Decoding RFAs and PAs Charlotte FlippDivision of Epidemiology & Community Health (EpiCH) Anne EverettDivision of Epidemiology & Community Health (EpiCH) Kevin McKoskeySponsored Projects Administration February 17, 2009

Topics for Discussion  PA (Program Announcement)  RFA (Request for Application)

 Read the announcement  For PAs and RFAs send copies to your Grants Administrator ASAP  Read the announcement

 Identifies areas of increased priority and/or emphasis on particular funding mechanisms for a specific area of science  Usually accepted on standard receipt (postmarked) dates on an on-going basis  Remains active for three years from date of release unless the announcement indicates a specific expiration

 Method of submission (grants.gov, paper)  Executive Summary includes mechanism of support, budget/project lengths, general information  Special Types - PAR: A PA with special receipt, referral and/or review considerations, as described in the PAR announcements - PAS: A PA that includes specific set- aside funds as described in the PAS announcement

 Parent R01 Website: files/PA html  Definition of an R01 The Research Project (R01) grant is an award made to support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing the investigator’s specific interest and competencies, based on the mission of the NIH.

Characteristics  Limited to $500,000 direct cost per year. See NOT-OD , October 16, 2001, for special instructions for applications requesting $500,000 (direct costs) or more per year  Requires Detailed Budget if more than $250,000 in annual direct costs in any year. If less than $250,000 per year, must use modular budget which has a limit of $250,000 per year.  Generally awarded for 1-5 budget periods, each normally 12 months in duration

Characteristics (Continued)  Page Limits – Items 2-5 (Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies, and Research Design and Methods) components of the PHS398 Research Plan including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts must not exceed 25 pages.

 Parent R03 Website:  Definition of an R03 The NIH Investigator-Initiated Small Grant (R03) funding opportunity supports small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources. Investigator-initiated research, also known as unsolicited research, is research funded as a result of an investigator submitting a research grant application to NIH in an investigator’s area of interest and competency. The R03 grant mechanism supports different types of projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology.

Characteristics  R03 applications will use the modular budget format and “Just-In-Time” concepts, with direct costs of up to two $25,000 modules, or $50,000 per year, may be requested for up to two years (i.e., a maximum of $100,000 over two years in four modules of $25,000 each).  (Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies, and Research Design and Methods) components of the PHS398 Research Plan including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts must not exceed 10 pages, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts.

Characteristics (Continued)  Introduction (required for a resubmission application) is limited to one page.  Appendix Materials – see Parent R03 Program Announcement for specific instructions on allowable appendix materials.

 Parent R21 Website: html Definition of an R21  The Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.

Characteristics  R21 applications will use the modular budget format and “Just-In-Time” concepts, with direct costs requested in $25,000 modules, up to the total direct costs limitation of $275,000 over an R21 two-year period. No more than $200,000 in direct costs will be allowed in any single year.  Page Limits – Items 2-5 (Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies, and Research Design and Methods) components of the PHS398 Research Plan including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts must not exceed 15 pages, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts.

Characteristics (Continued)  Introduction (required for a resubmission application) is limited to one page  Preliminary data is not required but may be included if available  Appendix Materials – see Parent R21 Program Announcement for specific instructions on allowable appendix materials

 Key to provide SPA notice and copy of RFA early in the process  Identifies a more narrowly-defined area for which a sponsoring Agency has set aside funds for awarding grants  Usually has a single receipt (received on or before) date specified in the RFA announcement; NOT standard receipt dates

 May require letter of intent prior to proposal submission (does not need to go through SPA)  If paper submission – multiple submit to addresses or electronic (via grants.gov or proposal central, etc.)  Usually reviewed by a Scientific Review Group convened by the issuing awarding component

 In the Executive Summary section of the RFA under Funds Available, it will be noted if there is a direct cost dollar limitation per year and also the number of years of the application and other specific information

 Specific budgetary information imbedded in announcement (Steering Committee meetings, Data Safety Monitoring Board [DSMB] meetings, allowable cost categories). All of this is listed under the section called Other Submission Requirements and Information.

 Occasionally the RFA will limit the number of applications coming from an institution. If this is the case, please follow the instructions found at the following website: ortunities/extramural/index.cfm

 Read the announcement  For RFAs send copies to your Grants Administrator ASAP  Read the announcement

Charlotte FlippDivision of Epidemiology & Community Health (EpiCH) Anne EverettDivision of Epidemiology & Community Health (EpiCH) Kevin McKoskeySponsored Projects Administration  Any Questions?  Thank you!