Call for Patient-Oriented Research Proposal

As part of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, the mission of the West Haven Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC) is to improve the health and health care of US Veterans by conducting and supporting high quality studies involving topics in patient-oriented investigation and corresponding research methods. In this context, funding will be available for up to 3 new small projects that advance the CERC mission. Applications are invited under the following guidelines.

Purpose: To support pilot studies, demonstration projects, or methodological analyses examining VA-related health and health care issues ranging across specialty and subspecialty disciplines.

Support: Funding for up to 3 projects is available, each of which may request up to $25,000 for a project period of up to 12 months.

Eligibility: Applications should be submitted by investigators who have eligibility (e.g., 5/8 paid VA salary) for other VA research awards; collaboration between VA and non-VA researchers is encouraged, but not required.

Application procedure: A 3-page application document (single-spaced; one-inch margins; no smaller than font size 11) should include:

1. names and complete contact information for the Principal Investigator(s);
2. names of any co-investigators, collaborators, and staff;
3. project title and description of proposed study—including background, specific aims, study design, proposed analysis (including sample size calculations, if appropriate), and implications/significance;
4. itemized list of budgetary expenses (in text format);
5. any long-term plans for this line of research (e.g., intended application for a large-scale project).

A VA or NIH biosketch should also be included for the P.I. (not subject to the page limitation). Creativity is encouraged, but non-epidemiologic projects will have a lower funding priority.

Timetable: Applications should be sent electronically by 5:00 pm on Monday, November 1, 2004, as an attachment to Mihaela Aslan (see email address below). All submissions will be reviewed by the CERC core scientific staff and external reviewers for programmatic relevance as well as scientific merit. An announcement of awards is expected by December 1, 2004; funding for successful proposals will begin January 1, 2005.

Institutional review board approval: All funded projects require institutional review board approval prior to the release of funds.

For more information: General questions regarding submissions should be directed to Donna Cavaliere at (203) 932-5711, ext. 2993; or donna.cavaliere@yale.edu. Questions regarding VA biosketch forms and IRB approval should be directed to Cora Milewski at ext. 3350; or cora.milewski@med.va.gov. Scientific questions regarding submissions should be directed to Mihaela Aslan, PhD, Associate Director, CERC at 203-932-5711, ext. 5679; mihaela.aslan@yale.edu (or John Concato, Director, at john.concato@ yale.edu).