ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS (APRC)

(Updated 11/1/2004 - supercedes all previous versions)

- FY05 Guidelines and Information for Applicants -

PURPOSE

The Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announces for fiscal year 2005 the availability of funds to supplement existing DCB-funded research projects to support and encourage scientific collaboration among DCB grantees, as well as with other members of the scientific community. This effort, known as the Activities to Promote Research Collaborations (APRC) program, can support collaborative activities that bring together ideas and approaches from disparate scientific disciplines, including those not currently supported by DCB. It is essential, however, that proposed APRC activities be within the overall scope of the parent award.

The APRC program provides funding support for two specific types of collaborative activity: (1) Consortia, and (2) Exploratory Meetings/Workshops. Before submitting an application for a collaborative activity, it is essential that all grantees call their DCB Program Director to discuss.

There are four areas of special scientific emphasis for FY05: (1) structural biology, (2) integrative cancer biology, (3) tumor microenvironment, and (4) mouse models. However, applications focused on other cancer biology topics will be accepted.

This document describes: (1) areas of special scientific emphasis in FY05, (2) the types of the administrative mechanisms available to promote research collaborations under this program, (3) eligibility requirements, (4) review considerations and criteria, (5) the application procedures, (6) the post-award requirement for Grantees who are awarded APRC supplements, (7) application deadline, (8) filing address, and (9) contact information for inquiries.

BACKGROUND

The DCB supports research that enhances our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of cancers. DCB supports and funds grants in basic cancer cell biology, tumor biology and metastasis, cancer immunology and hematology, cancer etiology (including chemical & physical carcinogenesis, and viral cancer carcinogenesis), mechanisms underlying DNA and chromosome aberrations, and structural biology and technology development.

Many of the most novel and exciting advances in cancer biology derive from the synthesis of previously disparate fields of research. For such advances to be made, it is necessary for researchers with varying interests (possibly in differing fields) to initiate collaborative research interactions. Through the APRC program, DCB can provide administrative supplements to DCB grantees and new collaborators for such interactions.

AREAS OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC EMPHASIS IN FY05

Structural Biology – High resolution structural data plays a critical role in building the detailed picture of molecular interactions in the tumor environment increasing our understanding of the biology and necessary for the rational development of drug therapies for the treatment of cancer. It is increasingly common for an investigator studying a specific biological system to obtain samples suitable for high-resolution structural studies even though structure determination was not the focus of the original research. New collaborations that unite cancer researchers who have successfully isolated molecules in sufficient quantity and purity suitable for high resolution structural studies with structural biologists are of special interest to DCB. Furthermore, meritorious projects that use X-ray crystallography that are selected for funding are encouraged to utilize the new state-of-the-art GM/CA CAT synchrotron beamline at the Advanced Photon Source located at Argonne National Lab. For more information on this unique facility, go to the website at http://www.gmca.aps.anl.gov/index.html.

Integrative Cancer Biology – The integration of experimental and computational biology approaches to develop predictive computational or mathematical models of cancer processes is a rapidly emerging research area of heightened interest to DCB. For the integrative cancer biology approach to have the greatest impact on cancer research, new collaborations need to be forged between experimentalists and computational scientists. In addition, these models must be made available, accessible, and useful to the cancer research community. Therefore, DCB is interested in funding new collaborations in integrative cancer biology. In this context, the collaboration could include critical parties for the development or refinement of a computational model or new application in cancer biology. Specific examples of projects responsive to this solicitation could include collaborations to add new data sets or data types to enhance existing modeling efforts, generation of predictive mathematical models of cancer processes, validation or use of existing models, the construction of more effective user-interfaces to the models, or workshops designed to bring together experimental and computational biologists.

Tumor Microenvironment – The microenvironment in which a tumor arises plays a critical role in tumor initiation and progression, and may be an important factor in developing therapeutic approaches. The tumor microenvironment, or stroma, influences tumor growth, its ability to progress and metastasize, and thus contributes to some of the destructive characteristics of malignancy. Manipulating host-tumor interactions holds the potential of preventing or reverting malignant conversion, and re-establishing normal control mechanisms. DCB encourages interdisciplinary research teams and multi-institutional collaborations aimed at understanding the tumor microenvironment, its interaction with the tumor, identifying and characterizing its molecular signatures, developing three dimensional tissue models, and developing tissue or cell-specific targeting agents.

Mouse Models of Human Cancer – DCB supports a number of projects to develop new models of human cancer in laboratory animals. These approaches to cancer modeling generate many opportunities to use these models for discovery of determinants of cancer causation and factors that promote tumor progression and disease dissemination, and for translational applications to clinical and epidemiologic questions. New collaborations are encouraged to promote interactions of cancer modelers with researchers with other expertise, such as innovative gene discovery, pathway and network analysis, physiologic and metabolic phenotyping, imaging sciences, translational research, clinical investigations, molecular and genetic epidemiology, and other scientific disciplines that can enhance the value of cancer and pre-cancer models for understanding human cancers.

ADMINISTRATIVE MECHANISMS FOR PROMOTING RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS

Two types of activity are eligible for support under the APRC program (a combination of the two types is not acceptable).

Prior to submitting an APRC application, investigators interested in developing novel collaborations must first contact their DCB Program Director to discuss their ideas.

1. Research Consortia

One approach to supporting research collaboration is the establishment of new research consortia among investigators in complementary fields in developing or rapidly moving areas of cancer research. Typically, APRC consortia are composed of 2-5 investigators focused on achieving specific research objectives by pooling their respective expertise and efforts. APRC consortium members are expected to carry out joint research that would not be possible to conduct expeditiously, if at all, in the absence of these collaborators and this additional support.

The collaborative research project must be within the general scope of the PI’s DCB-funded grant and cannot be duplicative of any active or previously funded research topic for any of the consortium members.

Important: The collaborative research project proposed must be new, and collaborators may have had no history of prior history of collaboration (including publications) in the past 5 years. If collaboration has occurred within 5 years, these particular collaborators will be considered a collaborating unit. In this instance, another collaborator or collaborating unit is required for APRC eligibility.

· The maximum total direct costs allowed for a collaborating unit within a consortia is $40,000 per year.

· The maximum combined consortium total direct cost is $120,000 per year, regardless of the number of collaborators.

2. Exploratory meetings/workshops

Another approach to establishing collaborations is through exploratory meetings/workshops that bring together investigators from a broad range of fields to discuss and develop new insights, paradigms, reagents, or technologies that will move a field forward in a different direction, establish a new field, and/or address unique research opportunities or controversial topics. The desired goal of such activities would be the initiation of new collaborations that had not been previously considered.

· Typically, APRC exploratory meetings/workshops are composed of 5-20 participating investigators.

The PI must have at least two (2) collaborating investigators for this program and all must be involved in developing and conducting the meeting.

· The maximum total direct costs allowed for an exploratory meeting/workshop is $25,000.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Only researchers with active DCB-funded grants may submit and be the PI of an APRC application.
The PI must have an active R01, R29, R37, P01, Phased Innovation Award (combined R21/R33), Phase II SBIR (R44), or Phase II STTR (R42) grant with at least one full year remaining at the time of anticipated funding (May 1, 2005).
All members of the consortium must have active research funding support at the time of APRC funding, but it may be from other peer-reviewed sources.
Investigators may come from the same or different departments within an institution, or from different institutions.
Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to participate in this opportunity for APRC supplemental support.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS AND CRITERIA

DCB program staff will conduct the review. The number of awards and level of support will depend on the number and diversity of meritorious applications received. Please keep the following review criteria in mind when developing the application:

· The importance of the area of science and the specific questions to be asked.

· The degree to which the proposed activity adds value to the underlying funded research (parent grant) of the PI and the collaborating investigators; the relationship and relevance of the research to the parent grant.

· Soundness of experimental design.

· The novelty or uniqueness of the opportunity presented by the proposed activity.

· The novelty or uniqueness of the collaboration, and the extent to which disparate scientific disciplines are represented within the collaboration.

· The appropriateness of the scope of work proposed, given the time and budget requested.

· The potential benefit to cancer research.

· Evidence of consistent grant support for all collaborators.

General (all applications must include the following)

(1) Cover letter – Identify the eligible parent grant. Specify type of APRC application (consortia or exploratory workshop/meeting). Provide a new APRC title (must be different from that of the parent grant). The letter must be signed by the PI, collaborating investigators at the same institution as the PI, and the appropriate official from the grantee institution.

(2) PHS Form Page 1 (Face Page)

(3) PHS Form Page 2 (Abstract and Key Personnel) – Include the specific aims, objectives, and projected outcomes.

(4) Summary of Each Collaborator’s Specific Contributions – [1 page total for all collaborators combined] Specify the contribution to the research project or role in developing the exploratory meeting/workshop.

(5) PHS Biographical Sketch Format Page – Each collaborator

(6) PHS Other Support Format Page – Documentation of active research grant funding (i.e., NIH, other federal, private sources, etc.) for all collaborating investigators.

(7) PHS Form Page 4 (Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period)

Budget Specifications

a. All APRC funding will be in the form of administrative supplements to existing DCB funded research grants. Generally, a single supplement is written to the parent grant.

b. The institution may subcontract to the outside collaborators.

c. Funding is limited to the life of the PI’s current grant. At least one full year must remain on the parent grant at the time of APRC funding; two full years for two-year requests. No-cost extensions on the parent grants to accommodate a lengthier APRC supplements request will not be permitted.

d. Consortia requests should be for 12-24 months. Requests for longer periods will not be considered.

e. A detailed budget explanation and justification must be included in the application with each year’s budget clearly detailed. Include justified budgets for each collaborating unit.

f. Facilities and Administrative costs (indirect costs) are permitted at the grantee institution’s current negotiated rate. These must be clearly annotated.

g. APRC supplements are not subject to the modular grants requirements.

h. PI and collaborator’s salary support is not permitted.

(8) PHS Form Page 5 (Budget for Entire Proposed Period of Support) – Entire consortia or exploratory/meeting/workshop.

(9) Relationship to Parent Grant – [1 page maximum] Describe how the consortia research project or exploratory meeting/workshop relates to the parent grant. If responding to one of the four areas of special emphasis, describe the relevancy to the particular area.

(10) Research Plan/Meeting Plan [strictly limited to 5 typed pages; see specific sections below for research consortia and exploratory meetings/workshops] – All the information needed for the review should be contained within these pages. Appendices and supplemental material will not be accepted.

(11) Literature cited

Research Consortia (only)

· Letters of Intent to Collaborate – Provide a letter for each collaborating investigator located at an institution different from that of the PI, cosigned by the appropriate official from that institution.

· Research project plan (5 pages total):

(1) Specific aims, background, and significance (not to exceed 2 pages).

(2) Preliminary studies and experimental design (not to exceed 3 typed pages). Experimental design must be presented in adequate detail so as to allow scientific evaluation of the feasibility.

· Budgets – Synchronize budgets to the parent grant and prorated as necessary. For example, if the APRC supplement is approved for 24 months, the parent grant has a budget period starting February 1^st, and the prescribed APRC funding start date is May 1^st, then the budget must be illustrated as follows for a total of 24 months:

Current fiscal year remaining = 9 months (May 1– January 31)

Next Fiscal year = 12 months (February 1 – January 31)

Following fiscal year = 3 months (February 1 – April 30)

If there is less than 3 months remaining on the parent grant’s funding period at the time of APRC funding, APRC funding will be delayed to synchronize with the anniversary date of the parent grant. For example, if the APRC supplement is approved for 24 months, the parent grant has a budget period starting July 1^st, and the prescribed APRC funding start date is May 1^st, then the budget must be illustrated as follows:

First full fiscal year = 12 months (July 1 – June 30)

Next fiscal year = 12 months (July 1 – June 30)

All human and animal studies must receive the appropriate IRB or IACUC review and approval prior to funding authorization for the APRC supplement. Verification of this approval must be sent to your DCB Program Director. Note that since APRC-funded projects are supplemental to existing projects and within the scope of those studies, modifications to assurance approvals are usually all that are needed.

Exploratory Meetings/Workshops (only)

· Meeting/workshop plan (5 pages total):

(1) Description of the proposed activity and what will be accomplished (i.e., bringing together potential collaborators working in disparate fields of science, attempt to resolve controversial issues, etc.).

(2) Description of the scientific areas to be addressed and the potential collaborations that might be formed.

· Proposed skeletal agenda (1 page).

· A list of proposed participants and their institutional affiliations.

· Letters of collaborative support from at least two (2) investigators who are attendees of the meeting/workshop and involved in its organization.

Proposals for exploratory meetings/workshops will not be accepted from SBIR/STTR grantees.

DCB program staff will assist in the post award planning of the workshop/meeting as a part of their roles and responsibilities for programmatic oversight and management of the project.

POSTAWARD REQUIREMENTS

· Final Report

At the conclusion of the funded activity, the PI must submit to the DCB Program Director a Final Progress Report that includes a description of the activities and outcomes and an assessment of the success in meeting the stated aims and objectives.

· DCB-Sponsored APRC Workshop

All Principal Investigators funded in FY05 will be expected to attend a DCB-sponsored APRC Workshop in September 2007. Collaborators are encouraged to attend.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

There is a single FY05 receipt date for APRC applications. Applications must be received on or before February 15, 2005.

FILING ADDRESS

Applications (1 original, 6 copies) should be sent to:

ATTN: Activities to Promote Research Collaborations

Special Assistant to the Director

Division of Cancer Biology

National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS

6130 Executive Boulevard

Executive Plaza North

Room 5048

Bethesda, MD 20892-7150

INQUIRIES

Program related questions or concerns and inquires from non-DCB investigators should be directed to:

John Sogn, Ph.D.

Deputy Director

Division of Cancer Biology

National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS

Executive Plaza North, Room 5050

6130 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7380

Bethesda, MD 20892-7380

Telephone: (301) 496-8636

FAX: (301) 496-8656

E-mail: js150x@nih.gov

Grants management related questions or concerns should be directed to:

Bill Wells

Section Chief, Biology and Population Sciences Section

Grants Administration Branch

National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS

Executive Plaza South, Room 243

6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7150

Bethesda, MD 20892-7150

Telephone: (301) 496-8796

FAX: (301) 496-8601

E-mail: ww14j@nih.gov