Posted May 2001

1. If I did not submit a letter of intent, can I still apply?

Yes.  A letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application.  The information that it contains allows staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review. 
 
2. In planning a project with, for instance, geospatial analysis, hydrology, vector biology, immunology and genetics, where should the emphasis be placed?

The focus of the program is the ecology of transmission/exposure to infectious diseases.  The program is interdisciplinary, and several disciplines must be represented in an application. Immunology, pathogen or host evolution, genetics, microbiology, toxicology, chemistry, climatology, agronomy, land management, GIS, remote sensing, hydrology, molecular epidemiology, mathematical modeling, taxonomy, demography are among the many disciplines and technologies that are relevant.  However, if these studies are not unified under a program to analyze the ecology of transmission/exposure to infectious diseases the application will not be responsive to the RFA.  For example, the impact of chemical pollutants on host resistance to a disease would not be responsive unless a significant and integral component of the proposed study addressed the probability of exposure to the infectious organism.  Similarly, a project focused on the evolution of anti-biotic resistance in pathogens is not responsive unless this theme is an element of a larger interdisciplinary study designed to answer questions about the ecology of disease transmission.

3. Will a substantially ecological proposal get a fair review at the NIH?

Yes.  While the NIH will conduct the review, the panel will be highly interdisciplinary with ecologists comprising an important and integral part.  The reviewers will all have read the RFA and will conduct their reviews in this context.

4. How important is the modeling component?

It must be emphasized that the objective of the program is to develop models that will have predictive value and generalizability in understanding the ecology of disease.  Approaches that consist primarily of data gathering and the search for patterns are not responsive to the RFA.  Proposals should be designed to test explicit hypotheses, and graphical or mathematical representations of the hypotheses are encouraged. A study that is principally a modeling effort must substantially depend on data from multiple disciplines to be responsive. Purely theoretical work is not appropriate.     
 
5. Should a proposal include new data collection or will previously collected data suffice?

Work under this RFA can involve the collection or development of new data, the reanalysis of existing data, or a combination of both.
 
6. Would a focus on the internal ecology of a host be relevant?  

Applications must have a significant component that analyzes the "external ecology" of the environment with which host organisms interact.  A focus predominantly on the internal ecology (e.g. microbiology of the gut) of the host is not responsive to this RFA.
 
7. Are subcontracts included in the direct costs cap? 

Yes.  Subcontracts and their associated indirect costs are included in the direct costs of the total grant.  Thus, these costs affect the $350,000 cap on direct costs as described in the RFA.
 
8. Are indirect costs to foreign institutions allowed? 

Effective October 2001 (FY 2002), NIH will provide limited F&A; costs to foreign and international organizations.  The F&A; costs should be requested in competing applications and may not exceed eight percent of total direct costs less equipment.  Also, domestic organizations that submit applications with a foreign or international consortium may request eight percent of total direct costs less equipment, for the consortium.  NIH will not support the acquisition of, or provide for depreciation on any capital expenses (facilities), or normal general operations related to foreign and international organizations.

9.  Are other agencies of the federal government eligible to apply?

Yes.  However, please note that salaries to career federal government employees are not normally paid on NIH grants unless the employees meet certain conditions listed in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.  For complete information on grants to federal institutions and payments to (or on behalf of) federal employees under grants, please visit http://odoerdb2.od.nih.gov/gmac/nihgps/part_iii_5.htm#grantsfip.

10.  Can grants submitted by non-federal government agencies request travel costs for government employees?

Maybe.  There are numerous restrictions on travel for federal employees, which can be supported only under certain conditions.  For complete information on grants to federal institutions and payments to (or on behalf of) federal employees under grants, please visit http://odoerdb2.od.nih.gov/gmac/nihgps/part_iii_5.htm#grantsfip.