Data
(11) Regenerative Medicine
(12) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education (STEM)
(13) Smart Biomaterials – Theranositics
(14) Stem Cells
(15) Translational Science

Also, most NIH institutes and centers have identified more than 200 sub-challenge topics. A compilation of all the challenge topics may be accessed in a single Omnibus at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/challenge_award/Omnibus.pdf.

Other key points of this funding opportunity:

• Maximum of $500K total costs/year, total of $1M total costs over two years
• Two year project
• Research plan limited to 12 pages
• More than one PD/PI may be designated
• Applicants may submit more than one proposal
• Renewals are not permitted

The new GO Grants program supports large-scale research projects that accelerate critical breakthroughs, early and applied research on cutting-edge technologies, and new approaches to improve the synergy and interactions among multi- and interdisciplinary research teams. The initiative seeks novel approaches in areas that address specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. Applicants may propose to address either a specific research question or propose the creation of a unique infrastructure/resource designed to accelerate scientific progress in the future.

Other key points of this funding opportunity:

• Minimum of $500K total costs/year
• Two year project
• Research plan limited to 12 pages
• More than one PD/PI may be designated
• Applicants may submit more than one proposal
• Renewals are not permitted
• Encompasses basic, biomedical, clinical, health care delivery, public health, multi- and interdisciplinary, and translational research

            
The major objective of this program is to facilitate and enhance the conduct of public health service-supported biomedical and behavioral research by supporting the costs of improving non-Federal basic research, clinical research, and animal facilities to meet the biomedical or behavioral research, research training, or research support needs of an institution. Applicants will consider green/sustainable technologies and design approaches. Awards are expected to create and/or maintain American jobs. The total project period may not exceed five years. Each institution may submit no more than three (3) applications. Please submit ideas for major facilities improvements to the Office of Medical Center Research (Ms. Joyce Javois, email resjdj@gwumc.edu).

 

The major objective is to upgrade core facilities to support the conduct of public health service-supported biomedical and behavioral research. Support can be requested to alter and renovate the core facility as well as the general equipment in the core facility or to purchase general equipment for specialized groups of researchers. Specialized equipment over $100K in cost may not be requested. Applicants will consider green/sustainable technologies and design approaches. Awards are expected to create and/or maintain American jobs. The total project period may not exceed five years. Each institution may submit no more than two (2) applications. Please submit ideas for core facilities to the Office of Medical Center Research (Ms. Joyce Javois, email resjdj@gwumc.edu).

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New NIH Supplemental and Competitive Revision Funding Opportunities

Application due dates vary by Institute/Center.

Investigators with active NIH research grants may request administrative supplements and competitive revisions. The purpose of this program is to promote job creation and economic development along with accelerating the pace and achievement of scientific research. NCRR’s highest priorities for Administrative Supplement Applications are:

• Advance Translational (T1 & T2) Research
• Enhancing NCRR Pilot Project Mechanism
• Collaborative Community Engagement Research
• CTSA Consortium Strategic Goals
• Research Workforce Development and Dissemination
• Science Education and Dissemination

Specific NIH Institutes/Centers may have other priorities pertinent to their respective areas. Please visit the Institute/Center web sites. Also, supplements are available to encourage students to seriously pursue research careers in health related sciences, as well as provide elementary, middle school, and high school teachers, community college faculty, and faculty from non-research intensive institutions with short term research experience in NIH-funded laboratories.

Other key points of these funding opportunities

• Support may be requested for up to two years.
• There are no limits on the number of administrative supplement requests by a PI or institution, although individual Institutes/Centers may limit eligibility in accordance with the policies on their web page.
• Some supplemental and competitive revision funding opportunities ONLY use paper PHS 398 application forms.

For additional information on the application process and the funding priorities, please see the following announcements and notices:

NCRR web page on Supplements and Competitive Revision Applications

NIH Notice NOT-OD-09-056: Availability of Recovery Act Funds for Administrative Supplements
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-056.html

NIH Notice NOT-OD-09-060: Availability of Recovery Act Funds for Administrative Supplements Providing Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science Educators
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-060.html

NIH Notice NOT-OD-09-058: NIH Announcements the Availability of Recovery Act Fund for Competitive Revision Applications
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-058.html

Link regarding application processes:
http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/the_american_recovery_and_reinvestment_act/
administrative_supplements_and_competitive_revision_applications/administrative
_supplements/how_to_apply.pdf
 

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NIH Review Criteria, Scoring, and Suspension of Appeals Process

Notice Number:  NOT-OD-09-054
Notice Link:        http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-054.html Release Date:    March 4, 2009

NIH issued enhanced criteria for evaluating the scientific and technical merit of applications for research grants or cooperative agreements submitted to the NIH for FY2010 funding to support biomedical or behavioral research (NOT-OD-09-025, see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-025.html). The enhanced review criteria are effective for all research applications for Recovery Act grant funding.

In addition, NIH announced that new, nine-point scoring system will be used for the evaluation of all applications submitted to the NIH for potential FY 2010 funding (NOT-OD-09-024, see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-024.html). The new scoring system utilizes a nine-point rating scale (1 = exceptional; 9 = poor). The new scale will be applied to both the overall impact/priority score and the scores for individual review criteria. The new scoring system is effective for all applications submitted for Recovery Act grant funding.

Also, due to the time sensitivity of the Recovery Act granting process, NIH has suspended the appeals procedures (NIH Guide: Appeals of Initial Scientific Peer Review) for investigators responding to Recovery Act funding opportunity announcements.

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Grants.gov

Please be advised that Grants.gov—the web-based portal through which most Recovery Act funding applications are submitted—has not been functioning optimally.
The Federal Office of Management and Budget and several Federal agencies and departments are working to improve the operation of Grants.gov.

Please note that the problems institutions have been experiencing, coupled with the short application deadlines, make it imperative to allow ample time for processing through the Office of Research Services and application submission.

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Other Key Links

GW University Research – Recovery Act Website
http://www.gwu.edu/~research/ame_recovery.htm

Grants.gov
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/recovery.jsp

Recovery.gov
http://www.recovery.gov/

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
http://www.ahrq.gov/

National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/the_american_recovery_and_reinvestment_act/

National Institute of Standards and Technology
http://www.nist.gov/recovery/

National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/recovery/

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/

 

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