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Introduction |
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PAR Number: PAR-04-141
Release Date: 08-13-2004
Expiration Date: 11-02-2007, unless reissued |
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Scope and Priorities |
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Purpose
The purpose of this program announcement is to reissue and update the
National Library of Medicine’s research grant program for biomedical
informatics and bioinformatics. NLM’s research funding centers on
understanding data, information and knowledge – their nature, forms and uses
– in the domains of health care and basic biological sciences.
Research Objectives
NLM defines biomedical informatics as the intersection of basic informational
and computing sciences with an application domain in biomedicine, as
discussed in the work of the American College of Medical Informatics
referenced below. The term biomedical informatics encompasses the closely-
aligned field of bioinformatics, which can be defined as the intersection of
basic informational and computer sciences with an application domain in
biological/biochemical sciences. NLM’s research focuses on management and
efficient utilization of data, information and knowledge in health care and
basic biomedical sciences.
In clinical medicine, health services administration, education and basic
biomedical sciences, computers and networks are fundamental tools of
discovery, learning, decision making and management. NLM’s biomedical
informatics research grants support the study of how information is best
captured, represented, stored, retrieved, manipulated, managed and
disseminated for use in these kinds of activities.
The following general themes demonstrate the range and scope of NLM’s
research interests in biomedical informatics and bioinformatics.
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Information and knowledge processing, including natural language
processing, information extraction, integration of data from heterogeneous
sources or domains, event detection, feature recognition;
- Tools for analyzing and/or storing very large datasets, including genomic
and proteomic data; data supporting clinical trials; and other data used in
clinical or health services research;
- Knowledge representation, including vocabularies, ontologies, simulations
and virtual reality;
- Linkage of clinical and genomic information to benefit health care;
- Innovative uses of information technology in health care delivery,
including decision support, error reduction, outcomes analysis, and
information at the point of care;
- Efficient management and utilization of information and data, including
knowledge acquisition and management, process modeling, data mining,
acquisition and dissemination, novel visual presentations, and stewardship of
large-scale data repositories and archives;
- Human-machine interaction, including interface design, use and
understanding of health related-information, intelligent agents, information
needs and uses.
- High-performance computing and communications relating to biomedical
applications, including efficient machine-machine interfaces, transmission
and storage, real-time decision support;
- Innovative uses of information technology to enhance learning, retention
and understanding of health-related information.
Informatics research is interdisciplinary and employs a range of research
methodologies. NLM expects that investigators will employ sound techniques
that lead to the collection and analysis of empirical evidence. These
techniques may include quantitative and /or qualitative approaches, including
laboratory and field studies, surveys and needs analyses, ’in silico’
experiments, modeling and simulation studies.
NLM is a participant in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap
initiatives, many of which include biomedical computing and interdisciplinary
research as essential elements, in the programs of the NIH BISTI initiative,
and other NIH informatics initiatives.
While biomedical informatics research projects funded by this program often
require software development and tool-building, a well-defined research
problem and rigorous research design are essential elements of NLM’s R01
grants. Investigators interested in demonstration projects, proofs of concept
or other feasibility testing should consider NLM’s Exploratory/Developmental
grant program (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-107.html)
rather than this biomedical informatics research grant program. NLM’s Small
Project grants (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-108.html)
are most appropriate for investigators who are just beginning their research
in an area and/or need preliminary data to inform a more substantial research
project.
Research in biomedical informatics or bioinformatics often employs a specific
scientific discipline or medical subspecialty as the subject field or domain
in which the research is undertaken, or in which tools and ideas are applied.
However, grant applications whose primary focus is on a disease or biological
question, rather than the informatics or computational issues that pertain to
them, are more appropriate for other Institutes at NIH.
A potential applicant with questions about the suitability of a project for
funding by NLM is encouraged to contact the Program Officer listed below.
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Eligibility |
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Eligible Institutions
You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has
any of the following characteristics:
- For-profit or non-profit organizations
- Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories
- Units of State and local governments
- Eligible agencies of the Federal government
- Domestic or foreign
- Faith-based organizations
Individuals Eligible To Become Principal Investigators
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry
out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution to
develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial
and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always
encouraged to apply for NIH programs. |
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Mechanism |
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This PA will use the NIH R01 award mechanism. As an applicant, you will be
solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed
project.
This PA uses just-in-time concepts. It also uses the modular budgeting as
well as the non-modular budgeting formats (see
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm ). Specifically, if
you are submitting an application with direct costs in each year of $250,000
or less, use the modular budget format. Otherwise follow the instructions
for non-modular budget research grant applications. This program does not
require cost sharing as defined in the current NIH Grants Policy Statement at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part2.htm .
An applicant can request funding for up to five years of support. The average
duration of recent NLM informatics research awards is about three years. |
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Review Criteria |
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The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of biological
systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health. In their
written critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following
criteria in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have
a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria
will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting
them as appropriate for each application. Note that an application does not
need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific
impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For example, an investigator
may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative
but is essential to move a field forward.
1. Significance. Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
2. Approach. Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
3. Innovation. Is the project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?
4. Investigators. Are the investigators appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?
5. Environment. Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
Additional Review Criteria: In addition to the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score.
Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk: The involvement of human subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be assessed (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).
Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children in Research: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research will be assessed. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated (see the Research Plan, Section E on Human Subjects in the PHS Form 398).
Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If vertebrate animals are to be used in the project, the five items described under Section F of the PHS Form 398 research grant application instructions will be assessed. |
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Additional Review Considerations |
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Sharing Research Data: Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year of the
proposed research are expected to include a data sharing plan in their
application. The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for
not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However,
reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the
determination of scientific merit or priority score.
Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period
of support in relation to the proposed research. |
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Award Criteria |
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Applications submitted in response to a PA will compete for available funds
with all other recommended applications. The following will be considered in
making funding decisions:
- Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review
- Availability of funds
- Relevance to program priorities
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Application and Process |
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Submitting An Application
Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). Applications must have a Dun and
Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as the
Universal Identifier when applying for Federal grants or cooperative
agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or
through the web site at http://www.dunandbradstreet.com/ . The D&B number
should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form. The PHS
398 is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo,
Telephone (301) 435-0714, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov .
The title and number of this program announcement must be typed on line 2 of
the face page of the application form and the YES box must be checked.
Application Receipt Dates: Applications submitted in response to this program
announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines, which
are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/dates.htm . Application
deadlines are also indicated in the PHS 398 application kit.
Specific Instructions For Modular Budget Grant Applications: Applications
requesting up to $250,000 per year in direct costs must be submitted in a
modular budget grant format. The modular budget grant format simplifies the
preparation of the budget in these applications by limiting the level of
budgetary detail. Applicants request direct costs in $25,000 modules.
Section C of the research grant application instructions for the PHS 398
(rev. 5/2001) at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html includes step-by-step guidance for preparing modular grants. Additional
information on modular grants is available at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm .
Specific Instructions For Applications Requesting $500,000 Or More Per Year: Applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year must
include a cover letter identifying the NIH staff member who has agreed to
accept assignment of the application.
Applicants requesting $500,000 or more must carry out the following steps:
1) Contact the IC program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the
application, i.e., as you are developing plans for the study;
2) Obtain agreement from the IC staff that the IC will accept your
application for consideration for award; and,
3) Identify, in a cover letter sent with the application, the staff member
and IC who agreed to accept assignment of the application.
This policy applies to all investigator-initiated new (type 1), competing
continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended or revised
version of these grant application types. Additional information on this
policy is available in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, October 19,
2001 at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-004.html .
Sending An Application To The NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten original of
the application, including the checklist, and five signed photocopies in one
package to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
Application Processing: Applications must be mailed on or before the receipt
dates described at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm . The CSR will not
accept any application in response to this PA that is essentially the same as
one currently pending initial review unless the applicant withdraws the
pending application. The CSR will not accept any application that is
essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the
submission of a substantial revision of an unfunded version of an application
already reviewed, but such application must include an Introduction
addressing the previous critique.
Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an
application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding
assignment within 8 weeks. |
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Peer Review Process |
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Applications submitted for this PA will be assigned on the basis of
established PHS referral guidelines. Appropriate scientific review groups
convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures
( http://www.csr.nih.gov/refrev.htm ) will evaluate applications for scientific
and technical merit.
As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:
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Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have
the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under
review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score
- Receive a written critique
- Receive a second level review by an appropriate national advisory council
or board.
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Contact Information |
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Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to:
Valerie Florance, PhD
Extramural Programs
National Library of Medicine
Rockledge 1, Suite 301
6705 Rockledge Drive MSC 7968
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-4882
FAX: (301) 402-2952
Email: floranv@mail.nih.gov
Direct your questions about peer review issues to:
Dr. Hua-Chuan Sim
Scientific Review Administrator
Extramural Programs Division
National Library of Medicine
Rockledge 1, Suite 301
6705 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-4253
FAX: 301-402-2952
Email: simh@mail.nih.gov
Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:
Dwight Mowery
Grants Management Officer
Extramural Programs Division
National Library of Medicine
Rockledge 1, Suite 301
6705 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-4221
FAX: 301-402-2952
Email: moweryd@mail.nih.gov |
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References |
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1. Charles P. Friedman, Russ B. Altman, Isaac S. Kohane, Kathleen A.
McCormick, Perry L. Miller, Judy G. Ozbolt, Edward H. Shortliffe, Gary D.
Stormo, M. Cleat Szczepaniak, David Tuck, and Jeffrey Williamson Training the
Next Generation of Informaticians: The Impact of "BISTI" and Bioinformatics—A
Report from the American College of Medical Informatics J. Am. Med. Inform.
Assoc. 2004;11(3):167-172. |
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