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Office of Undergraduate Research

Health research program.

Opportunity Archive

Dr. David Martinelli and Rohit Makol '20 (ENG).

Program Overview

The Health Research Program offers a pathway into undergraduate research for students with interests in health and the biomedical sciences. By facilitating connections between UConn Health researchers and UConn undergraduates, this program involves more students in the cutting-edge research at the Farmington campus. The Health Research Program includes a combination of academic year and summer research opportunities, offering undergraduates and their faculty mentors a structure for sustained engagement in research projects, maximizing student learning and preparation for graduate study and/or careers in the health professions.

Information Sessions

For an overview of the program, students are encouraged to attend an HRP Information Sessions.

Session dates/times for the fall 2024 semester are coming soon.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Summer 2025 phase of the Health Research Program, a student applicant must:

Currently be pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UConn, and plan to graduate with that bachelor’s degree no earlier than May 2026. This includes students pursuing Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of General Studies, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Engineering, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees.
Be a full-time student in good standing at a UConn campus during the Spring 2025 semester.
Be willing to continue their research involvement for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.
Not have participated in any previous phase of the Health Research Program. Each student is eligible for a maximum of one placement and one summer stipend through the Health Research Program.

Beyond these general eligibility criteria, each individual opportunity description will specify the desired qualifications for that position.

Application Deadline

Opportunities for Summer 2025 will be posted in early January 2025 . Applications must be submitted by February 17, 2025 .

We expect that faculty will interview their leading candidates between February 21 and February 28, and offers will be made in early March 2025.

How to Apply

Research opportunity descriptions and application links will be accessible in the Summer 2025 Research Opportunities section of this page. Each opportunity has its own description and application link. If you wish to apply for more than one opportunity, you must tailor your application materials to each opportunity's requirements and submit an application to each opportunity that interests you. Please note that if you apply to more than one opportunity, OUR will send you a follow-up form in late February in which you will rank those opportunities in order of preference; your ranking must be submitted no later than TBD . For guidance on how to use the application management system, please review the Quest Portal User Tips .

Financial Support

Stipend Support to Students

Students participating in the summer 2025 program will receive a $5,000 stipend for a commitment of 360 hours of summer research (10 full-time weeks).
Students may receive a maximum of one summer stipend over the course of their participation in the Health Research Program.
Academic year HRP student researchers (continuing research for fall & spring) may be eligible to apply for $500 per semester to assist with transportation.

Summer 2024 Research Opportunities


Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, Departments of Molecular Biology and Biophysics	For this summer project, the student will work on a computational model of bacterial interactions in the human gut microbiome. The student will write code to add new mechanistic details to the model, will simulate it, visualize the results, and evaluate the results by comparing with experimental data. The final model and results will be presented in a Python notebook and shared online for others to learn from.
Department of Neuroscience	This is a basic science research project aimed at understanding cellular determinants of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We use an animal model of AD -- mice carrying specific genes, which trigger development of amyloid plaques in the cerebral cortex. By the means of brain slice technology, electrophysiology (synaptic stimulation), and optical imaging (calcium and voltage imaging) we seek to determine if synaptic transmission in disease-free animals (Control) is any different from that occurring in the AD model animals developing amyloid plaques. The student will learn software for analysis of the optical imaging records (physiological), organization and presentation of measurements, some basic histology techniques for detecting plaques in saved brain sections, and if interested, the student may perform optical imaging of synaptically evoked depolarizations in brain slices working together with a postdoc.
Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling	I have a variety of computational projects described at , and can accommodate students with an interest in applications of computers and mathematics to biology in many directions: reading publications and coding biological mechanisms, using software to model, web development, algorithms coding, visualization using graphical tools, etc.
Department of Neuroscience	Hearing loss and auditory temporal processing deficits have been identified as a possible predictor of dementia. The project will assess a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) at different stages of disease progression. The work includes in vivo recordings of auditory evoked potentials in anaesthetized mice and histology of the brain of these mice.
Department of Neuroscience	The project is for students in the fields of data science, engineering, computer science, applied math, statistics, biology, psychology, or neuroscience who have programming skills in Python, R, and/or Labview (or others) and who are interested in helping develop tools for automated analyses of complex data pipelines originating from neuroscientific experiments addressing the neural basis of behavior in mice. The student would be involved in developing the software tools used to control the experiments (actuators and computer vision) and/or analyze the data (data models), which includes recordings from hundreds of neurons in behaving mice. Opportunities to participate in the research by conducting experiments are also available.
Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics	Assembly of the short actin filaments on the cytoplasmic side of human red blood cells. Aim 1—isolation of the short actin filaments in human red blood cells. Aim 2—cleavage of the cytoskeleton of human red blood cells by the SerA6 protease from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI)	The project will engage an UG student in a mutual learning process of combining methods, tools, and substantive knowledge from fields like (bio)statistics and causal inference to answer questions like: (i). (Is there, and) How strong is the causal effect of (gaining/excess) body weight/mass on diabetes/blood glucose? (ii). Does the body weight->diabetes effect differ by race/ethnicity? (iii). Are there differential diabetes prevention benefits of weight loss among different racial/ethnic groups? It proposes to share the faculty’s new insights into training methods for applied statistics/data analysis, recast in a way such that causality is imbued into the analytical process from the very beginning. It will utilize an existing dataset from a prior randomized intervention, along with other datasets the faculty has access to, and public data (e.g. ‘geo-spatial’). It proposes to introduce the UG student to new approaches to data science/analytics, using applied investigative work instead of lecturing-type expositions.
Center for Molecular Oncology, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development	Our research focuses on modeling of parathyroid tumorigenesis and the related Hyperparathyroidism-Jaw Tumor syndrome. The student will assist in phenotypic characterization of genetically modified mice including: DNA/RNA extraction, PCR-based genotyping, rotary sectioning of fixed tissue, analyses of changes in RNA and/or protein expression and in vitro assessment of PTH secretory activity.
Center on Aging	We are conducting short satisfaction surveys with residents and family members from each nursing home in Connecticut. Over the summer we are looking for someone to assist with recruiting family members to complete a brief 3-question survey. You will be based in our office helping email, mail, and call individuals who are the family members of nursing home residents to ask them to complete the survey. You will also accompany research team members to conduct surveys in nursing homes with residents. You will help analyze the data collected with this survey to understand differences across nursing homes.
UConn Center on Aging	The research project in our lab is focused on the analyses of cell-free nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (cf-nDNA or cf-mDNA)in plasma samples. Our goal is to understand the dynamics of cf-nDNA and cf-mDNA in psychiatric disorders and different diseases of aging. We are also focusing on the analyses of cf-DNA from cultured PBMCs and related in-silico analyses.
Department of Psychiatry	I am seeking an undergraduate student intern to assist with the Supporting Teen Adjustment and Resilience (STAR) Study a research study investigating the development of emotion regulation strategies in early adolescence and emotion socialization parenting behaviors among parents who have experienced trauma and their 11-14 year-old children. The intern will assist with parent and child baseline visits to our laboratory, where families will be consented, complete questionnaires and receive training for the experience sampling portion of the study (2 weeks of surveys completed at home on their phone). The intern will also assist with recruiting and scheduling subjects and monitoring subjects' participation in the experience sampling trial, as well as with other administrative tasks. The intern will have the opportunity to develop a poster or paper on a research question of their choosing, related to children’s emotion regulation, parents’ socialization behaviors, and children’s functioning. Data for the project can be drawn from previous studies on parent and child emotion regulation and emotion socialization.
Department of Neuroscience	As the world population ages Alzheimer's disease (AD) has gained epidemic proportions, yet our understanding of the precise mechanisms by which AD leaves specific memories vulnerable to forgetting remain unclear. One type of memory that is profoundly affected by AD is long-term spatial memory. In my lab students will have the opportunity to help develop, test and implement 3D virtual reality devices built specifically for testing long-term spatial memory on mouse models for AD. Students with backgrounds in coding/computer science and/or biology are encouraged to apply.
Department of Medicine/Nephrology	The project explores how Coronin 1A remodels inflammatory microenvironment and dictates acute kidney injury (AKI) prognosis. We will subject AKI models, including ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and cisplatin injection, to WT and coronin 1A knockout mice to evaluate AKI outcomes after coronin 1A deletion. Besides, global/phosphor-proteomics will performed to explore the underlying mechanism.
Department of Genetics & Genome Sciences	Our research is on gene expression factors and mechanisms in the lethal human parasite and unicellular eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei (we work with a strain that is not infectious for humans). Trypanosomes use an obligatory trans splicing process that is not present in human cells to mature all pre-mRNAs. Trans splicing is carried out by the spliceosome and we are interested in discovering parasite-specific proteins that are important to this process. For example, we have characterized a unique kinase whose activity is indispensable for trans splicing. This project is to proteomically characterize the trypanosome U4/U5.U6 tri-snRNP and analyze all co-purified proteins and small nuclear RNAs.
Department of Cell Biology	The Möbius strip, also called the twisted cylinder, is a one-sided surface with no boundaries. Our lab recently identified Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) -associated Möbius strips in various cell types. Summer HRP project is to isolate enzymes that localize in Mobius strips and contribute to formation/maintenance of membrane twists using proximity-labeling and mass-spec.
Department of Immunology	The primary focus of our research is to determine the mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens modulate host innate immune responses. Since innate immune responses play a crucial role in the clearance of infectious agents, it is natural that pathogens have developed strategies to inhibit the same. Our research aims to identify bacterial mechanisms that activate or inhibit innate immune activation. The summer research opportunity will focus on identifying virulence factors of two enteric pathogens, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli and Salmonella Typhimurium, that can activate or suppress a major innate immune pathway, the inflammasomes. The research strategy will involve working with bacterial mutants that lack specific virulence factors and determining their mode of action in innate immune cells such as macrophages.
Department of Neurosurgery	This project focuses on alterations of the blood-meningeal barrier (BMB) after diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using a mouse model and small animal surgical techniques, post-traumatic changes within the BMB will be studied using immunohistochemical techniques including confocal and immunoelectron microscopy. Research will focus on generating preliminary data for a more comprehensive grant submission seeking to delineate secondary neurovascular injuries following mild TBI / concussion.
Department of Medicine	Students will help with developing a self-administered speech test method using the Modified Rhyme Test (MRT). First, the MRT will be done without signal processing as a reference. Then, the MRT will be done with speech sounds applied signal processing to enhance the sound clarity. The aim is to find the trial MRT word sets that closely match the outcomes of the full MRT, which consists of either 25 or 50 trials (for example, choose 5 trials) by human participant studies. Students' responsibility will include managing MRTs in an audiometric booth and assisting in data collection and analysis.
Department of Biomedical Engineering	Smartphone-based detection plays a critical role in disease early detection and health monitoring at the point of care (Song et al., Analytical Chemistry, 2018, 90, 7, 4823-4831; Yin et al., Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 2021, 344: 130242). In this summer project, we will develop smartphone app to detect DNA biomarkers in microfluidic chip. We will also build an electrical circuit to control microfluidic chip. Please find more detail on our current research through the website: .
Department of Neuroscience	Exploring the mechanisms underlying depression and anxiety with a novel COP1 genetic mouse mode. Depression is often co-morbid with anxiety. Currently available antidepressant drugs generate unsatisfactory outcomes because the mechanisms of depression are poorly understood. COP1 is a risk factor for depression and anxiety, its protein is found in the brain areas associated with depression and anxiety. This study is to find whether COP1 deficit or overdose in the brain causes depression in a COP1 genetic mouse model. The results will enhance our understanding of mechanisms underlying depression and anxiety.
Center for Regenerative Medicine	The project area focuses on developing computational approaches to aid in the analysis of microscope images. Open-source Matlab and Python applications will be used to analyze microscope images. The testing of applications by outside groups to determine their utility and accuracy to work on the images generated by our research group. The ultimate goal is to develop automated image analysis workflows that contain alerts and notification systems in place.
Department of Neuroscience	Two broad projects are available for study. One encompasses research related to AMD using genetically altered mice and drug treatments to support a means to block fibrosis and restore normal healing. In the second project also using transgenic mice, we are investigating corneal Schwann cell (cSC) responses to a range of injuries and studying how cSCs control axonal growth and sensory recovery in the cornea.
Department of Public Health Sciences	Drug overdoses are at an all-time high, contributing to over 100,000 deaths per year. Opioids have been a major contributor to these mortality rates. The research assistant will have the opportunity to work at the Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES) at UConn Health on projects that are evaluating opioid prevention and overdose initiatives across Connecticut. The research assistant will work with the CPES team to examine data, conduct research interviews, and create presentations and reports from evaluation activities.
Department of Cell Biology	The Oguro laboratory investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the development, self-renewal, mobilization, and malignant transformation of blood-forming hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) using mutant mouse models, patient samples, and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Potential projects involve studying gene expression modifications in human iPSCs or mouse HSCs to explore the roles of candidate genes in HSC biology. This includes tasks such as plasmid constructions, lentiviral and/or transposon gene delivery, CRISPR-activation/interference of gene expression, and flow cytometric analysis of cultured human iPSCs or mouse HSCs.
Departments of Medicine & Psychiatry	I have several projects ongoing: 1) randomized clinical trial to support employment in persons living with HIV; 2) medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders; and 3) a new responsible gaming study will be launching in spring 2024. In addition, I have completed trials that could be used for data analyses/posters/papers for motivated students.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery	We are interested in understanding mechanisms that drive the development of synovial joints and articular cartilage, the cushion that prevents damage to articulating bones. The selected student will learn to perform PCR, tissue histology, staining and imaging techniques from a novel genetically modified mouse model to test molecular mechanisms that control articular cartilage growth and maturation during embryonic and postnatal development.
Department of Biomedical Engineering	Lubricin is multi functional protein, with both lubricating and anti inflammatory properties, that is present throughout the human body. While initially discovered and studied in synovial fluid as a lubricant of joints, we recently discovered in tears, the ocular surface, and in the posterior of the eye. Recombinant human lubricin has been shown to be clinically effective in treating dry eye disease, improving signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in humans. This project will examine the biological (anti-inflammatory) properties of recombinant human lubricin in the context of disease(s) related to the eye.
Department of Orthopaedics	Bone is a highly dynamic tissue and your entire skeleton is replaced every ~10 years! Using specialized animal models, we study how bone strength is maintained and also work to develop new treatments for rare bone disorders such as osteogenesis imperfecta where patients are at extreme risk of fracture. The selected student will get the opportunity to use a variety of cutting-edge histology, microscopy, microCT imaging, and/or mechanical testing techniques to address these questions. There may be opportunities to focus on certain techniques/aspects of a project depending on the candidate.
Department of Cell Biology	1. The Smilowitz lab in collaboration with Nanoprobes, Inc. pioneered the use of heavy atom nanoparticles to enhance radiation therapy of tumors. Going forward our lab will focus on a novel nanoparticle for radiation dose enhancement that may be better suited for translation to the clinic. Experiments will designed to understand how these nanoparticles can be used to maximize radiation dose enhancement of tumors--including tumor loading, distribution, mechanism of action and efficacy studies. 2. Collaborative studies are also ongoing in our lab on the targeting of nanoparticles to breast and brain tumors for therapeutic RNA delivery. 3. A third area of interest is the delivery of iodine nanoparticles to brain tumors in relation to the blood brain barrier. Experiments this summer will build on recent findings. 4. A new area of interest in the lab is therapy induced tumor dormancy (please see our 2023 publication in Cancer Immunology immunotherapy). Students who may have an interest in our lab are encouraged to look at the Smilowitz Lab Cell Biology blurb for our publications since 2000 and to set up an appointment to talk about projects in the lab.
Department of Neuroscience	Neurons of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) enable an individual to selectively attend to important stimuli while ignoring distractions. While prefrontal neurons are highly diverse in their responses to neuromodulators/neurotransmitters, their synaptic connectivity profiles, and their involvement in various fundamental cognitive processes, until recently it was not possible to isolate these cell types for recording and manipulation during behavior. This project will bring together 2-photon calcium imaging, optogenetic tools, and rodent cognitive testing to identify specialized roles for unique prefrontal neuron subtypes in performing tasks requiring selective attention.
Department of Biomedical Engineering	The project involved the fabrication and characterization of an innovative bioprinter that can deliver cells into lesions or into skin for treatment of skin-related injuries and diseases. In this project the trainee will have the opportunity to work with our handheld and robotic tools to achieve the tasks. The trainee will also be able to test the effectiveness of cell and therapeutics delivery.
Department of Neuroscience	We study how the brain develops and utilize gained knowledge to reverse-engineer regeneration of the brain tissue damaged by an injury or stroke. We employ a multidisciplinary approach spanning cutting edge genetics, epigenetics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and gene therapy, which will provide a student with an opportunity to explore different approaches and select a project that aligns best with the individual’s career goals and interests.
Department of Nephrology	Renal fibrosis is the pathophysiological hallmark of chronic kidney disease, which is characterized by extensive fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix accumulation. The mechanisms implicated in renal fibrosis are not fully understood, and existing therapies are often limited and ineffective. This research project aims to investigate signaling pathways that regulate renal fibrosis development. The student will gain experience in cell culture, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, qPCR, Western blot and mouse models of chronic kidney disease.
Department of Neuroscience	Febrile seizures (FS) can occur in up to 5% of children younger than 5 years old, causing lifelong impairments in learning and memory. This project will examine how early-life seizures disrupt hippocampal circuits during the critical period of memory formation using mouse models to label hippocampal neurons according to their birth-dates and integration into the memory ensembles. The student will perform intraperitoneal injections in pregnant dams to label neurons based on their birthdate, followed by histological characterization of their morphology and circuit integration after FS during the critical period of memory formation.
Departments of Molecular Biology and Biophysics	The summer research project aims to decipher the functional role of a family of proteins known as aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in bacterial pathogenicity. These proteins regulate protein biosynthesis and may enable pathogenic microbes to survive, adapt, and thrive in different environments, particularly within their host during colonization and infection. The student will perform standard molecular biology and biochemistry assays, including molecular cloning, protein, nucleic acid manipulation, enzymatic assays, and cell-based experiments.
Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, Center for Quantitative Medicine	This summer, our lab offers a unique opportunity for an undergraduate student to engage in computational systems biology research. The project, tailored to align with your academic interests and background, allows you to choose between two key areas: cancer research (e.g., cancer malignancy reversion) or aging studies (e.g., reversing senesce in aged pancreatic beta cells). Utilizing multiomics data, you will learn to model and analyze signaling regulatory networks, employing our in-house software NETISCE, and other computational tools. Your tasks will include (1) network construction and analysis using various omics datasets, (2) applying computational methods for cell reprogramming, and (3) collaborative interpretation and discussion of results.
Department of Neurosciences	Following a stroke, a surge of ATP is released from compromised brain cells. This surge, in turn, triggers a cascade of events, including the activation of neurons and microglial purinergic receptor P2X4 (P2X4R). This activation facilitates rapid excitatory neurotransmission through the influx of cations. However, excessive activation of P2X4R can lead to the release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines during the initial stages of ischemic injury. Interestingly, the effects of acute activation stand in contrast to those observed with chronic inhibition or the absence of this receptor. In fact, prolonged inhibition or the lack of P2X4R might hinder the process of stroke recovery. Thus, acknowledging the dual role of P2X4R in different phases of ischemic injury, we are currently engaged in a systematic exploration of its potential as a therapeutic target for enhancing post-stroke recovery. In essence, our research endeavors revolve around deciphering the intricate role of P2X4R, recognizing its potential as a double-edged sword in stroke-induced processes. Through a comprehensive understanding of its temporal dynamics, we aim to pave the way for innovative therapeutic interventions that can tip the balance in favor of improved recovery outcomes.
Department of Medicine	Chronic kidney disease (CKD) afflicts more than 37 million Americans. The current therapeutic options for this progressive disorder are limited; therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Renal inflammation plays an important role in CKD, which is characterized by macrophage activation and polarization. However, the molecular mechanisms of macrophage activation and polarization are not well understood. The summer research project will include examining the role of PU.1, a transcription factor, in macrophage activation and polarization. This project is expected to provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of inflammation and could lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of CKD.
Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling	There is a research opportunity on developing new voltage sensitive dyes, which are used for imaging membrane potentials. The student will have broad hands-on experience on the synthesis of organic compounds, and test the newly developed voltage sensitive dyes using spectroscopic and microscopic methods, on model cell membrane, and even on real cells (in collaboration with Dr. Loew).
Calhoun Cardiology Center, Division of Behavioral Health	The Collaborative Hub for Emerging Adult Recovery Research (CHEARR) at the UConn Health School of Medicine is recruiting students interested in learning skills to conduct research on recovery support services for emerging adults (ages 18-25) with substance use disorders, with a particular focus on opioid use disorder. CHEARR activities include establishing and collaborating with community boards consisting of emerging adults in recovery and recovery coaches providing services in community settings; developing a range of technical tools to advance the research on recovery support services and communicate these advancements to other researchers, professionals, and the public (e.g., tipsheets, webinars, social media content); develop and validate a measure of recovery capital specifically for emerging adults; and train the next generation of researchers in the field of recovery supports. The student intern would have the opportunity to participate in all of the above activities as well as two ongoing randomized clinical trials led by Dr. Zajac that are relevant to this research area: 1) a clinical trial evaluating the use of recovery coaches to reduce treatment dropout among emerging adults in community-based substance use treatment and 2) a community-based participatory research project that aims to develop a peer-led program to increase retention in medication treatment for opioid use disorder.
Department of Medicine	This summer project will investigate how extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) determines the progression of kidney fibrosis. We have found that deletion of ECM1 caused animal death at age 8-10 weeks due to spontaneous organ fibrosis. However, very few studies pay attention to the exact role of this protein in the kidney. Therefore, we will investigate the mechanisms of how ECM1 involved in chronic kidney disease progression. The applicant will need to perform in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo experiments and learn the skills of bioinformatic analysis for the generated proteomics data in this project to understand the picture of kidney fibrosis.
Orthopedic Surgery, Orthodontics, Biomedical Engineering and Cell Biology	Individuals who experience traumatic injury to their knee cartilage are at high risk for rapid development of osteoarthritis that can lead to disability in as few as 10-15 years. Osteochondral Allografting is a clinical repair approach in which the damaged region is surgically removed and replaced with a plug of donor cartilage. This approach provides good short term outcomes but eventually all grafts fail and osteoarthritis can then set in. The grafts fail because they never fully integrate into the patients' own cartilage. The goal of this project is to understand the cellular mechanisms of cartilage healing, and to develop a clinically feasible approach to stimulate healing so that grafts integrate fully after implantation and are retained longer, perhaps even permanently.
Departments of Genetics and Genome Sciences	There are ~20,000 genes in the human genome. Around 70% of our genes express different mRNA isoforms that differ in their 3' Untranslated Region (3'UTR). Our lab studies what molecular properties and biological functions are conferred by alternative 3'UTRs of mRNAs. The project will involves studying the regulation and function of long 3'UTRs in human neurons using techniques such as mammalian cell culture, CRISPR gene editing, and long-read RNA-Sequencing.
Department of Medicine	My lab is a computational biology lab. We are interested in understanding the role of the gut microbiome and microbial metabolites in aging, multiple sclerosis and asthma. The techniques we use include mouse models, anaerobic culture, molecular biology, and multi-OMICS technology. The student will have the opportunity to learn wet bench techniques and bioinformatics, depending on their interests.

What time commitment is expected of a summer researcher in this program?

A time commitment of 360 hours (typically 10 full-time weeks) is expected for student researchers during the summer. The standard research dates for the 2025 program are May 19 to July 25, 2025 (subject to change), but you may elect to extend your involvement in research in consultation with your faculty mentor. All weeks of summer research must be completed between May 12 and August 22, 2025.

What time commitment is expected of an academic year researcher in this program?

A time commitment of 3-9 hours/week is expected for student researchers during the academic year; this varies across research opportunities and is a key factor to consider as you are reviewing the different opportunities and considering which might be a good fit for you. The standard formula for academic credit is 1 credit for each 3 hours of weekly research, and you will register for the appropriate number of credits given the time commitment you are making to research. Note: In the absence of extenuating circumstances (e.g., leave of absence, study abroad), a student cannot discontinue participation in the HRP during one semester and resume participation in the HRP in the subsequent semester.

How do I earn academic credit for my participation in this program during the academic year?

You will likely earn Undergraduate Research, Independent Study, or a similar kind of course credit in the department associated with your major. The most common arrangement is for a Storrs faculty member to be the instructor of record for the course and to coordinate with the UConn Health faculty member supervising your research in order to approve a learning agreement and enter the appropriate grade at the end of the semester. OUR staff will work with you individually to provide guidance on how to proceed in your specific situation.

What transportation options are available for students?

Shuttle service will not be available during summer 2024 or in academic year 2024-25. An HRP travel subsidy request process that prioritizes students with financial need will be available during the academic year; summer 2024 HRP participants will be able to apply for these funds beginning in fall 2024. We encourage you to take your class schedule and planned transportation method into consideration when reviewing the possible research schedule associated with each opportunity.

Do I need to be pre-med to participate in this program? Do I need to be in Honors?

You do not need to be pre-med or be a member of the Honors Program in order to participate in this program. The program is open to all undergraduate students interested in health research. However, bear in mind that this is a demanding program that requires you to coordinate weekly travel to UConn Health. We encourage you to take a realistic look at your schedule, the demands of your other courses, and your past academic achievement in order to assess whether this program is a good fit for you.

OUR advisors would be happy to discuss your specific situation and the most appropriate research opportunities with you at any time. Review our Meet with an OUR Advisor page for more information on how to make an appointment.

How do these opportunities continue into the academic year?

Sustained engagement in a research project maximizes learning, so we want to make it possible for students to stay engaged in undergraduate research at UConn Health over longer periods of time. The Health Research Program is focused on developing new research opportunities and involving more undergraduate students in research at UConn Health. The program offers a structure for the new student-faculty pairs that are formed in the summer to continue into the academic year. Students selected for summer 2024 opportunities will complete a mid-summer assessment process along with their faculty mentors, which will gauge whether adequate research progress is being made and will ask both student and faculty to indicate their interest in continuing the research placement beyond the summer. Continuing placements will be contingent upon satisfactory student research progress and continued interest by both student and faculty (in addition to the student’s full-time enrollment and good standing at the university).

While students may continue research in this program across multiple academic years and/or summers, students are eligible for a maximum of one HRP summer stipend. In the absence of extenuating circumstances (e.g., leave of absence, study abroad), a student cannot discontinue participation in the HRP during one semester and resume participation in the HRP in the subsequent semester.

This application asks for a Science GPA. What is that? How do I figure out my Science GPA?

Unlike your cumulative GPA, your Science GPA is not automatically calculated and reported on your transcript. You will need to calculate this by entering the number of credits and your earned grade from each of your science classes into an online GPA calculator or by using the Nexus GPA calculator to select the relevant courses. We recommend that you move through your transcript methodically, using your best judgment to decide whether a given course is a "science course."

Is my Health Research Program stipend subject to taxation?

For questions related to taxation, please refer to the UConn Tax & Compliance Office's Student Taxation page and Student Tax FAQs .

How does participation in the Health Research Program affect my eligibility for other OUR funding programs?

During your initial summer in the Health Research Program, you may not receive any other funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research. For the duration of your participation in the Health Research Program, you will be ineligible for OUR Supply Award and OUR Research Travel Award support for your HRP research as equivalent support for these expenses is made available via the Health Research Program.

Certificate in Health Economics & Outcomes Research

The online 9-month, part-time health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) Certificate is tailored for individuals seeking an introduction to HEOR, including professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, clinicians and other health care professionals, graduate degree holders, and graduate degree students.

HEOR has become increasingly important. Providing affordable health care while maintaining the best possible health outcomes is a challenge to all governments and health care payers. This is especially true in the United States, which spends almost twice as much per capita compared to other high-income countries yet has substantially poorer health outcomes. Major drivers of the spending gap include higher administrative costs and the higher prices of devices and pharmaceuticals in the US.

As health care becomes more complex, health care decisions can be improved by combining information from economic analyses (health economics) and vital clinical data on patients (outcomes research) to evaluate health care value . HEOR informs health care decision-making by allowing stakeholders, especially payers, health care providers, and patients, to understand the clinical, economic, and quality of life endpoints of various treatments and health care practices. Individuals seeking an introduction to HEOR, including professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, clinicians and other health care professionals, graduate degree holders, and graduate degree students, are encouraged to apply.

Benefits of the HEOR Certificate Program

The flexible online format is perfect for local or global participation
Students experience live webinars, active discussion boards and asynchronous lectures
Program faculty are experts in clinical investigation, clinical epidemiology, health services research, outcomes research, meta-analysis, biostatistics, drug development, and related fields.
No thesis is required
Faculty post all required reading materials on the course website, so there are no books or materials that participants need to purchase.

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Environmental Factor

Your online source for niehs news, september 2024, climate and health initiative launches website.

A new hub of funding opportunities, educational resources, and capacity building tools will support the needs of the research community.

By Samantha Ebersold

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Climate Change and Health Initiative (NIH CCHI) launched a new website to support the growing need for transdisciplinary research to address health risks related to climate change. The main purpose of the website, and the three-years-young initiative, is to provide health, climate, and community engagement experts with easy access to funding opportunities, the latest scientific findings, news and events, and capacity building materials so they can work together at the critical intersection of climate change and human health.

“The launch of the new website is an exciting step forward,” said Gwen Collman, Ph.D. , who helps lead the NIH-wide initiative and directs the Scientific Coordination, Planning, and Evaluation at NIEHS. “We hope this will serve as a rich hub of information that empowers researchers across scientific disciplines to tackle the complex health challenges posed by warming temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and the disasters that follow, like floods, wildfires, and the spread of insects carrying disease.”

The CCHI website enables quick access to tools and resources curated to support the research needs of climate and health scientists. (Image courtesy of NIEHS)

The new NIH CCHI website highlights the following funding opportunities, tools, and resources that have been curated to enhance the research efforts of climate and health scientists.

Funding opportunities

A primary goal of the NIH CCHI is to bring together the research community and support innovative scientific research on the health consequences of climate change. To eliminate barriers and promote evolving science, the CCHI website hosts a full list of funding opportunities for climate and health research. Through this database, interested scientists can review open and closed funding announcements from NIH and partner organizations.

“The NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative serves as a blueprint for promoting groundbreaking research to address pressing global challenges,” said NIEHS Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D. “I invite and encourage researchers across scientific disciplines to explore the website, engage with the content, and leverage these resources to help understand the health consequences of a changing climate.”

Explore tools and resources

The CCHI website facilitates access to resources and tools to support the training and capacity building needs of the growing climate change and human health research community.

Don’t miss the Climate Change and Human Health Glossary . Developed to facilitate standardized language and encourage clear communication among scientists, policymakers, advocates, and other key stakeholders, this glossary describes the vocabulary of the science of climate change and its impacts on human health.

Another resource, the Climate and Health Outcomes Research Data Systems (CHORDS) , provides a suite of cyberinfrastructure capabilities intended to aid researchers conducting patient-centered outcomes research on climate change and health. CHORDS recently launched a new website that houses a catalog to aid researchers in finding useful data sets, a suite of software tools for accessing and working with geospatial data, and a set of tutorials for working with climate change and health data. Future releases will include standardized geospatial data sets for researchers to use, and use case write-ups to aid researchers in integrating climate change and health data sets.

In addition, the CCHI website highlights the Rapid Acquisition of Pre- and Post-Incident Disaster Data (RAPIDD) Protocol Designer , which is a repository of databases, literature, and standard operating procedures for commonly collected biospecimen and environmental samples. Along with this repository, there is also a protocol builder that can be leveraged by scientists to develop a research protocol uniquely designed to meet the scope of their research in the immediate aftermath of natural or human-made disasters.

Users can also access the Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal , a comprehensive online bibliographic database of global peer-reviewed research and gray literature on the science of climate impacts on human health. Researchers can filter search results to be defined based on a variety of criteria, including exposure types, geographic features, health impact, model timescale, and more. A portal instructional video offers tips for using the tool.

Building a community of practice

The new CCHI website hosts information about the CAFÉ Research Coordinating Center (RCC) . The project aims to Convene, Accelerate, Foster, and Expand the global climate change and health Community of Practice through the sharing of resources and tools, collaborative projects, mentorship opportunities, and monitoring evolving science within key research areas. The NIH CCHI is committed to developing a global community of practice that enables information sharing and network building among those engaged or interested in the climate and health space. Visitors to the CCHI website can find details about how to get involved with the community of practice, find CAFÉ funding opportunities, and subscribe to the CAFÉ newsletter.

Read more about the CAFÉ RCC in this Factor story .

Climate and Health Scholars Program

To foster information sharing in this emerging area of scientific research, the CCHI website features recordings of the CCHI Seminar Series , which includes presentations from NIH Climate Change and Health Scholars.

Every year, the CCHI selects a group of scientists representing a range of scientific expertise from outside the federal government to participate in the NIH Climate and Health Scholars Program . A primary goal of this competitive program is to strengthen the climate and health knowledge of researchers at the various Institutes, Centers, and Offices across NIH.

To learn more, visit: https://climateandhealth.nih.gov

(Samantha Ebersold is a communications specialist in the NIEHS Office of Communications and Public Liaison.)

Climate and health data website launched

Representatives from across the NIH who make up the Climate Change and Health Working Group gathered at the NIH Campus in April with the 2024 class of NIH Climate and Health Scholars

NIEHS News in Brief

Boy guides his bike through flooded streets

Climate change and health: boosting resilience via adaptation science

Aerial photograph of the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Responding to the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment

Humans in Space

Earth & climate, the solar system, the universe, aeronautics, learning resources, news & events.

$There are three images. The top right is Cassiopeia A. This image of Cassiopeia A resembles a disk of electric light with red clouds, glowing white streaks, red and orange flames, and an area near the center of the remnant resembling a somewhat circular region of green lightning. X-rays from Chandra are blue and reveal hot gas, mostly from supernova debris from the destroyed star, and include elements like silicon and iron. X-rays are also present as thin arcs in the outer regions of the remnant. Infrared data from Webb is red, green, and blue. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust that is warmed up because it is embedded in the hot gas seen by Chandra, and from much cooler supernova debris. Hubble data shows a multitude of stars that permeate the field of view. The image on the bottom is 30 Doradus. This release features a composite image of 30 Doradus, otherwise known as the Tarantula Nebula, a region of active star formation in a neighboring galaxy. In the image, royal blue and purple gas clouds interact with red and orange gas clouds. Specks of light and large gleaming stars peek through the colourful clouds. The patches of royal blue and purple gas clouds represent X-ray data collected by the Chandra Observatory. The brightest and most prominent blue cloud appears at the center of the image, roughly shaped like an upward pointing triangle. Darker X-ray clouds can be found near the right and left edges of the image. The red and orange gas clouds represent infrared data from the James Webb Space Telescope. These patches resemble clouds of roiling fire. The brightest and most prominent infrared cloud appears at our upper left, roughly shaped like a downward pointing triangle. Wispy white clouds outline the upward pointing bright blue triangle in the center of the image. Inside this frame is a brilliant gleaming star with six long, thin, diffraction spikes. Beside it is a cluster of smaller bright specks showing young stars in the nebula. The final image is NGC 6872. In this composite image, a large spiral galaxy has some of its superheated gas stolen by a smaller, nearby neighbor. Centered in the frame, NGC 6872 is a large spiral galaxy with two elongated arms that stretch toward our upper right and lower left. Near the white dot at the heart of the galaxy, a cloud of neon purple tints the arms, which appear steel blue at the tips. The purple represents hot gas detected by Chandra. Just to the upper left of NGC 6872 is a second spiral galaxy. Its spiraling arms are much smaller, but the bright white dot at its core is quite large, suggesting a supermassive black hole. Some of the steel blue matter and gas from NGC 6872’s lower arm appears to be floating toward the smaller galaxy, likely pulled toward the supermassive black hole.$

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How Do I Navigate NASA Learning Resources and Opportunities?

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235 Years Ago: Herschel Discovers Saturn’s Moon Enceladus

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La NASA invita a los medios al lanzamiento de Europa Clipper

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El X-59 de la NASA avanza en las pruebas de preparación para volar

Technicians tested deploying a set of massive solar arrays

La NASA invita a creadores de las redes sociales al lanzamiento de la misión Europa Clipper

Nasa-funded research institute seeks space health postdoctoral fellows.

NASA’s Artemis I flight test (the Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft atop) launched on Nov .16, 2022 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) is seeking proposals for its 2025 postdoctoral fellowship program , which supports early career scientists pursuing research with the potential to reduce the human health risks associated with spaceflight.

“Many early career researchers find their entry point into space health research through our postdoc program,” said Dr. Rihana Bokhari, TRISH acting chief scientific officer and faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston, Texas. “TRISH couldn’t be prouder of those scientists, and we are excited to open another opportunity that will usher in even more talent into the rapidly growing field of space health research.”

Selected TRISH postdoctoral fellows lead their own two-year research projects. The fellows also receive a two-year stipend and work with a mentor.

Applicants must include an identified mentor with their submitted research proposal. Funds to support the research, apart from the awardee’s salary, must be supplied by the mentor. Independent investigators with existing financial support may request to be listed as prospective mentors for this program. To be added as a prospective mentor open to working with a proposer, please contact Dr. Guillaume Vignaux (gvignaux [at] nasaprs.com). TRISH encourages all qualified candidates to apply, even if they are new to space health research.

Selected fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in the Institute’s Academy of Bioastronautics , a program that gathers current TRISH postdoctoral fellows and allows for discussion, presentations and networking.

“In addition to financial support, TRISH invests in career development opportunities and access to a network of space health investigators,” said Dr. Dorit Donoviel, the TRISH executive director and faculty at BCM. “So, our postdoctoral fellowship is providing these early career scientists with tools to succeed in their careers, while also moving space health research forward to keep humans healthy on the Moon, and eventually, Mars.”

To apply for this fellowship, click here . The link also gives further application requirements. Proposals should be submitted through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System no later than Dec. 18, at 11:59 pm EST. Proposers should anticipate a project start date in fall 2025.

TRISH is an applied space health research institute supported by NASA’s Human Research Program to solve the challenges of human deep space exploration. Led by BCM’s Center for Space Medicine, the consortium leverages partnerships with Caltech and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

NASA’s Human Research Program pursues the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, and the International Space Station, the program scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives the research program’s quest to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as space travel expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Through a collaboration with NASA, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) funds scientific studies and technologies to help keep astronauts safe and healthy on deep space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

NASA’s Artemis mission will establish a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.

NASA-Funded Research Institute Selects New Class of Space Health Fellows

The NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) announced its selections for the institute’s 2024 postdoctoral fellowship, a space health program intended to…

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. The Sun and portions of the forward (FWD) ISS are in view.

TRISH Science Initiatives

TRISH is working closely with HRP to accomplish the following:

Advancing Commercial Space Health Research

The Enhancing Exploration Platforms and Analog Definition Program (EXPAND) works with commercial spaceflight providers and their passengers to collect biomedical data before, during, and after spaceflight. This information is curated in TRISH’s EXPAND database, which provides select researchers access to biological samples and data.

Medical System Architecture

TRISH is developing a health and research data management platform, known as the Human and Environmental Research Matrix for Exploration of Space (HERMES). HERMES aims to provide astronauts with the health information they need to make informed medical decisions on distant missions from Earth.

Tissue Chips

TRISH is accelerating its use of human microphysiological systems, or tissue chips, to study long-duration exposures to deep space radiation as part of its Science Enterprise to Inform Exploration Limits (SENTINEL) program. Tissue chips enable researchers to grow cells and tissues outside of the human body and characterize the biological effects of deep space exposure.

The mission of the Healthcare Delivery Research Program (HDRP) is to advance innovative research to improve the delivery of cancer-related care, thereby improving health for individuals and populations.

Have questions, comments or feedback? Contact HDRP directly.

Events & Webinars

Session 3 of the 2024 SEER-MHOS Webinar Series on October 29, 2024 will showcase the Medicare enrollment and plan files available and describe key considerations when using these files.

This SEER-CAHPS webinar on October 3, 2024 webinar will provide a practical introduction to examining geographic and other area-level factors using the SEER-CAHPS linked data resource.

Featured Content

On January 25, 2023, the final NIH DMS Policy came into effect for any NIH-funded research that will generate scientific data, regardless of the research grant budget size. HDRP has compiled information from NIH on preparing DMS plans, research subject to both the new NIH DMS Policy, and requesting and justifying costs for DMS.

Employment Opportunity

To view all currently open positions at HDRP, please visit our Employment & Training page .

Publications

JCO® Oncology Practice January 1, 2023

Funding Opportunities

Notice of intent to publish a notice of funding opportunity for nci's specialized programs of research excellence (spores) in cancer health disparities and minority health (u54 clinical trial optional).

Application Due Date: September 25, 2024

Addressing Barriers to Healthcare Transitions for Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Application Due Date: October 12, 2024

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Telehealth Research in Cancer Care

Application Due Date: March 17, 2026

Improving Care and Outcomes for Cancer Survivors from Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Expiration Date: January 8, 2027

Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Grant Program (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

About the healthcare delivery research program.

The vision of HDRP is optimal health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities affected by cancer.

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Putting science to work for the health of women

Driving Change in Women’s Health: Innovations in Funding, Research, and Policy

By dr. janine a. clayton, transforming women’s behavioral health services.

In a significant move to bolster women’s behavioral health services, the Biden administration has announced a series of funding opportunities totaling $27.5 million. This announcement underscores a steadfast commitment to addressing the distinct mental health and substance use treatment needs of women across the United States. The funds, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, include $15 million for the Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Program , which aims to improve access and ensure smooth care transitions of culturally relevant, evidence-based treatment for pregnant and postpartum women. Additionally, $12.5 million will support the Women’s Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center , designed to enhance health care providers’ ability to address women’s behavioral health needs through training and technical assistance.

These efforts are particularly critical in light of recent research highlighting mental health disparities among racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) women in the U.S. A scoping review on mental health during the menopause transition revealed that REM women experience a higher burden of depressive symptoms, influenced by a range of social, structural, and biological factors. The review also emphasized the need for culturally relevant care and enhanced provider training to effectively address these disparities. The Biden administration’s funding directly targets these needs, ensuring that REM women have access to comprehensive and tailored mental health care.

The funding investments are aligned with the goals of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research , which has committed to prioritizing investments in women’s health research, integrating women’s health across the federal research portfolio, and galvanizing new research on midlife health of women. These funding announcements signify more than just financial support; they represent a pivotal shift in how women’s health is prioritized on the national agenda and lay the groundwork for sustained improvements in women’s health care infrastructure. Allocating resources to targeted programs ensures that women receive the care and support necessary to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

NIH Women’s Health Roundtable: Endometriosis

On August 19, 2024, the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), in collaboration with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), co-hosted the second NIH Women’s Health Research Roundtable on endometriosis, titled “ Beyond the Lesion: Charting New Paths .” This Roundtable Series was developed in response to a   Presidential Memorandum  aimed at highlighting priority topics within HHS and disseminating information on federally supported research areas.

This significant event centered on endometriosis, a chronic and often misunderstood condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age and often results in severe pain, heavy menstrual periods, and infertility, yet remains underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. The roundtable brought together experts, advocates, and individuals affected by the condition to explore the latest research, address challenges, and discuss future directions for research on this debilitating disease.

The event featured distinguished speakers, starting with opening remarks by NICHD Director Diana W. Bianchi, M.D. Attendees then engaged in a series of insightful presentations covering diverse aspects of endometriosis, from patient experiences and holistic health approaches to cutting-edge research. This roundtable underscored our commitment to advancing knowledge, improving care, and fostering collaboration to enhance understanding and treatment of endometriosis, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for the women affected.

In Focus 7.2: Women and Mental Health Across the Lifespan

I am thrilled to share with you the latest advancements and initiatives showcased in our most recent issue of Women’s Health In Focus at NIH . A key feature of this issue is the groundbreaking work conducted by Jill Goldstein, Ph.D., M.P.H., at the Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine (ICON-✘) . Dr. Goldstein is a Specialized Centers of Research Excellence (SCORE) on Sex Differences investigator and is leading the charge in examining how sex differences impact brain function, psychiatric disorders, and related comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease. Her team is pioneering the development of sex-specific tools and therapies, a crucial advancement with the potential to lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for women. This shift is consistent with increased awareness of the importance of women’s mental health research. ORWH is supporting Dr. Goldstein in her collaboration with Stuart Tobet, Ph.D., and other experts to create an innovative biomedical pipeline curriculum centered on sex differences, known as the Translational Workforce Innovation Network (TWIN) .

This issue also highlights the impressive achievements of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Women in Medicine and Science (CWIMS) . Since its inception in 2018, CWIMS has been instrumental in promoting gender equity within its medical school. CWIMS’ innovative approaches include conducting salary equity studies, developing a metrics dashboard for tracking progress, and implementing programs such as the Distinguished Visiting Scholar mechanism and the Early Pathways to Success Program. Recently, CWIMS hosted a Mid-Career Summit, addressing this crucial stage of faculty development. These initiatives have led to increased representation and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities in academic medicine. Be sure to check out the full publication to stay informed and inspired by the groundbreaking work and initiatives in women’s health research.

Advancing Autoimmune Disease Research

I am excited to share with you the significant strides we are making in the field of autoimmune disease research through the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR-ORWH) . OADR-ORWH is dedicated to promoting research that elucidates sex differences in autoimmune conditions, ultimately leading to more effective and personalized treatments for both women and men. Our goal is to foster research to address critical gaps in understanding of how sex differences influence the onset, progression, and treatment of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, accounting for nearly 80% of all cases. This disparity underscores the urgent need for research that considers sex as a fundamental variable in understanding these complex diseases.

A key event highlighting our commitment to this mission was the recent ScienceTALKS event titled “ Going Viral: Exploring Viral Triggers of Autoimmune Diseases .” This event brought together leading experts to delve into the intricate relationship between viral infections and the onset of autoimmune diseases. Presentations explored how viruses can trigger autoimmune responses, which is crucial for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Additionally, OADR-ORWH announced the publication of a new article titled “ Coordination and Collaboration to Support Exposome Research in Autoimmune Diseases ” in Arthritis Care & Research . I am honored to have collaborated on this article with OADR-ORWH Director Victoria Shanmugam, MBBS, MRCP, FACR, CCD, and ORWH Associate Director of Clinical Research Sarah Temkin, M.D., alongside partners in the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The exposome is a concept that measures all exposures (internal and external) of an individual in their lifetime and how those exposures relate to health. The publication examines the critical role of the exposome in shaping current and future autoimmune disease research at NIH, the impact of environmental exposures on autoimmune diseases, and NIH’s ongoing efforts to interpret these complex interactions.

The insights shared through these events and publications will shape the future of autoimmune disease research. I extend my gratitude to all speakers, participants, and organizers for their invaluable contributions. For those who missed it, visit our event page for the recording and materials. Together, we can continue to advance research that makes a difference.

Women’s Equality Day

As we reflect on August, a month rich with significant milestones in women’s health and equity, we are reminded of the strides made and the work ahead. Women’s Equality Day, celebrated on August 26, underscores our ongoing commitment to gender equality, commemorating the anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment. This day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing pursuit of gender equality and the importance of ensuring women’s voices are heard in all aspects of society, including health research and policy.

Historically, reliance on male models in research has created significant knowledge gaps, and we have been working diligently to address these disparities. Data reveal that while women are more likely to donate organs, they are less likely to receive them for transplantation and are less frequently given CPR compared to men. At ORWH, we emphasize that women’s health equity and inclusion are not just goals but central to achieving healthy communities and a just society. Through rigorous research, we strive to support the generation and application of evidence to ensure that all women can attain their highest level of health.

A cornerstone of our efforts is the   Health of Women of Understudied, Underrepresented, and Underreported populations (U3) Populations Data Book . This comprehensive resource provides critical data and insights into the health disparities faced by these populations. By highlighting these disparities, the Data Book underscores our commitment to addressing the specific health needs of diverse groups of women, including those in rural locations and other underserved communities.

Our website offers a variety of programs, tools, and resources. Key among these is the NIH Inclusion Outreach Toolkit , a vital resource for researchers. This toolkit provides comprehensive guidance on the importance of including women in clinical research, offering tools and best practices to support inclusion. In addition, ORWH collaborates with NIH ICs on research programs aimed at addressing women’s health disparities . For instance, the U3 Interdisciplinary Research Program , focuses on advancing health outcomes for populations highlighted in the Data Book. ORWH also supports initiatives such as our partnership with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and other NIH institutes to advance women’s health research and equity, particularly in Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) states . These states and territories benefit from targeted funding aimed at expanding research capacity and addressing health disparities.

As we continue to enhance women’s health research, I invite you to explore our resources and join us in our mission to foster a future where every woman receives evidence-based health care.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events in Women’s Health Research

As we continue to drive progress in women’s health, I am excited to highlight two key upcoming events that promise to advance our understanding and impact. On September 30, 2024, the Specialized Centers of Research Excellence (SCORE) on Sex Differences will host its 2024 annual meeting, featuring a keynote address that emphasizes crucial advancements in research on sex differences and a capstone address that maps out contemporary challenges within the health enterprise. This initiative is pivotal to bridging gaps in understanding sex influences in health and disease. Following this event, on October 1, 2024, the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) 2024 Annual Meeting will take place. This event will provide a comprehensive platform for discussing and fostering interdisciplinary research careers in women’s health. I encourage everyone to engage in these important events as we continue to advance research, career development, and policy in women’s health. They will not only showcase ongoing research, but also set the stage for future breakthroughs.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to improving women’s health and well-being. I look forward to sharing more updates and breakthroughs with you in the coming months.

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New Health Investigator Grant

The New Health Investigator Grant supports early-career health researchers who are engaged in research that is focused on the efficient and effective delivery of healthcare to Nova Scotians.

The grant will provide up to $100,000 over two years for researchers who are within the first five years of their first academic appointment.

Funding is provided to support the establishment of independent programs of research and improve competitiveness for awards from national and other external funders.

Funding for this grant is provided by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness .

This competition is

Applications Open	Thursday, June 6, 2024
	Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 1:00 PM (ADT)
Expression of Interest Deadline	Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 1:00 PM (ADT)
Invitation to Full Application	August 2024
Full Application Deadline	Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 1:00 PM (ADT)
Anticipated Notice of Funding Decision	December 2024
Anticipated Start of Funding	January 2025
	Up to 2 years
	Up to $100,000

Program Details

Primary Applicant Eligibility

Subject Matter Eligibility

Information Webinar

How to Apply

Review & Selection Process

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Support

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Provides financial support to early-career health researchers who are engaged in work that aligns with the research priorities defined by the Department of Health and Wellness and demonstrates the potential to have an impact on the healthcare delivery system.
Supports the establishment of independent programs of research and improves competitiveness for awards from national and other external funders.

RESEARCH NOVA SCOTIA’S DEFINITION OF RESEARCH

For Research Nova Scotia, research is defined as “creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge … and to devise new applications of available knowledge.” Research is:

Novel: aimed at new findings Creative: based on original, not obvious, concepts and hypotheses Uncertain: uncertain about the final outcome (including uncertainty about whether the objectives can be achieved to any degree at all) Systematic: planned and budgeted Transferable/reproducible: the potential for the transfer of the new knowledge, ensuring its use and allowing other researchers to reproduce the results (potential for application in new areas or contexts)

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY (EDIA)

Research Nova Scotia pursues equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) in Nova Scotia’s research enterprise and integrates these values in designing and implementing its programs and services. EDIA strengthen the scientific and health communities, as well as the quality, social relevance, and impact of research. Increasing diversity and gender equity in the research enterprise are key priorities for RNS.

Resources for application development and research management are available on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) website . RNS strongly suggests that all applicants review this information and incorporate it into applications submitted for consideration.

NEW FOR 2024-25

To align with tri-agency standards, Research Nova Scotia will honour eligible leaves of absence (e.g., illness, maternity, parental) at twice the amount of time taken.
The NHIG is supported by funds from the Department of Health and Wellness. The priorities for 2024-25 are based on Action for Health , the strategic plan government has created to address challenges in the healthcare system.
Researchers who have recently moved to, or returned to, Nova Scotia are no longer eligible to apply for the NHIG, unless they meet the definition of an Early Career Health Researcher.

TYPE OF RESEARCHER

To apply for a New Health Investigator Grant, the applicant must be an Early Career Health Researcher within the first five years of a first-time academic/research appointment at a university/college, or an appointment with research responsibilities at an affiliated hospital.

Academic/Research Appointments Research Nova Scotia determines the following to be academic appointments:

Tenured appointments
Tenure-track appointments
Probationary tenure-track appointments
Research Scientist (NSCC)
*Applicants with limited term appointments are eligible to apply, however, if funded, applicants will be asked to provide institutional confirmation that their term end date is after the estimated grant completion date.
Affiliated scientists, medical staff or other appointments/affiliations approved by a senior official (i.e., CEO or VP Research)

Adjunct and instructor positions are NOT considered academic appointments .

RESIDENCE AND APPOINTMENT IN NOVA SCOTIA

During the full duration of the grant, all grant holders must reside in Nova Scotia, work at a Nova Scotia institution, and maintain an academic appointment. For any questions regarding eligibility please contact the Research Support Officer .

CURRENT ESTABLISHMENT AND/OR NHIG GRANT HOLDERS

Current Establishment Grant and/or New Health Investigator Grant holders are eligible to apply, provided their grant ends prior to December 31, 2024.

HEALTH RESEARCH FUNDING PRIORITY AREAS 2024-25

Research Nova Scotia is mandated to support research that reflects provincial health research priorities. New Health Investigator Grant submissions must address one or more of the following priorities:

Creating opportunities for team-based care.
Enhancing access to people-centred, flexible, quality healthcare.
Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health professionals in diverse care settings.
Enabling healthcare providers to work to their full scope of practice.
Promoting the health of an aging population.
Treating or preventing chronic diseases.
Caring for the mental health of citizens of all ages.
Impacting the social determinants of health
Ensuring equity in the provision of healthcare.
Research addressing personalized care to improve health outcomes for Nova Scotia’s increasingly diverse population.

A webinar providing details of the 2024-25 Expression of Interest application stage for the New Health Investigator Grant was held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 1:00 PM (ADT).

View the Expression of Interest webinar recording Expression of Interest webinar slides (RNS)

Full application webinar slides (RNS) Full application webinar slides (Mitacs)

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) PROCESS

To apply for a New Health Investigator Grant, applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest to apply (EOI). This is a mandatory step and allows RNS to start the review process. A review committee will verify subject matter alignment with the priorities for this year’s competition. Scientific review does not occur at this stage. Those EOI applications that are considered to be in alignment will be invited to submit a full application for consideration by an external peer review committee.

STEP 1: CONFIRM ELIGIBILITY

Consider whether you are eligible for this opportunity using the criteria outlined above .

If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact the Research Support Officer for confirmation before beginning your EOI application.

STEP 2: DISCUSS APPLICATION WITH INSTITUTION

All EOI submissions must undergo institutional review and receive approval before they will be considered by RNS. Applicants must connect with their Research Office well in advance of the submission deadline to confirm any internal deadlines and processes.

STEP 3: REGISTER FOR A JURA ACCOUNT

All EOIs will be submitted via Research Nova Scotia’s online portal, Jura .

The main contact person for the submission is considered the Primary Applicant (PA). To access the application, this individual must create an account in Jura by clicking the ‘Register’ button found here .

Please be aware that all grants submitted to RNS must be accompanied by a completed EDIA self-declaration form . Instructions for completing this declaration can be found below:

STEP 4: SUBMIT EOI APPLICATION

To complete submission of the EOI, log in to Jura using the credentials created in ‘step 2’. Application forms can be found under the ‘Funding Opportunities’ section of your Jura homepage.

Carefully review all application requirements for the EOI, as outlined in the documents below, before beginning your application :

APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED WILL BE MARKED AS INELIGIBLE.

You can save your application and return to it at any time. When logging in to the system during subsequent visits, your application will be found under the ‘In Progress Applications’ section of your Jura homepage.

When your application is complete, select ‘submit’. Confirmation of successful submission will be available in your applicant portfolio and will be sent to you via email.

STEP 5: OBTAIN INSTITUTIONAL APPROVAL

All submissions must receive institutional approval before the EOI deadline. This process is completed via an institutional representative in Jura.

APPLICANTS WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS PROCESS WILL BE INVITED TO SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION.

FULL APPLICATION PROCESS

IMPORTANT: ONLY APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION MAY COMPLETE THIS PROCESS.

STEP 1: DISCUSS APPLICATION WITH INSTITUTION

All application submissions must undergo institutional review and receive approval before they will be considered by RNS. Applicants must connect with their Research Office well in advance of the submission deadline to confirm any internal deadlines and processes.

STEP 2: SUBMIT FULL APPLICATION

Log in to Jura using the credentials you created in during the EOI phase. Application forms can be found under the ‘In Progress Applications’ section of your Jura homepage.

When you receive an invitation to complete a full application from RNS, carefully review all application requirements, as outlined in the documents below:

You can save your application and return to it at any time.

STEP 3: OBTAIN INSTITUTIONAL APPROVAL

All submissions must receive institutional approval before the application deadline. This process is completed via an institutional representative in Jura.

Review & sELECTION Process

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Research Nova Scotia will assess all Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions to determine whether they are complete and meet the eligibility criteria. Applications that do not meet basic administrative and eligibility criteria will be marked ineligible and will not be considered by the review committee.

Eligible EOI submissions will be reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW). This committee will determine whether the proposed project topic aligns with the research priorities for the competition.

Research Nova Scotia will invite successful EOI applicants to submit a full application for consideration.

FULL APPLICATION

Research Nova Scotia will assess all applications to determine whether they are complete and meet the eligibility criteria. Applications that do not meet basic administrative and eligibility criteria will be marked ineligible and will not be considered by the review committee.

Eligible applications will be reviewed by a peer review committee in keeping with RNS peer review guidelines.

Research Nova Scotia will notify applicants of the results and implement the process for award acceptance and payment for successful applicants.

The following criteria will be used to assess New Health Investigator applications:

PRIMARY APPLICANT

PA has appropriate productivity in consideration of their career stage and experience to undertake suggested project.
PA has clearly demonstrated an independent program of research or the potential to develop an independent program of research.
Appropriateness of the PA’s environment to enable the conduct and success of the research project.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Summary provided uses clear language suitable for a nonscientific audience.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Objectives provided appropriately cover the overall goals of the proposed project.
Objectives provided can be reasonably achieved within the timeframe identified.
Objectives provide an accurate overview of the activities described in the project description.
Appropriateness and adequacy of budget expenses and justification.
Availability of in-kind contributions and other sources of funding.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Clarity, appropriateness, and scope of objectives.
Clarity and appropriateness of methodology.
Where applicable and appropriate, the research design is sex and gender equitable.
Clarity and feasibility of project timeline.
Clarity and feasibility of project activities.
Alignment of timeline and work plan with objectives.
Extent to which potential challenges and limitations are identified and adequately addressed.
Appropriateness of knowledge mobilization plan for sharing results with Nova Scotians who will benefit from this project.
Appropriateness of how success will be identified and clarity of approach to determine success.

RESEARCH BENEFICIARIES

Clear demonstration of engagement with Nova Scotians who will benefit from the research.

TEAM COMPOSITION

Clarity and appropriateness of team member roles and responsibilities.
Relevance and scope of expertise and experience of the PA and team members, including peer reviewed publications, presentations and previous research awards or grants.
Potential of team to successfully conduct proposed research.
Clarity of mentorship role and potential contribution to project. This should be appropriate for career stage and support required.
Potential impact of the mentorship relationship on the merit of the proposal.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

Letters of support are provided for all partners/mentors/project supporters and were appropriate to confirm their support of project activities. These letters were from reputable individuals/organizations and are unanimous in their support for the applicant.

OVERALL MERIT OF PROPOSAL

Significance of proposed research and expected contribution to understanding, interpreting, or creating knowledge that demonstrates the potential to impact the delivery of healthcare in Nova Scotia.

fREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Am I able to submit multiple proposals as the Primary Applicant? A: No. Applicants may only submit one proposal as the Primary or Co-Primary Applicant. Applicants may, however, act as a co-investigator on multiple proposals.

Q: Do all Primary Applicants need to be an Early Career Health Researcher? A: Yes, all Primary and Co-Primary applicants must be within the first five years of a first-time academic/research appointment at a university/college or have an appointment with research responsibilities at an affiliated hospital.

Q: Am I able to include citations with my Expression of Interest submission? A: Yes, applicants may include in-text citations in their Project Alignment Description and should upload these citations in the ‘Attachments’ section of their application.

Applicants should, however, keep in mind that the EOI submissions will be reviewed by a committee of government representatives and should be written for a non-scientific audience.

Q: Which team members require a CV? A: All team members, including mentors, must submit an up-to-date, PDF version of a funding CV (either CIHR Academic or CIHR Project Biosketch) to the Primary Applicant (PA) to be uploaded in the ‘Attachments – Team Member CVs’ section of this application.

Partners are not required to submit a CV; however, they should submit a letter of support detailing their qualifications/interest (i.e. why they would like to be involved in the project) and what they will be contributing to the project.

Q: Does a team member need to be affiliated with a post-secondary institution in order to be a co-investigator? A: No. A team member may be a co-investigator without a post-secondary institution affiliation. The affiliation is only required for Primary Applicants AND Co-Primary Applicants.

Q: For eligibility, how are leave of absences calculated into the length of an academic appointment? A: For Early Career Health Researchers, eligible leaves of absence will be considered at twice the time taken.

Q: Can a person mentor more than one applicant? A: Yes, provided the mentorship could still occur should all mentees be successful in their grant application.

Q: Can a mentor also be a co-investigator? A: Yes, a mentor may have dual roles as both a mentor and a co-investigator/collaborator/etc.

Q: If my research requires more than $50,000 in either year of my grant, am I able to request an adjustment to my payments? A: Any requests for more than $50,000 per year must be made in writing, with a detailed explanation, to Kirstin Mosher )

Q: I am unable to submit my application because of Error #33. How do I fix the issue and submit my application? A: Error 33 comes up when you have more than one objective listed in the text boxes provided or when you hit enter at the end of one of your objectives and sent the cursor to the next line. To fix the issue, ensure that you only have one objective in each text box and that an additional line hasn’t been started after each objective.

Q: Can I use my NHIG to leverage funds from Mitacs? A: New Health Investigator Grant holders may be able to use a portion of their award to leverage additional funds from the Mitacs Accelerate program. If your project would benefit from having a student or postdoc working with an industry or clinic-based partner, you are eligible to apply to Mitacs using the portion of your budget you planned to allocate to trainees as the match funding. The intention to apply to Mitacs must be made clear in your full application.

Technical issues related to application submission via Jura can be directed to:

RNS Jura Helpdesk : [email protected] | 902.200.8555

Jura Helpdesk Hours are 8am-4pm ADT Monday to Friday. Responses will be provided as soon as possible but please allow up to 24 hours for a response.

For technical questions regarding the Canadian Common CV (CCV) including password and account resets, PINs, CCV submission, etc., contact the CCV Centralized Helpdesk : CCV Centralized Helpdesk [email protected] 1.888.603.4178

If you require any application support or have questions about this funding opportunity, please contact: Kirstin Mosher Research Support Officer [email protected]

Health Equity

Penn LDI CICADA Initiative Names Researchers for 2024-2025 Cohort

Seventh year of program that recruits, mentors and develops junior faculty for health services research.

Hoag Levins
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The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Improving Care Delivery for the Aging (CICADA) has announced three new postdoctoral and junior faculty who are the program’s seventh cohort of CICADA Scholars pursuing pilot research and receiving training and mentorship in health services research (HSR).

Established on the Penn campus within the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) seven years ago, CICADA was initially funded by a five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) as a Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR). That grant was then renewed for another five years. The RCMAR program is a multidisciplinary research initiative aimed at improving the diversity of the HSR workforce studying aging and health care issues.

The three new grantees for the 2024-2025 CICADA cohort are:

Kimberly T. Arnold, PhD, MPH , Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Perelman School of Medicine. Her CICADA pilot project is “Developing Strategies to Implement Mental Health Programming for Older Black Adults in Black Churches.”

Christin Iroegbu, PhD, RN , Postdoctoral Fellow at the Penn School of Nursing’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR). Her CICADA pilot project is “The Influence of Nursing Resources on Mortality Disparities among Hospitalized Black and White Older Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients.”

Ernesto Ulloa-Pérez, PhD , Postdoctoral Researcher in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics at the Perelman School of Medicine. His CICADA pilot project is “Evaluating Medicare’s Payment Programs by Enhancing Staggered Adoption Statistical Methods.”

Launched in 1997 with centers at a handful of universities, the NIA’s national RCMAR program has 18 research and training facilities across the country. Each center focuses on a different aspect of aging and health care. Penn’s program is one of a few that focuses on the discipline of health services research and the study of how health care delivery is organized, financed, managed, quality-controlled, and regulated.

The essential goal of RCMAR is to recruit, mentor, and develop junior faculty members into accomplished research scientists, a process that begins with pilot research projects they undertake with their mentors. Since its founding 27 years ago, more than 400 research scholars have come through the RCMAR program, most going on to academic research careers.

Diverse Perspectives

The broad RCMAR programs are informed by the fact that underrepresented researchers bring essential diverse perspectives and, often, personal experiences to bear in understanding the social, economic, political, and environmental determinants of racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care. According to the federal Office of Minority Health, underrepresentation in research leads to underfunding of health research as well as a lack of culturally appropriate theories, models, and methodologies.

The CICADA program is facilitated through Penn LDI and links to all of Penn’s 12 schools. CICADA mentors are drawn from across the University, creating an interdisciplinary approach to training.

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Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Bronx, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Augusta University - Augusta, Ga. Summer Student Training and Research (STAR)

Baylor College of Medicine - Houston, Texas Summer Medical and Research Training Program (SMART)

Boston University School of Medicine - Boston, Mass. Summer Training as Research Scholars (STaRS)

Brigham and Women's Hospital (in collaboration with Harvard-affiliated hospitals) - Boston, Mass. Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine

Case Western Reserve University - Cleveland, Ohio Summer Undergraduate Research in Pharmacology

Children's Hospital Research Foundation of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, Ohio Division of Developmental Biology Undergraduate Summer Student Program

City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute -Duarte, Calif. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy

Committee on Institutional Cooperation - Champaign, Ill. Summer Research Opportunities Program

Creighton University - Omaha, Neb. Undergraduate Biomedical Research Training Program

Drexel University College of Medicine - Philadelphia, Penn. Biomedical Graduate Studies-Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Georgia State University, Neuroscience Institute - Atlanta, Ga. B&B Summer Scholars Program

Gerstner Sloan-Kettering Graduate School - New York, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Gundersen Health System La Crosse, Wisc. Student Summer Research Fellowship

Harvard Medical School - Boston, Mass. Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP)

Hofstra North Shore/LIJ School of Medicine - Manhasset, N.Y. Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Student Intern Program

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Baltimore, Md. Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Keck Graduate Institute - Claremont, Calif. Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

Louisiana State Health Sciences Center. Shreveport Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience - Shreveport, La. Summer Undergraduate Pharmacology Experience in Research Program (SUPER)

Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine - Chicago, Ill.

Undergraduate Summer Research Program, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Summer Undergraduate Research Program, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics

MaineHealth Institute for Research - Scarborough, Maine Summer Undergraduate Research Program - MaineHealth Institute for Research

Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Diversity and Inclusion - Boston, Mass. Summer Research Trainee Program

Mayo Clinic - Rochester, Minn. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Wisc.

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research
Summer Enrichment Programs

Medical University of South Carolina - Charleston, S.C. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - New York, N.Y. Medical Student Summer Fellowship Research Program

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation - Minneapolis, Minn. Summer Research Internships in Clinical Cardiology

Mount Sinai School of Medicine - New York, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

New York University School of Medicine - New York, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine - Evanston, Ill.

Summer Research Opportunity Program
Cancer-Focused Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE)
Pre-Med Undergraduate Intern Program

Ohio State University Medical Center - Columbus, Ohio SUCCESS Summer Undergraduate Course Creating Excellence in Scientific Study

Oregon Health and Science University - Portland, Ore. Graduate Studies Program

Penn State University, College of Medicine - Hershey, Pa.

SURIP – Summer Undergraduate Research Internship Program
STEP-UP - Short-Term Educational Program for Underrepresented Persons
SURF – American Heart Association Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Stanford University School of Medicine - Stanford, Calif. Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP)/Amgen Scholars Stanford CARE Scholars

Texas A&M University College of Medicine - Bryan, Texas Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences - Lubbock, Texas Summer Accelerated Biomedical Research (SABR) Program

Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia, Penn. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Tufts University - Boston, Mass. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Program

University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, Ala. Summer Research Programs for Undergraduates

University at Buffalo (SUNY) School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Buffalo, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

University of California, Los Angeles - Los Angeles, Calif. Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research

University of California, San Diego - La Jolla, Calif. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

University of California, San Francisco - San Francisco, Calif. Summer Research Training Program

University of Chicago - Chicago. Ill.

The Leadership Alliance & The University of Chicago Summer Research Early Identification Program
The Pritzker School of Medicine Experience in Research (PSOMER)

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine - Cincinnati, Ohio Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center - Denver, Colo. Graduate Experience for Multicultural Students (GEMS)

University of Connecticut Health Center - Farmington, Conn. Undergraduate Summer Research

University of Georgia, Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute - Athens, Ga. Summer Undergraduate Fellows

University of Illinois at Chicago - Chicago, Ill. Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)

University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine - Iowa City, Iowa Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

University of Kansas - Lawrence, Kan. Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

University of Kentucky - Lexington, Ky. NSF-REU: Summer Program in the Biomedical Sciences

University of Louisville - Ky. Undergraduate Summer Program in Cardiovascular Research for those from Under-Represented or Under-Served Populations

University of Maryland - Baltimore, Md. Office of Student Research

University of Massachusetts Medical School - Worcester, Mass. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University - New Brunswick, N.J. Undergraduate Summer Research

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Mich.

Frankel Cardiovascular Center Summer Fellowship Program
UM-SMART Undergrad Summer Program
Michigan Summer Undergraduate Research Experience: Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases (M-SURE)

University of Michigan Medical School, Rogel Cancer Center - Ann Arbor, MI Cancer Research Internship Program (CaRSIP)

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minn. Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (LSSURP)

University of Mississippi - Jackson, Miss. Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

University of Nebraska - Lincoln - Lincoln, Neb. Undergraduate Summer Research Program

University of Nebraska Medical Center - Omaha, Neb. Summer Undergraduate Research

University of New Mexico School of Medicine - Albuquerque, N.M. Undergraduate Pipeline Network Summer Research Program

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - Oklahoma City, Okla.

Native American Center for Health Research Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
Stephenson Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Program

University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Penn.

Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP)
Undergraduate Clinical Scholars Program

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - Pittsburgh, Pa.

Premedical Academic Enrichment Program
MIDAS summer Research Opportunity
Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunities
Training and Experimentation in Computational Biology

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry - Rochester, N.Y.

Strong Children’s Research Center Summer Program
Summer Scholars Program

University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston - Houston, Texas Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Smithville, Texas Summer Program in Cancer Research

University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, Texas Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio - San Antonio, Texas

GSBS Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
Greehey CCRI Donald G McEwen, Memorial Summer Undergraduate Research & High School Program

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Dallas, Texas Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

University of Utah - Salt Lake City, Utah Native American Summer Research Internship (NARI)

University of Virginia School of Medicine - Charlottesville, Va.

Minority Health International Research Training Program (MHIRT)
Summer Research Internship Program

University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wisc. Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program

Vanderbilt University - Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy

Virginia Commonwealth University - Richmond, Va. Summer Research in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health Epidemiology (MIDPH)

Wake Forest University - Winston-Salem, N.C.

Summer Research Opportunities Program
Wake Forest University Biomedical Engineering REU Summer Program

Washington University - St. Louis, Mo.

AMGEN Scholars Program
Leadership Alliance
Pediatric Student Research Program

Wayne State University School of Medicine - Detroit, Mich. Summer Research Programs

Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering - New York, N.Y.

Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program
Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program

West Virginia University - Morgantown, WV

Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Experience for Underrepresented Students

Yale School of Medicine - New Haven, Conn.

NIH-NIDDK/KUH Yale Summer Research Fellowship for Undergraduate Students
BioMed Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Summer Programs of Affiliate GREAT Group Members

The bylaws of the GREAT Group allow the Steering Committee to appoint individuals from non-AAMC member institutions as affiliate members of the GREAT Group. Individuals from the following programs have been appointed affiliate members:

National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, Md. Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

Medical Education
Residency & Fellowship
Research & Technology

Smart Mask Monitors Breath for Signs of Health

Personalized wearable devices that monitor people's health are on the rise. From watches to patches and other types of sensors, these smart devices can monitor heart activity, inflammation levels, and more to help patients better manage their health from their own homes. Now, a new type of wearable device can be added to the list: a high-tech paper mask that monitors one's breath.

Caltech's Wei Gao , professor of medical engineering, and his colleagues have developed a prototype for a smart mask that can be used to monitor a range of medical conditions, including respiratory ailments, such as asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and post-COVID-19 infections. In contrast to other smart masks being developed that monitor physical changes like the temperature, humidity, or rate of breathing, this one, called EBCare, can analyze the chemicals in one's breath in real time. ("EBC" is an acronym used in this field that means "exhaled breath condensate.") For example, the mask could monitor asthma patients for levels of nitrite, a chemical that indicates airway inflammation.

"Monitoring a patient's breath is something that is routinely done, for example, to assess asthma and other respiratory conditions. However, this has required the patient to visit a clinic for sample collection, followed by a waiting period for lab results," says Gao, the lead investigator of a new study describing the mask in the journal Science . "Since COVID-19, people are wearing masks more. We can leverage this increased mask use for remote personalized monitoring to get real-time feedback about our own health in our home or office. For instance, we could use this information to assess how well a medical treatment may be working."

Gao, who is also a Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator, Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar and an affiliated faculty member of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience , has already developed a range of wearable biosensors that analyze human sweat to measure metabolites , nutrients , hormones , and protein levels. In this case, Gao's goal was to monitor the breath, which came with a new set of challenges.

To selectively analyze the chemicals or molecules in someone's breath, the researchers need to first cool the breath vapor into a liquid. In clinical settings, this cooling step is done separately from the analysis. Moist breath samples are chilled on buckets of ice or bulky refrigerated coolers. Gao's new mask, in contrast, is self-cooling. The breath is cooled by a passive cooling system that integrates hydrogel evaporative cooling with radiative cooling to effectively chill the breath on face masks.

"The mask represents a new paradigm for respiratory and metabolic disease management and precise medicine because we can easily get breath specimens and analyze the chemical molecules in breath in real time through daily masks," says Wenzheng Heng, lead author of the study and a graduate student at Caltech. "The breath condensate contains soluble gases as well as nonvolatile substances in the form of aerosols or droplets, such as metabolic substances, inflammatory indicators, and pathogens."

Once the breath has been converted into a liquid, a series of capillaries, belonging to a class of devices referred to as bioinspired microfluidics, immediately transports the liquid to sensors for analysis. "We learned from plants how to transport the water," says Gao. "Plants use capillary forces to draw water upward from the ground."

The results of the analysis are then transmitted wirelessly to a personal phone, tablet, or computer. "The smart mask can be prepared at a relatively low cost," says Gao. "It is designed to cost only about $1 in materials."

To test the masks, the team performed a set of human studies, primarily focused on patients with asthma or COPD. They specifically monitored the patients' breath for nitrite, a biomarker for inflammation in both conditions. The results showed that the masks accurately detected the biomarker, indicting inflammation in the patients' airways.

In another study, the team demonstrated that the masks accurately detected blood alcohol levels in human subjects, suggesting the masks could be used for on-site drinking-and-driving checks or other forms of alcohol-consumption monitoring.

They also looked at how the masks could potentially be used to evaluate blood urea levels in the monitoring and management of kidney disease. As kidney function declines, protein metabolism by-products like urea accumulate in the blood. At the same time, urea increases in saliva, which breaks down into ammonia gas, and this leads to higher ammonium levels in the breath condensate. The new study showed that the smart masks could accurately detect these ammonium levels, closely reflecting urea levels in the blood.

"These first studies are a proof of concept," says Gao. "We want to expand this technology to incorporate different markers related to various health conditions. This is a foundation for creating a mask that functions as a versatile general health–monitoring platform."

As for the comfort of the masks, participants reported favorable experiences, even those with breathing problems.

"The smart mask platform for EBC harvesting and analysis represents a major advance in the potential to monitor lung health in real time," says co-author Harry Rossiter, investigator at the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA and professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "That concept, that biosensors for a wide range of compounds may be added in the future, highlights the game-changing potential of the smart mask for health monitoring and diagnostics."

The study titled "A smart mask for exhaled breath condensate harvesting and analysis" was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, and the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity. Other Caltech authors include graduate students Shukun (Kevin) Yin, Canran Wang, Hong Han, and Jiahong Li, and postdoc Jihong Min, in addition to Ehsan Shirzaei Sani and Yu Song, former postdocs at Caltech.

This cross-section of the smart mask shows the different layers that make it work, including a hydrogel for cooling the breath into a liquid, microchannels or capillaries for transporting the liquid, and a sensing reservoir where the samples are analyzed.

Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by the All of Us Research Program

Program snapshot.

The goal of the NIH Common Fund’s Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by the All of Us Research Program , is to develop algorithms that predict individual responses to food and dietary patterns. Nutrition plays an integral role in human development and in the prevention and treatment of disease. However, there's no such thing as a perfect, one-size-fits-all diet. The NPH program will build on recent advances in biomedical science including artificial intelligence (AI), microbiome research, as well as the infrastructure and large, diverse participant group of the All of Us Research Program . These advances provide unprecedented opportunities to generate new data to provide insight into personalized nutrition also referred to as precision nutrition.

In addition, the first ever Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research emphasized opportunities to improve our understanding of how individual human biology and molecular pathways influence relationships among diet and environmental, social, and behavioral factors to influence health. Designed to implement aspects of the Strategic Plan, the Nutrition for Precision Health program will conduct a study nested in the All of Us Research Program to explore how individuals respond to different diets. The NPH study is the first ancillary study to leverage the All of Us infrastructure to answer scientific questions important to participants like understanding more about the role of nutrition in health. High-quality nutrition studies such as the NPH study will help individuals and their health care providers create healthy, precise, and effective diet plans.

The objectives of the study are:

To examine individual differences observed in response to different diets by studying the interactions between diet, genes, proteins, microbiome, metabolism and other individual contextual factors
To use artificial intelligence (AI) to develop algorithms to predict individual responses to foods and dietary patterns

The Nutrition for Precision Health program includes several integrated components:

Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by the All of Us Research Program is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

NPH Center and Site Locations

Click the image below to view the interactive location map, detailing the NPH Centers and Sites.

Stay Connected Sign Up for the NPH listserv

Join our listserv to receive updated and announcement about the program.

Enrollment is Now Open for NPH

Participate in a study to help researchers predict how our bodies respond differently to food. More information can be found here .

Announcements

NIH launches largest precision nutrition research effort of its kind.

Science News

Could Precision Nutrition Be a Game Changer for Health?

Diabetes Discoveries & Practice Blog Will Precision Nutrition Help Patients Prevent or Treat Diabetes?

Healio interview with NPH's leadership: NIH will help guide precision nutrition research.

Precision nutrition: Tailored diet assessments to become a mainstay in medical care by 2030.

Press Releases

NIH awards $170 million for precision nutrition study

Program Background

On September 11, 2020 the NIH Council of Councils approved the concept for a new NIH Common Fund program “Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by the All of Us Research Program .” This program will be refined by NIH for potential implementation in Fiscal Year 2022. The archived videocast of the Council of Councils meeting is publicly available and can be viewed here (Nutrition for Precision Health discussion begins at 1:54:00 ). Slides and a brief write-up are also available.

This page last reviewed on July 22, 2024

Data Collections, Research Projects, and Funding Opportunities

Discover data collections, research projects, and funding opportunities related to nutrition, food insecurity, and physical inactivity in tribal communities.

Data Collections

Centers for disease control and prevention (cdc): adult physical inactivity outside of work interactive maps.

CDC developed interactive maps showing differences in physical activity among U.S. adults by race and ethnicity and location in 2022. 27 states had a physical inactivity prevalence of 30 percent or higher among non-Hispanic AI/AN adults.

National Cancer Institute (NCI): Cancer Resources

For information on AI/AN specific cancer surveillance and tumor registries, as well as the programs that support these efforts, visit this National Cancer Institute (NCI) webpage .

Learn about AI colorectal screening programs and review cancer literature searches specific for Native American populations on NCI’s Native American Health webpage .

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Aids Research (OAR): Data Hub

To learn about funding opportunities and ongoing research on HIV/AIDS within AI/AN populations, visit NIH’s Office of Aids Research (OAR) Data Hub .

Research Projects and Resources

Centers for diabetes translation research (cdtr).

The Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translation Research , funded under the Centers for Diabetes Translation Research (CDTR) program , has a mission to translate research of proven efficacy into practice in both clinical and community settings, with the goal of improving the diabetes-related health of Native people. Learn more about this grant award .

CDC: Keys to Success Tip Sheet: Enrolling and Retaining American Indian Participants in the National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Change Program

Including traditional foods in type 2 diabetes prevention programs serving AI/AN communities can help program participants achieve their goals. This tip sheet provides lessons learned and insights on how staff can include traditional foods and make their program more culturally relevant for AI/AN participants.

NIH: ADVANCE: Advancing Prevention Research for Health Equity

NIH provides funding support for a variety of research, training, infrastructure development, and outreach and information dissemination projects. The NIH Office of Disease Prevention is coordinating the NIH-wide research effort, ADVANCE: Advancing Prevention Research for Health Equity . As part of this initiative, this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) focuses specifically on preventive interventions to address cardiometabolic risk factors in populations that experience health disparities, including AI/AN people. In the United States, AI/AN children experience disproportionate health disparities, including high rates of diabetes, obesity, and dental caries when compared to all other groups. Youth from AI/AN populations also face socio-cultural barriers in school and community settings that undermine the importance of their Native identity.

NIH: Exploring Food Insecurity as a Social Determinant of Health Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents at Risk for Gestational Diabetes

Exploring Food Insecurity as a Social Determinant of Health Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents at Risk for Gestational Diabetes aims to explore how food insecurity impacts AI/AN females prior to pregnancy and will identify solutions to decrease food insecurity and diabetes health disparities in AI/AN communities.

NIH: Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW)

The NIH supported program Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) supports Tribes and Native American Serving Organizations (T/NASOs). T/NASOs participating in the program conduct research to address overdose, substance use, and pain, including related factors such as mental health and wellness. Phase I completed in November 2023 with the goal to support T/NASOs to plan, develop, pilot, and implement research and data improvement projects. Projects have received an initial review, and the process to award the projects has been initiated.

NIH: Osage Community Supported Agriculture Study (OCSA)

The Osage Community Supported Agriculture Study (OCSA) will test the efficacy of a CSA program combined with culturally tailored nutrition and cooking education among Osage adults, evaluate its cost-effectiveness, and develop a multimedia toolkit for disseminating findings .

NIH: Promoting Linguistic and Cultural Identity through Bilingual Children’s Stories to Address Nutrition and Health in Indigenous Communities

The Promoting Linguistic and Cultural Identity through Bilingual Children’s Stories to Address Nutrition and Health in Indigenous Communities project will develop a platform for the creation, distribution, and consumption of Native-authored, bilingual resources. The resources, tailored to AI/AN families, will relate to health, nutrition, and traditional foods. The goal is to create a library of dynamic, bilingual children’s eBooks in AI/AN languages and English, with accompanying interactive activities to promote parent-child dialogue and co-reading.

NIH/NHLBI: Strong Heart Study (SHS)

The Strong Heart Study (SHS) is a study of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among American Indian men and women, and is one of the largest epidemiological studies of American Indians ever undertaken.

NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): Building Food Sovereignty, Sustainability, and Better Health in Environmentally impacted Native Americans

This National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) project will identify and implement safe and nutritious farming practices and restore food sovereignty through development of a farming system program supported by the Turtle Clan-founded Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal Farm. This innovative study will integrate a culturally centered, environmental road map created from community input for food sovereignty and sustainability that can be shared and disseminated to other environmentally impacted Nations.

NIH/NIEHS: Native American Health and the Environment

NIH supports research to determine how environmental agents cause or exacerbate human diseases, including research to improve the environmental health of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Learn more about these NIEHS-founded initiatives .

Research Funding Opportunities

Nih: intervention research to improve native american health (irinah) program.

The Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (IRINAH) Program supports research on interventions that aim to improve the health and well-being of Native American populations, including traditional nutrition and sports. IRINAH supports:

Etiologic research that will directly inform intervention development or adaptations
Research that develops, adapts, or tests interventions for health promotion, prevention, treatment, or recovery
Research on dissemination and implementation that develops and tests strategies to overcome barriers to the adoption, integration, scale-up, and sustainability of effective interventions

The IRINAH program includes 3 different funding opportunities: R01 - PAR-23-298 , R21 - PAR-23-299 , and R34 - PAR-23-285 .

NIH: Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Program

The Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Program funds federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and organizations for health research, research career enhancement, and research infrastructure enhancement activities. The NARCH program aims to support research directly linked to health concerns specifically identified, selected, and prioritized by tribal communities.

The NARCH program includes 2 funding opportunities: S06– PAR-23-166 and R34 – PAR-24-041 .

NIH: Notices of Special Interest

The Determining the Tri-directional Relationship Among Oral History, Nutrition, and Comprehensive Health Notice of Special Interest Funding Opportunity supports research on the interplay of nutrition/food insecurity, oral diseases, and comprehensive health across the lifespan.

The Stimulating Research to Understand and Address Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity Notice of Special Interest Funding Opportunity encourages research on the efficacy of interventions and development of new measures for nutrition security and the mechanisms of food insecurity on a variety of health outcomes.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.

Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by ODPHP or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.

GRANT PROGRAMS

Supporting early research and community health related projects

Grant Programs

Research Grants

Grants of up to $50,000 each for research projects with exciting potential are available. In addition, the hope is that this initial funding and related research will help applicants qualify for larger grants from other organizations in the future.

Community Health, Behavioral Health and Social Science, Social Service and Education Grants

Grants of up to $35,000 each for projects addressing important health-related community, social and education issues impacting society are available. Separate guidelines have been provided below for these grants and these applications are reviewed and evaluated using separate criteria.

Full-time clinicians, faculty members and personnel at these organizations affiliated with New Jersey Health Foundation are eligible to apply during these grant programs:

Cooper University Health Care

Hackensack Meridian Health

Kessler Foundation

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Princeton University

Rowan University

Rutgers University

University Hospital

Virtua Health

Grant Cycle Application Opening Soon!

The documents listed below will be available once the new grant cycle begins:

Policies and Procedures - Research

Policies and Procedures - Community Health, Behavioral Health and Social Science, Social Service and Education

FAQs - Research

FAQs - Community Health, Behavioral Health and Social Science, Social Service and Education

Sample Letter of Agreement

Application - Grant Portal Opens 9 a.m. September 13th

Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Grants must be used to fund only direct program costs. Grants cannot be used to fund overhead, tuition, indirect costs or investment management fees.

Queensland research finds young people 'burnt out and in need of help'

By Claudia Williams

Topic: Mental Health

New research shows almost nine out of 10 young Queenslanders have seen a negative change in their health and wellbeing in the past year. ( ABC News: Stephanie Anderson )

It is impossible to ignore the negative impacts of smartphones and social media on the mental health and wellbeing of young people, Queensland’s chief health officer says.

The comments come as new research shows almost nine out of 10 young Queenslanders have seen a negative change in their health and wellbeing in the past year.

The survey of 1,424 young people conducted by the state's prevention agency, Health and Wellbeing Queensland, found more than half of respondents reported feeling stressed or anxious.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said while less people were dying from heart disease and strokes, the mental health of young people was "getting worse very rapidly".

"It appears to be a real phenomenon and not the result of better reporting," he said. "I believe this is a very significant concern.

"One of the most dramatic indicators is the instances of hospitalisation due to self-harm in young children aged 10 to 14 has almost [tripled] over the last decade."

John Gerrard says the mental ill-health of young people is a very real phenomenon being seen across the world. ( ABC News: Claudia Williams )

Dr Gerrard said the mental health decline in young people had been seen on a global scale since 2010, in the years following the release of the first smartphone.

He said there were no simple solutions, adding the community at-large has not spoken about "this enough".

"It is not clear at this stage what to do about this specific problem, but I have been meeting with Commonwealth agencies to discuss these issues."

'Burnt out and in need of help'

The research, commissioned by the Queensland government, found more than half of those aged 15 to 24 reported feeling tired for no reason or that everything was an effort in the four weeks prior to being surveyed.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland deputy chief executive Gemma Hodgetts said these were the warning signs of a generation "burnt out and in need of help".

"Young Queenslanders who should be our most vibrant, energetic and hopeful generation are struggling," she said.

Gemma Hodgetts says the research shows young people are struggling. ( ABC News: Claudia Williams )

"Almost one in two Queenslanders will experience mental ill-health in their lifetime ... about 75 per cent of mental disorders emerge before the age of 24 years, so we need to act now."

The research found those experiencing mental health challenges were more likely to rate their health significantly lower.

The report said the findings suggest increased stress, along with poorer diets, may be negatively impacting the mental health of young Queenslanders, particularly young adults.

According to the research, women, girls and mothers are also more likely to experience negative impacts, which may in part be due to their lower activity levels.

Ms Hodgetts said the report laid the foundation for an Australian-first strategy which would take a deliberate wellbeing approach to mental health.

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Statements by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine on National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, released the following statements to celebrate September as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month:

Xavier Becerra – HHS Secretary

“More than 100,000 Americans have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). In addition to debilitating pain crises, many of those suffering from SCD – they are often called warriors - face serious health complications, including infections, strokes, vision problems, and organ damage. Unplanned hospital stays are common, causing untold disruptions to daily life. The estimated life expectancy of those with SCD in the United States is more than 20 years shorter than the average life expectancy. African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately affected and all individuals living with SCD experience challenges with access, quality, and affordability of care. 

As we celebrate National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, we acknowledge the perseverance, strength, and resiliency of all those living with this disease. While medical advancements bring us closer to cures, too many individuals with Sickle Cell Disease and their loved ones still face challenges obtaining the care they need. The Biden-Harris Administration has worked tirelessly to provide care and support for those living with SCD, and to advance research into new treatment modalities. We will continue with this work as long as there is need.

This month, we renew our commitment to close gaps in care, prevent stigma, and accelerate the identification and implementation of innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for patients living with SCD. We continue to work on improving the quality of life for people affected by this disease and find new, potentially transformative treatments.” 

Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D. – Assistant Secretary for Health

“At the Department of Health and Human Services, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with sickle cell disease through innovative research, comprehensive care programs, and robust public education. By partnering with researchers, healthcare providers, and community organizations, we strive to address disparities in treatment and access, ensuring that every individual with sickle cell disease receives the care and support they deserve. Let us use this month to spread awareness, foster understanding, and drive meaningful change. Together, we can make significant strides toward improved treatment and, ultimately, a cure."  

The Biden-Harris Administration at HHS is leading efforts to close gaps in care and advance treatments and cures for SCD:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is developing a Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model, which will help Medicaid beneficiaries gain access to potentially life-changing, high-cost specialty drugs for illnesses like sickle cell disease.  
The Health Resources and Services Administration is assisting with early identification and treatment of SCD and helping community-based organizations and clinics conduct testing, counseling, and education.  
In December 2023, the FDA approved two gene therapies that have shown promise in preventing organ damage, improving overall health, and boosting quality of life for people living with sickle cell disease. These one-time gene therapies can dramatically increase a person’s lifespan and can also be cost-effective compared to the traditional lifelong treatments for sickle cell disease.
The HHS Office for Civil Rights promulgated a new rule for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, ensuring non-discrimination in healthcare services for people living with Sickle Cell Disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded their Sickle Cell Data Collection program to 16 states, covering approximately 50% of the SCD population in the U.S.
NIH continues to conduct groundbreaking research into SCD. This week they released results of a three-year study that found so-called low-intensity blood stem cell transplants, which use milder conditioning agents than standard stem cell transplants, do not appear to damage the lungs and may help improve lung function in some patients with SCD.
The Office of the Secretary launched a new virtual series (i.e., SCD SOAR) designed to improve quality of life for SCD warriors and families by sharing curated resources on priority topics (e.g., mental health, housing) from different federal agencies.

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Statement by hhs secretary xavier becerra on international overdose awareness day, statement by secretary xavier becerra on labor day, new data show highest number of health center patients in nearly 60 year history of the program, related blog posts.

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Data & Reporting
Health Center Research and Evaluation

Through research and evaluation, we examine new ways to support the Health Center Program in providing high quality and cost-effective care to historically medically underserved communities. This includes assessing the impact of specific policy or program shifts in access, quality, cost of services, and health equity. We also provide insight into emergent federal healthcare priorities.

Products and Resources

Peer-reviewed articles.

Visit the Health Center Library to find current peer-reviewed articles that describe innovative promising practices, evidence-based interventions, quality improvement programs, and program evaluations relevant to health centers.

View briefs, fast stats, and other resources that highlight ongoing health center research and evaluation activities.

Access to Care

Health Center Capacity in Rural Maternity Care Deserts (PDF - 373 KB) Growing evidence shows maternal care disparities in the U.S., such as rural counties that lack obstetrician-gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, and hospitals that provide obstetric care, known as maternity care deserts. A new analysis explores the role of HRSA-funded health centers in helping to address rural access to maternity care.
Role of Health Centers in Providing Medication-Assisted Treatment (PDF - 327 KB) Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is increasingly shown to be effective in treating opioid use disorder and reducing mortality. A new study explores geographic areas that most depend on health center providers for MAT.
HIV Testing and Health Center Patients HRSA-funded health center patients are more likely to receive HIV testing than the general population.

Quality of Care

Exploring Health Center Geographic Variation of Colorectal Cancer Screening and the Impact of COVID-19 (PDF - 214 KB) COVID-19 has disrupted access to health care services, and research suggests that an increased number of patients are foregoing critical preventive care such as cancer screenings. This brief explores colorectal cancer screening rates for Health Center Program awardees in 2020 in comparison to 2017-2019, with a focus on geographic variation in rates. This analysis can help target resources in order to mitigate long-term consequences of missed screenings among the most vulnerable populations.
Comparison of Clinical Quality Measures for Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Health Centers (PDF - 279 KB) A new analysis explores differences in quality measures between Appalachian health centers and health centers outside of Appalachia. Learn how health centers within the Appalachia regions exhibit performance on par or better than non-Appalachia regions.
Diabetes Brief (PDF - 500 KB) Learn more about the proportion of health center patients diagnosed with diabetes, as well as health center patients with uncontrolled diabetes by race and ethnicity, trends of uncontrolled diabetes among health center patients as compared to national averages, and the five most common health center patient diagnoses.

Cost of Care

Health Center Care Use and Spending (PDF - 858 KB) Learn how health centers saved Medicaid nearly $2,300 per patient in total annual healthcare spending.

Health Equity

Identifying COVID-19 Mortality and Social Deprivation Hot Spots and Exploring Opportunities for Health Center Response (PDF - 168 KB) This analysis identifies U.S. counties with high levels of social deprivation that also have high rates of COVID-19 mortality or are located in COVID-19 mortality hot spots. The research brief also identifies health centers located in these counties in order to identify opportunities for increased preventive care and targeted outreach.
Identifying Health Centers in Areas with Low Rates of Vaccine Confidence and High Rates of Unvaccinated or Incomplete Vaccination (COVID-19) (PDF - 228 KB) This brief identifies health centers located in U.S. counties with low rates of COVID-19 vaccine confidence and complete COVID-19 vaccination and explores the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of these counties in order to inform vaccine outreach efforts.

Data Tools and Sources

Health center patient survey.

Explore the Health Center Patient Survey (HCPS) data to gain a rich and detailed portrait of patients’ experience with the care and services they receive at HRSA-funded health centers. Data from the 2014 HCPS, including a downloadable public use file (PUF) and interactive data dashboard, are available on the HCPS page . Data is being collected for the HCPS and will be available when finalized.

Uniform Data System (UDS)

Each calendar year HRSA Health Center Program awardees and look-alikes are required to report a core set of information, including data on patient characteristics, services provided, clinical indicators, utilization rates, costs, and revenues. View the Health Center UDS Data page to learn more. Access the UDS Mapper tool to run geographical analyses based on UDS data.

Health Center COVID-19

As part of COVID-19 emergency response efforts, health centers fill out a survey to help track the impact of COVID-19 on health center operations, patients, and staff.

Related Resources

UDS Modernization Initiative
Health Center UDS Data
UDS Reporting Resources
Community Health Quality Recognition Awards

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Office of Research Training, Diversity, and Disparities Newsletter, August 2024

What’s New at NIDA

Changes to nida’s diversity supplement program .

ORTDD is excited to announce some changes to the NIDA Diversity Supplement Program! For more than 30 years, NIH has made available supplements to existing grants to provide research opportunities, training, and mentorship to enhance the diversity of the biomedical research workforce. NIDA is proud to participate in this NIH-wide program, and our team at the ORTDD would like to spread the word to PIs on active NIDA awards as well as to potential applicants about this opportunity. PIs are encouraged to participate, so long as an active grant mechanism is eligible, there is sufficient time remaining during the initial award period for the supplement, and the and the PI is committed to mentoring and career development for the candidate. K award grants are not eligible to have Diversity Supplements, but most other mechanisms are!

Program details: Diversity supplement scholars may be post-bacs, master’s degree holders, doctoral students, post-docs, or early career investigators who meet eligibility criteria outlined in PA-23-189 . A NIDA grantee-applicant must work closely with an eligible candidate to create a plan that will facilitate the scholar’s progression to the next career stage. The proposed research and training activities must be appropriate for the stage of the candidate, and the project must be within scope of the parent research award. Applications are administratively reviewed, that is, reviewed by NIH program staff. NIDA PIs can apply through the general NIDA Diversity Supplement Program or through a specialized program, such as the one managed by the BRAIN Initiative .

What’s new: In fiscal year 2025 (which starts on October 1, 2024), NIDA’s general Diversity Supplement Program will have multiple receipt dates. While you can submit your application at any time, the cut-off dates for NIDA’s administrative review will be August 15th, October 15th, December 15th, February 15th, and April 15th. The final receipt date to be considered for funding in the fiscal year (which ends September 30th) is April 15th. Another change to the program is that applications are limited to 6 pages regardless of the page limit for the “parent” grant mechanism , making application review equitable for all grant mechanisms. Please be certain to check your page limit!

For more information: To learn more, please see the Instructions to PI's and FAQ's , and reach out to Dr. Angela Holmes, NIDA’s Diversity Supplement Program Coordinator at ( [email protected] ).

Program Updates

A new nida funding opportunity hit the street consider applying for a “d-start”.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has published a new notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), PAS-24-242 , entitled “Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D-START).” Awards will support investigators to apply advanced data science techniques to address timely and challenging research questions related to substance use and substance use disorders (SUD). As defined by NIH, data science encompasses the development and use of quantitative and analytical methods to extract knowledge from large and complex data sets. Expanding expertise in data science, particularly in big data analytics and computational science, is crucial for advancing SUD research. The goal is to generate data-driven insights to inform the development and implementation of interventions for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery across diverse populations.

While the R03 mechanism is used for this award, the D-START allows for projects with budgets of up to $100,000 per year in direct costs over 2 years. NIDA plans to fund 6-7 projects per year during the 2025, 2026, and 2027 fiscal years, depending on annual institute appropriations and the receipt of meritorious applications. D-START awardees are expected to use their project findings to pursue further grant applications, such as a subsequent R01, focusing on the intersection of substance use and data science. Cross-disciplinary collaborations are strongly encouraged, and NIDA welcomes applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in STEM fields. Applicants should adhere to Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) principles and address ethical considerations in research involving human subjects. Read more about this opportunity .

Apply for a NIDA Travel Award

A group photo of Travel Awardees at the 2023 CPDD conference.

Call for applications! NIDA is providing travel awards for scholars interested in attending the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco on March 12 -15, 2025 in New Orleans, LA. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2024 at 11:59pm ET.

The NIDA Travel Award Program aims to defray the costs of in-person attendance at national scientific conferences. Travel award recipients will receive an award in the amount of $1500 for meeting transportation, lodging, and/or registration. Awardees are expected to attend a NIDA “meet-and-greet” at the conference. See the NIDA Travel Award website for information about eligibility and how to apply.

Please contact Yohansa Fernández for any questions related to NIDA travel awards.

Career Development Spotlight: Dawn Bounds PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN

The NIDA ORTDD is excited to introduce Dr. Dawn Bounds to the research training community. Dr. Bounds is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Irvine within the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. Her research interests include marginalized youth, adolescence, risk, resilience, commercial sexual exploitation, social media, mental health, integrative health, as well as wearable and biofeedback technology. She was a 2021 NIDA Diversity Scholars Network program participant and was recently awarded a 5-year R01 grant titled “ Teaching Youth & Families Self-Regulation Skills to Disrupt the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Preventing Substance Use in Adversity-Impacted Youth .” Her research focuses the impact of the Garnering Resilience in Traumatized youth and families (GRIT) program on early initiation of alcohol and cannabis use among youth. Read about her below and what aspired her to become an addiction researcher.

Please share a little about yourself and your upbringing (if you're comfortable doing so), your educational background, and research focus.

I am the oldest of two daughters who were raised by a single mom. I am also a first-generation college student who was born and raised in Chicago. I spent all of my life there including my graduate education. I graduated with a BSN from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999 and an MSN and PhD from Rush University in 2004 and 2015. Prior to becoming a researcher, I worked in the community as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. My experiences as a clinician working with marginalized youth on the west side of Chicago informs my research interests to this day. My program of research focuses on youth risk and resilience. More specifically, I am interested in preventing substance use initiation and disorders in adversity impacted youth.

At what point in your life did you know you wanted to become a scientist? What drew you to the STEM field and particularly substance use/addiction research?

I never knew that I wanted to become a scientist because I had little exposure to research. It is one of the reasons I am currently so committed to exposing high school and undergraduate students to research through my lab. I used to teach in a master’s program that changed to a doctoral program and I was urged to get my doctorate to continue teaching. This prompted me to get my PhD. During my program and working on a NIH funded study, I fell in love with research.

I have to admit I used to be a little resistant to working in the field of substance use/addiction due to my firsthand knowledge of what it does to families. But what I realized is that trauma and adversity (my area of interest and expertise) is inextricably linked to substance use/addiction. To continue to excel in the field of trauma and adversity, meant including substance use/addiction research.

Were there any events or individuals who inspired you throughout your professional journey?

My mother is my greatest inspiration. She always taught me to defy all odds. My own life experiences taught me persistence. I have encountered several amazing mentors and colleague along the way who have inspired me, fought and advocated for me, and supported me on my professional journey.

How did you learn about the NDSN Program? Please share about your experience as an NDSN scholar and major takeaways from participating in the program.

I tend to search out training programs and opportunities that support minoritized individuals like myself. These training programs have expanded my network and knowledge about programs like the NDSN. The NDSN provided a unique opportunity to receive a mock review of my grant which was so valuable. The biggest take away for me was to keep resubmitting my proposal. Doing so led to me finally getting funded this year.

What has been the most challenging obstacle you have had to face throughout your career journey to becoming an addiction researcher and what have you done to “push through”?

Not letting my career in academia become my sole identity has been most challenging. Academia and research can be consuming. Striking a balance between my work and the other aspects of my life has been an ongoing process. Understanding and prioritizing what’s most important to me has helped me push through with the help of my spirituality, supportive family and friends, and therapy. Building a support network that includes those who have thrived in academia is key.

Can you offer any advice to ESIs/scholars in earlier career stages who are navigating the NIH process for submitting grants and working towards the goal of being independently funded?

Persist! You belong in this space and your work is important to the field. Keep innovating, revising, and resubmitting those grants!

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the NIDA community about your inspiring journey?

I am truly grateful for being a part of the NIDA community. NIDA has supported my growth and development over the past 4 years. These initial investments through training have now led to a larger investment in my research. I’m excited to continue to collaborate with other NIDA scholars and prevent addiction and substance use disorders in adversity impacted youth.

Did You Know?

Your opinion matters check out the latest “rfi” on supporting postdoctoral scholars.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking feedback from the biomedical research community through a follow-up Request for Information (RFI) as part of an overarching goal to better support the postdoctoral scholar workforce. NIH began implementing recommendations earlier this year by increasing pay levels for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards. A Request for Information has been issued to gather community input on additional proposed actions to accelerate the career transition of postdoc scholars into thriving biomedical research careers.

Through the RFI, NIH is seeking additional specific suggestions, evidence-based strategies, and relevant data or related experiences that will help inform our potential strategies. Feedback will be accepted electronically until October 23, 2024 . Please feel free to respond and widely share the RFI with your networks! NIH is particularly interested in receiving input from:

Trainees (e.g., graduate students, postdocs),
Early-stage investigators,
Biomedical faculty,
Training directors,
Postdoctoral and graduate student office leaders,
Biotech/biopharma industry scientists, and research education program advocates.

NIH encourages organizations (e.g., patient advocacy groups, professional societies) to submit a single response reflective of the views of the organization or its membership. Please direct all inquiries related to this RFI to [email protected] .

Closing the Ginther Gap: Annual Update on NIH's Progress

In late July, NIH’s annual update on efforts to address the “Ginther Gap” was published Dr. Marie Bernard, the Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD), and Dr. Mike Lauer, the NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research. The “Ginther Gap” refers to results from a 2011 study that found a 10 percentage point difference in grant application success rates between black and white applicants, favoring white applicants. This update is a continuation of their work to examine research project grant (RPG) and R01 funding rates by race and ethnicity, as NIH has developed numerous programs to address disparities over the past decade. Drs. Bernard and Lauer report that despite some progress, disparities in funding rates by race and ethnicity persist. However, they also reveal in a recent blog that funding rates for K awards increased between 2010 and 2022. This is encouraging, as K awards often precede research project award funding.

Notable NIH initiatives to promote diversity in the scientific workforce include the Common Fund Diversity Program Consortium (DPC) and the Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) initiative. Along with the UNITE initiative, these programs aim to ensure that a diverse range of voices contribute to scientific innovation. The NIH remains committed to monitoring and evaluating progress towards achieving equity in funding, ensuring there are no barriers to participation. Read more about this update in the full blog post .

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NIH UNITE Workshop on Structural Racism and Health Research

Have you ever wondered what is meant by “structural racism” or what structural racism has to do with health research and health outcomes? On July 18th and 19th, the NIH UNITE Initiative leadership and members convened a virtual workshop to explore these and related topics. The workshop featured researchers, clinicians, and community partners with expertise in fields such as social and natural sciences, law and criminal justice, education, public policy, and social work—as well as biomedical, behavioral, and public health. Speakers provided insights into the origins and drivers of structural racism, methodological considerations in the measurement of structural racism, and interventions to improve health outcomes through strategies that reflect an awareness of the research on structural racism. A recording of the webinar is now available using these links: July 18 Videocast | July 19 Videocast . See the workshop website for additional information about the event.

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There’s a severe kidney shortage. should donors be compensated.

Stephanie O'Neill

End Kidney Deaths Act

More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant. SvetaZi/Getty Images hide caption

Martinez Majors Sr. of Alexandria, Va., 65, had no idea his kidneys were failing. Then, three years ago, a severe case of edema landed him in the hospital.

“I was bloated. My legs looked like somebody took an air hose and just plugged it into my body,” he says. “The blood tests came back. Whoever the doctor was who was on duty told me, ‘You have chronic kidney disease.’”

Majors, whose kidney failure was caused by hypertension, now spends more than four hours each Monday, Wednesday and Friday tethered to a dialysis machine that filters waste from his blood the way his kidneys no longer can.

The intensive and often exhausting regimen keeps him and a half million other Americans with kidney failure — also known as end stage renal disease — alive.

Martinez Majors Sr. is tethered to a dialysis machine as he waits for a kidney transplant. Martinez Majors Sr. hide caption

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 7 people, or 37 million Americans, have chronic kidney disease , most often caused by diabetes and high blood pressure. And because the condition gradually progresses over months and sometimes years, most people are unaware they’re sick until — like Majors — they’re hospitalized and placed on dialysis.

The treatment, however, is not a cure, rather it’s a stopgap with potentially serious side effects, including infection and strain to the cardiovascular system.

“And the only reversing of that is to get a new kidney — to have a kidney transplant,” Majors says.

More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant. But an ongoing kidney shortage means a thousand people a month are removed from the waitlist, either because they die while waiting for a kidney or become too sick for a transplant.

Elaine Perlman wants to change that.

“Enough is enough,” she says. “The kidney shortage is a solvable problem.”

Perlman is executive director of Waitlist Zero , a coalition supporting newly proposed federal legislation that would create a 10-year pilot program called the End Kidney Deaths Act.

The bill, with sponsors from both parties, would offer a refundable tax credit of $50,000, spread evenly over five years, to people who donate one of their kidneys to an anonymous recipient on the national kidney waitlist.

“We are trying to save tens of thousands of lives as well as billions of tax dollars,” says Perlman.

Medicare spends more than $50 billion a year on dialysis. Transplants save lives and money over the long term and improve patient outcomes. That’s especially true for transplants done with living donor kidneys, which can last up to 20 years — about twice as long as those from deceased donors.

People have two kidneys, but most people with only one live healthy lives, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

About two-thirds of all transplants come from someone who has died. The rest, about 6,000 a year, come from living donors, most of whom give to a family member or friend. Only 300 to 400 living donor kidneys come from “altruistic donors,” people who give one of their kidneys to someone they don’t know on the waitlist, says Perlman, who donated her kidney to a stranger in 2020.

“Those who give kidneys to strangers are saving the people who are waiting the longest on the waitlist and are most likely to die from the kidney shortage,” Perlman says. “By incentivizing kidney donors we believe that we will have thousands more people step forward to save those who would otherwise die.”

But critics see it differently.

“I think the act would not increase organ availability,” says Alexander Capron, a professor emeritus of health care, law, policy and ethics at the University of Southern California. “When something goes from being something which people give to being something that is bought, the givers stop giving.”

He also worries that a U.S. program to incentivize living kidney donors could undermine global efforts to end the illicit organ trade.

“I think it would be irresponsible of us to ignore the spillover effect,” he says. “If the United States allowed payments, the countries where people are trying very hard and succeeding very well in stopping (illicit organ) trade — the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Turkey — would have a much harder time getting their governments to take this seriously.”

Luke Semrau disagrees. He’s a bioethicist at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania who considers such arguments red herrings intended to derail legitimate debate on the issue.

“Nobody thinks we should adopt a system like kidney sales in India, China or Iran,” he says. “None of those systems have been remotely similar to what advocates of the present legislation are arguing for.”

Semrau has written extensively about moral issues surrounding kidney markets. He believes the proposed measure will significantly increase the number of kidneys available for transplant.

“It’s rare we have such a problem with an obvious solution where everyone benefits,” he says.

Semrau points to surveys showing a majority of Americans support a regulated compensation plan for donors, especially if it results in more lifesaving transplants.

The status quo, Semrau says, is no longer an option.

“We’ve asked people to provide kidneys for free. We’ve done that for decades … and it has not worked,” he says.

Both the American Medical Association and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons support more studies into the use of incentives to increase organ donation rates.

As the debate moves to the floors of Congress, Martinez Majors says he’ll be keeping close watch. While several members of his family have offered to donate to him, they can only do so if they’re a blood and tissue match and if they’re in excellent health and are able to pass rigorous physical and mental health screenings required of live donors.

If not, Majors will join the growing number of Americans now facing an indefinite wait for a new kidney.

kidney transplants
kidney donation

CNN values your feedback

Mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer, according to a major review of 28 years of research.

A systematic review into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure has shown mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer. The review was commissioned by the World Health Organization and is published today in the journal Environment International .

A student uses a cell phone last month after unlocking the pouch that secures it from use during the school day at Bayside Academy in San Mateo, California.

Related article All-black outfits, hoodies, Crocs, cell phones and mirrors. Some students are returning to school with new bans in effect

Mobile phones are often held against the head during use. And they emit radio waves, a type of non-ionising radiation . These two factors are largely why the idea mobile phones might cause brain cancer emerged in the first place.

The possibility that mobile phones might cause cancer has been a long-standing concern. Mobile phones – and wireless tech more broadly – are a major part of our daily lives. So it’s been vital for science to address the safety of radio wave exposure from these devices.

READ MORE: We looked at all the recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools and this is what we found

Over the years, the scientific consensus has remained strong – there’s no association between mobile phone radio waves and brain cancer, or health more generally.

Radiation as a possible carcinogen

Despite the consensus, occasional research studies have been published that suggested the possibility of harm.

In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radio wave exposure as a possible carcinogen to humans . The meaning of this classification was largely misunderstood and led to some increase in concern.

READ MORE: Do smartphones belong in classrooms? 4 experts weigh in

IARC is part of the World Health Organization. Its classification of radio waves as a possible carcinogen was largely based on limited evidence from human observational studies. Also known as epidemiological studies, they observe the rate of disease and how it may be caused in human populations.

Observational studies are the best tool researchers have to investigate long-term health effects in humans, but the results can often be biased.

The IARC classification relied on previous observational studies where people with brain cancer reported they used a mobile phone more than they actually did. One example of this is known as the INTERPHONE study .

READ MORE: Complicated app settings are a threat to user privacy

This new systematic review of human observational studies is based on a much larger data set compared to what the IARC examined in 2011.

It includes more recent and more comprehensive studies. This means we can now be more confident that exposure to radio waves from mobile phones or wireless technologies is not associated with an increased risk of brain cancer.

No association

The new review forms part of a series of systematic reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization to look more closely at possible health effects associated with exposure to radio waves.

This systematic review provides the strongest evidence to date that radio waves from wireless technologies are not a hazard to human health.

It is the most comprehensive review on this topic – it considered more than 5,000 studies, of which 63, published between 1994 and 2022, were included in the final analysis. The main reason studies were excluded was that they were not actually relevant; this is very normal with search results from systematic reviews.

No association between mobile phone use and brain cancer, or any other head or neck cancer, was found.

READ MORE: Why has COVID been so much worse this summer? The health belief model has the answer

There was also no association with cancer if a person used a mobile phone for ten or more years (prolonged use). How often they used it – either based on the number of calls or the time spent on the phone – also didn’t make a difference.

Importantly, these findings align with previous research . It shows that, although the use of wireless technologies has massively increased in the past few decades, there has been no rise in the incidence of brain cancers.

A good thing

Overall, the results are very reassuring. They mean that our national and international safety limits are protective. Mobile phones emit low-level radio waves below these safety limits, and there is no evidence exposure to these has an impact on human health.

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Despite this, it is important that research continues. Technology is developing at a rapid pace. With this development comes the use of radio waves in different ways using different frequencies. It is therefore essential that science continues to ensure radio wave exposure from these technologies remains safe.

The challenge we now face is making sure this new research counteracts the persistent misconceptions and misinformation out there regarding mobile phones and brain cancer.

There remains no evidence of any established health effects from exposures related to mobile phones, and that is a good thing.

Republished under a Creative Commons license from The Conversation .

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The NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) is seeking proposals for its 2025 postdoctoral fellowship program, which supports early career scientists pursuing research with the potential to reduce the human health risks associated with spaceflight. "Many early career researchers find their entry point into space health research through our postdoc program ...
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The funding investments are aligned with the goals of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, which has committed to prioritizing investments in women's health research, integrating women's health across the federal research portfolio, and galvanizing new research on midlife health of women. These funding announcements ...
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HHS Also Awards $118.5 Million to Enhance Maternal Mortality Research and Prevention Efforts. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced more than $558 million in funding to improve maternal health, building on the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to reducing the nation's high maternal mortality rate through the White House Blueprint for Addressing the ...
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Smart Mask Monitors Breath for Signs of Health
Now, a new type of wearable device can be added to the list: a high-tech paper mask that monitors one's breath. Caltech's Wei Gao , professor of medical engineering, and his colleagues have developed a prototype for a smart mask that can be used to monitor a range of medical conditions, including respiratory ailments, such as asthma, COPD ...
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Up to 25 students will be accepted into the internship program. Interns are matched with research faculty according to their stated institute of interest and work on an ongoing research project in one of the expert programs. ... The Feinstein Institutes—the research institutes of Northwell Health, New York's largest health care provider ...
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Community Health, Behavioral Health and Social Science, Social Service and Education Grants. Grants of up to $35,000 each for projects addressing important health-related community, social and education issues impacting society are available. Separate guidelines have been provided below for these grants and these applications are reviewed and ...
New research finds young people 'burnt out and in need of help'
John Gerrard says the mental ill-health of young people is a very real phenomenon being seen across the world. (ABC News: Claudia Williams)Dr Gerrard said the mental health decline in young people ...
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Research & Engineering Military Health System Research supports health system research about the Military Health System, one of America's largest and most complex health care systems, which serves approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries, including 1.4 million active duty and 331,000 reserve-component personnel, military retirees, and family members.
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Office of Research Training, Diversity, and Disparities Newsletter
Program Updates A New NIDA Funding Opportunity Hit the Street! Consider applying for a "D-START" The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has published a new notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), PAS-24-242, entitled "Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D-START)." Awards will support investigators to apply advanced data science techniques to address timely and ...
There's a severe kidney shortage. Should donors be compensated?
More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant. But a kidney shortage means many die on the waitlist or become too sick for a transplant. A new plan would compensate donors.
Mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer, according to a ...
A systematic review into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure has shown mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer. The review was commissioned by the World Health Organization ...

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