Background

Funds are available from the American Academy of Pediatrics Neonatal Resuscitation Program® (NRP) to support research that furthers knowledge in the area of neonatal resuscitation.  These funds may be used to generate pilot data to allow the investigator to develop the basis for an application for independent research support through conventional granting mechanisms. 

There are two types of grant awards available – an NRP Research Grant and a Young Investigator Award. The number of awards and grants to be awarded annually will be based on funds available for the current year, the number of grant applications received, and the amount of funding requested. 

Area of Study Interest

The Neonatal Resuscitation Program was initiated in 1987.  Since that time more than 80,000 health care personnel have been trained as NRP Instructors and over 3 million health care professionals have been trained as providers.  The NRP Steering Committee is interested in the effect of this program on neonatal morbidity and mortality as well as other interventions that may improve the outcome of neonatal resuscitation. Submitted studies may be basic science, clinical, epidemiological or educational research pertaining to the broad area of neonatal resuscitation. 

Application Procedures

Potential applicants for either the NRP Research Grant or the NRP Young Investigator Award must submit an intent for application to the NRP Steering Committee by XXX 2014. 

The intents will be reviewed and the committee will ask a select group to submit full proposals. Those selected will receive a full application from the AAP Division of Life Support Programs on or before XXX 2014.

Completed full applications must be received by the AAP Division of Life Support Programs on or before XXX 2014. Applicants will be informed of the decision regarding their application by XXX 2014.  Funds will be distributed in 2015.

Applicants can apply for either a NRP Research Grant or NRP Young Investigator Award, not both.

Eligibility

Any health care professional from a US or Canadian medical institution is invited to apply for the NRP Research Grant.  Submissions including investigators practicing in countries other than the U.S. or Canada must demonstrate a substantive role of the US or Canadian investigator(s) in the research process.  Moreover, projects which are to be conducted outside of the US or Canada must have approval of a US or Canadian Institutional Review Board (IRB). All investigations should follow the intellectual property guidelines of standard academic journals (eg, New England Journal of Medicine).

The NRP Young Investigator Award is only available to residents, fellows-in-training or those professionals who are no more than four years out of their fellowship.

Please note that all funds will be awarded to the applicant's institution.

Budget Guidelines

Requests can include costs for supplies, minor equipment, and salaries for support personnel.  Funds are not to be used for faculty salaries (including the primary investigator's) or indirect costs.  Time and efforts of physician trainees or technical support can be included in the budget; however, the requested expense for their time must be clearly justified.  Travel reimbursement is limited to local travel for research purposes and travel to locations with pertinent resources for the proposed study.  IRB fees up to $1,000 may be included in the budget.

NRP Research Grant applications should not exceed $50,000 (US Dollars). 

NRP Young Investigator Award applications should not exceed $15,000 (US Dollars). 

Funding is for one year; however, a non-funded extension up to one year may be requested.

Top Initiative

What are the optimal methods of teaching and evaluating the cognitive, technical and behavioral skills necessary for successful resuscitation of the newborn?

Basic and Clinical Research

Topic: Effective delivery of ventilation

Questions of interest:

·       What devices are most effective and least damaging to the lungs of neonates who require assisted ventilation during resuscitation?  Compare the efficacy and side effects of the self inflating bag, the flow inflating bag and the T-piece resuscitator.

·       When administering positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in the delivery room, should volume and or pressure be measured? If volume is measured, what is the optimum volume to deliver as compliance changes while trying to establish a functional residual capacity (FRC) in a newborn?

·       Is use of PEEP or prolonged inflation times during positive pressure ventilation important in more quickly establishing FRC and stabilizing the heart rate during neonatal resuscitation?

·       Is there a role for CPAP to help in the stabilization of the spontaneously breathing term newborn?

Topic:  Use of Oxygen

Questions of interest:

·       In infants

·       How much supplemental oxygen should be used when there is persistent heart rate < 60 bmp despite 30-45 seconds of effective ventilation

·       What is the effect of administering room air as compared to supplemental oxygen during circulatory arrest on restoring cerebral blood flow and /or subsequent brain injury?

Topic: Chest Compressions in the Newborn

Questions of interest:

• What is the optimal ratio of chest compressions to PPV breaths in neonatal resuscitation?
• Is coordination of compressions and ventilations important?
• When (i.e., at what HR) should chest compressions be initiated?
• Is there benefit to giving epinephrine prior to initiation of chest compressions?
• Are there better methods to evaluate the efficacy of chest compressions?

Education

Topic:  Optimization of NRP Education

Questions of interest:

• What is the best method for teaching specific NRP skills?
• Do live or on-line refresher sessions improve retention of NRP skills?
• How often should providers who perform resuscitation infrequently be given refresher courses in both cognitive and procedural skills?
• If providers who perform neonatal resuscitation are trained in the NRP, are survival rates and post-resuscitation outcomes improved?
• Does use of simulation and debriefing techniques for teaching/ reviewing NRP skills improve teamwork?  Competency in resuscitation?

More Details

Please review Perlman J, Kattwinkel J, Wyllie J, Guinsburg R, Velaphi S. Neonatal resuscitation: in pursuit of evidence gaps in knowledge. Resuscitation. May 2012;83(5):545-550

In addition to completing this online form, you will need the following items.

1. CV or biographic sketch for the primary investigator.

2. Letter of Support from department chair or supervisor assuring approval of the planned study. Young Investigator Applicants need to include Letter of Support from senior investigator specifying how he/she will assist in carrying out this research from the appropriate institutional committee reviewing research.

3. Abstract. The abstract is not to exceed one typewritten, single-spaced page.  The page should have one-inch margins on all sides with a font size no smaller than 11 pt.  It should briefly address the following considerations, as applicable to the specific project being proposed.

1.      Statement of the problem

2.      Hypotheses to be tested

2.1    Primary hypothesis (including expected effect size, if applicable)

2.2    Secondary hypotheses

3.      Specific aims

4.      Background

5.      Experimental design and methods

5.1   Study design

5.2   Study population (inclusion and exclusion criteria).  If animal study, specify reasons for species and animal model selection.  If human study, address gender and minority issues.

5.3   Study intervention (for clinical studies)

5.4   Randomization/allocation procedure (if relevant)

5.5   Methods of data analysis and sample size estimates

5.6   Risks/benefits (clinical studies)

6.      Anticipated results, potential problems, and alternate approaches

7.      Relevance to NRP