Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Stroke Prevention/Intervention Research Program (SPIRP) (U54)


Notice Number: NOT-NS-11-017

Key Dates

Release Date: June 7, 2011

Issued by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Purpose

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to promote a new initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for Stroke Prevention/Intervention Research Programs (SPIRP); the goal will be to develop interventions and research that have the potential to reduce stroke disparities in minority communities through effective and culturally appropriate stroke prevention/intervention programs.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. 

The FOA is expected to be published in Fall 2011 with an expected receipt date in Winter 2012.

This FOA will utilize the U54 activity code. The U54 mechanism is a solicited, multi-component award mechanism in which substantial NIH scientific and/or programmatic involvement is anticipated for project completion.

Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability.  Stroke disparities are a major public health problem in the United States due to the excess burden of disease, excess mortality, and worse outcome in minority populations.  To address these, innovative and effective strategies to directly reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of stroke in racial/ethnic minority communities that are within the programmatic priority of NINDS are of interest. This initiative directly responds to the recommendations by the NINDS Advisory Panel on Health Disparities (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/about_ninds/plans/NINDS_health_disparities_rpt.pdf) and the Health and Human Services plan for addressing health disparities (http://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/npa/files/Plans/HHS/HHS_Plan_complete.pdf). 

For the purposes of this announcement, stroke is defined broadly and may address ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke disparities in minority communities. 

Each SPIRP application (or program) must contain at least one stroke prevention/intervention project and up to 3 additional projects directly related to stroke disparities. These additional projects may range from basic science through outcomes research.  The projects should aim to identify, monitor or target biologic, environmental, social, or healthcare system factors that confer stroke and its treatment disproportionately and adversely to underserved minority populations.  We anticipate that trans-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary teams will be used to implement the SPIRP projects.  Projects may also use tools such as community engagement, decision analysis, economic analysis, and patient-centered outcomes to enhance the overall SPIRP.  Applications may have cores that are directly related to the administration, training, and scientific function of the program.

The overall aims of this initiative are: 1) to develop effective evidence-based interventions and prevention strategies designed to decrease identified disparities in stroke with the potential to be scaled-up for regional or national implementation; 2) support stroke disparities research projects that are most likely targets for next generation prevention/intervention programs or that significantly further knowledge in the research gaps in stroke disparities; and 3) provide formal, quality training for junior investigators and key stakeholders in the implementation of the prevention/intervention project.  Importantly, only prevention/intervention projects that are culturally appropriate will be considered.  Therefore, the applicant should discuss the methodology used to address this important element which may include theoretical constructs with population group specific socio-cultural and bio-behavioral variables including health beliefs and practices.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Salina Waddy, MD
Program Director
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 2153 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Phone: 301- 496-9135
FAX: (301) 402-1501
Email: waddysp@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov