MERIT REVIEW CHECKLIST

VHA Hand book 1202.1
(<http://www1.va.gov/resdev/resources/policies/docs/1202_Merit_Review_Handbook_JIT.doc>)

1\. 10-1313-1 - Complete blocks: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19 (This can be hand written as it is filled out and printed off
of ePromise -- the official form)
<http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/process/forms/10-1313-1.doc>

2\. 10-1313-2: use Mesh terms
(<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/meshhome.html>); the summary statement
must include a sentence that addresses the impact of the research on
veterans. Under the title: ***Potential Impact on Veterans Health
Care***, describe the nature of the impact on veterans and/or veterans'
healthcare and the significance of the research emphasizing its
particular importance to veterans or how it represents a unique
opportunity within the VA Health Care System. (500 words or 99 lines or
less- no symbols -- plain text. Provide office with a copy of final
version either on disk or via email so it can be cut and pasted in the
document.
<http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/process/forms/10-1313-2.doc>

3\. Table of Contents -- done by research staff after page numbering.

4\. 10-1313-3: List all personnel involved with study, their role, %
effort and cost. Round figures to nearest \$100 (funding for 03/06 round
-- 125,000/year times 4/years); if employees are to be on an IPA
appointment -- list them under personnel -- but in the dollar column
type IPA and then under all other expenses -- type in their salary cost.
Consults: max \$2500/year and must be fully justified. If it is an
animal studies -- under the supplies section list the species, cost per
animal, and number to be purchased in the first year.
<http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/process/forms/10-1313-3.doc>

5\. 101313-4 -- everything listed on page 10-1313-3 must be fully
justified and dollar amounts must add up correctly and match on both
pages. <http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/process/forms/10-1313-4.doc>

6\. 10-1313-5/6 -- NEW FORM -- This must be completed for the PI and for
each scientist who will participate in the design, performance or
scientific direction of the research. If 5% effort or less, only do the
10-1313-5/6 -- if more they must also do the 10-1313-8.
<http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/process/forms/10-1313-56.doc>

7\. 10-1313-8: Must include the title, status and grant number: also
must be completed in this format for each active (starting first
followed by pending) and pending project: Role; Dates of
approved/pending (inclusive dates); Annual direct costs; percent effort;
Major Goals. **Discuss** any and all overlap (Scientific, Budgetary,
commitment. A simple statement saying there is none, is not acceptable.
<http://www1.va.gov/resdev/funding/process/forms/10-1313-8.doc>

8\. Narrative: 8.5 x 11" white paper, 1" margins at all edges; minimum
11pt font (at least 15 characters per inch), 6 lines per vertical inch.
All figures, charts, tables, footnotes and figure legends help make up
the 25 page maximum limit.

a\. 3-page maximum response (if a resubmission) -- not included in
25-page limit (changes in narrative must be clearly marked. If the
narrative changes so much that it would not be feasible to mark the
changes -- then say so in response \-- Appendix A-15 h

b\. List of abbreviations/acronyms used -- does not count against 25
page limit \-- Appendix A 16 i

A. Narrative \-- Appendix A 16 j

1\. Rationale (1-2 pages recommended)

a\) Statement of the Problem

b\) Hypotheses or Key Question

c\) Specific Objectives

2\. Background and Significance (2-3 pages recommended)

a\) Background

b\) Significance

c\) Relevance to Veterans Health

3\. Work Accomplished (6-8 pages recommended)

a\) New studies/revisions to new applications -- preliminary studies
conducted

b\) Renewal applications -- must include a progress report.

4\. Work Proposed

a\) Timetable

b\) Relate experiments to particular hypotheses

c\) Experimental design

d\) Potential problems and limitations

e\) If Human or animals are to be studies -- a power analysis needs to
be used to justify the number to be studies.

f\) Narrative must be comprehensible without reference to any other
document.

B. Human Subjects -- no limit, be succinct -- not included in 25 page
limit \-- Appendix A 19 k

1\) Risk to Subjects

a\) Human Subject Involvement and Characteristics

b\) Sources of Materials

c\) Potential Risks

2\) Adequacy of Protection from Risks

a\) Recruitment and Informed Consent

b\) Protection against risk.

3\) Potential Benefit of the Proposed Research to the Subject and Others

4\) Importance of the Knowledge to be gained.

C. Animal Subjects -- no limit, be succinct, not included in 25 page
limit \-- Appendix A 20 l

1\) Detailed description of the proposed use of the animals

2\) Justify the use of animals -- species and number to be used

3\) Provide veterinary information

4\) Describe procedures

5\) Describe methods of euthanasia

D. Resources -- 1 page limit -- not included in 25 page limit (include
room and building number, square feet, location of any space you use)
Discuss equipment available, off-site space, etc. \-- Appendix A 20 m

E. Publications from Last Funding Period -- Appendix A 21 n

F. Literature citations -- 4-page limit -- Appendix A 21 o

G. Letters of Support/Endorsement -- Research gets R&D and Directors
letter -- Appendix A 21 p

The Research office does the Table of Contents after it is page numbered
(unless the investigators wants to do it themselves). Because it is time
consuming -- we need all the final documents by the Monday, a week prior
to Federal Expressing to Washington. If you have questions call the
research office at 761-7950 and ask for Linda or Sue.