A snapshot of translational research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH): A case study using behavioral and social science research awards and Clinical and Translational Science Awards funded publications.

The translation of biomedical research from basic knowledge to application has been a priority at the National Institute of Health (NIH) for many years. Tracking the progress of scientific research and knowledge through the translational process is difficult due to variation in the definition of translational research as well as the identification of benchmarks for the spread and application of biomedical research; quantitatively tracking this process is even more difficult. Using a simple and reproducible method to assess whether publications are translational, we examined NIH R01 behavioral and social science research (BSSR) awards funded between 2008 and 2014 to determine whether there are differences in the percent of translational research publications produced by basic and applied research awards. We also assessed the percent of translational research publications produced by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program to evaluate whether targeted translational research awards result in increased translational research. We found that 3.9% of publications produced by basic research awards were translational; that the percent of translational research publications produced by applied research awards is approximately double that of basic research awards (7.4%); and that targeted translational research awards from the CTSA program produced the highest percentage of translational research publications (13.4%). In addition, we assessed differences in time to first publication, time to first citation, and publication quality by award type (basic vs. applied), and whether an award (or publication) is translational.

Evaluation of a mid-career investigator career development award: Assessing the ability of OppNet K18 awardees to obtain NIH follow-on research funding.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) K18 award mechanism provides funded opportunities for established investigators to gain knowledge in fields outside of their primary disciplines, but outcomes associated with these awards have not been evaluated to date. NIH's Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Opportunity Network (OppNet) is one of the few initiatives that has used this award mechanism. We explored how the unique features of K18 awards affect the ability of recipients to obtain follow-on NIH research funding. We compared outcomes (ability to obtain follow-on funding and interval between receipt of the primary award and receipt of the first follow-on award) associated with OppNet K18 awards to findings from evaluations of other NIH career development (K) awards, which usually target early-career investigators. We hypothesized that K18 award recipients might be (1) more successful than are other K award recipients in obtaining follow-on NIH research funding due to their career experience or (2) less successful due to the competing demands of other projects. By analyzing follow-on NIH research awards and interview data, we found that OppNet K18 award recipients were at least as successful as were other K award recipients in obtaining follow-on funding and may have been more successful by certain measures. K18 awards produce their outcomes with a lower investment per investigator than do other K awards, suggesting continued or enhanced use of the mechanism.

Low socioeconomic status and body mass index as risk factors for inflammation in older adults: conjoint influence on C-reactive protein?

BACKGROUND: Low socioeconomic status and high levels of body mass are two risk factors for elevated C-reactive protein, a biomeasure signifying inflammation. Though past research identifies the additive effect of these particular risk factors, this study examines their interactive effects to uncover whether body mass index exacerbates or levels the detrimental consequences of occupying a disadvantaged social position. METHODS: This study employs a representative survey of American adults, aged 57-84 years, using self-reported and laboratory measures. Additive and multiplicative linear regression models are used to analyze logged C-reactive protein levels (mg/l) drawn from assayed blood samples. RESULTS: Significant negative interactions were observed between body mass index and two indicators of low socioeconomic status on C-reactive protein, reflecting a cross-over effect. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated the importance of a multiplicative model for studying risk factor accumulation and identify low socioeconomic status as an early and primary risk factor for elevated C-reactive protein.

The use of dried blood spot sampling in the national social life, health, and aging project.

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the methods used for and issues associated with collection and analysis of dried blood spot (DBS) samples for the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project and provides the basic distributions of the resulting analytes. METHODS: DBSs from capillary finger sticks were collected by nonmedically trained interviewers from 2,044 individuals, aged 57-85 years. The quality and quantity of DBS samples were evaluated to allow for analysis of interviewer performance. Levels of C-reactive protein, antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus, hemoglobin, and glycosylated hemoglobin were assayed using various analytic methods. RESULTS: Cooperation rate for DBS collection was 84.5%, with 99% of the cards yielding enough sample for at least one analysis. The distribution, mean, and standard deviation of the analytes obtained from DBSs are also presented in this paper. CONCLUSIONS: The high cooperation rate and quality of the spots collected suggest that the collection of DBSs in population-based research is a feasible and viable alternative to venous blood draws. The relative ease of sample collection, transport, and storage are significant benefits. Care should be taken, however, when comparing results from analysis of DBS samples with those obtained from serum or plasma samples.

Measures of chronic conditions and diseases associated with aging in the national social life, health, and aging project.

OBJECTIVES: This paper presents a description of the methods used in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project to detect the presence of chronic conditions and diseases associated with aging. It also discusses the validity and distribution of these measures. METHODS: Markers associated with common chronic diseases and conditions of aging were collected from 3,005 community-dwelling older adults living in the United States, aged 57-85 years, during 2006. Dried blood spots, physical function tests, anthropometric measurements, self-reported history, and self-rated assessments were used to detect the presence of chronic conditions associated with aging or of risk factors associated with the development of chronic diseases. RESULTS: The distribution of each measure, disaggregated by age group and gender, is presented. CONCLUSIONS: This paper describes the methodology used as well as the distribution of each of these measures. In addition, we discuss how the measures used in the study relate to specific chronic diseases and conditions associated with aging and how these measures might be used in social science analyses.

Menstrual cycle characteristics and predictability of ovulation of Bhutia women in Sikkim, India.

Although a woman's menstrual history can have significant implications for health outcomes, few studies have examined menstrual cycle variability in non-western, non-clinically based populations. This study presents menstrual cycle characteristics from Bhutia women living in Gangtok, Sikkim, India. The Bhutia are one of two indigenous populations residing in this small, northeastern state of India. A total of 1067 cycles were recorded by 200 Bhutia women over the course of 12 months. Mean cycle length in this population was similar to reported mean cycle lengths for populations in the U.S (30 days vs. 28 days). Menstrual cycles in this sample were highly variable with most women experiencing more than one short or long menstrual cycle. The frequency of irregular menstrual cycles experienced by individuals also varied significantly by season. A body mass index (BMI) above or below the WHO defined normal range was associated with higher rates of irregular cycles. Leutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were also determined from urine samples collected just before mid-cycle, based on median cycle lengths. Although menstrual cycles in this sample were highly variable, median cycle length was still useful in predicting timing of the pre-ovulatory hormone surges of LH and FSH. Frequency of irregular cycles did impact the successful capture of the LH and FSH peak values.

Incorporating psychosocial health into biocultural models: preliminary findings from Turkana women of Kenya.

This paper investigates the potential benefits and limitations of including psychosocial stress data in a biocultural framework of human adaptability. Building on arguments within human biology on the importance of political economic perspectives for examining patterns of biological variation, this paper suggests that psychosocial perspectives may further refine our understanding of the mechanisms through which social distress yields differences in health and well-being. To assess a model that integrates psychosocial experiences, we conducted a preliminary study among nomadic pastoralist women from northern Kenya. We interviewed 45 women about current and past stressful experiences, and collected anthropometric data and salivary cortisol measures. Focus group and key informant interviews were conducted to refine our understanding of how the Turkana discuss and experience distress. The results suggest that the most sensitive indicators of Turkana women's psychosocial experiences were the culturally defined idioms of distress, which showed high concordance with measures of first-day salivary cortisol. Other differences in stress reactivity were associated with the frequent movement of encampments, major herd losses, and direct experiences of livestock raiding. Despite the preliminary nature of these data, we believe that the results offer important lessons and insights into the longer-term process of incorporating psychosocial models into human adaptability studies.