[Federal Register: July 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 43204-43205]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31jy06-79]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Request for Information (RFI): Change in Grant Appendix Materials
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) are evaluating guidelines for
grant application appendixes in an effort to streamline the application
and review processes. This RFI requests input from interested
applicants, reviewers and other members of the research community
regarding the way appendix materials should be used in the grant
submission, review and management process. Comments will be considered
in the development of new policies on appendix materials for various
grant programs.
DATES: Reponses must be received by September 14, 2006 in order to
ensure that NIH and AHRQ will be able to consider the comments in
developing new policies on appendix materials for various grant
programs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E-mail inquiries will be accepted at
appendix_comments@od.nih.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The goal of changing the guidelines for grant application appendix
materials is to encourage applications to be as concise as possible
while containing the information needed for expert scientific review.
These changes should make application preparation and handling easier
for both applicants and reviewers.
Current NIH and AHRQ policy indicates that the Appendix may not be
used to circumvent the page limitations of the Research Plan. Appended
publications may not be used to provide further details of
methodologies or preliminary data described in the Research Plan. All
applications and proposals for NIH and AHRQ funding must be self-
contained. NIH application guide instructions note that the Appendix is
sent only to those members of the Scientific Review Group (SRG)
assigned as primary reviewers of the application. Currently, unless
otherwise stated in the solicitation, the following materials may be
included in a grant application Appendix:
Up to 10 publications or manuscripts accepted for
publication, using URL links to publicly accessible journal articles.
Surveys, questionnaires, data collection instruments,
clinical protocols, and informed consent documents.
Photographs or color images of gels, micrographs, etc.,
provided that a photocopy (may be reduced in size) is also included
within the 25-page limit of Items a-d of the research plan. No
photographs or color images may be included in the Appendix that are
not also represented within the Research Plan.
Investigators spend much time and energy developing applications to
Federal Agencies. It is unclear whether appendix material which may or
may not be read by members of the SRG improves current applications.
Submission of unnecessary materials with grant applications wastes the
time, energy and resources of investigators, applicant institutions,
reviewers, and the NIH and AHRQ.
Proposed Changes
The following changes are being considered for implementation
concurrent with NIH/AHRQ's transition to the electronic grant
application process and the SF-424 (R&R):
Submission of photographs or color images of gels,
micrographs, etc., will not be allowed in the Appendix. Use of the SF-
424 (R&R) electronic grant application will permit insertion into the
body of the Research Plan high resolution images of the same quality
found in scientific publications.
Materials currently submitted in the Appendix which are
essential to the review of the application will be submitted as part of
the grant application itself. For example, documents such as clinical
protocols, informed consent forms, key questionnaires, surveys, and
similar items which are needed by the SRG to adequately assess human
subjects issues will be submitted as part of the 'Protection of Human
Subjects' section of the grant application.
Reprints or preprints of publications or their PDFs will
no longer be allowed as part of the Appendix. Links (URLs) to PubMed
Central or publicly available on-line journals will be permitted in the
Biographical Sketches, Bibliography & References Cited, and the
Research Plan sections of the grant application. Critical information
and detail should be included within the Research Plan and cited in the
Bibliography & References Cited section and/or figure or table
legend(s) to indicate publication status.
Materials specifically designated in the Funding
Opportunity Announcement may be included in the Appendix, within
identified page limits. It is anticipated that most FOAs will not
permit materials to be included in the Appendix.
All members of the SRG will receive copies of the full
application including any permitted Appendix materials thereby
increasing the equity of the review.
Information Requested
Information in the following areas will assist the NIH and AHRQ in
developing new policies regarding submission of appendix materials.
Respondents will be asked to indicate what perspective(s) they
represent, i.e. reviewer and/or applicant, institutional official, etc.
1. Is there a need to reduce the material submitted in the
Appendix? If yes, please provide specific types of material that could
be eliminated.
2. Is there information essential to the application's review that
cannot be included in the body of a grant application as proposed? If
yes, please describe the material and identify applicable grant
program(s).
[[Page 43205]]
3. Is it necessary to include reprint and preprint PDFs as appendix
material? If yes, please explain.
4. Do you have concerns about discontinuing the submission of
photographs or color images in the Appendix of electronic grant
applications? If yes, please explain.
5. Will the proposed changes favor or disfavor any specific group
of investigators? If yes, please explain.
Responses
Responses must be submitted electronically at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfi_files/rfi_appendix_add.htm.
The
responses for each item should be limited to 500 words. Acknowledgement
of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be
notified of the Government's assessment of the information received. No
basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a
response to this request for information or the Government's use of
such information as either part of our evaluation process or in
developing specifications for any subsequent announcement. Individual
responses will be confidential. Any proprietary information should be
so marked.
Dated: July 24, 2006.
Norka Ruiz Bravo,
Deputy Director for Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E6-12230 Filed 7-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P