Notice Intent Publish Funding Opportunity Announcement Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Centers Research Centers P50) Notice Number: NOT-AR-18-006 Key Dates Release Date: April 13, 2017 Estimated Publication Date Announcement: 2017 First Estimated Application Due Date: October 2017 Earliest Estimated Award Date: July 2018 Earliest Estimated Start Date: July 2018 Related Announcements RFA-AR-18-001 Issued National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute NHLBI) National Institute Arthritis Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases NIAMS) 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 Institute Neurological Disorders Stroke NINDS), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health Human Development NICHD), the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute NHLBI), intend promote the reissue an ongoing initiative publishing Funding Opportunity Announcement FOA) solicit new renewal applications Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Research Centers. NIH expects make to three Center awards response this upcoming FOA, contingent upon scientific merit the applications availability funds. NIH established Centers Excellence program 2003 part an ongoing effort enhance intensify research the muscular dystrophies. Centers described the MD-CARE Act subsequent reauthorizations 2008 2014, 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. FOA expected be published Spring 2017 an expected application due date Fall 2017. FOA utilize P50 activity code instead the U54, was used prior awards. scope, funding level, programmatic requirements the Centers not change NIH Program Officers continue promote communication coordination across network Centers. Notice being provided allow potential applicants sufficient time develop meaningful collaborations responsive projects Details the planned FOA provided below. Research Initiative Details Notice encourages investigators expertise insights translational clinical muscular dystrophy research consider organizing collaborative groups prepare applications this FOA. 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 natural history studies, biomarker development, early stage clinical trials, patient-oriented studies facilitate future trials, biopsychosocial studies, health services research, etc. Center also contain basic and/or preclinical translational research, long efforts directed toward steps required the development therapies, including therapeutic target identification, characterization validation; development pharmacodynamic biomarkers surrogate endpoints; animal model development characterization; candidate therapeutic screening, 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, a training core promotes career development junior researchers. Centers should also an administrative core oversee activities the center well organize patient community outreach activities. Centers supported through FOA participate biennial meetings the Centers the program promote communication collaborations. APPLICATIONS NOT BEING SOLICITED THIS TIME. Inquiries Please direct inquiries to: Tom Cheever, Ph.D. National Institute Arthritis Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases NIAMS) Telephone: 301-594-5019 Email:
thomas.cheever@nih.gov Glen Nuckolls, Ph.D. National Institute Neurological Disorders Stroke NINDS) Telephone: 301-496-5876 Email:
nuckollg@ninds.nih.gov Danuta Krotoski, Ph.D. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Child Health Human Development NICHD) Telephone: 301-495-5576 Email:
tu36j@nih.gov Jonathan R. Kaltman, M.D. National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute NHLBI) Telephone: 301-435-0510 Email:
kaltmaj@nhlbi.nih.gov