Issue Focus: Neurobiological Determinants of Human Communication
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Headlines
Act Now!
- Academic Programs: The 2008 Graduate School Fair registration deadline is approaching.
- The Nominating Committee of the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) is currently soliciting nominations to fill four vacancies on the CFCC in 2009. Nomination forms must be submitted by October 10, 2008.
HES Updates
Attention Academic Programs Completing the Graduate Guide Survey
Academic Programs that are in process of completing the Graduate Guide Survey are urged to complete and submit their data via the survey as soon as possible. Need help? Contact hes@asha.org.
Academic Program Directors—CAPCSD Demographic Survey Available October 1–30, 2008
Be sure to complete the survey instrument. Remember, those academic programs who participated in the survey last year or who recently completed the Graduate Guide Survey will find many data elements prepopulated! Questions? Contact hes@asha.org.
CAA to Launch Accreditation Application via HES System in November
The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) will launch the Accreditation Application via the HES system in November for those programs due to submit applications by February 1, 2009. The Annual Report will be available in late 2009. Information will be shared during the CAA's noontime sessions during the ASHA Convention, and notification will be sent to targeted programs in October. Questions? Contact hes@asha.org.
ASHA Announcements
Researcher-Academic Town Meeting
This year's Researcher-Academic Town Meeting on November 19 will feature presentations, followed by questions and answers, on "Perspectives on Teaching and Technology: Micro and Macro Applications." The guest speakers will be Sarah Ginsberg, EdD, Eastern Michigan University; Doug Martin, PhD, University of Cincinnati; Lissa Power-deFur, PhD, Longwood University; and Carol Dudding, PhD, James Madison University. The official event sponsor is Pearson. Seating is limited and is by invitation only to registered Convention attendees. Invitations were e-mailed to academic and research faculty from academicaffairs@asha.org in mid-September. If you did not receive an invitation, please contact academicaffairs@asha.org. RSVPs will be due by November 3.
Sail Into '09 — Renew Online!
Your 2009 dues renewal is easy when you go online to ASHA's Web site.
2009 Student Ethics Essay Award
It's not too soon for NSSLHA chapter members, faculty in communication sciences and disorders academic programs, and NSSLHA chapter advisors and regional councilors to start preparing for the 2009 Student Ethics Essay Award (SEEA) competition.
Call for Nominations-ASHA Board of Directors
The nomination deadline is January 9, 2009 at Noon, EST.
Membership Forums at Convention
As an ASHA member, you have the opportunity to speak directly with members of ASHA's Board of Directors during the Membership Forums at the ASHA Convention in Chicago. Join the Board for lively discussion on association programs, policies, strategic direction, or any other professional issues that are important to you.
Academic and Clinical Education Convention Sessions
Academic and Clinical Faculty—Plan your 2008 Convention by reviewing sessions related to academic and clinical education [PDF].
Other Announcements
NIDCD Funding Opportunity Announcements
Three new program announcements for National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) clinical trials are now available.
2009 Award for Institutional Progress in Student Learning Outcomes
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) invites applications for the 2009 Award for Institutional Progress in Student Learning Outcomes. Applications due by October 30, 2008.
Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists are Invited to Participate in a Survey on Interprofessional Professionalism Behaviors
Academic Affairs is representing ASHA and contributing to the work of an interprofessional consultant group for the purpose of defining interprofessional professionalism among health professions and to consider how relevant measurement tools might be designed. The work of this consultant group culminated to date with the identification of a number of observable behaviors thought to best illustrate professionalism in the context of interprofessional collaborations while providing patient-centered care. The Consultant Group on Interprofessional Professionalism Measurement is conducting a survey representing the following professional organizations: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American Association of College of Pharmacy, American Dental Education Association, American Psychological Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the National Board of Medical Examiners. All audiologists and speech-language pathologists are invited to participate. Visit the IPPMG Wiki page (password ippmg100) to learn more about this initiative, complete the survey, and to contribute suggestions about interprofessional professionalism behaviors. If attending the 2008 ASHA Convention in Chicago, plan to attend Session 0231, a presentation scheduled for Saturday, November 22, from 2:30-3:30 pm entitled, Collaborative Interprofessional Professionalism: What's All the Fuss?
NIDCD Launches Campaign to Protect the Hearing of Tweens
The new campaign, called It's a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing., features a new Web site that offers advice to parents on the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, how to recognize when a child's hearing is at risk, and ways to reduce noise exposure.
Project FOCAL: Focusing on Causality and Assessment to Train Leaders in Children's Communication Disabilities
Project FOCAL was designed to prepare doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in the areas of assessment and the etiology of communication disorders in children with disabilities. The project brings together faculty and scholars from the departments of Speech and Hearing Science and Special Education, with cooperation from the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services, for the purpose of preparing knowledgeable, influential, and visionary leaders. Individuals will be trained to conduct research and teach through a collaborative, cross-disciplinary training model. Graduates of the program will be prepared to join Speech and Hearing or Special Education faculties at colleges and universities, where they will conduct research, teach, and provide service. Contact Cynthia J. Johnson, PhD, Director at cjj@uiuc.edu or Michaelene Ostrosky, PhD, Co-Director at ostrosky@uiuc.edu for more information.
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Spotlight on People and Programs
Congratulations to Washington University in St. Louis!
Washington University's program in audiology and communication sciences was the first to complete the 2008 Graduate Guide Survey within 2 days of receiving the survey! Their data along with data from other programs completing the surveys in the HES system will help to inform future trends and strategic planning for the professions.
Congratulations to Dr. Roberta DePompei, University of Akron!
Dr. Roberta DePompei, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Speech Language Pathology and Director of the School of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology at the University of Akron, has joined the National Advisory Board of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to assist in the research of new developments for children suffering from pediatric traumatic brain injury.
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Featured Question—Neurobiological Determinants of Human Communication
What are some things ASHA does to share cutting-edge research with members?
by Steven M. Barlow, PhD (University of Kansas) and
Jordan R. Green, PhD (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) has sponsored a research symposium annually since 1991. At this year's National Convention on November 21 in Chicago, ASHA and the National Institutes of Health are co-sponsoring a research symposium on the Neurobiological Determinants of Communication Development with a special focus on prematurity and early childhood. Recent advances in developmental neurobiology have important implications for speech-language pathologists and audiologists working with neonates who, by virtue of their prematurity, are at risk for developmental disabilities. Prior barriers to research on very young children and infants have recently been overcome with the development of noninvasive techniques for neuroimaging, stimulation, electrophysiological recording, and facial motion capture. Researchers are now using these techniques to derive new knowledge about early communication development, and to evaluate the efficacy of treatments designed to facilitate early communication and feeding development. The symposium will feature four internationally recognized scholars:
- Amit Mathur, MD (Washington University)
- Ira Adams-Chapman, MD (Emory University)
- Michael Arbib, PhD (University of Southern California)
- Anu Sharma, PhD (University of Colorado)
The symposium's fifth and final session will feature the work of the following four early-career scientists whose work focuses on neurobiological aspects of communication development:
- Meredith Estep, ABD (University of Kansas)
- Ignatius Nip, PhD (San Diego State University)
- Jayanthi Sasisekaran, PhD (University of Minnesota)
- Ronald LeBel, ABD (University of Colorado)
The specific aims of the symposium are to:
- Describe the neurobiology of the developing infant in health and disease.
- Inform researchers and clinicians about recent advances in brain imaging and tractography to assess the developing nervous system in the premature infant.
- Discuss links between immature white matter lesions and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Describe mirror-neuron systems and putative mechanisms in imitation, sensorimotor learning, and communication development.
- Discuss translation of developmental neurobiological research from studies of cortical plasticity following cochlear implantation into promising neurotherapeutic interventions.
The symposium has been designed to facilitate the establishment of viable mentoring relationships and contribute to the development of future researchers in communication sciences and disorders. Opportunities for informal interaction with the speakers will also be provided. The 2008 symposium will be moderated by Steven Barlow, PhD (University of Kansas) and Jordan Green, PhD (University of Nebraska-Lincoln). The recipients of the ASHA Research Mentoring-Pair Travel Award will be introduced during the symposium's opening remarks. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all five sessions, and the symposium will provide ASHA continuing education units. For more information on this event, please contact Dr. Sharon Moss at smoss@asha.org.
Resources
- Adams-Chapman, I. (2006). Neurodevelopmental outcome of the late preterm infant. Clinical Perinatology, 33, 947–964.
- Adams-Chapman, I., Hansen, N. I., Stoll, B. J., Higgins, R., & NICHD Research Network. (2008). Neurodevelopmental outcome of extremely low birth weight infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus requiring shunt insertion. Pediatrics, 121, e1167–e1177.
- Adams-Chapman, I., & Stoll, B. J. (2006). Neonatal infection and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in the preterm infant. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases, 19, 290–297.
- Arbib, M. A. (2007). Autism—more than the mirror system. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 4, 208–222.
- Arbib, M. A. (2007). Premotor cortex and the mirror neuron hypothesis for the evolution of language. In J. H. Kaas & T. M. Preuss (Eds.), Evolution of nervous systems: A comprehensive reference. Volume 4. Primates (pp. 417–422). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
- Arbib, M. A. (2008). From grasp to language: Embodied concepts and the challenge of abstraction. Journal of Physiology Paris, 102, 4–20.
- Gilley, P., Sharma, A., Dorman, M., & Martin, K. (2006). Abnormalities in central auditory maturation in children with language-based learning problems. Clinical Neurophysiology, 117, 1949–1956.
- Iacoboni, M., & Dapretto, M. (2006). The mirror neuron system and the consequences of its dysfunction. Nature Reviews: Neuroscience, 7, 942–951.
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Funding Opportunities
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Implementation Planning Grants for Educational, Behavioral, or Social Studies for Translation of Genetic Factors in Common Diseases (U34)
Summary: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) on behalf of the NIH Genes, Environment and Health Initiative solicits Implementation Planning Grant (U34) applications from institutions/organizations that propose to plan for multicenter research on (a) educational and communication initiatives for health care providers and consumers regarding interpretation of and findings from genetic studies of common diseases and the results of their dissemination and (b) behavioral or psychosocial aspects of clinical application of genetic findings. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: research on patient or provider education regarding genetic findings or clinical outcomes of genetic testing; research on patient or provider perceptions of environmental or other risk factors that may have specific interactions with gene variants; and assessments of responses to use of personal genetic information in clinical care and disease prevention. The proposed research must focus on using findings from genetic studies of common diseases with complex genetic etiology in clinical settings. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will support planning and preliminary or feasibility studies for investigator-initiated, multicenter clinical studies through an implementation planning (U34) grant. The U34 planning grant is designed to (a) permit early peer review of the rationale for the proposed clinical study, (b) permit assessment of the design/protocol of the proposed study, (c) provide support for the development of a complete study protocol and associated documents including a manual of operations, (d) support the development of other essential elements required for the conduct of a clinical study, and (e) carry out key preliminary or feasibility studies. Completion of the required products of a U34 grant is a prerequisite for submission of a multicenter clinical study cooperative agreement (U01) application, which will support the actual conduct of the study.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): November 25, 2008.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Translation of Common Disease Genetics Into Clinical Applications (R21)
Summary: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) on behalf of the NIH Genes, Environment and Health Initiative, solicits Exploratory/Developmental Clinical Research Grant (R21) applications from institutions/organizations that propose (a) clinical studies using information from genome-wide association or other genetic studies in common diseases; (b) development and assessment of diagnostic, clinical trial, epidemiological, and risk analytic tools for use in clinical research or practice; and (c) cost-effectiveness studies of clinical applications of genetic information. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: development of diagnostic or other risk factor algorithms that incorporate genetic data; pilot interventional studies using findings from genetic studies of common diseases or outcomes related to genetic testing for variants identified in common diseases; pilot research on clinical modification of environmental factors known to interact with specific genes variants identified in common diseases; and cost-effectiveness studies. The proposed research must focus on using findings from genetic studies of common diseases with complex genetic etiology in clinical or public health settings. Through Exploratory/Developmental Clinical Research (R21) grants, this FOA will support efforts to produce data that may be useful or pivotal in eventually designing large-scale clinical trials or studies.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): November 25, 2008.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Research on Causal Factors and Interventions That Promote and Support the Careers of Women in Biomedical and Behavioral Science and Engineering (R01)
Summary: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support research on (a) causal factors explaining the current patterns observed in the careers of women in biomedical and behavioral science and engineering and variation across different subgroups and (b) the efficacy of programs designed to support the careers of women in these disciplines. Causal factors include individual characteristics, family and economic circumstances, disciplinary culture or practices, and features of the broader social and cultural context. Research on variation among underrepresented minority women and socioeconomically disadvantaged women is encouraged.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): October 22, 2008.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Technological Innovations for Interdisciplinary Research Incorporating the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R41/R42)
Summary: The purpose of this FOA is to solicit Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for development of new, innovative technologies for research integrating human social and/or behavioral science with other disciplines.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Technological Innovations for Interdisciplinary Research Incorporating the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R43/R44)
Summary: The purpose of this FOA is to solicit Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for development of new, innovative technologies for research integrating human social and/or behavioral science with other disciplines.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Title: NIDCD Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34)
Summary: The goal of this FOA is to provide support to complete the development of a comprehensive research protocol for large-scale, multicenter Phase III Definitive Clinical Trials (DCT). The planning grant is designed to permit early peer review of the proposed clinical trial in terms of its rationale, general design, organizational structure, and implementation plan. The planning grant is used to support the development of a detailed Manual of Procedures (MOP), which is required for submission when applying for a Phase III Definitive Clinical Trial (PAR-08-205).The planning grant will provide support to establish the research team, develop tools for data management and oversight of the research, define recruitment strategies, and develop and finalize the MOP. The Planning Grant is NOT intended to support small Phase I/II Preliminary Clinical Trials. Applications for Phase I/II Preliminary Clinical Trials should use the NIDCD Phase I/II Preliminary Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (PAR-08-204).
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Title: NIDCD Phase I/II Preliminary Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (R01)
Summary: The NIDCD is committed to identifying effective interventions for the treatment or prevention of communication disorders by supporting robust, well-designed, and well-executed clinical trials. Before a full scale Phase III Definitive Clinical Trial (DCT) (PAR-08-205) can be undertaken, earlier stage Phase I/II Preliminary Clinical Trials (PCT) are often required. This FOA is specifically targeted toward supporting studies that will provide the preliminary data that are necessary to address core scientific, design, and clinical issues prior to the conduct of the Phase III DCT. It is intended that these PCTs will serve to optimize the design of the eventual Phase III DCT and NOT address the definitive clinical question with lower power.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Title: NIDCD Phase III Definitive Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (R01)
Summary: This FOA is targeted toward supporting well-designed, investigator-initiated Phase III Definitive Clinical Trials (DCT) to establish safe and effective treatments or interventions for communication disorders. A Phase III DCT proposed under this FOA should have the potential to provide a significant impact on clinical practice or public health policy if successful. It is expected that applicants for a Phase III DCT already have adequate preclinical and preliminary clinical data to support the Phase III DCT. Also, information necessary to address core design and clinical issues prior to the conduct of the Phase III DCT should have already been established, and a complete, detailed Manual of Procedures (MOP) should have been developed. The MOP MUST be submitted as an appendix to the Phase III Definitive Clinical Trial application. The NIDCD Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34) (PAR-08-203) and/or the NIDCD Phase I/II Preliminary Clinical Trial FOA (PAR-08-204) can be used to gather this information and prepare the MOP.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Investigations on Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (R01)
Summary: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, will co-sponsor this FOA to support applications from institutions/organizations that propose innovative investigations in primary immunodeficiency diseases with a focus on ex vivo studies with human specimens and on studies with existing or new animal models. This FOA will also support novel clinical strategies, not including clinical trials, to detect primary immunodeficiency diseases, to identify the molecular basis of these diseases, and to develop innovative therapies for primary immunodeficiency diseases. Investigators who have no prior history of receiving independent NIH funding in this field are encouraged to apply.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Meetings, Conferences, and Networks for Research Partnerships to Improve Functional Outcomes (R13)
Summary: This FOA solicits Conference Grant (R13/U13) applications from applicant organizations for meetings and networks that will facilitate interdisciplinary research partnership among investigators. The goal is to create opportunities for forming strong and effective multidisciplinary scientific teams to address basic, translational, or clinical research problems in rehabilitation or management of chronic disease, including mental disorders.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01)
Summary: The goal of this FOA is to encourage research that will improve the quality and scientific power of data collected in the behavioral and social sciences, relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R21)
Summary: The goal of this FOA is to encourage research that will improve the quality and scientific power of data collected in the behavioral and social sciences, relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
Grant: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R03)
Summary: The goal of this FOA is to encourage research that will improve the quality and scientific power of data collected in the behavioral and social sciences, relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Funds: Number and amount of awards will vary based on nature and scope of proposed research.
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates; see announcement.
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Subscribe to a weekly, noninteractive e-newsletter (members only) that provides information about available funding opportunities and more.
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Upcoming Events
ASHA Events
- ASHA's Annual Online Conference: ASHA Audiology 2008, Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults, October 10–27, 2008
- Researcher-Academic Town Meeting, November 19, 2008 (by invitation only)
- ASHA Convention, November 20-22, 2008, Chicago, Illinois
- Graduate School Fair, November 20-21, 2008, Chicago, Illinois
Other Events
Visit the Faculty, Researchers, and PhD Students events page for information on more events of interest to the academic and research community.
Continuing Education
Learn and Earn!
Find an ASHA Continuing Education Program geared to fit your own schedule and your individual professional needs.
ASHA Journals
Need Help Keeping Up With Current Research?
Read on! HighWire Press, ASHA journals' host site, hosts more than 1,000 journals with more than 4 million articles. You can customize according to your research needs by registering on the HighWire site and browsing the alphabetical list of journals. Nearly all of them, including ASHA journals, offer free e-TOCs (tables of contents e-mailed with each new issue) as well as CiteTrack. Using CiteTrack, you can receive e-alerts based on topic, author, or when a specific article is cited. And try out the search engine on HighWire. A single search can cover all HighWire journals and include PubMed as well. Don't forget to sign up for e-TOC alerts to ASHA journals.
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The next issue of Access Academics & Research is coming in December! The highlighted topic will be Audiology Education, Research Funding for Clinical Doctoral Students.
For future issues, we encourage you to provide us with news about your own research work, grant awards, and other relevant activities, as well as to suggest topics you would like to see featured. Address comments and suggestions to Access-Academics-Research@asha.org.
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