Exploratory centers for interdisciplinary research.

In addition to the biological sciences, biomedical research encompasses a large number of scientific disciplines, including the behavioral, quantitative, engineering, and computer sciences. Distinct disciplinary perspectives represent significant sources of strength to the overall research enterprise because each discipline has its own intellectual history, experimental and analytic approaches, and theoretical context that produce a unique way of thinking about a problem. Nevertheless, as scientific capabilities move forward, increasingly complex questions arise, and these often require the convergence of perspectives from multiple disciplines. Over the years, the institutes and centers (ICs) of the NIH have developed many initiatives, mechanisms, and programs to support multidisciplinary research--that is, research that brings together researchers from different disciplines to focus on a circumscribed problem.

It is becoming apparent that, in some cases, the collaborative nature of disciplines that characterizes multidisciplinary research is not sufficiently sustained to address, in a comprehensive and effective way, challenging problems in biomedical and behavioral research. Rather, interdisciplinary research, which integrates several disciplinary approaches in a more sustained and systematic fashion, may be required to tackle these more complex problems. Integrating different disciplines in this way holds the promise of opening up currently unimagined scientific avenues of inquiry, and in the process, may form whole new disciplines. Historical examples include the development of genomics, which was formed from genetics, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and informatics. Another example in which multiple disciplines have, in a less directed way, blended and evolved into a new discipline is neuroscience. Thirty years ago, students of the brain might have identified themselves as anatomists, physiologists, or psychobiologists, but today they would consider themselves neuroscientists.

Combining particular aspects of different disciplines to develop entirely new ways to approach biomedical and behavioral research problems is daunting in many ways. In recognition of the difficulty of establishing interdisciplinary research efforts, this request for applications (RFA) solicits applications for P20 planning grants that will support planning activities for groups of researchers to develop interdisciplinary strategies to solve significant biomedical and/or behavioral research problems. Activities supported will include study design and, perhaps, pilot research to demonstrate the approach to be pursued. Whatever the approach, it must integrate aspects of multiple disciplines, which will be specified by the applicants. Planning activities are intended to lay the foundation and prepare investigators for submitting a subsequent application for more substantial and longer duration support through an Interdisciplinary Research Consortium. In recognition of the need to bring several disciplines together as equal partners, this RFA allows the research team to submit separate but related applications that will be reviewed as a unit.

This RFA demonstrates the interest of the NIH in supporting interdisciplinary research efforts as new pathways of discovery, but support by the NIH is not sufficient for such research to prosper. More important is the commitment by research institutions to foster and accommodate interdisciplinary research. Therefore, applicant organizations must describe their plans to facilitate interdisciplinary research as it relates to the P20 planning grant. Among the issues that should be addressed are 1) how the institution will distribute credit for direct (and indirect) costs to reflect the contributions of different components, 2) how the institution will recognize the contributions of the research team beyond the principal investigator, and 3) how the institution attends to the careers of "interstitial" team members, who play important roles in interdisciplinary research but are not tenure-track or eligible/appropriate to be principal investigators on research grants. Applicant institutions are encouraged to describe how interdisciplinary research will be facilitated beyond these three issues. This description of institutional commitment should be included as a letter from an appropriate representative of the applicant institution. It is likely that the appropriate institutional representative will have authority beyond a single department.

This RFA will use the NIH P20 award mechanism. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. The anticipated award date is September 2004. This RFA uses just-in-time concepts. This program does not require cost sharing as defined in the current NIH Grants Policy Statement at http://grants.nih.gov/ grants/policy/nihgps_2001/part_i_1.htm.

The participating ICs intend to commit approximately $9 million in fiscal year 2004 to fund roughly 15 new planning grants in response to this RFA. An applicant must request a project period of three years and a budget for direct costs of up to $400,000 per year. The facilities and administrative costs for any subcontracts will not count toward this $400,000 cap. For linked applications, the total direct costs for all of the grants is limited to $400,000; that is, the $400,000 maximum budget will need to be distributed across the multiple, linked applications.

The deadline for receipt of letters of intent is 30 January 2004, with 24 February 2004 the deadline for receipt of applications. Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). Applications must have a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for federal grants or cooperative agreements. The DUNS number can be obtained by calling 1-866-705-5711 or through the website at http://www.dunandbradstreet.com/. The DUNS number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 form. The PHS 398 document is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/ phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. Complete information on this RFA is located at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/ guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-04-002.html.

Contact: Greg Farber, Division of Biomedical Technology, National Center for Research Resources, 6701 Democracy Blvd, Rm 960, Bethesda, MD 20892-4874 USA, 301-435-0778, fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]; or Michael F. Huerta, Scientific Technology and Research, National Institute of Mental Health, 6001 Executive Blvd, Rm 7202, Bethesda, MD 20892-9645 USA, 301-443-3563, fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Reference: RFA No. RFA-RR-04-002