NIH GUIDE, Volume 22, Number 30, August 20, 1993

Keywords:
Nutrition/Dietetics
Biology, Cellular
Sensory System

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Dental Research
National Institute on Aging
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Program Announcement (PA) is to foster basic and clinical research on the interactions between chemoreception and nutrition. This research may involve the effects of nutritional variables on taste, smell, and somatosensory chemoreception, or this research may involve the effects of chemosensory variables on nutrition and diet.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This PA, Chemoreception and Nutrition, is related to the priority area of nutrition. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-11474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-11473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Applications from minority individuals and women are encouraged. Foreign institutions are not eligible for the First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) Award (R29).

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

The mechanisms available for the support of this program are research project grants (R01) and the FIRST Award (R29).

Applicants from institutions that have a General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources NCRR) may wish to identify the GCRC as a resource for conducting the proposed research. In such a case, a letter of agreement from either the GCRC program director or Principal Investigator must be included with the application.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The support of nutrition research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) includes studies designed to assess the consequences of food or nutrient intake and utilization in the intact organism, including humans, and the metabolic and behavioral mechanisms involved. These studies encompass investigation of nutrient variables at the cellular or subcellular level. These studies also include investigations of genetic/ environmental interactions in which a nutrient is a variable and dietary practices are expected to produce changes in health status, including the maintenance of health and the treatment of disease in humans. Current research in nutrition at the NIH is periodically reported in the Nutrition Coordinating Committee's publication entitled "Nutrition Research at the NIH," which includes examples of nutrition-related chemosensory research supported by the NIH. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Nutrition Research at the NIH" (NIH Publication No. 91-2611) through the Division of Research Coordination, Building 31, Room 4B63, Bethesda, MD 20892 (telephone 301-496-4982).

The goal of this PA is to foster basic and clinical research that will lead to a better understanding of the interactions between chemoreception and nutrition and better preventive interventions for chemosensory and nutritional disorders. This research may involve the effects of nutritional variables on chemoreception, including taste, smell, and somatosensory responses related to oral and nasal chemoreception; this research may also be focused on the effects of chemosensory variables on nutrition and diet. A broad range of studies covering the molecular to the behavioral levels of research is encouraged. Interactions among investigators in various biomedical and behavioral fields and disciplines are encouraged, including nutrition, psychophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Research topics might include those below. Investigators are encouraged to consider other topics relevant to this program.

• Nutritional influences, including excessive nutrient intake, on the molecular structure and function of chemosensory epithelia and on secretory transport and other perireceptor events related to chemoreception, including mucosal defense mechanisms.
• Alteration of chemosensory receptor membrane events, including the modification of sweet, bitter, sour, and salt taste sensation, by influencing receptor binding or second messenger activation.
• Nutritional influences on the regeneration cycle of olfactory receptor neurons and taste bud cells under normal physiological conditions and after injury to the chemosensory systems.
• Effects of dietary alterations in early life on the structure and function of chemosensory systems, including trigeminal chemoreception; effects of dietary alterations in early life on the development of sweet, bitter, sour, and salty taste and amiloride-sensitive sodium channels.
• Mother-infant relationships involving odors and nutrition.
• Relation of smell, taste, and somatosensory aspects of flavor perception to the amount of food consumed and the types of foods selected and rejected.

• Genetic studies involving food preferences and individual differences in chemosensory abilities, for example, the ability to taste phenylthiourea and other bitter substances and to smell androstenone; studies of patients with Kallmann's disease or familial dysautonomia.

• Associations between chemosensory disorders and altered food intake in age-related conditions and various chronic disease states, including oral and dental diseases (e.g., xerostomia, dental caries, and periodontal disease), obesity, diabetes, inborn errors of metabolism, and digestive, hepatic, and kidney diseases.
• Effects of artificial sweeteners and salt substitutes on nutrition and chemoreception.
• Nutritional and chemosensory status in special subpopulations, including minorities, nursing mothers, and postmenopausal women with burning mouth symptoms; individuals with pseudohypoparathyroidism associated with G protein deficiency and hyposmia; those receiving hormonal therapy.
• Iatrogenic alterations of nutritional and chemosensory status resulting from interventions, such as oral and dental prosthesis, hemodialysis, irradiation, and chemotherapy.
• Impact of the affective dimensions of chemoreception in health and disease on food choices and utilization; impact of depressive and eating disorders on chemosensory affect and sensitivity; impact of dysosmia and dysgeusia on food choices and intake.
• Role of chemoreception in digestion and metabolism of nutrients.
• Development of chemosensory test stimuli that mimic chemosensory properties of food and permit stimulus control.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF NIH POLICIES CONCERNING INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS.

NIH and ADAMHA policy is that applicants for NIH/ADAMHA clinical research grants and cooperative agreements are required to include minorities and women in study populations so that research findings can be of benefit to all persons at risk of the disease, disorder or condition under study; special emphasis must be placed on the need for inclusion of minorities and women in studies of diseases, disorders and conditions which disproportionately affect them. This policy is intended to apply to males and females of all ages. If women or minorities are excluded or inadequately represented in clinical research, particularly in proposed population-based studies, a clear compelling rationale must be provided.

The composition of the proposed study population must be described in terms of gender and racial/ethnic group. In addition, gender and racial/ethnic issues must be addressed in developing a research design and sample size appropriate for the scientific objectives of the study. This information must be included in the form PHS 398 in Sections 1-4 of the Research Plan AND summarized in Section 5, Human Subjects. Applicants/offerors are urged to assess carefully the feasibility of including the broadest possible representation of minority groups. However, the NIH recognizes that it may not be feasible or appropriate in all research projects to include representation of the full array of United States racial/ethnic minority populations (i.e., Native Americans [including American Indians or Alaskan Natives], Asian/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics). The rationale for studies on single minority population groups should be provided.

For the purpose of this policy, clinical research is defined as human biomedical and behavioral studies of etiology, epidemiology, prevention (and preventive strategies), diagnosis, or treatment of diseases, disorders or conditions, including but not limited to clinical trials.

The usual NIH policies concerning research on human subjects also apply. Basic research or clinical studies in which human tissues cannot be identified or linked to individuals are excluded. However, every effort should be made to include human tissues from women and racial/ethnic minorities when it is important to apply the results of the study broadly, and this should be addressed by applicants.

For foreign awards, the policy on inclusion of women applies fully; since the definition of minority differs in other countries, the applicant must discuss the relevance of research involving foreign population groups to the United States' populations, including minorities.

If the required information is not contained within the application, the application will be returned.

Peer reviewers will address specifically whether the research plan in the application conforms to these policies. If the representation of women or minorities in a study design is inadequate to answer the scientific question(s) addressed AND the justification for the selected study population is inadequate, it will be considered a scientific weakness or deficiency in the study design and reflected in assigning the priority score to the application.

All applications for clinical research submitted to the NIH are required to address these policies. NIH funding components will not award grants or cooperative agreements that do not comply with these policies.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (Rev. 5/95) and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines as indicated in the application kit.

Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, Bethesda, MD, 20892, telephone: (301) 435-0714; and from the institution’s office of sponsored research. The title and number of the announcement must be typed in line 2 on the face page of the application.

The completed original application and five legible copies must be sent or delivered to:

Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Suite 1040
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Telephone: (301) 435-0714

REVIEW PROCEDURES

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by study sections of the Division of Research Grants, NIH, in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. Following scientific-technical review, the applications will receive a second-level review by an appropriate National Advisory Council or Board.

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review
• Program balance among research areas of the announcement
• Availability of funds

INQUIRIES

Direct inquiries regarding the major areas of research interest in this nutrition program to:

Rochelle Small, Ph.D.
Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Executive Plaza South, Room 400-B
6120 Executive Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 402-3464
FAX: (301) 402-6251

Van S. Hubbard, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Obesity, Eating Disorders and Energy Regulation
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Natcher Building (45), 6AN18F
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-8883
FAX: (301) 480-8300

Eleni Kousvelari, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Caries, Nutrition and Fluoride Program
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher Bldg. (45), Room 4AN24
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-2427
FAX: (301) 480-4180
email: KousvelariE@45de.nidr.nih.gov

Ann Sorenson, Ph.D.
Biology of Aging Program
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Room 2C231
7201 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-6402
FAX: (301) 402-0010

Ephraim Y. Levin, M.D.
Medical Officer, Endocrinology, Nutrition and Growth Branch
Center for Research for Mothers and Children
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Executive Plaza North, Room 637
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-5593
FAX: (301) 402-2085

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Sharon Hunt
Grants Management Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Executive Plaza South, Room 400-B
Rockville, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 402-0909
FAX: (301) 402-1758

Paulette Badman
Grants Management Specialist
Division of Extramural Programs
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Natcher Building (45), 6AS49H
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-8864
FAX: (301) 480-3504

Martin Rubinstein
Chief, Grants Management Section
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher (45), 4AS55
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-4799
FAX: (301) 402-1260

Mary Daley
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Aging
Gateway Building, Room 2N212
7201 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-1472
FAX: (301) 402-0066

Edgar Douglas Shawver
Chief, Maternal and Child Research Grants Management Section
Office of Grants and Contracts
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Executive Plaza North, Room 505
Rockville, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-1303
FAX: (301) 402-0915

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

The programs of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institute on Aging, and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, are identified in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Nos. 93.173, 93.848, 93.121, 93.866 and 93.865, respectively. 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, 42 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.

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