Funding-Limited Submission – NIMH Center for Genomic Studies on Mental Disorders (U24) – RFA-MH-13-050; June 26, 2012

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) seeks Resource-Related Cooperative Agreement (U24) applications to continue, enhance, and enrich research resources in the NIMH Human Genetics Initiative for free and open sharing with the scientific community.  The long-term objective of data sharing and research resource enrichment under this FOA is to accelerate gene discovery in mental disorders.  It is expected that the Center will be comprised of a team of investigators with expertise in molecular biology, cell culture, computer and information sciences, statistical genetics and psychiatric genetics.  It is also expected that this effort will involve activities at multiple institutions that are strategically and functionally coordinated such that the Center will function as a single, national resource. A critical feature of the Center will be the banking of primary cultures of source cells for the derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the banking of established iPSCs by investigators. Furthermore, the development and maintenance of a genomic cyberinfrastructure is required.  Such an infrastructure will represent the coordinated aggregate of software, hardware and other technologies, as well as the necessary staff expertise required to support current and future discoveries in the genetics of mental disorders. This cyberinfrastructure will integrate relevant and often disparate genetic and genomic resources to provide a useful, usable, and enabling framework for human genetic research and gene discovery in mental disorders that will be characterized by broad access.

NIMH intends to commit approximately $9,000,000 in FY 2013 to fund one new cooperative agreement in response to this FOA.  See the complete RFA for additional details and guidelines:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-13-050.html

Because NIMH limits an institution to one proposal, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to send the following material 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 Tuesday, June 26, 2012:

· Names and departments of the Project Director and key personnel

· Names of participating institutions

· Project overview (2 pages) that includes a description of the project team’s prior experience and qualifications in addressing the specific RFA requirements and justification/rationale for why the proposed project should be selected as UK's applicant -

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review the material and make recommendations as to the University’s applicant. The optional letter of intent is due July 1, 2012; the complete application is due August 1, 2012.

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.)