Behavioral and Social Science Research on Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities

The purpose of this grant is to encourage behavioral and social science research on the causes and solutions to health and disabilities disparities in the U. S. population. Health disparities between, on the one hand, racial/ethnic populations, lower socioeconomic classes, and rural residents and, on the other hand, the overall U.S. population are major public health concerns.

Emphasis is placed on research in and among three broad areas of action: 1) Public policy, 2) health care, and 3) disease/disability prevention. Particular attention is given to reducing health gaps among groups. Proposals that utilize an interdisciplinary approach, investigate multiple levels of analysis, incorporate a life-course perspective, and/or employ innovative methods such as system science or community-based participatory research are particularly encouraged.

Amount: Varies

Date due: May 11, 2013

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NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grants

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) funding opportunity supports the development of new research activities in categorical program areas. (Support generally is restricted in level of support and in time.) Investigator-initiated research, also known as unsolicited research, is research funded as a result of an investigator submitting a research grant application to NIH in an investigators area of interest and competency. All investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental applications described in this announcement will be assigned to NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) according to standard Public Health Service (PHS) referral guidelines and specific program interests. Investigators are strongly encouraged to consult the list of participating ICs and special research interests.

The Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism, numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

Date due: January 25, 2011

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Statewide Latino Agenda Summit Comes to Salem this October

The Northwest Health Foundatuion is sponsoring a historic two day summit Sunday, October 17 and Monday, October 18 in Salem.

“One United Voice – Una Voz Unida” will be the theme for the event, which will take place at the Salem Conference Center.  The summit will convene Oregon’s Latino leadership to catalyze and coordinate statewide efforts that promote the community’s social and economic well-being, political capacity, and civic leadership. Early registration deadline is Oct. 1.

For more information, visit: www.olaaction.org

Short-Term Research Education Program to Increase Diversity in Health-Related Research

The National Institute of Health (NIH) recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences research workforce. The NIH expects efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups; to improve the quality of the educational and training environment; to balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; to improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nations capacity to address and eliminate health disparities. This FOA issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, solicits Research Education (R25) applications from institutions/organizations to promote diversity in undergraduate and health professional student populations by providing short-term research education support to stimulate career development in cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases research.

Amount: $300,000

Date due: September 1, 2010 (letter of intent); October 1, 2010 (proposal)

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Healthy Living Grants

The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation is now accepting applications for Healthy Living Grants. The AMA Foundation typically awards between 15-25 grants.

There are three funding categories:

• Nutrition/Physical Fitness: The proposed project must include a least one nutrition objective and at least one physical activity objective.
• Alcohol, Substance Abuse and Smoking Prevention
• Violence Prevention: Anti-bullying, domestic violence (with a focus on providing a safe environment for children), suicide prevention, internet safety

Amount: $5,000

Date Due: Applications must be received at the AMA Foundation Office on or before Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 5:00pm Central Time.

For more information, click here.

Active Living Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Active Living Research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that supports research to inform policy and environmental strategies for increasing physical activity among children and adolescents, decreasing their sedentary behaviors and preventing obesity. The program places special emphasis on reaching children and youth between the ages of three and 18 who are at highest risk for obesity — black, Latino, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander children, as well as children who live in under-resourced and lower-income communities.

The program has released a call for proposals for opportunistic, time-sensitive studies on emerging or anticipated changes in physical activity-related policies or environments. Rapid-response grants are expected to accelerate progress toward policy and environmental strategies to prevent and reduce childhood obesity. For maximum impact, studies should be completed in as short a time frame as realistically possible and results disseminated using methods designed to reach local, state, or national decision-makers in time to help inform key policy decisions.

Amount: $150,000

Date due: July 1, 2010

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State Implementation Grants for Improving Services for Children and Youth with with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other Developmental Disabilitie

The purpose of this program is to improve access to comprehensive, coordinated health care and related services for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder ASD and other developmental disabilities. Grantees will implement an existing state plan to improve the system of services for children and youth with special health care needs who have ASD and other developmental disabilities as defined by the following components: partnerships between professionals and families of children and youth with ASD, access to a culturally competent family-centered medical home which coordinates care with pediatric subspecialties and community-based services, access to adequate health insurance and financing of services, early and continuous screening for ASD and other developmental disabilities,community services organized for easy use by families, and transition to adult health care.

Amount: $300,000

Date due: June 14, 2010

For more information, click here.