NCMHD Health Disparities Research on Minority and Underserved Populations (R01)

Total Grant Amounts: The total funds available in FY 2009 are approximately $1.25 million including associated Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs. The diversity of the population in contemporary America is one of its greatest strengths; however, the richness of this feature is overshadowed by the reality of the disproportionate burden of preventable disease, death, and disability that is borne by racial and ethnic minority populations, and by the rural and urban poor and the elderly. Although there has been considerable improvement in the overall health of the Nation the past two decades, there continues to be striking disparities in the burden of illness and death among African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Pacific Islanders and underserved groups, such as disadvantaged rural Whites. Data clearly indicates that these populations have shorter life expectancies as well as higher rates of cardiovascular disease, all cancers (including breast, prostate and cervical), infant mortality, birth defects, asthma, diabetes, stroke, sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, and obesity. Evidence shows that African Americans have the highest age-adjusted all-causes rate of all races/ethnicities and the highest age-adjusted death rate for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. The incidence rates for both liver and stomach cancers are substantially higher among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders than among other minority populations. Further, health disparities also exist within different geographic regions of the United States, in particular, the Mississippi Delta, Appalachia, the U.S.-Mexico border region, and tribal communities. Of note is that cervical cancer mortality and diabetes-related death rates are higher than average among Hispanic/Latina women than non-Hispanic white women living on the Texas-Mexico border. Disease burden associated with mental disorders also falls disproportionately on ethnic minority populations; Native American and Alaska Natives not only suffer from higher rates of depression but this population also experience higher rates of suicide. The NCMHD leads the federal effort at the National Institutes of Health to stimulate new research, improve the health status of minority Americans and other underserved groups across their lifespan, and promote programs aimed at expanding the participation of underrepresented minorities in all aspects of biomedical and behavioral research.

Funding Organization US Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities Fund Category Other Health-Related Support Types Awards/Prizes/Competitions Research Locations National Eligible Organizations Colleges/Universities Community Based Organizations Educational Organizations/Institutions IRS 501 (c)(3) Organizations Nonprofit Organizations Religious Organizations Tribal Organizations Number of Awards Given 5 to 8 awards Award Amount $1,250,000 Award Amount Notes The total funds available in FY 2009 to support applications submitted in response to this FOA are approximately $1.25 million including associated Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs. The requested amount for individual awards may not exceed $250,000 Direct Costs per year for five years. It anticipated that 5-8 awards will be made in FY 2009. Letter of Intent Date 3/17/2009 Application Due Date 4/17/2009 Project Start Date 9/1/2009 Application Contact Priscilla Grant Chief Grants Management Officer NCMHD/NIH 6707 Democracy Boulevard Suite 800, MSC 5465 Bethesda, MD 208925465 Phone: (301) 594-8412 Fax: (301) 480-4049 Technical Contact Robert E Nettey Health Scientist Administrator Div of Extramural Activities & Scientific Programs NCMHD/NIH 6707 Democracy Blvd. Suite 800, MSC 5465 Bethesda, MD 208925465 Phone: (301) 496-3996 Fax: (301) 480-4049 Fund Duration Five years. Subjects AIDS Cancer Health Care Programs/Services HIV Mortality Rates Patient Care Research Programs Audiences Low Income Persons Minorities Persons in Rural Areas

Application Process Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply. Only the forms package directly attached to a specific FOA can be used. You will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R) forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another FOA), although some of the "Attachment" files may be useable for more than one FOA. For further assistance, contact GrantsInfo, Phone (301) 435-0714; E-mail: GrantsInfo@nih.gov. Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY: (301) 451-5936. Fund Number RFA-MD-09-004