Request for Applications

Released: January 27, 2003
Applications due: February 24, 2003; Extended to March 24, 2003

Background

The John M. Eisenberg Memorial Lectureship on Therapeutics Research was established under the auspices of the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) program. The purpose of the lectureship is to extend the reach of the CERTs network into a broader array of academic medical centers in the United States. Specific objectives for the lectureship include the following:

Complement CERTs aim to increase awareness of the benefits and risks of new, existing or combined uses of therapeutics through education and research.
Educate future leaders about the academic discipline of therapeutics research.
Provide CERTs leaders with a forum to share their work and the value of therapeutics research.
Highlight the importance of applying CERTs research in clinical practice, to the training of health professional students (e.g. medicine, nursing and pharmacy) and to influence thought leaders.
Increase understanding about the CERTs program and public-private partnerships.

CERTs Program. The mission of the CERTs program is to conduct research and provide education that will advance the best use of therapeutics (drugs, medical devices, and biological products). In particular, the CERTs program seeks to increase awareness of the benefits and risks of new, existing, or combined uses of therapeutics, and thereby improve the effectiveness and safety of their use.

Seven centers, a coordinating center, a steering committee, and numerous partnerships with public and private organizations make up the CERTs program. Each center focuses its educational and research efforts on therapies in a particular population or therapeutic area.

Duke University - therapies for disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
Principal Investigator: Judith Kramer, MD, MS (judith.kramer@duke.edu)
HMO Research Network - use, safety, and effectiveness of therapies, using health plans' defined populations, providers, delivery systems, and data.
Principal Investigator: Richard Platt, MD, MSc (richard.platt@channing.harvard.edu)
University of Alabama at Birmingham - therapies for disorders of the joints and bones.
Principal Investigator: Kenneth G. Saag, MD, MSc (ksaag@uab.edu)
University of Arizona - drug interactions, particularly in women.
Principal Investigator: Raymond L. Woosley, MD, PhD (woosleyr@u.arizona.edu)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - therapies for children and adolescents.
Principal Investigator: William H. Campbell, PhD (bill_campbell@unc.edu)
University of Pennsylvania - therapies for infection.
Principal Investigator: Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH (bstrom@cceb.med.upenn.edu)
Vanderbilt University - improving therapeutics in high-risk populations, e.g. Medicaid, VA.
Principal Investigator: Wayne A. Ray, PhD (wayne.ray@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu)

Additional information about the work of the centers can be found on the CERTs web site (http://www.certs.hhs.gov/centers/index.html). Links to individual center web sites are also available through this site.

Description of Program

Select investigator(s) from each of the seven CERTs centers will give a John M. Eisenberg Memorial Lectureship on Therapeutics Research (Eisenberg Lectureship) at academic medical centers chosen through a formal selection process. A paper summarizing the material presented in the lectures will be prepared by the respective CERTs centers.

Applications. Applications for an Eisenberg Lectureship will be open to all U.S. academic medical centers, with graduate degree programs that have an emphasis in therapeutics, except for those with a funded CERTs center. An original application should be sent electronically to Rene Hamilton (hamil036@mc.duke.edu) no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, March 24, 2003. Late arrivals will not be accepted.

Applications should include the following information:

Applicant organization and contact information.
Anticipated impact of the lecture(s) within organization.
Proposed lecturer(s) from a CERTs center.
While it is anticipated that the Principal Investigator may be the desired presenter, each center has a number of leading researchers who could present their work. For additional information about the researchers and their work, you may view the work of centers through the CERTs web site and individual web sites, and/or contact Principal Investigator(s) at the above indicated email address.
Proposed topics, audience(s) and schedule to be covered within the lecture(s).
A lectureship can extend over 1 or 2 days. A two day lectureship, for example, could involve a) at least one grand rounds format lecture; b) a plan for including relevant educational groups on campus: medical school, public health school, pharmacy school, nursing school; and c) a meeting with trainees in health services research to discuss research issues in a discussion format. Applicants are encouraged to include opportunities for multiple health professional programs to participate in the lecture(s).

Examples of program topics may include the following:
- Therapeutics research: What is it and where does it fit in the overall research endeavor in the U.S.?
- Issues involved in balancing benefits and risks of new therapeutic products.
- Drug labels: Where do they come from and why should they matter to health care practitioners?
- Novel approaches to improving the safety of therapeutics in the future.
Budget for expenses associated with the lectureship program.
An award of up to $2,000 will be granted for each lectureship. The submitted budget must be adequate to support the lectureship design and must be justified. Allowable expenses include, but are not limited to, promotion of lectureship, rental of necessary audiovisual equipment, local travel, meals and receptions associated with the lectureship. Indirect costs will not be allowed. Awards will be made to the sponsoring organization, not to individuals or to departments. The costs of travel and the time of the speaker will be covered via a separate grant to the CERTs center.

Applications must be no longer than five single-spaced pages, with a 12 pt. font size and with a 1 inch margin on all sides. Applicants are encouraged to contact Leanne Madre, JD, MHA, Program Director of the CERTs Coordinating Center for additional information. Phone number (919) 668-8354; email address madre005@mc. duke.edu.

Selection. Eisenberg Lectureships will be awarded to seven academic medical centers (hosting organizations) to invite a CERTs leader for teaching and professional exchange. Selection of lectureships will be made by the CERTs Steering Committee through a peer-review process. The following criteria will be used for evaluating applications:

Potential of the proposed lecture(s) to educate current and future researchers about the value and use of therapeutics research.
Potential of the lecture(s) to provide health professional students and fellows with an understanding of applying CERTs research in clinical practice.
Reasonableness of the proposed budget in relation to the proposed objectives and lectureship schedule and activities.

Responsibilities of Hosting Organization

Each hosting organization will agree to work with the designated PI or key presenter to schedule the lecture(s) to occur prior to December 31, 2003.
Each hosting organization will make appropriate logistical arrangements, such as promotion, local transportation, for the lecture(s).

Important Dates

January 27, 2003 - Request for proposal released.
March 24, 2003 - Proposals due.
April 2003 - Announcement of awards.
December 31, 2003 - Lectures completed.

Sponsorship

The John M. Eisenberg Memorial Lectureship on Therapeutics Research is supported through an independent educational grant from Pfizer Inc. The program proposal was prepared and the program will be administered by the CERTs Coordinating Center at Duke University Medical Center.

As a public-private partnership program, the CERTs welcomes proposals from other organizations for sponsorship of similar or other educational activities to be carried out through the CERTs program.

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