National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recipe for an RFA (Request for Applications) Danielle J. Carlin, PhD, DABT Program Administrator NIEHS Superfund Research Program

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services General RFA Process How ideas for RFAs come about: –Interaction w/ Scientific Community (Meetings, Workshops, Conferences, Publications) –Interaction w/ other Program Administrators and Institute Staff (e.g. Working Groups) –Input from Congress or Advisory Council Sometimes a workshops/conference is conducted to gather more information

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services General RFA Process Program Administrator (PA) develops draft concept –Includes preliminary budget estimates, timeline, RFA vs PA –Selects appropriate grant mechanism (P42, R01, R21, R33, U01, etc.) –Initial draft concept presented at initiative planning meeting w/ Institute’s (IC) Division Director, Deputy Director, Division Program Staff, Grants Management, Scientific Review Officers –PA addresses comments from IC staff and Director –IC Division Director approves initial draft concept

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services General RFA Process Concept presented by Program Administrator at National Advisory Council Council Concept Clearance Institute Director indicates support for concept

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services General RFA Process Assign RFA or PA Number and finalize dates of LOIs, receipt for applications, and approximate review dates Develop RFA draft on NIH templates Send RFA draft to Divisional Branch Chiefs, Grants Management, and Review Staff; PA addresses comments Draft goes to other NIH Institutes/Offices for comments; PA addresses comments Final Step: RFA is published in NIH Guide

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Questions/Comments THANK YOU!!