Challenge Grant Applications
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
AMERICAN RECOVERY and
REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009
CHALLENGE GRANT APPLICATIONS
Omnibus of Broad Challenge Areas and Specific Topics
Table of Contents
NIH Challenge Grant Program
Challenge Areas
NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices and Contact Information
CHALLENGE AREAS AND CHALLENGE TOPICS OF THE NIH CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM
(01) Behavior, Behavioral Change, and Prevention
(02) Bioethics
(03) Biomarker Discovery and Validation
(04) Clinical Research
(05) Comparative Effectiveness Research
(06) Enabling Technologies
(07) Enhancing Clinical Trials
(08) Genomics
(09) Health Disparities
(10) Information Technology for Processing Health Care Data
(11) Regenerative Medicine
(12) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education (STEM)
(13) Smart Biomaterials - Theranostics
(14) Stem Cells
(15) Translational Science
Funding Opportunity Announcements and Application Instructionsare contained in separate files. Follow the links below to view these documents.
Funding Opportunity Announcement
Recovery Act Limited Competition: NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science
Research (RC1) (RFA-OD-09-003)
()
Application Instructions
SF424 (R&R) Application INSTRUCTIONS and Electronic Submission Information ()
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Challenge Grant Applications
NIH Challenge Grant Program
NIH has received new funds for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2009 and 2010 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). NIH has designated at least $200 million for a new initiative called NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research (see upon the submission of a sufficient number of scientifically meritorious applications. In addition, Recovery Act funds allocated to NIH specifically for comparative effectiveness research (CER) may be available to support additional grants. Projects receiving these funds will need to meet this definition of CER: “a rigorous evaluation of the impact of different options that are available for treating a given medical condition for a particular set of patients. Such a study may compare similar treatments, such as competing drugs, or it may analyze very different approaches, such as surgery and drug therapy.” Such research may include the development and use of clinical registries, clinical data networks, and other forms of electronic health data that can be used to generate or obtain outcomes data as they apply to CER.
This new program will support research on topic areas which address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research that would benefit from significant 2-year jumpstart funds. NIH Institute and Centers have selected specific Challenge Topics within each of the Challenge Areas. The research in these Challenge Areas should have a high impact in biomedical or behavioral science and/or public health.
As part of the Recovery Act, the NIH invites, through this limited competition, NIH Challenge Grant (RC1) applications from domestic (United States) institutions/organizations proposing novel research in areas that address specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. This program is designed to support research in scientific areas identified by the Institutes and Centers, as described in the Challenge Grant Request for Applications (RFA) (see
Challenge Areas
The NIH has identified a range of Challenge Areas that focus on specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. Within each broad Challenge Area (noted below) the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices have specified particular Challenge Topics that address their missions. Applicants to the Challenge Grants Program are invited to submit applications in any of the areas listed in this Omnibus Solicitation. Those topics marked with an asterisk have been designated as the Institute, Center or Office’s highest priority; however, applicants may apply to any of the topics. Applicants are encouraged to contact the program staff listed within each of the topics.
This Omnibus Solicitation describes all the topics listed under these broad Challenge Areas:
(01)Behavior, Behavioral Change, and Prevention
(02)Bioethics
(03)Biomarker Discovery and Validation
(04)Clinical Research
(05)Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER)
(06)Enabling Technologies
(07)Enhancing Clinical Trials
(08)Genomics
(09)Health Disparities
(10)Information Technology for Processing Health Care Data
(11)Regenerative Medicine
(12)Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education (STEM)
(13)Smart Biomaterials – Theranostics
(14)Stem Cells
(15)Translational Science
As instructed in the RFA, applicants MUST specify both the broad Challenge Area (01-15) and the specific Challenge Topic that their research addresses.
NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices and Contact Information
institutes, centers and offices / program contactNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA)
/ Dr. Trish Powell
Phone: 301 443-5106
E-mail:
National Institute on Aging (AG)
/ Dr. Kathie Reed
Phone: 301-496-3121
E-mail:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI)
/ Dr. Patricia Haggerty
Phone: 301-451-2615
E-mail:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (AR)
/ Dr. Robert Carter
Phone: 301-496-4353
E-mail:
NationalCenter for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (AT)
/ Dr. Richard Nahin
Phone: 301-496-7801
E-mail:
National Cancer Institute (CA)
/ Dr. Dinah Singer
Phone: 301-496-8636
E-mail:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA)
/ Dr. Christine Colvis
Phone: 301-443-6480
E-mail:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (DC)
/ Dr. Judith Cooper
Phone: 301-496-5061
E-mail:
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE)
/ Dr. Pamela McInnes
Phone: 301-443-8618
E-mail:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK)
/ Dr. Brent Stanfield
Phone: 301-594-8834
E-mail:
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (EB)
/ Dr. William Heetderks
Phone: 301-451-6771
E-mail:
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (ES)
/ Dr. Gwen Collman
Phone: 919-541-4980
E-mail:
National Eye Institute (EY)
/ Dr. Grace L. Shen
Phone: 301-451-2020
E-mail:
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM)
/ Dr. Judith H. Greenberg
Phone: 301-594-0943
E-mail:
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD)
/ Ms. Mona Rowe
Phone: 301-496-1877
E-mail:
National Human Genome Research Institute (HG)
/ Dr. Mark Guyer
Phone: 301-496-7531
E-mail:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL)
/ Dr. Carl Roth
Phone: 301-496-6331
E-mail:
National Library of Medicine (LM)
/ Dr. Valerie Florance
Phone: 301-594-4882
E-mail:
NationalCenter on Minority Health and Health Disparities (MD)
/ Dr. Nathaniel Stinson
Phone: 301-402-1366
E-mail:
National Institute of Mental Health (MH)
/ Dr. Jean Noronha
Phone: 301-443-3367
E-mail:
National Institute of Nursing Research (NR)
/ Dr.Linda Weglicki
Phone: 301-594-6908
E-mail:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS)
/ Dr. Robert Finkelstein
Phone: 301-496-9248
E-mail:
Office On Science Policy
OD (OSP) – Bioethics
/ Dr. Sarah Carr
Phone: 301-435-6753
E-mail:
Office Of Behavioral And Social Sciences ResearchOD (OBSSR)
/ Dr. Deborah Olster
Phone: 301-402-1147
E-mail:
Office of Rare Disease Research
OD (ORDR)
/ Dr. Stephen C. Groft
Phone: 301-402-4336
E-mail:
Office Of Research On Women’s Health
OD (ORWH)
/ Dr. Lisa Begg
Phone: 301/496-7853
E-mail:
OD/OSC Common Fund / Dr. Brenda Weis
Phone: 301-435-5840
E-mail:
National Center for Research Resources (RR)
/ Dr. Louise Ramm
Phone:301-435-0879
E-mail:
FogartyInternationalCenter (FIC) (TW)
/ Dr. Joshua Rosenthal
Phone: 301-496-1653
E-mail:
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Challenge Grant Applications
CHALLENGE AREAS AND CHALLENGE TOPICS OF
THE NIH CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM
Topics in the table below that are marked with an asterisk (*) have been designated as an Institute, Center or Office’s highest priority; however, applicants may apply to any of the topics.
Broad Challenge Area / Specific Challenge Topic(01) Behavior, Behavioral Change, and Prevention / 01-AA-101*Identifying Phenotypic Markers for Positive Behavior Change. Identify reliable, robust intermediate phenotypic markers (using cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics) that can be used to personalize approaches to support positive health behavior change in the near term. Examples include behavioral disinhibition, delay discounting, heart rate variability and implicit cognition. Contact: Dr. Mark Willenbring, 301-443-1208,
01-AA-102*Functional Roles of Neuroimmune Factors in Mediating Behavior. Neuroimmune factors significantly impact both normal brain functions and a variety of neurological and behavioral disorders. Emerging data suggest that physiological functions of neuroimmune factors, such as cytokines and chemokines, are not restricted to mediating neuroinflammatory responses but may be considered as a new class of neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, or neurohormone in the brain. This paradigm shift offers a new framework to understand the roles of neuroimmune factors in a variety of behavioral conditions such as excessive drinking, anxiety, depression, etc. Contact: Dr. Antonio Noronha, 301-443-7722,
01-AA-103*Capturing Social Network Information for Groups at High Risk for Negative Health Behaviors. Emerging evidence indicates that social networks influence health behaviors such as eating habits, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Research in this area is needed to enhance existing methodologies and/or devise novel methods that will capture social network information among groups at heightened risk for particular negative health behaviors. The ultimate public health goal is to use this information to influence behavioral choices and improve health outcomes. Contact: Dr. Mark Willenbring, 301-443-1208,
01-AA-104Computational Brain Modeling of Alcohol-Seeking and Drinking Behavior. Alcohol use disorder is a complex disease involving a variety of neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and neurohormonal systems and various intracellular networks. It is, most likely, that targeting a combination of sites within these systems and networks will be essential in developing effective medications. These systems and networks are part of neurocircuits responsible for different aspects of alcohol addiction, including craving, reward, protracted abstinence symptoms, impaired control, tolerance, inhibition, and executive function. Research is encouraged to develop system computer modeling of these neurocircuits as an important step forward in understanding alcohol seeking and drinking behavior and identifying multiple targets in the brain for the development of effective medications. Although creating a valid computer model of this kind of biological network requires an immense effort, the payoff would be enormous. Correctly predicting the linked effects of changes of various neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems and intracellular networks within and across these neurocircuits will provide a solid foundation for treating problematic drinking. Contact: Dr. Mark Willenbring, 301-443-1208,
01-AA-105Mechanisms of Behavior Change. This initiative will support research to better understand the mechanisms underlying the initiation and maintenance of behavior change among heavy drinkers, by modeling the relationship among neurophysiological, psychological and social factors involved (modeling across scale). This will lead in turn to new methods to support positive change, moving beyond interventions that consist primarily of education and persuasion. Research is needed on both treatment-seeking and community-dwelling populations, examining the mechanisms and processes involved in initiating change, including predictors of success or failure as well as processes that underlie maintenance of change or relapse. Research needs to explicitly examine mechanisms, and may use statistical modeling techniques such as structural equation modeling, but priority will be given to projects that experimentally manipulate potential mediators of change. Development of novel technologies, experimental approaches and mathematical modeling methods is also encouraged. Research projects that incorporate or integrate two or more disciplines of research or levels of analysis such as psychological, neurophysiological, or genomic are of particular interest. Consideration will also be given to exploratory or developmental projects that are expected to help refine hypotheses and generate pilot data. Contact: Dr. Mark Willenbring, 301-443-1208,
01-AA-106Alcohol’s Effect on Adolescent Brain Development. Adolescence is a period of rapid brain growth and neural remodeling, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, an area which subserves “executive” functions such as cognitive flexibility, self-regulation and the evaluation of risk and reward. Two major developmental brain processes, myelination and synaptic pruning, continue to occur throughout adolescence. In addition to these structural changes, neurotransmitter systems undergo substantial modification. Concurrently, there is a significant escalation in drinking during the adolescent period. Of particular concern are the widespread occurrence of episodes of binge drinking and intoxication, and the association of adolescent alcohol exposure with later alcohol abuse and dependence. Research is encouraged to determine whether alcohol interferes with normal adolescent brain development at the cellular and molecular level, and, if so, how it affects patterns of brain connectivity, that may influence drinking behavior and the emergence of alcohol-related disorders. Contact: Dr. Ellen Witt, 301-443-6545,
01-AA-107Alcohol, Brain Development, and Adolescent Decision Making. Alcohol remains the most commonly abused substance among adolescents. However, little is know about cognitive, emotional and social processes that may contribute to high rates of adolescent drinking and how alcohol use in turn may affect these processes. During adolescence, developing brain systems underlying cognitive, emotional, and social behaviors develop at different rates. This asynchronous maturation of intellectual and emotional skills and their underlying neural substrates may help explain age and individual differences in judgment, decision making, sensation seeking, and risk taking which make adolescents vulnerable to developing alcohol abuse and dependence. Research is needed to determine differences between adolescent and adult decision-making processes and reward-based learning as they relate to alcohol drinking behavior, and to determine the effects of adolescent drinking on the development of decision-making processes, reward-based learning and their underlying neural substrates. Contact: Dr. Ellen Witt, 301-443-6545,
01-AA-108Alcohol, Pubertal Hormones, and Sex Differences in Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. Between the ages of 12 and 17, adolescent males and females have similar patterns of alcohol use and similar prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence. By late adolescence, however, sex specific patterns begin to emerge, with females exhibiting fewer drinking days in the past month, fewer episodes of heavy drinking, and lower prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence relative to males. Substantial changes in brain biology, physiology, and architecture occur during the transitions from pre-adolescence through adolescence and into young adulthood. The hormonal changes of puberty also affect the developing brain and may help explain the disparate drinking trajectories of boys and girls. Recent evidence suggests that an increase in gonadal steroids and stress response hormones during puberty may influence the structural and functional remodeling of the brain. Thus, hormonal mechanisms, such as activation of reproductive hormones, stress responses, and their effects on brain developmental processes could explain the observed sex differences in alcohol drinking patterns during puberty. With brain development and puberty proceeding at the same time as rapid escalation in alcohol use, it is important to consider potential effects of alcohol on the interaction between pubertal hormone changes and adolescent neurodevelopmental processes and the implications of alcohol-induced changes in these processes on sex differences in future alcohol use and misuse. Two-year studies are needed to investigate the degree to which hormonal changes at puberty interact with neurodevelopmental processes to promote sex effects in alcohol use and misuse, and the effects of alcohol on these interactive processes. Contact: Dr. Ellen Witt, 301-443-6545,
01-AA-109Alcohol and Chronobiology. Recent research has demonstrated the potent effect of clock genes, those involved in regulation of circadian rhythms, in addictive behavior. Mutant or variant alleles of clock genes can alter incentive salience and modify the vulnerability of risk for alcohol dependence. Conversely, environmental disruption can create acute, or in the case of fetal alcohol exposure, long term disruption of circadian function and stress. This in turn can enhance alcohol self administration. Such observations clearly implicate circadian function as a potential factor in alcohol dependence. Research that characterizes the consequences of clock gene knock-outs or knock-ins for alcohol consumption would aid in establishing the link between clock genes and risk for alcohol abuse.Contact: Dr. Lindsey Grandison, 301-443-0606,
01-AA-110The Impact of Alcoholic Beverage Container Labels on Drinking-related Behaviors and Beliefs. Unlike most consumable products, alcoholic beverage containers carry little or no information about ingredients, calories and serving sizes. Researchers and consumer groups have pushed the importance of labels for educating the public about serving sizes in order to help consumers avoid unwanted side effects, stay within the boundaries of moderate consumption and make healthy dietary choices. For instance, while a single serving of wine per day could convey benefits for cardiovascular health, two or more servings per day can increase the odds of breast cancer and other cancers. Some malt beverages contain as many calories as some chocolate bars. Presumably, such information would be of value to consumers and could influence their drinking habits and beverage choices. Despite the logical appeal of placing detailed labels on beverage containers, it remains unclear what, if any, impact such labels might have on alcohol-related attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. Further, it remains unclear what information should appear and where. Innovative developmental studies to determine the impact of alcoholic beverage container labels on drinking-related behaviors and beliefs are encouraged. Contact: Dr. Aaron White, 301-451-5943,
01-AG-101Advanced analyses for social network health data. Many aspects of health and disease are now understood to take place in a rich social context, and the analyses of the network structure of real (and virtual) communities promises many insights into the processes by which health-related beliefs, norms, and behavior patterns are transmitted. Although the mathematics of networks and the complex systems they imply have become increasingly more tractable, significant challenges remain in the design and implementation of analyses that are robust to data limitations or model mis-specification. Contact: Dr. John Haaga, 301-496-3131,
01-AG-102Neural mechanisms of behavioral change. Studies aimed at elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral changes during aging or age-related diseases and disorders, including choice of food and nutrition or the amount of physical activities. Contact: Dr. Molly Wagster, 301-496-9350,
01-AG-103Individual-based model of social behavior. Development of a robust and well-characterized individual-based model of social behavior that includes the dynamics of social interactions and that matches observed patterns of behavior. Contact: Dr. Lis Nielsen, 301-402-4156,