PURPOSE: The National Library of Medicine wishes to support informatics research that addresses information management problems relevant to the management of disasters. Disaster management is heavily dependent on efficient flow of information. How best to utilize information technology in a disaster situation poses a number of problems for which relevant informatics research is necessary.
SCOPE: Disasters can be caused by nature or by man, through accident or by malice. Terrorism, particularly bioterrorism, is only one of a number of threats to public safety classified as disasters. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) classifies disasters as Natural (e.g. earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildlife fires etc.) or Technological (e.g. terrorism, nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials etc.) Some informatics issues relevant for disaster management include, among others:
- Standards to permit collection of data from diverse sources
- Coordination of disparate information systems across jurisdictional boundaries, and among system owners
- Design and deployment of appropriate databases
- Current, accurate information for clinicians and public
- Decision support systems for diagnosis and treatment
- Pattern recognition algorithms
- Preserving privacy while protecting the public
- Tracking systems for response personnel, disaster victims, and other resources
- Timely mobilization
Experienced investigators whose research has been outside the disaster management field are encouraged to use this program to explore new avenues and approaches. The program may also be especially appropriate for an investigator experienced in informatics research to adapt concepts or methods established in other fields to the management of disasters.
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT: R21. No budget ceiling or number of years was set. Modular budget is used for applications requesting $250,000 per year or less in direct costs. Applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year must include a cover letter identifying the NLM staff member who has agreed to accept assignment of the application.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: For-profit or non-profit organizations; Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; Units of state and local government; Eligible agencies of the Federal government; Domestic or foreign. Both new and experienced investigators may apply.
NIH REVIEW CRITERIA
The R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism of grant support is intended to enable an investigator to explore the feasibility of an innovative research question or approach. Such work is not necessarily hypothesis-driven. Thus, preliminary data specific to the proposed project are not expected, but data demonstrating feasibility are desirable. Novel and creative approaches are essential. Formative evaluation is acceptable.
- Significance. If the Specific Aims of the project are achieved, will they provide significant advances in the selected area of disaster management informatics? Is the research likely to provide a foundation for a new research area or have potential for wide applicability? Does this represent a groundbreaking, precedent-setting research topic that clearly requires additional preliminary data for its potential to be assessed?
- Approach. Are the approaches and methods adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? For technology development projects, are the milestones sufficiently specific and quantitative to guide both the research and subsequent evaluation of success or failure of the proposed concept?
- Innovation. Does the applicant propose new approaches or explore new approaches or are extant informatics approaches or concepts applied to disaster management in novel ways?
- Investigators. Are the PI and key personnel appropriately trained in their disciplines and capable of conducting the proposed research?
- Environment. Does the scientific and technological environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Does the proposed research take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of other support that will contribute to the success of the research?
NLM REVIEW CRITERIA: The relevance of the proposed work to the expressed NLM interest in the informatics of disaster management should be clearly described. The significance, importance, or potential impact of proposed research should be clearly discussed, and the procedures, data analyses, and expected conclusions should be well described. Applications should include the following elements:
- Does the proposed research represent a change in research focus or a new research direction for the laboratory that requires feasibility pilot studies, or is the proposed research the logical continuation of ongoing research efforts?
- In the case of research that is hypothesis-driven, will the successful outcome of the proposed studies likely generate sufficient data to pursue follow-up studies and lead to a full-scale research grant application?
- In the case of proposed research that is either technology-driven or design- driven, will the project generate a body of data, a technological advance or product that will be useful to the disaster management community?
- How will the successful completion of the proposed studies impact the concepts, methods, or technologies that drive the field?
- Is the integration of disaster management and Informatics clear and appropriate?
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