Franci --

I think you're stuck with designing a 2-year program for $50K/year.
Modular grants are going to force PIs to think differently about how they
structure their research.  Personally, I hate 2-year grants -- you have to
start writing renewals or new applications almost before you've even
analyzed the data from the current study.

Refresh my memory:  Are R15s covered under expanded authorities?  Perhaps,
the PI can design a 2-year program that would pass study section muster,
but then actually take 3 years (speading accordingly, of course), with a
one-year no-cost time extension.  Finally, has the PI called the
appropriate institute to discuss this problem and get their suggestions?

It will be interesting to see over the next few years how NIH actually
funds these modular awards and how we creatively spread the financing!  I
heard from one source that NIH may not actually make all the awards on a
modular basis but might still fund based on a detail budget requested at
the time of the award.  It seems to me that NIH has a problem when they
apply a limit of $100K to 3 years, from the modular point of view.

-- Evelyn

At 08:24 AM 8/17/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Thanks for the advice.    Unfortunately, I didn't mention that NIH-AREA
>grants (R15) are limited to $100K for three years -- hence my math problem:
>she can't apply for 2 modules per year for three years.     I was hoping for
>advice from folks who've actually tried to make the numbers work for AREA
>grants (though modules weren't required until the last deadline, so probably
>not many out there have done this).        I want her to be able to get the
>full $100K, but the only way would be to have a justification for extra
>funding in one of the three years -- or to design a two year program.
>
>Thanks again.
>
>Franci
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Evelyn J. Ford [SMTP:xxxxxx@MAIL.MED.UPENN.EDU]
>> Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 7:04 PM
>> To:   xxxxxx@hrinet.org
>> Subject:      Re: NIH-AREA (R15) budgets
>>
>> Franci --
>>
>> Since you say this PI doesn't really have good justification for #1, and
>> since #2 would significantly reduce the scope of the work proposed, my
>> suggestion would be to use the appropriate modular total for your average
>> of $33K/year, which would be $50K/year.  Who knows what the feds will do
>> when they see your detailed budget if this is funded -- maybe they'll give
>> you two modules in Year 1 and and 1 module each in Years 2 and 3 (this is
>> my own wild guess based on absolutely no information whatsoever! --
>> perhaps
>> someone else out there could comment on that possibility), but I would go
>> for $50K/year, UNLESS the scope of the project can be fit into 2 years
>> (your option #3) @ $50K/year.
>>
>> If the PI is worried about being noncompetitive (even tho the study
>> section
>> is supposed to NOT consider the dollars), then I believe she will have to
>> decide how she could fit her project into one of your 3 other scenarios,
>> but I'd certainly try to persuade her to go with 2 modules/year for 3
>> years.
>>
>> -- Evelyn
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ---
>> Evelyn J. Ford, Manager, Accounting Operations
>> Office of Research Support Services
>> School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
>> 356 Anatomy-Chemistry Building
>> 36th Street and Hamilton Walk
>> Philadelphia PA 19104-6061
>> voice 215.573.1395   fax 215.573.8802
>> xxxxxx@mail.med.upenn.edu
>>
>> At 04:47 PM 8/16/99 -0400, you wrote:
>> >I'm looking for advice about preparing NIH-AREA budgets using modules.
>> >I have a faculty member who needs about $33K per year for a standard
>> three
>> >year research program.  She has no special, one-time needs, to justify an
>> >extra module.    As I understand the module system, she has three
>> options:
>> >1)  Justify extra funding in Year 1 for extra supplies, small equipment,
>> or
>> >other first year costs and cut back on supplies and students in Years 2 &
>> 3
>> >for a $100K budget.  Presumably she could then spend less than
>> anticipated
>> >in Year 1 and carry it over to the later years -- but probably would be
>> >expected to purchase some of those supplies and equipment.
>> >2)  Do a $75K budget -- which means cutting students, supplies, and/or
>> >summer salary.
>> >3)  Do a $100K budget for two years -- which means adding supplies,
>> >equipment, travel, and students.    She probably wouldn't spend it all
>> and
>> >could request a no-cost extension but would end up having to reapply a
>> year
>> >sooner than currently planned.
>> >
>> >Am I missing something?    There doesn't seem to be any way for her to
>> run a
>> >simple, balanced, three year program for $100K.
>> >
>> >Franci Farnsworth
>> >
>> >Frances Vinal Farnsworth
>> >Coordinator of Sponsored Research
>> >Munford House
>> >MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
>> >Middlebury, VT 05753
>> >Tel:  802-443-5889
>> >Fax: 802-443-2081
>> >email:  xxxxxx@middlebury.edu
>> >
>> >
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