Junior Investigator Research Grant

Junior Investigator Research Grant
Sponsored by the ASHP Foundation
Application Available: June 1, 2008
Application Deadline: February 16, 2009

Description
The Junior Investigator Research Grant Program supports health services research in medication use that is conducted by pharmacist junior investigators. Health services research affects a wide range of medication-use topics including patient education; patient outcomes and effectiveness of medication therapy; health care quality; medication use in minority, elderly and other special populations; medication costs and financing; information for health care policymakers; and access to medications. A secondary goal of the program is to develop and strengthen the skills of newer pharmacist investigators while fostering development of mentoring relationships with more experienced senior investigators.

Applications for this research grant program should emphasize:

1) Project objectives that address health services research related to medication use;
2) prudent use of grant funds;
3) a sound research methodology that supports the project objectives;
4) mentoring activities between a senior investigator/advisor and the junior investigator;
5) interdisciplinary collaboration;
6) the potential for projects to be replicated in other health care facilities; and
7) the impact that the results of the project will have on medication use.
Preference will be given to research projects with the potential to yield strong scientific evidence that can be applied to practice.

Eligibility Criteria
The proposed research must involve health services research in medication use that is conducted by a pharmacist junior investigator. The principal investigator must be a new researcher within 5 years of completion of his/her terminal degree or postgraduate training or have professional experience greater than 5 years and no more than two externally funded research projects as a principal investigator.

The principal investigator must be a licensed pharmacist and multidisciplinary research teams are encouraged. Also, the principal investigator must have a senior investigator participate on the research team as a mentor/advisor. In the application process and grant progress reports, evidence must be included regarding the support and involvement of the senior investigator.

The proposed study must be submitted to an institutional review board (IRB) for approval. Evidence of IRB approval must be provided to the ASHP Research and Education Foundation upon acceptance of the grant award. Grant funds will not be disbursed until evidence of IRB approval has been received.

Funding Information
Two $18,000 grants will be awarded. Grants are awarded to junior investigators to provide funding for specific health services research related to medication use and are not intended for long-term support of research programs.

One-third of the total grant will be provided with the notice of the award. One-third will be provided following receipt of a written progress report submitted at the midpoint of the timeline for study completion. The remaining one-third will be provided upon receipt of a final report that is due within 60 days of project completion.

Application Process
Pharmacists interested in applying for funding should refer to the request for proposals and application instructions for full eligibility requirements and application procedures. Please check the Programs Calendar periodically for information about future offerings.

Selection Criteria
Grant applications will be judged by a selection panel using the following criteria:

• Objectives-25 points
• Rationale-10 points
• Significance-15 points
• Study Methods-25 points
• Project Scope and Timeline-10 points
• Personnel and Facilities-15 points

Deadlines
Deadline: February 16, 2009

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation
7272 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Phone: (301) 664-8612
Fax: (301) 634-5712
E-mail: foundation@ashp.org
Web site: www.ashpfoundation.org