Health Outcomes Research

AWARD AIMS

• To provide stipend support to promising students during advanced stages of training and thesis research.
• To support the career development of scientists prepared to engage in health outcomes research.

PROGRAM FOCUS

Pharmacoeconomics, Real World Data and Health Outcomes Program (Health Outcomes Research) spans a broad spectrum of issues related to health-care delivery, from studies evaluating effectiveness of a pharmaceutical intervention, to the impact of reimbursement policies on outcomes of care. It also ranges from the development and use of patient-level real-world data and tools to perform patient-based assessments to analyses of ways in which results of Health Outcomes Research are disseminated to providers or consumers to encourage behavior change.

Health Outcomes Research incorporates a variety of methods, data, and tools from different disciplines. The application of Health Outcomes Research principles in evaluating the design, delivery, safe use and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals includes but isn’t limited to the following general areas:

Pharmacoeconomics evaluates behavior of individuals, organizations, and markets concerning use of pharmaceutical products, services, and programs. The discipline frequently focuses on costs (inputs) and consequences (outcomes) of pharmaceutical use.

Clinical Outcomes Assessment (COA) includes Patient Reported Outcomes, Clinician-Reported Outcomes, Performance Outcomes and Observer-Reported Outcomes. COA focuses on the value assigned to duration of life as modified by the impairment of physical, social, and psychological functional states, symptoms, satisfaction, perceptions, and opportunities influenced by disease, injury, treatment, or policy.

Patient-level Real-World Data and Analytic Tools: Health Outcomes Research depends on the evolving and increasing use, and evaluation of technologies, analyses and patient-level prospective databases (e.g. electronic medical records, health insurance claims data, registries, patient health-networks, patient health status monitoring) to assist in better understanding diseases and interventions.

Analyses and terminology under the umbrella of health outcomes include:

Biomarkers and Genetic Epidemiology                      Health Services Research

Burden of Disease                                                      Health Technology Assessment

Clinical Outcomes Assessment                                  Patient Engagement in Research

Comparative Effectiveness Research                        Pharmacoeconomics

Compliance/Adherence                                              Pharmacoepidemiology

Cost-Benefit Analysis                                                 Real-World Data and Evidence

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis                                       Value Assessment         

Cost Utility Analysis

 

The review committee will review and evaluate health outcomes research proposals that are directly or indirectly related to pharmaceutical interventions. 

 

ELIGIBILITY and REQUIREMENTS  

• Predoctoral Fellowships are designed for students who expect to complete their PhD requirements in two years or less from the time the fellowship begins.
• Students (U.S. and non U.S. citizens) beginning graduate school should not apply. A candidate enrolled in an MD/PhD program should not be taking required clinical coursework or clerkships while the fellowship is active.
• Students attending U.S. schools of medicine, pharmacy, public health, nursing, and dentistry are eligible for this award.
• The department chair or graduate officer is expected to verify the student’s doctoral candidacy.
• Eligible candidates will have completed most of their pre-thesis requirements (at least two years of coursework) and be engaged in thesis research as PhD candidates by the time the award is activated.
• Award activation can be as early as July 1, 2021 or as late as December 1, 2021.
• An individual may not simultaneously hold or interrupt any other fellowship providing stipend support while the PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship is active.
• Fellows are expected to devote full time (including summers) to their research.

FUNDING

• This award provides $25,000 in stipend support year for 12, 18 or 24 months. In order to be eligible for funding beyond 12 months, applicants must provide the Foundation with a satisfactory progress report upon completion of the first ten months of funding. In addition, applicants must provide a letter from their thesis adviser, confirming that satisfactory progress is being made.
• The funding for this fellowship is intended solely as a stipend and may not be used otherwise.
• Up to $1,000 per year may be used for incidentals directly associated with thesis research preparation (i.e. secretarial help, artwork, books, etc.)
• The program provides no other subsidies (i.e. travel, tuition, fringe benefits, etc.)
• PhRMA Foundation funds may not be used for fringe benefits or indirect costs to the university.
• Payments will be made directly to the university on a quarterly basis.
• Awards may be activated beginning July 1, 2021 or on the first day of any month thereafter, up to and including December 1, 2021.
• An individual may not simultaneously hold or interrupt any other fellowship providing stipend support while the PhRMA Foundation fellowship is active.
• A financial report will be required upon completion of the first twelve months of funding.
• A final progress report and financial report will be required at the conclusion of the fellowship.
• Unspent funds are to be returned to the PhRMA Foundation.
• These funds are non-transferable.
• Any changes to the proposed project must be approved by the PhRMA Foundation.

Predoctoral Fellowship in Health Outcomes Research.

Application deadline for all materials (applications and letters of support) is February 1, 2021 @ 11:59 PM EST.

To start an application, go to the proposalCENTRAL website at https://proposalcentral.com/. If you are a new user of proposalCENTRAL, follow the “CREATE AN ACCOUNT NOW” link under “Need an Account?” and complete the registration process. If you are already a registered user, login at https://proposalcentral.com/ with your username and password. If you have forgotten your password, click the “Forgot your Password?” link.

Once you are logged in, please click the “Professional Profile” tab at the top and complete steps 1-10 or update with current information. Your name, degrees, Position/Title, Academic Rank, Department and address will be pulled from this page in proposalCENTRAL.

To start an application, select the “Grant Opportunities” tab and a list of applications will be displayed. Find “PhRMA Foundation” and click the Apply Now link next to the Predoctoral Fellowship in Health Outcomes Research to create your Application.

We look forward to receiving your application. Items needed:

1. General Registration Information

2. Applicant Biosketch (should be NIH or NSF format)

3. Extended Letter

This letter is an opportunity to tell us who you are and to describe your career and future plans. Include a synopsis of your career, your professional interests, and your desired career path. The letter should not exceed two single-spaced pages (U.S. letter size 8.5” x 11” / 12-point font / .5” margin).

4. Project Title (maximum of 200 characters – entered directly into ProposalCENTRAL)

5. Project Summary / Abstract (maximum of 1,000 characters – entered directly into ProposalCENTRAL)

6. Thesis Project Description

The student must add an introductory page to their project description addressing the following questions. The answer to each question may not exceed two sentences.

 

1. How will this project advance the methods used in the field of health outcomes research?
2. What is the key challenge for this topic and how will your proposal address it?
3. How will the completion of your project bring value to society?

4. Are appropriate measures in place to assure compliance with patient privacy and security? Please explain.

 

The student’s detailed description of the thesis project should be written by the applicant and include objectives, rationale, methods of approach, preliminary results (if any exist), and a bibliography of major references. The first use of any abbreviation or acronym should be preceded by the full name or description. This statement (not including the introductory page and bibliography) should not exceed six single-spaced pages.

 

The advisory review committee will review and evaluate health outcomes research proposals that are directly or indirectly related to pharmaceutical interventions.

 

Applicants should use a format similar to the format specified for grants submitted to the National Institutes of Health. Required type specifications: U.S. letter size 8.5” x 11” / .5” margin / 12-point font (figures may be provided in a smaller font). Submissions that do not meet the specified guidelines for proposal preparation will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding.

 

This proposal should be written by the applicant and submission of this document will serve as verification that it has been written by the student.

 

7. Transcripts
Applicants are required to upload their academic transcripts and GRE/MCAT results (if applicable). Unofficial copies are acceptable. If you did not take GRE or MCAT, please state this in your extended letter as a postscript (P.S.).

8. References
Please note that the system will not accept your application unless the letters of support from your references have been successfully uploaded.

You are required to submit contact information for the following personnel:
• Department Chair (a.k.a. program director, center director, institute director, etc.)
• Thesis Adviser (If the department chair is also your thesis advisor, only enter their information once. Be sure to ask her/him to address the requested information from both perspectives as listed below.)
• General Reference(s) (1-3) who are familiar with you and your scientific career

Once you add their name and contact information to your application, an auto-generated email will be forwarded to them. The email will include instructions as to what they should address in their letter of support and it will provide a personalized hyperlink where they should upload their letter. Letters of support should be uploaded before February 1, 2021.

Please note that the system will not accept your application unless the letters of support from your references have been successfully uploaded.

We suggest you inform your references in advance of what items should be addressed in their letter of support. See below:

Department Chair (a.k.a. program director, center director, institute director, etc.) should provide:
• Contact information and department’s mission statement
• Assessment of applicant and proposed research, and confirmation that the department provides training in health outcomes research. See the section titled “Award Aims” to read our definition of health outcomes research.

Thesis Adviser should provide:
• Contact information and a brief biographical sketch (combine biosketch with the letter so one PDF is being uploaded)
• Assessment of the applicant and proposed research as well as confirm the applicant’s doctoral candidacy
• Information on the training program
• Thesis Adviser’s history of training / mentoring and a description of the facilities
• Additional financial support that will be available to the candidate
• How many trainees will be supervised during the candidate’s training period
• List of research support, including current and pending grants, total amounts and duration. Because the fellowship grants no research funds, this information is necessary in order to enable further perspective on evaluating the resources available for thesis research.
• Information to demonstrate the department’s focus on the discipline, and specifically state that the department is responsible for the training at the institution.

General reference(s) should provide:
• Contact information
• Assessment of the applicant
• General references who are connected to an applicant’s project should explain their roles and responsibilities regarding the project.

REMEMBER to begin your application early so your references have ample time to meet the February 1st deadline.

It is your responsibility that these letters are uploaded. The application portal will permit you to review your application and the status of your letters of support before your final submission. Be sure to check it frequently and do not wait until the last minute.

The application portal will not permit the application to be submitted until the letters of support have been uploaded.

Application deadline is February 1, 2021 @ 11:59 EDT. Late submissions will not be accepted.

NOTE

Submissions that do not meet the specified guidelines for proposal preparation will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding.

Award notification is April 15, 2021.

The PhRMA Foundation does not provide written reviews.

2021 Health Outcomes Research Brochure

The application portal will be open in late December 2020.   The deadline to submit an application including all letters of support (to be uploaded by the authors) is  deadline is February 1, 2021 @ 11:59 PM EST.