New NIMH funded training institute invites applications

If you wish to join an exciting learning collaborative of implementation researchers, we invite you to apply to the Implementation Research Institute (IRI). Funded by a five year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this unique interdisciplinary training program will help you launch a research career in implementation science.  The IRI will provide experiential learning, didactic training, faculty mentoring, and support for pilot research and grant writing—all focused on helping participants shape a research project for competitive external funding. 

What is the IRI? The IRI was established to advance the field of implementation science in mental health by enhancing the career development of early to mid-career investigators. Implementation research is the study of processes for integrating empirically supported treatments (ESTs) into usual care, and holds high promise for reducing the gap from treatment discovery to community practice. IRI participants will join a learning collaborative of implementation researchers for two years, spending one week each summer at a week-long institute at the Center for Mental Health Services Research (CMHSR) at Washington University in St. Louis, and receiving individualized mentoring to help them shape a research agenda in implementation science and prepare a competitive research grant proposal. 

Who should apply? We invite applications from ambitious PhD/MD investigators, with demonstrated experience and enthusiasm in the study of mental health services, who wish to conduct ground-breaking research in the area of implementation science. Our 2010 IRI will support a cohort of eight participants, who seek expert mentoring and collaboration to advance their research capacity in areas referenced by NIH PARs on “Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health” PAR-10-038.html. Topics include, but are not limited to, the “uptake” or spread of evidence-based treatments for specific disorders, the implementation of mental health interventions in novel settings, or organizational or policy issues associated with implementation (e.g. cost, legislative initiatives, federal, state, or local policies, organizational climate, provider training). 

IRI benefits. Eight IRI Fellows will be appointed each year for two-year terms. They will join a scholarly network of peer Fellows and IRI faculty with expertise in implementation science. Each Fellow will receive:    

• One week on-site training June 14-18, 2010 and June 2011 at Washington University in St. Louis (travel funds to/from their home institution and St. Louis each June provided).
• Travel support to the annual NIH conference on Dissemination and Implementation Research - first conference would be after the 6/10 IRI.
• Bimonthly, long-distance, mentoring with an expert implementation researcher associated with this Institute to help craft a competitive research proposal in mental health implementation research.
• Travel funds to support each Fellow’s visit, up to 5-days, to the site of a funded implementation research project, relevant to their research interests.
• Pilot project funding for each Fellow’s mentored study of real-world implementation, to shape preliminary studies for their grant application. 

Candidates should have:   

• Graduated from medical school or hold a Ph.D. from such fields as social work, psychology, health services, nursing, anthropology, public health, or management.  Mid-level mental health researchers encouraged to apply.
• Expressed interest in implementation research in mental health.
• Prior or concurrent experience relevant to implementation research such as evidence-based intervention development and/or testing, or mental health services research.
• Prior experience writing a grant for external federal funding, i.e. an NIH F31, R03, R34/R21, K award or R01 application (prior/current external funding preferred).
• A home institution with an on-site mentor who can support of the Fellow’s progress in grant writing and scholarly publication.
• Access to a clinic or service setting willing to serve as a pilot site for the Fellow’s implementation research.           
• The ability and commitment to benefit from all aspects of the Implementation Research Training Institute (see above). 

Application process: The following should be submitted electronically, either as an e-mailed .pdf or a US mailed disk, to be received by 2/28/10:

1. a letter describing your research interest: no more than 3 pages, 12 point font.  Please say how your research relates to the NIH PARs on “Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health”” PAR-10-038.html and the National Institute of Mental Health's Strategic Plan
2. up-to-date C.V.  and your PHS biosketch (2009 or 2010 versions are acceptable)http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html
3. two letters of support showing:

Please watch the video from the 10/6/09 event QUERI Implementation Research Seminar titled: Effectiveness Research and Implementation Research: From Culture Clash to Synergy with presentors Mark Bauer, Geoffrey Curran and Brian Mittman by clicking here.