NIH Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Centers (U19)

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

WHY: NIH made awards for previous AADCRC winners averaging between $650,000 and $1,200,000 in direct costs per year for a maximum of five years.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of February 12, 2007.

HOW: TAMU faculty should submit internal proposal to osppc@tamu.edu 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 Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Centers (U19) Program is designed to support basic and clinical research on the immunological basis, pathobiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of asthma and allergic diseases and to accelerate the application of fundamental knowledge of immune function to the investigation, prevention and treatment of asthma and allergic diseases.

Applications must be structured around a central scientific theme that is clearly relevant to the immune mechanisms of, and intervention strategies for, asthma and/or allergic diseases. A minimum of two research projects is required per application, with at least one project involving a clinical study of individuals with clinically defined asthma and/or allergic diseases or a study involving human specimens from such individuals. Further, clinical research projects must meet the NIH definition of clinical research.

Examples of relevant research include, but are not limited to, the following areas: innate immune system function in the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of asthma and allergic diseases; infections and immune responses to infections relevant to the development and exacerbations of asthma and allergic diseases; B- and T-cell function in asthma and allergic diseases, including the innate-adaptive immune system interface, regulation of responses, and modulation by immune based approaches; translational research, from animal models or in vitro human tissues to humans, particularly focused on new immune-based therapies and vaccines for asthma and allergic diseases; and environmental pollutants and allergens as risk factors in conjunction with genetic background for the development of asthma and allergic diseases.

Conversely, NIH will not support: research focusing on autoimmunity/autoimmune diseases; research focusing on primary immune deficiency diseases; demonstration and education research projects; or phase III clinical trials in asthma and/or allergic diseases.

In addition, all applications must include: a research plan for clinical research projects; an administrative core; and documentation of commitment to the collaborative group.

NIH made awards for previous AADCRC winners averaging between $650,000 and $1,200,000 in direct costs per year for a maximum of five years.

More information can be found at:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-07-002.html

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

February 9, 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 to osppc@tamu.edu

February 12, 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:

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

The form for completing the internal proposal is here.

This completed form should be submitted electronically to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-07-002.html

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.

February 23, 2007: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

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

May 14, 2007: Deadline for full proposal.