Grants for Research Projects
Federal Register: November 10, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 216)
Rules and Regulations
Page 57918-57921
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr10no09-11
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health 42 CFR Part 52
Docket No. NIH-2007-0929
RIN 0925-AA42
Grants for Research Projects
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human
Services.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health is amending the current regulations governing grants for research projects by revising the definition of Principal Investigator to mean one or more individuals designated by the grantee in the grant application and approved by the
Secretary, who is or are responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the project, rather than limiting the role of Principal
Investigator to one single individual; and the conditions for multiple or concurrent awards pursuant to one or more applications.
DATES: This final rule is effective December 10, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Moore, NIH Regulations Officer,
Office of Management Assessment, National Institutes of Health, 6011
Executive Boulevard, Room 601, MSC 7669, Rockville, MD 20852-7669, or telephone 301-496-4607.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 30, 2003, the NIH Director announced a series of far reaching strategic initiatives known collectively as the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research (NIH Roadmap). The
NIH Roadmap is an innovative approach designed to transform the
Nation's medical research capabilities and accelerate fundamental research discovery and translation of that knowledge into effective prevention strategies and new treatments. One of the NIH Roadmap initiatives encourages interdisciplinary research and team science and includes a recommendation to modify grant and research contract applications to allow for the proposing of more than one Principal
Investigator when appropriate. This is congruent with the January 4, 2005, directive issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) to all Federal research agency heads instructing the heads to accommodate the recognition of two or more Principal Investigators on research projects (grants and contracts). This OSTP policy does not prohibit the use of a single Principal
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Investigator when that is most appropriate for a particular research project; it simply permits the designation of one or more than one
Principal Investigator when that more accurately reflects the management needs of a research project.
For the purpose of implementing the NIH Roadmap initiatives, now known as the Common Fund, the NIH plans to modify research grant and contract applications to request information on more than one Principal
Investigator, consistent with the OSTP policy establishing the appropriateness of multiple Principal Investigators. Accordingly, we are revising the definition of the term Principal Investigator set forth in section 52.2 of the Grants for Research Projects regulations, codified at 42 CFR part 52, so that it does not limit the role of
Principal Investigator to one single individual, and the conditions for multiple or concurrent awards set forth in section 52.6, paragraph (d) of the Grants for Research Projects regulations, codified at 42 CFR part 52, to permit the Secretary to evaluate, approve, and make one or more awards pursuant to one or more applications.
As announced in NIH notice number OD-07-017 (http://grants.nih.gov/ grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-017.html), these individuals must be judged by the applicant organization to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project or program supported by the grant in order to be considered Principal
Investigators. While this rule permits the applicant organization to designate multiple individuals as Principal Investigators who share the authority and responsibility for leading and directing the project, intellectually and logistically, each Principal Investigator is responsible and accountable to the applicant organization (or as appropriate, to a collaborating organization) for the proper conduct of the project or program, including the submission of all required reports. In other words, the presence of more than one identified
Principal Investigator on an application or award diminishes neither the responsibility nor the accountability of any individual Principal
Investigator.
Additionally, under current regulations, the Secretary is permitted to evaluate, approve, and make more than one award pursuant to two or more applications. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to disaggregate a single application to make more than one award. For example, in the case of an application for support of a project that involves more than one Principal Investigator affiliated with more than one institution, it may be desirable to administer the project with more than one award. In addition, applications that involve subprojects may be disaggregated into separate awards to improve scientific management.
The revised regulatory language clarifies options and provides an opportunity to contemplate more than one award that may involve more than one institution in response to a single application. In some of these cases, separate records will be associated in the NIH data system so that the components can be managed as a single project to promote close collaboration with their counterparts. Actual awards also will be associated through special terms of award to clearly note collaborations and any special requirements resulting from such collaborations. In other cases, it may be appropriate to consider multiple applications from more than one institution that are managed as a single unit, with multiple awards to the different institutions to facilitate collaboration.
We believe this change will foster interdisciplinary and collaborative research and will improve management flexibility even when components of such collaborative research programs are administered by different NIH awarding components.
On June 25, 2007, we published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register (72 FR 34655-34657) in which we announced our intention to amend the current regulations governing NIH grants for research projects, as previously discussed, and solicited public comment. We provided for a 60-day comment period. We received comments from 11 separate individuals and institutions concerning various aspects of the NPRM. Most comments supported NIH's proposed actions.
However, several comments raised concerns about the actions. In order to make it easier to identify comments and NIH's responses to the comments, the word ``Comment'' appears in parentheses before the description of the comment, and the word ``Response'' appears in parentheses before NIH's response.
(Comment) Three commenters indicated that having multiple PIs on a research grant would result in many disputes, some of which would need to be resolved by NIH. They suggested that one person will always have the vision that guides the study and that having additional PIs could lead to confusion and diffuse authority and could result in a team that is less productive. They indicated that NIH should not permit more than a single PI.
(Response) The NIH believes there are many projects that already involve collaboration at the leadership level. Also, there are many projects that cannot be accomplished without a partnership between individuals with different disciplinary or experimental backgrounds.
Offering the option of having more than one PI will enable all members of the leadership team to be recognized for their respective contributions. It is not clear to us that there will be more disputes in a partnership setting than there would be in a more hierarchical setting. However, each multiple PI application must include a leadership plan that establishes an approach for dispute resolution.
This approach has been used successfully for many years in the administration of program project and center grants, which involve more than one research component. Furthermore, NIH will not require all projects to include more than one PI. The NIH is offering this management approach as an option to more effectively credit partnering collaborators.
(Comment) One commenter stated that allowing multiple PIs will permit more senior investigators to take money away from junior collaborators.
(Response) The issue of inequities between junior and senior collaborators is an issue that all institutions need to consider. The
NIH believes that in cases of a true partnership, recognizing the names of both junior and senior collaborating PIs will offer an opportunity to reduce any power differential that might exist with respect to the project or within the grantee organization. It is not clear how making this option available would allow more senior investigators to take money away from junior collaborators.
(Comment) One commenter supported the proposed revision of the definition of the term ``Principal Investigator'' in section 52.2.
However, the same commenter was concerned that institutions should be consulted if NIH decides to make more than one award in response to a singe application (section 52.6).
(Response) We agree with the second comment that NIH should consult with institutions when it decides to make more than one award in response to a single application (section 52.6). Over the years NIH has occasionally disaggregated complex multiple project awards into separate, single project awards when the individual projects have appeared to be more meritorious than the combined, multicomponent approach. In all such cases, NIH
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consulted the grantee institution(s) before such awards were made. We agree with the proposal and have modified the language set forth in section 52.6 to read as follows: ``* * * [T]he Secretary may evaluate, approve, and make one or more awards pursuant to one or more applications. When making more than one award in response to a single application, the Secretary shall consult with the applicant organization(s), as appropriate.''
(Comment) One commenter was concerned that the rationale for disaggregating single applications into several awards was not fully articulated. The commenter believed that it could have utility in the case of a project that involved collaborating PIs at different institutions, which could be supported through multiple, linked awards, but in the view of the commenter, this was not sufficiently explained in the final rule.
(Response) The commenter provided an important point. As previously indicated, NIH has experience in disaggregating complex awards into one or more discrete projects when the individual projects are more meritorious than the combined, complex project. In the case of collaborative applications for a single project that involves more than one institution, it may be ideal from a management perspective to make more than one award that is linked to fund the remote parts of the project. The alternative and more commonly employed approach is to make a single award to one of the institutions and to manage the parts of the project that occur at a separate institution through a sub-award.
The NIH has used both approaches. Presently, NIH is not in a position to consider large numbers of collaborative applications that involve multiple institutions or to manage a large number of linked awards.
Nonetheless, the change in the final rule will permit such management approaches in the future.
(Comment) One commenter supported the proposal to allow multiple
PIs and multiple awards in response to a single application.
(Comment) One commenter supported the proposed redefinition of the term Principal Investigator and the language which permits the evaluation approval and issuance of more awards pursuant to one or more grant applications.
(Comment) One commenter supported the proposed rule, indicating that it will encourage collaboration and will facilitate the management, oversight, and stewardship of Federal funds.
(Comment) One commenter supported the proposed revision of the definition of ``Principal Investigator,'' indicating that it will preserve the role, authority and responsibility of all collaborating
PIs.
(Comment) One commenter fully supported expanding the position of
Principal Investigator as proposed, indicating that it will better reflect the intellectual leadership of many NIH grants.
(Comment) One commenter indicated that the designation of multiple
Principal Investigators is an excellent idea, noting that it will be beneficial for young investigators who frequently get ``second billing'' on a proposal because of the feeling that a senior colleague is more likely to be funded.
(Comment) One commenter stated that having the ability to make more than one award to recognize collaborating institutions will improve the business process for collaborating institutions, although this was not specifically mentioned in the NPRM.
We provide the following as public information.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) requires that regulatory actions be analyzed to determine whether they create a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The Director, NIH, certifies that this final rule does not have such impact.
Executive Order 12866
Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' requires that all regulatory actions reflect consideration of the costs and benefits they generate and that they meet certain standards, such as avoiding the imposition of unnecessary burdens on the affected public.
If a regulatory action is deemed to fall within the scope of the definition of the term ``significant regulatory action'' contained in section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, prepublication review by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)'s Office if Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is necessary. This final rule was reviewed under Executive Order 12866 by OIRA and was deemed significant.
Executive Order 12866 also requires each agency to write all rules in plain language. With this in mind, we have made every effort to make this rule easy to understand.
Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132, Federalism, requires that Federal agencies consult with State and local government officials in the development of regulatory policies with Federalism implications. The Director, NIH, has reviewed this final rule and as required has determined that it does not have any Federalism implications. The Director, NIH, certifies that the final rule will not have an effect on the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995
This final rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of
$12,000,000 or more [adjusted for inflation] in any one year and will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This final rule contains information collection requirements that were approved under OMB 0925-0001 in April 2006.
The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance numbered programs that are affected by the final rule include the following: 93.113--Biological Response to Environmental Health Hazards 93.114--Applied Toxicological Research and Testing 93.115--Biometry and Risk Estimation-Health Risks from Environmental
Exposures 93.118--Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Activity 93.121--Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.135--Centers for Research and Demonstration for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 93.136--Injury Prevention and Control Research and State and
Community Based Programs 93.172--Human Genome Research 93.173--Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.184--Disabilities Prevention 93.213--Research and Training in Complementary and Alternative
Medicine 93.242--Mental Health Research Grants 93.262--Occupational Safety and Health Program 93.271--Alcohol Research Career Development Awards for Scientists and Clinicians 93.273--Alcohol Research Programs 93.279--Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.281--Mental Health Research Career/Scientist Development Awards 93.283--Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Investigations and Technical Assistance 93.361--Nursing Research 93.389--National Center for Research Resources
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93.390--Academic Research Enhancement Award 93.393--Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394--Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395--Cancer Treatment Research 93.396--Cancer Biology Research 93.701--Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Grant 93.702--NCRR Recovery Act Construction Support 93.821--Biophysics and Physiological Sciences Research 93.827--Heart and Vascular Diseases Research 93.838--Lung Diseases Research 93.839--Blood Diseases and Resources Research 93.846--Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.847--Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research 93.848--Digestive Diseases and Nutrition Research 93.849--Kidney Diseases, Urology and Hematology Research 93.853--Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders 93.855--Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation Research 93.856--Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research 93.859--Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.865--Research for Mothers and Children 93.866--Aging Research 93.867--Vision Research 93.879--Medical Library Assistance 93.929--Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research 93.934--Fogarty International Center Research Collaboration Award 93.939--Blood Diseases and Resources Research 93.941--HIV Demonstration, Research, Public and Professional
Education Projects 93.942--Research, Treatment and Education Programs on Lyme Disease in the United States 93.943--Epidemiologic Research Studies of Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection in
Selected Population Groups 93.947--Tuberculosis Demonstration, Research, Public and
Professional Education
List of Subjects in 42 CFR Part 52
Grant programs--Health, Medical research, Occupational safety and health.
Dated: July 21, 2009.
Raynard S. Kington,
Director, National Institutes of Health.
Approved: September 22, 2009.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary. 0
For reasons presented in the preamble, we amend Part 52 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations as set forth below.
PART 52--GRANTS FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS 0 1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 216. 0 2. We amend Sec. 52.2 by revising the definition of the term
``Principal investigator'' to read as follows:
Sec. 52.2 Definitions.
* * * * *
Principal investigator means the individual(s) judged by the applicant organization to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project or program supported by the grant and who is or are responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the project.
* * * * * 0 3. We amend Sec. 52.6 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 52.6 Grant awards.
* * * * *
(d) Multiple or concurrent awards. Whenever a research project involves a number of different but related problems, activities or disciplines which require evaluation by different groups, or whenever support for a project could be more effectively administered by separate handling of separate aspects of the project, the Secretary may evaluate, approve, and make one or more awards pursuant to one or more applications. When making more than one award in response to a single application, the Secretary shall consult with the applicant organization(s), as appropriate.
* * * * *
FR Doc. E9-27025 Filed 11-9-09; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
