From: kristoff@NET.BIO.NET (Dave Kristofferson)
Newsgroups: bionet.sci-resources
Subject: NIH Guide, vol. 21, no. 36, pt. 1, 9 October 1992
Date: 8 Oct 92 23:53:56 GMT
Distribution: bionet


NOTE: The NIH Guide may be split into more than one mail message to
avoid truncation during e-mail distribution.  The first message always
begins with the RFP/RFA summary sections followed by the appended
texts of the full RFP/RFAs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

$$XID NIHGUIDE 19921009 V21N36 P1O2 ************************************
X-comment: RFAs described: AI-92-08, AI-92-13, CA-92-28, HD-94-01, HL-93-03-B

NIH GUIDE - Vol. 21, No. 36 - October 9, 1992

$$INDEX BEGIN *******************************************************

                                  NOTICES

$$INDEX N1 **********************************************************

HUMAN SUBJECT PROTECTIONS WORKSHOPS
National Institutes of Health
Food and Drug Administration
INDEX:  NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH; FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

$$INDEX N2 **********************************************************

REVISED PHS 416-9 APPLICATION FORM
Division of Research Grants
INDEX:  DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS

                       NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs AND RFAs)

$$INDEX R1 **********************************************************

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF A FAT MODIFIED DIET ON HORMONES DURING
ADOLESCENCE (RFP NCI-CN-25502-51)
National Cancer Institute
INDEX:  CANCER

$$INDEX R2 **********************************************************

CULTURED NEURON PROBE (RFP NIH-NINDS-93-02)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
INDEX:  NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, STROKE

$$INDEX R3 **********************************************************

ANTIGENIC VARIATION OF HIV-1 AND RELATED LENTIVIRUSES (RFP NIH-NIAID-
DAIDS-93-13)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
INDEX:  ALLERGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES

$$INDEX R4 12/10/92 *************************************************

PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN VITRO CELL CULTURE SYSTEMS (RFA AI-92-08)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
INDEX:  ALLERGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES

$$INDEX R5 01/14/93 *************************************************

WOMEN AND INFANTS TRANSMISSION STUDY (WITS II) (RFA AI-92-13)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
INDEX:  ALLERGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES

$$INDEX R6 12/23/92 *************************************************

CLINICAL TRIALS OF CANCER THERAPY WITH BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE MODIFIERS
(RFA CA-92-28)
National Cancer Institute
INDEX:  CANCER

$$INDEX R7 05/18/93 *************************************************

SPECIALIZED RESEARCH CENTER PROGRAMS AND CENTER CORE GRANTS TO
SUPPORT RESEARCH IN REPRODUCTION (RFA HD-94-01)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
INDEX:  CHILD HEALTH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

$$INDEX R8 03/15/93 *************************************************

CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF MEGAKARYOCYTOPOIESIS (RFA HL-93-03-B)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
INDEX:  HEART, LUNG, BLOOD

                             ONGOING PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS

$$INDEX P1 **********************************************************

SELECTIVE COGNITIVE DEFICITS IN NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS (PA-93-
004)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
INDEX:  NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, STROKE

$$INDEX P2 **********************************************************

ARTHRITIS & SKIN DISEASES (MINORITY POPULATIONS) (PA-93-005)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
INDEX:  ARTHRITIS, MUSCULOSKELETAL, SKIN DISEASES

                               ERRATUM

$$INDEX E1 **********************************************************

DIETARY PATTERNS AND BLOOD PRESSURE (RFA HL-92-11-P)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
INDEX:  HEART, LUNG, BLOOD

This publication is also available electronically to institutions via
BITNET or INTERNET.  Alternative access is through the NIH Grant Line
using a personal computer.  Contact Dr. John James at 301/496-7554
for details, or send an E-mail message to ZNS@NIHCU.

$$INDEX END *********************************************************

                              NOTICES

$$N1 BEGIN **********************************************************

HUMAN SUBJECT PROTECTIONS WORKSHOPS

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

P.T. 42; K.W. 0783005

National Institutes of Health
Food and Drug Administration

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) are continuing to sponsor a series of workshops
on responsibilities of researchers, Institutional Review Boards
(IRBs), and institutional officials for the protection of human
subjects in research. The workshops are open to everyone with an
interest in research involving human subjects.  The meetings should
be of special interest to those persons currently serving or about to
begin serving as a member of an IRB.  Issues discussed at these
workshops are relevant to all other Public Health Service agencies.
The current schedule includes the following:

SOUTHWESTERN WORKSHOP

DATES:  November 16 & 17, 1992

LOCATION:
Wyndham Warwick
5701 Main Street
Houston, TX  77005
Telephone:  (713) 526-1991

SPONSORS:
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Prairie View A & M University

REGISTRATION:
Ms. Paula Knudson
Executive Coordinator
Office of Research Support Committee
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
P.O. Box 20036
Houston, TX  77225
Telephone:  (713) 792-5048

TITLE:  Geriatric Research as an Ethical Mandate:  Politics, Policy,
and Problems

DESCRIPTION:  Expanded life expectancies and expanding technologies
are swelling the ranks of the frail and disabled elderly.  Minimal
research has been carried out to understand the problems this subject
group and their families encounter in finding solutions to their
health and social needs.  The conference will identify key problems
that need to be studied; isolate the risks and benefits associated
with behavioral, clinical, or evaluation research designed to enroll
this group as subjects; and pose solutions that will meet the needs
of regulators, scientists, and the elderly.

The program is designed to be of interest to physicians, nurses,
pharmacists, scientific investigators, other health care
professionals, clergy, lawyers, medical, nursing, social work
students, psychologists and IRB members and administrators.
Attention will be paid to Federal regulations with special emphasis
on the assessment of risks---medical, legal, and psychosocial.
Opportunities will be available through workshops, question periods,
and informal discussions for participants to exchange ideas and
interests with faculty and OPRR and FDA representatives.

SOUTHEASTERN WORKSHOP

DATES:  January 14 & 15, 1993

LOCATION:
Sheraton Sand Key Resort
1160 Gulf Boulevard
Clearwater Beach, FL  33515
Telephone:  (813) 595-1611

SPONSORS:
University of South Florida
Florida A & M University

REGISTRATION:
Ms. Eileen Highsmith
Executive Secretary
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue (MP.FAO-126)
Tampa, FL  33620-7900
Telephone:  (813) 974-2897

TITLE:  Barriers to Informed Consent:  Language, Age Factors, Trauma,
and Women/Minority Issues

DESCRIPTION:  Today's researchers face numerous barriers to obtaining
an informed consent.  Such issues as age, language, mental capacity,
and sobriety may affect the ability of subjects to give a truly
informed consent.  Many of these barriers oftentimes impact the pool
of subjects which an investigator is willing (or able) to use in a
research project.  In addition, recent legislation from the Congress
was designed to address the issue of inadequate numbers of women and
minorities in research projects.  This conference has been designed
to address three main areas in which barriers to informed consent may
exist:  mental competence, ethnic and gender issues, and research
with children and the elderly.

The conference program is designed to be of value to physicians,
nurses, pharmacists, scientific investigators, and other health care
professionals.  All IRB members, students in health care areas and
administrators will also benefit from the conference.  Attention will
be given to Federal regulations governing research on human subjects,
with special emphasis placed on the assessment of risks---medical,
legal, and psychosocial.  Ample opportunities will be provided to
exchange ideas and interests, through question and answer sessions
and informal discussions.

SOUTHWESTERN WORKSHOP

DATES:  February 12 & 13, 1993

LOCATION:
Sheraton Tempe Mission Palms Hotel
60 East 5th Street
Tempe, AZ  85281
Telephone:  (602) 894-1400

SPONSORS:
Arizona State University
Northern Arizona University

REGISTRATION:
Ms. Carol Jablonski
IRB Coordinator
Office of the Assistant Vice President for Research
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ  85287-3403
Telephone:  (602) 965-6788

TITLE:  Contemporary Issues in Human Subject Research:  Challenges
for Today's IRBs

DESCRIPTION:  This program is designed to be a practical working
session to explore contemporary issues in human subjects protection
including regulations and assurances, categorization of research
protocols, uses of special populations, experimental design and
scientific merit, fetal tissue research, ethical/legal issues in
human subjects research, and conflict of interest.  As appropriate,
topics will be discussed from the perspective of the clinical
researcher and the behavioral/social science researcher.  Issues will
be discussed in a panel format with ample time for audience
questions.  An outstanding faculty has been assembled.

This program should be of interest to researchers in clinical
medicine and the behavioral and social sciences.  Institutional
Review Board members, university and hospital administrators,
lawyers, ethicists, health care practitioners, students, and other
persons with interests in human subject protection issues.

For further information regarding these workshop or future NIH/FDA
National Human Subject Protections Workshops, contact:

Ms. Darlene Marie Ross
Executive Assistant for Education
Division of Human Subject Protections
Office for Protection from Research Risks
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Building 31, Room 5B59
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-8101

$$N1 END ************************************************************

$$N2 BEGIN **********************************************************

REVISED PHS 416-9 APPLICATION FORM

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

P.T. 34; K.W. 1014006

Division of Research Grants

The Public Health Service (PHS) started mailing the revised
Application for Public Health Service Individual National Research
Service Continuation Award---PHS 416-9---to appropriate awardees in
September 1992.  This revision, dated 10/91, approved through
10/31/94, replaces the version that was revised 7/88 and approved
through 4/30/91.

The major changes in the revised continuation award application
include:

o  an explanation of the required documentation regarding gender and
minority representation in study populations, and

o  a new Checklist, form page 4, with an updated list of required
assurances and certifications.

The PHS mails the 416-9 application kits directly to individual
awardees several weeks before the due date.  Thus, sponsoring
institutions need not stock the form.

INQUIRIES

Questions about the monthly mailings of applications kits may be
directed to:

Renewal Unit, Project Control Section
Division of Research Grants
Westwood Building, Room 253
Bethesda MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7210

General questions regarding the use of the PHS 416-9 application may
be directed to the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research
Grants, National Institutes of Health, telephone:  (301) 496-7441 or
the grants management specialist at the appropriate awarding
institute or center of the PHS.

$$N2 END ************************************************************

                   NOTICES OF AVAILABILITY (RFPs AND RFAs)

$$R1 BEGIN RFP NCI-CN-25502-51 **************************************

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF A FAT MODIFIED DIET ON HORMONES DURING
ADOLESCENCE

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFP AVAILABLE:  NCI-CN-25502-51

P.T. 34, AA; K.W. 0710095, 0765025, 0760025

National Cancer Institute

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Prevention and Control Contracts
Section (PCCS), intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP)
NCI-CN-25502-51.  The Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, NCI,
is conducting a study to evaluate the effect of a fat-modified diet
on hormones during childhood and adolescence.  The study is being
performed ancillary to the Diet Intervention Study in Children
(DISC), a randomized clinical trial sponsored by the Division of
Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Heart, Lung and
Blood Institute (NHLBI).  The objectives of DISC are to determine
whether a fat-modified diet during childhood and adolescence will
lower LDL-cholesterol and to assess the feasibility and safety of
this diet.  The objectives of the NCI ancillary study are to evaluate
the effect of this fat-modified diet on sex hormones and to correlate
characteristics of children and adolescents, such as age, Tanner
stage, anthropometry, diet, and physical activity, with sex hormone
levels.  This solicitation seeks a contractor to store serum
specimens collected for DISC, develop and issue an RFP for a
laboratory to perform serum hormone assays, evaluate the offerors'
proposals, award a subcontract to the best qualified laboratory
offering the best buy for the Government, and monitor the laboratory
to ensure high quality work and fulfillment of contractual
obligations.  This RFP will be available on or about October 2, 1992,
with responses due approximately six weeks thereafter.  No collect
calls will be accepted.

Copies of the RFP may be obtained by sending a written request to:

Christine L. Ptak, Contract Specialist
Research Contracts Branch, PCCS
National Cancer Institute
Executive Plaza South, Room 635
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-8603

$$R1 END ************************************************************

$$R2 BEGIN RFP NIH-NINDS-93-02 **************************************

CULTURED NEURON PROBE

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFP AVAILABLE:  NIH-NINDS-93-02

P.T. 34; K.W. 0740050, 0710085, 0750005, 0706000

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

The Neural Prosthesis Program of the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of
Health, is seeking a contract to determine the feasibility of
establishing connections with specific target neuronal populations in
the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) by developing and
evaluating a cultured neuron probe.  If successful, the probes will
be implanted into a mammalian CNS region and an attempt will be made
to demonstrate two-way communication between the linking neurons and
the target neurons.  Personnel with established expertise in
neurophysiology, biomaterials, and microfabrication are required.  It
is anticipated that one award will be made in May 1993, for a period
of three years.

This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP).  To receive a copy of the
RFP, please submit a written request to the following address, and
supply this office with two self addressed mailing labels.  All
responsible sources will be considered by the agency.  The RFP will
be issued on or about October 8, 1992 with proposals due on December
7, 1992.

Contracting Officer
Contracts Management Branch, DEA
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Federal Building, Room 901
7550 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20892
Attention:  RFP No. NIH-NINDS-93-02

$$R2 END ************************************************************

$$R3 BEGIN RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-93-13 ********************************

ANTIGENIC VARIATION OF HIV-1 AND RELATED LENTIVIRUSES

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFP AVAILABLE:  NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-93-13

P.T. 34; K.W. 1002045, 0710070, 0755010, 0780005

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

The Vaccine Research and Development Branch, Basic Research and
Development Program, Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has a requirement for a contractor to
receive and process virus-infected, human-derived samples on a large
scale basis and to isolate, expand and immunologically characterize
HIV-1 and related lentiviruses from these samples.  Specifically, the
selected contractor will be responsible for:  1) performing virus
isolation, expansion, and characterization from samples supplied to
the Contractor; 2) performing specific immunological assays for HIV
and related lentiviruses; 3) classifying all virus isolates received
into antigenic subgroups based upon serological/immunological assays;
4) securing, receiving, cataloging, processing, and storing samples
from both domestic and international sites, and distributing samples
to other investigators; 5) providing inventory and a Database
Management System; 6) providing facilities and resources; 7)
reporting progress according to reporting requirements; 8) meeting
with the Project Officer; 9) obtaining clearance for publication; and
10) implementing an orderly transition to a successor Contractor.
This is an announcement for an anticipated Request for Proposals
(RFP).  RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-93-13 will be issued on or about October
9, 1992 with a closing date tentatively set for December 22, 1992.
One contract will be awarded as a result of this solicitation.  It is
expected that the contract will have a five-year period of
performance.  A level-of-effort cost-reimbursement contract is
anticipated.  Requests for the RFP shall be directed in writing to:

Chief, Contract Management
Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Solar Building, Room 3C07
Bethesda, MD  20892
FAX:  (301) 402-0972

Please provide this office with three self-addressed mailing labels.
Telephone inquiries will not be honored and all inquiries must be in
writing.  A short-form version of the RFP will be provided first.
That version includes only the statement of work and the Evaluation
Criteria to be used for selection of the awardee.  After examining
this, a full-text version of the RFP must be requested, in writing
for those offerors interested in responding.  FAX requests are
acceptable for the full-text version only.  All proposals from
responsible sources will be considered by the NIAID.  This
advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract.

$$R3 END ************************************************************

$$R4 BEGIN AI-92-08 FULL-TEXT ***************************************

PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN VITRO CELL CULTURE SYSTEMS

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFA AVAILABLE:  AI-92-08

P.T. 34; K.W. 1002045, 0780015, 0740020

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  November 6, 1992
Application Receipt Date:  December 10, 1992

THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) ANNOUNCED IN THIS NOTICE CONTAINS
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN APPLICATION.
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MAY OBTAIN THE RFA FROM THE CONTACT NAMED IN
INQUIRIES, BELOW.

PURPOSE

The Antiviral Research Branch of the Division of Microbiology and
Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID), invites Cooperative Agreement applications from
organizational entities willing to participate, with the assistance
of the NIAID, in furthering innovative in vitro approaches to the
study of papillomavirus infections and their therapeutic control.
The research goals of this solicitation are to stimulate the use of
in vitro papillomavirus replication systems for research on (1) the
events of papillomavirus replication and pathogenesis; and (2) the
antiviral potential of experimental therapeutic agents.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA,
Papillomavirus in Vitro Cell Culture Systems, is related to the
priority area of sexually transmitted diseases.  Potential applicants
may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 222" (Full Report:  Stock No.
017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report:  Stock No.
017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783- 3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign for-profit and
non- profit organizations, public and private, such as universities,
colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local
governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government.
Applications from minority individuals and women are encouraged.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

The funding mechanism to be used is the cooperative agreement (U01).
The cooperative agreement differs from the traditional research grant
in that there will be substantial programmatic involvement of NIAID
staff above and beyond the levels required for traditional program
management of grants.  This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  Future
unsolicited competing continuation applications will compete with all
investigator-initiated applications and be reviewed according to the
customary NIH peer review procedures.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

It is expected that at least one application will be funded for a
four-year period, contingent upon the receipt of a sufficient number
of meritorious applications.  It is expected that the total direct
costs for the first year for successful applications will be around
$175,000.  However, individual awards may be higher or lower.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Papillomavirus infection is a rapidly increasingly serious clinical
problem in the United States and around the world.  None of the
currently available therapies has acceptable efficacy.  The failure
to develop a safe and effective therapy for these infections is due,
in part, to the inability to replicate virus in vitro.  In the past
few years, several research groups have developed in vitro systems in
which many of the events of papillomavirus replication have been
reported to occur.  The availability of these systems provides an
unparalleled opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of
papillomavirus replication and pathogenesis at a molecular level.
This basic research may also result in the identification of viral
genes which are promising targets for therapeutic intervention.  In
addition, these systems should provide a means to evaluate the
potential anti-papillomavirus activity of experimental agents and
provide a rational basis for selecting agents whose activity warrants
further study in the animal models.  The proposed systems may utilize
either a human papillomavirus (HPV) or an animal papillomavirus as a
model of HPV infection.

Review Procedures

A preliminary review will be done by NIAID staff upon receipt of the
applications.  Any application that is incomplete or judged to be
unresponsive to this RFA  will be returned to the applicant without
technical review.  Applications that are complete and responsive may
be subjected to a triage procedure by peer review to determine
competitiveness among the applications.  Applications judged to be
competitive for award will be reviewed in detail in accordance with
established NIH peer review procedures, by a special review committee
convened specifically for this purpose by the Division of Extramural
Activities, NIAID.  This will be followed by a second-level review by
the National Advisory Allergy and Infectious Diseases Council in June
1993.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by November 6, 1992, a
letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed
research, and the names and affiliation(s) of proposed key
investigators.  The NIAID requests a letter of intent in order to
provide an indication of the number and scope of applications to be
received.  The letter of intent does not commit the sender to submit
an application, nor is it a requirement for submission of an
application.  The letter of intent will not enter into the review of
any application subsequently submitted.

The letter of intent is to be sent to:

Dr. Olivia Preble
Chief, Microbiology and Immunology Review Section
Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Solar Building, Room 4C20
6003 Executive Boulevard
Rockville, MD  20892

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applications are to be submitted on form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91), that is
available at most institutional business offices and from the Office
of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes
of Health, Westwood Building, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone
(301) 496-7441.

INQUIRIES

Direct requests for the RFA and inquiries on programmatic issues to:

Dr. Catherine Laughlin
Chief, Antiviral Research Branch
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Solar Building, Room 3A-22
6003 Executive Boulevard
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 496-8285

Direct inquiries regarding review procedures to:

Dr. Olivia Preble
Chief, Microbiology and Immunology Review Section
Scientific Review Branch
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Solar Building, Room 4C-20
6003 Executive Boulevard
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 496-8208
FAX:  (301) 402-2638

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Mr. Todd Ball
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Solar Building, Room 4B-22
6003 Executive Boulevard
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 496-7075
FAX:  (301) 480-3780

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.856, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research.
Awards are made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act,
Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158,
42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants policies and
Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program
is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of
Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.

$$R4 END ************************************************************

$$R5 BEGIN AI-92-13 FULL-TEXT ***************************************

WOMEN AND INFANTS TRANSMISSION STUDY (WITS II)

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFA AVAILABLE:  AI-92-13

P.T. 34, AA, II; K.W. 0715008, 0715125, 0785055, 0745020

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  October 26, 1992
Application Receipt Date:  January 14, 1993

THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) ANNOUNCED IN THIS NOTICE CONTAINS
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN APPLICATION.
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MAY OBTAIN THE RFA FROM THE CONTACT NAMED IN
INQUIRIES, BELOW.

PURPOSE

The Vaccine Trials and Epidemiology Branch of the Division of AIDS
(DAIDS) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(NIAID) announces the availability of an RFA for funding the
continuation of the Women and Infants Transmission Study (WITS).  The
purpose of this RFA is a competitive renewal of WITS I, a multi-site
epidemiologic cohort study of HIV infected pregnant women and their
offspring.  New sites not participating in WITS I are encouraged to
apply, as are current WITS I sites.  Specific aims are:  (1) to
assess the effects of pregnancy on HIV disease progression, (2)
determine maternal cofactors related to maternal-infant transmission
and timing of transmission, (3) assess early diagnostic techniques to
identify HIV-infected fetuses and infants, (4) evaluate the natural
history of HIV infection among infants during an era of
antiretroviral and other therapeutic modalities, and (5) assess the
feasibility of future vaccine trials in this population.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA,
Women and Infants Transmission Study (WITS II), is related to the
priority area of HIV infection.  Potential applicants may obtain a
copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full report:  Stock No.
017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report:  Stock No.
017-001-10473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic non-profit and for-profit
research institutions; public and private organizations such as
universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and
local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government.
Applications from minority individuals and women are encouraged.

MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT

Applicants funded under this RFA will be supported through National
Institutes of Health (NIH) Cooperative Agreements (U01).  A
Cooperative Agreement is a type of assistance through which an award
is made to an institution to encourage investigator-initiated
research in areas of special importance to the NIH and if substantial
programmatic involvement by NIH staff is anticipated.  This RFA
solicitation represents a onetime competition for a four year award
with a specified deadline for receipt of applications.  Program
intents for extensions beyond the initial competitive segment are
uncertain.  If, by the end of the third year of the award, NIAID has
not announced an intention to reissue the RFA, awardees who plan to
apply for continuing support should contact NIAID program officials
for advice on how to recompete.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

Approximately $5,000,000 will be available for funding the total
costs for the initial year of awards made pursuant to this RFA.  The
NIAID anticipates making four to eight awards as a result of this
RFA.  The final number of awards to be made is dependent upon receipt
of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit and
availability of funds.  The earliest anticipated award date will be
July 1993.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

The growing magnitude of the HIV epidemic among women of childbearing
age and their infants is becoming apparent in many areas of the
United States.  The percentages of AIDS cases among women and
children are increasing more rapidly than for any other risk groups.
In the 1990s, the AIDs epidemic will continue to attack African
American and Hispanic women and children in disproportionately high
numbers.  To date, more than 80 percent of pediatric AIDS cases have
been caused by maternal-infant transmission.  Moreover, virtually all
new cases of pediatric HIV infection in infants and children will be
due to maternal-infant transmission.

In the face of this growing epidemic among women and their offspring,
there are a number of critical and unanswered questions related to
HIV infection during pregnancy and maternal-infant transmission.
These include the impact of pregnancy on the health of HIV-infected
women, mechanisms and timing of vertical HIV transmission, rates of
maternal-infant transmission (overall and among different
subpopulations of at-risk pregnant women), as well as understanding
cofactors related to HIV transmission.

The Women and Infants Transmission Study II will be a focused
continuation of the current Women and Infants Transmission Study
(WITS I), which began in 1988.  WITS II will continue and expand this
prospective natural history cohort study of HIV positive pregnant
women and their offspring.  It will rely heavily on the core
protocols in place for WITS I, but will also encourage new projects
that may shed light on our understanding of maternal-infant HIV
transmission and early diagnosis of fetal or infant HIV infection.
New applicants should mention to the NIAID contact person that they
are new applicants, and they will receive a summary of the WITS I
protocol, which is necessary in preparing a response to this RFA.
Contact Dr. Mary Glenn Fowler, at the address listed under INQUIRIES.

Specific objectives of WITS II are:

o  Determine maternal cofactors related to maternal-infant
transmission including assessment of mechanisms and timing of
transmission.

o  Determine the impact of pregnancy on the natural history of HIV
infection among women through the post partum period including
immunologic and virologic changes in pregnant HIV positive women.

o  Evaluate early diagnostic tests to determine infant HIV infection
status as rapidly as possible.

o  Determine the natural history of HIV infection among congenitally
exposed infants and children in light of antiretroviral,
prophylactic, and immune- based therapy.

o  Assess the feasibility of future vaccine trials in a cohort of HIV
infected pregnant women by evaluating their attitudes and potential
willingness to take part in future clinical vaccine trials for
themselves or their infants.

To achieve the objectives of WITS II, the NIAID seeks respondents to
help develop and carry out this continuing epidemiologic natural
history study of pregnant HIV women and their children.  New
prospective sites as well as current WITS I sites are encouraged to
apply.  The template for this study will be the research protocols
designed for WITS I.  In addition, specific new research studies are
also encouraged that may provide critical information directed toward
the primary research aims of WITS II.

STUDY POPULATIONS

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH
POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL
RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS

For projects involving clinical research, NIH requires applicants to
give special attention to the inclusion of women and minorities in
study populations.  If women or minorities are not included in the
study populations for clinical studies, a specific justification for
this exclusion must be provided.  Applications without such
documentation will not be accepted for review.  Because this RFA
addresses research on the effects of HIV infection among women and
their infants, many of whom are from minority race/ethnicity groups,
it is anticipated that women and minorities will be adequately
represented in applications for this RFA.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by October 26, 1992, a
letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed
research and the name, address and telephone number of the Principal
Investigator; the identities of other key personnel and participating
institutions; and the number and title of the RFA in response to
which the application may be submitted.  The letter of intent is not
binding, does not commit the sender to submit an application, nor is
it a requirement for submission of an application.

The letter  of intent is to be sent to Dr. Mary Glenn Fowler, at the
address listed under INQUIRIES.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used
in applying for these cooperative agreements.  These forms are
available at most institutional offices of sponsored research, the
Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National
Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda,
Maryland 20892, telephone 301/496-7441, and from the NIH Program
Administrator named above.

The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application form must be
affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.  Failure
to use this label could result in delayed processing of the
application such that it may not reach the review committee in time
for review.  In addition, the RFA number, RFA AI-92-13 and the title,
Women and Infants Transmission Study, must be typed on line 2a of the
face page of the application form and the "YES" box must be marked.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including
the Checklist, and three signed, exact, single-sided photocopies, in
one package, to:

Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**

At the time of submission, two copies must also be sent directly to:

Dr. Dianne Tingley
AIDS Scientific Review Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4C16
Bethesda, MD  20892

If sending the application by overnight mail or courier service use
Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Applications must be received by both DRG and Dr. Tingley by January
14, 1993.  Applications received after January 14, 1993 will be
returned to the applicant without review.

REVIEW CRITERIA

This application must be directed at and address the research
objectives identified in this RFA; that portion of the application
corresponding to this research plan should follow in form the
specific instructions available in the RFA.  The primary factors that
will be considered in the review of the application will be
demonstrated ability or potential to recruit adequate numbers of HIV
pregnant women into the study; capability to carry out the clinical
and laboratory studies of WITS II including commitment to a
multi-site research collaborative effort; and cost efficiency in
carrying out the research protocols.

AWARD CRITERIA

Awards will be made on the basis of high scientific and technical
merit, adequacy of funds, and program relevance.  However, after an
application have been approved by the National Advisory Allergy and
Infectious Diseases Council, NIAID staff reserves the right to give
consideration to the following factors in the final selection of
applications to be funded:  WITS II sites reflect the
racial/ethnicity and socioeconomic characteristics of the nation-wide
HIV epidemic among women and infants; and reflect the HIV-AIDS
incidence/geographic distribution of the epidemic among U.S. women
and their infants.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.
The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential
applicants is welcome.  New applicants should request a copy of the
WITS I protocol summary.  Direct requests for a copy of the RFA and
inquiries concerning programmatic issues to:

Mary Glenn Fowler, M.D., M.P.H.
Vaccine Trials and Epidemiology Branch
Division of AIDS
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 2A24
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-6177
FAX:  (301) 402-1506 or (301) 480-5703

Direct inquiries concerning fiscal and policy issues to:

Jane Unsworth
Chief, AIDS Grants Management Section
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B25
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7075
FAX:  (301) 480-3780

Direct inquiries concerning the review process and review
requirements to:

Dr. Dianne Tingley
AIDS Scientific Review Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6003 Executive Boulevard, Room 4C16
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-0818
FAX:  (301) 402-2638

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Nos. 93.856 and 93.855.  Awards are made under
authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A
(Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and
285) and administered under Public Health Service Act grants policies
and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program
is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of
Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.

$$R5 END ************************************************************

$$R6 BEGIN CA-92-28 FULL-TEXT ***************************************

CLINICAL TRIALS OF CANCER THERAPY WITH BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE MODIFIERS

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFA AVAILABLE:  CA-92-28

P.T. 34; K.W. 0755015, 0715035, 0740015

National Cancer Institute

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  October 30, 1992
Application Receipt Date:  December 22, 1992

THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) ANNOUNCED IN THIS NOTICE CONTAINS
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN APPLICATION.
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MAY OBTAIN THE RFA FROM THE CONTACT NAMED IN
INQUIRIES, BELOW.

PURPOSE

The Biological Response Modifiers Program (BRMP), Division of Cancer
Treatment (DCT), National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications
to establish cooperative agreements for Clinical Trials of Cancer
Therapy with Biological Response Modifiers (CATBRMs), for the
development of novel approaches to such therapy.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000",
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA,
Clinical Trials of Cancer Therapy With Biological Response Modifiers
(CATBRMs), is related to the priority area of cancer.  Potential
applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, (telephone
202-783-3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Groups constituted according to the guidelines given in the RFA
(briefly outlined under "RESEARCH OBJECTIVES" below) are eligible to
apply.  Applying groups may include members from academic,
non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Involvement of intramural
NIH personnel is limited as described in the RFA.  Domestic and
foreign organizations and institutions (non-profit or for-profit) are
eligible.  Governments and their agencies are also eligible.
Applications from women and members of minority groups are
encouraged.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements (U01).  In cooperative
agreements, unlike traditional research grants, substantial NCI
programmatic involvement with the recipient during performance of the
planned activity is anticipated.  The nature of NCI staff involvement
is described in the RFA.  Applicants will be responsible for the
planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project.
Specifically, the CATBRM study group is responsive to the
requirements and conditions set forth in the RFA.  The Principal
Investigator defines the details for the project in accordance with
the Terms of Cooperation, retains primary responsibility for the
performance of the activity, and agrees to accept close coordination,
cooperation, and assistance of NCI extramural staff (through the NCI
Program Director) in all aspects of scientific and technical
management of the project.  However, there is no intent, real or
implied, for NCI staff to direct CATBRM activities or to limit the
freedom of investigators.

This RFA is a reissuance of RFA CA-92-01.  Applicants who did not
apply to the first announcement, or who applied but did not receive
an award, are encouraged to respond to this RFA.  However, this
reissued RFA is a one-time solicitation.  Generally, future
unsolicited competing renewal applications will compete as research
project applications with all other investigator-initiated
applications.  If the NCI determines that there is sufficient
continuing program need, the NCI will invite recipients of awards
under this RFA to submit competitive continuation cooperative
agreement applications for review.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

NCI plans to make up to six awards for project periods up to four
years, and has set aside $1.5 million total costs for the initial
year's funding.  The total funding level and number of awards to be
made is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of
applications of high scientific merit.  Although this program is
provided for in the financial plans of the National Cancer Institute,
awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon continuing
availability of funds.

Applicants may request no more than four years of support.  The
earliest possible starting date for the initial annual period will be
July 1, 1993.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Cooperative Agreements will be established to support Clinical Study
Groups for Cancer Therapy with Biological Response Modifiers
(CATBRMs), for the design and execution of novel clinical trials with
biological response modifiers (BRMs).  CATBRM groups will be
peer-reviewed groups of highly experienced clinical and preclinical
investigators who have the unique technical capabilities to study new
agents in early clinical trials and to address hypothesis-driven
issues of mechanisms of action.  The "Research Goals and Scope" of
the RFA will require a novel plan for clinical study of a given new
agent or agents, adequately supported by prior preclinical, and if
available, clinical, results.  The application must describe how its
objectives are in accord with the applicant's own interests and
experience.  The applicant must provide evidence of access to the
agent(s) proposed for study.  A detailed protocol for an initial
clinical trial must also be included.  The NCI will facilitate the
institution of a peer-reviewed, investigator-initiated trial,
participating according to Terms of Cooperation outlined in the RFA.

Each CATBRM study group will be composed of:  a Principal
Investigator; one or more laboratory programs, each headed by a
Program Leader, with the demonstrated expertise to design and carry
out assays for the appropriate monitoring of patients on the study;
one or more clinical programs, each headed by a Program Leader, with
demonstrated expertise in conducting clinical trials of BRMs; and the
NCI Program Director.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN
CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDIES

For projects involving clinical research, NIH requires applicants to
give special attention to the inclusion of women and minorities in
study populations.  If women or minorities are not included in the
study populations for clinical studies, a specific justification for
this exclusion must be provided.  Applications without such
documentation will not be accepted for review.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by October 30, 1992, a
short letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the
proposed research, the name, address, and telephone number of the
Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and
participating institutions, and the number and title of this RFA.

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does
not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information
that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of
applications.  It allows ICD staff to estimate the potential review
workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review.

Letters of intent are to be sent to:

Jon T. Holmlund, M.D.
Biological Resources Branch
Biological Response Modifiers Program
National Cancer Institute
NCI-FCRDC, Building 1052, Room 253
Frederick, MD  21702-1201
Telephone:  (301) 846-1098
FAX:  (301) 846-5429

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The deadline for receipt of applications is December 22, 1992.
Applications received after this date will be returned without review
to the applicant.

The regular research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to
be used in applying.  These forms are available at most institutional
business offices; from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of
Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, Westwood
Building,Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone 301/496-7741); and
from the NIH Program Administrator named below.  The RFA label
available in the application form PHS 398 must be affixed to the
bottom of the face page. Failure to use this label could result in
delayed processing of your application such that it may not reach the
review committee in time for review.

Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research
Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research
Resources are requested to identify the GCRC as a resource for
conducting the proposed research.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by the DRG for
completeness and responsiveness.  Incomplete applications will be
returned to the applicant without further consideration.  If an
application is not responsive to the RFA, it will be returned to the
applicant and the proposed Principal Investigator will be contacted
to determine whether submission for review in competition with
unsolicited applications (e.g., as an R01 or P01, after appropriate
modification) at the next review cycle is desirable to the applicant.
Questions concerning the relevance of proposed research to the RFA
may be directed to the NIH Program Administrator listed under
INQUIRIES.

In cases where the number of applications is large compared to the
number of awards to be made, the NCI may conduct a preliminary
scientific peer review to eliminate those which are clearly not
competitive for award.  The NCI will remove from further competition
those applications judged to be noncompetitive and notify the
Principal Investigator and institution official.

Those applications judged to be both competitive and responsive will
be further evaluated, using review criteria described in the RFA, for
scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group
convened by the Division of Extramural Activities, NCI.  Following
peer review, the applications will receive a second-level review by
the National Cancer Advisory Board, which considers the special needs
of the Institute and the priorities of the National Cancer Program.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.
The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential
applicants is welcome.

Direct requests for the RFA and inquiries regarding programmatic
issues to:

Jon Holmlund, M.D.
Program Director, Biological Resources Branch
Biological Response Modifiers Program
National Cancer Institute-FCRDC
Building 1052, Room 253
Frederick, MD  21701-1201
Telephone:  (301) 846-1098
FAX:  (301) 846-5429

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Ms. Katharine Schulze
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Administration Branch
Executive Plaza South, Room 242
6120 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7800, Ext. 16
FAX:  (301) 496-8601

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.395, (Cancer Treatment Research).  Awards are made
under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title, Part A
(Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and
285) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive
Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.

$$R6 END ************************************************************

$$R7 BEGIN HD-94-01 FULL-TEXT ***************************************

SPECIALIZED RESEARCH CENTER PROGRAMS AND CENTER CORE GRANTS TO
SUPPORT RESEARCH IN REPRODUCTION

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFA AVAILABLE:  HD-94-01

P.T. 04; K.W. 0413002, 0710110, 0710115, 0710030

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  January 2, 1993
Application Receipt Date:  May 18, 1993

THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) ANNOUNCED IN THIS NOTICE CONTAINS
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN APPLICATION.
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MAY OBTAIN THE RFA FROM THE CONTACT NAMED IN
INQUIRIES, BELOW.

PURPOSE

The Reproductive Sciences Branch (RSB), Center for Population
Research (CPR), National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD), supports research on reproduction which relies
on a variety of approaches in biomedical sciences.  Among the grant
mechanisms used to provide research support, the RSB uses:

(1) Specialized Research Centers (P50s) which are integrated groups
of research projects and supporting core service facilities.  The
research activities included in such project grants must comprise, by
definition, a multidisciplinary approach to biomedical problems in
reproduction.  Although these research programs may have more than
one theme, focus, or emphasis, all of the projects must be responsive
to one or more of the specific areas of reproductive research which
constitute the mission of the RSB, CPR, NICHD.

(2) Center Core Grants (P30s) that support Center Core facilities
designed to enhance a group of existing federally supported research
projects within the purview of the RSB, CPR, NICHD.  Such Center
awards require a critical mass of individual, reproductive-oriented
awards whose productivity and quality would be increased by support
from central technical facilities.

Institute policy requires recompetition for the P30/P50 Center
Program in the Reproductive Sciences Branch.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA,
Specialized Research Center Programs and Center Core Grants to
Support Research in Reproduction, is related to the priority area of
family planning.  Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy
People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy
People 2000" (Summary Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit
organizations, public and private.  Foreign organizations are not
eligible.  New Specialized Research Center Grant (P50) applications
may not request more than $600,000 in direct costs for the first
year.  New Center Core Grant (P30) applications may not request more
than $500,000 in direct costs for the first year.  Renewal
applications from existing P30 or P50 centers may not request initial
year direct costs exceeding 120 percent of the Council recommended
direct costs for the final year of the preceding project period.
Unless prior written approval of the NICHD has been obtained,
applications with requests exceeding these guidelines will be
administratively withdrawn by the NICHD and returned to the
applicant.  Applications prepared for this competition may not
propose multi-institutional consortiums.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the Specialized Research Center Program (P50) and
Center Core (P30) Grant mechanism to support research in
reproduction.  The total project period for applications submitted in
response to this RFA is five years.  The anticipated award date will
be April 1, 1994.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

Although this solicitation is included in the fiscal plans for FY
1994, support for these center grants is contingent upon the receipt
of funds for these purposes by the NICHD.  The number of grants to be
awarded is also contingent upon a sufficient number of applications
receiving a high enough level of merit to be considered for an award.
It is expected that up to four awards will be made as a result of
this announcement within the expected total cost limit of $3,600,000
available for the first year.  At present, the RSB supports a fixed
number of centers with a commitment of five years of support that is
competitively renewable for additional five-year periods.  Support
for one P50 Center and three P30 Centers ends in FY 1994 and it is
anticipated that these Centers will submit renewal applications.
Although there are no additional Center awards available at this
time, new groups of investigators are invited to compete with the
current awardees for the existing four awards.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The ultimate goals of biomedical research in the reproductive
sciences are to develop new knowledge leading to clinical
applications that will enable men and women to control their
fertility with methods that are safe, effective, inexpensive,
reversible, and acceptable to various population groups, and to
overcome problems of infertility and reproductive disorders. Domestic
U.S. Reproductive Sciences centers designated as "Specialized
Reproductive Sciences Research Center" (P50s) and as "Reproductive
Sciences Research Centers" (P30s) are awarded for the support of
comprehensive reproductive research programs of high quality that
focus on topics deemed to be of high priority and significance
because of their critically important relationship to the mission of
the RSB, CPR.

STUDY POPULATIONS

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN
CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDIES

For projects involving clinical research, NIH requires applicants to
give special attention to the inclusion of women and minorities in
study populations.  If women or minorities are not included in the
study populations for clinical studies, a specific justification for
this exclusion must be provided.  Applications without such
documentation will not be accepted for review.

LETTER OF INTENT

It is strongly recommended, but not mandatory, that potential
applicants send a letter of intent to the RSB staff at the address
listed below by January 2, 1993.  This letter is to include a list of
the titles of the relevant research projects to be associated with
the proposed center and provide the names of the relevant key
investigators.  The letter of intent is to be received by the RSB no
later than January 2, 1993, but applicants are encouraged to send it
as soon as they decide to apply for the grant so that the RSB staff
can be of maximum assistance in the application process.  Although a
letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter
into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it
contains allows NICHD staff to estimate the potential review workload
and avoid conflict of interest in the review.  The letter of intent
is to be sent to the RSB staff contact listed under INQUIRIES.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Center grant applications must be structured in accordance with the
specific policy and formatting guidelines presented in the RFA and
the instructions found in the publications entitled either "P50
Specialized Research Center Grant Guidelines" or "P30 Center Core
Grant Guidelines" that are available from the NICHD office listed
below.  Such guidelines require, for example, certain tabulations in
addition to the usual instructions for the grant application form PHS
398 (rev. 09/91) used to prepare these applications.  The current
policies and requirements that govern the research grant programs of
NIH will prevail (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42, Part 52 and
Title 45, Part 75).

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

An administrative review of the application will be performed by NIH
staff for conformance to NIH policy and NICHD guidelines, as well as
for relevance to the program purview of the RSB.  Applications that
fail to comply with NIH policy and/or NICHD guidelines will be
formally returned to the applicant.  Applications will be evaluated
by the Population Research Committee, NICHD in November 1993.  The
second level review will be made by the National Advisory Child
Health and Human Development Council in January 1994.  Review
procedures and criteria are detailed in the P50 SPECIALIZED RESEARCH
CENTER GRANT GUIDELINES and P30 CENTER CORE GRANT GUIDELINES
(available from NICHD offices listed below).

AWARD CONSIDERATIONS

The earliest possible funding date is April 1, 1994.  Funding
decisions will be based on the IRG review and NACHHD Council
recommendations, program relevance, and the availability of funds.

INQUIRIES

For further information and a copy of the RFA, contact:

Julia Lobotsky, M.S.
Reproductive Sciences Branch
Center for Population Research
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Building 6100, Room 8B01
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-6515

To obtain copies of the NICHD Policy and Formatting Guidelines for
P30 and P50 center grant applications, contact:

Laurance Johnston, Ph.D.
Division of Scientific Review
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Building 6100, Room 5E01
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-1696

For information on budget and fiscal matters, contact:

Melinda Nelson
Office of Grants and Contracts
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Building 6100
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-5481

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.864, Population Research.  Awards will be made
under the authority of the Public Health Service Act 301 (42 USC 241)
and 441 (USC 289d) and administered under PHS grants policies and
Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program
is not subject to A-95 or Health Systems Agency review.

$$R7 END ************************************************************

$$R8 BEGIN HL-93-03-B FULL-TEXT *************************************

CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF MEGAKARYOCYTOPOIESIS

NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 36, October 9, 1992

RFA AVAILABLE:  HL-93-03-B

P.T. 34; K.W. 0780015, 0780020, 0760003, 0760020, 1002008, 1002019

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  January 15, 1993
Application Receipt Date:  March 15, 1993

THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) ANNOUNCED IN THIS NOTICE CONTAINS
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN APPLICATION.
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MAY OBTAIN THE RFA FROM THE CONTACT NAMED IN
INQUIRIES BELOW.

PURPOSE

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) announces the
availability of an RFA on the above subject.  The purpose of this
initiative is to encourage research that may contribute to better
understanding of regulation of the proliferation and maturation of
megakaryocytes and the control of platelet production.  It is hoped
that the information generated will allow manipulation of
megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet levels in pathological conditions.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA,
Cell and Molecular Biology of Megakaryocytopoiesis, is related to the
priority areas of platelet disorders and bone marrow transplantation.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full
Report:  Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report:  Stock No.
017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-782-3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

All domestic and foreign, public and private, for-profit and
non-profit institutions and organizations are eligible to apply in
response to this RFA.  Awards in connection with this announcement
will be made to foreign institutions only for research of very