Funding-Limited Submission – Nutrition Obesity Research Centers; August 4, 2011

 

The National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases solicits grant applications from institutions/organizations that propose to establish core centers that are part of an integrated program of nutrition and/or obesity-research. The purpose of the Centers program is to bring together, on a cooperative basis, basic science and clinical investigators to enhance the effectiveness of their research related to nutrition and/or obesity.

 

The NIDDK expects to fund a total of three new and/or renewal grants. Two existing P30 Centers are expected to submit renewal applications.

 

A Nutrition and Obesity Research Center (NORC) must be an identifiable unit within a university or medical center or a consortium of cooperating institutions, including an affiliated university.  An existing program of excellence in biomedical basic and clinical research in the areas of nutritional sciences and/or obesity, and related disorders, is required. The research must be in the form of research project grants (R01), program project grants (P01), or other peer-reviewed research that is already funded by NIH, other Federal Agencies, or non-federal groups at the time of submission of the Center grant application.  At least fifty percent of the nutritional sciences and obesity or other related disorders research comprising the research base must be supported by Federal Agencies.

 

The NORC must have a central focus or theme(s) related to nutritional sciences or obesity. The NORCs are based on the core concept, and four to six cores are usually included. Cores are defined as shared resources that enhance productivity or in other ways benefit a group of investigators working in nutritional sciences and/or obesity and related disorders research to accomplish the stated goals of the Center. Each proposed core unit must be utilized by a minimum of two federally funded research investigators and a well-qualified core director must be named for each core. Centers are encouraged to foster clinical and/or translational research and also include a pilot and feasibility (P/F) program and an enrichment program.

 

Guidelines and additional information:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-11-012.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 Thursday, August 4, 2011:

·         Names and departments of the Project Director and key personnel

• Project description (2-3 pages) include a) the central focus or theme and b) a brief description of four cores with the names of each director and at least two federally funded research investigators who will use each core.

 

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submission in time for the October 19, 2011 letter of intent and November 16, 2011 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.)