Research Support Newsletter

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases made public the Institute's biodefense research agenda for Category B and C pathogens at a meeting of the Institute's advisory council January 27 in Bethesda, MD. The agenda document is now available in PDF: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/biodefense/research/categorybandc.pdf.

Category B and C pathogens include diseases such as glanders (Burkholderia mallei), Q fever (Coxiella burnetti), multi-drug resistant TB, yellow fever, and hantaviruses. NIAID is in the process of building a vaccine development and production facility in Frederick, MD, and the focus on research resources also will support reagent repositories, genomic databases, animal models and clinical trials.

All researchers are reminded that NIH requires submission of complete, up-to-date "other support" information before an award can be made, according to a February 13 NIH Guide notice.

"Other support" includes all financial resources, whether federal, non-federal, commercial, or institutional, available in direct support of an individual's research endeavors, including but not limited to research grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and/or institutional awards. Training awards, prizes, or gifts are not included.

Applicants should not submit information on "other support" in the PHS 398 competitive grant application submission, but should be prepared to follow just-in-time procedures to disclose current "other support" information upon the request of NIH staff when the application is under consideration for funding. Grantees must also include within their annual progress reports any changes in "other support" information.

"Other support" info avoids research overlap
So that sufficient and appropriate levels of effort are committed to research projects, overlap is not permitted—whether scientific, budgetary, or involving commitment of an individual's effort greater than 100 percent. The Institute/Center scientific program and grants management staff will review "other support" information prior to award. Resolution of overlap occurs at the time of award in consultation with applicant institution officials, principal investigator, and awarding agency staff.

Officials at the National Institutes of Health and constituent agencies foresee that AIDS and the threat of bioterrorism will lead the institutes to cast a wider, more international net in future grant solicitations. Officials quoted in a February 3 story in Federal Grants and Contracts Weekly said multi-national efforts toward AIDS research and biodefense projects would consume about two thirds of this year's $4 billion grants budget of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The remaining third of funding, expected to be targeted to non-AIDS projects, will also "have an increasingly international bent," according to the article.

It is hoped that overseas AIDS research will foster improved international relations and more stable societies where AIDS now taxes the capacity of government to respond. But in addition, increased overseas research should present scientific opportunities that are more difficult to find in the U.S. owing to relatively fewer AIDS cases stateside, Fogarty International Center Director Gerald Keusch reportedly said.

Other funding priorities are expected to focus on maternal issues and child health, such as the factors (beyond nutrition) that affect fetal growth. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development plans to join scientists with a variety of experts in fields from religion to community organization, behavior change, and communication. According to the article, the NICHD wishes to "encourage research on institutions not typically engaged in prevention efforts, such as businesses, churches and work settings."

On January 24, 2003, the National Science Foundation provided new guidance on cost sharing for proposals submitted to it. You can now find the revision, along with the original NSB Policy Statement and a FAQ, on the NSF web site: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dga/policy/start.htm.

The revised policy is effective for budget negotiations occurring on or after April 1, 2003.

As expected, the "Budget Negotiations" section from the previous policy has been revised to state, "In budget negotiations, any reduction of 10% or more from the amount proposed should be accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the scope of the project." In addition, the statutory 1% cost sharing amount should not be reflected on Line M of the proposed budget. Unless a program solicitation specifically requires cost sharing, proposers should not include cost sharing amounts on Line M of the proposal budget or exceed the cost sharing level or amount specified in the solicitation.

FastLane will be modified to ensure that Line M is masked from peer reviewers during the review process.

If you have questions relating to the preparation of NSF proposals or awards, you may call Edith Hubbard at 962-3397 or email her at edith_hubbard@unc.edu.

The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, NIH (OLAW), the University of South Florida, and the Scientists Center for Animal Welfare will co-sponsor an advanced training course for IACUC members on March 7, 2003. It will be held at the Adams Mark Hotel in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The meeting will focus on topics regarding the welfare of animals in research. The program will include issues and controversies involving compliance with Federal laws and regulations in research activities involving animals.

Mark Your Calendars! April 10-11, 2003: AAAS Colloquium on S&T Policy The AAAS Colloquium on Science and Technology Policy, held in Washington each spring, provides a forum for discussion and debate about budget and other policy issues facing the S&T community. Since its beginning in 1976 it has grown into an annual institution that draws nearly 500 of the nation's top science and technology experts. The Colloquium has established itself as the major public meeting in the U.S. on science and technology policy issues.

The 28th Annual AAAS Colloquium on Science and Technology Policy will take place April 10-11, 2003, at the Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle, 14th and M, NW), Washington, DC. The meeting will begin Thursday morning and close on Friday afternoon. Mark your calendars now, and make plans to attend. More program information and registration materials will soon be available on the "Colloquium" section of the AAAS R&D web site. http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/colloqu.htm

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