VUMC LSO: CDC Conducting Research to Inform Pandemic Response and Recovery; deadline is Dec. 10

CDC Conducting Research to Inform Pandemic Response and Recovery of Emergency-Affected Populations by Determining Public Health Needs, Improving Methods, and Integrating Services to Mitigate Morbidity and Mortality

Applications due December 10

These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

Overview:

VUMC may submit one application to the CDC's Conducting Research to Inform Pandemic Response and Recovery of Emergency-Affected Populations by Determining Public Health Needs, Improving Methods, and Integrating Services to Mitigate Morbidity and Mortality. The award provides up to $3,000,000/year direct and indirect costs for a period of 5 years.

The purpose of this NOFO is to understand the needs of emergency-affected and displaced populations and estimate morbidity and mortality in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall goals of this operational research are to a) improve mortality and cause of death estimation during the acute emergency phase, b) understand COVID-19 disease transmission, contributing factors and secondary health consequences, c) study the effects of various hand hygiene interventions on mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and d) understand the mental health impact of COVID-19 to reduce associated morbidity and mortality among displaced populations and in emergency settings.

Given the stress on surveillance systems and hypothesized secondary health effects on displaced populations and populations in humanitarian emergency settings, this NOFO requests applicants to submit applications proposing research studies among populations in humanitarian settings (such as refugee camps and internally displaced populations) in order to do at least one of the following:

1.     Improve mortality estimation and cause of death methods in the acute emergency phase.

2.     Understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission among displaced populations by comparing surveillance strategies and develop an understanding of risk factors, and motivators and barriers for certain mitigation measures.

3.     Study the effects of hand hygiene interventions on mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

4.     Understand COVID-19 secondary health impacts among displaced persons.

5.     Understand the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

In order to achieve the overarching objectives, the applicant should specify how they plan to achieve these outcomes through at least one of the following methods:

1.     Compare various mortality surveillance systems, mortality surveys and cause of death methods specific for humanitarian settings to develop accurate and refined systems.

2.     Compare surveillance and mitigation strategies to better understand disease transmission among emergency-affected populations, in order to develop evidence-based guidelines for the implementation of effective interventions in humanitarian settings.

3.     Leverage prospective research designs to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and the trajectory, longer-term outcomes, and secondary health effects of COVID-19 disease among displaced persons

4.     Research hand hygiene efforts in emergency settings and evaluate the effects of hand hygiene interventions on SARS-CoV-2 transmission and other enteric and respiratory diseases in the acute emergency phase and post recovery phase

5.     Conduct innovative research, including randomized controlled trials, on the effectiveness and impact of various mental health interventions, programs and services, and develop evidence-based guidelines for humanitarian settings.

See the full solicitation for more information.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered to submit Vanderbilt’s proposal must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on December 10:

1.     Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget;

2.     Statement of support from department chair/center director;

3.     NIH Biosketch

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.