Volume 12, number 3: September 1, 2005
FEDERAL NEWS
NIH Website for International Collaborative Proposals
In recognition of the continued growth of international research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) now have a web site to help facilitate collaborative proposals with institutions outside the United States . It includes information about ethical codes, regulatory standards, and other issues related to international research.
The web site also includes an International Compilation of Human Subject Research Protections (pdf) developed by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). The compilation lists the laws, regulations, and guidelines of more than fifty countries where U.S. government-funded research is conducted. OHRP believes this compilation will help researchers, Institutional Review Boards, and others meet regulatory requirements to assure that research studies comply with applicable laws. READ MORE
NIH to Reissue Roadmap Request for Applications
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will soon release a request for applications for “Training for a New Interdisciplinary Research Workforce.” As part of the NIH Roadmap initiative, this program will promote and accelerate research about the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and disability. NIH hopes the program will encourage investigators of various disciplines to work together to arrive at innovative experimental approaches to complex biomedical problems.
Applications will be due in February or March, 2006. READ MORE
Advanced IACUC Workshop
Date: September 19, 2005
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Place: Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center, 4700 Emperor
Boulevard, Research Triangle Park
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, the Scientists Center for Animal Welfare, the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Animal Care, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and GlaxoSmithKline will present a day-long advanced training course for members of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC). The workshop is designed for experienced IACUC members and others who work with laboratory animals. Registration is required.
Topics to be covered include:
- advanced protocol review;
- recognizing and evaluating levels of pain and distress;
- appropriate end points stated in the protocol; and
- special environmental conditions required because of potential pain and/or distress. READ MORE
DoD Extends Deadline for Comments on Export Control Regulations
In its July 12 notice, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced that it would accept comments through September 12, 2005 , regarding a proposed rule change to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to prevent unauthorized access to export-controlled information and technology under DoD contracts. However, the Pentagon has now extended the comment deadline by thirty days to October 12, 2005 . Please forward any comments about the rule change to Carolina 's contact for export control regulations, Jim Peterson. READ MORE
New NIH eRA Commons User ID Requirement
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) eRA Commons has changed its requirement for user IDs. Spaces are no longer allowed in new user IDs and any spaces in current IDs have been replaced with the underscore character. For instance, the user ID JOHN SMITH would be renamed JOHN_SMITH. This change took effect August 19.
NCI Announces Integrated Implementation Plan to Fight Lung Cancer
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced an integrated effort to fight lung cancer. Three critical strategies will be targeted:
- reducing the risk for lung cancer by achieving more effective tobacco control;
- improving the likelihood of a cure through earlier detection and treatment of lung cancer and pre-cancer; and
- introducing novel targeted therapies through cohesive partnerships with ongoing or planned biology initiatives.
The plan details specific recommendations made by NCI's I-2 team, or Integration Implementation Team, including efforts in cessation, early detection, new drug development, and response to therapy. Progress on these efforts will be reported in the coming months on the NCI web site. READ MORE
Video on Peer Review at NIH
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review has produced a video of a mock study section meeting to provide an inside look at how NIH grant applications are reviewed for scientific and technical merit. The video shows how experts assess applications and how review meetings are conducted to ensure fairness. It also includes information on what applicants can do to improve their chances of receiving a positive review of their applications. Click here to see the video.
Opportunity to Use Women's Health Initiative Resources
On or about January 9, 2006 , the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute will issue a Broad Agency Announcement aimed at maximizing scientific gains from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). The WHI includes approximately 161,000 women in a set of overlapping clinical trials of post-menopausal hormone therapy, low-fat dietary pattern, and calcium and vitamin D supplementation, as well as an observational study.
Target areas include:
- application of technologies that enable comprehensive yet efficient investigation of sets of markers associated with disease outcomes; and
- modulators and mediators that might substantively explain the pathway of exposure or treatment effects on disease outcomes. READ MORE
Change for Competing Applications for NRSA Training Grants
Because rising tuition, fees, and health insurance costs are anticipated to exceed available funds in FY 2006, applicants seeking Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) T32 competing renewal support will receive funding to offset these costs at the level of support provided to the program during the previous budget year. Successful new T32 applications will receive funding to offset tuition, fees, and health insurance costs utilizing the current formula as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Future out-year support for FY 2006 competing awards will be subject to appropriate funding principles at the time of award. These changes are intended to prevent a reduction of NRSA training positions in FY 2006. READ MORE