Initial Funding Research Articles

Introducing Five New Cancer Grand Challenges Teams.

Cancer Grand Challenges is an international funding initiative that aims to unite the world's best scientists to tackle some of cancer's toughest problems by funding team science on a global scale. Here, we discuss the five newly funded teams and the challenges they will address over the coming years.

Portfolio analysis of global tobacco control research funding at the National Cancer Institute, 2000-2019.

Research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the majority of global tobacco users reside, is critical to addressing the global tobacco epidemic. This analysis describes the global tobacco control research portfolio funded by the National Cancer Institute from fiscal years 2000 to 2019. We used the National Institutes of Health Query, View, Report database to identify extramural grants relevant to global tobacco control research. Abstracts were analyzed to describe grant characteristics, including topic areas, tobacco products, countries, and regions of focus. Bibliometric and co-authorship network analyses were performed for publications associated with relevant grants. Of the 93 relevant grants with foreign (non-US) involvement, the majority (83.9%) supported research in upper and lower middle-income countries. The majority of grants (86.0%) focused on cigarettes, with a small subset of grants addressing smokeless tobacco, waterpipe use, or other non-cigarette products. Most grants focused on at least one of the six tobacco control policy measures in the World Health Organization MPOWER package; almost half (48.4%) focused on monitoring tobacco use and around one-third (32.3%) focused on offering tobacco cessation treatment, while other MPOWER measures received less attention in the research portfolio. While most of these grants, and the funding initiatives that supported them, emphasized research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), only 3 of 93 grants were awarded directly to LMIC-based institutions. There is a critical need for research to develop and test strategies to adapt, implement, and scale up evidence-based interventions across diverse LMIC settings. This study identified gaps in research activity that should be addressed to strengthen global tobacco control research capacity.

Results of Two Non-Market Valuation Methods Used to Estimate Recreational Fishing in the Lakes Prespa Watershed

Using both the travel cost and contingent valuation methods, a case study of Lakes Prespa was utilized to assess the demand functions for carp and non-carp angling separately. An on-site survey questionnaire was used to collect the data, which was completed in 2019. The results showed that when travel costs and bid amounts are higher or when anglers are traveling in larger groups, they travel less frequently. On the other hand, the number of trips is positively correlated with income, angling experience, the use of a motorized boat, the number of trips taken to other sites, and retirement. The mean daily consumer surplus values for carp and non-carp anglers were calculated to be €7.24 and €4.33, respectively, using the trip cost method, and €7.83 and €4.61 using the contingent valuation method. Regardless of the method of valuation utilized, carp anglers' consumer surplus was more than 1.7 times that of non-carp anglers, demonstrating that ordering in fish species values is robust to valuation methods. Furthermore, the convergent validity of the two techniques was identified. The results will help fisheries managers make more successful and resource-efficient fishing decisions, as well as policymakers justify funding initiatives targeted at managing and protecting this resource.

Transnational cultural networks: soft mechanisms for cultural diversity and frictionless mobility

ABSTRACT Transnational networks in the cultural sector have expanded significantly in Europe over the last three decades. Nevertheless, although this phenomenon is fuelled by the EU’s cultural policy and corresponding funding initiatives, there is a noticeable lacuna in the academic literature on this issue. This article, therefore, examines the emergence and institutionalisation of these networks, shedding light on: 1) the relationship between networks’ evolution and the EU’s cultural policy discourse, and 2) networks and the Europeanisation process. To this end, the study employs a document analysis and uncovers three distinct policy clusters, with a shift from a transnational European identity to one of cultural diversity and a people-centered approach. These outcomes lead to an investigation of whether and how these discursive shifts are interconnected with the development of transnational networks. This conclusively reveals how their implementation is intricately linked not only to the foundational tenets of the EU’s cultural policy – the subsidiarity principle, but also to the broader context of EU policymaking. The article concludes that EU intervention in the cultural sector can be justified as a discursive agent in the evolving European public sphere, with significant implications for professionals, policymakers and scholars in the field.

Exploring the long-term sustainability of school-based nutrition and food programs: What works, where and why?

Most food and nutrition programs cease within 2 years. Understanding the determinants of program sustainability is crucial to maximise output from funding, whilst allowing sufficient time for program benefits to be achieved. This study applied the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to map the barriers and enablers of successful long-term implementation of school-based nutrition and food programs. Qualitative methods with purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit experts who were identified as being influential in implementing and sustaining long-term (>2 years) school-based food and nutrition programs. Semi-structured interviews with global experts were conducted, transcribed verbatim and coded deductively (by applying the CFIR constructs) and inductively when required. Thematic analysis informed the development of themes. Interviews were conducted with 11 experts including researchers, government employees, and a consultant of an international agency, from seven countries. Forty-eight deductive codes and eight inductive codes identified six main themes: (1) funding and integrity of its source; (2) political landscape; (3) nutrition policies and their monitoring; (4) involvement of community actors; (5) adaptability of the program and (6) effective program evaluation. Themes related mainly to the 'outer setting' domain of the CFIR. The CFIR highlighted pertinent factors that influence the successful long-term implementation of school-based food and nutrition programs. SO WHAT?: The findings suggest that to sustain program implementation beyond its initial funding, relationships across government departments, local organisations and communities, need to be nurtured and prioritised from the outset.

‘We can do much more and better’: understanding gatekeepers’ perspectives on students’ linguistic human rights

As a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been incorporated into domestic policy, Iceland has a legal obligation to respond to children’s linguistic human rights in schools. Increasing language diversity is addressed in both policy and practice, informed by the inclusive education principles that underpin the ideology of the Icelandic school system. A thematic analysis of the perspectives of four school principals and four directors of school support services, working in four different municipalities, reveals tensions between stakeholders’ understandings of children’s rights, school responses to diverse languages, and state accountability towards children’s linguistic human rights. Application of Tomaševski’s 4As framework (availability, accessibility, acceptability, adaptability) suggests the need for increased human rights education and funding for local rights-based initiatives and monitoring. The study contributes to policy and practice aimed at addressing language diversity as a human rights concern.

FedEx awards $300,000 as part of annual Entrepreneur Fund initiative.

FedEx awards $300,000 as part of annual Entrepreneur Fund initiative.

Clinical significance and main parameters promoting the breast‑feeding strategy (Review).

Breastfeeding provides numerous nutritional and immunological benefits, promotes neurological and cognitive development, and protects against chronic and infectious diseases, rendering it beneficial to the survival and well-being of infants. According to international recommendations, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months. However, despite global health recommendations and funding initiatives, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low worldwide. A number of studies attribute the low rates to factors that can be grouped into demographic, psychosocial, economic and midwifery factors, and outline the profile of each mother who opts to exclusively breastfeed her infant. In addition, the number of previous pregnancies, induced labor, the use of epidurals at birth or the possibility of the newborn being delivered prematurely, and the need for admission to an intensive care unit are the factors that reduce the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. Further research is required to understand the factors influencing the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding, as international interventions have been ineffective. The aim of the present review was to provide an up-to-date summary of these various factors in an aim to assist health care professionals and policy makers in developing effective interventions with which to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding.

Bill would designate federal funds for problem gambling initiatives

Proposed legislation that has been introduced in both houses of Congress would establish the first dedicated stream of federal funding for gambling addiction treatment, prevention and research. Supporters of the measure acknowledged that the effort to pass it likely will extend beyond the current session of Congress, given an overall lack of movement on new legislation and the reality of a national election this year.

Dialogue for peace: the production of knowledge and norms between international practices and local ownership in Ukraine

ABSTRACT This article scrutinises an attempt by Ukrainian dialogue practitioners to produce a set of norms guiding the conduct and funding of dialogue initiatives as a means of peacebuilding in post-2014 Ukraine. Drawing on critical constructivist approaches to the study of norm creation and transfer, the article uncovers the interplay between local and international actors behind this attempt, traces the processes of knowledge and norm production, and examines the extent to which the norms advocated for by dialogue practitioners were appropriated by the affected stakeholders. The study challenges the conception of local actors as receivers of internationally promoted norms and showcases the agency of Ukrainian dialogue practitioners in norm initiation. Simultaneously, it nuances the complex interconnectedness between the multiplicity of domestic and international actors involved in this process and thus adds to the literature questioning the oversimplification embedded in the dichotomy of the local vs. the international in peace research.

Benefits Trafficking: human trafficking of older adults and adults with disabilities.

An emerging type of trafficking is targeting overlooked at-risk adults. Benefits Trafficking is the systematic recruitment, harboring, neglect, and financial exploitation of elder and disabled adults who receive government benefits such as Social Security, Veteran's Benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare. Traffickers often pose as kind-hearted individuals offering to provide care for at-risk adults in an in-home setting. Once recruited, at-risk adults are stripped of their government benefits, held against their will, moved from location to location, and denied basic needs such as food, clothing, and adequate shelter. While Benefits Trafficking is a basic civil rights violation issue, it is also a growing public health issue. Victims of Benefits Trafficking are often the forgotten at-risk adults who have fallen through the cracks of various mental health systems, are unhoused, and no longer have a social support system in place. This area of human trafficking is unresearched and its prevalence is largely unknown outside of the few entities working in this space. This paper focuses mainly on raising awareness of Benefits Trafficking and suggestions for future funding and research initiatives.

The need for communication between researchers and policymakers for the deployment of bioengineered carbon capture and sequestration crops

Bioengineered/genome-edited carbon capture and sequestration (BE/GEd-CCS) crops are being developed to mitigate climate change. This paper explores how technology, regulation, funding, and social implications, could shape the development and deployment of these crops. We conclude that some of the technological efforts to create BE/GEd-CCS crops may work. Still, stakeholders must agree on generally accepted methods of measuring how much carbon is captured in the soil and its value. The regulatory space for BE/GEd-CCS crops remains fluid until the first crops are reviewed. BE/GEd-CCS crops have received considerable initial funding and may benefit financially more from other federal programs and voluntary carbon markets. BE/GEd-CCS crops may continue perpetuating social equity concerns about agricultural biotechnology due to a lack of oversight. We argue that stakeholders need to pursue a multidisciplinary view of BE/GEd-CCS crops that draw in varying perspectives for effective development and deployment. Communication is needed between researchers and policymakers involved in either developing BE/GEd-CCS crops or developing voluntary carbon markets. We argue for the start of a conversation both across disciplines and between researchers and policymakers about the development and deployment of BE/GEd-CCS crops.

AN INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS AFFECTING SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY OF THOHOYANDOU SAPS

By observation part of the management and employees at Thohoyandou lack the understanding on their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the talent management strategy. Therefore, the study is initiated primarily to investigate the factors affecting the successful implementation of the talent management strategy at Thohoyandou SAPS. The researchers have adopted a qualitative research approach by employing a non-probability purposive technique to conduct this research. The sampling technique used in this research was a non-probability purposive technique to collect data within the selected unit of analysis.The study found out that Thohoyandou SAPS faces a number of challenges in successfully implementing a talent management strategy. The unsuccessful implementation of the talent management strategy at Thohoyandou SAPS has had a negative effect on the performance of the station. The SAPS top management as well as the Thohoyandou SAPS management should fund initiatives that enhance individual competencies which will enable the station to implement the talent management strategy successfully, and improve the stations performance. KEYWORDS: Talent management strategy and knowledge transfer

Funding projects for sustainable agriculture and resource-efficient practices

The funding of projects for sustainable agriculture and resource-efficient practices is essential for addressing environmental concerns, enhancing productivity, and ensuring long-term food security. This abstract outlines the importance of such funding initiatives, highlighting their potential impact on agricultural sustainability and resource management. Investing in sustainable agriculture projects promotes the adoption of practices that minimize environmental impact, such as precision farming, organic farming, and agroforestry. These practices contribute to soil health, biodiversity conservation, and water resource management while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and chemical inputs.

Philanthropy’s Role in Catalyzing New Uses for Approved Treatments

Foundations, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, and other philanthropic organizations are frequently involved in supporting drug development. Cures Within Reach, a US-based nonprofit leader of testing already approved therapies for new indications in unsolved diseases, has been providing seed funds for first-in-human clinical trials for over 15 years. Philanthropy plays a critical role in risk mitigation of investigator-initiated trials, funding proof-of-concept, pivotal clinical trials as well as later-stage trials. Efforts such as these are complementary to the pharmaceutical industry’s portfolio life cycle management and complementary to governments’ funding of translational medicine initiatives. Results from smaller, earlier trials provide the data needed for industry, government agencies, and others to fund the larger confirmatory trials. Together, these data build evidence for publication, allow clinicians to make their own decisions with their patients (off-label use), or support regulatory approval by the regulatory agencies. In addition, these efforts are not a question of commercial opportunity via intellectual property versus charity, as these are not mutually exclusive—and often are not yet clearly known at earlier clinical trial stages.

СУЧАСНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ЗАЛУЧЕННЯ ФІНАНСУВАННЯ СОЦІАЛЬНИХ ІНІЦІАТИВ

The article discusses the development and establishment of crowdfunding as a modern technology for raising funds for the implementation of social projects and initiatives. The term "Crowdfunding" should be understood as a model of collective financing or collective cooperation of a large number of people who voluntarily pool their financial and other resources, mainly via the Internet, to support projects, organizations, other people, etc. The results of the study confirmed the conclusion that funding for social initiatives is decreasing not only in Ukraine but also abroad; the main reasons for this decrease are changing priorities in activities, financial problems of donors, etc. In the context of war, the main advantages of the crowdfunding model of fundraising, compared to traditional ones, include the following: the ability to accumulate a significant amount of resources from a large number of investors, the ability to determine the areas of expenditure more broadly, the speed of receiving funds, greater transparency of information about investment objects, accountability and responsibility of companies to the community of investors or donors, the presence of social impact, and the possibility of wider use of digital tools. Therefore, one of the current challenges is the formation and development of networks of crowdfunding platforms in Ukraine, based on the principles inherent in international platforms. The study reveals the dependence of the development of civic engagement and crowdfunding, in particular, it shows that the public manifests social initiatives through charitable and volunteer actions (targeted actions), as well as through the development of industry clusters (social enterprises), advocacy coalitions, etc. It is noted that financing through crowdfunding platforms allows accumulating not only financial assets, but also human capital in the form of a combination of skills and knowledge, developing the cultural capital of the local community; promotes social cohesion. It is emphasized that the implementation of social initiatives is more effective if the level of public trust in these projects and their actors increases.

Risk and Sustainable tourism resilience in the Post Economic Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic period

The study aims to explore the resilience and adaptation of the tourism sector during economic and health crises, with a focus on specific events and their impact. The main objective is to contribute with valuable insights to the ongoing discourse on crisis management and sustainable practices within the tourism industry. Thus, it presents the dynamics of the tourism sector's resilience and adaptability amidst challenges, spotlighting the repercussions of the 2008–2012 economic crisis and the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Through a theoretical analysis of tourism risk, the research asserts the industry's susceptibility to exogenous hazards, emphasizing the multi-level risks spanning from individual businesses to the broader tourism landscape. The study shows the distinct characteristics that differentiate the 2008–2012 economic-financial crisis, highlighting globalization's intricate interdependencies, and the consequential impact on public finances. Amidst these challenges, the tourism sector faced a notable reduction in tourist numbers, nights spent in accommodations, and a fluctuating percentage of international tourists. However, a detailed examination reveals the industry's resilience strategies during the economic crisis, as tourists, while adjusting behaviour, continued to engage in travel with altered preferences, prompting the sector to adapt and survive. Shifting focus to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study unfolds a sector witnessing unprecedented challenges ranging from business closures and mass unemployment to financial losses. The global decrease in tourist arrivals echoes the profound impact of travel restrictions and the obligatory vaccination certificate. Analyzing the resilience of the tourism sector during the pandemic, the study explores the aftermath of decreased visitor numbers, a substantial hit to the sector's economic contribution, and the liquidation of numerous small and medium-sized enterprises. The article also sheds light on anti-crisis measures and strategies adopted during the pandemic, including EU funding initiatives and policy recommendations. Throughout, the study implicitly underlines the importance of adaptive strategies and policy interventions for sustained resilience in the tourism sector, providing valuable insights for policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers dealing with challenges imposed by economic and health crises.

$278 million cut in BRAIN Initiative funding leaves neuroscientists in limbo

$278 million cut in BRAIN Initiative funding leaves neuroscientists in limbo

Consumer Protection in Property Buying and Selling: Case Study of PT Developer Properti Indoland

Buying and selling property using pre-project selling concept is a strategy to obtain initial capital to start a property project. Pre-project selling is a strategy in which a property developer sells part of his property before the project is completed. Pre-project selling can help developers to obtain initial funding and to anticipate financial risks. The pre-project selling strategy can also help developers to increase project attractiveness and increase investor confidence. However, pre-project selling also has some disadvantages, especially for consumers, including standard clauses that force consumers to follow the provisions of the developer whose practice often contradicts both Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection and Law Number 1 of 2011.

What neuroscientists should know—and what they can do—about changes to BRAIN initiative funding

What neuroscientists should know—and what they can do—about changes to BRAIN initiative funding