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This announcement redefines the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Grant (R03) mechanism, and extends its use to investigator-initiated applications at the Institutes and Centers (ICs) listed above. The R03 award supports small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources. The characteristics, requirements, preparation, and review criteria for the small grant application are described in this document. Investigators wishing to apply for an R03 grant should be aware that not all ICs accept investigator-initiated R03 applications and that the different ICs may have specific purposes for which they use this funding mechanism. Therefore, all investigators should consult the R03 website at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm as well as the IC staff listed on this website to determine if an R03 application is appropriate. Information related to the use of R03 awards by ICs that do not participate in this program announcement is also listed on the R03 website. Additional information about special initiatives involving R03 awards can be found by searching the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html#search, by examining IC websites, and by consulting with NIH staff. All investigator-initiated small grant applications described in this announcement will be assigned to the ICs according to standard PHS referral guidelines and specific program interests.

Participating Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invite applications for innovative research in biomedical computational science and technology to promote the progress of biomedical research. There exists an expanding need to speed the progress of biomedical research through the power of computing to manage and analyze data and to model biological processes. The NIH is interested in promoting research and developments in computational science and technology that will support rapid progress in areas of scientific opportunity in biomedical research. As defined here, biomedical computing or biomedical information science and technology includes database design, graphical interfaces, querying approaches, data retrieval, data visualization and manipulation, data integration through the development of integrated analytical tools, and tools for electronic collaboration, as well as computational and mathematical research including the development of structural, functional, integrative, and analytical models and simulations.

The Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award (NSADA) (K12) is an award to an educational institution or professional organization to support career development experiences for pediatric neurologists leading to research independence. This is a continuation of the original NSADA program, which was initiated by NINDS in October 1992. Under this award, newly trained pediatric neurologists are to be selected and appointed to this program by the grantee institution. It is expected that individuals appointed to the NSADA program will subsequently apply for their own Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) or the Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23) to continue their research training (see "Research Objectives"). Candidates supported under this award should propose a research plan that has: (1) intrinsic research importance, and (2) will serve as a suitable vehicle for learning the methodology, theories, and concepts needed for a well-trained independent clinician-researcher. The program should be designed to accommodate research candidates with varying levels of experiences. For example, a prospective research candidate with limited experience in a given field of research may find it appropriate to engage in a structured, phased developmental program, including a designated period of didactic training followed by a period of supervised research experience. The entire program should be comparable in scope and rigor to meeting the requirements for an advanced research degree.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) invite research grant applications aimed at understanding or treating Rett Syndrome (RTT). The recent demonstration that mutations in the MeCP2 gene cause most cases of RTT has created new opportunities for both basic and clinical research. Included within the scope of this PA are developmental, molecular genetic, and pathophysiological research, therapy development projects and clinical studies. Studies of the role of MeCP2 in basic biological processes or in the etiology of other neurological or neurobehavioral disorders are also appropriate.

The above sponsoring Institutes and Agencies invite research grant applications in response to this Program Announcement with Set-aside (PAS) that will enhance our understanding of children exposed to domestic violence, community violence, and war/terrorism. This PA is designed to develop new knowledge in these areas and in the definition, identification, epidemiology, prevention, etiology, effects, early intervention, and mechanisms of violence exposure. This PA builds on recommendations from a recent multi-agency research agenda-building workshop held in Washington, DC in July 2002. A complete summary of the meeting presentations and recommendations is available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/crmc/cdb/cdb.htm. Child exposure to violence is a serious public health, justice, social services, and education problem. Such exposure not only compromises the immediate health of children around the world, but also affects their growth and intellectual development, their long-term physical and mental health outcomes, their propensity for prosocial or antisocial behavior and substance abuse, their future relationships with partners and children, and their economic productivity as eventual wage earners. The need for more systematic and multi-disciplinary research in these areas provides the impetus for this PA. Although not participating in this program announcement, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shares an interest in this area of research. For specific information on NIMH interests, see http://www.nimh.nih.gov/grants/nimhviotrauma.cfm.

The goal of this Program Announcement (PA) is to promote the identification of susceptibility genes for complex neurological and neurobehavioral disorders. For this PA, complex disorders are defined as those caused by the interaction of multiple genes, or by a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. Many of these disorders are relatively common and clinically heterogeneous. Projects focusing on any phase of the gene discovery process, from initial patient ascertainment to positional cloning, are appropriate. Novel approaches, including the use of intermediate phenotypes that potentially underlie complex disorders, are also encouraged.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) invite applications for Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (K08s), or Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards (K23s) from physicians and basic scientists interested in pursuing research related to HIV infection of the nervous system. The intent of this Program Announcement (PA) is to encourage research and career development for individuals with a strong commitment to a research career in the area of NeuroAIDS, either in one of the basic sciences relevant to NeuroAIDS or in clinically-oriented research. Research related to the neuropathogenesis, the role of viral or host genetic factors, inflammatory mechanisms, peripheral neuropathy, or neurological dysfunction in the setting of anti-retroviral therapy is of particular interest.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) invites applications for individual postdoctoral National Research Service Award fellowships (F32s) from physicians and basic scientists interested in pursuing research related to HIV infection of the nervous system. The intent of this Program Announcement (PA) is to encourage research and career development for individuals with a strong commitment to a research career in the area of NeuroAIDS, either in one of the basic sciences relevant to NeuroAIDS or in clinically-oriented research. Research related to the neuropathogenesis, the role of viral or host genetic factors, inflammatory mechanisms, peripheral neuropathy, or neurological dysfunction in the setting of anti- retroviral therapy is of particular interest. This PA follows the NRSA rules and regulations as outlined in "RUTH L. KIRSCHSTEIN NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS (F32)" PA-03-067 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-067.html).

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) invite applications to promote research into the role of neuroinflammation in the initiation and expansion of cellular injury and death in the context of HIV-1 infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent evidence indicates that microglial and astrocytic activation results in the release of excitotoxins, arachidonic acid metabolites, reactive oxygen species, cytokines and chemokines that lead to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment in HIV-1 infected individuals. The intent of this PAS is to intensify interest and investigator-initiated research, to attract new investigators to this field, and to mobilize interdisciplinary approaches.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) invite applications dealing with nervous system control of reproduction. The purpose of this PA is to stimulate the development of new technologies and the application of existing innovative technologies to answer questions regarding the neuroendocrine control of reproduction that, up to this point, could not be answered due to limitations in technology. Answers to these questions are particularly critical for human reproduction given the increased evidence for altered neuroendocrine function as an etiological underpinning for certain reproductive diseases and disorders.