This request for applications invites you to submit grant applications to establish International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research in countries where malaria is endemic.

The centers will support laboratory, clinical, and field studies to expand knowledge and create tools for designing and evaluating new interventions and control strategies.

How much money is NIAID committing to the program?

NIAID is committing up to $13.8 million in total costs in FY 2010 to fund seven to twelve new center grants.

How many years can I request?

You should request the amount of time you need to complete the funded activities, up to seven years.

Should I submit the application electronically?

No. All U19 applications are submitted as paper applications. However, you need an eRA Commons account to apply. See the next question.

Do I need an eRA Commons account?

Yes. The institution submitting the application (the primary institution) needs an eRA account to submit the application and, if funded, future progress reports. Also, the PI will view the summary statement (reviewers' comments) in the Commons. Get details on registering at Get Ready Now to Apply Electronically in our NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

If you need additional assistance, contact Dorothy McGowan at dmcgowan@niaid.nih.gov.

Do all field sites or participating institutions need an eRA Commons account?

No. Only the primary institution that submits the application needs an eRA Commons account.

Is this program primarily for U.S. institutions?

No. Foreign institutions are eligible to apply, and we encourage them to do so.

Is it necessary for a foreign investigator to have a U.S. collaborator?

No, but we encourage you to have one.

What are the major components for projects?

Centers have both optional and required components:

Required components

Three or more research projects in at least two of the following areas :
- Epidemiology -- required as at least one project
- Transmission
- Pathogenesis and Diagnosis
Training/Career Development Program
Special Projects
Administrative Core
Data Management/Biostatistics Core

Optional components

One or more Optional Cores, such as a Shared Resource Cores providing scientific or clinical services or both to at least two research projects.

What are special projects?

Special projects are scientific projects that investigators will start after the first two years of the grant. Research will be based on new findings, technologies, or emerging issues in malaria research.

You must include a plan for special projects in the application and set aside up to $100,000 a year starting in year three of the grant.

Do all field sites within a single application have to be in the same geographic region?

Yes. See the seven geographic regions with representative countries below.

All countries where malaria is endemic or epidemic are eligible field sites. If you are interested in a country not listed below, contact Dr. Malla Rao at mrao@niaid.nih.gov to determine eligibility.

Central and West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and countries north.
East Africa: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar.
Southern Africa: Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Southeast Asia: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and countries east.
South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and countries west.
Amazonia: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela.
Latin America other than Amazonia: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies.

Can all field sites be in the same country?

Yes, as long as the sites have different epidemiology and transmission dynamics.

Is it necessary to propose a multi-site study?

Yes. The epidemiology study should include at least three sites. Other projects may be conducted in one or more sites.

Can I submit more than one application?

No. However, you can be a Project Leader, Scientific Core Leader, or both for a project in a different application, if the projects do not overlap scientifically.

Can my institution submit more than one application?

Yes, provided each submission is scientifically distinct and from different PIs.

As the PI, are there restrictions on my time commitment?

You need to commit at least 30 percent of your annual effort on site in endemic field areas. This could be through multiple trips to the field sites spread out over the year.

Do I have to be Core Leader for the Administrative Core?

Yes, you must manage the project.

Is there a special requirement for oversight?

Yes. You must create and coordinate a Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) to review progress and provide scientific advice to the center. You will select up to five members, and the NIAID program officer may select up to four federal and non-federal experts.

Please note -- do not name SAG members in the application.

Must I propose hosting an annual workshop?

Yes. Each center must host a workshop once within the seven-year period. Put the budget for the workshop in the second year of the grant’s budget.

In the first year of the grant, you will also participate in an International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research start-up meeting organized by NIAID. Include funds to travel to that meeting in the first year’s budget.

What is the training/career development program?

Your application must include a program to train scientists from the endemic settings. Design at least two career development projects to be mentored by senior investigators from the center. Budget up to $50,000 in total direct costs (i.e., not annually) for each project. Do not include details of the projects in the application.

Is there a limit to the number of collaborations or sub-contractors I can propose?

No.

What is a letter of intent and is one required?

Although you are not required to submit a letter of intent, NIAID strongly encourages you to do so since it helps us estimate the workload for the peer review and plan accordingly.

In your letter of intent, include the following:

Descriptive title of the proposed research.
General information about the PI such as name, address, and telephone number.
Names of key personnel.
Names of participating institutions.
Number and title of the funding opportunity (International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research -- RFA-A1-09-017).

The letter of intent is due by August 28, 2009. Send it to Dr. Annie Walker-Abbey. Find detailed application and submission information in Section IV of the RFA, including instructions for submitting a letter of intent.

How and when should I submit the application?

Follow all instructions in the RFA. Send a signed typewritten original copy of the application and three signed photocopies in one package to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). At the same time, send two additional signed photocopies, including appendix materials, to Dr. Annie Walker-Abbey.

Do not send the appendix to CSR.

Applications, including appendices, are due by September 29, 2009.

How do I organize a U19 application?

In general, the U19 application is a multi-project application with many parts. Please note the following:

Part 1: Overview -- describes overall research goals, how individual projects relate to each other, and other details (see "Section IV, Part 6. Other Submission Requirements and Information: Overall Research Plan" in the RFA)

Part 2: Individual Project Descriptions -- a separate, detailed description of each proposed research project.

Project 1
Project 2
Project 3, and so on

Part 3: Core Descriptions

Administrative Core
Data Management and Statistical Core
Optional Scientific Cores

Part 4: Appendix and Supplemental Information. Examples:

Letters of Support
Resource Sharing Plans

Get more instructions and advice in our Preparing a Multiproject Grant Application.

Does NIAID provide instructions for preparing a multi-project grant application in addition to those in the RFA?

Yes. NIAID has tutorials on different grant topics. You can find Instructions for Preparing a Multiproject Research Application and additional advice at Advice for Multiproject Applications.

Where do I describe the Training, Special Projects, Scientific Advisory Group, and Annual Workshop?

Put a brief description in Part 1 in the application's overview of the application. Do not name SAG members in the application.

Since the PHS 398 form allows a budget request up to five years, what should I do if I am planning six or seven years?

Use a second Form Page 5 of the Budget Pages for years six and seven. (Use Form Page 4 for the Initial Period of Support and Form Page 5 for years two, three, four, and five.)

Where does the budget belong for the Training, Special Projects, Scientific Advisory Group, and Annual Workshop?

Put the budget for these activities in the Administrative Core.

Do I need to submit a letter of support from each participating institution and site?

Yes, as is stated in the RFA under "Section IV, Part 6. Other Submission Requirements and Information." Place these letters in the appendix; they do not count towards the Research Plan page limits.

What if my question wasn't answered here, or I'd like to suggest a question?

Email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. We answer questions by email and post them here. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

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