The NIBIB has issued several new research solicitations in areas concerning small animal imaging, cellular- and molecular-level imaging, telehealth, imaging technology research, image-guided interventions, and advanced biomaterials. These solicitations include Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs) and use the NIH R01 (basic NIH research grants), R21 (novel or exploratory research), and/or SBIR/STTR mechanisms.

The detailed solicitations can be accessed in the "NIH Guide" - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html - or the For Investigators page of the NIBIB Web site - http://www.nibib.nih.gov/research/investigators.htm . Applications are due in calendar year 2003 on the specified receipt dates.

Summaries of the new announcements include:
Systems and Methods for Small Animal Imaging (RFA EB-03-002) - released on November 18, 2002. Applications are due at the NIH on February 13, 2003. Notices of intent are requested by January 16, 2003. This solicitation uses the NIH R01 and R21 mechanisms to support multi-disciplinary research related to the development of small animal imaging devices or methods that can be broadly applied to research on diverse biological or disease processes. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-002.html

Systems and Methods for Small Animal Imaging - SBIR/STTR (PA-03-031) - released on November 18, 2002. This announcement is the SBIR/STTR companion to RFA EB-03-002 described above. Applications are due at the NIH on April 1, August 1, and December 1. This announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-031.html.

Research and Development of Systems and Methods for Cellular and Molecular Imaging (RFA EB-03-003) - released on November 20, 2002. Applications are due at the NIH on February 13, 2003. Notices of intent are requested by January 16, 2003. This solicitation uses the NIH R01 and R21 mechanisms to support multi-disciplinary research in the area of cellular and molecular imaging and/or spectroscopy that can be applied to multiple biological processes or diseases. This announcement is a follow-up to EB-02-001 that was issued in February 2002. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-003.html

Telehealth Technologies Development (RFA-03-005) - released on November 18, 2002. Applications are due at the NIH on March 13, 2003. Notices of intent are due on February 13, 2003. This program uses the NIH R01 and R21 mechanisms to support research aimed at the design and development of technologies and instruments that can be applied to a broad range of
disorders or diseases. For this program, telehealth is considered to be the use of communications technologies to provide an support health care at a distance. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-005.html

Low-Cost Medical Imaging Devices (RFA EB-03-006) - released on January 6, 2003. Applications are due at the NIH on March 14, 2003. This RFA uses the R01 and R21 award mechanisms to support research and development of low-cost imaging devices used for detection, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease and injury. This initiative is directed at the invention and development of low-cost imaging devices for more efficient application and worldwide use of medical imaging devices. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-006.html

Improvements in Imaging Methods and Technologies (RFA EB-03-007) - released
on November 20, 2002. Applications are due at the NIH on March 24, 2003. This RFA uses the R01 and R21 award mechanisms to support multi-disciplinary investigations aimed at improving and extending technologies for biomedical imaging. The primary focus is on technological and methodological advances in human imaging. The announcement can be accessed at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-007.html

Telehealth Technologies Development - SBIR/STTR (PA-03-030) - released on November 18, 2002. Applications are due at the NIH on April 1, August 1, and December 1. This solicitation supports SBIR and STTR initiatives aimed at the design or development of novel telehealth instrumentation or technologies that can be applied to a broad spectrum of diseases or disorders. It is the SBIR companion to RFA EB-03-005 described above. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa-03-030.html

Image-Guided Interventions (RFA EB-03-008) - released in the on December 9, 2002. Applications are due at the NIH on March 25, 2003. This RFA uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism to support basic inter-disciplinary research and the R21 mechanism to support novel investigations. It is aimed at supporting research and development for image-guided interventions including biopsies, surgery, and image-guided therapies. The initiative is intended to drive the development of new technology in areas related to image-guided interventions because of the need for minimally-invasive, image-guided treatment of disease and injury. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-008.html

Development of Advanced Biomaterials (RFA EB-03-009) - released on December 9, 2002. Applications are due at the NIH on March 27, 2003. This RFA uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism to support basic research and the R21 mechanism to support novel investigations. It is aimed supporting research and development of novel biomaterials that can be used for a broad spectrum of biological and medical applications such as implantable medical devices, tissue engineering, drug and gene delivery, imaging agents, materials for minimally-invasive surgery, and biosensors. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-009.html

Research Opportunities in Tissue Engineering (RFA EB-03-010) - released December 30, 2002. Applications are due to the NIH on March 14, 2003. This RFA uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism to support basic research and the R21 mechanism to support novel investigations which address key research challenges in the field of tissue engineering. The overall goal of this solicitation is to provide resources to address the issues that must be overcome in order to continue to move this field forward rapidly. The program structured to provide an opportunity where clinicians, engineers, and scientists from a variety of disciplines can establish research collaborations that will hasten the development of tissue engineering. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-010.html

Development of Novel Drug and Gene Delivery Systems and Devices (RFA EB-03-011) - released December 30, 2002. Applications are due to the NIH on March 25, 2003. This RFA uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism to support basic research and the R21 mechanism to support novel investigations. It is aimed at supporting research which will use engineering principles and practice, to design, develop, and introduce novel approaches, technologies, tools, and methods that will result in new drug and gene delivery systems and devices. The announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-03-011.html

For specific information about any of these programs, please contact the
NIBIB science representative listed in the PA or RFA.