Research Network on Promoting Healthy Weight among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Developmental Disabilities

Additional Information:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=280638&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Description:
This announcement solicits applications for the MCH Research Network on Promoting Healthy Weight (HW-RN) among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program. The HRSA autism research programs support research that advances the  evidence base regarding interventions and best practices to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.  This cooperative agreement opportunity will establish and maintain an interdisciplinary, multi-site research forum for scientific collaboration and infrastructure building, which will provide national leadership in research that furthers scientific understanding of obesity risk factors and facilitates the development of interventions designed to improve the health and well-being of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other Developmental Disabilities (DD).  This research will help to advance the evidence base regarding best practices for the prevention and treatment of obesity in this high-risk group and improve Health Care Systems and Delivery, such as interdisciplinary team-based care and improve the health and wellbeing of children and youth with ASD and other DD. The HW-RN will use an interdisciplinary team that will lead and promote coordinated research activities related to promoting healthy weight among children and youth with ASD and other DD.  The interdisciplinary team will be able to conduct multi-site intervention research, secondary data analyses, pilot and feasibility and/or acceptability studies of interventions, and study obesity risk factors and interventions to promote healthy weight among children and youth with ASD and other DD.  The following lists the Network goals and objectives: Infrastructure Development: Develop and maintain an interdisciplinary national network (hereafter referred to as “the Network”) of research entities who collaborate in research designed to improve the promotion of healthy weight through the prevention and treatment of obesity among children and youth with ASD and other DD; Identify gaps, develop and/or update a research agenda for scientific studies building upon advances in research as a result of activities described in the incumbent’s research agenda; Communications: Develop a schedule of on-going communication among Network members, and with the HRSA/MCHB Project Officer; Network Activities: Plan Network activities and research designed to improve the promotion of healthy weight through the prevention and treatment of obesity among children and youth with ASD and other DD.  Such activities and research should address the needs of underserved populations, such as low-income, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants, individuals who have limited access to services, and/or other underserved populations; Build the capacity to advance and implement at least one research study that will address the gaps and promote the research agenda identified by the Network, through both MCHB and other funding sources; Build upon existing knowledge by conducting at least two secondary data analyses using existing large or population-based datasets and/or health records to improve the knowledge about the prevalence of overweight and/or obesity, key risk factors, and obesity-related chronic and secondary health conditions among children and youth with ASD and other DD; Conduct formative work through surveys or literature reviews to understand the biopsychosocial barriers/facilitators to achieving healthy weight among children with ASD and other DD, such as their perspective and experiences on excessive body weight; barriers to physical activity and healthy eating; psychological, biological, medical, social, and environmental influences on obesity and obesity-related health behaviors; Identify effective approaches and/or test the initial efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of two to three intervention programs designed to reduce excessive weight among children and youth with ASD and other DD.  The applicant should consider adapting an existing successful program for children and youth from the general population or selected subgroups and tailoring it for application to children and youth with ASD and other DD. Provide mentored experiences for new investigators; Dissemination: Maintain a Network website to disseminate research findings, generate interest in the Network, and expand Network membership; Develop and disseminate guidelines to practitioners and families focused on the prevention and treatment of obesity among children and youth with ASD and other DD based on completed research and post on the Network website; Develop and implement a plan to disseminate Network findings through at least two peer-reviewed publications per study, two to three webinars, annual Network meetings, and other related activities.  These activities should serve to facilitate the transfer of Network findings to a broader audience such as researchers, health professionals, policy makers, educators, families; Translational Research: Identify opportunities to include children or adolescents with ASD and other DD in ongoing large state-wide or national surveillance and health promotion programs; Expansion Efforts: Leverage external funds to advance and implement critical research that will address identified gaps and promote the research agenda; Collaborate with other MCHB research networks funded through the Autism CARES Act of 2014; such as the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P); The HRSA autism research programs support research on evidence-based practices for interventions to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. The HW-RN will determine the best evidence-based practices and advance the evidence base on effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity in this high-risk group.  Areas of particular concern include, but are not limited to: Need for better knowledge and understanding about the prevalence and extent of the problem of overweight and obesity among children and youth with ASD and other DD, key factors contributing to the possible increased risk, and obesity-related chronic and secondary health conditions among children and youth with ASD and other DD; Opportunities to maximize the impact of obesity prevention and early intervention activities, including anticipatory guidance to parents and health care providers; Improvement in health care delivery services, such as interdisciplinary team-based care; and Healthy lifestyle promotion through innovative programs and research regarding the interacting physical, social, behavioral, and environmental determinants of overweight and obesity at various levels, including the individual, family, school, neighborhood, and larger community. Consistent with HRSA’s mission to improve access to quality services to underserved populations, the MCHB’s intent is to ensure that research activities are responsive to the cultural and linguistic needs of special populations, that services are family-centered and accessible to consumers, and that the broadest possible representation of culturally distinct and historically underrepresented groups is supported through programs and projects sponsored by the MCHB.

Improving Diabetes Management in Children with Type 1 Diabetes (DP3)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-16-003.html

Description:
The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support research to develop, refine, and pilot test innovative strategies to improve management of type 1 diabetes in young children (under 5 years old) and/or school-aged children (ages 5-9 years old).  At the end of the funding period, there should be a well-developed and well-characterized intervention that has been demonstrated to be safe, feasible to implement, acceptable in the target population, and, if promising, ready to be tested in a larger efficacy trial.

Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Type 1 Diabetes Management in Adults (DP3)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-16-002.html

Description:
The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support research that will identify barriers and facilitators to good diabetes self-management in adults with type 1 diabetes. The results from this research should inform future intervention research in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Improving Diabetes Management in Pre-teens, Adolescents and/or Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes (DP3)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-16-001.html

Description:
The goal of this FOA  is to encourage applications from institutions/organizations proposing to develop, refine, and pilot test innovative strategies to improve diabetes management in pre-teens (ages 10-12), adolescents (ages 13-18) and/or young adults (ages 19-30) with type 1 diabetes.  At the end of the funding period, there should be a well-developed and well-characterized intervention that has been demonstrated to be safe, feasible to implement, acceptable in the target population, and, if promising, ready to be tested in a larger efficacy trial.

Mixed Methods Research Training Program for the Health Sciences

Additional Information:
http://www.jhsph.edu/academics/training-programs/mixed-methods-training-program-for-the-health-sciences/about-the-program/why-mixed-methods/

Description:
Instructions for Preparing an Application
Applicants should upload the following information for review as a single PDF document in the following order:

• Cover page stating the title of the concept paper, the name of the applicant, mailing address, and contact information (including e-mail and phone number);
• A one-page statement indicating the basis for interest in attending the summer course and joining the learning community, with a description of their current program of research and plans for funding, mentoring and scientific advisory needs, and other gaps that could be addressed by participating in the Mixed Methods Research Training Program;
• A 2-page concept paper (or full draft application) describing the research project, including questions, aims, and general approach, to employ mixed methods that the Scholar will develop into a submitted proposal;
• A letter from a mentor or supervisor at their home institution;
• A letter from their employer or institution supporting the time to attend the course and participate in the activities before and after the summer course;
• NIH biosketch including other support; and,
• A current curriculum vitae.

Evaluating High-Value Innovations from Low-Resource Communities

Additional Information:
http://www.rwjf.org/en/library/funding-opportunities/2015/evaluating-high-value-innovations-from-low-resource-communities.html?rid=CR0RfoW1kVrIxFKudcSYjlL9Zh7yWU63VdhdaVE2UAc&et_cid=384260

Description:
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to seeking value from all levels of investment in health care, public health, and population health. Through this call for proposals the Foundation intends to pursue several objectives: (1) to identify promising innovations to improve health being implemented in low-resource communities, (2) to evaluate whether the innovations improve health care quality and health without increasing costs; and (3) to disseminate these  innovations as examples for other communities to implement. The evaluation of innovations from low-resource communities is the primary objective of this call for proposals.

Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration 2.0 Department of Health and Human Services, CDC

Additional Information:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=280155

Description:
The purpose of this FOA is to test a model of quality clinical care addressing childhood obesity for U.S. low-income children, especially those enrolled in or eligible for health care coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid. Specifically, the purpose of this FOA is to implement and test the ability of a model of clinical childhood obesity management along with a EHR-referral-based, family-centered pediatric weight management program, to reduce body mass index (BMI) in children with obesity, or overweight with risks (including, e.g., medical and behavioral risks, and family history). Health outcomes of interest include measurable changes in BMI, nutrition and physical activity behaviors, health care satisfaction and service delivery, and quality of life. This will be accomplished through optimized pediatric care:1) Implementation and evaluation of a EHR-referral-based, structured, intensive family-centered weight management program in the clinic or community;2. Collaboration with state CHIP offices to advise a state-wide or regional level project and to be part of a stakeholder group that can help generate suitable recommendations for sustainability and program components to be further replicated or scaled.

Community Action Grants Notah Begay III Foundation

Additional Information:
http://www.nb3foundation.org/grant-seekers/community-action-grants/

Description:
How do we create a culture of health for our children? How do we ensure that everyone - from families to schools to workplaces to government are ALL part of supporting and sustaining the health and wellness of the community? We know that addressing childhood obesity will require more than individual diet and physical activity changes. It will require a community-based collaborative approach to make meaningful change. We also know Native American communities have the inherent knowledge, assets and values to address this health issue within their communities. Community Action Grants support Native American communities in addressing the systemic barriers to good health for our children by providing resources and technical assistance. - See more at: http://www.nb3foundation.org/grant-seekers/community-action-grants/#sthash.8UUZwCMi.dpuf

Personalized Strategies to Manage Symptoms of Chronic Illness (R21)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-16-008.html

Description:
The purpose of this initiative is to encourage interdisciplinary research to decrease symptom burden and enhance health-related quality of life (HRQL) in persons with chronic illness through a) increasing knowledge of the biological mechanisms of symptoms and b) promoting innovative, cost-effective, targeted interventions to prevent, manage or ameliorate these symptoms. 

Promoting Caregiver Health Using Self-Management (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NR-16-003.html

Description:
The purpose of this initiative is to stimulate research in promoting caregiver health using self-management.  Caregiving is an important science area since the number of people living longer with chronic conditions is growing.  Informal caregivers (lay caregivers) are defined as unpaid individuals (spouses, partners, family members, friends, or neighbors) involved in assisting others with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks.  Formal caregivers are paid, delivering care in one’s home or care settings (daycare, residential care facility) (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2012).  This concept focuses on informal caregivers.  

Building Population Health Research Capacity in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (U24)

Additional information:
http://1.usa.gov/1GOUcwk

Description:
The purpose of this initiative is to build the capacity of organizations in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands to conduct ongoing population health research in this region.  The purpose of this initiative is to: (1) build capacity of organizations in the USAPI to conduct population health research, and (2) support population health research projects that will provide novel data for USAPI populations and serve as the foundation for future research efforts. It is expected that projects will reflect community-identified priorities as well as research gaps in the field. It is expected that projects will include collaborations among diverse partners, such as academic institutions, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and Federal or local government agencies. If the applicant organization and partners do not have sufficient expertise in a particular area (e.g., research methodology, biostatistics, data management, etc.), it is expected that the applicant will solicit consultants with this relevant expertise. Project activities may leverage existing federally-funded efforts in the USAPI (e.g., programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support health surveillance or health services) but should not duplicate or supplant these efforts.

Centers in Self-Management of Symptoms: Building Research Teams for the Future (P20)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NR-16-001.html

Description:
The P20 mechanism is used 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. This P20 may lead to center sustainability and/or the ability to be funded through other specialized or comprehensive grants. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to build P20 Centers in the self-management of symptoms and build research teams for the future. The purpose of NINR P20 Centers is to plan and build new research teams in interdisciplinary, biobehavioral research for scientists conducting self-management of symptoms.  In addition these P20 Centers seek to plan and build new research infrastructures and centralized resources in support of self-management of symptoms research. 

Exploratory and Developmental Grant to Improve Health Care Quality through Health Information Technology (IT) (R21)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-14-001.html

Description:

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fund exploratory and developmental research grants that will contribute to the evidence base of how health IT improves health care quality.  This FOA supports the use of a wide variety of research designs in order to generate information regarding the design and development, implementation, use, or impact of health IT on quality.  Depending on the research design and intent of the project, applicants may receive support for: (1) pilot and feasibility or self-contained health IT research projects; (2) secondary data analysis of health IT research; or (3) economic (prospective or retrospective) analyses of a health IT project.  Each grant application must clearly state which type of the three types of studies is being proposed. 

This FOA is focused on five research areas of interest that are needed to support health care quality and are considered part of a continuous quality improvement process.  The five research areas of interest for this FOA are:

1.  Design

2.  Implementation

3.  Use

4.  Impact on outcomes

5.  Measurement

Each application must clearly state at least one primary research area to be addressed.  These five research areas are more fully discussed in Section I below.

Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-130.html

Description:

The goal of this program announcement is to encourage methodological, intervention and dissemination research for understanding and promoting health literacy. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions (Ratzan and Parker, 2000). 

R40 MCH Secondary Data Analysis Studies (SDAS)

Additional Information:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=278824

Description:
The R40 MCH SDAS program supports applied research relating to maternal and child health services that exclusively utilizes secondary analysis of existing national databases and/or administrative records.  These projects should have the potential to improve health services and delivery of care for maternal and child health populations. Findings from the research supported by the MCH Research Program are expected to strengthen and expand topics addressed by the new MCH Block Grant National Performance Priority Areas, and the populations they serve (see Appendix C). For more background materials on the Block Grant Transformation, see:  http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/titlevgrants/index.html. The R40 MCH SDAS will support research that addresses MCHB Strategic Research Issues such as how to improve public health systems and infrastructure, reduce health disparities, increase quality of care, and/or promote the health of MCH populations.  Addressing at least one of the four MCHB Strategic Research Issues (see Appendix A) is part of Review Criterion 1, Need, and is worth up to 10 points.  By supporting research on HRSA/MCHB program populations, the R40 MCH SDAS program is strategically tied to HRSA/MCHB investments and programs.  R40 MCH SDAS recipients will complete the following major activities: ·         Recipients will conduct secondary data analyses using existing national databases and administrative records, using various analytic methods; ·         Recipients will disseminate findings through development of at least two peer-reviewed manuscripts and other dissemination activities including conference presentations, newsletter articles, webcasts, fact sheets, policy briefs, website and social media posts, as appropriate; ·         Recipients will demonstrate a plan to advance the transfer of findings, reports, and/or award project outputs to key target audiences, including researchers, providers, State Title V and children with special health care needs programs and other programs serving HRSA/MCHB populations, policymakers, families and the general public.

Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)

Additional Information:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5483&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&WT.mc_ev=click

Description:
The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) provides awards to Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions to promote high quality science (including sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, statistics, and other social and behavioral science as well as natural science and education disciplines), technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, research, and outreach. Support is available to TCUP-eligible institutions (see the Additional Eligibility subsection of Section IV of this solicitation) for Instructional Capacity Excellence in TCUP Institutions (ICE-TI), Targeted STEM Infusion Projects (TSIP), PArtnerships for Geoscience Education (PAGE), Broadening Participation Research in STEM Education (BPR), Small Grants for Research (SGR), and Preparing for TCUP Implementation (Pre-TI). Through these mechanisms, along with collaborations with other National Science Foundation (NSF) units and its work with other organizations, TCUP aims to increase Native individuals' participation in STEM careers and the quality of STEM programs at TCUP-eligible institutions. TCUP strongly encourages the inclusion of activities that will benefit veterans.

Engagement Award: Knowledge, Training and Development, and Dissemination Awards

Additional Information:
http://www.pcori.org/funding-opportunities/announcement/engagement-award-knowledge-training-and-development-and-0

Description:
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) will award up to $15.5 million in FY 2015 as part of the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards program. These awards support projects that encourage active integration of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders as integral members of the patient-centered outcomes research/clinical effectiveness research (PCOR/CER) enterprise.
Letters of Inquiry (LOI) should be submitted by the quarterly application deadlines. Full proposal submissions are by invitation only, after review and approval of the LOI.

NIMHD Transdisciplinary Collaborative Centers for Health Disparities Research on Chronic Disease Prevention (U54)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MD-15-014.html

Description:

Although scientific and technological advances have improved the health of the U.S. population overall, racial/ethnic minority populations, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and rural populations continue to experience a disproportionate share of many chronic diseases and adverse health conditions. As the Nation’s steward of biomedical and behavioral research, NIH has devoted considerable resources to characterize the root causes of health disparities, uncovering complex webs of interconnected factors (e.g., biological, behavioral, social and environmental factors) acting at multiple levels across the life course. As an important next step, research is needed that capitalizes on this knowledge to develop interventions that reduce and eventually eliminate health disparities.

Tackling the complex drivers of health disparities requires a transdisciplinary framework that cuts across scientific and organizational silos to integrate multiple disciplines– biology, behavioral and social sciences, epidemiology, data science, public health, health care delivery, economics, environmental science, public policy, etc. It also requires strong collaborations between researchers, community organizations, health service providers, public health agencies, policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure that relevant, contextually appropriate research is conducted and, more importantly, that findings can be translated into sustainable community and system-level changes that promote health equity. 

To pursue these objectives, NIMHD Transdisciplinary Collaborative Centers (TCCs) for health disparities research comprise regional coalitions of research institutions and consortium partners focused on priority research areas in minority health and health disparities. The TCC program's overarching goal is to develop and disseminate effective interventions that can be implemented in real-world settings.

Chronic diseases and conditions are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems. Seven of the top 10 causes of death in 2010 were chronic diseases. By investing in prevention and early diagnosis and treatment of the most common chronic diseases, the U.S. could decrease treatment costs by $218 billion per year and reduce the economic impact of disease by $1.1 trillion annually. Reducing disparities in chronic diseases should start with health disparity populations at high risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, arthritis etc. For example, many health risks are associated with obesity. However, the prevalence of obesity among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults is significantly higher than among non-Hispanic white adults. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Yet, more adults who live below the poverty level are current cigarette smokers compared to those who live at or above the poverty level. Also, hypertension, a precursor to cardiovascular disease, is more prevalent and not as well controlled in non-Hispanic blacks, versus non-Hispanic whites. Non-Hispanic blacks have a much higher prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure when compared with non-Hispanic whites. Women from poor, low-income, and middle-income households are less likely to receive a mammogram compared with women from high-income households.

Data Across Sectors for Health: Empowering Communities Through Shared Data and Information

Additional Information:
https://www.raconline.org/funding/3791?utm_source=racupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=update072215

Description:
Data Across Sectors for Health: Empowering Communities Through Shared Data and Information would provide grants to community collaborations and initiatives that have used shared data and information to increase their capacity for planning, implementing, and evaluating health improvement activities.
These community collaborations would be part of a nationwide learning collaborative that would create and share models, and document barriers, solutions, lessons learned, best practices, promising innovations, sustainable examples, and opportunities for replication.
Proposed projects should support sharing, linking, and combining data to create, maintain, or expand an existing implementation of health information technology that leverages clinical encounter data.
Projects should be designed to improve community health and well-being and result in benefits at the individual, family, and community levels.

Research and Methods in Health Statistics - DHHS CDC

Additional Information:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=278051

Description:
Research and Methods in Health Statistics Purpose This initiative invites investigator-initiated research grant applications for projects involving the development and testing of statistical and survey methodology relevant to the conduct, analysis and reporting of health surveys and vital records. Existing NCHS data sets alone or in conjunction with other data sets may be used to develop and test new survey methodology, statistical analytical approaches or methods of displaying data. Individual stand-alone projects relevant to the collection, analysis, or display of data are acceptable under this announcement. The R03 mechanism is intended to support small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources. It can be used to support different types of projects including: secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; pilot and feasibility studies; development and testing of statistical and survey methodology; and the development and testing of new survey technology. SURVEY AND STATISTICAL METHODOLOGY: Health research using individual and provider surveys and vital statistics is facing both new and ongoing challenges. In recent years, survey response rates have been falling raising concerns about possible bias in the resulting data. New concerns about confidentiality have been raised which may influence cooperation in survey response. Technological developments have opened up new data collection opportunities but questions remain about the validity and reliability of the data obtained through these new approaches. The increasingly rapid availability of health-related data from non-traditional sources such as website visits and other types of transactions has spurred the demand for rapid information dissemination but what is the accuracy and reliability of data from these sources? The expense and time involved in collecting new data argue for exploring ways to link data sets to obtain maximum use of existing data. Researchers have long been concerned about the accuracy of self-reported data. New methods of collecting biomarker data have made it possible to include specimen collection in traditional surveys, but how accurate are these new methods? How do they relate to self-reported data? Increasingly, there is a demand for providing data in easily understood, eye-catching possibly interactive formats. Examples of topics of interest under this announcement include but are not limited to: o the development and refinement of innovative techniques for measurement of biomarkers in survey research including the collection of biological specimens such as urine or blood, or other physical measures such as heart rate, senses, blood pressure, height and weight; o the development and refinement of summary measures of health; o the development and refinement of measures of health insurance access and use; o the development and improvement of sampling strategies for subpopulations of interest including minority populations, people with specific rare diseases or conditions, specific socioeconomic statuses, or people with only cell phones; o the development and improvement of methods of analysis for small areas or small subpopulations; o the development and improvement of techniques to avoid disclosure of confidential data in public use data sets; o the examination of characteristics of the interview situation that may affect the collection of unbiased data, the assessment of the sources of bias and the impact of biased data on results; o the validation of various sources of data including vital records and electronic health records; o new ways of presenting analytical results to a variety of audiences; o research exploring new data sets available from NCHS including the NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nnyfs.htm; NHANES oversample of Asian Americans http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm; o NHIS sexual orientation data http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/nhis_questionnaires.htm http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr077.pdf; o U.S. fetal death data http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/Vitalstatsonline.htm http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fetal_death.htm; o birth data files including multistate data for selected items exclusive to the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr62/nvsr62_04.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/Vitalstatsonline.htm; o Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander NHIS survey http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/nhpi.html ; o NCHS linked data sets http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/data_linkage_activities.htm; o NHANES genetic data http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/genetics/genetic_types.htm#restricted . Research proposals need not be limited to the examples given above. It is anticipated that many questions will derive from previous or current research. It may be cost-effective to design methodological studies to be carried out in conjunction with ongoing research projects. Applicants are referred to the NCHS website for information on the many other data sets available from NCHS. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

Evidence for Action: Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health

Additional Information:
http://www.rwjf.org/en/library/funding-opportunities/2015/evidence-for-action-investigator-initiated-research-to-build-a-culture-of-health.html?rid=GCwK8mvlIypq6d4XQxCigg&et_cid=308227

Description:

Purpose

Evidence for Action: Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health is a national program of RWJF that supports the Foundation’s commitment to building a Culture of Health in the United States. The program aims to provide individuals, organizations, communities, policymakers, and researchers with the empirical evidence needed to address the key determinants of health encompassed in the Culture of Health Action Framework. In addition, Evidence for Action will also support efforts to assess outcomes and set priorities for action.  It will do this by encouraging and supporting creative, rigorous research on the impact of innovative programs, policies and partnerships on health and well-being, and on novel approaches to measuring health determinants and outcomes.

Total Awards

Approximately $2.2 million will be awarded annually. We expect to fund between five and 12 grants each year for periods of up to 30 months. We anticipate that this funding opportunity will remain open for at least a period of three years; however, decisions about modifications to the program and the duration of the program will be made by RWJF at its sole discretion.

Strategies to Increase Delivery of Guideline-Based Care to Populations with Health Disparities (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-279.html

Description:
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to conduct innovative and feasible studies to test strategies to accelerate the adoption of guideline-based recommendations into clinical practice among populations with health disparities.  Applications that propose strategies with a focus on providers who care for clinical populations with excess burden of cardiovascular, lung, blood, and sleep diseases and disorders, in concert with the health care delivery systems in which they practice, are strongly encouraged. Applications that test systems, infrastructures, and strategies to implement guideline-based care for NHLBI disorders in clinical care settings are also of high programmatic interest. 

Interventions for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Native American Populations (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-346.html

Description:
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to develop, adapt, and test the effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions in Native American (NA) populations. NA populations are exposed to considerable risk factors that significantly increase their likelihood of chronic disease, substance abuse, mental illness, and HIV-infection. The intervention program should be culturally appropriate and promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles, improve behaviors and social conditions and/or improve environmental conditions related to chronic disease, the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, mental illness or HIV-infection. The intervention program should be designed so that it could be sustained within the entire community within existing resources, and, if successful, disseminated in other Native American communities. The long-term goal of this FOA is to reduce mortality and morbidity in NA communities.  For the purposes of this FOA Native Americans include the following populations: Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian.  The term ‘Native Hawaiian’ means any individual any of whose ancestors were natives, prior to 1778, of the area which now comprises the State of Hawaii.

Evidence for Action: Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health

Additional Information:
http://www.rwjf.org/en/library/funding-opportunities/2015/evidence-for-action-investigator-initiated-research-to-build-a-culture-of-health.html?rid=GCwK8mvlIypq6d4XQxCigg&et_cid=271792

Description:

Purpose

Evidence for Action: Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health is a national program of RWJF that supports the Foundation’s commitment to building a Culture of Health in the United States. The program aims to provide individuals, organizations, communities, policymakers, and researchers with the empirical evidence needed to address the key determinants of health encompassed in the Culture of Health Action Framework. In addition, Evidence for Action will also support efforts to assess outcomes and set priorities for action.  It will do this by encouraging and supporting creative, rigorous research on the impact of innovative programs, policies and partnerships on health and well-being, and on novel approaches to measuring health determinants and outcomes.

Total Awards

Approximately $2.2 million will be awarded annually. We expect to fund between five and 12 grants each year for periods of up to 30 months. We anticipate that this funding opportunity will remain open for at least a period of three years; however, decisions about modifications to the program and the duration of the program will be made by RWJF at its sole discretion.

Key Dates

Informational Web Conferences
Informational Web Conferences are scheduled for June 8, 2015 and July 22, 2015 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET. (10:30-11:30 a.m. PT). Registration is required:

June 8, 2015

July 22, 2015

Since applications are accepted on a rolling basis, these dates indicate the earliest submission, response, and funding decisions. Applications received at a later date can anticipate a similar pace.
June 1, 2015
CFP release, program begins accepting letters of intent
July 17, 2015
Notice on status of letters of intent received in June
September 11, 2015
Deadline for first set of invited full proposals
October 23, 2015
Notification of awards
December 4, 2015
Start date

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Applicants must be either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories. Awards will be made to organizations, not to individuals.

Advancing Health Disparities Interventions Through Community-Based Participatory Research (U01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MD-15-010.html

Description:
The overarching goals of the NIMHD Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Program are to enhance community capacity in research for which they will directly benefit; support collaborative intervention projects addressing health disparities; and accelerate the translation of findings into improved health and health outcomes.  The purpose of this FOA is to support promising community interventions using CBPR principles and approaches aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating health disparities.     - See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MD-15-010.html#sthash.2j3TFMk9.dpuf

RWJF Health Eating Research Grants available

Description:
http://www.rwjf.org/en/how-we-work/grants/funding-opportunities.html?rid=SSqytDjM87pPiLkiVw8JKS1dJ4qR3hrf&et_cid=252819

Additional Information:

New Connections Grants Awarded through the Healthy Eating Research Program

The program supports research on environmental and policy strategies with strong potential to promote healthy eating among children to prevent childhood obesity. Award type: New Connections grants awarded through Healthy Eating Research.

Deadline: Wed, 12 Aug 2015
3:00 p.m. ET

Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity—Round 9

The program supports research on environmental and policy strategies with strong potential to promote healthy eating among children to prevent childhood obesity, especially among groups at highest risk for obesity. Award type: Round 9 grants.

Administrative Supplements for Common Basic Sociobehavioral Mechanisms and Processes that Facilitate or Impede Self-Management of Chronic Conditions (Admin Supp)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-15-122.html

Description:
NIH's Basic Behavioral & Social Science Opportunity Network (OppNet) announces the opportunity of funds to support  increases in costs on existing projects in order  to elucidate basic mechanisms and processes that facilitate and/or impede  an individual's attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors involved with the self-management of chronic disease conditions within  respective social and/or physical  environment(s). - See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-15-122.html#sthash.slfPC3fI.dpuf

Large Pragmatic Studies to Evaluate Patient-Centered Outcomes - Spring 2015 Cycle

Additional Information:
http://www.pcori.org/announcement/large-pragmatic-studies-evaluate-patient-centered-outcomes-spring-2015-cycle

Description:
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) seeks to fund pragmatic clinical trials, large simple trials, or large-scale observational studies that compare two or more alternatives for addressing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or management of a disease or symptom; improving healthcare system-level approaches to managing care; or eliminating health or healthcare disparities.
Proposed studies must address critical clinical choices faced by patients, their caregivers, clinicians, and/or delivery systems. They must involve broadly representative patient populations and be large enough to provide precise estimates of hypothesized effectiveness differences, and to support evaluation of potential differences in treatment effectiveness in patient subgroups.
For this solicitation, PCORI is requiring that relevant patient organizations, professional organizations, and/or payer or purchaser organizations be included as partners and active participants in the study. PCORI expects that most awards will be made for study designs that use randomization, either of individual participants or clusters, to avoid confounding bias. However, we recognize that exceptional opportunities may arise, by virtue of natural experiments and/or the existence of large registries, to address pragmatic questions using observational designs.
Please note that this funding program does not support applications to conduct cost-effectiveness analyses, systematic reviews (with or without meta-analyses), or development and/or evaluations of shared decision making or decision support tools.
This announcement is a collaborative effort of PCORI’s Clinical Effectiveness Research, Improving Healthcare Systems, and Addressing Disparities research programs. Thus, applications for pragmatic studies may fit within any of these three priority areas.

Secondary Analyses in Obesity, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21)

Additional Information:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=275615

Description:
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages R21 applications that propose to conduct secondary analyses of existing data sets relevant to diabetes and selected endocrine and metabolic diseases including thyroid, parathyroid and Cushings diseases and acromegaly; and genetic metabolic disease including cystic fibrosis, lysosomal storage diseases, and disorders of the urea cycle, amino acid metabolism and metal transport where the focus is on peripheral metabolism or organ function; obesity, liver diseases, alimentary GI tract diseases and nutrition; kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. The goal of this program is to facilitate research that explores innovative hypotheses through the use of existing data sets.

Pragmatic Research in Healthcare Settings to Improve Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Care (R18)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-157.html

Description:
The purpose of this Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects (R18) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage research applications to test approaches to improve diabetes and obesity prevention and/or treatment in routine healthcare settings.  Research applications should be designed to test practical and potentially sustainable strategies to improve processes of care and health outcomes for individuals who are overweight or obese or at risk for becoming overweight or obese and/or at risk for or have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The goal of the research is to obtain results that will improve routine healthcare practice and inform healthcare policy for the prevention or management of these conditions. - See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-157.html#sthash.dhpabH9O.dpuf

Planning Grants for Pragmatic Research in Healthcare Settings to Improve Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Care (R34)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-158.html

Description:

The purpose of this Planning Grant (R34) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage research applications to develop and pilot test approaches to improve diabetes and obesity prevention and/or treatment in routine healthcare settings.  Research applications should be designed to pilot test practical and potentially sustainable strategies to improve processes of care and health outcomes for individuals who are overweight or obese or at risk for becoming overweight or obese and/or at risk for or have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The goal is that, if the pilot study shows promise, the data from the R34 will be used to support a full scale trial focused on improving routine healthcare practice and informing healthcare policy for the prevention or management of diabetes and obesity.  

AHRQ Small Research Grant Program (R03)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-15-147.html

Description:
This FOA encourages Small Research Grant (R03) applications, and expresses AHRQ priority areas of interest for ongoing small research projects. The R03 grant mechanism supports different types of health services research projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology.

Interventions for Health Promotion and Disease prevention in Native American Populations (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-260.html

Description:
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to develop, adapt, and test the effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions in Native American (NA) populations. NA populations are exposed to considerable risk factors that significantly increase their likelihood of chronic disease, substance abuse, mental illness, oral diseases, and HIV-infection. The intervention program should be culturally appropriate and promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles, improve behaviors and social conditions and/or improve environmental conditions related to chronic diseases, the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, mental illness, oral disease, or HIV-infection. The intervention program should be designed so that it could be sustained within the entire community within existing resources, and, if successful, disseminated in other Native American communities. The long-term goal of this FOA is to reduce mortality and morbidity in NA communities. For the purposes of this FOA Native Americans include the following populations: Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian. The term ‘Native Hawaiian’ means any individual any of whose ancestors were natives, prior to 1778, of the area which now comprises the State of Hawaii.

U.S. Administration on Aging National Resource Centers on Older Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians

Additional Information:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=275124

Description:
Increased longevity continues to become more prevalent in Native American communities. This trend has placed greater demands on service delivery systems, which are even more complex and fragmented than in non-Indian communities. In recognition of this, under the Older Americans Act (OAA) Amendments of 2006, Congress mandated the support of at least two (2), and not more than four (4), Resource Centers that will focus on issues and concerns affecting individuals who are older Native Americans. The primary goal of these Centers is to enhance knowledge about older Native Americans and thereby to increase and improve the delivery of services to them. The National Resource Centers on Native American Elders (Centers) will concentrate on the development and provision of technical information and expertise and best practices to Indian tribal organizations, Native American communities, educational institutions including Tribal Colleges and Universities, and professionals and paraprofessionals in the field. Each Center must have a national focus and direct its resources to one or more of the areas of primary concern on which the center will focus which shall be; health issues, long-term care, including in-home care; elder abuse; and other problems and issues facing Native communities. Each Center is expected to incorporate the concepts and principles and cultural competencies into all aspects of their staffing, program, and activities. Additionally, each Center's activities will promote one or more of the AoA priority areas. These priority areas are; 1) make it easier for older people to access an integrated array of health and long-term care services, 2) help older people stay active and healthy, 3) support families in their efforts to care for their loved ones at home and in the community, 4) ensure the rights of older people and prevent their abuse, neglect and exploitation, 5) training and technical assistance, and 6) coordination within the university structure. Per the OAA, these funds shall be used to 1) gather information; 2) performance research; 3) provide for the dissemination of results of the research and 4) provide technical assistance and training to entities that provide services to the elderly Native American populations. Each Center is expected to develop special activities and best practices within its areas of primary concern which will address the special needs of different Indian communities. Each application must contain a description of anticipated outcomes for the activities, how these outcomes will be measured and how the overall success of the program/activity will be determined. For instance, staying active and healthy focuses on the identification and use of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention interventions that can be applied by non-clinical personnel in a community setting.

WUSTL Pew Scholars Program

Pew Scholars Program
Internal Deadline: 4/13/2015
Amount: $240,000
Program Description: Among the most prestigious and selective new faculty awards, it is designed to support young investigators of outstanding promise by providing assured support, during their earlier years, for junior members of the faculty as they establish their laboratories.
Eligibility: Candidates must be a tenure-track Assistant Professor as of 11/1/2015. On 7/1/2015, they must not have been in such an appointment for more than three years (not appointed before July 1, 2012).
Previous WUSTL Recipients: Deborah Lenschow (2008); Craig Micchelli (2007); Thaddeus Stappenbeck (2005); Timothy Holy (2003); Jason Weber (2002); Lilianna Solnica-Krezel (1998); Stephen Johnson (1997); Anne Marie Craig (1997); Andrew Chan (1995); Helen Piwnica-Worms (1991); Virginia Miller (1989); Michael Skinner (1986); Charles Rice (1986); James Krause (1985)
Internal Competition Materials: Cover Page, biographical sketch, one-page description, and a letter of support from the department head.
Please not you will need to use your WUSTL key to access this link:
https://cfr.wusm.wustl.edu/Pages/PewScholarsProgramintheBiomedicalSciences.aspx

Early-Career Research Grants: The Obesity Society

Additional Information:
http://www.obesity.org/about-us/early-career-research-grants.htm

Description:

This program (formerly, New Investigator Research Grants) is offered by The Obesity Society (TOS), as a member service, to foster and stimulate new research ideas in any area of investigation related to obesity. The program targets junior-level investigators and post-doctoral trainees by funding proposals that demonstrate a high likelihood of resulting in new and innovative approaches in obesity research.

Early-career investigators are defined as individuals who:

• Have received a PhD within the past five years or MD within the past eight years, and;
• Currently hold full-time, entry-level positions (e.g., post-doctoral fellow, instructor, assistant professor) at an established academic/research institution.

Applicants may request up to $25,000. No indirect cost will be paid from this grant. Applications (Letters of Intent) are due Monday, March 30, 2015, with funding available August 19, 2015. The award may be expended over a period of up to one year.

Interventions for Health Promotion and Disease prevention in Native American Populations (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-260.html

Description:
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to develop, adapt, and test the effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions in Native American (NA) populations. NA populations are exposed to considerable risk factors that significantly increase their likelihood of chronic disease, substance abuse, mental illness, oral diseases, and HIV-infection. The intervention program should be culturally appropriate and promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles, improve behaviors and social conditions and/or improve environmental conditions related to chronic diseases, the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, mental illness, oral disease, or HIV-infection. The intervention program should be designed so that it could be sustained within the entire community within existing resources, and, if successful, disseminated in other Native American communities. The long-term goal of this FOA is to reduce mortality and morbidity in NA communities. For the purposes of this FOA Native Americans include the following populations: Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian. The term ‘Native Hawaiian’ means any individual any of whose ancestors were natives, prior to 1778, of the area which now comprises the State of Hawaii.

Mobilizing Research: A Research Resource to Enhance mHealth Research (U2C)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-15-129.html

Description:
The purpose of this FOA is to support the development of Mobilizing Research a research resource that would allow researchers to more efficiently and rapidly evaluate mobile and wireless (mHealth) technologies. This research resource is intended to develop an infrastructure that works with wireless carriers to create a registry of potential participants to facilitate mHealth research across a variety of observational and clinical research studies and settings, and for a range of diseases and populations. This FOA supports Mobilizing Research for development of the infrastructure and transition to sustainability. Therefore, the proposed integrated and centralized resource should be designed and operated in a way that will facilitate and enable its sustainable functioning in the near future. 

Pilot Effectiveness Studies and Services Research Grants (R34)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-15-330.html

Description:

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage pilot research consistent with NIMH’s priorities for: 1) effectiveness research on interventions with previously demonstrated efficacy, for use with broader target populations or for use in community practice settings, and 2) innovative services research directions that require preliminary testing or development. Applications should provide resources for evaluating the feasibility, tolerability, acceptability and safety of approaches to improve mental health and modify risk factors, and for obtaining the preliminary data needed as a pre-requisite to a larger-scale intervention trial (e.g., comparative effectiveness study, practical trial) or large-scale services study.

In this pilot phase of intervention and services research, NIMH places highest priority on approaches that can be justified in terms of their potential to substantially impact practice and public health and approaches that are empirically grounded.  Specifically:  1) Applications should justify the potential impact of the proposed intervention/services models on practice and public health in terms of the magnitude of likely improvements in effect size, safety/tolerability profile, value and efficiency, or dissemination potential, as compared to existing approaches;  2) Adaptations or augmentations of efficacious interventions should only be undertaken if there is an empirical rationale for the adaptation target and for the corresponding mechanism by which the adapted intervention or augmentation is expected to substantially enhance outcomes; and  3) For pilot tests of intervention effectiveness or service delivery approaches, the study should be designed to explicitly address whether the intervention engages the mechanism that is presumed to underlie the intervention effects.     

Maternal Nutrition and Pre-pregnancy Obesity: Effects on Mothers, Infants and Children (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-15-100.html

Description:
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications to improve health outcomes for women, infants and children, by stimulating interdisciplinary research focused on maternal nutrition and pre-pregnancy obesity. Maternal health significantly impacts not only the mother but also the intrauterine environment, and subsequently fetal development and the health of the newborn.    - See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-15-100.html#sthash.r2YlDIZH.dpuf

Systems Science and Health in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01)

Additional Information:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-048.html

Description:
This FOA is intended to increase the breadth and scope of topics that can be addressed with systems science methodologies. This FOA calls for research projects that are applied and/or basic in nature (including methodological and measurement development), have a human behavioral and/or social science focus, and employ methodologies suited to addressing the complexity inherent in behavioral and social phenomena, referred to as systems science methodologies. Additionally, this FOA seeks to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among health researchers and experts in computational approaches to further the development of modeling- and simulation-based systems science methodologies and their application to important public health challenges. - See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-048.html#sthash.UsNHiUsY.dpuf

Natural Experiments of the Impact of Population-targeted Health Policies to Prevent Diabetes

Additional Information:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=271828

Description:
Purpose. Component A: To fund rigorous natural experiments of impact of population-targeted health policies and large scale interventions on risk and complications of diabetes, and reducing disparities in these risks and complications. Specific goals of the research program are to: 1) Test the health impact of naturally occurring health policies and interventions, including public health policies, clinical-community partnerships, and health system-wide strategies; and 2) Improve the methods and research infrastructure for natural experiments in public health. Findings could be used to inform the prioritization of policies and interventions for policy-makers, health plan directors, and community leaders. Component B: To fund a Central Coordinating Center (CCC) to provide organizational, logistic and communication support to enhance the efficiency, productivity, and impact of the Natural Experiments research centers that are funded as part of Component A.