One of the most difficult tasks of preventive health programs is getting people to change their behavior. Traditional prevention approaches have often attempted to change behavior with "one-shot" interventions such as a single educational session, or one counseling encounter. Not surprisingly, such strategies rarely induce people to behave differently over the long term.

Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) is one facet of promoting better health through behavior change. Since 1995, the Cook County Department of Public Health, through its Division of Communicable Disease, has provided an intensive, long-term intervention aimed at preventing repeat STD infections. The program, "Living a Healthier Lifestyle", is funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

Directed by Gail Grabczynski, MSW, the program uses a variety of methodologies derived from the behavioral sciences. In each seven-month session clients participate in an array of educational, group and counseling experiences which build on each person's unique situation to establish and maintain behavioral and attitudinal changes. Educational content is often structured in the form of "games" to make it more accessible to clients. Skill development and group process are also emphasized.

The clientele are residents of the Cook County suburbs identified as having a history of repeat STD infections, or having other characteristics which put them at high risk for repeated STD infections. The Department of
Public Health theorized that by intervening with persons having repeat STD infections the infection cycle arising from "core transmitters" would be interrupted, and spread of infection throughout the community thereby reduced. The program was recently expanded so that about 100 clients can be served every year. 

Pre and post counseling surveys have been used to evaluate the impact of the program. Initial results have shown increased condom use and decreased STD reinfection after completing the program. Participants also showed some significant lifestyle changes, including increased employment, school enrollment and GED testing, increased willingness to adopt behavior modification, and interest in acting as peer counselors. These results strongly suggest that this intensive approach to promoting healthier behavior will have long lasting benefits both for the individual clients and for the community as a whole.

New revisions of the federal PHS 398 form (for new grant applications) and PHS 2590 form (for non-competing renewals) should be available in September. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish a notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts announcing the implementation schedule for their use. Implementation is not expected to begin before October at the earliest. The schedule will be announced in this newsletter, and copies of the new forms will be available from the Office of Research Development. Until the revised forms are officially adopted, grant applicants should continue to use the 1995 versions.

If you would like to see advance copies of the new forms, go to:
http://www.nih.gov/grants/funding/advanceforms.htm

There are not very many changes being made in these forms, the most substantive being a new box on the application's face sheet indicating whether the principal investigator is a "new investigator". After the recent discontinuation of FIRST awards NIH pledged to give special consideration in reviewing applications from new investigators. This change in the forms will help highlight those applications deserving special review consideration.

The following are recent publications by investigators affiliated with the Cook County Bureau of Health Services.

Chin G, Weinzweig N, Mead M, Gonzalez M "'Spaghetti wrist': management and results." Plast Reconstr Surg 1998 Jul;102(1):96-102 

Koduri PR "Novel cytomorphology of the giant proerythroblasts of parvovirus B19 infection." Am J Hematol 1998 Jun;58(2):95-99 

Polley JW, Hung KF, Figueroa A, Lakars T, Heiberger H "Alternative techniques in rigid fixation of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton." J Craniofac Surg 1998 May;9(3):249-253 

Reilly BM, Schiff G, Conway T "Primary care for the medically underserved: challenges and opportunities." Dis Mon 1998 Jul;44(7):320-346 

Sherer R "Current antiretroviral therapy and its impact on human immunodeficiency
virus-related wasting." Semin Oncol 1998 Apr;25(2 Suppl 6):92-97 

Stankeviciute N, Sabah S, Singh A, Shaykh M, Bakir AA, Arruda JA, Dunea G "Can total urinary protein measurements predict microalbuminuria?" Am J Nephrol 1998;18(4):285-290 

Tarif N, Dunne PM, Parachuru PR, Bakir AA "Life-Threatening Hematuria from an Arteriovenous Fistula Complicating an Open Renal Biopsy." Nephron 1998 Sep;80(1):66-70 

Walter RJ, Matsuda T, Reyes HM, Walter JM, Hanumadass M "Characterization of acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) prepared by two different methods." Burns 1998 Mar;24(2):104-113

Weinstein RA "Nosocomial infection update." Emerg Infect Dis 1998 Jul;4(3):416-420 
 
 

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[A long-term calendar showing most of the major academic medical society meetings can be found on the web at: http://www.aamc.org/meetings/mjmtgcal.htm] 

The Relationship of Variations in Healthcare and Patient Preferences to Health Outcomes, a conference examining the work of John Wennberg, will be offered October 30, by the University of Chicago. For more information call 773-702-1056.

Financial Ratios: A Picture of Chicago Hospitals, will be presented as part of the Downtown Health Policy Series of the Chicago Health Policy Research Council, September 18. Call 773-702-4335 for more information.

Putting Addiction Research Into Patient Care, a two-day conference in Chicago, will take place October 1 and 2, sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Substance Abuse Policy and the Illinois Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Call 312-747-2606 for more information.

Program Review by the IACUC, is a conference cosponsored by Cornell University and the Office for Protection from Research Risks. It will take place September 24-25 in Ithaca, NY. For more information call 607-255-6290

Medical Liability Seminar, offered by the Defense Research Institute, will be held in Chicago September 24-25. Call 312-944-0575 for more information.

Ethical and Practical Issues Involving the Use of Human Subjects will be held in New Orleans, October 30-31, sponsored by Tulane University Medical Center. For more information call 800-588-5300.
 

Office of Research Development Workshops 

These workshops are open to any County-affiliated investigator or grant-seeker. Enrollment for some sessions is limited, so please register only for those you will be able to attend. 

Grant Writing Seminar:

Gives an overview of the entire process of developing a project and applying for funding. Includes information on approaching both governmental and private funders, describes an approach to developing grant budgets, discusses stylistic and content issues that are frequent stumbling blocks in writing grant applications.

Constructing a Grant Budget:

Covers many of the technical aspects of developing an accurate time line and budget for a grant proposal.

What Are All These Forms? Interacting With the Scientific Committee: 

Gives an orientation to procedures -- and the associated forms -- used by the Scientific Committee to 
ensure that patients are protected from undue risks in research. The Bureau forms will be discussed, and new policies and changes in federal regulations will be covered.

To register for any of these, call Bennetta Anderson at 312-633-4941. If you would like to schedule one or more of these workshops in your Department or at another site, please call Karen Smith at 633-4940. 
 
 
 
 

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To have the NIH Guide sent automatically to your e-mail address every week, click on the LISTSERV link on this page and follow the instructions.

To ask specific questions about NIH grant programs, send e-mail to: grantsinfo@nih.gov 
 

These are one time only opportunities. Call 312-633-4940 to check for due dates or to get copies of full announcements

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN THE GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CANCER
(RFA CA-98-018 National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Aging

GENETIC BASIS OF COMPLEX BEHAVIORS (PA-98-097) National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

FLEXIBLE SYSTEM TO ADVANCE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR CANCER DRUG
DISCOVERY BY SMALL BUSINESSES (RFA CA-98-022)National Cancer Institute

SMALL ANIMAL IMAGING RESOURCE PROGRAMS (RFA CA-98-023) National Cancer Institute

SPECIALIZED COOPERATIVE CENTERS PROGRAM IN REPRODUCTION RESEARCH (RFA HD-98-013) National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

TUBERCULOSIS ANTI-MICROBIAL ACQUISITION AND COORDINATING FACILITY
(RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-99-05) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

TUBERCULOSIS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SUPPORT (RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-99-17)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF IMAGING IN THERAPEUTIC STUDIES (RFA CA-98-024) National Cancer Institute

NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARD - INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING AWARDS (RFA DE-98-010) National Institute of Dental Research

PEDIATRIC STUDY CENTERS (PSC) FOR A MRI STUDY OF NORMAL BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT (RFP NIH-NINDS-98-13) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

MICROBIOLOGICAL TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING (RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-99-16) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

CLINICAL TRIALS OF THE NEW ANTIPSYCHOTICS (RFI NIMH-98-RFI-01) National Institute of Mental Health

SPECIALIZED PROGRAM OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN OVARIAN CANCER (RFA CA-98-008) National Cancer Institute

TRAINING FUTURE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL RESEARCHERS (RFA MH-99-001)
National Institute of Mental Health

NICHD STUDY OF EARLY CHILD CARE: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD PHASE (RFA HD-98-016) National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

TREATMENT AND BIOLOGY SECTION (RFP NCI-CM-97016-30) National Cancer Institute

ANIMAL MODEL TESTING OF TUBERCULOSIS DRUGS (RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-99-15) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

UNCONVENTIONAL INNOVATIONS PROGRAM National Cancer Institute

STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION TO ESTABLISH ALLOCHIMERISM (RFA HL-98-022)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AS THE HIV SANCTUARY (RFA NS-99-002) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institute of Mental Health

SPECIALIZED PROGRAM OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN OVARIAN CANCER
(RFA CA-98-008) National Cancer Institute
 

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NIH PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS 
(PA'S): These are ongoing funding priorities, with due dates usually October 1, February 1 and June 1 of each year. Note that HIV-related applications are due January 2, May 1 and September. Past PA's, many of which are still open, can be searched at the NIH Guide web site.
 

NEW DIRECTIONS IN PAIN RESEARCH: I (PA-98-102) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Dental Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Nursing Research, Office of Research on Women's Health

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE (PA-98-098)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Mental Health

CORRELATIVE STUDIES USING SPECIMENS FROM MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL
TREATMENT TRIALS (PA-98-099) National Cancer Institute

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE DRUG DISCOVERY RESEARCH ON OPPORTUNISTIC
INFECTIONS (PA-98-100) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Cancer Institute
 

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE DRUG DISCOVERY RESEARCH ON OPPORTUNISTIC
INFECTIONS (PAR-98-101) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
 
 
 

January 15
RISK ASESSMENT FELLOWSHIPS: FOOD SAFETY, Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture, & American Association for the Advancement of Science (202-326-6700 or http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/stg/cover.htm)

February 1, 1999
HEADACHE RESEARCH, American Association for the Study of headache 9609-423-0043 or http://www.aash.org)

January 8, 1999
SPORTS MEDICINE RESEARCH, American College of Sports Medicine (317-637-9200 or http://www.acsm.org/sportsmed )

November 4
SKIN INJURY TREATMENT, Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (http://www-usamraa.army.mil)

October 1
WOMEN'S PROJECTS, Women Helping Others Foundation (http://www.beauticontrol.com/whof.htm )

Open
PAIN INTERVENTIONS, Mayday Fund (212-649-5800 )
 
 

Open
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS, Norman Foundation (212-230-9830, or http://www.normanfdn.org )

February through June, and September through October each year
CHILDREN"S PROGRAMS, Whitney Houston Foundation (201-944-3858 or http://www.whfoundation.com )

Open
INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS, Center on Crime, Communities and Culture (212-548-0135 or http://www.soros.org/crime )

November 16
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, Environmental Protection Agency (202-260-8619)

October 1
INFECTIOUS CAUSES OF CHRONIC DISEASES, Centers for Disease Control (888-GRANTS4, refer to announcement 99003, or http://www.cdc.gov )

October 1
NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR INFECTIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE, Centers for Disease Control (888-GRANTS4, refer to announcement 99012, or http://www.cdc.gov )

November 10
OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH, Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (301-619-2036 or http://mrmc-rad6.army.mil )

December 15 and June 15
PARALYSIS RESEARCH, American Paralysis Association (201-379-2690 or http://www.apacure.com/guide98.html )

October 28
AIRBORNE PARTICULATE MATTER , Environmental Protection Agency (202-564-6913 or http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/rfa/alpmcent.html )

January 15
CRITICAL CARE NURSING, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Physio-Control AACN Small Grants Program 9949-362-2000 or http://www.aacn.org )

Open
ALCOHOLISM PREVENTION AND EDUCATION, Christopher D. Smithers Foundation (516-676-0067 or http://aaw.com/smithers )

Open
AIR QUALITY RESEARCH, National Science Foundation (202-260-9182 or http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm )

December 18
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, Department of Education (202-260-9182 or http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm )

October 1
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, Life Sciences Research Foundation (609-258-3551 or http://lsrf.molbio.princeton.edu/ )

September 15 and March 1
CANCER PREVENTION, Cancer Research Foundation of America (703-836-4412 or http://www.preventcancer.org)
 

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