Research Support Newsletter

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias Zerhouni on September 30 released publicly the NIH "Roadmap for Medical Research." The agency has characterized the roadmap process as identifying "major opportunities and gaps in biomedical research that no single institute at NIH could tackle alone but that the agency as a whole must address to make the biggest impact on the progress of medical research."

Developed with input from nationally recognized leaders in academia, industry, government, and the public, the NIH Roadmap provides a framework of the priorities the NIH as a whole must address in order to optimize its entire research portfolio. It lays out a vision for a more efficient and productive system of medical research. The Roadmap also identifies the most compelling opportunities in three main areas: new pathways to discovery, research teams of the future, and re-engineering the clinical research enterprise.

For more details on the NIH roadmap, including new initiatives and implementation groups, see the NIH roadmap web site.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) realizes that Hurricane Isabel may cause problems for investigators who are planning on submitting grant applications. NIH applications that are submitted late because of problems caused by Hurricane Isabel should include a cover letter noting the reasons for the delay. It is not necessary to get permission in advance for hurricane-related delays in grant application submission. It is expected that the delay will generally not exceed the time period that an institution was closed.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has made several formatting enhancements to the PHS 398, 2590, and 416 forms. Applicants who are experiencing difficulties with earlier versions of the forms are encouraged to use the recently updated forms. The forms are now more compatible with existing software and Microsoft Word (MS Word) files. In addition, forms links in the instructions have been updated to reflect these changes. For information on the update of the PHS 398, 2590, and 416 Forms, click here.

Please note that if you have not encountered problems, and you have downloaded the forms to your personal computer, you may continue using the set of forms previously posted.

Applicants are urged to always check the PHS 398 and PHS 2590 websites to download the most current versions of the instructions and forms prior to submission of an application to NIH.

The National Science Foundation has published a revision to the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), effective for proposals submitted on or after October 1, 2003.

This revision implements a new maximum award amount and changes to the types of research supported under the Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER) program have been made. The complete description of the SGER program may be found in Chapter II, Section D.1 of the GPG.

Contact: Policy Office, Division of Grants and Agreements
Phone: (703) 292-8243
Email: policy@nsf.gov

Want to add an undergraduate research component to your projects? The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). REU supplements may be included in proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements or as supplements to ongoing NSF-funded projects.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a Prospective New Awardee Guide (pdf) that will assist your organization in preparing documents that NSF requires to conduct financial and administrative reviews of your organization. This guide also serves to highlight the accountability requirements associated with federal awards.

Researchers working with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) should anticipate changes in the grant process, according to a recent article in the Federal Assistance Monitor. AHRQ will require closer coordination between applicants and program staff, according to the agency’s director. Applicants should demonstrate they have at least discussed the potential project with users in the field before submitting an application. The agency will also urge researchers to share key findings with users before publication. In addition, applications will be required to include a clear plan for ongoing consultation with health-care providers using the research.

Requests for proposals (RFPs) in FY 2004 will be based on the agency’s new mission statement, which includes the following priorities: (1) research quality over quantity, (2) studies measurable across different populations, and (3) helping underserved populations. Future RFPs will be announced on the agency’s web page. Interested researchers may want to subscribe to AHRQ’s electronic newsletter to receive updates of funding opportunities. Sign up at http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ahrqlist.htm.

Beginning in fiscal year 2004, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) plans to change its approach to announcing and soliciting applications for its discretionary grant programs.

About 75 percent to 80 percent of discretionary funds will be awarded through four standard grant mechanisms: Services, Infrastructure Development, Best Practice Planning and Implementation, and Service-to-Service. Within these guidelines, the agency will then offer specific funding opportunities.

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding these proposed changes by October 20, 2003, to the Office of Policy, Planning and Budget, SAMHSA, Attn: Jennifer Fiedelholtz by fax (301-594-6159) or email.

For more information about the GrantSource Library's services and resources, please visit our web page or contact

GrantSource Library
919-962-3463
gs@unc.edu