stem research funding opportunities the va office and ...€¦ · monitor (braingate® system) (d)...

STEM Related Research Funding Opportunities with the VA Office of Research and Development

UCF Grants Day Seminar

Tshaka Cunningham, Ph.D.Scientific Program Manager

RR&D Service

November 5th, 2012

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs

2

“To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.”

-Abraham Lincoln, 1865

Mission of VA Research and Development

“To discover knowledge and create innovations that advance the health and care of veterans and the nation.”


Veterans Health AdministrationOffice of Research & Development

(ORD)Joel Kupersmith, CRADO

Tim O’Leary, Holly Birdsall, Deputy CRADOs

Biomedical Laboratory

R&DRon Przygodski

Clinical Science

R&DTim O’Leary

Health Services

R&DSeth Eisen

RehabilitationR&D

Patricia Dorn (acting)

Office of Research & DevelopmentOrganizational Structure


1. Biomedical Laboratory Research & Development Service (BLR&D)o Supports preclinical research to understand life processes from the molecular, genomic, and physiological level in regard to diseases affecting veterans.

2. Clinical Science Research & Development Service (CSR&D)o Administers investigations, including human subject research, to determine feasibility or effectiveness of new treatments (e.g., drugs, therapy, or devices) in small clinical trials or multi‐center Cooperative Studies, aimed at learning more about the causes of disease and developing more effective clinical care.

VA ORD-Four Different Research Services


3. Health Services Research & Development Service (HSR&D)o Supports studies to identify and promote effective and efficient strategies to improve the organization, cost‐effectiveness, and delivery of quality healthcare to veterans. HSR&D underscores all aspects of VA health care, specifically quality, access, patient outcomes, and health care costs.

4. Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (RR&D)o Develops novel approaches to restore veterans with traumatic amputation, central nervous system injuries, loss of sight and/or hearing, or other physical and cognitive impairments to full and productive lives.

VA ORD-Four Different Research Services


VA ORD is an Intramural Research Program

• 117 VAMCs have capacity for research : ~100 are funded by ORD at any time

• There are more than 2000 currently funded projects in ORD• Community of over 3000 VA researchers with a long history

of significant research • The research program uses a multi-level approach that

relies on VA and external, non-VA peer reviewers to help ensure that the research program is efficient, effective, and scientifically meritorious.

• VA funds only a small percentage of the proposals evaluated (~20%).

• VA ORD budget for FY2012 is approximately $582 million


Online Grants Application Process• NIH Electronic Research Administration (eRA)

Commons System (similar to NIH)o Electronic processing system for grant submissiono Streamlined ORD proposal review and management processes

• One common submission process for all ORD proposalso Implemented in DHHS (CDC, AHRQ, FDA) so we are now all using the same grant review system


VA Research Standards• Is the research based on rigorous science?

• Will the research produce data that drives clinical policy and translates to improved health care?

• Will the research help Veterans?– Is it ‘Veteran‐centric’?– The only federal research program focused entirely on Veteran’s needs


Eligibility for VA Research Funding• The VA Office of Research and Development

is an intramural research program.

• All applicants (i.e., the Principal Investigator (PI) and any Co-PI) for VA research funds are required to hold a minimum 5/8th VA salaried position.

• Individuals with less than a 5/8th VA appointment are encouraged to seek at least a 5/8th VA official appointment.


Eligibility for VA Research Funding

•A letter of intent (LOI) must be submitted and approved before a full application can be submitted

• Two cycles of review per year (winter and summer)

• VA does NOT have SBIR/STTR Programs


VA ORD Funding MechanismsCareer Development Program

o Salary support, protected time, travel award each year o CDA‐2 can request up to $65K/yr in operating expenses

Merit Awardo 1 ‐ 4 years, $275K/yr, travel award each yearo Can request up to $350K for one of the yearso But not exceed overall cap for number years requested

Pilot Awardso 1 ‐ 2 years, $100K/yr, travel award each year

Center of Excellenceo 5 years, $1M/yr

Research Award Enhancement Programo 5 years, $350K/yr


Current Conflicts: OEF/OIF


Current Conflicts: OEF/OIF

Halcomb et al, J Trauma 2006; 60:397

0

5

10

15

20

(%)

WWII Vietnam OIF/OEF

Percent of Fatal Casualties

19.115.8

9.4


Examples of Currently Funded STEM Research

Projects


OEF/OIF STEM-related research• Deployment‐related research – current and all conflicts

o Advanced Prostheticso Hearing and vision researcho Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) o Rehabilitation

• Deployment‐related research highlighting specifics for current conflicts o Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other Neurotraumao Polytraumao Chronic care and the new Veteran

• Collaborations with DoD


ADVANCED UPPER

LIMB PROSTHESES

Next-Generation STEM Research supported by the VA


DARPA/DEKA Robotic Arm:Collaboration Among VA Scientists, DARPA, and Industry may Restore Fine Upper Limb Control to Veteran Amputees

Stage 1: “Strap and go” device that can be controlled by sensors in the shoes

Stage 2: Arm controlled by brain-computer interface


Hochberg LR et al. Nature 442: 164-71, 2006

Hochberg LR et al. Nature 442: 164-71, 2006

Next-generation technologies:

BRAIN – COMPUTER INTERFACE

1. Electrode array developed by Richard Norman, U. of Utah (a, b)

2. Implanted in R precentral gyrus (c)3. Wired to computer which controls

cursor and other displays on monitor (BrainGate® system) (d)

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 19

Next-generation technologies:

BRAIN – COMPUTER INTERFACE

“A long-term goal of the BrainGate research team is to create a system that, quite literally, turns thought into action – and is useful to people with neurologic disease or injury, or limb loss. Currently, the system consists of a “sensor” (a device implanted in the brain that records signals directly related to imagined limb movement); a “decoder” (a set of computers and embedded software that turns the brain signals into a useful command for an external device); and, the external device – which could be a standard computer desktop or other communication device, a powered wheelchair, a prosthetic or robotic limb, or, in the future, a functional electrical stimulation device that can move paralyzed limbs directly.” – Dr. Leigh Hochberg http://www.nature.com/news/mind-controlled-robot-arms-show-promise-1.10652


VA / DARPA-DEKA Prosthetic Arm:It really works!


TIPS for VA ORD Award Success

1. Perform research in priority areas for VA (“Veteran‐centric” research)

2. Appropriate study design, including statistical analyseso Seek input from expert (e.g., biostatistician)

3. Presentation matters!o Attention to all the details

4. Tell a compelling storyo Use a solid review of relevant literature

5. Provideo Realistic Timelines, considering all responsibilitieso Visuals as appropriate: limited & discreet use of appendices


Important WebsitesVA Research & Development:

http://www.research.va.gov/ Rehabilitation R&D:

http://www.research.va.gov/programs/rrd.cfmBiomedical Laboratory R&D:

http://www.research.va.gov/programs/blrd/Clinical Science R&D:

http://www.research.va.gov/programs/csrd/Health Services R&D:

http://www.research.va.gov/programs/hsrd.cfmCareer Development Program:

http://www.research.va.gov/funding/cdp.cfm

LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD RESEARCHERS!


My Contact Information

Tshaka Cunningham, Ph.D.Scientific Program ManagerRehabilitation Research and Development ServiceEmail: [email protected]: (202) 443‐5758

THANK YOU

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