The following description was taken from the R01 version of this FOA:
It is well documented that males experience approximately a five-year shorter life expectancy than females. During the 20th century, life expectancy at birth increased, in part due to improvements in lifestyle, nutrition, housing, hygiene and medical care. The disparities in life expectancy are more pronounced among men of color and economically disadvantaged males. For example, the life expectancy for White males is 76.7 while for African American males it is 72.5 years.
In 2014, the CDC reported the leading causes of death in males as heart disease (*White), cancer (*Asian/Pacific Islander), unintentional injuries (*American Indian/Alaska Native), chronic lower respiratory disease (*White), stroke (*Hispanic), diabetes (*Black), suicide (*American Indian/Alaska Native), influenza and pneumonia (*Asian Pacific Islander), Alzheimer’s disease (*White), and chronic liver disease (*American Indian/Alaska Native). Mortality rates from these causes of death are higher for minority males because their diseases are at a more advanced stage at diagnosis and are often complicated by co-existing conditions.
*denotes the highest rate out of all possible categories
Other examples of health disparities noted among minority males include the following:
- The prevalence of extreme obesity in African American men is higher than in any other minority group. Poor dietary patterns together with physical inactivity are highly prevalent in minority males and are major contributors to the high obesity prevalence rates.
- Hispanics are about 50% more likely to die from diabetes or chronic liver disease than whites.
- HIV infection is the third leading cause of death for Hispanic males, and the second leading cause of death in African American males.
Many of the disparities in health status noted among racially and ethnically diverse male populations are related to lifestyle and are either preventable or amenable to early detection or intervention.
The focus of this FOA is on health promotion among racial and ethnic minority men. A scientific exploration of these disparities is central to NIH’s commitment to reducing health disparities. Research in this area is essential and outlined in Healthy People 2010, 2020, 2040: “To eliminate health disparities among segments of the population, including differences that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, geographic location or sexual orientation.” Generally men access primary care facilities less often than women and are more inclined to delay accessing diagnostic services and treatments. Thus, interventions in this area of study need to be innovative and cognizant of these patterns.
Below are potential areas of research related to this announcement. These suggested areas of research are not listed in any priority order and are not to be viewed as an exhaustive or exclusive list. Investigators responding to this announcement may target other groups of minority males (e.g., men of diverse sexual orientation, migrant workers, disabled men, rural and immigrant men).
- Studies that integrate the latest scientific advances to develop interventions in areas such as precision health, data science/big data, m-health, and omics science
- Studies that test innovative interventions to reduce risk factors associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality (e.g., poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, and risky behavior) among racial and ethnic minority men in rural, urban, and nontraditional settings, including interventions addressing multiple risk factors
- Multifaceted interventions designed to increase both initial and repeat health screenings and risk assessment among racial and ethnic minority and underserved men
- Studies that include innovative approaches involving families, social networks, or communities in interventions designed to enhance health-promotion structures and behaviors
- Obesity prevention, treatment, and maintenance interventions that target all minority males, in particular, Hispanics and African Americans
- Innovative interventions that target all minority males, in particular, Hispanics and African Americans, for cardiovascular and cancer screening, identification, prevention and treatment
- Interventions that incorporate faith, cultural and family values and are designed to test the effects of unique and creative intergenerational health promotion activities
- Culturally and linguistically appropriate studies designed to enhance self-efficacy, competence, and skill development to support the initiation and maintenance of health promoting behaviors
- Studies that include innovative applications of mobile health and other technologies in interventions designed to enhance health-promotion behaviors and/or to reduce health risk behaviors
- Studies that employ research approaches such as community-based participatory research and participatory action research to determine the most feasible and effective biopsychosocial and biobehavioral interventions to reduce or eliminate health disparities
Deadlines: standard dates and standard AIDS dates apply
URLs:
- R01 – https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-18-144.html
- R21 – https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-18-162.html
Filed Under: Funding Opportunities