Funding-Limited Submission - Framework Programs for Global Health Signature Innovations Initiative; February 17, 2010

The NIH invites applications from U.S. institutions and their partners to enhance the infrastructure and opportunities at the participating institutions for training postdoctoral investigators to carry out innovative, multidisciplinary research in Global Health.  The initiative emphasizes hands on, problem solving, and collaborative approaches and may require the development of new training models and new partnerships within and beyond the university community.

One application per institution is allowed, although applicant institutions may also participate as members of consortia on applications submitted through other institutions.

For this funding opportunity, the requested budget may not exceed $250,000 (single academic institutions) or $400,000 (consortia- see definitions under Section II.2) direct costs per year for a one-year project period.  Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs are limited to up to 8% of direct costs.

The ARRA Framework Programs for Global Health Signature Innovations Initiative will provide short-term support to U.S. universities and their partners to build capacity to train postdoctoral investigators to carry out innovative, multidisciplinary research in Global Health and to attract new investigators with diverse expertise into this research field. Institutions should propose to build research or research training infrastructure and develop training resources and activities that will provide the university community with the tools, concepts, mentoring, and opportunities that will nurture innovative multidisciplinary approaches to Global Health research that go beyond sharing viewpoints to actively working together on common research problems. The initiative emphasizes hands on, problem solving, and collaborative approaches. This FOA is consistent with the goals of the FIC Strategic Plan (http://www.fic.nih.gov/about/plan/stratplan_fullversion.pdf ) to support and facilitate global health research in both communicable and non-communicable diseases, build partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and train the next generation of scientists to address global health needs.

Scope: The proposed activities may encompass the many research fields in Global Health broadly or may be more focused, thematically or geographically, but should address the health concerns of populations living in low resource settings, particularly in LMICs.  The applicant may propose completely new activities or build significantly on initiatives already in place at the university that will take these initiatives to a new level or result in a new use of available resources.  The applicant should not propose to merely sustain an initiative already in place.

Participants and Consortia: The application must include participation by at least three Schools of distinct disciplines (such as Public Health, Engineering, and Computer Science), either at the applicant institution or among a consortium. We particularly encourage the inclusion of Schools or Departments with expertise in Technology and Computer Sciences, although all disciplines are welcome.  Applicants may choose to form consortia that include other academic or research institutions outside the university that could provide synergistic or special expertise and experience, or that share common goals.  These may include institutions in the U.S. or in LMICs (within the constraints of ARRA funding, see Section II.2 below). It is likely that many projects or training models would benefit from cooperative partnerships or joint training with individuals who work in the environments in which the products or research solutions would be deployed.

This one-year grant is intended to act as a catalyst.  It is expected that the concept for the proposed infrastructure, resources, and training opportunities can be fully developed and activities initiated during this period.  FIC anticipates, subject to the availability of funds, that there may be a follow on opportunity that will allow for the continued development and full implementation of the activities and infrastructure developed through this signature award.

Pre-requisite activities in Global Health:  All current or former U.S. FIC Framework Programs for Global Health grantee institutions are eligible to apply for this initiative.  Other institutions are eligible to apply if they can demonstrate that the institution has a minimum of five research or research training grants or research contracts in Global Health topics involving significant participation by partners in low or middle income countries as defined by the World Bank, above (such as a role as key or significant personnel or listed performance site).  At least three of these awards must be from the NIH. These awards must be active on the application receipt date for this FOA. The institution may be a subcontract on one of the awards.  Alternatively, if a consortium of institutions applies as partners, the institutions applying must together meet this pre-requisite (i.e. as the sum of all the partners).  Provide a Table in the appendix that lists the qualifying grants and contracts, including the following information:  source of funding, name of PI, institution holding the award, grant or contract number, total amount of award, and end date. 

Guidelines and additional information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-10-007.html

Because the NIH limits an institution to one application, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in responding to this solicitation are to send the following information electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Wednesday, February 17, 2010:

· Names, departments, and college/school of the Project Director and key personnel including their roles on the project. If non-UK participants are included, identify the institution

· Names of participating foreign institutions

• Narrative (4 pages) – include a) description of the proposed program; b) list five research or research training grants or research contracts in Global Health topics involving significant participation by partners in low or middle income countries as defined by the World Bank with the source of funding, name of PI, grant or contract number, total amount of award, and end date.

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submission in time for the February 22, 2010 letter of intent and March 22, 2010 complete application deadlines.

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663.)