National Institute of Mental Health
Office for Special Populations and Office of Rural Mental Health Research
Orientation
to
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
Neuroscience Center
Bethesda, MD
July 26, 2006
SU
C IVRES NA
SE
M
U
H
&
A
Robert A. Mays, Jr., Ph.D., MSW
Deputy Chief, Office of Rural Mental Health Research
and Program Director, Research Training/Infrastructure
Office for Special Populations, NIMH
301.443.2847
Rmays@mail.nih.gov
LAEH FO T
NE
HT
M
T
AR
DEP
National Institute of Mental Health
Mission Statement
The mission of NIMH is to reduce the burden of mental
illness through research on the mind, brain, and
behavior. NIMH takes the lead in understanding the
impact of behavior on HIV transmission and
pathogenesis, and in developing effective behavioral
preventive interventions.
The NIMH conducts a wide range of research, research
training, and research capacity development, as well
as, public information outreach and dissemination to
fulfill its mission.
National Institute of Mental Health
The NIMH Director’s Page
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director.cfm
Research Priorities and Strategic Plans
• supporting basic science discoveries
• translating these discoveries into new interventions
that will relieve the suffering of people with mental
disorders; and
• ensuring that new approaches can be used for diverse
populations and in diverse settings.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/strategic/strategicplanmenu.cfm
Research Funding:
NIMH Reorganized Programs Effective October 2004
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/researchfunding/reorganization.cfm
National Advisory Mental Health Council Reports
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/council/advis.cfm
Who/What is a Project
Officer/Program Director?
• Project Officer/Program Director
– is a scientist and administrator
– manages grants, contracts,
cooperative agreements
– identifies needs in scientific areas
– identifies scientific areas of special
interest and communicates interest
– reports on scientific progress and
program accomplishments
Who/What is a Scientific
Review Administrator?
• Scientific Review Administrator
– is a scientist and administrator
– manages the review of grants, contracts,
cooperative agreements
– appoints members to initial review
groups/study sections/special emphasis
panels
– responds to questions about review at
Advisory Councils and Board meetings
– if Referral Officer, refers applications to
study section for review and to Institute
for acceptance into program
National Institute of Mental Health
Organization
Office of The Director (OD)
 Office for Special Populations (OD/OSP)
 Office of Rural Mental Health Research (OD/OMHR)
 Office of Science Policy, Planning and Communications
 Offices on AIDS; Global Mental Health; Resource Management;
Prevention; Constituency Relations and Public Liaison; and
Diversity and Employee Advocacy Programs
Division of Extramural Activities (DEA)
Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral
Science (DNBBS)
Division of Adult Translational Research and Treatment Development
(DATR)
Division of Pediatric Translational Research and Treatment Prevention
(DPTR)
Division of AIDS and Health and Behavior Research (DAHBR)
Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR)
Associate Director for Special Populations:
Congressionally Mandated
Mission
Develop and coordinate research policies and programs to
assure increased emphasis on the mental health needs of
women and minority populations; support programs of
basic and applied social and behavioral science research
on the mental health problems of women and minorities;
study the effects of discrimination on institutions and
individuals, including majority institutions and individuals;
support and develop research designed to eliminate
institutional discrimination; and provide increased
emphasis on the concerns of women and minority
populations in the Institute’s training, service delivery, and
research programs.
National Institute of Mental Health
Special Populations Program Organization
NIMH
Associate Director for Special Populations
(Congressionally Mandated)
Office for Special Populations
Office of Rural Mental Health Resarch
(Congressionally Mandated)
Mental Health Disparities
Women's Mental Health
Research Scientist Development
Rural Mental Health Research
Office for Special Populations and Office of Rural Mental Health Research
Director for Special Populations
and Acting Director, Office of Rural
Mental Health Research
Ernest Marquez, Ph.D.
Deputy Director for Special Populations
Sherman Ragland, MSW
Chief, Office of Rural Mental Health
Research
Anthony Pollitt, Ph.D.
Deputy Chief, Office of Rural Mental
Health Research
Robert Mays, Ph.D., MSW
Chief, Women’s Mental Health Programs
Catherine Roca, M.D.
Deputy Chief, Women’s Mental Health
Programs
Kathy O’Leary, MSW
Chief, Research Scientist Development
Program
Michael Sesma, Ph.D.
Program Director, Research Training
and Infrastructure
Robert Mays, Ph.D., MSW
Social Science Analyst
Administrative Assistant (Pop Tracking)
Administrative Assistant
Sheila Bolt
Dawn Corbett
Jeanette Smith
301.443.2847
Research Scientist Development: One Step at a Time!
Faculty TenureR
01
Mentor
New Faculty K01, R21, R03
Post-Doc e.g.Fellowship, Training
Grant, Diversity Supplements
Graduate
Undergrad
e.g. Training Grants, Fellowships
Diversity Supplements
e.g. Supplements, T34 COR Stipends
High School
e.g. Collaborative Networks, R25 COR Stipends
National Institute of Mental Health
Research Training and Career Development Timetable
Approx. Stage of Research
Training and Development
Mechanism of Support
Predoctoral Institutional Training Grant (T32)
GRADUATE/
MEDICAL
STUDENT
Predoctoral Individual NRSA (F31)
Predoctoral Individual MD/PhD NRSA (F30)
Dissertation Research Grant (R36)
Postdoctoral Institutional Training Grant (T32)
Postdoctoral Individual NRSA (F32)
POST
DOCTORAL/
CLINICAL
RESIDENCY
CAREER
EARLY
MIDDLE
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Scientist Development Award for New Minority Faculty (K01)
B/Start (R03)
Small Grant (R03)
Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21/R34)
Research Project Grant (R01)
Independent Scientist Award (K02)
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/researchfunding/training.cfm
SENIOR
OSP – Mental Health Research Training and Infrastructure
Grants and Research Supplements
T34 Career Opportunities in Research Education and
Training (COR) Honors Undergraduate Program
R25 Career Opportunities in Research Education and
Training (COR) Honors High School Program
R24 Minority Research Infrastructure Support
Program
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in
Health-Related Research (PA-05-015)
Career Opportunities in Research Education and Training
(COR) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant (T34)
PAR-01-008
Annual Submission: May 10











Provide research education and mentorship
Awarded to four-year public or private institutions
Must have 50% > racial and ethnic minority students
Limited to four to ten Juniors and Seniors: 3.0 > GPA
$300K in Direct Costs annually; five year renewals
Stipend ($10.2K) and partial tuition/fees
Stipend support cannot exceed two years.
Tuition and fees: 100% of first $3K and 60% of costs
Up to 50% effort of personnel; some secretarial/lab support
Consultants, travel, research supplies, computer time, publication
costs for trainee papers
Actual Facilities and Administrative cost or 8% of Direct Costs
which ever is less
NIMH COR Institutions
T34 COR Locations
Grambling State U.
Hampton University
Howard University
Jackson State U.
Program Directors
Stacey Duhon, Ph.D.
Nancy Duncan, Ph.D.
Lloyd Sloan, Ph.D.
Pamela Banks, Ph.D.
Morehouse College
Clark Atlanta University
Spelman College
Morris Brown
M. Weber-Levine, Ph.D.
Karen Brakke, Ph.D.
Morgan State U.
Terra Bowen-Reid, Ph.D.
SUNY, Old Westbury
Steven Pryor, Ph.D.
NIMH COR Institutions
T34 COR Locations
Program Directors
Hunter College
V. Quinones-Jenab, Ph.D
Mercy College
James Towey, Ph.D.
San Francisco State U.
Sacha Bunge, Ph.D.
Cal State U., Northridge
Carrie Saetermoe, Ph.D.
Cal State U., Long Beach
Chi-An Chun, Ph.D.
San Diego State U.
Theresa Cronan, Ph.D.
NIMH COR Institutions
T34 COR Locations
Program Directors
Cal State U., Los Angeles
Thanh Tran, Ph.D
University of Puerto Rico,
Rio Piedras
Guillermo Bernal, Ph.D.
Long Island University
Carol Magai, Ph.D.
University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque
Phillip May, Ph.D.
University of Texas, El Paso
Michael Zarate, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska,
Lincoln
Les Whitbeck, Ph.D.
R25 High School Opportunities in Research Education
(COR) Training Program (PAR)-01-009
Annual application: May 10







Model, mentor, and teach mental health research to high
school students
Sponsored by an Undergraduate COR T34
Five year grant up to $35K per year to the T34 COR
Total of six Junior and Seniors with 3.0 > GPAs
Stipend up to $2K per AY or summer session
Personnel, consultants, travel, supplies
Facilities and Administrative costs or 8% of Direct Cost
which ever is less
R25 High School Opportunities in Research Education
(COR) Training Program Institutions
High School COR Sites
Program Directors
Howard University
Lloyd Sloan, Ph.D.
Jackson State U.
Pamela Banks, Ph.D.
U. of Puerto Rico,
Rio Piedras
W. Arocho-Rodriquez, Ph.D.
SUNY, Old Westbury
Steven Pryor, Ph.D.
Cal Sate U. Northridge
Sherry Span, Ph.D.
R24 Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program
(M-RISP) PAR 01-029
Increase the capacity to conduct mental health research

An Infrastructure Development Plan ($100K)

Two or more Independent Research Projects ($60K)
400K annually in Direct Costs for three years
Five year competitive renewals
Institutions with 30% > racial/ethnic minority students
and past three years with efforts to increase
Annual Submission: June 1




M-RISP Institutions
M-RISP Location
Principal Investigator
Lehman College Bronx, NY
Kevin Sailor, Ph.D.
Howard University
Lloyd Sloan, Ph.D.
University of Puerto Rico,
Rio Piedras
Guillermo Bernal, Ph.D.
University of Puerto Rico
Medical Sciences Campus
Nidza Lugo, Ph.D.
U. Texas, El Paso
Michael Zarate, Ph.D
University of Hawaii
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Naleen Andrade, Ph.D.
M-RISP Institutions
M-RISP Location
Principal Investigator
Meharry Medical College
James Townsel, Ph.D.
Tennessee State U.
Baqar Husaini, Ph.D.
Chicago State U.
Esther Jenkins, Ph.D.
SUNY at Old Westbury
George Stefano, Ph.D.
San Francisco State U.
Rafael Diaz, Ph.D.
Howard University
Medical School
John Massari, Ph.D
M-RISP Institutions
M-RISP Location
Principal Investigator
University of Texas,
San Antonio
Raymond Garza, Ph.D.
San Diego State University
Theresa Cronan, Ph.D.
California State University,
Long Beach
John Jung, Ph.D.
California State University,
Northridge
Carrie Saetermoe, Ph.D.
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity
in Health-Related Research
(PA-05-015)








Used to attract and encourage individuals, or modify
resources to an existing grant
Support attached to an existing award
Requested by the Principal Investigator
Awarded to the Institution
Principal Investigators of Research Grant Mechanisms:
R01,R10, R18, R22, R24, R35, R37, P01, P30, P40,
P41, P50, P51, P60, U01, U10, U19, U41, U42, or U54
Exceptions can be made to eligibility requirements
Funding decision take approximately six to eight weeks
Usually one research supplement per grant
Diversity Supplements
• For all stages of the research career from high school
to assistant professor/research associate
• Support for Minority, Disadvantaged and Disabled
individuals
• Additional funds are awarded to a Principal
Investigator to include a minority or disadvantaged
individual on their NIH funded project
• Great way to join a research project and successful
research team
• Also, provides funds for equipment to allow
reasonable accommodations for the disabled
individual
Diversity Supplements
High School Students:
 $3K for student for summer experience, or $6.25 hourly part-time
 Two year program encouraged
 Equivalence of two three-month, full-time periods desired
Undergraduate Students:
 Student salary should be consistent with institutional salary policy
 Hourly rate more than $8.00 needs justification
 Additional $200.00 per month for travel and supplies
 Three full months of effort expected for at least two
years
Diversity Supplements
Post-Baccalaureate and Post-Master’s Degree Students:
 Recent graduates to spend up to two years in mental health related
research while applying for graduate/medical/dental or other schools
 Student salary should be consistent with institutional salary policy
 Should not exceed graduate student salary, an additional $3K per
year can be requested for supplies and travel, but no equipment
purchases.
Graduate Research Assistants:
 Students enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs in
biomedical, behavioral, clinical, social sciences, and medical school
 Compensation may include tuition remission in-lieu of wages
 Salary can not exceed first year postdoctoral comparable work
 Additional $4K per year for supplies and travel, but no equipment
Diversity Supplements
Individuals in Postdoctoral Training
 Participate in ongoing research that develops a productive researcher
 Encouraged to apply for independent support before end of
supplement; no support if on a research or training grant
 Work with predoctoral mentor usually not approved; salary can not
exceed $50K per year
 Additional $6K per year for supplies and travel, but no equipment
Investigators Developing Independent Research Careers:
 Support to staff and faculty with doctoral a degree
 R01, P01, P50, G12, K01, K02, K07, K08, K12 ineligible
 Short-term – full-time (3-5 months per year) for four years
 Long-term – minimum 30% effort per year for four years
 Salary consistent with institutional policy
 $10K per year for supplies and travel, equipment with NIH approval
SUPPLEMENTS TO PROMOTE REENTRY INTO
BIOMEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH CAREERS
PA-04-126

Returning Investigators

Individuals with at least two years postdoctoral research experience; eligible for
doctoral research staff/faculty positions before departure

Women and men who departed to care for children, parents, or other family
responsibilities; relocation with spouse, partner, or close family member; nonresearch endeavors to retire debts incurred during training; interruption due to
incapacitating illness or injury

Not intended for career changes for individuals without prior research training

Full or part-time participation, but part-time not less than 50% effort; candidate
should not be engaged in full-time paid research

Salaries consistent with institutional policy

$10K per year for supplies and travel, equipment with NIH approval

Early coordination with NIMH Program Official recommended
ReEntry Supplements
• Additional funds are awarded to a Principal Investigator to include a
researcher on their existing project who has been out of a research career
for 8 years or less due to health or life choices (e.g. parenting)
• For postdoctoral and investigator level candidates
• Great way to join a research project and successful research team and to
get funds for a promising research who has taken time off to raise a family,
deal with a major illness or family obligation.
Information on Potential Parent Grants
for Supplemental Grant Applications
• Search CRISP (Computer Retrieval Information on Specific
Projects) for abstracts of funded projects that would be
eligible for a supplement opportunities on the NIH website.
• http://www. crisp.cit.nih.gov/
• Contact Institutes (i.e. Program Officers) to learn how
supplements are evaluated/awarded and areas of program
priority; practices and program interests vary
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/grants/supplement.cfm
NIH Loan Repayment Programs
• For health professionals conducting research and the LRP repays up to
$35,000 of educational loans
• Must be U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident
• Must have advanced degree
• Must be affiliated with NIH as postdoc, K awardee, first-time PI on R01, R03,
R21 or U01, or first-time director on certain sub-projects
• More information at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD01-064.html
Extramural Loan Repayment Programs
For health professionals conducting
research in non-profit institutions:
• Clinical Research LRP
• Pediatric Research LRP
• Contraception & Infertility Research
LRP
• Health Disparities Research LRP
• Clinical Research LRP for
Individuals from Disadvantaged
Backgrounds
NIH Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities Research
• Pays off educational loan debt
• Maximum award is $35K per year
• 50% of awards must be made to individuals from health disparities
populations
• Affiliation with NIH is not required
• Once accepted into program, persons must conduct at least two years of
research relevant to health disparities
• http://www.lrp.nih.gov/
Extramural Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for
Individuals from Disadvantaged Background
• Disadvantaged background refers to (1) environment that did not encourage or
prepare person to enroll and graduate from a health professions school or (2) family
was poor
• Two years research service is required
• Maximum of $35K per year paid to lender
• Go to www.lrp.nih.gov
Select National Initiatives Supporting Rationale for Diversity
in Mental Health Research Careers
• Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (1999).

Translating Behavioral Science into Action: A Report of the National
Advisory Mental Health Council’s Behavioral Science Workgroup
(1999).

Ensuring a Strong U.S. Scientific Technical, and Engineering
Workforce in the 21st Century, Report of the National Science and
Technology Council (2000).


Addressing the Nation’s Changing Needs for Biomedical and
Behavioral Scientists, Report of the National Research Council (2000).
Public Law 106-525, the Minority Health and Health Disparities
Research and Education Act of 2000.
Select National Initiatives Supporting Rationale
for Diversity in Mental Health Research Careers (Cont’d)

An Investment in America’s Future: Racial and Ethnic Diversity in
Mental Health Research Careers; A Report of the National Advisory
Mental Health Council’s Workgroup on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in
Research Training and Health Disparities Research, (2000).

Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity; A Supplement to Mental
Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, (2001).

Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health
Care; A Report of the Institute of Medicine, (2002).

The NIH Strategic Plan and Budget to Reduce and Ultimately Eliminate
Health Disparities (2001 and 2004 interim).
Rationale for Racial and Ethnic Diversity


Declining birth rate and aging of current scientific workforce: racial
and ethnic minorities grow from 26% to 48% of the census by 2050.
Immigration conduit is becoming unreliable due to home nations’
efforts to attract native scientists working abroad (H1-B Visa).

National Research Council and National Science and Technology
Council reports recommend increased use of racial and ethnic
minority groups to fill scientific workforce shortages.

Pedagogical outcomes generated by diversity enrich the learning,
research, and healthcare environments.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Mental Health Research Careers, A Report of the National Advisory
Mental Health Council’s Workgroup on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Research Training and Health
Disparities Research, (2000).
NIMH 1999 Funding Outcomes:

African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians submitted 5.2% of
the applications received by NIMH with 3.9% funded.

Asian American and Pacific Islanders submitted 5.2% of the
applications to NIMH with 5.5% funded.

NIH funded 32% and NIMH funded 27% of competing research
applications.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Mental Health Research Careers, A Report of the National Advisory
Mental Health Council’s Workgroup on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Research Training and Health
Disparities Research, (2000).
NIMH Five-Year Strategic Plan for Reducing Health Disparities
Reducing health disparities requires multiple approaches;
therefore, the NIMH Health Disparities Strategic Plan
encompasses these four Areas of Emphasis:
1) Increase the knowledge base by which disparities are
documented and understood.
2) Improve outcomes of interventions and services
through research.
3) Expand institutional research infrastructures,
research training, and career development.
4) Enhance public information outreach and dissemination.
OSP Activities: Health Disparities Research

Ascertain that IRG memberships are diverse and possess
expertise needed to evaluate research in minority
populations/communities

Facilitate development of ways to accurately measure
extent of mental health disparities

Find ways to augment role of pharmacogenetic and
pharmacokinetic studies in health disparities

Facilitate conduct of basic behavioral research on cultural
differences in stress and coping

Facilitate behavioral research on cultural differences in
resilience

Facilitate efforts to overcome health disparities related to
health service delivery and use
OSP Activities: Health Disparities Research

Facilitate research on health disparities related to treatment response,
adherence, outcome, and quality

Facilitate research on suicide/depression and other severe mental
illness in minority populations

Facilitate effective implementation and dissemination of preventive
interventions for HIV/AIDS

Co-fund health disparities research and behavioral research at minority
serving institutions

Determine extent and outcomes of existing health disparities research
in NIMH.
NIMH OSP Vision
During the next five years OSP aspires to develop and implement
research policies and programs that increase the Institute’s emphasis
on the mental health needs of women, racial and ethnic minorities,
rural populations, and persons of Low-SES;
In that regard, we will diligently encourage programs of basic and
applied social and behavioral research on the prevention, causation,
treatment, and cure of mental illnesses that are disparately prevalent
among women, racial and ethnic minorities, rural populations, and
persons of Low-SES;
We will champion the use of goals, objectives, action plans, and
performance outcomes as were work to reduce the burden of mental
illness for all Americans.
Guiding Principles of OSP Operations
The principle business of NIMH is to support investigator initiated
research and to train investigators to carry out the NIMH mission.
Therefore OSP endeavors to:
Promote and use science to increase knowledge about the prevention,
causation, treatment, and cure of mental illnesses.
Reduce the under representation of special populations in the research
arena to eliminate disparities and improve the health of all Americans.
Disseminate valid and reliable knowledge to reduce the burden of
mental illness for people in general and special populations
specifically.
Partner with ICs to assure effectiveness and efficiency, leverage
resources, and provide quality stewardship of the public’s resources.
Office of Rural Mental Health Research
Mandated By Congress In 1991
Senate Appropriations Committee Directed NIMH to Expend
$10.5 Million for Rural Mental Health Research and an
additional $4.5 Million for Rural Native American and
Alaska Native Research each Fiscal Year
Office of Rural Mental Health Research
Annual Expenditures (Millions of Dollars)
1991 - $10 MILLION
1996 - $32 MILLION
1992 - $22 MILLION
1997 - $24 MILLION
1993 - $17 MILLION
1998 - $25 MILLION
1994 - $ 25 MILLION
1999 - $ 27 MILLION
1995
2000 - $ 34 MILLION
$ 28 MILLION
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 -
$33 MILLION - 91 GRANTS
$30 MILLLION - 79 GRANTS
$33.9 MILLION - 97 GRANTS
$34.5 MILLION - 75 GRANTS
$32.4 MILLION - 65 GRANTS
Office of Rural Mental Health Research
Recent Initiatives to address:
The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Final Report
“Achieving the Promise” Transforming Mental Health Care in America, July
2003”
Goal 3: Disparities in Mental Health Service are Eliminated
3.1 Improve access to quality care that is culturally competent.
3.2 Improve access to quality care in rural and geographically remote areas.
Goal 6: Technology is used to Access Mental Health Care and Information
6.1 Use health technology and telehealth to improve access and coordination
of mental health care, especially for Americans in remote or in underserved
populations.
6.2 Develop and implement integrated electronic health record and personal
health information systems.
Office of Rural Mental Health Research
During 2004-2005 scientific meetings were conducted to address these aims:
Aim #1: Develop and implement plans to study the efficacy, effectiveness,
and efficiency of eMental Health (use of telecommunications) as a
way to improve access to specialized mental healthcare in rural,
remote, and isolated populations
Aim #2
Determine if the face-to-face therapeutic process translates via
eMental Health
Aim# 3: Determine if individualized (culturally appropriate) care can be
delivered through eMental Health models
The scientific meetings were conducted in these locations and hosted/cohosted by:
Boulder City, CO (NIMH);
Salt Lake City, UT(NIMH);
Memphis, TN (NIMH and University of Tennessee Medical School, Memphis;
Austin, TX (NIMH);
Davis, CA (NIMH and UC Davis Medical School (S. Aquilar-Gaxiola),
California Endowment & Telemedicine eHealth Center.
Rural Mental Health Care
Summary
Much has been learned about the severity of the
problem and barriers to rural care. Thus our Office
has focused on interventions to enhance the
delivery of mental health care to this population
Studies Needed to Address Rural/Urban Disparities in Use,
Quality, and Outcomes of Care
Rost, Fortney, et.al. (Medical Care Research and Review, 2002) analyzed
studies conducted between 1993 to 2000 and their findings informs us
that these questions about rural populations should be addressed:
What Is the quality of care received by the severely mentally ill?
How do total out-of-pocket expenditures differ for rural/urban
residents?
What role has managed care played in the delivery of mental health
care?
How can rural residents be encouraged to enter mental health care
treatment?
Stigma in small towns is a major deterrent to seeking care and/or
remaining in care, what methods can be used to overcome stigma?
Studies Needed to Address Rural/Urban Disparities in Use,
Quality, and Outcomes of Care
Can quality of rural care be enhanced by modifying
successful urban models?
Can mental health care be delivered at least as effectively
through telecommunications as it can in a face-to-face
encounter?
Our Funding Opportunity Announcement is available on the
NIMH Website at
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-061.html
For further information please contact
Anthony Pollitt, Ph.D.
Office of Rural Mental Health Research
301-443-2847
Apollitt@mail.nih.gov
Actions To Promote Diversity in Mental Health Research

Seek and disseminate current information to your constituents.

Prepare/mentor/support a colleague/family member to submit research
or research training applications.

Participate in and encourage others to participate in clinical trials.

Pursue complete information on clinical trial results for all participants.

Advocate for support of your research interests.
Take-Home Message
• Communicate
– with NIH staff
– with potential collaborative investigators
– with institutional administrators
http://www.nih.gov
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
• Rmays@mail.nih.gov
Determining OSP Successes
1. Increased involvement in Institute mission and activities
2. Compliance with NAMHC Work Group Action Plan
a. Track trainee outcomes;
b. Establish a national mentorship network;
c. Concentrate more new resources at post-doc and beyond;
d. Encourage and strengthen networks and partnerships;
e. Support efforts to strengthen scientific review groups; and
f. Annually review Action Plan and report to Council
3. Compliance with NIMH Five-Year Plan Strategic Plan
4. Compliance with Individual Employee Performance Plans
Specific Focus Areas - To be successful OSP must:
Serve as the Institute’s (Director and Advisory Council’s) subject matter expert for all
Special Population matters:
Participate in Senior Leader meetings; review all nominations, scientific publications,
policy statements, and programmatic ventures;
At least annually inform the National Advisory Council on the state of the Institute;
Prepare the Strategic Plan, reports to Congress; and lead the Institute’s Health
Disparity initiative
Train current/future scientists to meet the challenges/needs of Special Populations
Inform the public in plain language; and support Scientific Review Group Expertise
Monitor Recruitment and Retention Plans; and conduct population tracking
Incorporate Languages Other Than English into the research agenda
Current and Future NIMH Collaborative Areas
Conduct joint efforts to increase the participation of
under represented groups in research.
Share expertise in planning health disparity research meetings.
Collaborate on clinical trial recruitment and retention strategies.
Support (co-fund) undergraduate research training in the co-occurring
diseases such as drug abuse and mental illness.
Share Scientific Review Group rosters to reduce the burden on
overworked individuals.
Share senior mentorship rosters to enlarge the target pool.