[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 90 (Thursday, May 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31344-31348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11554]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement No. 02152]


Dissertation Awards for Minority Doctoral Candidates for 
Violence-Related Injury Prevention Research; Notice of Availability of 
Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds for an extramural grant 
program for Dissertation Awards to Minority Doctoral Candidates for 
Violence-Related injury prevention research. This program addresses the 
``Healthly People 2010'' focus areas of injury and violence prevention. 
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or 
more of the following performance goals for The National Center for 
Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC):
    1. Reduce the risk of youth violence.
    2. Reduce violence against women.
    3. Enhance the capacity of states to implement effective rape 
prevention and education programs.
    4. Increase external input on the research priorities, policies, 
and procedures related to the extramural research supported by CDC.
    The purposes of this program are to:
    1. Stimulate and encourage minority doctoral candidates from a 
variety of academic disciplines and programs, including, but not 
limited to public health, health care, criminal justice, and behavioral 
and social sciences, to conduct violence-related injury prevention 
research.
    2. Assist minority students in the completion of their dissertation 
research on a violence-related topic.
    3. Encourage minority investigators to build research careers 
related to the prevention of violence-related injuries, disabilities, 
and deaths.
    A dissertation represents the most extensive research experience 
formulated and carried out by a doctoral candidate, with the advice and 
guidance of a mentor (the chair of the dissertation committee or other 
academic advisor). Dissertation research involves a major investment of 
the doctoral student's time, energy, and interest and its substance is 
often the basis for launching a research career. The number of 
individuals who are members of minority groups and who are engaged in 
violence-related injury prevention research is currently small. There 
is a clear need to develop new ways to assist and encourage minority 
researchers to become active in the conduct of studies that can advance 
the rapidly growing knowledge base in this field. This research 
initiative is aimed at providing minority students with assistance to 
complete their dissertation research on a violence-related topic and 
thereby increase their representation in violence-related injury 
research.
    Deaths and injuries associated with interpersonal violence and 
suicidal behavior are a major public health problem in the United 
States and around the world. In 1999, over 46,000 people died from 
homicide and suicide in the United States. Among 15 to 24 year olds, 
homicide ranked as the second and the third leading causes of death. 
Violent deaths are the most visible consequence of violent behavior in 
our society. Morbidity associated with physical and emotional injuries 
and disabilities resulting from violence, however, also constitute an 
enormous public health problem. For every homicide that occurs each 
year there are over 100 non-fatal injuries resulting from interpersonal 
violence. For every completed suicide it is estimated that there are 20 
to 25 suicide attempts. The mortality and morbidity associated with 
violence are associated with a variety of types of violence including 
child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner violence, sexual 
violence, elder abuse, and self-directed violence or suicidal behavior. 
Violence has a disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minorities. 
In 1999, homicide was the leading cause of death for African Americans 
and the second leading cause of death for Hispanics between the ages of 
15 and 34. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for American 
Indians and Alaskan Natives and Asian and Pacific islanders 15 to 34 
years of age. It is important to note that existing research indicates 
that race or ethnicity, per se, is not a risk factor for violent 
victimization or a cause of violent behavior. Rather, racial or ethnic 
status is associated with many other factors, such as poverty, that do 
influence the risk of becoming a victim or behaving violently. 
Nevertheless, racial and ethnic minorities in the United States are at 
high risk for both violent victimization and perpetration. A better 
understanding of the factors that contribute to this vulnerability or 
protection from such risk is important to furthering effective violence 
prevention programs that address racial and ethnic minorities.
    There is a critical need for highly qualified scientists to carry 
out research on violence that can help in the development, 
implementation, and evaluation of effective violence prevention 
programs. In particular, scientists are needed that bring an 
understanding and sensitivity to the problems of violence as they 
affect minority communities. The primary purpose of this extramural 
research grant program is to attract young minority scientists to the 
field of violence by encouraging doctoral candidates from a variety of 
disciplines to conduct violence prevention research and hopefully carry 
this focus on throughout their careers.

B. Eligibility

Eligible Institutions

    Eligible institutions include any United States public or private 
institution such as a university or college that supports an accredited 
doctoral level training program. The performance site must be domestic.


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    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that 
an organization described in Section 501(C)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to 
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan.

Eligible Applicants

    Applicants must be minority students in good standing enrolled in 
an accredited doctoral degree program. Applicants must have also 
successfully defended their dissertation proposal to be eligible for 
this funding. For the purpose of this program announcement, minorities 
are defined as individuals belonging to a particular ethnic or racial 
group (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau) that has been determined 
by the applicant institution to be under-represented in biomedical or 
behavioral research. Applicants must be conducting or intending to 
conduct research in one of the areas described under the Research 
Objectives section. The applicant must have obtained approval of the 
dissertation proposal by the dissertation committee by the time of 
application. The applicant's eligibility must be verified in a letter 
of certification from the mentor (the chair of the dissertation 
committee or other academic advisor) and submitted with the grant 
application.
    The following are applicant requirements:
    1. The principal investigator must be a full-time doctoral student 
in an accredited doctoral program. The principal investigator must have 
the authority and responsibility to carry out the proposed project.
    2. The application must propose dissertation research that will 
help expand and advance our understanding of violence, its causes, and 
prevention strategies.
    3. The applicant must have the ability to carry out an injury 
prevention research project with the advice of and consultation of a 
senior research mentor.
    4. The overall match between the applicant's proposed topic and 
research objectives, and the research objectives described under the 
Program Requirements.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $100,000 is expected to be available in FY 2002 for 
up to five dissertation awards for minority doctoral candidates. The 
availability of Federal funding may vary and is subject to change. It 
is expected that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 2002, 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a one-year project 
period. Applications that exceed the funding caps noted above will be 
excluded from the competition and returned to the applicant.
    Grants to support dissertation research will provide no more than 
$20,000 in direct and indirect costs. An application that exceeds this 
limit will be returned to the applicant without review. Grants will be 
awarded for twelve months, but may be extended without additional funds 
for up to a total of 24 months. Grant funds will not be made available 
to support the provision of direct patient care including medical and/
or psychiatric care.
    Allowable costs include direct research project expenses, such as 
interviewer expenses, data processing, participant incentives, 
statistical consultant services, supplies, and dissertation printing 
costs; and travel to one scientific meeting, if adequately justified. 
Applicants should include travel costs for one two-day trip to CDC in 
Atlanta to present research findings. No tuition support is allowed.

D. Program Requirements

Research Objectives

    For the purpose of this program announcement the highest priority 
will be given to dissertation research that addresses the following 
areas of inquiry:
    a. Identifying shared and unique risk and protective factors for 
the perpetration of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child 
maltreatment, youth violence, or suicidal behaviors, and examining the 
relationships among these forms of violence.
    b. Evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions, 
programs, and policies to prevent intimate partner violence, sexual 
violence (includes both sexual violence against adults and child sexual 
abuse), child maltreatment, youth violence, or suicidal behavior.
    c. Evaluating strategies for disseminating and implementing 
evidence-based interventions or policies for the prevention of intimate 
partner violence, sexual violence, child maltreatment, youth violence, 
or suicidal behavior.

Other Special Conditions for Dissertation Research Grants

    a. The doctoral candidate must be the designated principal 
investigator. The principal investigator will be responsible for 
planning, directing, and executing the proposed project with the advice 
and consultation of the mentor and dissertation committee.
    b. The responsible program official for CDC must be informed if 
there is a change of mentor. A biographical sketch of the new mentor 
must be provided for approval by the CDC program official.
    c. A dissertation research grant may not be transferred to another 
institution, except under unusual and compelling circumstances (such as 
if the mentor moves to a new institution and both the mentor and the 
applicant wish to move together).
    d. Two copies of the dissertation, including abstract, must be 
submitted to the CDC program official and will constitute the final 
report of the grant. The dissertation must be officially accepted by 
the dissertation committee or university official responsible for the 
candidate's dissertation and must be signed by the responsible 
university official.
    e. Any publications directly resulting from the grant should be 
reported to the CDC program official. The grantee also should cite 
receiving support from the NCIPC and CDC, both in the dissertation and 
any publications directly resulting from the dissertation grant.

E. Content

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A LOI is optional for this program. The narrative should be no more 
than two double-spaced pages, printed on one side, with one-inch 
margins, and unreduced font. The letter should identify the 
announcement number, the name of the principal investigator, and 
briefly describe the scope and intent of the proposed research work. 
The letter of intent does not influence review or funding decisions, 
but the number of letters received will enable CDC to plan the review 
more effectively and efficiently.

Application

    Use the information in the Program Requirements and Evaluation 
Criteria sections described below to develop the application content. 
Your application will be evaluated on the criteria listed, so it is 
important to follow them in laying out your program plan.
    Application forms must be submitted in the following order:

Cover letter
Table of Contents
Application
Budget Information Form
Budget Justification
Checklist
Assurances
Certifications
Disclosure Forms
HIV Assurance Form (If Applicable)
Human Subjects Certification
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
Narrative


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    Applications should follow the PHS-398 (Rev. 5/2001) application 
and Errata sheet and should include the following information:
    1. The project's focus that justifies the research needs and 
describes the scientific basis for the research, the expected outcome, 
and the relevance of the findings to reduce injury morbidity, 
mortality, and economic losses.
    2. Specific, and time-framed objectives.
    3. A detailed plan describing the methods by which the objectives 
will be achieved, including their sequence.
    4. A description of the principal investigator's role and 
responsibilities, along with that of the mentor.
    5. A description of all project staff regardless of their funding 
source. It should include their title, qualifications, experience, 
percentage of time each will devote to the project, as well as that 
portion of their salary to be paid by the grant.
    6. A description of those activities related to, but not supported 
by the grant.
    7. A description of the involvement of other entities that will 
relate to the proposed project, if applicable. Letters of collaboration 
and a clear statement of their roles are required from all 
collaborating organizations.
    8. A detailed budget for the grant.
    9. An explanation of how the research findings will contribute to 
the national effort to reduce the morbidity, mortality and disability 
caused by violence-related injuries.
    The narrative portion of the application that describes the 
Research Plan for the dissertation may not exceed fifteen pages.

Additional Materials Required

    The applicant must also submit the following materials, attached to 
the application as appendices:
    1. A letter from the applicant's mentor which: (a) Fully identifies 
the members of the dissertation committee and certifies their approval 
of the dissertation proposal. (b) Certifies that the mentor has read 
the application and believes that it reflects the work to be completed 
in the dissertation. (c) Certifies that the institution's facilities 
and general environment are adequate to conduct the proposed research.
    2. A tentative time line for completion of the research, the 
dissertation, and the dissertation defense.
    3. An official transcript of the applicant's graduate school record 
showing that the applicant has completed all required coursework for 
the degree with the exception of the dissertation.
    4. A statement of the applicant's career goals and intended career 
trajectory.
    5. A biography of the mentor, limited to two pages (use the 
Biographical Sketch page in application form PHS 398).

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    On or before June 1, 2002, submit the LOI to the Grants Management 
Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' 
section of this announcement.

Application

    Submit the original and five copies of PHS 398 (OMB Number 0925-
0001) (adhere to the instructions on the Errata Instruction sheet for 
PHS 398). Forms are in the application kit and at the following 
Internet address: www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    On or before 5 pm Eastern Time on June 14, 2002, submit the 
application to the Technical Information Management Section: 2920 
Brandywine Road, Suite, 3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.

Deadline

    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are received before 5 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. Applicants 
sending applications by the United States Postal Service or commercial 
delivery services must ensure that the carrier will be able to 
guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date and time. If 
an application is received after closing due to (1) carrier error, when 
the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the 
closing date and time, or (2) significant weather delays or natural 
disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the 
application as having been received by the deadline.
    Applications that do not meet the above criteria will not be 
eligible for competition and will be discarded. Applicants will be 
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by CDC staff for 
completeness, responsiveness and eligibility as outlined under the 
Eligible Applicants Section. Incomplete applications, that are not 
responsive, or applications from applicants that are not eligible will 
be returned to the applicant without further consideration. It is 
especially important that the applicant's abstract reflects the 
project's focus, because the abstract will be used to help determine 
the responsiveness of the application.
    Applications which are complete and responsive may be subjected to 
a preliminary evaluation (triage) by a peer review committee, the 
Injury Research Grant Review Committee (IRGRC) to determine if the 
application is of sufficient technical and scientific merit to warrant 
further review by the IRGRC; CDC will withdraw from further 
consideration applications judged to be noncompetitive and promptly 
notify the principal investigator and the official signing for the 
applicant organization. Those applications judged to be competitive 
will be initially reviewed by the IRGRC and the secondary review will 
be conducted by the Science and Program Review Subcommittee (SPRS) of 
the Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control (ACIPC).
    Awards will be determined by the Director of the NCIPC based on 
priority scores assigned to applications by the primary review 
committee (IRGRC), recommendations by the secondary review committee, 
e.g., the ACIPC, consultation with NCIPC senior staff, and the 
availability of funds.
    1. The primary review will be a peer review conducted by the IRGRC. 
A committee of no less than three reviewers will review all 
applications for scientific merit with appropriate expertise using 
current National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria to evaluate the 
methods and scientific quality of the application. Factors to be 
considered will include:
    a. Significance: Does this study address an important problem?
    b. Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and 
analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the 
aims of the project?
    c. Innovation: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches 
or methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project 
challenge or advance existing paradigms, or develop new methodologies 
or technologies?
    d. Investigator: Is the principal investigator appropriately 
trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the proposed work 
appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator? Is 
the name and role of a scientific mentor described?
    e. Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work 
will be done contribute to the probability of success? Is there 
evidence of agreements to collaborate or other institutional support?
    f. Ethical Issues: What provisions have been made for the 
protection of

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human subjects and the safety of the research environments? Where 
relevant, how does the applicant plan to handle issues of 
confidentiality and compliance with mandated reporting requirements, 
e.g., suspected child abuse? Does the application adequately address 
the requirements of 45 CFR part 46 for the protection of human 
subjects? (An application can be disapproved if the research risks are 
sufficiently serious and protection against risks is so inadequate as 
to make the entire application unacceptable.) The degree to which the 
applicant has met the CDC Policy requirements regarding the inclusion 
of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the proposed research. This 
includes:
    (1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial 
and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
    (2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or 
absent.
    (3) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate 
to measure differences when warranted.
    (4) A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and 
outreach for study participants include the process of establishing 
partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
    g. Study Samples: Are the samples rigorously defined to permit 
complete independent replication at another site? Have the referral 
sources been described, including the definitions and criteria? What 
plans have been made to include women and minorities, and their 
subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research? How 
will the applicant deal with recruitment and retention of subjects?
    h. Dissemination: What plans have been articulated for 
disseminating findings?
    The IRGRC will also examine the appropriateness of the proposed 
project budget and duration in relation to the proposed research and 
the availability of data required for the project.
    2. The secondary review will be conducted by the SPRS of the ACIPC. 
The ACIPC Federal ex officio members will be invited to attend the 
secondary review, will receive modified briefing books, (i.e., 
abstracts, strengths and weaknesses from summary statements, and 
project officer's briefing materials). The NCIPC Division Associate 
Directors for Science (ADS) or their designees will attend the 
secondary review in a similar capacity as the Federal ex officio 
members. Only SPRS members will vote on funding recommendations, and 
their recommendations will be carried to the entire ACIPC for voting by 
the ACIPC members in closed session. If any further review is needed by 
the ACIPC, regarding the recommendations of the SPRS, the factors 
considered will be the same as the factors that the SPRS considered.
    The Secondary Review Committee's responsibility is to develop 
funding recommendations for the NCIPC Director based on the results of 
the primary review and the relevance and balance of proposed research 
relative to the NCIPC programs and priorities. The Committee has the 
latitude to recommend to the NCIPC Director, to reach over better 
ranked proposals in order to assure maximal impact and balance of 
proposed research.
    The factors to be considered will include:
    A. The results of the primary review including the application's 
priority score as the primary factor in the selection process.
    B. The relevance and balance of proposed research relative to the 
NCIPC programs and priorities.
    C. The significance of the proposed activities in relation to the 
priorities and objectives stated in ``People 2010'' and the Institute 
of Medicine report, ``Reducing the Burden of Injury.''
    D. Budgetary considerations.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    The grantee must provide CDC with an original plus two copies of:
    1. The dissertation, including abstract that will constitute the 
final report of the grant.
    2. A financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. At the completion of the project, the grant recipient will 
submit a brief (2,500 to 4,000 words written in non-scientific 
[laymen's] terms) summary highlighting the findings and their 
implications for injury prevention programs, policies, environmental 
changes, etc. The grant recipient will also include a description of 
the dissemination plan for research findings. This plan will include, 
publications in peer-reviewed journals and ways in which research 
findings will be made available to stakeholders outside of academia, 
(e.g., state injury prevention program staff, community groups, public 
health injury prevention practitioners, and others). CDC will place the 
dissertation abstract with the National Technical Information Service 
(NTIS) to further the agency's efforts to make the information more 
available and accessible to the public.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program.

    AR-1  Human Subjects Certification
    AR-2  Requirements for inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
    AR-3  Animal Subjects Requirement
    AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Requirements
    AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirement
    AR-11  Healthy People 2010
    AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
    AR-13  Prohibition on Use of CDC funds for Certain Gun Control 
Activities
    AR-21  Small, Minority, and Women-owned Business
    AR-22  Research Integrity

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301(a) (42 U.S.C. 241(a)) 
of the Public Health Service Act and section 391(a) (42 U.S.C. 280(b)) 
of the Public Service Health Act, as amended. The catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number is 93.136.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, the necessary application and 
associated forms can be found on the CDC homepage Internet address--
http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.''
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Nancy Pillar, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Program Announcement 02152, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341. Telephone: (770) 488-2721. Email 
address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Melinda Williams, 
Project Officer, Prevention Development and Evaluation Branch, Division 
of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and 
Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford 
Highway, NE, Mail Stop K-60, Atlanta, GA 30341-4723. Telephone: (770) 
488-4647. Email address: [email protected].


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    Dated: May 3, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-11554 Filed 5-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P