(R21) (RFA-TW-13-002)

For more information, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-TW-13-002.html

OppNet is a trans-NIH initiative that funds activities to 1)    build the collective body of knowledge about the nature of behavior and social    systems, and 2) [...]]]>

Research on the Role of Epigenetics in Social, Behavioral, Environmental and Biological Relationships, throughout the Life-Span and across Generations

(R21) (RFA-TW-13-002)

For more information, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-TW-13-002.html

OppNet is a trans-NIH initiative that funds activities to 1)    build the collective body of knowledge about the nature of behavior and social    systems, and 2) deepen our understanding of basic mechanisms of behavioral and    social processes. All 24 NIH Institutes and Centers that fund research and four    Program Offices within the NIH Office of the Director (ICOs) co-fund and    co-manage OppNet. All OppNet initiatives invite investigators to propose    innovative research that will advance basic social and behavioral sciences and    produce knowledge and/or tools of potential relevance to multiple domains of    health- and life course-related research. Applicants should understand that the    NIH Institute or Center (IC) that made this FOA available to the public is not    necessarily the NIH IC that ultimately will manage a funded OppNet project. For    more information about OppNet and all its funding opportunities, visit http://oppnet.nih.gov.

OppNet uses the NIH definition of b-BSSR (http://obssr.od.nih.gov/about_obssr/BSSR_CC/BSSR_definition/definition.aspx)    to determine application responsiveness. Consequently, OppNet strongly    encourages prospective applicants to consult this definition, in addition to    OppNet’s answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about b-BSSR (http://oppnet.nih.gov/about-faqs.asp),    and FAQs regarding this specific FOA (http://oppnet.nih.gov/pdf/FAQsRFA-DA-14-002.pdf).    Prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out to the NIH    Scientific/Research Contacts listed under Section    VII. Agency Contacts for additional guidance about this FOA.

The evolution and vitality of the biomedical sciences    require a constant infusion of new ideas, techniques, and points of    view. These may differ substantially from current thinking or practice and    may not yet be supported by substantial preliminary data. The R21 mechanism is    intended to encourage new exploratory and developmental research    projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a    breakthrough in a particular area.  By using the R21 mechanism, the NIH seeks    to foster the introduction of novel scientific ideas, model systems, tools,    agents, targets, and technologies that have the potential to substantially    advance biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.

An integrated approach is needed to understand the role of    interactions among social/behavioral/genetic/biological/environmental factors    with dynamic changes in the epigenome and to explain individual variability in    behavioral traits as well as mechanisms underlying psycho-social and    normal/diseased/disordered phenotypes throughout life and across generations.

For this initiative, applications may focus on behavioral    epigenetics using the existing biological, psychological, clinical pathologic    and/or epidemiologic data sets from experimental human or animal studies with    archived or new biospecimens available for epigenetic analysis. Existing data    sets with exposure information such as measures of maternal, paternal &    child behavioral/social and environmental exposures, diet, anthropometrics,    infections, medications as well as other measures of outcomes and function (cognitive,    emotional, sensory, motor, social etc.) may be used. Either the exposure or    outcome/function data, or both, must be in the behavioral/ social/ cultural    realm.  Physical specimens for epigenetic analysis might include an array of    biological samples and measures (e.g. gut microbial markers, mother’s blood and    placenta; cord blood; blood or buccal cells at later ages).

Applicants may propose short-term pilot studies using    archived biospecimens from past or ongoing human cohort or animal studies for epigenetic    analysis, and integrate the information on epigenetic signatures with the    existing data resources. Studies may for example propose secondary analyses on    existing data sets to examine the effects of the pre-/perinatal period social/    behavioral/ biological/ environmental exposures on later life outcomes and    launch both association and mechanistic epigenetic studies of early-life    exposures on behavioral development later in life. Such studies could leverage    exposure and outcome data from existing foreign or domestic large-scale    prospective studies and/or birth cohort databases.

Researchers should 1) include milestones for the short-term    project: deliverables including but not limited to pilot analyses of new and    existing resources, establishment of baseline data and databases to support    later research, development of measures and identification of research    questions and new  research hypotheses; 2) show agreements among researchers to    share existing data; 3) build on existing research to  explore understudied    questions from multi-disciplinary perspectives; 4) identify challenges and    opportunities to be addressed in follow up studies; and 5) be poised to apply    for a follow-up project using appropriate funding mechanism(s) from NIH or    other sources.

Lianna Hartmour has won a Greater Good Science Center Gratitude Dissertation Award. More information about this UC Berkeley-based program can be found at http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/expandinggratitude/dissertation_research_awards.

Recent UCLA Ph.D. Jaeeun Kim has won the [...]]]> Yool Choi has received an American Educational Research Association (AERA) dissertation grant. More information about this program is available at: http://www.aera.net/ProfessionalOpportunitiesFunding/FundingOpportunities/AERAGrantsProgram/DissertationGrants/tabid/12812/Default.aspx

Lianna Hartmour has won a Greater Good Science Center Gratitude Dissertation Award. More information about this UC Berkeley-based program can be found at http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/expandinggratitude/dissertation_research_awards.

Recent UCLA Ph.D. Jaeeun Kim has won the Theda Skocpol Best Dissertation Award from the Comparative Historical Section of the ASA for her dissertation titled “Colonial Migration and Transborder Membership Politics in Twentieth-Century Korea.” Jaeeun is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford.

Congratulations Yool, Lianna, and Jaeeun!

Great Work Annie!

A new website on Advanced Spatial Analysis – http://gispopsci.org/. This website includes an array of resources on advanced spatial analysis in the population sciences and spatial demography, including spatial analysis tools, key websites, workshops and webinars, curricula, and much more.

The Global Health Group

University of California, San Francisco

The Global Health Group (GHG) at the University of California, San Francisco is an “action tank” dedicated to identifying, elaborating and translating innovative solutions to major global health challenges into large-scale action to advance health [...]]]> Private Sector Healthcare Initiative Postdoctoral Fellow – Position Description

The Global Health Group

University of California, San Francisco

The Global Health Group (GHG) at the University of California, San Francisco is an “action tank” dedicated to identifying, elaborating and translating innovative solutions to major global health challenges into large-scale action to advance health and save lives in low- and middle-income countries. Led by Sir Richard Feachem, formerly the founding director of the Global Funds to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the GHG works across the spectrum from analysis, through policy formulation and consensus building, to catalyzing large-scale implementation of programs in collaborating low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The GHG was founded in late 2007 and works closely with a wide range of public and private partners.

The Private Sector Healthcare Initiative

The Global Health Group’s Private Sector Healthcare Initiative (PSHi) works to advance the understanding of private sector healthcare provision in developing countries. Given the primacy of private healthcare services in developing countries, especially for the poorest populations, the private sector is a crucial focus area for overall health systems strengthening.

The Private Sector Healthcare Initiative’s goals are to improve the evidence base on the private health sector in developing countries, advance the global understanding of the significance of private sector healthcare provision in low- and middle-income countries, and ultimately, enable governments to more effectively interact with the private sector in order to achieve public health goals. We pursue these goals through research, training and consensusbuilding around a broad range of private sector issues.

PSHi Postdoctoral Fellow

The Private Sector Healthcare Initiative (PSHi) is seeking an experienced researcher, writer, and statistician to spearhead the analysis and publication of results from the Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Care-Seeking (MNCCS) study. This 18-month project includes three sequential studies designed to understand the trends in key maternal and child health indicators, as well as the unique determinants of maternal health outcomes in urban settings. The objectives of the study are to: 1) assess the global trends in urban and rural facility-based deliveries and the key drivers of these trends; 2) examine the implications of increasing facility delivery on the cause structure of maternal deaths, and the quality of maternal and neonatal care; and 3) understand the determinants of maternal health inequities including assessment of environmental, social, and health infrastructure factors. In addition, the study examines trends across vulnerable populations including migrants, slum-dwellers, and the urban poor.

The post-doctoral fellow will organize and analyze existing data, reports and literature reviews, and co-write articles. The goal of these publications is to improve the evidence base regarding drivers of facility-based deliveries, urban health, and maternal and child care-seeking in LMICs. Key activities will include analyzing survey and DHS data, conducting literature reviews, co-writing articles and case studies, and developing targeted policy briefs around recommendations.

The PSHi Fellow will:

• Collaborate in writing and submission of articles on topics related to maternal and child-care seeking behaviors in developing countries

• Conduct systematic reviews on topics related to maternal and child health in developing countries, including drivers of facility-based deliveries

• Compile and conduct analyses on Demographic Health Surveys and existing community-based datasets

• Conduct field research and write up case studies

This position will be a full-time 2-year appointment, with the first 18-months focused on MNCCS work, based in San Francisco, California. The fellowship will require some travel, including visits to Africa and Asia. A recent or pending doctorate degree in public health, demography, epidemiology, or related field required. Candidates with prior experience with statistical analyses of large datasets are sought, and experienced in mixed-methodologies preferred.

To apply or for more information on this position, please forward a CV and a cover letter describing your relevant experience and qualifications to Dr. May Sudhinaraset at sudhinarasetm@globalhealth.ucsf.edu.