Notice Intent Publish Request Applications Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers U54) Notice Number: NOT-AR-13-002 Key Dates Release Date: February 6, 2012 Estimated Publication Date Announcement: 4, 2012 First Estimated Application Due Date: November 19, 2012 Earliest Estimated Award Date: July 1, 2013 Earliest Estimated Start Date: July 1, 2013 Issued National Institute Arthritis Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases NIAMS) National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute NHLBI) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health Human Development NICHD) National Institute Neurological Disorders Stroke NINDS) Purpose National Institute Arthritis Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases NIAMS), the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute NHLBI), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health Human Development NICHD) the National Institute Neurological Disorders Stroke NINDS), intend promote ongoing initiative publishing Request Applications RFA) solicit new renewal applications Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers. NIH established Centers Excellence program 2003 part an ongoing effort enhance intensify research the muscular dystrophies. Centers described the MD-CARE Act Public Law 107-84 2001 110-361 2008), were named honor the late Senator Paul D. Wellstone. theme each Center must focus one more the muscular dystrophies, include Duchenne, Becker, myotonic, facioscapulohumeral, limb-girdle, congenital, oculopharyngeal, Emery-Dreifuss others. Notice being provided allow potential applicants sufficient time develop meaningful collaborations responsive projects. FOA expected be published the Spring 2012 an expected receipt date the Fall 2012. FOA utilize U54 activity code. Details the planned Funding Opportunity Announcement FOA) provided below. Research Initiative Details Notice encourages investigators expertise insights translational clinical muscular dystrophy research consider organizing collaborative group prepare application this new FOA. nbsp;Successful applicants foster translation new scientific findings technological developments novel treatments other strategies improving lives muscular dystrophy patients. Center should involve clinical research direct interactions between researchers muscular dystrophy patients. Appropriate clinical studies include early stage clinical trials, patient-oriented studies facilitate future trials, natural history studies, biomarker identification validation, biopsychosocial studies, etc. Center also contain basic and/or preclinical translational research, long efforts directed toward steps required therapeutic development, including therapeutic target identification, characterization, validation, development diagnostics biomarkers characterize stratify patient populations, vitro assay development, animal model development characterization, candidate therapeutic efficacy screening, preclinical therapeutic optimization FDA-required activities leading an investigational new drug IND) application. Applicants should propose multi-disciplinary collaborative studies will significantly accelerate progress toward effective treatments other improvements patients' lives. Research problems should require substantial collaborative efforts solve, thus best carried in center setting. Center should at least core facility shares services resources the national international muscular dystrophy research community another core promotes training, education outreach activities. Centers supported through FOA participate annual meetings the existing Centers the program promote communication collaborations. APPLICATIONS NOT BEING SOLICITED THIS TIME. Inquiries Please direct inquiries to: Glen H. Nuckolls, Ph.D. Director, Muscle Disorders and Therapies Program Division Musculoskeletal Diseases National Institute Arthritis Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases NIAMS) National Institutes Health NIH) U.S. Department Health Human Services Democracy Plaza, Suite 800 6701 Democracy Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20892-4872 couriers 20817) 301-594-4974
nuckollg@mail.nih.gov John D. Porter, Ph.D. Program Director, Neuromuscular Disease National Institute Neurological Disorders Stroke NINDS) National Institutes Health 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 2142 Bethesda, MD 20892-9523 courier services, Rockville, MD 20852) Telephone: 301) 496-5739 FAX: 301) 402-1501 Email:
porterjo@ninds.nih.gov Ljubisa Vitkovic, Ph.D. Program Director Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Branch Center Developmental Biology Perinatal Medicine Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health Human Development NICHD), NIH 6100 Executive Boulevard Room 4B09E, MSC 7510 Bethesda, MD 20892 Phone: 301) 402-1822 Fax: 301) 496-3791 Email:
vitkovil@mail.nih.gov Jonathan R. Kaltman, M.D. Heart Development Structural Diseases Branch Division Cardiovascular Diseases National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute NHLBI) Rockledge Center 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 8104 Bethesda, MD 20892-7940 (use Zip Code 20817 express/courier service) Telephone: 301) 435-0510 FAX: 301-480-1454 Email:
kaltmanj@nhlbi.nih.gov