Veterans Health Administration Research Opportunities
What you need to know to submit proposals to the
Veterans Health Administration
11/2013
Presented by: Patricia Fox, Administrative Officer for Research
Department of Veterans Affairs John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
November 14, 2013
ELIGIBILITY FOR VA RESEARCH SUPPORT
VHA Handbook 1200.15
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research program is an intramural program.
The Office of Research and Development (ORD) allocates appropriated medical
and prosthetic research funds to VA medical facilities for scientifically meritorious
research related to the high-priority health care needs of Veterans to be
conducted by VA employees.
Unlike agencies such as NIH and the Department of Defense, VA does not have
statutory authority to make research grants to colleges, universities, or an other
non-VA entity.
Research services within ORD include: Biomedical Laboratory Research &
Development (BLR&D), Clinical Science Research & Development (CSR&D),
Rehabilitation Research & Development (RR&D), Health Services Research &
Development.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
ELIGIBILITY FOR VA RESEARCH SUPPORT
VHA Handbook 1200.15
Research funds may only be awarded if the Principal Investigator (PI) and any Co-PI
have employment status and activities that demonstrate a primary professional
commitment to VA. This commitment must meet the following requirements:
VA Employment status – A current VA paid appointment of at least 25 hours per week
(5/8ths) is required before a project can be funded.
Physical presence at VA – VA research must be conducted, principally, in a VA facility.
VA Information Systems – VA investigators must use VA email for VA correspondence
and VA business, and must comply will all VA privacy and information security
requirements.
Commitment to VA – The PI’s curriculum vitae or biographic sketch must provide
evidence of past and current roles and responsibilities within VA.
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Please note: Acceptance of VA research funds constitutes acceptance of VHA policy
regarding the acknowledgement of VA support in publications and presentations.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Non-Clinician Eligibility
This guidance supports eligibility to submit a Merit Review Proposal in the BLR&D or
CSR&D Programs.
General acceptance into the intramural program is granted for three years. An
applicant need not be a current VA employee. It is required that individuals accepted
into the intramural program will conduct their research at the VAMC, participate in VA
research service activities, and be available for local or national service.
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Requirements: Applicant
must be a current U.S. citizen, have a firm date for being
sworn in as a U.S. citizen, or have a current VA-paid appointment and submit proof.
This program is only for non-clinician investigators with a doctoral degree.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Non-Clinician Eligibility
An eligibility request package consists of:
1. Nomination letter signed by the ACOS/Research, Chief of Staff, and Medical Center
Director.
2. Statement addressing how the applicant may add to the VA’s programmatic
interests.
3. A description of proposed research, limited to one page.
4. A full Curriculum Vitae.
5. Proof of citizenship
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Submission deadlines: December 1 and June 1
All submissions must be submitted to the VA Research Office.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
BLR&D and CSR&D Merit Review
Award Program
This program supports investigator-initiated research conducted by eligible VA
investigators at VA medical centers or VA-approved sites.
This is BLR&D and CSR&D’s principal mechanism for funding basic, preclinical
biomedical and behavioral studies, as well as clinical studies of disorders and
diseases of importance to the health of veterans.
The BLR&D purview includes laboratory studies, both in vitro and in vivo, including
tissue culture, animal models and studies on human biological samples.
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The CSR&D purview includes interventional, experimental, and observational studies
involving human subjects.
Note: Merit Review funding is intended to support research by fully-trained
independent investigators.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Rehabilitation Research Merit Review
Award Program
Rehabilitation Research’s (RR&D) mission is to advance optimal rehabilitative
healthcare for veterans with disabilities, and to improve the health and
rehabilitative care of veterans and our Nation.
An approved Letter of Intent (LOI) is required before submitting new or resubmitted
proposals for a full or pilot-study proposal.
Full proposal: Full proposals are funded up to $925,000 for no more than four years,
with a maximum of $300,000 in any year.
Pilot proposal: Pilot proposals are funded up to $75,000 per year and may be funded
up to two years.
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All applicants must hold a minimum 5/8ths VA salaried position before a research
project can be funded.
RR&D’s website: www.rehab.research.va.gov
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Research Career Development Program
The Career Development Program is an award series under which both clinically and
non-clinically trained post-doctoral research may gain mentored research time
intended to advance awardees toward independence as funded VA scientists.
Candidates must be nominated by a VA Medical Center, but do not need to be VA
employees to be considered for the Career Development Program. Nominees who
are not VA employees at the time of application must have a VA appointment by
the start date of funding. There are two levels of award, CDA-1 and CDA-2.
CDA-1: This award provides initial mentored research experience, consisting of up to
two years of salary support. Non-clinician nominees need to be no more than two
years beyond completion of their Ph.D. or doctoral equivalent.
CDA-2: This award provides salary and/or project funds to support a three to five year
program of research career development and mentoring. Non-clinician nominees
need to be no more than five years beyond completion of their Ph.D. or doctoral
equivalent.
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VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Research Career Development Program
The application for a Career Development starts with an LOI. Nominees need to work
closely with the VA R&D Office to prepare the LOI and application.
Information on deadlines, guidance for preparing LOIs and proposals, and Frequently
Asked Questions are posted on the ORD website at:
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www.research.va.gov
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Health Services Research and Development
Health Services Research and Development’s (HSR&D) mission is to advance
knowledge and promote innovations in quality, effectiveness, efficiency, cost, and
accessibility of health service to improve the health and care of Veterans.
The three main types of HSR&D programs include:
Programs that directly support scientific research and development;
Programs that build health services research capacity within VA;
and Programs that strengthen VA’s health services research infrastructure.
The application process for HSR&D is accomplished completely on-line. If you are
interested in applying for this program, please contact the VA R&D Office directly.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
VA Research Office Contacts
Glenn W. Kaatz, M.D, Associate Chief of Staff for Research (ACOS)
Patricia Fox, Administrative Officer, 313-576-3106, patricia.fox2@va.gov
Timothy Hadden, Ph.D., Safety Officer, 313-576-4468, timothy.hadden@va.gov
Robert Molitoris, Program Support Specialist, 313-576-4474, robert.molitoris@va.gov
Sam McVean, Program Support Assistant, 313-576-3767, samuel.mcvean@va.gov
Stephen Griffin, Program Support Assistant, 313-576-3430, stephen.griffin@va.gov
Michael Kincannon, Program Support Assistant, 313-576-4475, michael.kincannon@va.gov
VA Research website: www.detroit.va.gov/Research/index.asp
Emails can also be submitted to: VHADETASKRESEARCH@va.gov
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION