In November 2019, the National Institute of Health (NIH) issued a new statement on diversity that will be included on all FOAs effective immediately. This diversity statement was informed by a literature review, the reports and deliberations of several internal NIH committees, as well as input from Institute and Center officials, program staff and external stakeholders. The NIH overview statement follows:
Every facet of the United States scientific research enterprise—from basic laboratory research to clinical and translational research to policy formation–requires superior intellect, creativity and a wide range of skill sets and viewpoints. NIH’s ability to help ensure that the nation remains a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation is dependent upon a pool of highly talented scientists from diverse backgrounds who will help to further NIH’s mission.
Research shows that diverse teams working together and capitalizing on innovative ideas and distinct perspectives outperform homogenous teams. Scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems. There are many benefits that flow from a diverse NIH-supported scientific workforce, including: fostering scientific innovation, enhancing global competitiveness, contributing to robust learning environments, improving the quality of the research, advancing the likelihood that underserved or health disparity populations participate in, and benefit from health research, and enhancing public trust.
For more details visit the NIH Statement.
CSDE Affiliate Martina Morris was quoted in a NYT article about how the novel Coronavirus infection spreads and why some people are more infectious. Morris points out in the article that there are two factors at play. “There has to be a link between people in order to transmit an infection, … while that link is necessary it is not sufficient.” The second factor is how infectious is a person. We rarely have independent data on those two factors, which can lead to misattribution and substantial social risks.
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest is to encourage innovative health services research that can directly and demonstrably contribute to the improvement of minority health and/or the reduction of health disparities at the health care system-level as well as within clinical settings. This will be an R01. It has certain specific interests depending on the funding agency. Read the full announcement: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MD-20-011.html.
Submission deadline: 1 June 2020. Conference dates: September 10-11, 2020, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. This conference will provide new and experienced researchers with a forum to present preliminary results and to obtain comments and feedback from experienced PSID data users and PSID study staff. Submissions are welcome on any topic, from researchers in any field, that use data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics or its supplements. A total of 20 to 25 papers will be accepted for the conference, either for presentation or as posters. Call for papers: psid.org/CallForPapers. Submissions: psid.org/Conference.
The Population Health Initiative has launched a COVID-19 rapid response grant program to support the University of Washington research community in quickly responding to the vast array of population health-related challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Awards of up to $20,000 each are available. The initiative will fund at least five grants, with one of the awards supported by the university’s Office of Global Affairs. The period of performance for these awards is four months. Applications are due on April 16, 2020. The purpose of this funding call is to rapidly accelerate, or jumpstart, novel research designed to better understand or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on multiple facets of life. The call is broad in scope, and applications can propose interventions in areas including, but not limited to, the following:
- Basic research/understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the virus
- Basic research on population dynamics and social contexts influencing infection spread and containment
- Diagnostics
- Treatments
- Approaches to rapidly scaling production of personal protective or essential equipment like ventilators
- Preparing for effective mass immunization once a vaccine becomes available
- Economic and social impacts and recovery approaches, including addressing issues of equity
- Mental health impacts
- Risk communications/flow of information/impact of communicating interventions like social distancing/other communication
Project ideas can be proposed that will either (1) quickly bring to bear new knowledge, or (2) that will allow work on a larger, longer-term project to begin immediately as the project team continues to seek the necessary external funding for the bigger component.
Applicants are encouraged to propose projects involving interdisciplinary collaborations as the initiative views such partnerships as being critical to improving health and well-being.
Register now for the best high quality training in practical resistance. Learn: Protesting While Social Distancing, Organizing Mutual Aid Networks Online, Virtual Organizing 101 and so much more!
Climate change is the most significant “threat” to human health of this century. The role of education in preventing further climate and global environmental change is strategic and a necessity. Drawing on educational theories and the current evidence, this talk discusses methods by which to create cognizance of the problem and its importance, prepare learners and faculty to address the growing reality of societal health needs, and instigate change through education to prevent further impact on the planet.
Help support urgent community needs created by the Coronavirus outbreak, including translating/transcribing webinars, donating cleaning supplies for senior services, or supporting the more vulnerable through grocery store gift cards.
Climate Central is hiring for two key positions. The climate scientist will integrate wide-ranging research into Climate Central’s most ambitious climate science communications initiative to date. The sea-level-rise-impacts scientist will lead and contribute to peer-reviewed research aimed at reaching and helping millions.
The Global Health Program in the Division of Social Sciences at UC San Diego and the UC San Diego School of Medicine’s Global Health Institute seek a postdoctoral fellow specializing in refugee health and trained in Global Health, Medical Social Science, or Medical Humanities. The fellow’s charge will be 1) to prepare a comprehensive review of literature on refugee/asylum seeker health and well-being; 2) to participate in organizing an international conference on refugee and asylum seeker health; 3) to facilitate collaborations on refugee health research across campus and beyond. The fellow’s appointment will be in Global Health Program and is expected to be for a twelve month appointment with a begin date of July 2020. There is a possibility for teaching in the UCSD Global Health Program contingent on the experience of the applicant and pedagogical needs of the program.