MOUSE BRAIN ATLAS FOR FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS

Release Date:  February 3, 1999

PA NUMBER:  PAS-99-060

P.T.

National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Eye Institute
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  April 19
Application Receipt Date:  May 19

PURPOSE

The Brain Molecular Anatomy Project (BMAP) is a multi-institute initiative
that supports research on the genomics of the nervous system, with initial
efforts focussing on the discovery of new genes and the study of gene
expression patterns in mouse and human brains.  This initiative will provide
the capability to quantify and track the expression of tens of thousands of
genes in space and time, and will generate enormous amounts of such data.

Ongoing efforts to localize genes to multiple anatomic regions of the mouse
nervous system and to identify which genes are expressed in specific regions
require a quantitative and highly detailed anatomic map of the mouse nervous
system. Furthermore, such a map is essential to realize the full potential of
data collected in BMAP-supported projects. In recognition of these needs, this
Program Announcement (PA) solicits grant applications to research and develop
a digital multidimensional atlas that ultimately will serve as a platform to
organize and integrate genomic data obtained from the mouse nervous system.

Early efforts are likely to primarily focus on atlases of the brain, due to
the technologies available and its relative geometric simplicity, but it is
envisioned that atlases and related tools would ultimately accommodate data
from the entire central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system and
special sense organs (herein, collectively referred to as the "nervous
system").  

This atlas will likely comprise an array of interoperating informatics tools
and approaches for handling gene expression data obtained from the mouse
nervous system.  It is not expected that any one research group would develop
all of the tools needed or atlases of all parts of the nervous system. The
algorithms and their implementations resulting from grants funded under this
PA must be extensible and scalable, and, ideally, should be modifiable to
accommodate genomic data obtained from the human nervous system. It is thus
important that informatics tools and approaches supported by this initiative
are designed to allow for articulation with other such tools and approaches.  

Given the nature of the research and development solicited under this PA,
hypothesis-driven as well as design-driven efforts are considered appropriate.
The research and development supported under this PA will be iterative, with
early versions providing basic functions that would be elaborated upon in
subsequent versions.  The intention is to introduce early versions of these
tools to the research community generating gene expression data and to develop
an atlas of the nervous system of the C57BL6/J strain of mouse. Ultimately, it
is expected that uses of the tools and approaches developed under this PA will
extend beyond functional genomics. Atlases, informatics tools, and other
materials and information generated in projects funded under this PA will be
made widely available to the scientific community.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion
and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national
activity for setting priority areas.  This Program Announcement (PA), "MOUSE
BRAIN ATLAS FOR FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS", is related to various priority area
relevant to each sponsoring institute, including Mental Health and Mental
Disorders, Alcohol and Other Drugs/Substance Abuse, Heart Disease and Stroke,
Cancer, and Maternal and Infant Health. Potential applicants may obtain a copy
of "Healthy People 2000" at http://www.crisny.org/health/us/health7.html.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, for-profit and non-
profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges,
hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible
agencies of the Federal government.  Racial/ethnic minority individuals,
women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal
Investigators.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This PA will use the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project
grant (R01) mechanism.  Responsibility for the planning, direction, and
execution of the proposed project will be solely that of the applicant.  The
total project period for a grant application submitted in response to this PA
may not exceed 5 years.

Because the nature and scope of the research proposed in response to this PA
may vary, it is anticipated that the sizes of awards will vary as well.   It
is expected that while some grants will support unique efforts, other grants
may provide support that would allow investigators to build upon ongoing,
funded informatics research and development, such as that supported by
informatics initiatives associated with the Digital Library Initiative, the
Human Genome Project, or Human Brain Project.  Competing supplements will be
considered from applicants already funded by participating NIH Institutes and
Centers to carry out similar or related informatics research and development
under this PA.  Investigators who are considering submitting a competing
supplement application are strongly encouraged to contact program staff listed
under INQUIRIES to obtain specific information.

This PA will have one a once a year special receipt date, new, amended,
competing supplements and competing applications will be received on that date
each year.  

Applicants planning to submit an investigator-initiated new (type 1),
competing continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended/revised
version of the preceding grant application types requesting $500,000 or more
in direct costs for any year are advised that he or she must contact Institute
program staff before submitting the application, i.e., as plans for the study
are being developed.  Furthermore, the applicant must obtain agreement from
Institute staff that the Institute will accept the application for
consideration for award.  Finally, the applicant must identify, in a cover
letter sent with the application, the staff member and Institute who agreed to
accept assignment of the application.  This policy requires an applicant to
obtain agreement for acceptance of both any such application and any
subsequent amendment.  Applicants who are uncertain regarding which Institute
or Center to contact should call the Referral Office, Center for Scientific
Review.  Refer to the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, March 20, 1998 which
is located at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-030.html.

FUNDS AVAILABLE
 
Under this PA, it is estimated that approximately $2,000,000 will be available
to support about four to seven grants for which applications are received
under the first receipt date. This level of support is dependent on the
receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit.
Although the financial plans of the sponsoring NIH Institutes include these
proposed levels of support for the first round of applications, awards made
under this PA are contingent upon the availability of funds for this purpose.
Funding of applications that are submitted under this PA at subsequent receipt
dates will compete with all other unsolicited grant applications for funding.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

The Brain Molecular Anatomy Project (BMAP) is a multi-institute NIH initiative
which supports research on the genomics of the nervous system, with initial
efforts focussing on the discovery of new genes and the study of gene
expression patterns in mouse and human brains.  This initiative will provide
the capability to quantify and track the expression of tens of thousands of
genes in space and time, and will generate enormous amounts of such data.  The
value of these data will be derived from understanding not only the spatial
and temporal expression patterns of individual genes, but also, how these
patterns relate to expression patterns of other genes and to events such as
changes in behavioral state, onset of disease, and response to drugs.  

The kinds of data generated by research funded under BMAP will include:  1) 
localization of where particular genes are expressed in the nervous system, 2)
changes in gene expression patterns as particular genes are expressed through
development and across the lifespan, after onset of disease, with exposure to
drugs, with changes in behavioral state, etc., and 3) the relationship of
expression of a particular gene to expression patterns of other specific genes
or gene products.  These domains of data will be most meaningful when
considered not just alone, but in relation to one another.  The capability to
fully integrate such data for tens of thousands of genes presents tremendous
challenges for informatics research and development, and will ultimately
require very powerful and sophisticated tools and approaches.  

Ongoing efforts to localize genes to multiple anatomic regions of the mouse
nervous system via in situ hybridization studies, and to identify which unique
transcripts are expressed in specific regions, require a quantitative, precise
and highly detailed anatomic map of the mouse nervous system that is developed
using standardized anatomic landmarks. Such a map is essential to realize the
full potential of data ultimately collected in BMAP-supported projects. This
PA solicits grant applications to research and develop such a digital 
multidimensional atlas that ultimately will serve as a platform to organize
and integrate genomic data obtained from the mouse nervous system.

As demonstrated in the bioinformatics efforts associated with the Human Genome
Project and the neuroinformatics research supported by the Human Brain
Project, informatics is increasingly important and widely used in modern
biology and biomedicine.  The reasons for this derive from the convergence of
three factors.  First, the amount, diversity, and complexity of biological and
biomedical data are enormous, and can be neither fully integrated nor
appreciated without the use of informatics solutions.  Second, informatics
tools are rapidly becoming more powerful and, at the same time, easier to use.
Third, the use of informatics tools and approaches, such as the World Wide
Web, personal digital assistants, Email, etc., have become a commonly accepted
way to interact with data and people, both inside and outside of the
laboratory. Consequently, projects supported under this PA are expected to
develop a set of informatics tools to support a wide range of uses of the
atlas, and to specifically facilitate the integration of anatomic and
genomic/genetic data in BMAP.

Research Topics

Many informatics tools and approaches are needed to make optimal use of gene
expression data.  The focus of this PA, however, is limited and will focus
exclusively on a digital, volumetric atlas and associated tools that will
serve as a framework for storing, presenting and analyzing a variety of data
in four dimensions.  The atlas will also serve as a point of articulation with
related informatics technologies and resources, including bibliographic
resources, and those associated with the Human Genome Project and the Human
Brain Project.

A fundamental capability for such an atlas to be useful is to translate data
from histological sections into the atlas itself.  If invertible, this
translation would allow for data to be entered into the atlas for comparison
with other data, and retrieved to be re-analyzed, if needed.  Translation into
and out of the atlas might use algorithms for deforming the digitized images
of the sections containing the gene expression patterns, and fitting them into
the most appropriate three dimensional space in a time-defined atlas.  In
addition, tools for quantifying the deformation and assessing variance from
other sections, other groups of sections, or even other atlases, would allow
for the probabilistic analysis of the distribution of gene expression, and
other, patterns in time and space.

Another essential feature of such an atlas is the capability to relate gene
expression data to architectonic features, such as the borders of a
subcortical nucleus or cortical area.  This might be achieved by entering
images of sections with gene expression data along with images from adjacent
sections stained, for example, for Nissl substance.  Using warping tools, the
architectonic borders could be related to the patterns of gene expression on
the adjacent section, and these relationships could be carried into the atlas
itself.  Similarly, architectonic, connectional or other types of data could
be incorporated from other laboratories or atlases (with appropriate
permissions and clearances).  In this way, it would be possible to compare
gene expression data with a variety of interpretations of architectonic and
other data.

Search functions and data mining approaches will serve to retrieve data,
enhance the appreciation of the significance of those data, and reveal
information that might not have been otherwise apparent.  Data analysis and
visualization tools important in this atlas include the means to present and
compare multiple datasets.  For example, visualizing where in the brain a
particular gene is expressed at a given time point, or comparing the
expression of multiple gene families in a particular brain structure.

Additional features that would be relevant to a digital atlas include
algorithms for analyzing signal-to-noise ratios in primary data, filtering and
thresholding primary data, and a means to annotate the data, such as fields to
describe the experimental conditions and other aspects of the manner in which
the data were obtained, bibliographic links, links to other databases, etc. 
The informatics framework to be developed is expected to eventually be
integrated with existing informatics tools by which investigators can order
on-line specific clones from BMAP-supported repositories.

Finally, as the intention is to make the technologies developed under this PA
available to a wide research community, not only should these be user-friendly
and documented, but should be largely platform-independent.

Research Characteristics

It is expected that grants funded under this PA will proceed iteratively, with
early prototypes providing some rudimentary functions within a year of funding
initiation.   These prototypes would be made available to the BMAP research
community, and would become increasingly sophisticated, and added to, in
subsequent versions.  In each application, the features and functions of early
versions (i.e., those to be accomplished within the first year of funding)
should be described, as well as those expected in later versions.

An example of how a particular project might elaborate over time would be the
development of a digital, volumetric atlas which starts as a volume dataset
(e.g., obtained from magnetic resonance imaging) of an individual animal, and
is added to over time with datasets from other animals of varying ages,
strains, sizes, etc. In this example, a simple spatial atlas of a particular
animal at a particular time in the lifespan would provide the starting point
(similar to published brain atlases available now).  Subsequent versions of
such an atlas could be used in a probabilistic fashion, and could accommodate
very accurately data derived at different time points, from different strains,
etc.  Another example of iterative elaboration would be starting with a volume
dataset of a particular animal from a particular modality (e.g., magnetic
resonance imaging), with additional datasets from images of that same brain
from other modalities being brought into the atlas (e.g., images of Nissl-
stained sections of the same brain warped into the three dimensional atlas
based on the magnetic resonance image).  Again, the early version would be
useful for basic data management, but later versions would add functions and
power, without making obsolete data entered in earlier versions.

Since there will be many opportunities for future research and development of
BMAP-related informatics, and since no one investigator would be able to
address all of them, investigators are strongly encouraged to use open
architectures, shareable code, or other strategies that will allow others to
develop tools and approaches which are interoperable.

In addition, it is expected that investigators funded under this PA would
communicate frequently with others funded under this PA to minimize
unnecessary duplication of effort and to optimize the use of resources. 
Investigators will be expected to attend two meetings each year of researchers
funded under this PA.  These meetings will be in the Washington, D.C. area,
and applicants are advised to budget for two such trips for two individuals
each year.  Moreover, after funding begins, collaborative efforts among
different projects will be strongly encouraged and will be considered for
supplemental support.

It is expected that BMAP research will extend from mouse to human, and it is
important that, to the extent possible, informatics solutions arrived at in
the research funded under this PA be generalizable to accommodate such
variety.

While some features of a digital volumetric atlas will remain important, the
need for features not currently envisioned will likely arise as understanding
of gene expression develops and as new technologies become available and
widely used.  Therefore, it is important that tools and approaches developed
under this PA be extensible.  Similarly, as the amount of data, and the number
of laboratories using these new technologies increase, it is essential that
the efforts supported under this PA are scalable to these new levels of use.

Finally, with the need to develop early, workable informatics solutions,
continual evaluation of progress is key, and the manner in which progress will
be assessed should be detailed in the grant application.  Validity and
reliability of informatics approaches to be developed should be carefully
evaluated in a scientifically valid, objective, and as quantitative way as
possible.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Dissemination of Research Resources

The sharing of materials, data, and software in a timely manner has been an
essential element in the rapid progress that has been made in the genetic
analysis of human diseases.  PHS policy requires that investigators make
unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified
individuals within the scientific community when they have been published (PHS
Grants Policy Statement in the July 12, 1996 issue of the NIH Guide to Grants
and Contracts). Research materials and results produced in projects funded by
this RFA will be distributed to scientific investigators conducting in the
wider research community, and will augment existing resources.

NIH is interested in ensuring that the research resources developed through
this PA become readily available to the research community for further
research, development, and application, in the expectation that this will lead
to products and knowledge of benefit to the public. For this reason, NIH is
concerned that patent applications for a large number of atlases and
informatics tools might have a chilling effect on the future development of
products and information that may improve the public health. At the same time,
NIH recognizes the rights of grantees to elect and retain title to subject
inventions developed under Federal funding under the provision of the Bayh-
Dole Act. Indeed, for inventions developed in its intramural program, NIH does
file patent applications, in accord with a set of policies described at
http://ott.od.nih.gov/phspat_policy.html.

To address the joint interests of the government in the availability of, and
access to, the results of publicly funded research and in the opportunity for
economic development based on these results, NIH requires applicants who
respond to this PA to develop and propose detailed plans for sharing the
research resources generated through the grant.  It is expected that the
resources to be shared include all materials developed in projects funded
under the PA, including but not limited to, nervous system atlases and related
informatics tools. 

It is expected that the investigator"s data sharing plan will include the
following elements: (1) establishment of a comprehensive description of the 
atlas and related informatics tools developed in the project, (2) development
of documentation to assure reproducible use by other laboratories, (3)
elaboration of mechanisms to promote the wide distribution of resources to
investigators in the scientific community, including information needed by
others to add interoperable, or at least compatible, capabilities, and (4) a
distribution timetable.  The initial review group will comment on the proposed
plan for sharing and data access.  The plan will be considered part of the
scientific methodology for carrying out the research and, as such, the
adequacy of the plan will be considered by NIH program staff in determining
whether the grant shall be awarded.  The sharing plan as approved, after
negotiation with the applicant when necessary, will be a condition of the
award.  Evaluation of renewal applications will include assessment of the
effectiveness of research resource release.

It is expected that this plan includes all elements of the guidelines
developed by the NIH and the Department of Energy (DOE) to address the special
needs of genome research.  These guidelines call for material and information
from genome research to be made available within six months of the time the
data or materials are collected, and are available on the Web at
http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/Grant_info/Funding/Statements/data_release.html.
Adherence with this time frame is highly desirable. More rapid sharing is
encouraged.  Requests for exemptions or extensions will require compelling
justification and will be fully evaluated through peer review and by program
staff.

Applicants are also reminded that the grantee institution is required to
disclose each subject invention to the Federal Agency providing research funds
within two months after the inventor discloses it in writing to grantee
institution personnel responsible for patent matters. The awarding Institute
reserves the right to monitor grantee activity in this area to ascertain if
patents on large numbers of atlases and bioinformatics tools are being filed.

Where appropriate, grantees may work with the private sector to make unique
resources available to the wider biomedical research community at a reasonable
cost.  Applicants may request funds to defray the costs of sharing resources,
with adequate justification.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and
their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported biomedical and
behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and
compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is
inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the
research.  This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993
(Section 492B of Public Law 103-43).

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical
Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994
(FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, Vol. 23,
No. 11, March 18, 1994 available on the web at the following URL address: 
http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/1994/94.03.18/notice-nih-guideline008.html

Investigators also may obtain copies of the policy from the program staff
listed under INQUIRIES.  Program staff may also provide additional relevant
information concerning the policy.

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all human subjects research conducted or supported by NIH
unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.  This
policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt
dates after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in
Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL
address: http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by April 19, a letter of intent
that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address,
and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other
key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the
PA in response to which the application may be submitted.  Although a letter
of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review
of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows program
staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest
in the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to:

Michael F. Huerta, Ph.D.
Division of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Research
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7196 MSC 9645
Bethesda, MD  20892-9645
Telephone:  (301) 443-3563
Fax:  (301) 443-1731
Email: mhuerta@helix.nih.gov

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) is to be used in
applying for these grants.  These forms are available at most institutional
offices of sponsored research or from the Office of Extramural Outreach and
Information Resources, National Institutes of Health,  6701 Rockledge Drive, 
MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 435-0714, fax (301) 480-
0525, Email: GrantsInfo@NIH.GOV. It is also available at
http://www.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.

In addition, the PA title and number must be typed in section 2 of the face
page of the application form and the YES box must be marked.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and three signed, photocopies, in one package to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for courier/express service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must be
sent to:

Michael F. Huerta, Ph.D.
Division of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Research
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7196 MSC 9645
Bethesda, MD  20892-9645
Telephone:  (301) 443-3563
Fax:  (301) 443-1731
Email: mhuerta@helix.nih.gov

Each year, applications must be received by May 19.  If an application is
received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review.
This date pertains to new applications, amended and resubmitted applications,
and competitive renewal applications.  

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in
response to this PA that is essentially the same as one currently pending
initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application.  The
CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one
already reviewed.  This does not preclude the submission of substantial
revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must include
an introduction addressing the previous critique.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral
guidelines.  For administrative purposes, applications will be assigned
initially to NIMH.  Applications will be evaluated for scientific and
technical merit by an appropriate scientific review group convened by NIMH in
accordance with the review criteria stated below.  As part of the initial
merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a
process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific
merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed,
assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the
appropriate national advisory council or board.

Review Criteria

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health.  In
the written comments reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects
of the application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research
will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals.  Each of these
criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score,
weighting them as appropriate for each application.  Note that the application
does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major
scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score.  For example, an
investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not
innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

(1) Significance:  Does this proposed research address an important problem? 
If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific capabilities
be advanced?  What will be the effect of these advances on the ability to make
sense and use of nervous system gene expression data?   

(2) Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses
adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the
project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider
alternative tactics?  Is the approach iterative, allowing for early
informatics solutions to be used while latter versions are elaborated upon? 
Is the proposed approach adequate to allow for interoperability with other
efforts?  Will this effort be generalizable, extensible and scalable?  Will
the validity and reliability of tools be assessed appropriately?  If multiple
sites are involved, is there adequate coordination and oversite among the
various groups?  Are the plans for sharing resources generated adequate?

(3) Innovation:  Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches, or
methods?  Are the aims original and innovative?  Does the project challenge
existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?  Will the
project result in new or enhanced capabilities?
 
(4) Investigator:  Is the investigator or are the investigators appropriately
trained and well suited to carry out this work?  Is the work proposed
appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other
researchers (if any)?  Is there sufficient expertise in the areas of
informatics, molecular biology and neuroscience?
 
(5) Environment:  Does the scientific environment in which the work will be
done contribute to the probability of success?  Does the proposed research and
development take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or
employ useful collaborative arrangements?  Is there evidence of institutional
support?

6) Budget and duration: Are the proposed budget and duration appropriate in
relation to the proposed research and development?

The initial review group will also examine: the appropriateness of proposed
project budget and duration, the adequacy of plans to include both genders,
minorities and their subgroups, and children as appropriate for the scientific
goals of the research and plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects,
the provisions for the protection of human and animal subjects, and the safety
of the research environment.

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved
applications. The following will be considered in making funding
decisions:

o  Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review
o  availability of funds
o  program priority

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this PA are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any
issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Michael F. Huerta, Ph.D.
Division of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Research
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7196 MSC 9645
Bethesda, MD 20892-9645
Telephone (301) 443-3563
FAX:  (301) 443-1731
Email: mhuerta@helix.nih.gov

Cheryl A. Kitt, Ph.D.
Division of Convulsive, Infectious and Immune Disorders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 2116 MSC 9160
Bethesda, MD 20892-9160
Telephone: (301) 496-1431
Fax: (301) 402-2060
Email: ck82j@nih.gov

Bradley C. Wise, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 3C307, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: (301) 496-9350
Fax: (301) 496-1494
Email: bw86y@nih.gov

Yuan Liu, Ph.D.
Division of Basic Research
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 402, MSC 7003
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
Telephone: (301) 594-6382
Fax: (301) 594-0673
Email: yliu@willco.niaaa.nih.gov

Nancy Pilotte, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Division of Basic Research
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4284 MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
Telephone:  (301) 443-6975
Fax:  (301) 594-6043
Email: np22f@nih.gov

Maria Y. Giovanni, Ph.D.
National Eye Institute
6120 Executive Boulevard, Suite 350, MSC 7164
Bethesda, MD  20892-7164
Telephone: (301) 496-0484
Fax: (301) 402-0528
Email: myg@nei.nih.gov

Deborah Henken, Ph.D.
Center for Research for Mothers and Children
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B01, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD  20892-7510
Telephone:  (301) 496-5541
Fax:  (301) 480-0303
Email: dh50g@nih.gov

Rochelle Small, Ph.D.
Division of Human Communication
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
6120 Executive Blvd. þ MSC 7180, Room 400C
Bethesda, MD 20892-7180
Telephone: (301) 402-3464
FAX: (301) 402-6251
Email: rochelle_small@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Diana S. Trunnell
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6115 MSC 9605
Bethesda, MD  20892-9605
Telephone: (301) 443-2805
Fax:  (301) 443-6885
Email:  Diana_Trunnell@nih.gov

Karen D. Shields
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3261 MSC 9190
Bethesda, MD 20892-9190
Telephone:  (301) 496-9231
Fax:  (301) 402-0219
Email:  shieldsk@ninds.nih.gov

Joseph Ellis
Grants Management Officer
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2N212, MSC 9205
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: (301) 496-1472
Fax: (301) 402-3672
Email: ellisj@exmur.nia.nih.gov

Linda Hilley
Office of Planning and Resource Management
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 504, MSC 7003
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
Telephone:  (301) 443-4703
Fax:  (301) 443-3891
E-mail:  lhilley@willco.niaaa.nih.gov

Kathleen Moy
Grants Management Specialist
National Eye Institute
Executive Plaza South
6120 Executive Blvd., Suite 350, MSC  7164
Bethesda, MD  20892-7164
Telephone: (301) 496-5884
Fax: (301) 496-9997
Email: klm@nei.nih.gov

E. Douglas Shawver
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 8A17, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD  20892-7510
Telephone:  (301) 496-1303
Fax:  (301) 402-0915
Email:  Shawverd@exchange.nichd.nih.gov

Gary Fleming
Grants Management
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3131, MSC 9541
Rockville, MD 20892-9542
Telephone: (301) 443-6710
FAX: (301) 594-6847
Email: gf6s@nih.gov

Sharon Hunt
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 400B, MSC 7180,
Bethesda, MD  20892-7170
Telephone:  (301) 402-0909
FAX:  (301) 402-1757
Email:  sh79f@nih.gov

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
93.242 (NIMH), 93.279 (NIDA), 93.273 (NIAAA), 93.866 (NIA), 93.853 (NINDS),
93.173 (NIDCD), 93.865 (NICHD), and 93.867 (NEI).  Awards are made under
authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law
78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered
under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part
74.  This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements
of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. Awards will be
administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the NIH Grants Policy
Statement (October 1, 1998).

PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products.  In addition,
Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain
facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or
routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood
development services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the
PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the
American people.

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RealPlayer, Video or Flash files, see Help Downloading Files.