Funding-Limited Submission - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - Bridging the Word Gap Research Network (HRSA-14-131); May 20, 2014

Description: The purpose of the Bridging the Word Gap Research Network program is to support the creation of an interdisciplinary research network for scientific collaboration, with a focus on research designed to improve understanding of early language exposure and vocabulary acquisition for children from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds and of effective interventions to address them. The Network should include researchers across a range of disciplines reflecting attention to the health and development of the child and family. The work of this Network will have the following goals:

1) Develop an interdisciplinary research network for scientific collaboration, with a focus on research designed to develop and test interventions to improve early language exposure and vocabulary acquisition for children from lower SES backgrounds;

2) Develop a national research agenda designed to identify existing research gaps and to establish and pursue priority research questions;

3) Design the protocol for a multi-level pilot intervention study to be carried out in later years;

4) Identify cutting edge research projects and leverage network capacity to compete for grant opportunities from Federal agencies and/or private foundations;

5) Disseminate critical information and foster continued education activities on its research findings to inform researchers, professionals, policy makers, the public, and other stakeholders, including families; and

6) Improve the nation’s capacity to conduct research on vocabulary acquisition and school achievement for young children by: building relevant data infrastructure; improving analytic methods; and fostering research and mentorship opportunities for new investigators through active communication, networking, and collaboration.

Institutional Limit: Multiple applications from an organization are not allowed.

See the complete program announcement for additional details and requirements: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=254511

Internal Competition: Because HRSA limits the number of proposals to one per organization, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.  Prospective applicants interested in responding to this program should send the following information to the Office of the Vice President for Research at limitedsubmissions@uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Tuesday, May 20, 2014:

• Names and departments of the Project Director and project personnel;
• Title of the program and/or funding opportunity announcement number;

· A brief description (2 pages maximum) of the proposed project, including the need for the project, goals, objectives, and proposed activities.

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make a recommendation. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663.) 

HRSA deadline: July 7, 2014