National pediatric research consortia

Subpart 7 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

452H.

National pediatric research consortia

(a)

In general

The Director of NIH, acting through the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and in collaboration with all other Institutes of the National Institutes of Health that support pediatric research, may, subject to the availability of funds, award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public or nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, and providing basic operating support for up to 20 national pediatric research consortia. The Director of NIH shall take unmet research needs into account when making awards under this section. (b)

Research

Research conducted under this section shall supplement, but not replace, research that is otherwise conducted or supported as part of the comprehensive pediatric research portfolio of entities receiving awards under subsection (a). Consortia established under subsection (a) shall, in the aggregate, conduct basic, clinical, behavioral, social, or translational research to meet unmet research needs, as well as training in and demonstration of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods relating to pediatrics, as appropriate. (c)

Coordination of consortia reports

The Director of NIH shall— (1)as appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among consortia established under subsection (a) and ensure regular communication between such consortia; and (2)require the periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the consortia and the submission of the reports to the Director. (d)

Organization of consortium

Each consortium established under subsection (a) shall be formed from a collaboration of cooperating institutions with a lead institution, meeting such requirements as may be prescribed by the Director of NIH, including participation in a network of such consortia. (e)

Limitation

Payments under subsection (a) shall not exceed $2,500,000 per year for each consortium in the first 5-year cycle. (f)

Duration of payments

Payments under subsection (a) for a consortium may be provided under this section for a period of 5 years and may be extended for additional periods of 5 years each, with enhanced funding opportunities based on a review of the operations by an appropriate scientific review.