APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 5/95) is to be
used
in applying for these grants.  These forms are available at most
institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained
from
the Office of Grants Information, Division of Research Grants,
National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3034,
MSC
7762, Bethesda, MD 20892 7762, telephone 301/435 0714, Email:
[log in to unmask]

The RFA label available in the PHS 398 application form must be
affixed to the bottom of the face page of the application.
Failure
to use this label could result in delayed processing of the
application such that it may not reach the review committee in
time
for review.  In addition, the RFA title and number must be typed
on
line 2 of the face page of the application form and the YES box
must
be marked.

FIRST award applications must include at least three sealed
letters
of reference attached to the face page of the original
application.
FIRST applications submitted without the required number of
reference
letters will be considered incomplete and will be returned
without
review.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application,
including
the checklist, and three signed, clear, and single sided
photocopies
in one package to:

DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the
application
must also be sent to:

Ethel Jackson, D.D.S.
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233
111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Building 17, Room 1716
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Applications must be received by January 18, 1996.  If an
application
is received after that date, the DRG may contact the applicant
to
determine whether it will be returned to the applicant or be
reviewed
with unsolicited applications for the next regular receipt date.
The
Division of Research Grants (DRG) will not accept any application
in
response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one
currently
pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the
pending
application.  The DRG will not accept any application that is
essentially the same as one already reviewed.  This does not
include
the submission of substantial revisions of applications already
reviewed, but such applications must include an introduction
addressing the previous critique.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be
evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate
peer
review group convened by the NIEHS in accordance with NIH peer
review
procedures.  As part of the initial merit review, all
applications
will receive a written critique and undergo a process in which
only
those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit,
generally the top half of applications under review, will be
discussed, assigned a priority score, and receive a second level
review by the appropriate national advisory council or board.

Review Criteria

o  scientific, technical, or medical significance and originality
of
proposed research as it relates to contributions to knowledge of
health outcomes in women as a result of exposure to
environmentally
derived endocrine disruptors.

o  appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and
methodology proposed to carry out the research;

o  qualifications and research experience of the Principal
Investigator and staff, particularly but not exclusively in the
area
of the proposed research;

o  availability of resources necessary to perform the research;
and

o  adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and
their
subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the
research.
Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be
evaluated.\

o  appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in
relation to
the proposed research.

AWARD CRITERIA

The anticipated date of award is June 1996. The following will
be
considered in making funding decisions:

o  quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review;
o  availability of funds; and
o  program balance among research areas of the announcement.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are
encouraged.
The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential
applicants is welcomed.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

For Human Studies:
Gwen W. Collman, Ph.D.
Chemical Exposures and Molecular Biology Branch
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709
Telephone:  (919) 541-4500
FAX:  (919) 541-2843
Email:  [log in to unmask]

For Animal Studies:
Jerrold Heindel, Ph.D.
Organ and Systems Toxicology Branch
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709
Telephone:  (919) 541-0781
FAX:  (919) 541-2843
Email:  [log in to unmask]

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Mr. David L. Mineo
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709
Telephone:  (919) 541-1373

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.113 and 93.115.  Awards are made under
authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part
A
(Public Law 78 410, as amended by Public Law 99 158, 43 USC 241
and
285) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive
Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to
provide a smoke free workplace and promote the non use of all
tobacco
products.  In addition, Public Law 103 227, the Pro Children Act
of
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases,
any
portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education,
library, day care, health care or early childhood development
services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the
PHS
mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of
the
American people.