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U.S. EPA Aging Initiative List Serve March 2010
- Announcements
- News, Research, Reports and Presentations
- New Resources and Opportunities
- Building Sustainable Communities
- Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
- Intergenerational Activities
- EPA Funding Opportunities
- Other Funding Opportunities
- Public Comments Requested
- 2010 Calendar of Events & Meetings and Call for Abstracts
I. Announcements
American Public Health Association Public Health Week
The 2010 National Public Health Week theme is "Building a Healthier America: One Community at a Time"
The American Public Health Association (APHA) each year raises awareness about public health and prevention. This year's theme is Building a Healthier America: One Community at a Time for the week of April 5-11th.
APHA states that "if every one of us commits to promoting good health in our communities, we can create a ripple effect from coast to coast. Through just one neighborhood that makes its public parks accessible, one municipality that launches a bike-helmet safety program, one group of people who join together to bring fresh foods to school, or one health center that offers a vaccination program, we can create a collage of public health successes across the country. Block by block, let's find these small changes and make them today in our communities. The only way to become a healthier nation is to create healthier communities."
This is an opportunity for those who recognize the need to prepare for our aging society and making a difference to our built environment by implementing smart growth principles. See http://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/index.htm
This is your opportunity to get involved to make your community a healthy place to live. For more information on how to get involved 
Save the date: On Wednesday, March 24
Webinar to Showcase New Online Toolkit on the Housing Needs of Older Adults
Center for Housing Policy and AARP will be holding a webinar on Wednesday, March 24th from 1 - 2 p.m. Eastern time to introduce a new online toolkit that highlights the housing challenges faced by older adults. This toolkit represents an expansion of HousingPolicy.org, the Center's online guide to state and local housing policy, and reflects the growing importance of the housing needs of an aging population. To register go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/494666393
The HousingPolicy.org Toolkit, Strategies to Meet the Housing Needs of Older Adults, will be unveiled on March 24. It is organized into the following three sections:
- Provide accessible, safe, and affordable homes: This first section discusses the importance of providing housing for older adults that is not only affordable but also designed to accommodate a variety of physical abilities. Subsidized housing, universal design and visitability, and the weatherization of homes to improve energy-efficiency and lower utility costs are among the topics covered in this section.
- Improve access to social services and transportation options: A second section highlights the importance of designing communities in a way that allows older adults to access the services they need and want in order to live independently. Communities can facilitate successful aging in place by improving access to social services and providing their older populations with affordable transportation options.
- Support housing models geared to older adults: The third section explores various housing alternatives available to older adults who do not wish to live in a nursing home. Supportive housing and cohousing are among the options discussed.
For more information please contact Emily Salomon at the Center for Housing Policy 202-466-2121 x239 or send an email to esalomon@nhc.org
Save the Date: April 12-14, 2010
National Center for Creative Aging Presents Creativity Matters! Civic Engagement & Garden Symposium
The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) will be holding its latest NCCA-MetLife Foundation Creativity Matters! Symposium with Focus on Civic Engagement Building Communities Through Intergenerational Gardening in Washington, DC on April 12, 13 and 14.
"This symposium will feature workshops and best-practice programs designed to bring together older and younger people through gardening," said Susan Perlstein, M.S.W., the Founder of NCCA and also Director of Special Projects. "Intergenerational programs bring generations together to learn, create and promote awareness, acceptance and understanding. Creative programs such as gardening give seniors the chance to pass on the wisdom and skills gained from a lifetime of experiences while remaining productive and engaged members of society."
For more information or to register visit http://www.creativeaging.org or call (202) 895-9456.
II. News, Research, Reports and Presentations
Administrator Jackson Unveils Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan
US EPA Administrator Jackson released an action plan to guide the Obama Administration's historic efforts to restore the Great Lakes. The action plan was unveiled at a meeting with governors from the Great Lakes states and lays out the most urgent threats facing the Great Lakes and sets out goals, objectives and key actions over the next five years to help restore the lakes.
Some 30 million Americans get their drinking water from the Great Lakes, and the lakes also support a multi-billion dollar economy based on fishing, boating and recreational activities. The lakes face significant challenges, including pollution and the threat of harmful species that threaten their health.
President Barack Obama has committed to making Great Lakes restoration a national priority. In February 2009, President Obama proposed $475 million for a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the most significant investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. The action plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014 and was developed by 16 federal agencies as part of the federal inter-agency task force chaired by Administrator Jackson, will help guide the administration's efforts to implement this historic initiative to restore and protect this natural and economic treasure. More information on the full plan: http://www.greatlakesrestoration.us
Black Carbon Exposures, Blood Pressure and Interactions with SNPs in MicroRNA Processing Genes
Black carbon is a marker of traffic pollution which has been associated with blood pressure, although findings have been inconsistent. MicroRNAs are emerging as key regulators of gene expression, but whether polymorphisms in genes involved in processing of microRNAs to maturity influence susceptibility to black carbon has not been elucidated.
The researchers investigated the association between black carbon and blood pressure as well as potential effect modification by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA processing genes.
Methods: Repeated measures analyses were performed using data from Normative Aging Study. Complete covariate data were available for 789 participants with 1-6 study visits between 1995 and 2008. In models of systolic and diastolic blood pressure we examined SNP-by-black carbon interactions with 19 microRNA-related variants under recessive models of inheritance. Mixed-effects models were adjusted for potential confounders including clinical characteristics, lifestyle and meteorological factors.
Conclusions: The researchers observed evidence of effect modification of the association between blood pressures and 7-day black carbon moving averages by SNPs associated with miRNA processing. While the mechanisms underlying these associations are not well understood, they suggest a role for miRNA genesis and processing in influencing black carbon effects.
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901440
How Healthy Is Your County? New County Health Rankings Give First County-by-County Snapshot of Health in Each State
County Health Rankings: National Comparisons
The County Health Rankings identify the healthiest and least healthy counties within every state in the nation. When you compare the 50 healthiest counties (one from every state), with the 50 least healthy counties, some striking trends emerge:
Population size: Healthier counties are urban/suburban, whereas least health counties are mostly rural. About half (48%) of the 50 healthiest counties are urban or suburban counties, whereas most (84%) of the 50 least healthy counties are rural.
Premature death rates: The least healthy counties have significantly higher rates of premature death-2.5 times higher than the healthiest counties.
Self-reported health: People living in the least healthy counties reporting being in significantly poorer health-2.1 times higher rates of people who report being in fair or poor health, compared with the healthiest counties.
Smoking rates: People living in the least healthy counties are much more likely to smoke-over 26%, compared to only 16% in the healthiest counties.
Preventable hospitalizations: People living in the least healthy counties are 60% more likely to be admitted to the hospital for preventable conditions-a sign of poor outpatient and primary care.
Children living in poverty: The least healthy counties have higher rates of poverty, with 30% of children living in poverty-over three times higher than the rate in the healthiest counties (9%).
Access to healthy foods: The 50 least healthy counties have fewer places where people can find healthy food-only 33% of zip codes have at least one grocery store, compared to almost half (47%) of zip codes in the healthiest counties. Download these findings and the accompanying charts below: http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/
Rulemaking Gateway
EPA launched a new web site giving the public additional opportunity to participate in the agency's rulemaking process, demonstrating President Obama's commitment to more transparent and open government. The online Rulemaking Gateway serves as a portal to EPA's priority rules, providing citizens with earlier and more concise information about agency regulations. It also allows users to search for EPA rules that relate to specific interests, including impacts on small business; children's health; environmental justice; and state, local and tribal government.
Rulemaking Gateway complements Regulations.gov, the federal government's main portal for tracking rules from all federal agencies, by providing brief overviews of specific EPA rules and additional ways to search rules based on the phases they are in (e.g., pre-proposal, proposal), the topics they relate to (e.g., air, water), and the impacts they might have (e.g., impacts on small businesses or environmental justice). The new Web site offers a distilled "snapshot" of a rule, with just enough information for a citizen to determine his or her interest in the rule. The individual then can use Rulemaking Gateway links to Regulations.gov and to other EPA sources where comprehensive information is available.
EPA also established a Rulemaking Gateway discussion forum to allow the public to suggest enhancements to the site. The forum will be open through July 16, 2010, after which EPA plans to make enhancements based on ideas received. More information on Rulemaking Gateway and the discussion forum. More information on Regulations.gov Web site.
INCREASING THE UNDERSTANDING OF AND TREATMENTS FOR GLAUCOMA
The week of March 7-13, is World Glaucoma Week. Worldwide, glaucoma affects approximately 70 million people. Everyone over age 60 is at elevated risk of developing glaucoma. The National Eye Institute (NEI), a component of the National Institutes of Health, has publicized the importance of a broad understanding that most forms of glaucoma can be treated and blindness prevented. Once vision is lost it cannot be regained. The key is early diagnosis. Glaucoma usually begins silently with gradual, painless loss of vision during mid-life.
A recent survey revealed that only 8% of the population is aware that we lack early warning signs for glaucoma. Only an eye care professional is capable of detecting the subtle, early signs of glaucoma. The underlying causes and approaches to improved treatment are under investigation. Currently, the NEI invests over $82 million to support 181 glaucoma research projects. Other, focused programs exist; for example, in 2008, the NEI Glaucoma Human Genetics Collaboration was formed to direct the focus of clinicians and geneticists on glaucoma research. For more information.
Older Americans Month: May 2010 -U.S. Census Bureau News
Facts on Older Americans
- 38.9 million – The number of persons 65 and older in the U.S. on July 1, 2008. This age group represented 13% of the population.
- 1.6 million – The number of persons 65 and older living in a nursing/skilled nursing facilities in 2008. These residents comprised 4 percent of all people in this age group.
- 88.5 million – The projected population of the population expected to be 65 and older by 2050.
- 520 million – Projected 2009 midyear world population 65 and older.
- 1.53 billion – Projected world population in 2050. In 2009, there were 4 countries in the world with 20 percent or more of their population 65 and older: Germany, Italy, Japan and Monaco.
States and counties
- 4.1 million – California had the highest number of older adults living in their state 65 and older. Florida, with 3.2 million, and New York, with 2.6 million, were the runners-up.
- 17percent – The percentage of the population 65 and older living in Florida in 2008, the highest level of any state. States with the next highest levels included West Virginia (16 percent) and Pennsylvania (15 percent).
- 34 percent – of La Paz County, AZ was 65 years of age and older on July 1, 2008, the highest in the nation. Highlands, Fl (32 percent), and Lancaster, VA (32 percent) had the next highest percentage of their county population over 65 years of age.
http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/2010/CensusFacts.pdf (5 pp, 67K, About PDF)
III. New Resources and Opportunities
Final Rule Reduces Air Toxics from Existing Stationary Diesel Engines
EPA is setting the first standards that will reduce emissions of formaldehyde, benzene, acrolein and other toxic air pollutants from certain stationary diesel engines. These pollutants are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health problems and environmental damage.
"Improving air quality is one the agency's top priorities," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Controlling emissions from these engines will save lives and protect our communities from serious health problems, including heart attacks, asthma and other respiratory illnesses."
The emission limits apply to existing diesel engines meeting certain criteria for age, size, and use. EPA estimates that more than 900,000 of the engines generate electricity and power equipment at industrial, agricultural and other facilities. The engines also are used in emergencies to produce electricity and pump water for flood and fire control. Emergency engines used at most residences, hospitals and other institutional facilities, and commercial facilities such as shopping centers are not covered by this rule.
EPA estimates that the rule will reduce annual air toxics emissions by 1,000 tons, particle pollution by 2,800 tons, carbon monoxide emissions by 14,000 tons, and organic compound emissions by 27,000 tons when fully implemented in 2013. More information.
IV. Building Sustainable Communities
Technical Assistance for Communities Incorporating Smart Growth
The Development, Community, and Environment Division in EPA's Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. This request is being coordinated under the interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Staff from HUD and DOT will assist in the provision of this technical assistance.
Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional, and state governments, and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. EPA has identified some key topics in which communities are likely to benefit from technical assistance: climate change, equitable development, financing and planning infrastructure investments, hazard mitigation plans, removing local barriers to implementing LEED-ND, suburban retrofit, transportation solutions for rural communities and places without rail, cities in transition (significant population loss, poverty, or economic deterioration).
Proposals are not limited to requests for technical assistance in only these thematic areas; other topics for assistance are welcome and encouraged, provided they demonstrate cutting-edge challenges and the possibility of replicable solutions. The type of work may incorporate policy analysis and review, planning and visioning processes, scorecard/ranking criteria development and assessment, and/or other elements pertinent to the role of the applicant.
Selected communities or states will receive assistance in the form of a multi-day visit from a team of experts organized by EPA, HUD and DOT and other national partners to work with local leaders. EPA plans to assist three to four communities over a period of twelve months. The Agency anticipates announcing the selected communities in fall of 2010. For more information and application materials.
Letters of interest are due at 3:00 pm EST, April 9, 2010.
Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging
This award recognizes communities for their outstanding comprehensive approaches to implementing principles of smart growth, as well as strategies that support active aging. It is presented to communities with the best and most inclusive overall approach to implementing smart growth and active aging on a variety of fronts, at the neighborhood, tribe, city, county, and/or regional level.
For the past three years, 15 communities in 14 states have been recognized for their leadership in smart growth and active aging. Together these regional councils of government, cities and towns have a total population of more than 5 million inhabitants and almost 500,000 residents over 65 years of age. As a percent of the population over 65, five of the award winning entities have greater than the national average of 12.6 percent and range from 13.3 percent to 21.5 percent. The other winning communities are planning for the aging of the population and currently have been 7 percent and 12.5 percent of their population over 65.
The communities have a diverse array of projects that are at the commitment or planning stage or have implemented ambitious plans and are winners of the achievement award. The lead for each of the projects were local planning department, city managers, parks and recreation, public health, aging, housing or transportation. For more information on the past winning communities.
While this recognition program does not provide a financial award, the winners are the people living in these communities and this award recognizes the leadership of these communities in making their communities a great place to live. If you would like to submit an application to be considered for this recognition please see: http://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/awards
Applications for 4th annual Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging the 2010 are due July 17, 2010.
V. Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
Pilot Outreach on Proper Drug Disposal:
Last fall, a pilot outreach project was conducted in Frederick County, Maryland with the Frederick County Department on Aging. An informational flyer was developed that describes the safe steps to dispose of unused or expired medications. For more information (PDF). (2 pp, 1.1MB, About PDF)
Also see:
Federal Guidelines on the Proper Disposal of Unused Medications (PDF) (1 pp, 115K, About PDF)
State and Professional Association Resources on Safe Disposal of Medications
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
VI. Intergenerational Activities
4th Annual Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder Contest
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to announce the 4th annual Rachel Carson intergenerational "Sense of Wonder" contest. Entries for the contest should be developed by persons from younger and older generations. Teams can work create poetry, take photographs, write essays, and or dance. These creations should celebrate the legacy and love of nature that Rachel Carson so eloquently embodied. The contest is sponsored by the US EPA, the Dance Exchange, the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., and Generations United.
Teams can select the medium for their work as it captures their interactions with and reflections on the wonders of nature. Mixed media entries are welcome as well, such as a photo accompanied with a poem or an essay. Video entries can be of persons dancing or capture movements and visible changes in nature from dawn to dusk. A panel of expert judges will select finalists. The winners in each category of photography, essay, poetry, and dance will then be determined by the public, who will have an opportunity to cast votes online for their favorite submissions.
Carson wrote that she would endow every child with "a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life." However, "if a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in." The contest seeks to spur and instill that same sense of wonder among all generations. Should you need some inspiration from Rachel Carson, check out this web page about her and her works that captured nature so eloquently.
Entries are due June 16, 2010. For more information about the contest.
The Aging Initiative List Serve will feature a new section of the monthly listserve that will highlight intergenerational projects and have invited stories that are written by the participants. These short excerpts will be written by an elder, a youth or by an intergenerational team. This new section will e called "In their Own Words." If you are involved in an intergenerational environmental project and want to share this with the list serve, please send an email to aging.info@epa.gov
VII. EPA Funding Opportunities
Characterization and Modeling of Nitrogen Loading from Transportation Sources and Attenuation by Roadside Vegetation Buffers in an Urbanized Watershed
EPA is seeking applications proposing innovative approaches to quantify both the generation of ecosystem services from the ecosystems most closely tied to humans in urban environments as well as developing the connectivity networks associate with the production, delivery through the landscape, and consumption of ecosystem services applied to consideration of the value of ecosystem services in environmental decision-making.
Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen is now the greatest pollutant source to the watershed and bay and is the focus of a currently active super deposition TMDL assessment study site within the city of Tampa.
Research should specifically address the ability of the applicant to quantify the loading of atmospheric nitrogen from transportation sources associated with the Tampa Bay watershed or similar urbanized watershed and be able to assess the potential for road side vegetation buffers to attenuate those loads. Universities are conducting research and using models such as UFORE or I-TREE in urban transition areas to model the ability of plants to provide ecological services and benefits such as nitrogen removal, particulate removal, etc. Proposed research should address research currently being conducted and the availability of existing data sets and information to provide more robust estimates of services in urban transition and transportation zones.
Deadline: March 17, 2010 Read more...
2010 Healthy Communities Grant Program Synopsis
The Healthy Communities Grant Program is seeking projects that: target resources to benefit communities at risk (environmental justice areas of potential concern, places with high risk from toxic air pollution, urban areas) and sensitive populations (e.g. children, elderly, others at increased risk). Projects should assess, understand, and reduce environmental and human health risks; increase collaboration through community-based projects; and build institutional and community capacity to understand and solve environment and human health problems. Achieve measurable environmental and human health benefits.
Proposed projects must: (1) Be located in and/or directly benefit one or more of the three Target Investment Areas which include: Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern, Sensitive Populations, and/or Urban Areas in one or more of the EPA Region I States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and/or Vermont; and (2) Identify how the proposed project will achieve measurable environmental and/or public health results in one or more of the five Target Program Areas which include Asthma, Capacity Building on Environmental and Public Health Issues, Healthy Indoor/Outdoor Environments, Healthy Schools, Urban Natural Resources.
Deadline: April 5, 2010 Read more...
Activities that Advance Methane Recovery and Use as a Clean Energy Source
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for investigation, survey, study, training, and demonstration projects (eligible projects) that advance international near-term, cost-effective methane recovery and use as a clean energy source, and support the goals of the Methane to Markets Partnership. This funding opportunity is only for international activities in support of the Methane to Markets Partnership.
Deadline: April 15, 2010. Read more...
Exploring New Air Pollution-Health Effects Links in Existing Datasets
EPA is soliciting proposals that will utilize existing, large datasets (e.g., from observational or clinical studies) to search for unknown or weakly-forged links between air pollution and human disorders. The evidence for links between air pollutants and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases is compelling. There is modest evidence suggesting a relationship between air pollution and diabetes, certain neurological disorders, and reproductive and developmental disturbances. Other possible effects of air pollution include co-morbidity, genetic variants, and social and neighborhood conditions. The research supported by this mechanism will provide scientists and policy decision makers with a better understanding of the health effects of exposure to air pollution, improving health risk assessments and cost-benefit analyses.
Deadline: April 27, 2010 Read more...
VIII. Other Funding Opportunities
MacAuthur Foundation: Call for Housing Research Proposals 2010 Competition
Deadline: March 22, 2010. Read more...
AHRQ - Active Aging: Supporting Individuals and Enhancing Community-based Care through Health Information Technology
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHQR) is requesting applications from organizations that propose to develop specialized centers for the purpose of (a) utilizing communication and information based technologies to improve and expand health-related services available to older adults, and (b) developing effective strategies to translate research advances into practice efficiently. Research results are intended to enhance the independence and functional capabilities of older adults through development of tools, production of demonstration projects, and construction of educational programs.
Deadline: March 25, 2010. Read more...
AHRQ Patient Safety-Related Funding Opportunities Improving Patient Safety through Simulation Research (R18): AHRQ announces the availability of grants to develop, test, and evaluate the impact of various simulation approaches for the purpose of improving the safe delivery of health care. The projects funded under this funding opportunity announcement will inform providers, health educators, payers, policy makers, patients, the public, and AHRQ about the effective use of simulation in improving patient safety.
Application Due Date: March 26, 2010. Read more...
Prevention and Management of Healthcare Associated Infections (R18): The purpose of this funding opportunity is to fund extramural health services research, demonstration, dissemination, and evaluation grants that propose to prevent and more effectively manage health care associated infections. This funding opportunity sets a multi-year research framework, based on the distillation of existing, peer-reviewed research, case studies, the Department of Health and Human Services' 2009 National Action Plan on Healthcare-associated Infections, and qualitative information resulting from a series of listening sessions that occurred in selected cities across the United States in 2009.
Application Due Date: March 29, 2010. Read more...
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Recovery Act 2009 Limited
Competition: Improved Clinical Content and Race-Ethnicity Data
This AHRQ Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), supported by funds provided to AHRQ under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act" or "ARRA"), Public Law 111-5, invites infrastructure development research grant (R01) applications from organizations seeking to either 1) enhance the clinical content of statewide, all-payer, hospital-based encounter-level data to support comparative effectiveness research, or 2) improve the reliability and validity of information in hospital-based encounter-level data related to race and ethnicity.
Deadline: March 29, 2010. Read more...
Environmental Health Sciences Core Center Grants (P30)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences announces the availability of Core Center Grants (P30) that are intended to provide core resources and shared facilities to groups of investigators located in a single institution or in several cooperating institutions. In addition, the Core center grant mechanism is designed to promote cooperation and collaboration among groups of established researchers who are independently conducting research of high quality that is related to the effects of environmental factors on human health. The Center is also expected to foster training and mentoring of young scientists, junior faculty, and clinician-scientists in the environmental health sciences in order to build careers in environmental health.
Deadline: March 31, 2010 Read more...
Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program
This national program seeks to provide professionals in health and aging with the experience and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the development and implementation of health policies that affect older Americans. The program offers two different tracks: (1) a residential track that includes a nine-to-12-month placement in Washington, D.C. or at a state agency (as a legislative assistant in Congress, a professional staff member in an executive agency or in a policy organization); and (2) a non-residential track that includes a health policy project and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites. Core program components focused on career development and professional enrichment are provided for fellows in both tracks.
This unique professional fellowship opportunity is supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies in collaboration with the American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program. The application deadline for the 2009-2010 fellowship years is April 15, 2010.
For further information, please visit our website at http://www.healthandagingpolicy.org
Geographic and Contextual Influences on Energy Balance-Related Health Behaviors (R01)
This announcement invites applications for investigator-initiated projects concerned with the influence of the built environment, "contextual" environment (where people live, work and play), and health-related behavior on the individual's energy balance and, therefore, on health. There is clear evidence of a strong association between diet, exercise, body weight (i.e. the "energy balance") and a variety of chronic ("metabolic") diseases. A number of environmental features can affect energy balance such as density, diversity, design and accessibility of buildings. Socioeconomic status of residents, amenities such as transportation, accessible parks and pathways for walking and cycling - all of those and others can influence energy balance-related behavior. Studies are needed to evaluate all of those factors.
Deadline: June 5, 2010 Read more...
NIH Critical Illness and Injury in Aging
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are requesting research grant applications that are focused on mechanisms and management of critical illness and injury (including trauma and neurotrauma) in aging. The type of investigation may be mechanistic, observational or interventional. Proposals that utilize existing datasets, such as from large observational studies or clinical trials, are acceptable. Animal studies are appropriate in cases where human studies are not feasible.
Deadline: June 5 & October 5, 2010. Read more...
NIMH Developing Centers for Intervention and/or Services Research
The National Institute of Mental Health invites research grant applications related to the missions of the Division of Services and Intervention Research and the NIMH Geriatrics Research Branch. The latter supports intervention research relevant to older adults. The purpose of the grants is to provide infrastructure support for groups of investigators that will allow expansion of their intervention and/or services research. The scope of this offering is broad and meant to support investigators who are involved in treatment, prevention and/or services research.
Deadline: June 24, 2010. Read more...
Critical Illness and Injury in Aging (R01)
Four Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have joined in soliciting applications designed to study mechanisms and management of critical illness and injury, including trauma and neurotrama, in aging. In recent years there have been important advances in the evaluation and management of critical illnesses and injuries. However, the relationship of critical care and aging remains understudied. The treatment of critical illnesses of elders is frequently simply an extension of the treatments applied to younger adult populations. Given the age-related structural and functional changes associated with age, it is probable that such changes influence that presentation and treatment of illnesses of the elderly. Proposed studies may be mechanistic, observational or interventional in nature.
Deadline: July 5, November 5, 2010. Read more...
NSF - Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities
The National Science Foundation invites research proposals that will lead to new technology, devices or software that will benefit persons with disabilities. Research may be directed toward the characterization, restoration, and /or substitution of human functional abilities or cognition, or the interaction of persons with disabilities and their environment. Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering and scientific knowledge rather than on incremental improvements.
Application due dates: August 15 - September 23, 2010. Read more...
IX. Public Comments Requested
New Proposed EPA rule for Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide
On November 16, the EPA opened to public comment the new proposed EPA rule for Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide. To learn more about the rule.
The EPA is accepting comments for 60 days following the date of publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register. The easiest ways to submit comments are through www.regulations.gov or email a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov (reference Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0352).
Interim Soil Dioxin PRG Outreach
In May 2009, Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson decided that EPA needs to accelerate work underway to reassess the human health risks from exposures to dioxin. EPA's Science Plan for Activities Related to Dioxins in the Environment (2009)(1) details a plan, with interim milestones, for completion of the Agency's dioxin reassessment. By the end of 2010, EPA expects to complete the dioxin reassessment and release it to the public, subject to further consideration of the science and the scope and complexity of the revisions that will need to be made.
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) will be reviewing current dioxin cleanup guidance set by the Agency and other entities, with the goal of recommending interim preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) informed by the latest science. (PRGs are chemical-specific concentration goals for specific media (e.g. soil, sediment, water and air) and land use combinations at Superfund, Federal Facilities, Brownfields and RCRA sites. They serve as a target to use during the initial development, analysis, and selection of cleanup alternatives.)
These interim recommended PRGs would be used until EPA issues its dioxin reassessment and OSWER issues final recommended PRGs based on the reassessment. Comments due February, 2010. For more information.
X. 2010 Calendar of Events & Meetings
Calendar 2010
March 2010
Association of Gerontology in Higher Education Annual Meeting
March 4 - 7, 2010
Reno, NV.
http://www.aghe.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=40634&PID=500208
American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging Annual Meeting
March 15-19, 2010.
Chicago, Ill
http://www.agingconference.org/AiA10/index.cfm
April 2010
American Planning Association
April 10-13, 2010.
New Orleans, Louisiana
http://www.planning.org/conference/index.htm
US EPA and Fordham University, Moral Heat:
Ethical Dimensions of Environmental Regulations and Economics of the 21st Century
April 20, 2010
New York City, NY
http://www.fordham.edu/MoralHeat
Earth Day
April 22, 2010
http://www.earthday.net/earthday2010
May 2010
May is Older Americans
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/Observances/oam/archive/archive.aspx
International Federation on Ageing
May 3-6, 2010.
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.ifa-fiv.org/
American Geriatrics Society
May 12-14, 2010.
Orando, FL
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2010/
Congress for the New Urbanism Annual Conference
May 19-22, 2010.
Atlanta, GA
http://www.cnu.org/cnu18
2010 National River Rally
May 21-24th
Snowbird, UT
http://www.rivernetwork.org/programs/national-river-rally
June 2010
NANASP 2010 Annual Training Conference
June 2-4, 2010
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.nanasp.org/upcomingconferences.html
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
June 6-10, 2010
Portland, OR
http://www.cste.org/conference/Default.aspx
National Association of State Units on Aging
46th Annual NASUA Membership Meeting
June 27-29, 2010
Washington, DC
http://www.nasua.org/
July 2010
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow
July 17-21, 2010
St. Louis, MO
http://www.n4a.org/training-events/annual-conference/
Call for Abstracts
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting
Date: November 6-10, 2010
Location: Denver, CO
The theme for the conference this year is "Social Justice: A public health imperative." Public health professionals interested in presenting research at next year's Annual Meeting and Exposition can submit abstracts beginning on December 18. Visit APHA's website, www.apha.org/meetings for updates and information on the program. Submission dates are between February 1-5, 2010 and vary by APHA Section. www.apha.org/meetings/sessions/HowtobecomeaPresenter.htm
Gerontological Society of America
The online abstract submission process for The Gerontological Society of America's 63rd Annual Meeting is now open! Please read all of the instructions provided throughout the online submission process. Please visit http://www.geron.org/abstracts for instructions and a link to the submission form. The submission deadline is March 15, 2010.