Overview
On May 10, 2011, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the Department of Defense (DOD), and other co-sponsoring agencies from the NIH released 4 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) (see below) to encourage submission of research grant applications that capitalize on the unique capabilities of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to visualize outcomes, to teach, to motivate, and to extend the health care and learning environments, in order to foster desirable eating, physical activity, self-care, and other health-related behaviors. The overall goal is to develop the potential of VR technologies as research tools for behavioral science-oriented studies in diabetes and obesity, and as practical tools for clinical and public health-level prevention and management of obesity and diabetes.
A summary report of a July 2010 workshop sponsored by NIH and DOD entitled “Virtual Reality Technologies for Research and Education in Obesity and Diabetes” is available on the NHLBI public website (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/vr.htm). Workshop papers were published March 2011 in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology (www.journalofdst.org).
What are the Funding Opportunity Announcements, sponsors, and application receipt dates?
Requests for Applications (RFAs) (receipt dates July 11, 2011 and July 11, 2012)
R41/R42 (Small Business Technology Transfer Grants, STTR): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-12-024.html
R43/R44 (Small Business Innovative Research Grants, SBIR): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-12-020.html
Program Announcements (PAs) (standard receipt dates through May 8, 2014)
R21 (Exploratory/Developmental Research Grants): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-212.html
R01 (Research Project Grants): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-211.html
The primary NIH sponsor of all 4 FOAs is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (www.nhlbi.nih.gov). The primary co-sponsor of all 4 FOAs is the DOD Telemedicine and Technology Research Center (TATRC) (www.tatrc.org). TATRC has substantial in-house subject matter expertise and experience in the application of information technologies, virtual reality, augmented reality, and gaming technologies for healthcare. If the applicant would like to have the research project considered for supplemental funding from TATRC, a paragraph should be included defining the military relevance.
Other NIH co-sponsors include:
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (www.nichd.nih.gov) (R01, R21)
- NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) (www.obssr.od.nih.gov) (R01, R21)
- NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) (www.orwh.od.nih.gov) (R21)
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) (www.nibib.nih.gov) (R21)
How can I find out which funding mechanism (and FOA) is most suitable for me, and whether my application would be responsive?
Interested applicants are encouraged to read all sections of the FOA thoroughly and to contact the scientific program staff listed in the FOAs to determine responsiveness and identify the most appropriate funding mechanism(s) for their projects.
- Various FOA funding mechanisms: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/funding_program.htm#RSeries
- SBIR and STTR mechanisms: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm
Applications should address multidisciplinary research strategies drawing on expertise in VR technologies, biomedical sciences, and behavioral sciences. Many projects can usefully be conducted taking advantage of already existing tools, games, and software, although proposals also could seek to develop unique technologies. Applications focusing only on electronic means of research data collection (so-called “e-tools”), without VR components, will not be considered to fit the objectives of these FOAs.
Must my application address both research and education (or obesity and diabetes)?
Applicants can pick one area, or both, for each aspect: research and/or education; obesity and/or diabetes.
Can I submit a regular SBIR or STTR application on the same topic areas as these FOAs?
Yes, the scientific content areas of the Virtual Reality FOAs are also suitable for regular SBIR/STTR applications. Applicants may request primary assignment to NHLBI. For more information, see the NIH SBIR website (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm).
The appropriate FOAs are:
PHS 2011-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, FDA and ACF for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44]) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-096.htmlPHS 2011-02)
PHS 2011-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42]) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-097.html)
Who are the primary Scientific Contacts for these FOAs?
Abby G. Ershow, Sc.D.
Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, NHLBI
6701
Rockledge Drive, Room 8160, Bethesda, MD 20892
Ph: 301-435-0550; Fax: 301-480-3667 Email: ErshowA@nhlbi.nih.gov
Charles M. Peterson MD, MBA
Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center Building 1054
Patchel Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5012
Ph: 301-619-4197; Fax: 301-619-2518 Email: charles.peterson@tatrc.org