Since we received a lot of interest regarding software to complete the new
PHS 398, I wanted to let the group know that we have changed our plans
regarding the development of the run-time PHS 398 forms.  It was going to
take too much time (ie, couldn't have them ready until the end of this
calendar year at the earliest) and cost too much money.

So, here's our revised plan:

BCM and UCLA are working together to create new PHS 398 and 2590 templates
in Microsoft Word and Excel for both the PC and Mac.  Our target date for
completion is Sept. 1.  At this time, we'll load the templates on our Home
page (http://www.bcm.tmc.edu) and will make them available to anyone who
would like to download and use them.

We're still planning to create a Web form filler, which will probably not
be ready in time for October 1 NIH submissions.  After we get through the
Oct. 1 deadline, we'll consider creating NIH templates in other software
packages and also make them available to the user community.

In addition to loading the templates on the Web, we'll hand out diskettes
containing the templates to investigators who don't have access to the Web
or who don't use the Web.

Hope this plan will help you out.  If you hear of others who are creating
templates, or creating other electronic solutions, I'd be interested in
hearing about them.   If you'd like to discuss further, feel free to send me
an e-mail message or give me a call!
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*****************************************************************
Susan M. Krause
Director, Research Information and Funding Services
Office of Research
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, S-103
Houston, TX  77030
phone-(713) 798-6970
fax-(713) 798-6990
e-mail: xxxxxx@bcm.tmc.edu
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