printer friendly version

Oral Cancer Bioethics Pilot Research Program
Annual Competition

Appropriate Pilot Research Studies/Topics
In the 2000 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) report, “Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General,” the Surgeon General reported that “the overall 5-year survival rate for people with oral and pharyngeal cancers is 52 percent, which is worse than the survival rate for cancers of the prostate, corpus and uterus, breast, bladder, larynx, cervix, colon and rectum in both blacks and whites.” Regarding issues of health disparities, it was reported that the incidence rates for oral and pharyngeal cancers are 25% higher, overall, for blacks compared to whites, and the 5-year survival rate for white males is 65% higher than for black males (DHHS, 2000).

Given these, among other, alarming statistics on oral cancer and minority health disparities, the research topics and proposals meriting funding will address relevant oral cancer and bioethics issues including, but not limited to, the following (which are also research priorities of the NYU Oral Cancer RAAHP Center, and the Tuskegee University National Bioethics Center):
 

• Reducing the risk of oral cancer among urban or rural youth and adults from racial/ethnic minorities
• Exploration of current and emerging technologies for early detection of oral cancer
• Participation of racial/ethnic minorities in oral cancer screening and in research studies
• Assessment of inequitable disparities in oral health and health care among racial/ethnic minorities and of ethical problems associated with measures to correct such disparities
• Factors affecting access of minorities to oral health care services (e.g., structural and personal barriers)

Funding Eligibility
The TUNCBRHC Oral Cancer Bioethics Pilot Research Program presents awardees with the opportunity to design and conduct independent research on a wide array of bioethical issues related to oral cancer research (e.g., community participation in problem identification and study designs, eligibility criteria for entry into research studies, etc.) and oral health care (e.g., access to needed services and insurance coverage, cultural competency of dental practitioners, etc.).

This exciting research opportunity is open to all, including (but not limited to) university/college faculty, undergraduates, bioethics graduate and dental students, as well as other relevant professionals, who submit competitive applications and are selected for award, but preference will be given to minority investigators. Qualified individuals interested in conducting research (i.e., using quantitative and/or qualitative methods) on bioethical elements associated with oral cancer or oral health disparities among racial/ethnic minority populations are strongly encouraged to apply. It is anticipated that the funded pilot projects will eventually permit awardees to compete for subsequent grant proposals for further research beyond the one-year funding period for pilot studies.

To be eligible for funding, the proposed pilot study must meet the following criteria:

• Be relevant to bioethical aspects of either oral cancer research or oral cancer health care;
• Be able to contribute toward the expansion of one of the existing oral cancer studies currently being conducted by the NYU Oral Cancer RAAHP Center (Appropriate Pilot Research Studies/Topics);
• Focus on health disparity issues related to racial/ethnic minorities
• Consist of an appropriate research design that produces analyzable research data (quantitative or qualitative);
• Be of sufficient high quality and relevance to merit funding.

• PHS 398 Rev. 05/01 Face Page (to include title of proposal and contact information on the investigator)
• Detailed budget (Form Pages 4 only of the PHS 398)
• Biographical sketch
• 10-page research plan which must address the following:
  • Specific Pilot Study Aims
  • Background Information and Significance to Target Population
  • Evidence of Study Feasibility
  • Research Design and Methods
  • Pilot Study Participant Selection/Recruitment Process
• PHS 398 Rev. 05/01 Checklist Form Page

Complete pilot study application packages -- which include the program announcement, detailed instructions and required PHS 398 Forms -- are available from the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care

Applications will be excepted until the revised submission deadline of October 15, 2002.


Application Review and Selection Process
Applications will initially be reviewed by the pilot research study coordinator for completeness and responsiveness to overall program goals and specific application completion instructions. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications may be returned to the applicant without further consideration for funding. Responsive applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by several members of the pilot program’s Bioethics Research Committee (BRC).

Following the scientific review process, successful applications deemed to have the highest merit will then be reviewed, discussed and assigned a priority score by the entire BRC. Overall scores will be based on: the significance of the proposed study; whether the conceptual framework, design and methods are adequately developed; the level of innovation involved; appropriateness of investigator; the scientific environment in which the study is to be conducted; and provisions for the protection of research participants.

The two most meritorious applications will then be selected during the Committee’s annual meeting in November 2002.  Notification of funding decisions (acceptance or rejection) will be undertaken in January 2003.


Inquiries
Inquiries concerning the oral cancer bioethics pilot research program are encouraged. We welcome the opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants. Questions and concerns can be addressed by the following individuals:

Natasha De Veauuse Brown, M.P.H., (Coordinator, Oral Cancer Bioethics Pilot Research Program) 1209 Chambliss Street, Tuskegee, AL 36088.( preferred communication)

John Stone, M.D., Ph.D., (Director, Oral Cancer Bioethics Pilot Research Program) 1209 Chambliss Street, Tuskegee, AL 36088.


Useful Information
Following are organizations that provide useful information on oral health, including oral cancer, research, and prevention interventions.


National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIDCR Public Information and Liaison Branch.

National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse (NOHIC).
CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Oral Health Resources Program.
New York University Oral Cancer Research for Adolescent and Adult Health Promotion (RAAHP) Center.  

Click Here