NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
AUTHORIZATION:
Public
Health Service Act, Sections 301, 483, 484, and 487, as amended,
Public Law 99-158; Small Business Research and Development Act of
1992, Public Law 102-564.
The
National Institute of Nursing Research supports clinical and basic
research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals
across the life span from management of patients during illness
and recovery to the reduction of risks for disease and disability
and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. According to its broad
mandate, the Institute seeks to understand and ease the symptoms
of acute and chronic illness, to prevent or delay the onset of disease
or disability or slow its progression, to find effective approaches
to achieving and sustaining good health, and to improve the clinical
settings in which care is provided. The NINR's research extends
to problems encountered by patients, families, and caregivers. It
also emphasizes the special needs of at-risk and underserved populations.
These efforts are crucial in translating scientific advances into
cost-effective health care that does not compromise quality. NINR
accomplishes its mission by supporting grants to universities and
other research organizations as well as by conducting research intramural
at laboratories in Bethesda, Maryland. The research fosters multi-disciplinary
collaborations to ensure a comprehensive approach to research on
illness and disabling conditions. This approach is especially relevant
in research aimed at long-term care for the elderly, the special
needs of women across the life span, bioethical issues related to
genetic testing and counseling, biobehavioral aspects of managing
the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, and environmental
influences on risk factors related to chronic illnesses. In addition,
the Institute supports comprehensive research training programs
to prepare individuals with requisite interdisciplinary skills to
conduct nursing research. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
program: To expand and improve the SBIR program; to increase private
sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research
and development; to increase small business participation in Federal
research and development; and to foster and encourage participation
of socially and economically disadvantaged mall business concerns
and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program: To stimulate
and foster scientific and technological innovation through cooperative
research and development carried out between small business concerns
and research institutions; to foster technology transfer between
small business concerns and research institutions; to increase private
sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research
and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially
and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned
small business concerns in technological innovation. Centers Program:
To promote interdisciplinary research, offer an environment for
research training and career development, and concentrate research
through Core Centers for Nursing Research.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Research Grants: Funds
may be used for salaries, consultation, equipment, travel and other
usual costs, subject to Federal regulations applicable to the grant.
National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) (Individual): Awards are
made directly to individuals for research training in specified
areas related to the mission of NINR. NRSAs (Institutional): Grants
may be made to institutions to enable them to accept individuals
for research training. Each individual who receives a NRSA postdoctoral
fellowship or traineeship is obligated upon termination of the award
to comply with certain service and payback provisions. SBIR Phase
I grants: (of approximately 6-months' duration) are to establish
the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort
that may lead to a commercial product or process. Only Phase I awardees
are eligible to apply for Phase II support. STTR Phase I grants
(normally of 1-year duration) are to determine the scientific, technical,
and commercial merit and feasibility of the proposed cooperative
effort that has potential for commercial application. Phase II funding
is based on results of research initiated in Phase I and scientific
and technical merit and commercial potential of Phase II application.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Research Grants: Any corporation, public or private institution
or agency, or other legal entity, either nonprofit or for-profit,
may apply. NRSAs (Individual): An applicant must be a registered
professional nurse with either a baccalaureate and/or a master's
degree in nursing or a related field and must be a citizen of the
United States or lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Those
on temporary or student visas are not eligible. NRSAs (Institutional):
An eligible institution must be capable of providing predoctoral
and/or postdoctoral research training opportunities for nurses.
SBIR grants: can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities
that are independently owned and operated for profit; are not dominant
in the field in which research is being proposed; and have no more
than 500 employees). Primary employment (more than one-half time)
of the principal investigator must be with the small business at
the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project.
In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in
the United States or its possessions. To be eligible for funding,
a grant application must be reviewed for scientific merit and program
relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council.
STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concerns
(entities that are independently owned and operated for profit,
are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and
have no more than 500 employees) which "partner" with a research
institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40
percent of the project is to be performed by the small business
concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In
both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the
U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application
must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a
scientific review group and a national advisory council.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Individuals and public or private institutions.
Credentials/Documentation:
Each applicant for research projects must present a research plan
and furnish evidence that scientific competence, facilities, equipment,
and supplies are appropriate to carry out the plan. NRSAs (Individual):
The applicant's academic record, research experience, citizenship,
licensed as a registered nurse, and institutional sponsorship
should be documented in the application. NRSAs (Institutional):
The applicant organization must show the objectives, methodology
and resources for the research training program, the qualifications
and experience of directing staff, the criteria to be used in
selecting individuals for awards, and detailed budget justification
for the amount of grant funds requested. Costs will be determined
in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21, Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions and OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and
local governments. For-profit organizations' costs are determined
in accordance with Subpart 31.2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
For other grantees, costs will be determined by HHS Regulations
45 CFR, Part 74, Subpart Q. For SBIR and STTR grants, applicant
organization (small business concern) must present in a research
plan an idea that has potential for commercialization and furnish
evidence that scientific competence, experimental methods, facilities,
equipment, and funds requested are appropriate to carry out the
plan. Grant forms PHS 6246-1 and PHS 6246-2 are used to apply
for SBIR Phase I and Phase II, respectively. Grant forms PHS 6246-3
and PHS 6246-4 are used to apply for STTR Phase I and Phase II,
respectively.
Pre-application
Coordination: Not applicable. This program is
excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:
Research Grants: Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398
research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).
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. NRSAs (Individual):
Individuals must submit the application form, PHS Individual National
Research Service Award (PHS 416-1, rev. 12/98), and include at
least three letters of reference. If the applicant has been lawfully
admitted to the United States for permanent residence, the appropriate
item should be checked on the Face Page of the application. Applicants
who have applied for and have not yet been granted admission as
a permanent resident should check the Permanent resident block
on the Face Page of the PHS 416-1 application, and also write
in the word "pending." A notarized statement documenting legal
admission for permanent residence must be submitted prior to the
issuance of an award. SBIR and STTR: The PHS 398 research grant
application (rev. 5/2001) must be used. Instructions and forms
are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html.
Refer to Chapter VI for specific instructions for SBIR and STTR
applications. Applications will be accepted on the dates listed
on the first page of this PA. This version of PHS 398 is available
in an interactive, searchable PDF and HTML format. The NIH will
return applications that are not submitted on the 5/2001 version.
For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone: (301) 435-0714,
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
Award Procedure:
Research Grants and NRSAs (Institutional): All accepted applications
are reviewed for scientific merit by an appropriate initial review
group and then by a national advisory council. (Individual NRSA
applications are not reviewed by council.) All applications favorably
recommended compete for available funds on the basis of scientific
merit and program emphasis. All accepted SBIR/STTR applications
are evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate
scientific peer review panel and by a national advisory council
or board. All applications receiving a priority score compete
for available SBIR/STTR set-aside funds on the basis of scientific
and technical merit and commercial potential of the proposed research,
program relevance, and program balance among the areas of research.
Deadlines:
Research Grants: February 1, June 1, and October 1. Renewals:
March 1, July 1, and November 1. Individual NRSAs: April 5, August
5, and December 5. Institutional NRSA's: May 10 only. SBIR: April
1, August 1, and December 1. STTR: December 1 only.
Range of Approval/Disapproval
Time: Research Grants: From 6 to 9 months.
NRSAs: From 6 to 9 months. SBIR/STTR: About 7-1/2 months.
Appeals:
Research Grants: A principal investigator (P.I.) may question
the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her
application by communicating with the staff of the NINR.
Renewals:
Research Grants: Renewal applications are accepted. NRSAs: Awards
may be made for 1 to 5 years. No individual may receive more than
5 years of aggregate NRSA support beyond the predoctoral level,
and no individual may receive NRSA support for more than 3 years
of support beyond the postdoctoral level. Institutional awards
may be renewed.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching
Requirements: This program has no statutory
formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing
of Assistance: Research Grants: Awards are
usually made annually with no project periods to exceed 5 years
in length. NRSAs: Institutional awards may be made for up to 5
years, and Individual awards may be made for up to 5 years at
the predoctoral level, 3 years at postdoctoral level, and 2 years
at senior level. SBIR: Normally, Phase I awards are for 6 months;
normally, Phase II awards are for 2 years. STTR: Normally, Phase
I awards are for 1 year; normally, Phase II awards are for 2 years.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Progress and fiscal financial status reports are required annually
for continuing projects, and final reports on all projects are required
90 days after their conclusion. Recipients of NRSAs are required
to file termination reports to ascertain compliance with the service
and payback provisions.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised,
June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit
Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance
of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities
that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt
from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted
in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements
are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal
officials.
Records:
Records must be retained for 3 years or longer if not audited
or audit findings have not been resolved.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
75-0889-0-1-552.
Obligations:
(Research Project Grants) FY 01 $79,758,000; FY 02 est $89,698,000;
and FY 03 est $98,220,000. (NRSAs) FY 01 $7,918,000; FY 02 est
$9,224,000; and FY 03 est $9,316,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
(Research Grants) $10,000 to $793,481. Average: $309,111.
(NRSAs) $7,555 to $342,289. Average: $31,030.
For fiscal year 2001,
303 competing research grant applications were received and 255
competing and noncompeting awards were made. For fiscal year 2002,
an estimated 378 research grant applications and 283 competing and
noncompeting awards are anticipated. For fiscal year 2003, an estimated
419 research grant applications and 292 competing and noncompeting
awards are anticipated.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
LITERATURE:
Research Grants: Grants
will be available under the authority of and administered in accordance
with the PHS Grants Policy Statement and Federal regulations at
42 CFR 52 and 42 USC 241; Omnibus Solicitation of the Public Health
Service for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant and
Cooperative Agreement Applications. Omnibus Solicitation of the
National Institutes of Health for Small Business Technology Transfer
(STTR) Grant Applications.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local
Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office:
Program Contract: For research in neurofunction such as pain,
sleep, Alzheimer's disease, other brain disorders, and general
acute care, contact Dr. Karin Helmers. Reproductive and infant
health, including low birth weight infants and prenatal care,
contact Dr. Yvonne Bryan. Immune and infectious diseases, contact
Dr. Hilary Sigmon. Cardiopulmonary, critical care, trauma, and
transplantation issues, contact Dr. Hilary Sigmon. Long term care
and chronic illnesses including arthritis, diabetes, and urinary
incontinence, contact Dr. Nell Armstrong. Neoplastic diseases,
human development, health and risk behaviors, and women's health
issues, contact Dr. Janice Phillips. Address: National Institute
of Nursing Research National Institutes of Health, Building 45,
Room 3AN12, 45 Center Drive MSC 6300, Bethesda, MD 20892-6300.
Telephone: (301) 594-6906. Grants Management Contact: Ms. Cynthia
McDermott; Grants Management Officer, National Institute of Nursing
Research, National Institutes of Health, Building 45, Room 3AN12
, 45 Center Drive MSC 6301, Bethesda, MD 20892-6301. Telephone:
(301) 594-6869. Use the same numbers for FTS.
Web Site Address: http://www.nih.gov/ninr
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
1) Comparison Of Tailored
Mammography Interventions; (2) Cardiovascular Health In Children
And Youth; (3) Preoperative Pain, Immune Function, And Metastasis;
(4) Nurse Managed Tobacco Cessation Intervention; (5) Rheumatoid
Arthritis: Adherence Intervention Strategies; and (6) Urinary Incontinence
Prevention--Reducing Birthing Risk Effectiveness of Prenatal Care.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
The major elements in
evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) Significance: Does
this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application
are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will
be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive
this field? (2) Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design,
methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and
appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge
potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? (3) Innovation:
Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or method? Are
the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing
paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies? (4) Investigator:
Is the investigator 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 (if any)?
(5) Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work
will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed
experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific
environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there
evidence of institutional support? (6) the appropriateness of the
proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research;
and (7) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives.
The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific
and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1)
The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2)
the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting
staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the
proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for
commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested;
(6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research
environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances
detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal
subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse
effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed
based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase
I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific
and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase
II objectives; (3) the qualifications of the proposed principal
investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (4) the technological
innovation, originality, or societal importance of the proposed
research; (5) the potential of the proposed research for commercial
application; (6) the reasonableness of the budget requested for
the work proposed; (7) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities
and research environment; and (8) where applicable, the adequacy
of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a)safeguarding human
or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing
any adverse effect on the environment.
