Grants>Evidence-Based Medicine

Autism Speaks Request for Applications: Treatment Research Grants: Full- and Pilot-Level 2012 Cycle

Letter of Intent due: February 23, 2012, 8:00 PM Eastern

Autism Speaks invites both Full- and Pilot-Level Treatment research grant applications to conduct innovative clinical studies of novel interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) throughout the lifespan. These may include medical approaches including complementary and alternative forms of health care and pharmacological treatments, as well as behavioral and/or psychosocial interventions, and evaluation of the efficacy, safety or therapeutic benefits of all types of interventions. Also appropriate are animal model studies that test the effects of novel compounds for reducing autism symptoms.

For all RFAs, Autism Speaks is focusing on a set of targeted research priorities for 2012. All treatment study projects will be required to demonstrate direct relevance to at least one of these targeted research priorities:

1. Understand environmental risk factors and their interaction with genetic susceptibility to enable prevention and improve diagnosis and treatment

2. Discover biomarkers that can improve risk assessment and subtype stratification that will allow for an individualized approach to treatment

3. Improve quality of life through more effective medicines, behavioral interventions, and technologies

4. Enhance diagnosis and treatment of underserved and under-studied populations, specifically,

• Nonverbal persons with ASD
• Ethnically-diverse and/or low resource communities
• Adults
• Those with medical co-morbidities

5. Disseminate and implement evidence-based clinical practices to the broader community worldwide

IMPORTANT: The relevance of the proposed research to ASD and Autism Speaks’ research priority areas must be explicitly described in the Letter of Intent (LOI) and full application.

Awards
Autism Speaks will make a limited number of treatment research grants determined by the available financial resources.

Full-level research grant
1-3 years
$150,000/year maximum

Pilot-level research grant
1-2 years
$60,000/year maximum

Autism Speaks utilizes a web-based application system for their grant submissions. All applications must be submitted through this system. It is imperative to indicate whether the submission is for the Full- or Pilot-Level Treatment research option.

Research Inquiries
research@autismspeaks.org

Discovery Channel "Medicine and the Media" Elective

Deadline: March 15, 2012

Discovery Communications, the leading global real-world media company, is offering an exclusive four to six week elective for American Medical Association (AMA) medical student and resident/fellow members. As part of Discovery’s ongoing dedication to education, Discovery Channel produces continuing medical education (CME) programs that air on the Discovery Channel weekly. During the elective, one AMA medical student and one AMA resident/fellow will each work closely with all members of the Discovery team to develop a medical education program that will air on the network and be viewed by over 2 million people. This exciting opportunity gives the student and resident/fellow hands-on experience in the translation of rigorous scientific data into an entertaining and informational program. To apply for the elective, please complete the application located at www.ama-assn.org/go/discovery by March 15.

Objectives
-- Develop concepts of evidence-based medicine with emphasis on translating research into practice;
-- Determine how to create medical and health programming geared for both physicians and patients in multiple mediums, including TV, DVD, radio, and internet;
-- Develop key outcome measures and metrics when assessing health and medical programming; and
-- Understand the way that media transmits medical information.

Activities
-- Work under direct supervision of a physician – Chief Medical Expert / Vice President, Continuing Medical Education, Discovery Channel;
-- Assigned at least one specific topic and develop a script for a CME program, select appropriate faculty members on the topic, and follow the program through production to premiere;
-- Assist in the development of grant proposals for future CME programs on a variety of topics;
-- Use evidence-based principles in researching topics;
--Work with production and development teams to help create medutainment (medical information that is also entertaining); and
--Travel to shoots and development meetings to bring medical expertise.

The student and resident/fellow will work primarily at Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, but will also travel to relevant on-site and studio shoots for the program. A stipend will be provided to cover living expenses based on length of rotation ($3,000 for four-week rotation). Dates and length of rotation are flexible. As part of this opportunity, students and residents/fellows will also spend one day in the AMA Washington, DC office with our media relations staff, learning about the ins and outs of working in the field.

Applications for the Elective are due March 15, 2012.

Call for Applications: American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine Research Grant

The American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) is announcing the availability of a grant opportunity that will be awarded on a competitive basis. The goal of this award is to fund research with high potential to impact patient care through the identification of important relationships between electrodiagnostic measures or imaging modalities with respect to the clinical or functional outcomes of people with neuromuscular disorders. We are seeking high quality, evidence based studies that will provide important information that delineate the role of electrodiagnostic studies in patient management. Studies that assess electrodiagnosis and its relation to outcomes, its ability to promote efficient care and to optimize the use of healthcare resources, as well as complement other diagnostic tests are being solicited. We envision this study to provide class I or II evidence based medicine, demonstrating the impact of electrodiagnosis on patient care and the optimization of resources. Cost effectiveness and care efficiency aspects of proposals are highly desirable.

These disorders include, but are not limited to, common mononeuropathies, cervical and lumbar radiculopathies, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, neuromuscular junction disorders and motor neuron disorders.

This goal will be accomplished through the peer review grant process with oversight by the AANEM Foundation.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards
The total amount of funding available is $500,000. The foundation anticipates funding 1 project. Projects with direct and indirect costs of up to $100,000 per year will be considered for a 3 to 5 year time span.

Award is contingent upon AANEM Foundation appropriations, and the submission of a meritorious application.

Award Budget
Application budgets are limited to $500,000 (direct and indirect costs) and need to reflect actual needs of the proposed project. Overlapping costs will not be allowed. Cost sharing with other funding mechanisms is encouraged. Indirect costs will be capped 7%

Award Project Period
The total project period for an application requesting support will be between 3 and 5 years. Funding will not exceed five years.

Eligible Applicants
Any physician with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Principal Investigator (PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply for AANEM foundation support. It is required that either the PI or at least one co-investigator be a member of the AANEM.

Letter of Intent
Applicants will be asked to submit a 2 page letter of intent prior to submitting a full proposal. This letter should contain sufficient information to describe the scope of the proposed work, an overview of the scientific rationale and methods to be used, and an indication of the ability of the investigators to complete this work successfully.

From the submitted letters of intent, the Research Committee will select the most promising projects to solicit a full proposal.

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): Oct. 1, 2012
Letter of Intent Due Date: Dec. 1, 2012
Application Due Date(s): March 31, 2012

AANEM Foundation
2621 Superior Drive NW Rochester, MN 55901
Telephone: 507.288.0100
Fax: 507.288.1225
E-mail: foundation@aanem.org

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Cutting Edge Research Grant Program

In 2012, up to $100,000 of grants will be awarded ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 per recipient. Awards will be announced at the ASDS Annual Meeting, October 11-14, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Research must be of specific relevance to dermatologic surgery and/or cutaneous oncology. This is a competitive award program for research projects not funded by other sources. This year, the ASDS Research Work Group has made a special request for investigator research into:

evidence-based medicine,
comparative efficacy research,
quality studies, and
patient safety studies.

The Cutting Edge Research Grant Program unites education and innovation to encourage and stimulate clinical research and the transfer of new technologies from the research settings to surgical practice. Since 2000, the ASDS has awarded over $940,000 in clinical research funding in surgical oncology, lasers, botulinum toxins, fillers, liposuction and other cosmetic procedures.

Award Descriptions

The ASDS Research Work Group encourages submission of well-conceived research projects which stimulate the advancement of the practice of dermatologic surgery, the invention of new technologies, or research projects which document the outstanding and high volume work of dermatologic surgeons.

Up to $100,000 in funding will be awarded by the ASDS Research Work Group ranging in amounts from $2,500 - $20,000. Grants will be selected based on meeting the eligibility requirements and qualifications. Additionally, the Research Work Group will use the following criteria in its determination of awards:

Importance to dermatologic surgery
Scientific validity
Protocol quality
Feasibility
Suitability of research environment

Monies will be distributed in three installments to the sponsoring institution. Institutions or practices may submit only one application for consideration; multiple applications will automatically be rejected. This is a competitive award program for research projects not funded by other sources. The applicant retains ownership of intellectual property resulting from the clinical research funded by the ASDS.

Supported by generous contributions to the ASDS Dermasurgery Advancement Fund by our members and industry partners, the Cutting Edge Research Grant (CERG) program has been a resounding success for our Society and members. In 2012, grants ranging from $2,500 - $20,000 will be awarded again in order to stimulate a broad scope of research relevant to dermatologic surgeons and the dermatology specialty at-large.

The deadline for the 2012 Cutting Edge Research Grant program is July 9, 2012.

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) was founded in 1970 to promote excellence in the subspecialty of dermatologic surgery and to foster the highest standards of patient care. The Society supports continuing education and training of its members, public information and community outreach programs relating to dermatologic surgery and this grant program.

For more information

Applicants with questions regarding the application process or the Cutting Edge Research Grant Program, in general, should contact the ASDS office.

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
5550 Meadowbrook Drive, Suite 120
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: 847-956-9124

Fax: 847-956-0999
Email applications to: sshelton@asds.net