OBSSR/NIH Summer Institute on Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials Involving Behavioral Interventions

Applications Due January 15, 2010

OBSSR/NIH Summer Institute on Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials Involving Behavioral Interventions

July 11-23, 2010

Objective

To provide a thorough grounding in the conduct of randomized clinical trials to researchers and health professionals interested in developing competence in the planning, design, and execution of randomized clinical trials involving behavioral interventions. The curriculum will enable participants to:

    * Describe the principles underlying the conduct of unbiased clinical trials.
    * Identify the unique challenges posed by behavioral randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
    * Evaluate alternative RCT designs in terms of their appropriateness to scientific and clinical goals.
    * Select appropriate strategies for enrollment, randomization, and retention of participants.
    * Understand methods for monitoring, coordinating, and conducting RCTs.
    * Develop strategies for appropriate statistical analyses of RCT data.
    * Evaluate the quality of behavioral RCTs and interpret their results.
    * Design a RCT research project in collaboration with a scientific team.

Eligibility Requirements for Summer Fellows

Priority will be given to individuals who have received their PhD or MD (or equivalent degrees) not later than July 2008. Applicants must have at least two years of subsequent research experience. Applicants should not yet have achieved a tenured position at their institution. (The typical past participant has had 4-5 years of research experience.) Beyond these eligibility criteria we are seeking researchers who have demonstrated research potential and experience and who will clearly benefit from behavioral randomized controlled trial training. The ideal candidate will have prior experience, and will be actively pursuing an independent research career, in behavioral randomized clinical trials.

Further, those who have extensive research experience will only be considered after more junior investigators have been evaluated. Preference is also given to individuals who are not employees of NIH. While we will consider and may even accept exceptional applicants who do not meet the above criteria, priority will go to those who do.

Due to the limited number of spaces in the course, applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status). Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Reasonable Accommodations for Disabilities: If you are accepted to attend the summer institute and require reasonable accommodations for disabilities to participate in this activity, at least 60 business days before the course begins please contact Ms. Sidnitra Bates at 301.577.0244, extension 64 or sbates@blseamon.com.

Costs and Stipends

The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH, will pay for domestic (USA) travel to and from the Summer Institute site, room and board, and for course materials. Family members may accompany participants at their own costs.

Application Procedures

All application materials must be submitted online. Instructions and the application form are posted athttp://blsweb.net/obssrapp2attend2010/.