Funding Opportunity

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites grant applications (P50) for NIH-Supported Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD II):
RFA-CA-09-001

Executive Summary

• The National Cancer Institute (NCI), the the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) of the National Institutes of Health, invite center grant applications (P50) for a second round of its highly successful Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD) Program. The CPHHD program is designed to promote transdisciplinary research in the area of health inequities with the purpose of contributing directly to improved health outcomes and quality of life for populations with a higher disease burden.
• Under this FOA, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will support centers focused on health disparities related to the differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of cancer and related adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States (U.S.). Centers proposed for funding by the NHLBI must target disparities in cardiovascular diseases and must have the development of interventions to reduce these health disparities as the primary objective of the proposed research. Applicants proposing Centers focused on cancer-related disparities must include intervention development/testing as one of required projects. Ultimately, for both areas, the results of the proposed research should aid the development of effective strategies for multilevel interventions to that seek to promote health and/or lessen the burden of disease.
• The work of the center has to be situated within one or several community context(s) and thus incorporate the principles of community-based participatory research in the center — applications neglecting this consideration will be considered nonresponsive and will be returned to the applicants without being reviewed.
• The training and career development program may focus on graduate students, post-doctoral candidates, junior faculty, and/or established investigators who wish to develop or refocus their careers on health disparities/inequities research and learn to function in a transdisciplinary manner.
• The NCI has committed up to $10 million in fiscal year 2009 to fund three to five center grants, with a total set-aside of $60 million over the course of 5 years. The NHLBI has set aside $18 million over 5 years to fund two centers.
• Eligible principal investigators include any individual with the skills, knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research. Individuals from under-represented racial and ethnic groups, as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs.
• Applicants may submit only one application.

Requirements for the current CPHHD application

• Investigator team should include specialists from multiple and relevant disciplines, such as social science, behavioral science, biology, genetics, medicine, public health, and health systems-- the team should include scientists from the following areas of study: basic (genetics and biology, basic behavioral sciences), clinical, and social sciences;
• The focus of the research project can be on a specific underserved population or involve a comparison among more than two groups based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, income, social class, or geographic location;
• A minimum of three and no more than five full research projects must be proposed (and present in any funded CPHHD) for the duration of the funding;
• The work of the center has to be situated within one or several community context(s) and thus incorporate the principles of community-based participatory research in the center — applications neglecting this consideration will be considered nonresponsive and will be returned to the applicants without being reviewed;
• At least one of the three required research projects must be an intervention directed at more than two factors (such as both individual level and social context) and more than just individual behavior change — applications without such projects will be considered nonresponsive and will be returned to the applicants without being reviewed;
• Appropriate career development opportunities must be proposed for new investigators or established investigators who wish to pursue careers in transdisciplinary health inequities/disparities research; and
• Interactions (on a regular basis) must be planned with other centers (within the CPHHD Program) to share information, participate in NIH-directed evaluation activities, promote and coordinate collaborative efforts, identify opportunities for common measures in the field, and review areas of growth and opportunity in the field of health disparities and health inequities.

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