'P' Acronyms

Program Project Application P01  
See: Research Program Projects
Research Program Projects P01  
For the support of a broadly based, multidisciplinary, often long-term research program which has a specific major objective or a basic theme. A program project generally involves the organized efforts of relatively large groups, members of which are conducting research projects designed to elucidate the various aspects or components of this objective. Each research project is usually under the leadership of an established investigator. The grant can provide support for certain basic resources used by these groups in the program, including clinical components, the sharing of which facilitates the total research effort. A program project is directed toward a range of problems having a central research focus, in contrast to the usually narrower thrust of the traditional research project. Each project supported through this mechanism should contribute or be directly related to the common theme of the total research effort. These scientifically meritorious projects should demonstrate an essential element of unity and interdependence, i.e., a system of research activities and projects directed toward a well-defined research program goal.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Minority Institution/Cancer Center Collaboration, Planning Grant P20  
See: Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity
Planning Grants for NCI Cancer Research Centers P20  
See: Exploratory Grants
Exploratory Grants P20  
To support planning for new programs, expansion or modification of existing resources, and feasibility studies to explore various approaches to the development of interdisciplinary programs that offer potential solutions to problems of special significance to the mission of the NIH. These exploratory studies may lead to specialized or comprehensive centers.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Center Core Grants P30  
To support shared resources and facilities for categorical research by a number of investigators from different disciplines who provide a multidisciplinary approach to a joint research effort or from the same discipline who focus on a common research problem. The core grant is integrated with the center's component projects or program projects, though funded independently from them. This support, by providing more accessible resources, is expected to assure a greater productivity than from the separate projects and program projects.

For additional information, see NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms.

See Also: Cancer Center ;  Cancer Center Support Grant ;  Center Grants
Cancer Center Support Grant P30 or CCSG  
Funds awarded to certain U.S. institutions by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for them to become cancer centers in the United States, based on scientific merit. The funds help the cancer centers improve the way they are run and develop new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. To receive the award, one goal of the cancer center must be to turn clinical and basic research into better health care. Also called CCSG.

Quoted from the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

For additional information, visit the NCI Office of Cancer Centers webpage and the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

See Also: Center Core Grants ;  Center Grants
Biotechnology Resource Grant Program P41  
To support biotechnology resources available to all qualified investigators without regard to the scientific disciplines or disease orientations of their research activities or specifically directed to a categorical program area.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Specialized Center P50  
To support any part of the full range of research and development from very basic to clinical; may involve ancillary supportive activities such as protracted patient care necessary to the primary research or R&D effort. The spectrum of activities comprises a multidisciplinary attack on a specific disease entity or biomedical problem area. These grants differ from program project grants in that they are usually developed in response to an announcement of the programmatic needs of an Institute or Division and subsequently receive continuous attention from its staff. Centers may also serve as regional or national resources for special research purposes.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms website.

Program Announcement PA  
A PA is a formal statement about a new or ongoing extramural activity or program. It may serve as a reminder of continuing interest in a research area, describe modification in an activity or program, and/or invite applications for grant support. Most applications in response to PAs may be submitted to a standing submission date and are reviewed with all other applications received at that time using standard peer review processes. NIH may also make funds available through PARs (PAs with special receipt, referral, and/or review considerations) and PASs (PAs with set-aside funds).

PAs may be used for any support mechanism other than construction awards. Unless otherwise specified in the PA, new applications (and associated renewal and revision applications) submitted in response to PAs are treated as investigator-initiated. PAs also are used to annually solicit applications for the SBIR and STTR programs. Those applications must be received by the dates specified in the PA.

Program Announcements (PA) are published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. Go to Program Announcements. Learn more about types of funding opportunity announcements.

Quoted form the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Program Assistant PA  
This person generally works with one or more Program Officers to support the NIH peer review process.
See Also: Staff Assistant
Program Advisory Committee PAC  
Program Advisory Committees (PACs) provide advice on specific research programs, future research needs and opportunities, and identify and evaluate extramural initiatives.

Quoted from Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy (OFACP) "Overview of Federal Advisory Committees at the NIH".

Program Approval of Competing Application PACA  
Documentation in the official grant file of a program director's (or officer's or official's) evaluation of the scientific aspects of a research project, other support to identify possible overlap, and other factors that may affect a grant's funding level.
Program for the Assessment of Clinical Cancer Tests PACCT  
Many decisions relating to cancer patient management depend on information derived from clinical laboratory tests. Significant research and development are involved in producing a test that is reliable enough for routine clinical use. CDP launched the Program for the Assessment of Clinical Cancer Tests (PACCT) in 2000 to develop a process for moving advances in new technologies and new understanding of cancer biology more efficiently and effectively into clinical practice. PACCT is not a grants program. It leverages many NCI-supported activities to accomplish goals identified by the PACCT Strategy Group. The Strategy Group is comprised of experts from government and the private sector. Areas of expertise include clinical oncology, cancer biology, pathology, diagnostics technology, assay development, clinical trials methodology, statistics, regulatory processes, and patient advocacy. Smaller Working Groups are formed to handle specific projects, and workshops are convened to study particular challenges. Membership in the group varies over time, and additional expertise is sought as needed. The group revisits its mission frequently and makes adjustments as appropriate. This flexibility allows the Program to keep abreast of ever-evolving clinical needs and redirect its efforts accordingly.

Quoted from the NCI DCTD CDP Program for the Assessment of Clinical Cancer Tests (PACCT) webpage.

Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity PACHE  
Initiated in 2001, Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE), formerly known as the Minority Institution Cancer Center Partnership (MI/CCP), is a program that enables institutions serving underserved health disparity populations and underrepresented students (ISUPS) and NCI-designated Cancer Centers (CCs) to train scientists from diverse backgrounds in cancer research and to effectively deliver cancer advances to underserved communities. PACHE training awards are awarded to institutions, not to individuals.

For additional information, visit the NCI Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE) webpage.

Program Advisory Group PAG  
A peer review group which reviews and approves or disapproves concepts for R&D contract projects.

Quoted from NIH Policy Manual Chapter 6315-1.

Program Announcement with Specific Referral PAR  
Program Announcement with special receipt, referral and/or review considerations.

Learn more about types of funding opportunity announcements.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Program Announcements with Set-Aside Funds PAS  
A Program Announcement with Set-Aside Funds (PAS) indicates that funds will be set aside to support research proposed in response to the announcement. The availability of a special fund to support the initiative signals NCI's interest in the research area to the scientific community.

Learn more about types of funding opportunity announcements.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Performance-based Acquisition PBA  
"Performance-based acquisition (PBA)" means an acquisition structured around the results to be achieved as opposed to the manner by which the work is to be performed.

Quoted from §2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium PBTC  
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) was formed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1999 to improve the treatment of primary brain tumors in children. The participating academic centers and children's hospitals are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of the majority of children with primary brain tumors in the United States.

For additional information, visit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium website.

Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study PCOS  
The Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study (PCOS) investigated how prostate cancer and its treatments affect the quality of life of men with the disease.
President's Cancer Panel PCP  
The mission of the President's Cancer Panel is to monitor the activities of the National Cancer Program and report to the President of the United States on barriers to progress in reducing the burden of cancer.
Program Coordination and Referral Branch PCRB  
The Program Coordination and Referral Branch (PCRB) is a branch within the Office of Referral, Review, and Program Coordination of the NCI Division of Extramural Activities. The staff of this branch coordinate the development and publication of NCI program concepts (e.g., Requests for Applications and Program Announcements) and the receipt, referral, and assignment of all grant applications.
Program Director/Principal Investigator PD/PI  
The individual(s) designated by the applicant organization to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project or program to be supported by the award. The applicant organization may designate multiple individuals as program directors/principal investigators (PD/PIs) who share the authority and responsibility for leading and directing the project, intellectually and logistically. When multiple PD/PIs are named, each is responsible and accountable to the applicant organization, or as appropriate, to a collaborating organization for the proper conduct of the project or program including the submission of all required reports. The presence of more than one PD/PI on an application or award diminishes neither the responsibility nor the accountability of any individual PD/PI.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Physician Data Query PDQ  
PDQ® (Physician Data Query) is NCI's comprehensive source of cancer information. It contains cancer information summaries on a wide range of cancer topics; drug information summaries on many cancer-related drugs and drug combinations; and dictionaries of general cancer terms, drug terms, and genetics terms. PDQ also contains a directory of professionals who provide genetics services.
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers PECASE  
The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, established by President Clinton in 1996, is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Recipients are selected for their pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and for their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.

For additional information, visit the NIH OER PECASE webpage.

Positron Emission Tomography PET  
Positron Emission Tomography Scan is s procedure in which a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein, and a scanner is used to make detailed, computerized pictures of areas inside the body where the glucose is taken up. Because cancer cells often take up more glucose than normal cells, the pictures can be used to find cancer cells in the body. Also called PET scan.

Quoted from the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

Public Health Service PHS  
The U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) was structured under the Public Health Service Act of 1944 as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) which was later renamed the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and Human Services including:

-Administration for Children and Families (ACF);
-Administration on Aging (AoA);
-Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ);
-Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR);
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);
-Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS);
-Federal Occupational Health (FOH);
-Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
-Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA);
-Indian health Service (HIS);
-National Institutes of Health (NIH);
-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); and
-Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The central mission of the PHS is to protect the health of the country's population.

Quoted from the Federal Register.

Statement of Appointment Form PHS 2271  
This form is used to appoint individuals as trainees to institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein-National Service Research Award (Kirschstein-NRSA) programs (e.g., T32, T34, T35) and applicable non-NRSA individual and institutional research training programs (e.g., the NIH intramural research training award program and T15 training grants). It can also be used to document the appointment of scholars to institutional career development awards (e.g., K12) and individual participants to research education awards (e.g., R25).

The use of the eRA Commons xTrain system is mandatory to electronically prepare and submit PHS 2271 Statement of Appointment forms.

Quoted from the NIH OER Forms Library Manage Fellows and Trainees webpage.

Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report PHS 2590  
Progress reports are required to continue support of a PHS grant for each budget year within a competitive segment.

NIH requires use of the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for ALL Type 5 (non-competing continuation) annual progress reports. NIH use of the PHS 2590 is restricted to progress reports for administrative extensions (Type 4s; e.g., SBIR/STTR Fast-Track Phase II application).

For additional information, visit the Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report webpage.

Form PHS 398 PHS 398  
These forms are to be used only with paper submissions using the PHS 398. Do not use the PDF samples provided below in an SF424 (R&R) application. These are fillable PDF forms which will cause an error in the electronic submission of an SF424 (R&R) application. See the SF424 (R&R) application page for appropriate formats to be used for electronic submission.
See: Standard Form 424 (Research & Related) [SF424 (R&R)]
See Also: Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking
Principal Investigator Role PI  
See: Program Director/Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator PI  
See: Program Director/Principal Investigator
Personally Identifiable Information PII  
Information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, either alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information that is linked or linkable to a specific individual. Some information that is considered to be PII is available in public sources such as telephone books, public Web sites, and university listings. This type of information is considered to be Public PII and includes, for example, first and last name, address, work telephone number, email address, home telephone number, and general educational credentials. The definition of PII is not anchored to any single category of information or technology. Rather, it requires a case-by-case assessment of the specific risk that an individual can be identified. Non-PII can become PII whenever additional information is made publicly available, in any medium and from any source, that, when combined with other available information, could be used to identify an individual.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Patent License Agreement PLA  
Exclusive Patent License Agreement
  • Exclusive licenses are available, when appropriate, to promote successful commercial development of an invention;
  • An exclusive patent license agreement with the NIH will be based on the model Exclusive Patent License Agreement adopted by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Technology Transfer Policy Board for use by the National Institutes of Health (NIH);
  • A company that wants a license to develop an NIH invention must complete and submit an "Application For License To Public Health Service Inventions" to the NCI Technology Transfer Center (TTC). It is important for the applicant to completely and comprehensively fill out the license application before submission.

Non-Exclusive Patent Licenses grant to the licensee the nonexclusive right to make, use, and sell the technology for commercial purposes. The license is for the life of the last-to-expire patent rights and allows a company to commercialize a technology on a non-exclusive basis. Some companies find that an exclusive license agreement is not required to successfully develop and market technologies, such as diagnostic and prognostic technologies and imaging agents.

Visit the NCI Technology Transfer Center website for additional information.

PubMed Central PMC  
PubMed Central (PMC) is the NIH digital archive of full-text, peer-reviewed journal papers. These papers are indexed with a PMCID, a series of numbers preceded by PMC. PMC content is publicly accessible and integrated with other databases (go to http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/).

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

PubMed Central Reference Number PMCID  
The reference number assigned to an article or manuscript archived in PubMed Central. The PMCID is the number that must be cited on applications, proposals or reports as part of compliance with the Public Access Policy.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym LIst.

See Also: Public Access Policy
PubMed ID Number PMID  
The unique number assigned to a PubMed citation for an article published in a journal. This number does NOT indicate compliance with the Public Access Policy.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Payment Management System PMS  
The HHS centralized grants payment system operated by the Division of Payment Management, Program Support Center. Most HHS (and some other Federal government agencies') recipients receive grant payments through this system.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Patient Navigation Research Network PNRP  
Active Date: 2005-2010

NCI addressed unequal patterns of standard health care access through CRCHD's multisite Patient Navigation Research Program (PNRP). The PNRP focused on developing and testing interventions for follow-up and treatment initiation of four cancers with significant disparity: breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal.

Although anyone could benefit from patient navigation services, the primary participants for this research program were populations experiencing cancer health disparities. These encompass racial/ethnic minorities, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, and residents of rural areas across the U.S.

PNRP grantees conducted formal qualitative and quantitative program evaluations to measure efficacy and cost-effectiveness of interventions and made recommendations for improving access to health care among health disparity populations.

For addition information, visit the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD), Disparities Research, Patient Navigation Research Program (PNRP) webpage.

Program Official (PO)/Program Officer/Project Officer PO  
The NIH official responsible for the programmatic, scientific, and/or technical aspects of a grant.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Patient-Oriented Research POR  
Patient-oriented research. Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects. This area of research includes:
  • Mechanisms of human disease
  • Therapeutic interventions
  • Clinical Trials
  • Development of new technologies
Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List definition of clinical research.
See: Clinical Research
NIH Post-Review Conflict of Interest Certification Form Post COI  
Certifies that Non-Federal and Federal Reviewers did not participate in an evaluation of any application or proposal in relation to which they were in conflict under applicable government ethics standards.

For additional information, visit the NIH OER Managing Conflict of Interest in NIH Peer Review of Grants and Contracts webpage.

Privately Owned Vehicle POV  
Any vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, aircraft, or boat operated by an individual that is not owned or leased by a Government agency, and is not commercially leased or rented by an employee under a Government rental agreement for use in connection with official Government business.

Quoted from §300-3.1 of the Federal Travel Regulation.

Program Project Grant PPG or P01  
See: Research Project Grant
Progress Review Groups PRGs  
Panels consisting of 20 to 30 prominent members of the scientific, medical, and advocacy communities that assess the state of the science for a single type of cancer or a group of closely related cancers and make recommendations for future research.
Protocol Review and Monitoring System PRMS  
A process used at cancer centers for performing in-house review and monitoring of the scientific merit of clinical protocols prior to their activation and use with patients.

The focus of the PRMS is on scientific merit, priorities, and progress of the clinical protocol research of the center. The PRMS should have the authority to open protocols that meet the scientific merit and scientific priorities of the center and to terminate protocols that do not demonstrate scientific progress.

For additional information, see the Current Cancer Center Support Grants (CSSGs) Program Announcement.

Peer Review Oversight Group PROG  
The function of the Peer Review Oversight Group (PROG) was to advise and make recommendations to the Deputy Director for Extramural Research, NIH, and the Director, NIH, on the development and implementation of policies pertaining to the monitoring of, coordination of, and evaluation of peer review conducted at the NIH, to ensure that the review processes keep pace with current advances in research and that the peer reviewer expertise is appropriate for the needs of science.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System PROMIS  
PROMIS® (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) is a set of person-centered measures that evaluates and monitors physical, mental, and social health in adults and children. It can be used with the general population and with individuals living with chronic conditions.

For additional information, visit the HealthMeasures' PROMIS webpage.

Protected Personally Identifiable Information Protected PII  
"Protected PII" means an individual's first name or first initial and last name in combination with any one or more of types of information, including, but not limited to, social security number, passport number, credit card numbers, clearances, bank numbers, biometrics, date and place of birth, mother's maiden name, criminal, medical and financial records, educational transcripts. This does not include PII that is required by law to be disclosed. (See also § 200.79 Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the OMB Uniform Grants Guidance).

Quoted from Grants.Gov Grant Terminology.

Physician Scientist Award PSA  
See: Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology