Funding-NIH population health grants; deadline March 9, 2009

Limited Submission – NIH-Supported Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will support new Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD) that focus on either health disparities related to cancer, including 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 or disparities in cardiovascular diseases and the development of interventions to reduce these health disparities.  Research programs for the proposed Center are expected to provide a comprehensive model of how various social, economic, cultural, environmental, biobehavioral, physiological, and genetic factors affect individual health outcomes and their distribution in populations.  The proposed research should address both individual and contextual factors underlying health disparities; research activities are expected to be: (a) innovative; (b) multidisciplinary in approach and leadership; and (c) thematically integrated and synergistic.

The overall focus of a proposed CPHHD may be to investigate either:

• A single health condition for which a significant disparity in morbidity and/or mortality among specific populations has been demonstrated (e.g., cancer, coronary heart disease), its relationship to multiple social and physical environmental determinants, and their physiological pathways; or
• A particular category of social environmental determinant (e.g., poverty, food supply, urban crowding, built environment, social support), which is coupled with physiological pathways by which it affects multiple health outcomes and result in disparities.

Applications submitted in response to this RFA must conform to the following requirements:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. 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
7. 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.

See the complete RFA for additional information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-09-001.html

Because the sponsor limits an institution to one application, UK has established an internal selection process and a deadline for receipt of applications.  Researchers wanting to submit a Center for Population Health and Health Disparities application are to send the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Monday, March 9, 2009:

1. Names and departments of the Project Director and other key personnel of the project team
2. Thematic health focus (cancer or cardiovascular disease) and overall vision of the proposed Center including long- and short-term scientific objectives and a description of how specific activities supported through the Center will impact population health. Highlight the team’s expertise in addressing health disparities (2-3 pages)
3. Three research projects related to the Center’s focus area that will be conducted.  For each project, list the PI, title, specific aims.  Identify which of the three projects is an intervention directed at more than two factors (such as both individual level and social context) and more than just individual behavior change.

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review the material and make recommendations as to the University’s applicant.  The individual will be notified in time for the April 29, 2009 letter of intent and May 29, 2009 complete application deadlines.

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.)