Volume 13, number 6: December 6, 2006
FEDERAL NEWS
Dept. of Education Seeks Input on IDEA Proposal
The Department of Education recently released a proposed plan for the national activities authorized in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The department is now seeking comments and recommendations from the public prior to finalizing the plan. Input is sought from anyone involved in special education, whether as researcher, clinician, teacher or parent. Comments are due by January 11, 2007.
Countdown to NIH R01 eSubmission: System Readiness and Flexibility
This month’s Extramural Nexus newsletter from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Office of Extramural Research (OER) is dedicated to the coming transition to electronic grant applications on February 1, 2007.
OER Director Norka Ruiz Bravo covers the measures NIH has taken to ensure system readiness, including spreading application due dates and system-performance improvements. NIH promises that no applicant will be penalized for NIH system problems. NIH is also planning to practice on-time submission flexibility for the first few electronic application transition dates - after submission, an applicant will have one week to go back and fix technical issues in his or her grant application arising from the eRA business rule validation process.
The newsletter contains more information on NIH electronic submission, including options for non-Windows users, training opportunities, an outline of the submission process, and contacts and web pages for more information and assistance.
NIH Announces Implementation of Multiple PI Policy
Beginning on February 1, 2007 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will allow applicants and their institutions to identify more than one Principal Investigator (PI) on applications to many grant programs. NIH will extend the multiple PI option to most research grant applications when they transition to an electronic format. NIH expects the availability of the multiple PI option to encourage interdisciplinary and other team approaches to biomedical research.
Two New BAAs from the US Army
The US Army has released two Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) for Fiscal Years 2007-2011. These BAAs, from the Army Research Office and the Army Research Laboratory, will be open until September 30, 2011. These BAAs include funding for basic and applied science and social science research, as well as other opportunities such as conference support, young investigator grants, and infrastructure funding.
NSF Launches eNewsletter
The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Policy Office has released the first issue of their quarterly electronic newsletter. The eNewsletter will inform NSF’s applicant and awardee community of new or revised policies and procedures, upcoming events where NSF staff will be in attendance, and any other relevant information that impacts the community.
The eNewsletter will be distributed via MyNSF, NSF’s free, customized subscription service. To sign up with MyNSF and receive quarterly newsletter and other NSF announcements, go to: www.nsf.gov/mynsf/.
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NIDDK Programs Move to Parent Announcements
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases (NIDDK) has announced the termination of more than 30 exploratory developmental (R21) program announcements as part of a shift to using a new National Institutes of Health parent announcement for R21s, among other funding mechanisms. The institute remains interested in the topics covered, but researchers should consult NIDDK program staff before submitting an application.
NIH Seeking Applicants for Director’s Council of Public Representatives
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking applicants for positions on the Director’s Council of Public Representatives. This federal advisory committee is made up of members of the public who advise the NIH director on issues related to:
- Public input and participation in NIH activities;
- Public input and participation in the NIH research priority setting process; and
- NIH outreach programs and efforts
The council is comprised of 21 people from across the country who represent the public through an open application process. The council includes patients, family members of patients, health care professionals, scientists, health and science communicators, and educators.
Applications are due by December 15, 2006.