Coordinating Center and Data Analysis Center FOAs

Can NIH intramural researchers participate?

• Intramural researchers may be part of a research team, but cannot serve as the PI.

Is there a percent effort requirement or expectation for PIs?

• The effort should reflect the roles and responsibilities of the PIs. This will be considered by peer reviewers as part of the merit review, as well as by NIH.

Are multiple PDs/PIs allowed for the Coordinating Center and the Data Analysis Center?

• Yes.

Can a Coordinating Center or Data Analysis Center PI serve as a PI on any of the Pediatric research sites?

• Yes.

Are foreign components/foreign sites allowed for the Coordinating Center or Data Analysis Center?

• No.

Am I required to submit both Coordinating Center and Data Analysis Center applications?

• No, but be sure to address coordination between the Coordinating Center and Data Analysis Center, in addition to coordination with other aspects of the ECHO program.

Submitting both Coordinating Center and Data Analysis Center applications is encouraged. Do the PIs have to be the same on both applications?

• No. Leadership should reflect the required expertise for each component.

How can Coordinating Center and Data Analysis Center applications be “linked”?

• Each application should be self-contained and will undergo independent review. In the cover letters to your applications, you may indicate that you are submitting both a Coordinating Center and a Data Analysis Center application. Be sure to address coordination between the Coordinating Center and Data Analysis Center, in addition to coordination with other aspects of the ECHO program.

Can the same personnel be included on both the Coordinating Center and the Data Analysis Center applications?

• Yes. The personnel and effort should reflect the required expertise for each component. If some personnel overlap, be sure to justify their roles for both applications

What are the unique responsibilities of the Coordinating Center and the Data Analysis Center?

• Coordinating Center [RFA-OD-16-006]: a central site responsible for organizing and managing activities and logistics for collaborative components of the consortium, including oversight and coordination of all ECHO programs, multi-cohort study design and protocol and informed consent development, administrative management of multiple-site/-project studies, evaluation of progress, data quality and completeness, and sample storage.
• Data Analysis Center [RFA-OD-16-005]: responsible for developing and applying novel analytic methods for combining and analyzing existing and new longitudinal data from disparate extant cohorts, maintaining a data management system, data validation and quality control, and conducting multi-level analyses on pooled consortium data to address the impact of early life exposures on childhood health outcomes.

To whom should the letter(s) of intent be sent and by when?

• Alkis Togias, MD
  Telephone: 240-627-3587
  Fax: 301-480-4258
  Email: togiasa@niaid.nih.gov

• Letters of intent are due by March 15, 2016

Coordinating Center FOA

What are the roles of the Coordinating Center vs. individual projects (e.g., data management, quality control, data distribution inside and outside ECHO)?

• The Coordinating Center will serve as the hub for communication, collaboration, and interaction amongst the studies. ECHO will be overseen by NIH staff and a Steering Committee, which will be co-chaired by the NIH ECHO Program Director, the PI of the Coordinating Center, and the PI of the Data Analysis Center. The Steering Committee will also include the PIs of the Cores (i.e., the PRO Core, the CHEAR Core, and the Genetics Core), the PIs of the pediatric cohorts, and the PI of the IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network Data Coordinating and Operations Center. An Executive Committee of the Steering Committee also will be established, and will be composed of the three co-chairs and a representative from each of the funded elements – one each from the PRO Core, the Genetics Core, CHEAR Core, and the IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network DCOC, as well as one PI collectively representing the cohort sites.
• The individual projects will investigate the key questions of import to their study, but also include measurements of the Core Elements. Further, all studies within each Focus Area will coordinate collection of standard disease-specific questions, as identified by the Focus Area cohort community, in addition to the study-specific questions and Core Elements.

Is the Coordinating Center responsible for managing the operations of the Steering Committee? 

• Yes, the Coordinating Center will manage the functions of the ECHO Steering Committee, including organization of yearly face-to-face scientific and administrative meetings (4 face-to-face meetings will take place during the first year of the ECHO program) and monthly teleconferences, maintenance of Steering Committee minutes, and coordination of ECHO subcommittees and workgroups.
• The Coordinating Center also is responsible for managing the functions of the ECHO External Scientific Board, including organization of face-to-face meetings and teleconferences, maintenance of Scientific Board minutes, and communications between the External Scientific Board, the ECHO Steering Committee and the NIH ECHO Program Director and NIH ECHO team.

Data Analysis Center FOA

Given that there is a Data Analysis Center, what is expected of the research sites in terms of statistical/data management capabilities?

• Pediatric research sites are expected to have the expertise to manage and analyze their own data, to communicate effectively with the Data Analysis Center, and to collaborate with the Data Analysis Center on cross-study analysis plans, interpreting results from those analyses, and writing reports.

Can I include statistical methods development in the application?

• Yes, to the extent that new or enhanced statistical methods are needed to analyze data from the ECHO cohorts.

Are there limitations on the purchase of equipment for data processing and storage?

• The request should reflect the anticipated needs of the ECHO consortium. This will be considered by peer reviewers as part of the merit review, as well as by NIH.