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Fogarty Research Grant - Full RFA
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN/FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN THE SADC REGION


REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH - SECOND CYCLE 2002

PURPOSE
The goal of the University of Michigan/Fogarty International Center Southern African Programme for Research and Training in Environmental and Occupational Health is to enhance regional efforts in research training, and to foster stronger inter-institutional ties in occupational and environmental health research within the SADC region. The objective of this program is to provide a support mechanism and seed funding for pilot research projects initiated by junior to mid level investigators, that explore the feasibility of new research approaches, allow investigators to collect preliminary data to subsequently develop major grant applications, or complete short-term research studies.

PROGRAMME PREFERRED RESEARCH AREAS
Research proposals that are submitted must fall into one of the following areas identified as being important in the region:
·Occupational lung diseases with a special focus on silicosis elimination; occupational asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease and decrements in lung function
·Environmental pollution and public health· Chemical hazards in the agricultural sector with special focus on pesticides
·Occupational health and safety in small and medium scale enterprises and the informal sector, with special focus on women and children at work

Innovative proposals outside these areas of focus will also be considered. Submitted applications should originate from areas within the major occupational and environmental health and safety-related disciplines, including occupational and environmental medicine, occupational health nursing, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, ergonomics, toxicology and environmental and occupational epidemiology. Proposals should emphasize applied research, address SADC regional needs in environmental and occupational health and safety, focus on areas of elimination, prevention and control of hazards, serve to foster the research careers of the investigators, and promote research capacity-building in the region.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Individuals eligible to apply for these funds should be junior to mid level researchers from within the SADC region. A description of the career development plan, incorporating consideration of the candidate's goals and prior experience must be included with the application. Applications from previously disadvantaged groups, including women are actively encouraged.

"Junior researchers" are defined as those:
·enrolled in a masters level programme AND
·who show an interest in a research career or have 2 years research experience AND
·linked to an organisation with research interests.
Researchers registered for research based masters programmes at Technical institutions or universities are eligible for support.

"Mid-level" researchers are defined as those who have completed a masters level programme AND are committed to a research career. Researchers more than five years beyond completion of a research doctorate degree (e.g., PhD or MD), or who have co-authored 8 or more articles published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature or holding a senior, permanent post in a research academic institution, are considered to be Senior and therefore NOT ELIGIBLE for this award.

Candidates must identify a mentor/supervisor/co-principal investigator with substantial research experience and provide a letter of support from this individual agreeing to offer mentorship to the applicant. This mentor may be from the applicant's home institution, or from elsewhere, including institutions in other SADC countries. Co-mentors and other collaborators may also be designated.

Individuals (the Principal Investigator) applying for funds cannot be employed by a private for profit organisation.

AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS
A total of up to ZAR500 000 is available for this round of applications. It is expected that four to eight awards will be made available dependent on merit of received proposals and budgetary considerations.

BUDGET MATTERS AND USE OF FUNDS
Successful applicants are encouraged to request for funds to directly support the implementation of the research plan. Support for salary or stipend for the primary investigator will be allowed to a maximum of 50% of the submitted total budget. Salary or stipend for mentors, co-investigators, and administrative staff support are not allowed. Applicants must be aware that the funds under this programme are intended as "seed funding". All applicants are strongly urged to apply for additional funding from other sources. Indirect institutional costs will not be allowed. Supplements will not be awarded, however, successful applicants may have the opportunity to apply for a competitive second round of funding in the following year.

Each application must be accompanied by a comprehensive budget, and a detailed budget justification, and evidence of other sources (including institution's contribution) of funding if applicable.

Funding may be requested for up to a maximum of 12 months, with a start date no earlier than 1 March, 2003.

BIOGRAPICAL SKETCH (Curriculum vitae)
The biographical sketch should provide information that can be used by reviewers in the assessment of each individual's qualifications for a specific role in the proposed project, as well as to evaluate the overall qualifications of the research team. A biographical sketch is required for all key personnel. No more than three pages may be used for each person. A sample biographical sketch may be viewed at the NIH site

MENTOR'S STATEMENT/LETTER OF SUPPORT
The application must include a statement from the mentor including information on his or her qualifications in the research area proposed by the candidate and previous experience as a research supervisor. The application must also include information to describe the nature and extent of supervision that will occur during the proposed award period.

ENVIRONMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT
The supporting institution must provide a statement of commitment to the candidate's development into a productive, independent investigator.

PROCESS ISSUES
The first phase of the Request for Applications (RFA) process involves the submission of the following:
*Statement of Intent
*Abbreviated research proposal
*Biographical sketch (curriculum vitae) of primary applicant including a *career development plan
Curriculum vitae of the supervisor/co-principal investigator/mentor together with a letter of support.

These documents (marked with *) should be as per prescribed format. The Scientific Review Committee (SRC) will review these proposals according to the criteria contained in this RFA. Candidates with strong proposals will be provided with written feedback by the SRC and be asked to submit for review a detailed proposal for the second phase of the RFA. The SRC will endeavor to provide feedback to unsuccessful first phase proposals. The SRC strongly recommends to the applicant to continue with the process of developing the detailed research project, as per prescribed format, whilst awaiting the results of the review of the Statement of Intent to ensure that the applicant has sufficient time to prepare a comprehensive proposal. In the second phase the applicant is expected to submit the following documentation:
~ Detailed research proposal
~ Detailed budget and budget motivation
~ Biographical sketch (curriculum vitae) of applicant and local supervisor/mentor/co-principal investigator
~ Evidence of application for ethical approval (where applicable)
~ Evidence of application for funds from other sources
~ Letters of support from all organisations/collaborators involved in the project

At the end of this second phase, the SRC will grant provisional approval of the proposal on the basis of above, pending the receipt of ethical clearance for the research, where applicable.

Successful applicants will receive funding for the first year of their project. Depending on the submitted budget, payment may be disbursed to the applicant in two phases (January and July). Although subsequent requests for funding will be considered, this is by no means guaranteed. Applicants successful in one round of the RFA, will be required to make re-submissions on the same basis as new applications. Only one project will be funded per principal investigator in each round of the funding cycle.

Any changes to the original proposal subsequent to the awarding of the funding, must be referred back to the SRC for consideration. It will be at the discretion of the SRC to make any necessary changes to the award following changes to the proposal.

Decisions of the SRC will be final.

ETHICS AND HUMAN SUBJECTS MATTERS
Appropriate approvals must be obtained, prior to the awarding of funds, for use of animals, human subjects, radioisotopes, biohazards or other special circumstances. These applications for ethical review must be obtained from appropriate local institutions. The institution supplying the Ethical Clearance must provide details on the Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board, including the names of the members of the Committee, their titles and positions and appointment process. Ethical clearance must be provided on an annual basis for each year of the project.

A University of Michigan Institutional Review Board clearance may be necessary. If so, your institution may be required to have a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) with the National Institute of Health. The SRC Administrator will inform you whether this is necessary. If a FWA is required, please check the following website to determine whether your institution has the necessary clearance: FWA clearance.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Each successful applicant will be expected to submit annual reports to the SRC for the duration of the project. In addition, a final report, with results preferably presented in manuscript form is due on completion of the project. A list and copies/reprints of any publications resulting from the project should be included in this final report. The successful applicant MAY be requested to make a formal presentation at the biennial Southern African Fogarty Conference.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
The mechanism for funding projects through this programme will be a competitive process modelled after the NIH Center for Scientific Review approach. Upon receipt in the first phase, applications will be reviewed by the SRC for completeness and compatibility with the stated purpose and objectives of this RFA and elegibility requirements. Applications determined to be incomplete or unresponsive to this announcement will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Those applications that are complete and responsive, will undergo a scientific merit review by an appropriate scientific review group convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part of the scientific merit review, all applications will receive a written critique.

At least three reviewers will critique each application in each phase. If an individual member of the SRC or institution to which an SRC member is associated is mentioned in the proposal, then such members will not participate in the reviewing of such a proposal.

Review criteria for the Scientific Review include:

1. Significance and Innovation:
a). Does this study address an occupational or environmental health and safety problem related to the focus areas mentioned above and relevant to the SADC region?
b). What is the magnitude of the problem in terms of the population or numbers of workers or community members affected, and the severity of the disease or injury in the community or worker population?
c). If the study aims are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced?
d). Does the study involve novel concepts, approaches or methods?
e). Usefulness of the research to technical knowledge on the identification, evaluation, or control of environmental or occupational safety and health hazards on a regional and national basis.

2. Approach:
a). Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project?
b). Are potential problem areas (or study limitations) acknowledged and addressed?

3. Principal Investigator:
a). Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator?
b). How does the project fit in and foster the investigator's future career in occupational health and safety and environmental health?
c). Is the principal investigator registered for any degree?
d). What is the quality of the candidate's academic record?
e). Does the applicant have the potential to develop as an independent researcher?
f). What is the applicant's commitment to a career in environmental and occupational health research in the SADC region?
g). Does the applicant have a clearly defined career development plan in research?
h). Likelihood that the career development plan will contribute substantially to the scientific development of the candidate;

4. Mentor/Supervisor
a). Appropriateness of mentor(s)/supervisors research qualifications in the area of this application;
b). Quality and extent of mentor's proposed role in providing guidance and advice to the candidate;
c). Previous experience in fostering the development of more junior researchers;
d). History of research productivity and support;
e). Adequacy of support for the proposed research project.

5. Resources and Environment:
a). Are the scientific environment and facilities adequate for achieving the aims of the proposed study?
b). Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
c). If the principal investigator is a graduate student, is there support from the student's academic and/or thesis advisor(s)?
d). Adequacy of research facilities and the availability of appropriate educational opportunities;
e). Quality and relevance of the environment for scientific and professional development of the candidate;
f). Applicant institution's commitment to the scientific development of the candidate and assurances that the institution intends the candidate to be an integral part of its research programme

6. Human Subjects, Gender/Children and/or Vertebrate Animals Issues:
a). Are the procedures proposed adequate for the protection of human subjects and/or vertebrate animals accordingly documented and in compliance with applicable ethical standards?
b). If human subjects are involved, does the research plan include both genders, and/or children? If the plan does not include such gender, minority and/or children representation, is there justification?

7. Budget:
a). Is the budget reasonable and appropriately justified?
b). Are all costs included in the budget?
c). Are other sources of funds and amounts mentioned?


DEADLINES
Submission of statement of intent and draft proposal, as per prescribed documentation: 30 September 2002
First Phase Review completion and response to applicant: 31 October 2002 (approximate)
Submission of detailed proposal, budget and other Second Phase documentation: 30 December 2002
Second Phase Review completion and response to applicant: 28 February 2003 (approximate)
Awards and Commencement of Research: 1 March 2003


WHERE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Further information can be obtained from:
Claudina Nogueira
National Centre for Occupational Health
PO Box 4788
Johannesburg 2000
SOUTH AFRICA
email: noguec@health.gov.za
phone: 011 712-6469
fax: 011-720-6608




 
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