The National Institutes for Health (NIH) Population Research Infrastructure Program provides resources to support and advance research that will improve understanding of the antecedents and consequences of population structure and change, to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among investigators conducting population-related research and in allied fields, and to promote innovative approaches to population research questions. An additional goal is to facilitate interaction among scientists in locations throughout the United States that contributes to the integration and coordination of population research.

Applicants may request support in the following categories: (1) Research Support Cores; (2) Developmental Infrastructure; and (3) Public Infrastructure. Research Support Cores provide shared resources that support the applicant's research program.  Developmental Infrastructure refers to activities that promote the development of new research capabilities. Such activities may lead to outcomes such as innovative projects and approaches, new interdisciplinary collaborations, the scientific development of junior researchers, or the integration of experienced researchers from other fields into population research. Public Infrastructure activities differ from the first two categories of infrastructure support in that they are not solely intended to advance the research program at the applicant institution, but are primarily directed instead at significant external audiences. These audiences may include (but are not limited to) the broad community of population researchers or communities concerned with public policy or health or social programs.

Because MU is limited to one application for this program, letters of intent must be submitted to the Office of Research, 202 Jesse Hall, no later than 5:00 pm Friday, August 19, 2005. Letters of intent should be limited to three pages and include an identification of the category to which an application will be made, identification of potential collaborators, and a concise project summary and budget outline.

URL for more information: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-05-028.html

This notice is being sent to deans, directors, and chairs in social science disciplines. Please forward it to faculty who may be interested.