Funding-Limited submission - Leveraging Existing Health Care Networks to Transform Effectiveness Research; December 7, 2009

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) solicits grant applications for a three-year cooperative agreement from researchers with experience conducting studies within large integrated health care delivery systems to develop and support a Mental Health Research Network (MHRN). Respondents to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will develop infrastructure that will leverage existing health care delivery systems to efficiently test the effectiveness of treatment, preventive and services interventions to improve care for people with mental disorders. Applicants will propose a research infrastructure that demonstrates the ability to identify, recruit and enroll large patient populations into effectiveness trials, harmonize electronic medical record data across multiple integrated systems for research use, pool data for common analyses, and build capacity for the collection and storage of biologic material. In addition, the MHRN program will conduct multi-site, collaborative, Mental Health research projects using integrated data systems, including at least one pilot intervention effectiveness study and perform short-term investigations of emerging mental health issues within health care systems.

NIMH intends to commit approximately $3.0 million in FY 2010 to fund one new grant in response to this FOA. Budgets for total costs of up to $3,000,000 per year and a total project period of up to three years may be requested for a maximum of $9,000,000 total costs over a three-year project period.

See the RFA for additional information and details: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-10-030.html.

Because the NIMH 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 proposal to develop and support a Mental Health Research Network 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, December 7, 2009:

1. Names and departments of the Project Director(s) and other key personnel of the project team

2. Overview of the proposed research, research infrastructure, and two individual research projects (4 pages maximum)

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 December 11, 2009 letter of intent and January 12, 2010 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.)