Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
February 19, 2004, Vol. 04-17

GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCED CENTERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH (ACMHDR)

Please see the following for the complete announcement: http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-04-060.html

RELEASE DATE: February 6, 2004
PA NUMBER: PAR-04-060
EXPIRATION DATE: February 2007, unless reissued.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER: 93.242

LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: April 11 annually
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: May 11 annually

PURPOSE OF THE PA

The purpose of this Advanced Centers for Mental Health Disparities Research (ACMHDR) initiative is to promote the enhancement of established research core infrastructures and investigator-initiated research aimed at understanding and ameliorating mental health disparities (defined below in next section). All research areas supported by NIMH that are relevant to mental health disparitiesare appropriate as the central focus for ACMHDR research. Research projects may include, but are not limited to, studies of mental health disparities of American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics,and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Studies of ethnic subpopulations within these broad categories are also encouraged.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The principal objective of this program is to assist in the maintenance of and strengthen a research environment in which state-of-the-art research methodologies may be applied to an interdependent set of research projects and pilot research projects relating to a single major focus in mental health disparities research. The NIH defines health disparities as differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease s and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States (http://www.nida.nih.gov/strategicplan/HealthStratPlan.html).

Many disparities in mental health outcomes are highly associated with, but not necessarily limited to race, ethnicity, gender, and social conditions such as inadequate access to quality mental health care services. For example, a principal finding cited in "Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity -- A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General", is that racial and ethnic minorities bear a greater burden from unmet mental health needs and thus suffer a greater loss to their overall health and productivity. More is known about the existence of disparities in access to healthcare and mental health services, and the differential rates of mental health diagnoses among racial and ethnic groups and their significance, than the reasons for the occurrence of those disparities. The ACMHDR are specifically intended to support investigations of mental health disparities, with a strong emphasis on the reasons for the occurrence of those disparities, and are expected to produce findings that lead to outcomes that contribute to reducing the burden of mental health for all people.

Support for these advanced centers may be requested for an initial period of up to 5 years, followed by a competitive renewal for an additional 5-year period. Once awarded and during the term of the award, centers are subject to administrative review for performance, and are not transferable to another institution. Applicants may request up to $600,000 in direct costs per year, plus Facility and Administrative (F&A) costs.

Direct your questions about mental health disparities and populations to be served to:

Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.
Office for Special Populations
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8125, MSC 9659
Bethesda, MD 20892-9659
Telephone: (301) 443-2847
Email: msesma@mail.nih.gov

Direct your questions about scientific/research issues to:

Debra Babcock, Ph.D., M.D.
Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7178, MSC 9639
Bethesda, MD 20892-9639
Telephone: (301) 443-1692
Email: dbabcock@mail.nih.gov

Ann Hohmann, Ph.D.
Division of Services and Intervention Research
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7146, MSC 9631
Bethesda, MD 20892-9631
Telephone: (301) 443-4235
Email: ahohmann@mail.nih.gov

Emeline Otey, Ph.D.
Division of Mental Disorders, Behavioral Research and AIDS
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6180, MSC 9625
Bethesda, MD 20892-9625
Telephone: (301) 443-1636
Email: eotey@mail.nih.gov

Direct your questions about peer review issues to:

Michael Kozak, Ph.D.
Extramural Review Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6138, MSC 9608
Bethesda, MD 20892-9608
Telephone: (301) 443-1340
Email: mkozak@mail.nih.gov

Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters to:

Rebecca Claycamp
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6122, MS 9605
Bethesda, MD 20892-9605
Telephone: (301) 443-2811
Email: rclaycam@mail.nih.gov

*************************************************

The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.