Health and Extreme Weather Research Coordination and Data Center (U2C - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research coordination and data support for the Health and Extreme Weather (HEW) initiative. This solicitation will include two closely aligned components: research coordination and data support. The coordinating component will be responsible for facilitating engagement across the initiative’s NIH grantees and the larger HEW community of practice (CoP). This component will share best practices across the CoP, create training and educational resources, organize working groups and larger meetings, and otherwise disseminate information to the HEW CoP. The data component will develop resources and infrastructure to facilitate access to and use of health and environmental data by the HEW CoP. The data component will identify data-related needs in the CoP, provide training to address these needs, support sharing and linking of health, environmental, and geospatial data, and collaborate with other NIH data initiatives to reduce duplication, advance data science, and promote the use of data standards and harmonization. The coordinating and data components will be required to work in close partnership with each other to coordinate training, education, dissemination, and other research support activities. This NOFO will utilize the U2C activity code, which the National Institutes of Health (NIH) uses to support high impact research and research infrastructure activities. The U2C is a cooperative agreement that requires substantial federal programmatic staff involvement. Grant authorities that allow NIEHS to forecast this opportunity are as follows: 42 USC 285l (NIEHS specific); 42 USC section 241 (NIH grant authorities).

Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations

The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to stated program objectives. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and...