NIH Developmental Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Phase II (DCRC II) (U19)

WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the NIH Developmental Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine:  Phase II (DCRC II) (U19)

WHO:  Texas A&M University faculty.  TAES, TEES and TTI personnel may wish to submit internal proposals through their own agency.

WHY:  NIH anticipates making awards averaging $700,000 dollars in direct costs per year for up to four years.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of April 16, 2007.

HOW:  TAMU faculty should submit internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.   

THE FINE PRINT:

The funding agency, NIH, has limited the number of proposals to one per institution.

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The NIH Developmental Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine:  Phase II (DCRC II) (U19) Program is designed to further development of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) research expertise and infrastructure in those institutions that received DCRC awards.  DCRC II awards will continue to support CAM research projects and strengthen collaborations between CAM and conventional institutions and investigators.  Throughout the DCRC II project period there must be three research projects active at all times.  It is encouraged, but not required, that these projects derive from research supported via the initial DCRC.

CAM is defined as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine and consists of four domains:  mind-body medicine; biologically-based practices; manipulative and body-based practices; and energy medicine.  The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) also supports studies of whole medical systems, such as Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional indigenous medical systems and homeopathy.

DCRC II applications must comprise three synergistic projects at all times.  The proposed research projects may be focused around a disease or class of diseases treated using CAM, a specific group of CAM therapies or treatment approaches or the mechanisms of action of specific CAM modalities.  Centers may also be organized around a theme, such as wellness or expectancy.  Projects of potential interest include:  basic science studies; studies of the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and drug interactions of CAM products; phase I studies, such as those to refine strategies for larger clinical trials; no more than one phase II study of modest size, provided it is adequately powered to detect a meaningful difference between groups or validate surrogate markers of disease or clinical endpoints; and health services research.

NIH anticipates making awards averaging $700,000 dollars in direct costs per year for up to four years.  Applicants may not request more than $700,000 in direct costs in any one year.  In addition, funds may not be used for general education of conventional health professional students about CAM, nor may they be used to support major conferences or colloquia. 

More information can be found here.     

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

April 13, 2007:  Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project.  Send email of intent. 

April 16, 2007: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee.  The internal proposal should include:

1. An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NIH program announcement
2. Summary budget
3. Project and Management Plans (including team members)

The form for completing the internal proposal is here.

This completed form should be submitted via emial for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program here.   

Selection of a proposal will be based on NIH guidelines.  The needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account. 

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments.  They may also request additional information from PIs.

April 27, 2007: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

July 13, 2007: Deadline for optional, but recommended, letter of intent to NIH.

August 13, 2007:  Deadline for full proposal.