Transcript Building a Research Agenda

Building a Research Agenda
William Peterson, M.S.
Director, Section 508 PMO
Department of Homeland Security
NIDRR
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Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) includes:
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Rehabilitation Services Administration
(RSA)
Office of Special Education Programs
(OSEP)
National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
NIDRR Mission
To generate, disseminate, and promote
the use of knowledge that will improve the
ability of disabled individuals to perform
activities in the community, and increase
the capacity of society to provide full
opportunities and supports for
participation.
Scope of NIDRR Mandate
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Cross-Disability
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Physical & mobility impairments
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Sensory impairments
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Cognitive impairments and psychiatric disability
Cross-Lifespan
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Children and youth
Working-age adults, and
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Individuals “aging with” lifelong and early onset
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disabilities, and those “aging into” disability in
mid- to later life
Values That Drive Disability and
Rehabilitation Research at NIDRR
Scientific
Excellence
Consumer
Relevance
Millions
NIDRR’s Appropriations History
$110
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$90
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$40
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$0
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05
NIDRR’s Core Research Areas
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Employment Outcomes
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Health and Function
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Technology for Access and Function
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Independent Living/Community Integration
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NEW EMPHASIS ON
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Disability Demographics and Measurement
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Rehabilitation Outcomes Measurement
NIDRR Funding Mechanisms
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Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
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Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers
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Model Systems
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Field-Initiated Projects (Research and Development)
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Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects
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Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training
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Fellowships
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Dissemination and Utilization Grants
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Small Business Innovative Research
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ADA Technical Assistance Centers
Rehabilitation Research and
Training Centers (RRTCs)
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Average $750,000 per year
Five-year awards (35 current centers)
Advanced programs of research
Focus on new knowledge
Affiliation with institutions of higher education
Research training, dissemination, and
technical assistance required
Announcements as needed
Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Centers
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Average $900,000 per year
Five-year awards (21 current centers)
Advanced research of an engineering or
technical nature
Affiliation with institutions of higher education
Emphasis is on technology transfer
Announcements as needed
Model Systems Centers
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SCI Model Systems—currently 16
centers—Funding cycle ends in FY05.
TBI Model Systems—currently 16
centers—Funding cycle ends in FY07.
Burn Model Systems currently 4
centers—Funding cycle ends in FY 07.
Advanced Rehabilitation
Research Training Projects
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$150,000 per year
Advanced rehabilitation research training
at post-doctoral level
Award made to institutions of higher learning
only
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Must be interdisciplinary
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Competed annually if funds allow
Switzer Fellowship Program
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To build rehabilitation capacity by supporting
individuals to engage in scientific research
related to the rehabilitation of individuals with
disabilities
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Currently, 10 Fellowships/year
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Two levels of funding
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Distinguished - $55,000/year
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Merit - $45,000/year
Switzer Fellowship Program
Areas of research
Med. Rehab
Rehab. Ser. Delivery
Total number
44
31
Voc. Rehab.
Rehab. Eng. & AT
Rehab.Psych
29
26
20
Disability Policy
Rehab. Measurement
19
19
Special Education
Other
16
15
Total
219
Section 21 Program
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All NIDRR grantees are required to address the
needs of individuals with disabilities from
minority backgrounds, per Section 350.40 (34
CFR, parts 300 to 399).
Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended, requires that NIDRR reserve 1% of its
annual appropriation to support minority
outreach….
Enhance diversity within the research community
Section 21 Program
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Enhance the ability of researchers to produce high
quality research and generate new knowledge about
the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority
backgrounds
Increase the number of individuals with research
expertise and undertanding of the needs of racial and
ethnic minorities
Promote the establishment of critical partnerships
between minority entities and majority institutions
Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects (DRRPs)
 $300,000-$500,000
 May be up to five years of funding
 Projects that emphasize research,
demonstration, dissemination, technical
assistance, and innovation
Field-Initiated Projects
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$150,000 per year
Three-year awards
May be research or development
Decided by standing panels
Annual announcement, applications
typically due in fall
Challenges
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Unlimited opportunities – limited funding
Finding the “right tool for the right job.”
Shorter lengths of stays
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Appropriate controls
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Loss to follow up
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Poor measures, particularly those related to longterm outcomes and interactions with the environment
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Small sample size
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Inadequate characterization of the inputs
Capacity Building Components
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Individuals with skills to carry out quality
research.
Research infrastructure.
Consumers who can interpret and use
research and who can play an active role
in the research process.
Target Audiences
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Researchers
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Practitioners
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Consumers and family
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Policy makers and the public
Goals of Research Training
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Excellence in research quality, e.g.,
methods, models, and measures
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Research under new conditions
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Participation by persons with disabilities
Goals of Practitioner Training
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Application of research to practice
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Expansion of evidence-based practice
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Interdisciplinary approaches
Goals of Consumer Training
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Understanding value and nature
of research
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Participation, as appropriate, in research
activities
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Ability to interpret and use research results
Allied Health
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24 projects with OT principal
investigators or key staff
28 projects with PT principal
investigators or key staff
19 projects with SLP principal
investigators or key staff
Government-Wide Shift in
Accountability
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Shift from primary focus on:
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Dollars (how much is spent and on what)
Activities and processes (what’s being done
and how well are you doing it)
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Productivity (how much you are doing)
To an expanded focus on:
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Performance (meeting stated objectives and
standards of quality), and
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Results (what you are achieving and who is
benefiting)
Shift in Accountability Is Not an
“Either-Or” Situation
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Rather it amounts to an added dimension of
accountability for results.
Grantees still must meet accepted standards
of practice for:
Conducting scientific research,
engineering design and product
development; and
 Involving consumers and persons
from diverse and underserved
populations.
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Keys to Success in Seeking
NIDRR Funding
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Demonstrate the importance of the
problem
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Provide information on previous research
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Develop methodological approach fully
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Describe how the problem relates to the
lives of individuals with disabilities
Keys to Success in Seeking
NIDRR Funding
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Demonstrate how the proposed research will
improve the lives of individuals with
disabilities
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Read the announcement thoroughly.
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Write to the evaluation criteria.
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Review the proposal thoroughly before you
send it in.
Know the funding agency you are writing to
NIDRR is not NIH
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At NIDRR, there is more emphasis on
consumer relevance and consumer
participation—panels generally have
consumer representatives.
At NIDRR, only the field-initiated program
competition is reviewed by standing
panels; thus, most review panels are
formed for specific competitions.
NIDRR is not NIH
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At NIDRR, a majority of announcements are
generated for specific topics. There is only
one field-initiated competition.
At NIDRR, focus is on applied research;
NIDRR does not fund basic research.
However, NIDRR does fund clinical research
in medical rehabilitation.
At NIDRR, there is considerable focus on
dissemination of research results.
Recommendations
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Visit NIDRR websites for information on
program activities.
Serve as peer reviewer - send CVs to
NIDRR staff.
Visit NIDRR project staff – they have an
open door policy.
Recommendations
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Plan ahead—center grants are very
complicated and cannot be done at the
last minute.
Participate when NIDRR seeks
constituent input.
Seek opportunities to participate in peer
review.
Key Web Sites
NIDRR home page:
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index.
html
National Center for the Dissemination
of Disability Research home page:
www.ncddr.org
National Rehabilitation Information
Center home page:
www.naric.com
Thank You!