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VIII. FULL PROPOSAL GUIDELINES (For proposals selected by the PAHO/FEP-CDC-EPA Advisory Committee for full development)

1. Proposals must be typed, double-spaced, 12-point type, on single-sided pages with 1” margins on all edges, and page numbers in the lower right hand corner. 
2. Proposals can be prepared in either English (preferred) or Spanish. 
3. The submission must not exceed 20 pages (references, appendices, letters of cooperation, and curricula vitae or biographies).
4. An electronic version of the proposal must also be submitted in Microsoft Word or as an Adobe PDF document. 
5. Proposals must contain the following sections.

TITLE PAGE.  Include the title of the proposed pilot project, names and institutions of Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators and other collaborators on a separate page from the rest of the proposal. TABLE OF CONTENTS (1 page).  Provide the page number for each section of the proposal. ABSTRACT (1 page).  Describe the pilot project in no more than 250 words and identify which indicator is being investigated. PILOT PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (1 – 2 pages).  Clearly state the goals and specific objectives of the project; BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE (up to 4 pages).  Briefly sketch the background of the present proposal, review related projects, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the data gaps that the pilot project is intended to fill.  Clearly demonstrate the need for the pilot project.  State the importance and environmental health relevance of the project, with emphasis on relevance to border populations. PILOT PROJECT METHODOLOGY (up to 5 pages).  Thoroughly describe data to be collected, data collection process, data analysis and interpretation.  Data collection instruments to be used in the project must be included in the proposal, or, if development of the data collection instrument is a part of the proposed project, the proposal must include a detailed description of the methodology to be used in developing the instrument and any models to be used in developing the instrument.  Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures and alternative approaches to achieve aims. USE OF ANTICIPATED RESULTS (1 page).  Explain how these specific results will be useful in directing future projects, modifying current practices or influencing the environmental health arena. PILOT PROJECT TIMELINE (1 page).  Provide a timeline for the pilot project using 30th May 2006 as the start date and 30th November 2007 as the latest end date. BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION (1-2 pages).  Clearly delineate and describe each budget entry. PERSONNEL DESCRIPTION (1 page).  List all investigators, collaborators, and consultants and describe in detail their involvement in the project and their qualifications. CONTACT INFORMATION (1 page).  Provide contact information for all collaborators of the pilot project as well as the fiscal agent if different from the collaborators. REFERENCES.  List all references. LETTERS OF COOPERATION (When needed).  Include letters from investigators and/or collaborators from other institutions.  Include letters from personnel at any institution involved in the project, describing any contribution to the project. CURRICULUM VITAE or BRIEF BIOGRAPHY.  Include a CV of the PI, each co-investigator, and each collaborator associated with the project.  (1-2 pages for each investigator.)  Do not exceed 2 pages per investigator. Use of the National Institutes of Health bios sketch form is encouraged. ETHICAL GUIDELINES.  Any project involving human subjects must contain: a) A detailed description of procedures to be followed to protect persons participating in the study. b) A copy of the informed consent form to be used with human subjects participating in the study. c) Signed certifications by the local / institutional / AD HOC ethical review committee. An applicant that is based in the United States, e.g. an institution of higher education, environmental organization, community-based organization, etc., must demonstrate that they comply with U.S. Federal Regulations regarding the protection of human research subjects and have a Federal Wide Assurance of Protection of Human Subjects.  Applicants based in the United States must also indicate the registered Institutional Review Board (IRB) that will be responsible for the review and approval of research protocols that involve human subjects.  An applicant that is based in Mexico must also demonstrate that they comply with human subject research regulations.  The IRB that will be responsible for the review and approval of research protocols for projects in Mexico will also be indicated.  Approval from the IRB must be obtained before any research can be initiated in either country and all documentation will be made available upon request if needed. For more information please read the Ethical Guidelines document, available on the PAHO website at: www.fep.paho.org/english/env/projects.htm

6. The applicant must demonstrate how the pilot project will aid the knowledge on a specific, or a few specific indicators, in the specific geographic area described. 
7. The applicant will be evaluated and scored based on the following criteria and specific elements:

Overall objectives

1. Understanding of the purpose of EHIs.
2. Explanation of how this (these) indicators will be sustainable over time.
3. Demonstrate how this project will help the Border 2012 objectives.
4. Clear understanding and explanation of how this project establishes a link between health and environment assessing improvement in public health from specific environmental actions or programs.

Technical Approach

Detailed and clear methodology and design.
Clear explanation of statistical analysis to be carried out.
Scientifically sound and appropriate methodology to evaluate and achieve the goals and objectives set.
Appropriateness of the methodology for the study area (e.g. sufficient cases for outcome of interest without affecting privacy issues).
Appropriateness of the methodology for the indicator(s) selected.
Feasibility of the project given the protocol guidelines of the country/ies involved.
The involvement of human subjects and protections from research risk relating to their participation in the proposed research will be assessed if appropriate to the proposal.
Qualifications
Experience and qualifications of investigators.
Availability of the institutional infrastructure needed to carry out the proposed research.
Location of the institution and personnel assigned should be located in the US-Mexico border states.
Specific Elements
The proposal should identify a small defined geographic area within the US-Mexico border region.
The proposal should define a baseline for comparison.
The proposal should specify EHIs for the focus area defined (i.e. water, air or waste tires).
The proposal should assess and discuss current data availability, utility and completeness, including the temporal scale of the data.
The proposal should evaluate the comparability of bi-national data if data from both sides of the Border are used in the project.
The proposal timeframe should include sufficient time to get clearance from human subjects committees should this be required for the project.

8. Data sources identified on both sides of the border should be characterized by all, or most of, following criteria so the data can be applied to select EHIs:

• Data must be measurable and quantifiable.
• Data must be amenable to be compared and tracked over time.
• Data should demonstrate linkages between environment and health.
• Data can be aggregated at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Data should be informative to the public, government agencies, and environmental/public health sectors.
• Data should have relevance to both policy and management needs.

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