CSDE Affiliate Janelle S. Taylor from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto presents her findings from a study of “elder orphans,” older adults who have no living spouse or children, and their experiences as they develop dementia. Taylor explores answers to questions such as: what life trajectories lead people to be in this situation, what caregiving resources do they access, and what turning points trigger changes in caregiving arrangements? The study employs an innovative mixed-methods analysis of existing medical research data and health records data collected by the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) Study, a long running study of incident dementia based at Kaiser Permanente of Washington Health Research Institute.
Click here to schedule a meeting with Janelle S. Taylor.
A key motivation for increasing minimum wages is to induce positive health outcomes for adult workers. However, CSDE Affiliates Heather Hill and Jennifer Otten, along with their co-author James Buszkiewicz, find no overall association between minimum wage increases and health in their recent article published in the American Journal of Epidemiology—“State Minimum Wage Rates and Health in Working-Age Adults using the National Health Interview Survey”—this is an outcome that contrasts with results of previous studies finding positive health benefits from minimum wage policies.
The authors use a rigorous “triple difference” strategy with a sample of more than 131,000 adults to find associations between state minimum wages and adult obesity, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, fair or poor health, and serious psychological distress. Though Hill, Otten, and Buszkiewicz find no overall association between these health factors and minimum wage, they do find varying health outcomes within different sub-groups of the sample. For example, the authors find that wage increase is associated with higher rates of obesity among people of color.
This new study can help inform policymakers as they consider minimum wage increases. In an article for UW News, Hill stated that “cities and counties are increasing minimum wages with very good intentions, which is to benefit lower-earning workers and reduce inequality, and yet we still need more research evidence on the effects of the minimum wage on health…In particular, we need to understand how it affects different types of workers differently.”
The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, you can read the full version here.
Applications are open for the Fall 2020 round of the UW Royalty Research Fund (RRF) grant program. This program aims to support new directions in research, particularly in disciplines for which external funding opportunities are minimal, for faculty who are junior in rank, or in cases where funding may provide unique opportunities to increase applicants’ competitiveness for subsequent funding. Proposals from all disciplines are welcome, with budgets up to $40,000. Application instructions can be found at the Office of Research web site: http://www.washington.edu/research/or/royalty-research-fund-rrf/
Proposals must demonstrate a high probability of generating important new creative activities or scholarly understandings, new scholarly materials or resources, significant data or information, or essential instrumentation. Proposals will be peer reviewed through one of three RRF Review Committees: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Basic Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Physical Sciences and Engineering.
NEW THIS ROUND: The Suggested Reviewers Memo will be attached as a Word document to the eGC1, rather than emailing it to the RRF office. Please see the updated instructions here.
Contact the RRF administrative staff with questions about the program; new applicants should contact Peter Wilsnack, doogieh@uw.edu, 206-685-9316.
As a response to the continuing spread of the coronavirus, Chinese government officials are isolating thousands of patients with suspected symptoms in large shelters. Though such large-scale containment measures seem necessary, experts, including CSDE Affiliate
Nicole Errett, shared concerns regarding the effectiveness of shelters in a recent
New York Times article. Errett explains how placing patients in immense, shared areas increases chances of spreading infections and limits the emotional support patients can receive when treated at home rather than shelters.
The article quoted Errett “Whenever we put people in facilities together, even during a hurricane, we are concerned about them getting infectious diseases…” Errett further stated how there are certain impalpable benefits to isolating patients at home rather than in shelters. While at home, patients can stay with their loved ones where they are able to receive emotional support during a difficult time.
Errett is a lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the UW School of Public Health and co-director of the UW Collaborative on Extreme Event Resilience (UW CEER). Errett was also featured in a New York Times article last week on how US hospitals are preparing for coronavirus patients.
Faculty and post-doctorates, mark your calendars! There is an upcoming Faculty Workshop on NIH Diversity Supplements on February 27th and 28th. RSVP now using this link! The topics that will be covered during the workshop include:
- Purpose and benefits of applying for NIH Diversity Supplements (Administrative or Minority Supplements)
- NEW eligibility criteria, application process and components of a successful application
- Panel discussion highlighting the experiences of current UW faculty who have been awarded Diversity Supplements
Workshop 1: Thursday Feb. 27th (Harborview Medical Center Room 1309, 1:30 – 3:45pm)
Workshop 2: Friday, Feb. 28th (Health Sciences Building K-069, 8:30 – 10:45am)
Diversity Supplements are administrative grants that tie into existing NIH grants held by faculty. They directly align with the UW Diversity Blueprint, increasing a diverse student body and future workforce. Supplements provide additional funding for research, professional development and academic support (i.e., tuition, stipend and health insurance), with funding available for up to 4 years. The average annual cost of hiring a graduate or post-doctoral student Research Assistant ranges from $65-80K. A Diversity Supplement will defray these costs by adding supplemental grant funding, so that faculty can focus on mentorship and research. Grants requests may provide up to 4 years of funding, which includes additional research funds, tuition, stipend and health insurance.
Click the link below for more information.
The UW Evans School Coalition is proud to present: The Summit on Race and Equity in Public Policy! Come join for an exciting day discussing and exploring various topics on race and equity in the public policy and public administration fields including: Community Organizing and Public Policy with a Racial Equity Lens, How to Effectively and Equitably Involve Marginalized Communities in the Policy Process, and more! The Summit will also have some amazing keynote speakers this year. Breakfast and Lunch are included with the purchase of a ticket.
Here is the link to purchase a ticket, and click this link for a flyer. The Evans Coalition hopes to see you on February 15th for this critical and innovative summit!
In January 2021, the University of Washington will be the host of a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Disaster Research Response Workshop. The overall goal of the workshop, co-sponsored by the UW Population Health Initiative and the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, is to improve preparedness to conduct rapid environmental and health-related disaster research that concurrently advances cumulative science and is responsive to community information needs. The graduate research assistant will work with a group of interdisciplinary University of Washington faculty, staff, and students and community and governmental partners to plan workshop activities and develop disaster research capabilities.
Submit cover letter, CV, and a list of two professional references to Nicole Errett at nerrett@uw.edu by Monday, February 17, 2020.
The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is pleased to announce that the 2020-2021 U.S. Policy Communication Training Program is now open for applications. Applications will close February 17th, 2020.
The U.S. Policy Communication Training Program builds on PRB’s 40-year legacy of training researchers to communicate their findings for policy change. The program is designed to develop skills that U.S. researchers need to communicate with U.S. policy audiences, including decision makers and the media. Through the generous support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), PRB will be able to fund the participation of U.S. citizens and permanent residents studying demography, population health, and reproductive health in doctoral programs at U.S. academic institutions.
If you have questions, please contact Alfred Hylton-Dei at USPolicyTraining@prb.org.
The Dean’s Office will be holding two information sessions about UW Royalty Research Funding next week. The next RRF deadline is March 2nd, so it’s time to get started for anyone wanting to submit a proposal. These sessions are targeted for faculty and admin staff.
RRF provides up to $40,000 for one year of funding to establish new research programs or engage in concentrated scholarly activities. The process is straightforward which makes it ideal for new investigators who ultimately want to submit outside proposals. Come hear about the requirements, get some tips and receive a suggested timeline.
Applying for UW Royalty Research Funding
Tuesday, February 11th OR Wednesday, February 12th From 12noon – 1pm in Communications 126
Agenda topics:
· Purpose of RRF
· Deadlines & Eligibility Requirements
· Proposal Development
· Tips for Grant Writing
· Review Committee & Criteria
· Submission Process
RSVP is appreciated but not required (mattheu@uw.edu)
Feel free to bring your lunch.
The Columbia Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Alzheimer’s Disease Disparities (CIRAD) is soliciting applications for its pilot project program from investigators who will become RCMAR Scientists. Postdoctoral scientists, early, or mid-career investigators in the greater New York City area are encouraged to apply. Investigators must meet the NIH definition of underrepresented in biomedical research. Investigators must demonstrate an interest in an enduring career in ADRD-relevant research. Applications due 3/1/2020. Visit the RCMAR National Coordinating Center’s website, Call for pilot proposal/new RCMAR Scientists. The Columbia Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Alzheimer’s Disease Disparities (CIRAD) is soliciting applications for its pilot project program from investigators who will become RCMAR Scientists. Postdoctoral scientists, early, or mid-career investigators in the greater New York City area are encouraged to apply. Investigators must meet the NIH definition of underrepresented in biomedical research. Investigators must demonstrate an interest in an enduring career in ADRD-relevant research. Applications due 3/1/2020. Visit the RCMAR National Coordinating Center’s website for more information.