CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

VA STARS & STRIPES HEALTHCARE NETWORK

COMPETITIVE PILOT RESEARCH FUND FISCAL YEAR 2002

SUMMARY

The VA Stars & Stripes Healthcare Network invites applications for pilot research support from the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) Competitive Pilot Research Fund. CHERP is one of 13 Health Services Research and Development Centers of Excellence funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The mission of CHERP is to understand and reduce disparities among vulnerable groups of veterans. The primary purpose of the Competitive Pilot Research Fund is to promote research that serves CHERP’s mission. Emphasis is placed on the scientific merit of the research, the overall value of the project to the mission of CHERP, and the likelihood that the work will lead to external funding. It is anticipated that funded pilot projects will be developed into successful applications for VA Career Development or Merit Review Awards, NIH Career Development (K) Awards, NIH/AHRQ (e.g., R-01) research awards, or private foundation awards.

Research relevant to CHERP’s mission to reduce disparities in health and health care among vulnerable groups of veterans is given priority. CHERP is a VA center focused on veterans’ health. For this reason, work relevant to issues of major importance to veterans’ health is given priority. CHERP aims to increase external support not just from VA peer-reviewed funding, but also from other federal and non-federal sources. While funding priority is given to projects that can lead to subsequent VA funding, requests for pilot funds aimed toward proposals to be submitted to NIH, AHRQ, or other sources are also strongly encouraged. CHERP places special emphasis on the recruitment and support of under-represented minority faculty interested in pursuing health services research on health disparities. Proposals from minority investigators are given priority. CHERP is a collaboration between the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. Projects that make use of the broad resources across this network, in the form of investigators, patient populations, or data sources, are given priority. CHERP hopes to increase the pool of non-VA investigators working toward its mission. While only investigators with VA appointments are eligible to respond as principal investigators to this solicitation, collaborative applications between VA and non-VA investigators are encouraged.

A total of $130,000 is available in FY 2002 to support health services or clinical epidemiologic pilot research projects consistent with the funding priorities described above. Justified budgets under $20,000 will be considered. Budgets for approved projects may be supplemented or partially replaced by in-kind support in the form of measurement, statistical, programming, or research assistant support at the discretion of the CHERP Intramural Research Subcommittee. These resources are to be used to support the critical first steps necessary to attract larger, external awards for full studies.

Questions regarding funding priorities may be directed to C. Kent Kwoh, MD, Chair, CHERP Intramural Research Subcommittee (412-648-8440 or kwoh@pitt.edu) or Michael Fine, MD, MSc, Director, CHERP (412-688-6000; ext. 5585 or michael.fine@med.va.gov) or David Asch, MD, MBA, Co-Director, CHERP (215-898-0102 or asch@wharton.upenn.edu).

Questions pertaining to the application process may be directed to Mary Walsh, Administrative Coordinator, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System at (412) 688-6000; ext. 4897 or mary.walsh3@med.va.gov.

CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

VA STARS & STRIPES HEALTHCARE NETWORK

COMPETITIVE PILOT RESEARCH FUND FISCAL YEAR 2002

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION

OVERVIEW

The Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) invites applications for pilot research grants that address the detection, understanding, and elimination of health disparities among vulnerable groups of Veterans. The Veterans Health Administration has designated certain veteran populations for special attention in VA-sponsored research, including: veterans with permanent disabilities (e.g., blind, paralyzed); veteran cohorts defined by shared military experience (e.g., prisoners of war, Persian Gulf veterans); veterans historically underserved by VHA or with health care needs that may call for special sensitivity or accommodation (e.g., women, racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities); and those whose living arrangements pose special challenges to their health status or to the delivery of needed health care (e.g., homeless, institutionalized, homebound, or rurally located veterans). Other national initiatives, such as Healthy People 2010, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health, have also focused attention on the health care system’s role in reducing disparities in health and health care. While CHERP’s initial research efforts will focus on racial and ethnic minorities, veterans with low socioeconomic status, and veterans with comorbid illnesses prevalent in VA populations (such as substance abuse and serious mental illness), subsequent work will extend to include the other vulnerable veteran groups designated for special attention by the VHA and other national initiatives.

MISSION AND GOALS

The mission of the CHERP is to reduce disparities in health and health care among vulnerable groups of veterans. CHERP has the following goals:

1. To create a critical mass of core investigators and staff, organizational structure, core programs in research infrastructure, and physical and intellectual environment that promotes the mission of the CHERP.

2. To increase the knowledge base by which health disparities are detected and understood, including identification of associated individual or patient, health care provider, health care system, social, and environmental factors.

3. To define aspects of the VHA that can reduce inappropriate health disparities by improving medical practice, by improving patient interaction with the health care system, or by mitigating the effects of social or environmental factors.

4. To support academic research training, multidisciplinary collaboration, and community partnerships that build capacity within the VHA to reduce health disparities.

5. To advance the understanding and elimination of health disparities through effective interactions with relevant community-stakeholders and dissemination of research results to targeted audiences of health professionals, patients, health policy makers, and the public.

FUNDING PRIORITIES

In keeping with the goals of the CHERP, priorities for the allocation of locally (VISN4) awardable pilot funds and in-kind resources in the form of measurement, statistical, programming, or research assistant support have been established and are described below:

1. Research relevant to CHERP’s mission to reduce disparities in health and health care among vulnerable groups of veterans is given priority. Particular priority will be given to research proposals related to disparities highlighted in the VHA’s Designated Research Areas and/or other national initiatives such as Healthy People 2010 and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health.

2. CHERP is a VA center focused on veterans’ health. For this reason, work relevant to issues of major importance to veterans’ health is given priority.

3. CHERP aims to increase external support not just from VA peer-reviewed funding, but also from other federal and non-federal sources. While funding priority is given to projects that can lead to subsequent VA funding, requests for pilot funds aimed toward proposals to be submitted to NIH, AHRQ, or other sources are also strongly encouraged.

4. CHERP places special emphasis on the recruitment and support of under-represented minority faculty interested in pursuing health services research on health disparities. Proposals from minority investigators are given priority.

5. CHERP is a collaboration between the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. Projects that make use of the broad resources across this network, in the form of investigators, patient populations, or data sources, are given priority.

6. CHERP hopes to increase the pool of non-VA investigators working toward its mission. While only investigators with VA appointments are eligible to respond to this solicitation as principal investigators, collaborative applications between VA and non-VA investigators are encouraged.

REVIEW PROCEDURES

Proposals will be reviewed by the Center’s Intramural Research Subcommittee to determine whether they are in line with the mission and funding priorities of the CHERP. The following additional criteria will be considered in evaluating the merit of a proposal:

· Scientific merit

· Methodological rigor

· Likelihood that the work will advance the field of health disparity research

· Background and experience of the investigator(s) and mentor(s) (where appropriate)

· Adequacy of resources and environment to support the project

· Appropriateness of the budget for the proposed work

· Likelihood that the pilot work will lead to subsequent extramural peer-reviewed funding

BUDGET

Justified budgets under $20,000 will be considered; budgets for approved projects may be supplemented or replaced by in-kind support in the form of measurement, statistical, programming, or research assistant support. There is no allowance for travel, tuition, publication costs, or major equipment over $1000. Funds are not available for physical plant infrastructure, and no indirect costs are to be included in the proposed budget. Expenditures will be audited by CHERP Executive Committee to ensure that spending is consistent with the approved projects.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Principal investigators must have at least a 5/8^ths VA appointment or meet other criteria for VA funding. Interested candidates without VA appointments or with questions about eligibility to respond to this solicitation are encouraged to contact Michael Fine, MD, MSc, CHERP Director (412-688-6000; ext. 5585 or michael.fine@med.va.gov) or David Asch, CHERP Co-Director (215-898-0102 or asch@wharton.upenn.edu) to explore whether collaboration with a VA investigator is feasible.

Principal investigators without prior independent extramural support (e.g., PI on VA Merit Review Award or NIH/AHRQ R-01 Award or equivalent) are required to identify a project mentor and submit the mentor’s curriculum vitae and letter of commitment with the application. The mentor’s letter of commitment should describe the mentor’s role in detail.

Awards are contingent upon approval of the various VA research committees (IRB, R&D, and other) and may be rescinded if such approval is not obtained within 90 days of award. Awards are also contingent upon compliance with administrative requirements of the local Institutional Review Boards, Offices of Research, and the CHERP Intramural Research Subcommittee (for example, documentation of completion of an approved course on the protection of human research subjects and the ethical conduct of research).

In general, projects are to be completed within 12 months of the funding date. Project periods exceeding 18 months must be justified in the application and have explicit prior approval. Six-month progress reports and final reports will be required for all funded projects. CHERP reserves the right to withdraw support for projects that fail to achieve the stated goals within the specified timeline of the project.

CHERP support, in the standard approved format, must be acknowledged for all products, presentations, and publications resulting from funded pilot projects.

GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION

The proposal should follow the format outlined below:

1) CHERP Competitive Pilot Research Fund Application Cover Page

2) Abstract (not to exceed 500 words)

3) Budget and justification

4) Biosketch and current support (in VA or NIH format) for the Principal Investigator, all Co-Investigators, and mentor (if applicable).

5) Principal investigators without prior extramural support (e.g., PI on VA Merit Review Award or NIH/AHRQ R-01 Award or equivalent) are required to identify a project mentor and submit the mentor’s curriculum vitae and letter of commitment, detailing the mentor’s role in the proposed project. The mentor need not have a VA appointment.

6) Research Plan: The Research Plan should include information sufficient to evaluate the project, independent of any other document. The Research Plan (Sections A-E) must not exceed 5 single-spaced pages. Margins must be 1 inch and the type must be at least 12-point in size. All tables, graphs, figures, diagrams and charts must be included within the 5-page limit. Glossy photographs of material may be included in an appendix; however, a photocopy of each must also be included within the page limitations of the Research Plan. Applications that exceed the 5-page limit or do not conform to the type size limitations will be returned without review. References may not exceed two pages and are not included in the 5-page limit.

a. Specific Aims. List the broad, long-term objectives and what the specific research proposed in this application is intended to accomplish. State the hypotheses to be tested.

b. Background and Significance. Briefly sketch the background leading to the present application, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance and health relevance of the research described in this application by relating the specific aims to the broad, long-term objectives. Explicitly describe the connection of the proposed project to CHERP’s mission and funding priorities.

c. Preliminary studies/Progress Report. Describe the Principal Investigator’s preliminary studies pertinent to the application and any other information that will help to establish the experience and competence of the investigative team to pursue the proposed project. The complete references to appropriate publications and manuscripts submitted or accepted for publication may be listed and are not part of the page limitations. Six collated sets of not more than 3 such items of background material may be submitted in an appendix.

d. Research Design and Methods. Describe the research design and the procedures to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted. Describe any new methodology and its advantage over existing methodologies. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures and alternative approaches to achieve the aims. As part of this section, provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project.

e. Future Funding. Explicitly describe how the research supported with these funds will enable the applicant to attract additional external funding. Specify, where possible, the expected source and timing of potential future funding.

f. Human Subjects. Include a one-page description of the subject population, sources of research material, recruitment and consent procedures, potential risks, risk management and safety procedures, confidentiality provisions, and evaluation of the risk/benefit ratio. For human subjects, include a draft copy of the informed consent form.

g. Literature Cited. (maximum two pages)

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

Submit the signed original and 5 copies, for a total of 6 applications. Applications should be collated (including appendices) and stapled. Do not bind the application or use covers. Include a floppy disk with the Abstract and Research Plan (Sections A-G) in Word format with all submissions.

Applications are due on March 1, 2002. Incomplete applications or applications not prepared in accordance with the instructions will not be considered. Funding announcements and awards are expected to be made by May 1, 2002.

Mail or deliver completed applications to: Mary Walsh, Administrative Coordinator, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C, 11E130B (130-U), Pittsburgh, PA 15240.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Questions regarding funding priorities may be directed to C. Kent Kwoh, MD, Chair, CHERP Intramural Research Subcommittee (412-648-8440 or kwoh@pitt.edu) or Michael Fine, MD, MSc, Director, CHERP (412-688-6000; ext. 5585 or michael.fine@med.va.gov) or David Asch, MD, MBA, Co-Director, CHERP (215-898-0102 or asch@wharton.upenn.edu).

CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

VA STARS & STRIPES HEALTHCARE NETWORK

COMPETITIVE PILOT RESEARCH FUND FISCAL YEAR 2002

APPLICATION COVER PAGE

Principal Investigator:
		Last Name		First Name				Middle Initial
Mailing Address:
Telephone Number:				Fax Number:
Email Address:				VA Title:
Date entered VA Duty:				5/8ths VA?	Yes				No
VA Facility:
Academic Role:				Department:
Project Title:
Site(s) of Completion (if more than one site, identify local PI for each study site):
Site 1: S
	Facility Name
Site 2: S
	Facility Name						Local Site PI
Site 3: S
	Facility Name						Local Site PI
Site 4: S
	Facility Name						Local Site PI
Mentor (if applicable):
		Attach CV and letter of support from mentor. Mentor need not be VA employee.
Human Subjects Involved?			Yes	No
Project Start Date:				Project End Date:
Total Requested:		$
		Maximum $20,000
Signature of Principal Investigator						Date
Signature of Principal Investigator’s Supervisor						Date