Office for Research Affairs (ORA) Newsletter

Week ending 08/09/02

Section 1 – What’s New

Section 2 – New Funding Opportunities
Section 3– Conferences 

Section 4 – Reminders 

Section 5 – Closing Information and Unsubscribe Instructions

WHAT’S NEW

1. Indirect Cost (IDC) Return Distribution

DSR has distributed a new version of the DSR-1 that does not require the declaration of desired IDC distribution. Instead, a separate, on-line form (DSR-2) is now being requested when the NOA is issued. This new process does not require the Principal Investigators/Grant Administrators to submit IDC distribution right away, but before the end of the fiscal year.

This new system causes several problems for the College of Medicine, Office of Research Affairs:

(1) It causes a duplication of effort- Once the system is accessed and distrubution is made, a new signature page is created. PI's/Grant Administrators will have to obtain another set of signatures. This is an inefficient use of time and effort.

(2) Internal agreements within COM that have already been established prior to this new electronic system - The new system does not allow for a good monitoring of COM policies and Inter-College Grant Agreements that may be established at the proposal stage.

These are a just a few examples among several. With all concerns in consideration, ORA is requesting that IDC Distribution be provided, along with the appropriate signatures at the proposal stage.

ORA has created a College of Medicine (COM) IDC Return Distribution form. This form should be completed and attached to the DSR-1. Click here to access the COM IDC Return Distribution form. In the coming weeks we will also make a PDF version of this form available for easier use.

If you have any questions or having problems with accessing this form, please contact Aundrea Corbit at 392-5398. (Posted 08/09/02)

2. Laboratory Animal Welfare: Change in PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

The NIH now announces that beginning with applications submitted for the October 1, 2002, receipt date (and any other receipt dates that result in applications being reviewed for May/June 2003 Councils), IACUC "just-in-time" will be in effect. That is, institutions will be permitted flexibility in the timing of IACUC review relative to submission of an application.

The NIH wants to emphasize certain principles and expectations of the "just-in-time" process for IACUC review and approval.

o The fundamental PHS Policy requirement that no award may be made without an approved Assurance and without verification of IACUC approval remains in effect. This change only affects the timing of the submission of the verification of that review.

o This change is intended to permit flexibility and discretion on the part of the institution. It is not a requirement that IACUC approval be deferred. Institutional officials retain the discretion to require IACUC approval prior to peer review in certain circumstances of their choosing if they so desire.

o Under no circumstances may an IACUC be pressured to approve a protocol, or be overruled on its decision to withhold approval. NIH peer review groups will continue to address the adequacy of animal usage and protections in their review of an application, and will continue to raise concerns about animal welfare issues. However, in no
way is peer review intended to supersede or serve as a replacement for IACUC approval. An institution that elects to use IACUC "just-in-time" bears the responsibility for supporting the role of the IACUC.

o It remains incumbent upon investigators to be totally forthcoming and timely in conveying to their IACUCs any modifications related to project scope and animal usage that may result from the NIH review and award process. Should an institution find that one of its investigators disregards his/her responsibilities, the institution may,
for example, determine that all animal protocols from that investigator be subject to IACUC approval before it will permit submission of an application from that investigator.

o The existing PHS Policy requirement that modifications required by the IACUC be submitted to the NIH with the verification of IACUC approval remains in effect, and it remains the responsibility of institutions to communicate any IACUC-imposed changes to NIH staff.

o The NIH understands its responsibility to ensure that institutions are given adequate notice to allow for timely IACUC review prior to award, and will take appropriate internal measures to fulfill its responsibility to establish timely feedback.

For more information, see notice NOT-OD-02-064 (Posted 08/09/02)
   

3. Administrative Supplements to MBRS/SCORE Research Grants (S06)

Funds are available for administrative supplements to existing SCORE grants for the support of minority postdoctoral fellows and faculty at minority serving institutions. For more detail regarding this announcement, see
NOT-GM-03-001.
(Posted 08/09/02)

 
4. The University of Florida seeks nominee for the Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical Sciences

The University of Florida has again been invited to nominate one candidate for the 2003 Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. This program is intended to support young investigators of outstanding promise in basic and clinical sciences relevant to the advancement of human health. Scholars will receive $60,000 per year for four years. Pew anticipates about 120 applicants for the 20 available 2003 awards.

Applications will not be accepted from individuals who hold awards for funding for years 2003-2005 from such grantors as Beckman, Culpeper, Packard, Merck, Searle, HHMI, Burroughs Wellcome, KECK, Klingenstein, and McKnight.

Nominations of candidates for consideration as the Univerisity of Florida's nominee to this program should be submitted to the Office of the Vice President for Research, no later than September 16, 2002 [Attn: Carole Oglesby, POB 115500, 256 Grinter Hall, or Email to caroleo@ufl.edu]. Internal nominations should consist of the candidate's (1) name, contact information and specific dates of faculty appointments; (2) CV; (3) brief statement of proposed research (1-2 pages); (4) statement on his or her most significant research contribution to date (1 page); and (5) endorsement (signature) of the department chair.

More information on the Pew Scholars Program, including a list of recent awardees and application guidelines, can be found at: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/biomed/qualifications.html. (Posted 08/09/02)

NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida - "Grants". Applications are due to agency by September 3, 2002. Click here for Grant applications and Guidelines. (Posted 08/09/02)

2. The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, ACGT- "2002-2003 Young Investigator Award". Electronic Applications are due to agency by September 12, 2002. (Posted 08/09/02) Click here to access the ACGT Electronic Grant Application.|

3. The American Lung Association of Florida - "2003-2004 Research Training Fellowship Awards", "2003-2004 Career Investigator Grant Awards", and "2003-2004 Behavioral Research, Social Science, or Environmental Studies grants". All research applications must be submitted online and will be peer reviewed by the American Lung Association
(ALA), ALAF's National Office. Electronic Applications are due to agency by October 1, 2002.

4. The American Lung Association of Florida - "2003-2004 Seed Grant Awards", and "2003-2004 Young Investigator Grant Awards". All research applications must be submitted online and will be peer reviewed by the American Lung Association (ALA), ALAF's National Office. Electronic Applications are due to agency by November 1, 2002.

For additional funding opportunities: Research and Graduate Programs FYI http://rgp.ufl.edu/fyi/

New Funding Opportunities are posted at http://www.med.ufl.edu/research/fundopps.html.

New NIH notices, requests for applications and program announcements can be found at NIH Notice

 

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOP

1. The Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) announces the "2002 Annual PRIM&R/ARENA IRB Conference". The conference will held November 16-19, 2002 in San Diego, California. (Posted 08/09/02)  

Click here for Online Registration. Please contact PRIM&R at 617-423-4112 if you experience any difficulty with the registration process.

2. The Association of American Medical Colleges announces the "Minority Faculty Career Development Seminar", jointly sponsored by Harvard Medical School, Department of Continuing Education. The seminar will be helpd on September 28 -October 1, 2002 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland.

For information on Registration Fees and Procedures, Click Here.

 
   

REMINDERS!(For Internal Competitions only) 

1. Pfizer is requesting applications for the 2002 Pfizer Visiting Professorship Program in Pediatrics. Applications are due to ORA by 08/09/02 for an Internal Competition. (Posted 08/09/02)

2. The American Society of Hematology is requesting applications for the 2002 Ash Scholar Awards. Applications are due to ORA by 08/09/02 for an Internal Competition. (Posted 08/09/02)

3. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is requesting applications for the Generalist Physician Faculty Scholars Program. Apllications are due to ORA by 08/16/02 for an Internal Competition. (Posted 08/09/02)


 

CLOSING INFORMATION

Please send any comments or suggestions about this newsletter to Aundrea Corbit “SUGGESTIONS”. 

If you do not want to receive any more issues, please reply to Aundrea Corbit with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line or body of the email.