July 10, 2001
A multi-agency collaboration
that includes five NIH institutes, the Fogarty International Center (FIC), and
the World Health Organization's Tobacco-Free Initiative (WHO-TFI) is calling
for research and training proposals for a new program to address the growing
incidence of tobacco-related illness and death in the developing world.
The new International
Tobacco and Health Research and Capacity Building Program represents a combined
commitment of roughly $3.5 million for the first year of 6-8 five-year awards,
with total support of approximately $17 million over the next five years.
“On my first day on the job,
I indicated that this department would be committed to U.S. support and
technical assistance on global health, including tobacco control,” noted HHS
Secretary Tommy Thompson. “This new NIH program offers an important opportunity
to learn more about effective ways to prevent or reduce smoking rates
worldwide, especially in developing nations.”
The goal of the program is
to reduce tobacco use in low- and middle-income nations through observational,
intervention and policy research and to build capacity in these nations in
epidemiological and behavioral research, prevention, treatment, communications,
health services and policy research. Applications linking behavioral science,
social science and basic science with clinical and operational aspects of
health care research are specifically encouraged.
The five key research areas
for the joint initiative include:
* epidemiological and
surveillance research
* susceptibility and risk
for smoking uptake
* biobehavioral and social
research
* intervention research
* policy-related research
In addition to supporting
basic science, the program also may provide support for projects that examine
tobacco tax policies, marketing and advertising strategies, campaigns that
promote a smoke-free norm, and prevention strategies targeted at youth.
FIC led the development of
this program in close collaboration with NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI),
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). The program is designed to
promote international cooperation between investigators in the U.S. and other
high-income nations pursuing research programs on tobacco control, and
scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income nations.
“Our consultation with
scientists from the developing world was crucial in helping us understand where
the needs are most critical,” said FIC Director Gerald Keusch, on behalf of the
NIH partners. “Our aim in launching this program is to provide a framework of
support for the development of data necessary to inform decision-making. As
developing countries begin to grapple with the major toll that tobacco will
take on individuals, families, and communities, and to establish national
tobacco-control programs, it is essential that they have access to the best
data."
Training of young scientists
is an integral feature of the new program and applicants are required to
include a significant capacity and infrastructure-strengthening component in
their proposals. “Young scientists and health professionals trained through
this research program will be well-equipped to ensure that evidence-based
policies that are relevant in their local culture are put into place,” observed
Keusch. “This will benefit not only their own countries but the entire global
community.”
“Prevention programs that
target youth are a must if any progress is to be made in addressing the tobacco
pandemic,” notes NIDA Director Alan Leshner. “Since tobacco companies market
their product to young people, the handwriting is on the wall in terms of the
toll that we can expect if the course continues unchecked.”
Applications are due by
October 26, 2001 and the deadline for Letters of Intent is September 4, 2001.
Further information on the RFA, including eligibility requirements and
application procedures is available on the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-TW-02-005.html.