97-7934. Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 97-13: Centers of Excellence for Laser Applications in Medicine  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 14894-14895]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-7934]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Office of Energy Research
    
    
    Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 97-13: 
    Centers of Excellence for Laser Applications in Medicine
    
    AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.
    
    ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER) of the 
    Office of Energy Research (ER), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
    announces its interest in receiving research applications from 
    potential applicants for funding of Centers of Excellence for Laser 
    Applications in Medicine (Centers). These Centers are intended to carry 
    out research that will advance the application of laser technology in 
    the clinical practice of medicine. A Center must have existing advanced 
    capabilities for fundamental research in the medical application of 
    lasers, is to be based in a hospital with a close tie to a school of 
    medicine, is to offer a strong program of research that covers a wide 
    range both of scientific disciplines and of fields of medicine, and is 
    to place emphasis on training and dissemination of developments in this 
    field of research.
    
    DATES: Preapplications should be received by May 30, 1997. However, 
    earlier submissions will be gladly accepted. Formal applications in 
    response to this notice must be received by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., August 
    15, 1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: Preapplications referencing Program Notice 97-13 should be 
    forwarded to: Dr. Roland F. Hirsch, Medical Applications and 
    Biophysical Research Division, ER-73, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 
    Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, Attn: Program Notice 97-13. 
    Fax submissions are acceptable, fax number (301) 903-0567.
        Formal applications referencing Program Notice 97-13 should be 
    forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research, 
    Grants and Contracts Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown Road, 
    Germantown, MD 20874-1290, Attn: Program Notice 97-13. This address 
    also must be used when submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service 
    Express Mail, or any commercial mail delivery service, or when hand-
    carried by the applicant. An original and seven copies of the 
    application must be submitted. Applicants are required to follow the 
    formal instructions given in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Section of 
    this Notice.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Roland F. Hirsch, Medical 
    Applications and Biophysical Research Division, ER-73, 19901 Germantown 
    Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, telephone (301) 903-3213; E-mail 
    roland.hirsch@oer.doe.gov.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Centers of Excellence for Laser 
    Applications in Medicine were established in 1991 upon the 
    recommendation in the Conference Report for the Fiscal Year 1991 Energy 
    and Water Development Appropriation Act. There has been substantial 
    progress in the field since that time. Therefore, potential applicants 
    are encouraged to propose Center programs that are appropriate for the 
    current state of the art in fundamental areas of laser research 
    relevant to clinical research, that will enable progress toward new 
    areas of clinical use of lasers, and that will increase the application 
    of lasers through training and dissemination activities. There is 
    particular interest in research leading to new laser applications for 
    non-invasive medicine and, in general, to new medical procedures that 
    are consistent with the national need to control the costs of health 
    care.
        Applicants are encouraged to utilize the extensive fundamental 
    scientific expertise that is available at the National Laboratories 
    supported by the Department through formal and informal arrangements 
    for consultation and collaboration. Applicants are also encouraged to 
    identify objectives of the proposed research program that complement 
    the aims of other programs which are supported by the Medical 
    Applications and Biophysical Research Division such as research in 
    radiopharmaceuticals and molecular nuclear medicine, biomedical imaging 
    instrumentation, Boron Neutron Capture
    
    [[Page 14895]]
    
    Therapy (BNCT), structural biology, analytical chemistry, and genome 
    instrumentation.
        Organizations with existing Centers of Excellence for Laser 
    Applications in Medicine grants must submit with their renewal 
    application the required Progress Report, which should include a 
    section describing research accomplishments that have been carried over 
    into clinical research and practice.
        It is anticipated that up to $1,500,000 are expected to be 
    available for grant awards in FY 1998, contingent upon availability of 
    appropriated funds. The actual magnitude of the funds available and the 
    number of awards which can be made will however depend on the budget 
    process. It is anticipated that up to four awards of up to $600,000 
    each annually for a three year period will be made, with out-year 
    support contingent on availability of funds, progress of the research, 
    and programmatic needs.
        Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a brief 
    preapplication describing the proposed Center and its major activities. 
    The intent in asking for a preapplication is to save the time and 
    effort of applicants in preparing and submitting a formal project 
    application that may be inappropriate for the program. The 
    preapplication should consist of a three-to-five-page concept paper on 
    the program contemplated for an application to the Centers of 
    Excellence for Laser Applications in Medicine program. The concept 
    paper should focus on the scientific objectives and significance of the 
    proposed research, including an outline of the approaches planned, 
    should briefly describe the organization of the proposed center and its 
    setting, and should provide information relating to other aspects of 
    the planned program, including collaborations with the DOE National 
    Laboratories and other research organizations. The preapplication gives 
    an opportunity to advise potential applicants on the suitability of 
    their concept and research program to the mission of the Centers of 
    Excellence program. A response to timely preapplications indicating the 
    appropriateness of submitting a formal application will be communicated 
    by June 20, 1997. Please note that notification of a successful 
    preapplication is not an indication that an award will be made in 
    response to the formal application. ER's preapplication policy for 
    submitting preapplications can be found on ER's Grants and Contracts 
    Web Site at: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/preapp.html.
        Applications will be subjected to formal merit review (peer review) 
    and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria listed 
    in descending order of importance codified at 10 CFR 605.10(d):
        1. Scientific and/or Technical Merit of the Project;
        2. Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach;
        3. Competency of Applicant's personnel and Adequacy of Proposed 
    Resources;
        4. Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget.
        The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the 
    relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement and 
    an agency's programmatic needs. Note, external peer reviewers are 
    selected with regard to both their scientific expertise and the absence 
    of conflict-of-interest issues. Non-federal reviewers will often be 
    used, and submission of an application constitutes agreement that this 
    is acceptable to the investigator(s) and the submitting institution.
        Applicants are expected to use the following format in addition to 
    following instructions in the Office of Energy Research Application 
    Guide.
    
     ER standard face page (DOE F4650.2)
     Table of Contents
     Project abstract (no more than one page)
     Budgets for each year of the three-year project period (using 
    DOE F 4620.1)
     Written explanation of the budget items
     Budgets and budget explanations for each collaborative 
    subproject, if any
     Project narrative (recommended length is no more than 40 
    pages):
         Goals
         Research plan for each major component of the research 
    program
         Preliminary studies (if applicable)
         Research design and methodologies
         Plans for training
         Plans for dissemination of new concepts and techniques
     Literature cited
     Description of existing facilities for research into laser 
    applications in medicine (up to five pages)
     Description of hospital setting and medical school ties for 
    the proposed Center, including support proposed to be offered to the 
    Center's program by these units (up to five pages)
     Collaborative arrangements (if applicable)
     Biographical sketches (limited to 2 pages for each senior 
    investigator)
     Current and pending funding for each senior investigator
     All required information for any activities involving human 
    subjects (see ER Application Guide)
     All required information for any activities involving 
    vertebrate animals (see ER Application Guide)
    
        Information about development and submission of applications, 
    eligibility, evaluations and selection processes, and other policies 
    and procedures may be found in 10 CFR part 605 and the Office of Energy 
    Research Application Guide for the Financial Assistance Program. Access 
    to ER's Financial Assistance Application Guide is possible via the 
    World Wide Web at: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. 
    Printed copies of the Guide are available from the Medical Applications 
    and Biophysical Research Division for potential applicants who are 
    unable to access the Web version.
    
        The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this 
    program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 
    CFR Part 605.
    
        Issued in Washington, DC, on March 24, 1997.
    John Rodney Clark,
    Associate Director for Resource Management, Office of Energy Research.
    [FR Doc. 97-7934 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/28/1997
Department:
Energy Research Office
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice inviting grant applications.
Document Number:
97-7934
Dates:
Preapplications should be received by May 30, 1997. However, earlier submissions will be gladly accepted. Formal applications in response to this notice must be received by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., August 15, 1997.
Pages:
14894-14895 (2 pages)
PDF File:
97-7934.pdf