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Call for applications Center for Health Disparities Research to offer grants Researchers seeking funding for projects that focus on disease prevention and novel health improvement interventions for rural and ethnically diverse populations are invited to apply for one of four grants offered through the Center for Health Disparities Research.   The Center for Health Disparities Research (CHDR) is a research, training, and outreach program focused on eliminating racial/ethnic, socio-economic, and rural/urban disparities in health. The mission of the CHDR is to foster an environment of collaborative research to improve understanding of the multiple factors that perpetuate health care disparities and develop effective interventions to eliminate racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and rural/urban disparities in health. An integral part of this mission is to provide pilot funds to support innovative research in eliminating health disparities.   MUSC’s CHDR Pilot Project Program is a one-year program that provides support for four pilot projects (up to $5,000 per year per project) for graduate or post-graduate students, fellows, or faculty from MUSC.   Pilot studies will be expected to serve as vehicles to collect preliminary data for subsequent competitive applications. Pilot funds may not be used for investigator salary support but can be used to support research assistants or buy statistical support necessary for the conduct of the study. Research ideas from all disciplines are welcomed. Graduate students, post-graduate students, and fellows should identify a faculty mentor for their projects.   Only projects that focus on the following three priority areas will be considered for funding: T2 translational research (i.e. translation of results from clinical studies into everyday clinical practice and health decision making); disease prevention; and rural health. Examples of research studies that are responsive to this call include: studies on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of chronic diseases in diverse populations; interventions at the patient, provider, and health systems levels to reduce or eliminate racial/ethnic, rural/urban, and socioeconomic differences in quality of care and health outcomes; and novel interventions to improve health care delivery and health outcomes for rural dwelling residents. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 30 and must include: a research proposal (maximum of three pages) containing a statement of the problem (including specific aims and background/rationale), methods to be used, anticipated results, and discussion of how planned efforts will lead to future funding; a biographical sketch for the investigator on the standard PHS 398 form; a one-page letter of support from a primary mentor for graduate students, post-graduate students, and fellows; and budget and justification on the standard PHS 398 form.   Selected applicants will be notified in October for funding that will begin Nov. 1.   Send application materials to Helena Middleton-Brown, research program coordinator, CHDR, 135 Rutledge Ave., Room 280, MSC593, Charleston, S.C. 29425-5930; phone 876-1238; fax 876-1201; e-mail: middleh@musc.edu. Friday, Sept. 19, 2008 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.