CASE.EDU:    HOME | DIRECTORIES | SEARCH
case western reserve university

RESEARCH
 
  Research Newsletter
Research Weekly Archive
Case Research Weekly  
October 5, 2007  
Sponsored Projects News and Updates
NIH Funding For Non-Competing Continuations
The National Institutes of Health on Friday published a notice detailing how non-competing grants will be treated under the current continuing resolution. Congress has yet to clear any of the fiscal year 2008 appropriation bills and agencies have been working under a continuing resolution (CR) since the start of the fiscal year on October 1. The current continuing resolution is set to expire on November 16th. As it did in FY 2006 and 2007, NIH announced it will fund most non-competing awards at 80 percent of previously committed levels while it operates under the CR. When NIH receives its appropriation for fiscal year 2008, these awards will be adjusted.

For more information, please go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-001.html.

 
Compliance News
Reminder of NIH Policy for Enhancing the Science, Safety, and Ethics of Recombinant DNA Research
NIH recently published a notice reminding the grantee community of the principles and requirements of the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines). Recombinant DNA is a critically important tool used widely in many lines of biological research. While it has been in use for over 30 years, it continues to raise many important scientific, ethical, and safety considerations. These considerations are of special concern when recombinant DNA research involves highly pathogenic organisms or the participation of human research subjects, where potential risks to individuals and the environment are greater.

The NIH Guidelines were developed to help the scientific community manage these risks responsibly. They stipulate biosafety and containment measures for recombinant DNA research that serve to protect laboratory workers, our communities, and the environment. Furthermore, they outline essential ethical principles and key safety reporting requirements for human gene transfer research.

Investigators and institutions are reminded that they must adhere to the NIH Guidelines when they perform research involving recombinant DNA molecules that is conducted at, or sponsored by, an entity receiving any NIH support for recombinant DNA research. Therefore, even privately funded projects employing recombinant DNA must adhere to the NIH Guidelines if they are being carried out at, or funded by, an organization that has any NIH contracts, grants, or other support for this kind of research. A fully indexed and easily navigated version of the NIH Guidelines can be accessed at: http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/rac/guidelines/guidelines.html.

To access the recent NIH notice on this subject, please go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-096.html.

 
Sponsored Projects News and Updates
Use of Current PHS 398, 2590 and Related Forms (OMB No. 0925-0001)
Please note that per a recent notice from NIH the Research and Research Training Grant Applications and Related Forms (PHS-398,PHS-2590,PHS-2271, PHS-3734, and HHS-568), OMB No. 0925-0001/ Exp. 9/2007, currently in use remain authorized until further notice in accordance with OMB regulations [5 CFR 1320.10.(e)(2)]. The revised versions have been submitted to OMB for review and approval. Once OMB approval is received, the new forms will become available for use and will be accessible on the NIH web site. There will be a transition period when both the new or old forms will be accepted. Further guidance will be provided at that time.

Questions concerning the revision of the 398, 2590 and Related Forms may be directed to:

Division of Grants Policy
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
Office of Extramural Research
National Institutes of Health
(301) 435-0949
E-mail: GrantsPolicy@od.nih.gov.

To access the recent notice on this subject, please go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-097.html.

 
NSF Revises Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide
NSF has published a revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 08-1, http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp, which will be effective for proposals received on or after January 5, 2008. It should be noted that revisions were made only to the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG); all other parts of the PAPPG, such as the Award & Administration Guide, remain unchanged.

The significant changes made to the GPG include:
  • Revision of the intellectual merit review criterion to specifically include language on potentially transformative research;
  • Updated guidance on the designated fonts that may be used when preparing an NSF proposal; and
  • Requirement that organizations must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) prior to submitting a proposal to NSF.
While the changes identified above are effective for proposals submitted on or after January 5, 2008, proposers are strongly encouraged to begin complying with the guidance as soon as possible.

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact the Policy Office on (703) 292-8243 or by e-mail to policy@nsf.gov.

 
NSF Cost Sharing Requirement for Major Research Instrumentation Program
NSF has just posted a Dear Colleague Letter regarding the newly imposed statutory cost sharing requirement for the Major Research Instrumentation Program. The document is available electronically at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07251/nsf07251.jsp.

You may find this Dear Colleague Letter of interest as it may assist you as you consider submitting an application for this program.

 
Compliance News
2nd Annual GCP Conference
BUILDING ON THE BASICS:
EQUIPPING RESEARCH PROFESSIONALS FOR SUCCESS

Friday, November 9, 2007
Doubletree Hotel Cleveland South
Independence, OH

TARGET AUDIENCE
Principal Investigators, Research Administrators, Research Coordinators, Monitors, IRB Members, Ethicists, Data Management, and other members of the Pharmaceutical and Bioscience Industries

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
To equip research professionals with the knowledge and tools to conduct research at the highest level of integrity

KEYNOTE ADDRESS
"Clinical Research Ethics and Real-World Challenges"
Eric Kodish, MD, F. J. O'Neill Professor and Chairman of the Department of Bioethics at the Cleveland Clinic, Executive Director of the Cleveland Fellowship in Advanced Bioethics, and Professor of Pediatrics at the Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.

To register, please go to: http://www.m3clinical.com/article/article.aspx.

 
Sponsored Projects News and Updates
Case Sigma Xi Science Cafe and Annual Lecture
This is a reminder about October's Science Café Cleveland, which will take place on Monday, October 8th at Great Lakes Brewing Company; drinks will begin at 6:00 pm and the discussion will start closer to 6:30 pm.

This month’s topic is "Flies gone wild: A review of weird bug behavior in Cleveland" and our featured guest is Dr. Joe Keiper of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

You can get more details (and downloadable posters) of this and other science cafés at the following web site: http://www.case.edu/affil/sigmaxi/.

The Sigma Xi Annual Lecture will take place on Thursday, November 8, 2007 from 4:30 - 5:30 PM in DeGrace Hall, Room 312. The speaker will be Dr. Clark Larsen of The Ohio State University's Department of Anthropology. The title of the lecture is "Skeletons in Our Closet: Revealing Past Through Bioarchaeology".

Please forward this information to others who may be interested in attending either of these events.

 

Please note: At the time of this transmission, all links functioned. However, Case Research Weekly cannot guarantee that the information will not be moved or deleted.