 Background
One of the goals of the OBSSR is to foster interdisciplinary collaborations among the various fields concerned with health research. It is hoped that these collaborations will result in a better understanding of biological, behavioral, and social interactions that ultimately determine health and illness.
To foster cross-disciplinary communication and research collaborations, the RFA, Educational Workshops in Interdisciplinary Research, was initiated by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and jointly sponsored by the OBSSR, the National Center for Research Resources, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute of Dental Research. The initiative has two goals: 1) In the short-term, to encourage social/behavioral and biomedical scientists at an early stage of their careers to learn each others methods, procedures, and/or theoretical perspectives; and 2) In the long-term, to enable researchers to develop cross-disciplinary collaborations and to submit quality grant applications using interdisciplinary approaches. A special emphasis is placed on facilitating the integration of different fields of social and behavioral sciences research, and/or the integration of sociobehavioral and biological fields.
Accomplishments
A total of $1,068,667 was awarded to fund this RFA supporting interdisciplinary research workshops designed to foster the development of cross-disciplinary communication and research collaboration. Ten projects received awards, and most targeted newer investigators. In FY 1997, the OBSSR and the National Institute of Dental Research contributed $631,309; and in FY 1998, the OBSSR, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Nursing Research contributed $437,358. The following is a summary of each project:
1) Developmental Science Workshop: This project conducted a one-week interdisciplinary workshop on the application of developmental science to research related to the health and development of infants, children, and youth, with special attention to the linkages between biological, biobehavioral, and sociocultural factors. (Grant number: R25NR04733-01; Principal Investigator: Margaret S. Miles, Ph.D.; Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Total cost: $107,761)
2) Behavioral Science and Genetics: New Roles, New Partners: The aim of this project was to encourage collaboration between genetic researchers and behavioral scientists in the study of the individual, social, and medical impact of genetic technology. (Grant number: R25DE12672-01; Principal Investigator: Andrea Farkas Patenaude, Ph.D.; Institution: American Psychological Association; Total cost: $107,934)
3) Quality of Life: Views from Multiple Disciplines: This project was designed to: develop an interdisciplinary perspective on quality of life in chronic disease; develop skills in working in an interdisciplinary environment; and develop skills in designing an interdisciplinary proposal addressing quality of life. (Grant number: R25NR04734-01; Principal Investigator: Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, Ph.D.; Institution: University of Pittsburgh; Total cost: $107,829)
4) Interdisciplinary Research Development in Perinatal Health: The purpose of this project was to train behavioral, social, and health researchers to conduct basic etiologic and intervention research related to high-risk pregnancies and their sequelae. One of the workshops focused on adolescent pregnancy prevention, and the other focused on the treatment of women who use drugs during pregnancy and their offspring. (Grant number: R25NR04737-01; Principal Investigator: Wendy L. Hellerstedt, Ph.D.; Institution: University of Minnesota; Total cost: $94,152)
5) Interdisciplinary Training in Outcomes Research: The goal of this project was to broaden the skills and knowledge of new researchers concerning research methods in treatment and prevention. This ten-day workshop produced a series of videotapes that can be used by others for training purposes. (Grant number: R25RR13127-01; Principal Investigator: Robert L. Kane, Ph.D.; Institution: University of Minnesota; Total cost: $107,884)
6) Developing Research Teams to Help Urban Elders: Thirty social, behavioral, and biomedical researchers in the early stages of their careers were trained to prepare and submit an interdisciplinary research grant application to solve some of the problems of people with Alzheimers Disease (AD) . The project also provided a monograph and a template for future workshops. (Grant number: R25NR04735-01; Principal Investigator: Ann C. Hurley, Ph.D.; Institution: Northeastern University; Total cost: $107,616)
7) Workshop in Genetics of Non-Linear Dynamic Systems: This project explored the utility of a systems approach to the genetics of complex traits. A week-long computer-intensive workshop was conducted to foster communication and nurture collaboration between behavioral scientists with expertise in non-linear dynamic models and geneticists who focus on complex traits. (Grant number: R25RR13094-01; Principal Investigator: George P. Vogler, Ph.D.; Institution: Pennsylvania State University; Total cost: $107,755)
8) A Population-based Approach to Health Care Research and Practice: The purpose of this one week workshop was to provide health care professionals with basic skills in the population-based sciences, with an emphasis on health care research and practice for chronic diseases, especially diabetes. (Grant number: R25DE12673-01; Principal Investigator: Risa P. Hayes, Ph.D.; Institution: Emory University; Total cost: $107,569)
9) Culture, Health, and Human Development: In this project, twenty social/behavioral and biomedical scientists in formative stages of their careers participated in a nine day workshop to learn how to include cultural factors in their research designs and policy analyses. Trainees were expected to gain, among other things, appreciation for the role of culture in regulating healthy development and sufficient familiarity with interdisciplinary research methods to engage in collaborative projects. (Grant number: R25RR13132-01; Principal Investigator: Charles M. Super, Ph.D.; Institution: University of Connecticut; Total cost: $118,616)
10) Interdisciplinary Workshop in Psychoneuroimmunology: This project emphasized the integration of psychological, neurological, endocrinological, and immunological components of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). PNI is an interdisciplinary field that examines how psychological, behavioral, cognitive, social, and environmental events interact with, and influence, endocrine, neurological, and immune responding. Special efforts were made to recruit members of minority and under represented groups as well as researchers who are at the early stage of their careers. (Grant number: R25DE12675-01; Principal Investigator: Alan G. Glaros, Ph.D.; Institution: University of Missouri-Kansas City; Total cost: $101,551)
|