Responses to Frequently asked Questions regarding PAR-09-233 Network Infrastructure Support for Emerging Behavioral and Social Research Areas in Aging

FAQ1: Is there additional Guidance Regarding Key Personnel and Review Criteria for PAR-09-233 Network Infrastructure Support for Emerging Behavioral and Social Research Areas in Aging (R24)?

ANSWER: Yes, the NIA offers this additional advice regarding selection of Key Personnel and Review Criteria for PAR-09-233 Network Infrastructure Support for Emerging Behavioral and Social Research Areas in Aging (R24). Applicants are advised to select a small group of Key Personnel who will coordinate network activities, rather than provide a complete list of all potential network participants. Research infrastructure building within emerging scientific areas will often require input from and interaction with a wide range of researchers and institutions. However, to minimize conflict of interest concerns related to the review of concurrent and future NIH applications, it is recommended that the number of named Key Personnel be kept to a minimum. Key personnel to be listed should include only those whose salary costs on this grant will exceed 10,000 dollars and who will take a significant role in intellectual leadership of the network. Applicants should not list other potential network participants by name, but only indicate areas of expertise that will be included. Listing too many names will create conflicts of interest for this and future NIH initial reviews.

Review Criteria focus on the complementary expertise of the named Key Personnel, their leadership approach and the organizational structure of the project, and a presentation of a coordination plan for the network, including responsibilities of network partners and requirements of participation. These criteria refer to Key Personnel only. Letters of commitment from identified core network participants can be submitted, indicating willingness to participate in workshops, meetings, advisory committees, etc. Such agreements when they are less than $10,000 remuneration /year do not put participants in conflict with named Key Personnel on future applications. However, all named participants in an application cannot be reviewers to any applications submitted to this PAR.

FAQ2: Are networks designed to support developmental phases of research projects appropriate for this PAR?

ANSWER: No, the intent of the PAR is to develop networks of researchers across an emerging interdisciplinary field of social and behavioral aging research in order to advance the growth of that larger field through activities that cannot be supported under other grant mechanisms. The expectation is that an entire field of research will be accelerated through network activities – possibly involving training activities, workshops, data resource development, analytic model development, etc. It is not intended to support research projects in developmental stages. Please note the specific instructions under Section IV.6. of the announcement regarding components of the Research Plan, which address issues related to developing emerging fields. This can be found under the heading “Research Plan Page Limitations.”

Inquiries about this Notice and the related Program Announcement may be directed to:

For Scientific/Research issues:

Lis Nielsen, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Ave., #533
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: (301) 402-4156
Fax: (301) 402-0051
Email: nielsenli@nia.nih.gov

For Peer Review issues: