Alpha-1 Foundation Seeks RT Applicants for New Grants

August 6, 2008

The Alpha-1 Foundation has opened up 2 new grant opportunities to respiratory therapists.

RTs are specifically being invited to submit Requests for Application (RFAs) for projects aimed at “Alpha-1 Detection in the Veterans Affairs System” and “Innovative Approaches to Efficient Alpha-1 Detection in COPD.”

Physicians, nurses, RTs, and physician assistants are eligible to serve as principal investigators.

The VA grant is open to any VA hospital or ambulatory clinic located in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. VA facilities may combine their efforts to submit a joint RFA.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, those that:

• Impact VA healthcare providers’ behaviors toward the testing for Alpha-1.
• Show effectiveness of testing programs for Alpha-1 in in-patients.
• Show effective participation of allied health professionals in the detection of Alpha-1.
• Result in early diagnosis of individuals with Alpha-1 at outpatient VA offices, before extensive lung/liver damage has occurred.

The grant offers a maximum support of $50,000.

Projects for the innovative approaches grant include, but are not limited to, those that:

• Impact clinicians and their behavior towards the screening of patients for Alpha-1.
• Result in early diagnosis of individuals with Alpha-1 at outpatient facilities, before extensive lung damage has occurred.
• Show effectiveness of testing programs for Alpha-1 detection in in-patients.
• Show effective participation of allied health professionals in the detection of Alpha-1; e.g. respiratory therapists, nurses, physician assistants.
• Explore effectiveness of Alpha-1 testing at alternative testing sites; e.g. pulmonary function labs, mobile clinics, etc.
• Explore ways to accelerate the reporting of test results to providers and patients.

The grant carries maximum funding of $70,000.

The new grant opportunities represent a tradition at the Foundation of seeking out RT applicants for Alpha-1 grants. In 2007, therapists were invited to submit proposals for research fellowships aimed at identifying Alpha-1 within the population of individuals with COPD.

You can learn more about the new Alpha-1 Foundation grants on the Foundation web site.