NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research
(RFA-OD-09-003)
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD)
NIH has received new funds for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Pub. L. No.111-5. The NIH has designated at least $200 million in FYs 2009 – 2010 for a new initiative called the NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research.
This new program will support research on topic areas that address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research that would benefit from significant 2-year jumpstart funds.
The NIH has identified a range of Challenge Areas that focus on specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. Each NIH Institute, Center, and Office has selected specific Challenge Topics within the broad Challenge Areas related to its mission. The research in these Challenge Areas should have a high impact in biomedical or behavioral science and/or public health. NIH anticipates funding 200 or more grants, each of up to $1 million in total costs, pending the number and quality of applications and availability of funds. Additional funds may be available to support additional grants, particularly in the Challenge Area of Comparative Effectiveness Research. The application due date is April 27, 2009.
Note: Those marked with an asterisk (*) are the highest priority topics; however, applicants may apply to any of the topics.
The National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities is interested in challenge grants that will stimulate new ways of thinking such as integrating science, practice, and policy; expand on existing innovative approaches to understand and eliminate health disparities with emphasis on collaborations, partnerships, and community participation. Innovative and non-traditional partnerships are critical in reaching growing numbers of marginalized and at-risk populations. Such partnerships between faith-based organizations, community groups, academic institutions, health care facilities, and public health agencies, for example, will leverage stimulus dollars and broaden the impact of these two-year grants in attaining desired health outcomes and scientific advances. Regional research networks, innovative efforts that engage and mobilize the participation of affected communities; and initiatives that promote the training of a community health network are among the strategies that can support the federal stimulus goals.
For NCMHD, the Specific Challenge Topics are:
Bioethics
Clinical Research
Comparative Effectiveness Research
Enabling Technologies
Health Disparities
(02) Bioethics:
02-OD(OSP)-102* Ethical Issues in Health Disparities and Access to Participation in Research
Research is needed to assess the under-representation in biomedical and clinical research of U.S. minority populations, underserved populations, and populations who may be vulnerable to coercion or undue influence, to identify barriers to participation in research and to develop approaches for overcoming them. Additionally, studies are needed to assess the impact and ethical considerations of conducting biomedical and clinical research internationally in resource-limited countries. OD (OSP) Contact: Abigail Rives, 301-594-1976, rivesa@od.nih.gov; NCMHD Contact: Dr. Nathaniel Stinson, 301-402-1366, stinsonn@mail.nih.gov
(04) Clinical Research:
04-MD-101* Development of effective approaches to increase minority recruitment and retention into clinical trials
There is strong evidence that minorities and the poor are the least likely to have access to or participate in clinical trials which is a challenge for researchers as well as the health of racial and ethnic minority communities. According to a study prepared by the Global Access Project (GAP), National Patient Advocacy Foundation, 88.8 percent of those enrolled in clinical trials between January 2003 and June 2005 were whites, compared to 8 percent who were African Americans, 2.8 percent who were Asians/Pacific Islanders, 5.6 percent who were Hispanics, 0.5 percent who were Native Americans/Alaska Natives and 0.1 percent who were other races. NCMHD is interested in research activities that reduce barriers to diversity and participation in clinical trials and on initiatives that build partnerships and utilize new and non-traditional recruitment approaches. Specific health disparity diseases/conditions of concern include but are not limited to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, infant mortality, cancer, substance abuse, mental health, and HIV/AIDS. Contact: Dr. Derrick Tabor, 301-402-1366, tabord@mail.nih.gov.
Topics or activities of interest include:
- Community interventions that will eliminate patient bias, provider/physician bias and researcher bias including other barriers to diversity and participation in clinical trials (e.g. implementing programs that foster research literacy)
- Initiatives that build on partnerships and network development between clinical research sites and community sites including non-traditional partners and settings such as beauty shops and barbershops, with the goal of addressing minority recruitment into clinical trials
- Hiring, training, sustaining, and/or utilizing new categories of community health workers including faith-based and non-traditional occupations
- New culturally and linguistically appropriate marketing strategies that explain, disclose and dispel information impeding persons from participating in clinical trials
(05) Comparative Effectiveness Research
05-MD-101* Social Determinants of Health
There is a growing research that reveals the important role of social determinants of health in addressing and understanding health disparities. Social determinants of health are the economic and social conditions under which people live which determine their health. We propose research that investigates interventions that address these social determinants (e.g., employment training, school readiness programs, food stamp programs, and adequate and affordable housing programs) their relationship to health outcomes for health disparity populations. Contact: Dr. Kyu Rhee, 301-402-1366, rheekb@mail.nih.gov
05-MD-102* Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Disparity Populations
Approximately 70-80% of all current health care costs are connected with the treatment of chronic diseases. Chronic diseases compose a large majority of health disparity conditions, such as asthma, obesity, oral health, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, mental health, chronic pain, and substance abuse. We propose research to examine and inform the clinical and cost effectiveness of prevention efforts, including medical devices, behavioral interventions, care management approaches (e.g., incorporation of nontraditional members of the healthcare team such as community health workers, pharmacists), pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other interventions for the prevention of chronic disease. Contact: Dr. Kyu Rhee, 301-402-1366, rheekb@mail.nih.gov
05-MD-103* Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Limited English Proficiency populations continue to grow and are a significant health disparity population. We propose conducting comparative effectiveness research studies on current health services delivery for LEP populations (medical interpreter, telephone language line, bilingual professional, translated educational aides) and the cost impacts of effective, cultural competent healthcare interventions for LEP populations (e.g. reductions in ER visits, diagnostic tests, hospital stay, disability and improved functional health status). Contact: Dr. Irene Dankwa-Mullan, 301-402-1366, dankwamullani@mail.nih.gov
05-MD-104* Screening of Health Disparity Conditions
Comparing different screening approaches for diseases with increased prevalence in disparity groups with the goal to inform and determine the most effective modality that will result in reduced morbidity and mortality and improved survival rates in different disparity groups. Contact: Dr. Irene Dankwa-Mullan, 301-402-1366, dankwamullani@mail.nih.gov
05-MD-105* Health Literacy
Research has shown that over 90 million individuals in the United States are unable to read a prescription bottle. Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. We propose research that investigates interventions that address health literacy issues (e.g., technology tools, literacy aides or other community health workers, language-appropriate labels for prescription and over-the-counter medications) and their relationship to health outcomes for health disparity populations. Contact: Dr. Irene Dankwa-Mullan, 301-402-1366, dankwamullani@mail.nih.gov
(06) Enabling Technologies
06-MD-101* Development of Telehealth Tools to Promote Health and Connect At-Risk Youth to the Health System via Low-Cost, Mobile, and Wireless Technologies
For young people, it is critical to prevent patterns of risky behaviors before they start. Mobile wireless devices (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Gameboys) are common accessories to this young generation and provide an excellent vehicle for promoting health, outreach, and connecting them to the health system. NCMHD is interested in the development of telehealth messages utilizing various forms of technology, aimed at high-risk youth as well as innovative culturally and linguistically appropriate media strategies for connecting at-risk youth with the healthcare system. Contact: Dr. Kyu Rhee, 301-402-1366, rheekb@mail.nih.gov
Topics or activities of interest include:
- Development of telehealth messages aimed at high-risk youth for use with low-cost, mobile, and wireless technologies Innovative alternative media strategies for promoting and/or connecting at risk youth with healthcare system.
- New culturally-tailored messages, tools and marketing strategies to promote health and connect at-risk youth to the health system.
(09) Health Disparities
09-MD-101* Creating Transformational Approaches to Address Rural Health Disparities
While 20% of the United States population lives in rural areas and are generally older, poorer, and have fewer physicians to care for them, they also experience health disparities such as higher rates of chronic illness, due to geographic isolation, socio-economic status, health risk behaviors, and limited job opportunities. Approaches that involve collaboration among faith-based organizations, community based organizations, health care organizations, academic institutions, and public health departments can be valuable in moving more rapidly to address rural health disparities.
Research will focus on approaches, partnerships, and technologies for improving rural health outcomes. In addition, NCMHD is interested in proposals that utilize innovative outreach strategies that involve collaboration among traditional and non-traditional groups including new categories of community health workers, non-traditional occupations and settings. Contact: Dr. Nathaniel Stinson, 301-402-1366, stinsonn@mail.nih.gov.
Topics or activities of interest include:
- Utilizing new categories of community health workers and settings, including faith-based and non-traditional occupations and settings
- New outreach strategies that include new opportunities for outreach e.g. mobile clinics and non-traditional media channels for dissemination of health information and health promotion
- Exploring telehealth and telemedicine science and technology to stimulate development, implementation of telehealth tools for improving rural health outcomes
- Trans-disciplinary approaches to address rural health disparities through new and enhanced partnerships
- New technological tools to train healthcare workers in rural areas with the goal of leveraging evolving health information to enhance health education, training and clinical care
- Improving access to healthcare services including incentives program to attract professional healthcare workforce to rural areas
09-MD-102* Trans-disciplinary Research to Integrate the Biological and Non-biological Determinants of Health to Address Health Disparities
Promoting collaborative research that integrates the biological and non-biological determinants of health is essential to addressing health disparities. Research interests include trans-disciplinary approaches to address health disparities through collaborative efforts and sustained partnerships with social scientists, policy researchers, health researchers, environmental scientists, and behavioral scientists, among others.
Contact: Dr. Kyu Rhee, 301-402-1366, rheekb@mail.nih.gov
Topics or activities of interest:
- Strategies that develop community infrastructure and networks, including non-traditional partnerships
- Formulation of new research perspectives that link biological and non-biological determinants of health through trans-disciplinary research approaches, collaborative efforts and sustained partnerships with social scientists, policy researchers, health researchers, environmental scientists, and behavioral scientists, for example
- Development of community infrastructure and networks including non-traditional partnerships that involve faith-based organizations, community-based groups, academic institutions, public health agencies, health care facilities, peer-to-peer and buddy models and other communication channels
09-MD-103* Initiating Innovative Interventions to Prevent Family Violence
Family violence continues to be an epidemic that kills, tortures, and maims—physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. The health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking and homicide committed by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year; of that amount, nearly $4.1 billion are for direct medical and mental health care services, and nearly $1.8 billion are for the indirect costs of lost productivity or wages. NCMHD is interested in strategies to: a) prevent family violence including domestic and intimate partner violence, and b) enhance behavioral research efforts that build workforce infrastructure. Contact: Dr. Robert Nettey 301-402-1366, netteyr@mail.nih.gov
Topics or activities of interest include:
- Innovative partnerships and network development between clinical research sites and community sites on domestic violence
- Enhancing existing behavioral research efforts to include domestic violence and intimate partner violence research.
- Building the mental health workforce infrastructure by hiring, sustaining, and/or utilizing new categories of community health workers and counselors including faith-based and non-traditional occupations in identifying, referring, and working with domestic violence victims
- New strategies and interventions that promote self esteem building, conflict resolution, and anger management.
- Targeted strategies focusing on young men and domestic violence, including hiring of peer advocates/workers
- Employing new non traditional settings to build partnerships and community health coalitions
- New culturally and linguistically appropriate messages and tools, non-traditional methods, and marketing strategies on domestic violence
For general information on NCMHD’s implementation of NIH Challenge Grants, contact:
IC Challenge Program Coordinators:
Dr. Joyce Hunter hunterj@mail.nih.gov
Dr. Francisco Sy syf@mail.nih.gov
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD)
Phone: 301-402-1366
For Financial or Grants Management questions, contact:
Priscilla Grant, J.D.
Grants Management Officer
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Phone: 301-402-1366
E-mail: Priscilla.Grant@nih.gov
|
