Research Award Research Articles

CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS AT NIA/NIH

Abstract NIA offers a variety of individual research career development (K) awards, which enable scientists to enhance their careers in biomedical research. Mentored career development (K) awards are effective tools at retaining investigators in research careers and contributing to their subsequent research success. Specifically, those who receive K awards are significantly more likely to have subsequent research publications and to apply for subsequent NIH research awards. In this presentation, Dr. Carranza will review different K programs offered at NIA, including those targeted at postdocs, early career faculty, and more senior faculty, as well as clinician-science focused awards.

Online Learning for Dual-Index Policies in Dual-Sourcing Systems

Problem definition: We consider a periodic-review dual-sourcing inventory system with a regular source (lower unit cost but longer lead time) and an expedited source (shorter lead time but higher unit cost) under carried-over supply and backlogged demand. Unlike existing literature, we assume that the firm does not have access to the demand distribution a priori and relies solely on past demand realizations. Even with complete information on the demand distribution, it is well known in the literature that the optimal inventory replenishment policy is complex and state dependent. Therefore, we focus our attention on a class of popular, easy-to-implement, and near-optimal heuristic policies called the dual-index policy. Methodology/results: The performance measure is the regret, defined as the cost difference of any feasible learning algorithm against the full-information optimal dual-index policy. We develop a nonparametric online learning algorithm that admits a regret upper bound of [Formula: see text], which matches the regret lower bound for any feasible learning algorithms up to a logarithmic factor. Our algorithm integrates stochastic bandits and sample average approximation techniques in an innovative way. As part of our regret analysis, we explicitly prove that the underlying Markov chain is ergodic and converges to its steady state exponentially fast via coupling arguments, which could be of independent interest. Managerial implications: Our work provides practitioners with an easy-to-implement, robust, and provably good online decision support system for managing a dual-sourcing inventory system. Funding: This work was supported by the Amazon Research Award. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0323 .

Psi Chi/APA Edwin B. Newman Graduate Research Award.

The Psi Chi/APA Edwin B. Newman Graduate Research Award is given jointly by APA and Psi Chi for the best paper published or presented by a graduate student at the APA or Psi Chi convention or at any regional or state psychological association meeting held between January 1 and December 31 of the previous calendar year. For purposes of the award, research is broadly defined to include all forms of empirical psychology, such as experiments, correlational studies, historical studies, case histories, and evaluation studies. The Edwin B. Newman Graduate Research Award was established in 1979. The award was established to recognize researchers at the beginning of their professional lives and to commemorate both the 50th anniversary of Psi Chi and the 100th anniversary of psychology as a science (dating from the founding of Wundt's laboratory). It was named for Edwin B. Newman, the first national president of Psi Chi (1929) and one of its founders. He was a prolific researcher and a long-time chair of the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. Newman was a member of APA's Board of Directors, served as recording secretary of the board from 1962 to 1967 and was parliamentarian for the APA Council of Representatives for many years. He served both Psi Chi and APA in a distinguished manner for half a century. The Psi Chi/APA Edwin B. Newman Graduate Research Award is given jointly by APA and Psi Chi. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Speech for Intelligent cognition change tracking and DEtection of AD (SIDE‐AD) Research Program: SIDE‐AD

AbstractBackgroundThere is emerging evidence that speech could be a potential indicator and manifestation of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Symptomatic AD may change an individual’s language, especially certain elements in speech such as elaboration and attribution. Therefore, the University of Edinburgh and Sony Group Corporation are collaborating within the Sony Research Award Program to create the SIDE‐AD study which aims to develop digital speech‐based biomarkers technology for AD. The study is designed to assess disease status in the pre‐dementia stages in a real‐world at‐risk population in Brain Health Services.MethodSIDE‐AD is an observational longitudinal study developing speech biomarkers for use in neurodegenerative disease. Participants are recruited from Brain Health Services in Scotland with data collection starting in spring 2023. In the context of the SIDE‐AD study, we have developed a secured online data collection infrastructure for collecting voice data by prompting individuals to record a voice sample talking about their brain health. Individuals are asked to rate their mood, anxiety and apathy. The baseline speech biomarkers will be compared to the follow‐up visit’s speech recordings as well as to other variables from routinely collected health care data. The SIDE‐AD study will employ signal processing and machine learning technologies to automate the assessment of the respondents’ speech.ResultThe objective of the SIDE‐AD study is to recruit participants (n = 150) across the AD spectrum. The developed infrastructure will be used to collect data of participants with an objective of analysing baseline speech markers in relation to self‐reported mood, anxiety and apathy as well as clinical outcomes from patients’ health care records.ConclusionThe SIDE‐AD study is carrying out research and development of a speech‐based application recording data on individuals’ self‐perceived brain health. A secured online data collection infrastructure is developed to collect speech data with an objective to analyse speech data in combination with routinely available clinical data in Brain Health Clinics, enabling real world validation of speech‐based digital biomarkers for the early detection of AD. We plan to use automatic speech recognition and acoustic patterns for the automatic assessment of brain health status relevant to emergent AD‐specific speech biomarkers.

The methodology of the Agile Nudge University.

The Agile Nudge University is a National Institute on Aging-funded initiative to engineer a diverse, interdisciplinary network of scientists trained in Agile processes. Members of the network are trained and mentored in rapid, iterative, and adaptive problem-solving techniques to develop, implement, and disseminate evidence-based nudges capable of addressing health disparities and improving the care of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias (ADRD). Each Agile Nudge University cohort completes a year-long online program, biweekly coaching and mentoring sessions, monthly group-based problem-solving sessions, and receives access to a five-day Bootcamp and the Agile Nudge Resource Library. The Agile Nudge University is evaluated through participant feedback, competency surveys, and tracking of the funding, research awards, and promotions of participating scholars. The Agile Nudge University is compounding national innovation efforts in overcoming the gaps in the ADRD discovery-to-delivery translational cycle.

Varenicline for smoking cessation in individuals who smoke cigarettes and use electronic cigarettes: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

The efficacy and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation among individuals who smoke tobacco cigarettes and also use electronic cigarettes (known e-cigarettes or vapes) have not been studied. We aimed to address this knowledge gap and examine predictors for smoking abstinence. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre randomised trial in Italy, we enrolled adults who had used an e-cigarette daily for at least 12 months and who also smoked at least one tobacco cigarette per day and had a willingness to quit smoking. 155 participants were randomly assigned to receive either varenicline (n=78) or matched placebo (n=77). Varenicline (1mg, administered twice daily for 12 weeks) was given in combination with smoking cessation counseling in dual users with an intention to quit smoking. Participants in both treatment groups received the same smoking cessation counselling throughout the whole duration of the study. The trial consisted of a 12-week treatment phase followed by a 12-week follow-up. The primary efficacy endpoint was continuous abstinence rate (CAR) in weeks 4-12. Secondary efficacy endpoints were the CAR in weeks 4-24 and 7-day point prevalence of smoking abstinence at weeks 12 and 24. This study is registered in EUDRACT, 2016-000339-42. Between November 2018, and February 2020, 114 participants (61 in the varenicline group and 53 in the placebo group) completed the intervention phase at week 12 and 88 participants (52 in the varenicline group and 36 in the placebo group) completed the follow-up phase at week 24. CARs were significantly higher for the varenicline vs placebo at each time-point: 50.0% vs 16.9% (OR=4.9; 95% CI, 2.3-10.4; P<0.0001) between weeks 4 and 12; and 48.7% vs 14.3% (OR=5.7; 95% CI, 2.6-12.3; P<0.0001) between weeks 4 and 24. The 7-day point prevalence of smoking abstinence was also higher for the varenicline than placebo at each time point. Adverse events were rated as mild or moderate and rarely led to treatment discontinuation. Our findings indicate that inclusion of varenicline in a cessation programme for adults who smoke and use e-cigarettes with an intention to quit smoking could result in smoking abstinence without serious adverse events. In the absence of evidence from other smoking cessation methods, it could be useful to suggest the use of varenicline in cessation programmes specifically designed to help dual users stop smoking. Further research in larger and more generalisable populations is required to strengthen such a suggestion. Global Research Award for Nicotine Dependence, an independently reviewed competitive grants programmeme funded by Pfizer.

Trends in research grant applications and outcomes among medical students in the United Kingdom: a national self-reported cross-sectional survey.

Research funding disparities contribute to clinical academic workforce inequalities. Hence, our study explores the association between student demographics and research grant application rates and outcomes among UK medical students. This is a national multicentre cross-sectional survey of UK medical students in the 2020-21 academic year. Multiple zero-inflated negative binomial regression and generalized linear model (binomial distribution; logit link) were utilized to investigate the association between student demographics, number of grant applications submitted, and successful grant applications (yes or no). P-values less than a Bonferroni-corrected significance level of 0.05/36 = 0.0014 were considered to be statistically significant. A total of 1528 students participated from 36 medical schools. One hundred fifty-one respondents (9.9%) had applied for research grants. Black students submitted applications 2.90 times more often than white students [Incident rate ratio (IRR): 2.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37-6.16], with no ethnic disparity in the odds of successful applications. Gender did not influence application rates significantly (P = .248), but women were 4.61 times more likely to secure a grant than men [odds ratio: 4.61, 95% CI: 2.04-10.4]. Being a PubMed-indexed author was associated with increased grant application submission rates [IRR: 3.61, 95% CI: 2.20- 5.92] while conducting more research was associated with greater odds of securing a grant [odds ratio: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.17- 1.73]. Although black students submitted more applications, ethnicity did not influence success rates. Gender did not influence application rates, but women were more successful. These findings underscore the need for strategies supporting women and underrepresented students for continued academic achievement after graduation. What is already known on this topic Research funding for post-PhD researchers is believed to be a major driver of gender and ethnic inequalities in the clinical academic workforce.Students who receive research grants are more likely to receive postgraduate research grants.What this study adds Black students applied for more research grants than white students, but there were no ethnic differences in the odds of securing a grant.There were no gender differences in the research grant application rates. However, female students had greater odds of securing research grants compared to male students.How this study might affect research, practice or policy Medical schools should incorporate grant writing skills into the undergraduate research curriculum. Also, to sustain women's academic success post medical school, the NIHR and affiliates should provide research award extensions and childcare support for women when required.

Congratulations to the 2023 Excellence in Research and Presidential Scholar Award Winners

Congratulations to the 2023 Excellence in Research and Presidential Scholar Award Winners

Invited Symposium 1: Traumatic Brain Injury: Highlighting the Contributions of Dr. Harvey S. Levin Ph.D., ABPP-CN, FACSM 1946 - 2022

Invited Symposium 1: Traumatic Brain Injury: Highlighting the Contributions of Dr. Harvey S. Levin Ph.D., ABPP-CN, FACSM 1946 - 2022

Abstracts of A Presentation by the winners of The Japanese Society of Pathology, Pathology Research Award in 2023 (in program order).

Abstracts of A Presentation by the winners of The Japanese Society of Pathology, Pathology Research Award in 2023 (in program order).

11 Contributions of Cardiovascular Burden, Peripheral Inflammation, and Brain Integrity on Digital Clock Drawing Performance in Non-Demented Older Adults

Objective:Higher cardiovascular burden and peripheral inflammation are associated with small vessel vascular disease, a predominantly dysexecutive cognitive profile, and a higher likelihood of conversion to vascular dementia. The digital clock drawing test, a digitized version of a standard neuropsychological tool, is useful in identifying cognitive dysfunction related to vascular etiology. However, little is known about the specific cognitive implications of vascular risk, peripheral inflammation, and varying levels of overall brain integrity. The current study aimed to examine the role of cardiovascular burden, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity on digitally acquired clock drawing latency and graphomotor metrics in non-demented older adults.Participants and Methods:The final prospectively recruited IRB-consented participant sample included 184 non-demented older adults (age: 69±6 years, education: 16±3 years, 46% female, 94% white) who completed digital clock drawing, vascular assessment, blood draw, and brain MRI. Digital clock drawing variables of interest included: total completion time (TCT), pre-first hand latency (PFHL), digit misplacement, hour hand distance from center, and clock face area (CFA). Cardiovascular burden was calculated using the revised version of the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP-10). Peripheral inflammation was operationalized using interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The brain integrity composite was comprised of bilateral entorhinal cortex volume, bilateral ventricular volume, and whole brain leukoaraiosis.Results:Over and above age and cognitive reserve, hierarchical regressions showed FSRP-10, inflammatory markers, and brain integrity explained an additional 13.3% of the variance in command TCT (p&lt; 0.001), with FSRP-10 (p=0.001), IL-10 (p= 0.019), and hsCRP (p= 0.019) as the main predictors in the model. FSRP-10, inflammatory markers, and brain integrity explained an additional 11.7% of the variance in command digit misplacement (p= 0.009), with findings largely driven by FSRP-10 (p&lt; 0.001).Conclusions:Overall, in non-demented older adults, subtle behavioral nuances seen in digital clock drawing metrics (i.e., total completion time and digit misplacement) are partly explained by cardiovascular burden, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity over and above age and cognitive reserve. These nuanced behaviors on digitally acquired clock drawing may associate with an emergent disease process or overall vulnerability.Funding sources: Barber Fellowship; K07AG066813; R01 AG055337; R01 NR014810; American Psychological Foundation Dissertation Award; APA Dissertation Research Award

PEREGRINATIONS ON THE STUDY OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF NONSPHERICAL PARTICLES

PEREGRINATIONS ON THE STUDY OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF NONSPHERICAL PARTICLES

Announcement: Call for IPMA Research Awards

Announcement: Call for IPMA Research Awards

We Would Like to Announce the Winners of the 2022-2023 Small Group Research Awards: 2022-2023 Small Group Research Best Reviewer Award

We Would Like to Announce the Winners of the 2022-2023 Small Group Research Awards: 2022-2023 Small Group Research Best Reviewer Award

Awards in pathology-aman's world?

Awards provide their recipients with fame and recognition, and subsequently facilitate publications and acquisition of external funding through increased visibility. We hypothesize that despite increasing representation in pathology, women are underrepresented as awardees in the German Society of Pathology and consequently there is an associated imbalance between genders. Published data from the German Society of Pathology on female awardees during the period from 2000 to 2022 were examined. Only awards specifically dedicated to the field of pathology were considered. In addition, the publicly available data of the German Medical Association on gender and age distribution of pathologists in Germany were considered as reference material. Atotal of six different awards were included in the analysis. Among the 143 awardees across 150 individual awards in the period from 2000 to 2022, 55(38.4%) of the awardees were female compared to an average percentage of 31% of women working in the field of pathology in the 23-year period under consideration. Consequently, female awardees in pathology were not underrepresented when compared to the national figures on the proportion of women in the field of pathology. However, the distribution of female awardees across individual awards suggests that women were increasingly represented in less prestigious research and doctoral awards, while men made up alarge proportion of awardees of honorary awards (0% women) and prestigious awards (17% women).

Kateryna Pozharska is the winner of the 2023 Joseph F. Traub Information-Based Complexity Young Researcher Award

Kateryna Pozharska is the winner of the 2023 Joseph F. Traub Information-Based Complexity Young Researcher Award

NIH-supported implementation science and nutrition research: a portfolio review of the past decade.

This portfolio analysis aims to describe the scope of NIH-funded extramural research grants at the intersection of nutrition research and implementation science (IS) from 2011 to 2022 and to offer insights into future research opportunities relevant to the Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research 2020-2030. A portfolio analysis of funded grants using NIH reporting systems was conducted to identify nutrition research and IS awarded between fiscal years 2011 and 2022. The authors screened the titles and abstracts for inclusion criteria: research and career development awards involved a nutrition and/or dietary intervention and measured a stated implementation outcome or used an IS theory, model, or framework. In total, 33 NIH-funded awards met the inclusion criteria. Almost half of the awards (48.5%) were investigator-initiated research projects compared to research career awards and cooperative agreements. While studies were predominantly conducted in the United States, 15.2% were conducted in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Adults aged 19-64 years and children aged 2-11 years represented most of the study populations (45.5 and 15.2%, respectively). Studies provided nutrition/dietary guidelines and created culturally tailored interventions, which were then adapted in collaboration with community partners in schools, hospitals, and religious settings. The most cited IS outcomes were feasibility, costs, adoption, and acceptability. Sixteen awards (48.5%) used an IS theory, model, or framework to guide their work. The findings show the breadth of NIH-funded nutrition and implementation research and highlight potential research opportunities.

American College of Surgeons: Owen H Wangensteen Scientific Forum Excellence in Research Awards 2023.

American College of Surgeons: Owen H Wangensteen Scientific Forum Excellence in Research Awards 2023.

Sixty years of the Colworth Medal

The Colworth Medal is an esteemed annual award for outstanding research by a young biochemist of any nationality who has carried out the majority of their work in the UK or Republic of Ireland. Donated in 1963 by Unilever Research Colworth Laboratory, the award is made to an early career scientist who is within 10 years of receiving their highest qualification. Interviews with past winners from 1963 to 2013 were previously published throughout 2013. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Colworth Medal, interviews with our latest winners have been included in The Biochemist throughout 2023. In this final issue, we will hear from Dr Melina Schuh (2019), Dr Tanmay Bharat (2022) and Professor Stephen Wallace (2023).

An Interview with Gail Murphy - 2023 SIGSOFT Awardee

Gail Murphy received the 2023 SIGSOFT Outstanding Research Award for pioneering contributions to recommenders for software engineering and program comprehension that have impacted both theory and practice. She received a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Washington in 1996 (USA), and she is now a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Vice-President of Research &amp; Innovation at the University of British Columbia (Canada). Her research interests are in improving the productivity of software developers and knowledge workers by giving them tools to identify, manage and coordinate the information that really matters for their work.