Request for Information (RFI): Interdisciplinary Training in Health Disparities Science

Notice Number: NOT-MD-15-014

Key Dates
Release Date: July 14, 2015
Response Date: August 24, 2015 September 8, 2015

Related Announcements

August 27, 2015 - Notice of Extension of the Response Date for NOT-MD-15-014. See Notice NOT-MD-15-018.

Issued by
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Purpose

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks input on the development of predoctoral and postdoctoral interdisciplinary training and mentoring programs in health disparities science. NIMHD invites comments from researchers, academicians, healthcare providers, public health experts, social services organizations, advocacy groups, consumer organizations, small businesses, and other relevant stakeholders.

Background

Health disparities science is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry that seeks to develop an understanding of the myriad determinants of health in and across diverse populations. Healthy People 2020 defines determinants of health as powerful, complex relationships that exist between health and biology, genetics, and individual behavior, and between health and health services, socioeconomic status, the physical environment, discrimination, racism, literacy levels, and legislative policies. Health disparities researchers view health as the outcome of these multiple determinants acting across the lifespan and across generations. The field also emphasizes the translation of such knowledge to improve population health and reduce or eliminate health disparities. Specialized research training programs in health disparities science are needed to develop the next generation of health disparities researchers.

Information Requested

This RFI invites comments that include but are not limited to any of the following areas:

  • Interdisciplinary training, mentorship, and education on methods relevant to health disparities science, including but not limited to, genetics, epidemiology, population science, systems science, health services research, social and behavioral health sciences, public health, environmental science, and other related biological science disciplines for predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows
  • Research training and mentoring on the social determinants of health, and population based interventions to improve health and reduce or eliminate health disparities
  • Training in innovative research methods and statistical analyses for complex, multifactorial research inquiry relevant to health disparities
  • Graduate curriculum development designed to foster interdisciplinary thinking and research synergy
  • Integrated training and mentoring among scientific disciplines across the translational research continuum
  • Best practices for establishing partnerships and collaborations with researchers, clinicians, public health agencies, communities, institutions and other stakeholders to improve understanding of health disparities and to translate research findings into policy and practice
  • Recruitment and retention strategies to encourage participation of graduate students from diverse, underrepresented backgrounds

Responses

All responses must be submitted via email to nimhdnotmd012@mail.nih.gov. Responses will be accepted through August 24, 2015 September 8, 2015. Please include the Notice number NOT-MD-15-014 in the subject line.

The information provided will be analyzed and may appear in reports. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). The NIH may use the information gathered to develop grant, contract, or other funding priorities and initiatives.

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government general or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or NIMHD specifically. The NIH does not intend to make any awards based on responses to this RFI or pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government’s use of such information.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Joan Wasserman, DrPH
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Telephone: 301-594-1788
Email: joan.wasserman@nih.gov