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ASHA New Investigator grants

American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation

2008 Research Grant Competition for New Investigators

Funding Available for Seven Grants

Funding Enhancement Available from ASHA Special Interest Divisions 2, 3, 4, and 13

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFOUNDATION) invites new researchers to submit proposals in competition for one of seven research grants of $5,000.00 each.  The grants are designed to help further research activities of new investigators and should have
particular clinical relevance to audiology and/or speech-language pathology.  Proposals, while
not limited in topic, are encouraged in the area of treatment efficacy and outcome studies.

For 2008, the ASHFoundation will offer a supplemental funding program to selected new Investigator grants through four American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Divisions:

- Division 2:  Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders

This grant supplement will be awarded in memory of Dr. Carol Frattali for her extraordinary dedication and contributions to the Division and to the area of neurogenic communication disorders.

-  Division 3:  Voice and Voice Disorders

-  Division 4:  Fluency and Fluency Disorders

-  Division 13:  Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders

Investigators who choose to submit a proposal in any of these content areas may elect to have their proposal considered for a special $2,000.00 grant supplement.  The supplement is intended to enhance the research proposed in the Foundations New Investigator competition.  For example, these funds have been used in the past to purchase additional materials or equipment, to run additional subjects, or to provide assistantship support.  Eligible researcher who wish to be considered for this additional funding supplement must complete the Special Interest Division Research Grant Supplement Form included in the guidelines.  A panel appointed by each Division will review Foundation-funded proposals and may select one or more that merits this supplement.

All research grant recipients will be announced and recognized at the November 2008 ASHA Convention in Chicago, IL.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive one of the 2008 ASHFoundation Research Grants individuals must meet the following criteria:

- The individual must have received a masters or doctoral level degree within the past five year, between 2003 and 2007

NOTE:  Due to the availability of other student research grant and scholarship competitions through the ASHFoundation,

Students enrolled in a degree program are ineligible for this award.

- The individual must not have received prior funding for research, with the exception of internal university funding.

- The proposal must be for research to be initiated.

Number of Grants Being Made

Up to seven research grants of $5,000 each will be given in November 2008.

Instructions

Providing that all of the above eligibility criteria are met, the individual should prepare a research proposal following the attached Guidelines for Preparation of Proposals.  http://www.ashfoundation.org/NR/rdonlyres/CF4DACD2-7650-4C73-A015-409714BB0C72/0/08NIRG.pdf

The applicant should provide a letter of application addressed to Grant Review Committee.  Indicate briefly why you are pursuing the proposed study, the specific aims of the proposed research, and ;how the project fits into your career development plan.  Include, as
appropriate, information relative to your research interests and activities to date.  Specifically indicate how your institution will support your research efforts.

Submit the original application form with all accompanying documents and six additional complete sets of the original packet to the address shown below.  Please attach each individual packet with paperclips, do not use staples.  The ASHFoundation must receive these seven assembled packets no later than May 9, 2008.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation 2008 Research Grant Competition for New Investigators
2200 Research Blvd. #105
Rockville, MD  20850-3289
Attention:  Emily Diaz

In addition to hard copy submissions, applicants should transmit an electronic version of the entire proposal (Guidelines Sections 1-9) to newinvestgrants.@ashfoundation.org.  A PDF file is preferred but a Word or Rich Text File is also acceptable.  Please place the title NIRG proposal in the subject box.  This process will enable expert grant reviewers using an NIH-study section process to access investigator submissions.

No extensions will be granted beyond the May 9 deadline and FAX copies will not be accepted.  Confirmation that your application has been received will be sent by email if you include an email contact address.

Clinical Research in Communication Disorders Grant Competion

American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation

Clinical Research in Communication Disorders 2008 Research Grant Competition

Deadline for Receipt of Applications: June 2, 2008

Nature of the Competition

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) invites investigators to
submit proposals in competition for up to four grant awards to support investigators who are pursuing clinical research. These grants will advance our knowledge of the efficacy of treatment and assessment practices in speech-language pathology and audiology. Priority will be given to proposals investigating promising approaches that have potential for improving the everyday
functioning of individuals with, or at-risk for, communication and related impairments.

The ASHFoundation is able to offer this special competition as a result of a contribution from the
ASHA Board of Directors of $600,000 in honor of the ASHFoundations 60th Anniversary. These
funds are meant to further the goal of building capacity within the discipline for investigators to
develop and evaluate evidence-based practices.

The research grants are intended to support new research ideas and directions for investigators.
Priority will be given to prospective experiments likely to progress to randomized clinical trials with
potential to compete for federal funding. These grants are not intended to provide additional or
extended support for an investigator already supported through extramural funds for this line of
research. However, proposals will be considered if a new investigator is proposing to join a research team to develop a treatment efficacy project that holds promise for subsequent funding of the applicant. Grants are expected to be accomplished in one or two years with a range of $50,000 - $75,000 in funding.  Applicants may propose start dates that are in line with the conduct of the proposed research.

Deadline for receipt of applications and proposals is June 2, 2008.  Selection of recipients will be
completed in November of 2008. Funds will be disbursed corresponding to the proposed project
period. Potential applicants should read the section on eligibility carefully and, upon determining that all criteria are met, follow application procedures on page 4.

Grant Mechanisms

This grant initiative seeks to increase the number of investigators pursuing efficacy research and to improve their competitiveness for long term extramural support.  Investigators at different stages of their careers may apply for support for efforts ranging from innovative, small scale treatment studies of practices undergoing development or refinement to preliminary studies of well-developed (e.g., comprehensive treatment manual) treatments to demonstrate feasibility
for randomized control trials.  Projects proposing to evaluate assessments being developed or adapted to meet the needs for measuring outcomes in clinical trials also will be considered.

Support mechanism options are:

1. Mentored treatment research projects maximum $50,000
2. Independent treatment research projects maximum $75,000 for two years
3. Collaborative treatment research projects maximum $50,000

http://www.ashfoundation.org/NR/rdonlyres/CCC06EB4-E0AE-4FDE-B236-A5F3FBE10655/0/08ClinicalResearchGrant.pdf

Summer Camp Information

In anticipation of the need for some parents to find appropriate summer camps for their children
with apraxia, we have compiled a list of programs which may be appropriate for children with
apraxia and related issues. We have only included camps that are holding sessions this summer.
If you are interested, please contact the camp to find out if it is suitable for your child’s particular needs.

Anderson Speech Consultants Speech Summer Camp in Ontario
Burlington, Ontario
Day Speak and Ride Camp combines horseback riding with speech therapy
Contact:Deborah Anderson, M.A., SLP-CCC(C), Reg. CASLPO at asc100@on.aibn.com or (905)639-9219
http://www.AndersonSpeech.com

Building Bridges Camp
Boulder Creek, California
Overnight camp for AAC users
Contact:   http://www.bridgeschool.org/about/about_contact.html or (650) 696-7295
http://www.bridgeschool.org/camp.html 

Discover Camp is a resource for parents of children with disabilities selecting a camp for their child.

Success Comes In All Sizes

Poem:  Maternal Equinox

For the ones with special needs