NOT-EY-22-004: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research Addressing Eye and Vision Health Equity/Health Disparities

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research Addressing Eye and Vision Health Equity/Health Disparities

Notice Number:

NOT-EY-22-004

Key Dates

Release Date:

February 14, 2022

First Available Due Date:

May 25, 2022

Expiration Date:

January 25, 2025

Related Announcements

PAR-21-041 - Collaborative Clinical Vision Research Project: Chair's Grant (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) 

PAR-21-042 - NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research Project: Coordinating Center Grant (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) 

PAR-21-043 - NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Project: Resource Center Grant (UG1- Clinical Trial Required) 

PAR-19-260 - NEI Research Grant for Vision Related Secondary Data Analysis (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-19-231 - NEI Clinical Research Study Planning Grant Program (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PAR-20-310 - Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01-Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-081 - Addressing Health Disparities among Immigrant Populations through Effective Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-22-064 - Patient-Clinician Relationship: Improving Health Outcomes in Populations that Experience Health Care Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-22-072 - Measures and Methods to Advance Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities-Related Constructs (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-22-092 - Patient-Clinician Relationship: Improving Health Outcomes in Populations that Experience Health Care Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-195 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-21-049 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) 

PA-21-050 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) 

PA-21-051 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) 

PA-21-052 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) 

PA-21-048 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) 

PA-20-203 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-202 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-20-201 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 

PA-20-206 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-20-205 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-204 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 

PA-20-188 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-20-189 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 

PA-21-071 - Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-21-260 - PHS 2021-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH and CDC for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Required)  

PA-21-262 - PHS 2021-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

PA-21-261 - PHS 2021-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required) 

PA-21-259 - PHS 2021-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

Issued by

National Eye Institute (NEI)

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to highlight interest in supporting research that aims to promote health equity in the prevention, treatment, and management of eye and vision conditions. Applications that target reduction of health disparities experienced by people who are visually impaired or blind are encouraged, as well as applications that investigate the impact of bias, structural racism, and discrimination in causing or sustaining eye or vision health inequities. 

Background  

Health equity means that everyone has the opportunity to attain full health potential (i.e., to be as healthy as possible) and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of their social position or other socially determined circumstances. Eye and vision health are critical components of full health potential, yet there continues to be a notably disproportionate burden of eye and vision diseases in certain populations. In addition, healthcare — including eye and vision care — utilization, quality, and access can be suboptimal or variable, especially for racial/ethnic minorities, people who are visually impaired or blind, rural populations and communities with limited access to care, and other underrepresented populations. 

National Eye Institute Interests

In 2021, the NEI published the National Eye Institute Strategic Plan: Vision for the Future (2021-2025). This strategic plan features NEI areas of emphasis that are dedicated to public health and health disparities research. The NEI recognizes that eliminating vision loss and improving quality of life involves understanding the causes of disparities in health and disability and adopting strategies that enhance the inclusion of participants who are underrepresented in research, such as racial and ethnic minorities and people who are visually impaired or blind. 

Research to be supported by NEI through this NOSI must address NEI’s mission to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research. 

The overarching objective of this notice is to promote eye and vision related research that advances health equity and reduces health disparities. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following areas: 

Identifying environmental factors, behavioral factors, social determinants, and other underlying mechanisms that lead to differences in eye and vision health status. 
Examining racial and ethnic differences in screening, diagnosis, and management of eye and vision conditions, and whether there are differences among groups in terms of disease progression. 
Investigating existence and impact of institutional or provider bias, including racism and discrimination, in the delivery of healthcare services.

Evaluating new or existing interventions or community-based interventional programs and policies that promote health equity. 
Assessing strategies to implement health promotion, prevention, telemedicine, screening, and automated diagnosis, as well as effective treatments, rehabilitation efforts, clinical procedures or guidelines with the intent of reducing health disparities 
Assessing shifts in modes of healthcare delivery (e.g., telemedicine) and how these shifts are impacting health outcomes. 
Developing study designs, research methods, and biostatistical analytic approaches for conducting health disparities and health equity research. 
Evaluating strategies to recruit racial and ethnic minority participants in eye and vision research and/or to promote inclusion of people who are visually impaired or blind in research.

Preparing a new generation of researchers who are well trained in health disparity research

It is recognized that both biological and non-biological factors may be affecting health outcomes. Investigators may refer to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework to discover a wide array of health determinants relevant to understanding and addressing minority health and health disparities: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework 

Applications that examine the influence of factors in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age (i.e., social determinants of health) are strongly encouraged to use measures available in the Social Determinants of Health Collection of the PhenX Toolkit (PhenX Toolkit), as appropriate. 

Projects may involve primary data collection or secondary analysis of existing datasets, as supported by the selected funding opportunity and grant mechanism. Collaborations with or among investigators of extant cohorts and clinical trials are appropriate so that these studies may jointly develop protocols and evaluate findings.  

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)  Interests

NIMHD is focused on research that promotes health equity in populations that experience health disparities (see NIH definition of (health disparity populations), which include racial and ethnic minority populations (American Indian or Alaska Natives, Asian, Black or African American, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino), less privileged socioeconomic status (SES) populations, underserved rural populations, sexual and gender minorities (SGM), and any subpopulations that can be characterized by two or more of these descriptions.  

NIMHD is especially interested in: 

Interventions that improve access to evidence-based recommended screening and treatment of eye/vision conditions for persons with no or inadequate health insurance coverage (e.g., some immigrant populations). Cost effectiveness, affordability and sustainability of those interventions are of interest.  
Interventions designed to improve access to and recommended utilization of eye/ocular health services for patients with chronic conditions that increase the risk of eye/vision complications (e.g., hypertension, diabetes). Cost effectiveness, affordability and sustainability of those interventions are of interest. 
Studies that investigate differences in access to and utilization of cutting-edge and recommended ophthalmological procedures compared to traditional procedures. Differences in health outcomes and health care costs, and interventions to address any of these differences are of interest.

Studies that explore the integration of health information technology in different levels of the health care continuum (e.g., patient self-management, patient portals, integration, and portability of health information across health care systems, clinician to clinician communication, etc.) 
Interventions designed to improve access to, early screening and utilization of eye/ocular health services for patients at high risk of eye/vision disorders associated with environmental exposures (e.g., work-related)

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after May 25, 2022 and subsequent receipt dates through January 25, 2025.

Applicants must select the IC and associated FOA to use for submission of an application in response to the NOSI. The selection must align with the IC requirements listed in order to be considered responsive to that FOA. Non-responsive applications will be withdrawn from consideration for this initiative.

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice. In addition, applicants using NIH Parent announcements (listed below) will be assigned to those ICs on this NOSI that have indicated those FOAs are acceptable and based on usual application-IC assignment practices.