• Foundation for Child Development

Two regional seminars covering topics related to NIH extramural program funding and grants administration are planned for 2007. The two-day seminars provide information about the NIH funding process, from opportunity identification and application preparation through post award administration. Presentations are targeted towards research administrators, new and experienced investigators, post docs and trainees. Opportunities for informal interactions between seminar participants and NIH grants management, program, policy, and review staff are incorporated into the program and such interactions are highly encouraged. NIH electronic research administration labs are offered on a day adjacent to the two day seminar. The seminars will be held on:

In 2007-08, the foundation's Community Action Grants program will award one-year and two-year grants.

RWJF is especially interested in providing support to organizations that are outside the formal network of health care providers, such as grassroots organizations, faith-based organizations and advocacy organizations (rather than traditional providers such as hospitals and medical clinics).

Applicants may be either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Vulnerable Populations Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is seeking new community-based approaches to health and health care problems that intersect with social factors-such as inadequate housing, poor education and poverty. We are interested in projects that serve hard-to-reach individuals and families, especially new immigrants and refugees, frail older adults and at-risk adolescents. We are looking for fresh ideas that represent new approaches to the health and health care problems that affect our country's most vulnerable populations. Projects to expand or continue existing programs or services, or to test an existing model in a new community will not be considered for funding.

Grant funds may be used for project staff salaries, consultant fees, data collection and analysis, meetings, supplies, project-related travel, and other direct project expenses, including a limited amount of equipment deemed essential to the project. In keeping with RWJF policy, grant funds may not be used to subsidize individuals for the costs of their health care, to support clinical trials of unapproved drugs or devices, to construct or renovate facilities, for lobbying, or as a substitute for funds currently being used to support similar activities.

In partnering with a community health center or free clinic, the Weinberg Foundation will partially underwrite prescription drug co-payments or the cost of gap medication for low-income, uninsured patients, and will help fund the cost of hiring support staff and case managers to assist these patients in accessing free prescription drugs through patient-assistance programs offered by major pharmaceutical companies. To ensure quality and continuity of care, the foundation will also help pay for diagnostic services and, if required, treatment by a specialist when a referral is made by a primary-care physician or other provider.