Population Health Research Support IDIQ

Help establish Innovative and flexible research centers capable of implementing epidemiologic and behavioral research focusing on human reproduction; pregnancy; infant, child and adolescent health, growth and development; and human behavior are needed to assist the Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in the successful completion of original population health research. The breadth and complexity of population health research undertaken by Division investigators poses unique challenges with regard to several aspects: defining sampling frameworks that can be enumerated, incorporating varying units of analysis (e.g., individuals, menstrual or treatment cycles, couples, twins/siblings, families) into study designs; specifically targeted recruitment and retention of study participants; and longitudinal questionnaire data and biospecimen collection to capture of time-varying covariates and outcomes. Of note is the hierarchical data structure generated by much of the Division's research reflecting the recruitment of triads/dyads or genome wide analytic studies (GWAS) or multi-scale data from study participants (e.g., day, cycle, woman and couple level data collection for fecundity and fertility research, schools, census levels).

The goal of the vehicle is to establish three to five research support centers capable of implementing sophisticated initiatives, from preconception through adulthood, using scientifically valid and rigorous methodologies, to assist in the conduct of population health research initiatives in total. It is anticipated that initially 1-2 new research (observational cohorts and/or intervention trials) initiatives would be implemented each year utilizing one or more centers per initiative.