Hi-
In the past few months, I have had several investigators request the
"rules" for the various "P" mechanisms for NIH funding.  These are
the Program Project and Center grants (e.g. P01, P20, P30, P50, P60)
which are large, often huge, grants for "broadly based,
multidisiplinary, often long-term research programs".  While specific
PAs and RFAs for which these mechanisms are appropriate may include
considerable description of the types of projects sought and how they
should be organized, many do not and many questions are left
unanswered.  Furthermore, some refer to publications which give the
NIH-wide guidelines for these different mechanisms.  Does anyone know
how to get these?
I believe that part of the problem is that each NIH institute has its
own rules; some have made these available (i.e. NIDA Research
Center Grant Guidelines).  Others have not (?).  For the investigator
who wishes to submit, for example, an unsolicited P01 application for
which there is no clear institute as target (NIAAA?  NIDA? NINDS?),
the need for written guidelines is clear.
I would love to have someone out there FAX me all this info or point
me to a URL or Fed Reg notice....but commiseration will be accepted.
Thanks.
Charlie Hathaway
Charles Hathaway, Ph.D.
Grants Development
Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene
New York State Psychiatric Institute
722 W. 168th St.
New York, NY 10032
(212) 543-5807