Scientific and Public Health Impacts of the NIEHS Extramural Asthma Research Program - Insights from Primary Data.

A conceptual model was developed to guide evaluation of the long-term impacts of research grant programs at the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The model was then applied to the extramural asthma research portfolio in two stages: (1) the first used extant data sources, (2) the second involved primary data collection with asthma researchers and individuals in positions to use asthma research in development of programs, policies, and practices. Reporting on the second stage, this article describes how we sought to broaden the perspectives included in the assessment and obtain a more nuanced picture of research impacts by engaging those involved in conducting or using the research.

Partnerships for environmental and occupational justice: contributions to research, capacity and public health.

In 1994, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) initiated a program to address communication gaps between community residents, researchers and health care providers in the context of disproportionate environmental exposures. Over 13 years, together with the Environmental Protection Agency and National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, NIEHS funded 54 environmental justice projects. Here we examine the methods used and outcomes produced based on data gathered from summaries submitted for annual grantees' meetings.

Toward the assessment of scientific and public health impacts of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Extramural Asthma Research Program using available data.

Background: In the past 15 years, asthma prevalence has increased and is disproportionately distributed among children, minorities, and low-income persons. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Division of Extramural Research and Training developed a framework to measure the scientific and health impacts of its extramural asthma research to improve the scientific basis for reducing the health effects of asthma.

Objectives: Here we apply the framework to characterize the NIEHS asthma portfolio's impact in terms of publications, clinical applications of findings, community interventions, and technology developments.

Conceptual model of comprehensive research metrics for improved human health and environment.

Performance measurement predominantly consisted of near-term outputs measured through bibliometrics, but the recent focus is on accountability for investment based on long-term outcomes. Our objective is to build a logic model and associated metrics through which to measure the contribution of environmental health research programs to improvements in human health, the environment, and the economy. We developed a logic model that defines the components and linkages between extramural environmental health research grant programs and the outputs and outcomes related to health and social welfare, environmental quality and sustainability, economics, and quality of life, focusing on the environmental health research portfolio of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Division of Extramural Research and Training and delineates pathways for contributions by five types of institutional partners in the research process.

Conceptual model of comprehensive research metrics for improved human health and environment.

Objective: Federal, state, and private research agencies and organizations have faced increasing administrative and public demand for performance measurement. Historically, performance measurement predominantly consisted of near-term outputs measured through bibliometrics. The recent focus is on accountability for investment based on long-term outcomes.

NIEHS extramural global environmental health portfolio: opportunities for collaboration.

Background: Global environmental health has emerged as a critical topic for environmental health researchers and practitioners. Estimates of the environmental contribution of total worldwide disease burden range from 25 to 33%.

Objective: We reviewed grants funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) during 2005-2007 to evaluate the costs and scientific composition of the global environmental health portfolio, with the ultimate aim of strengthening global environmental health research partnerships.

May 2006 NEIHS News.

Short articles on the following topics: *NIEHS Strategic Plan: New Frontiers in Environmental Sciences and Human Health; Beyond the Bench: Environmental Health Nursing: Putting Knowledge into Practice; Headliners: Inhibition of RLIP76 Causes Complete Regression of Melanoma in Mice.

The PsychoedPlusMed approach to erectile dysfunction treatment: the impact of combining a psychoeducational intervention with sildenafil.

We investigated the effect of adding a psychoeducational intervention to oral sildenafil (PsychoedPlusMed) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Overall treatment satisfaction, as measured by the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS; Althof & Seftel, 1995), was significantly higher in the PsychoedPlusMed patients than in the sildenafil-only patients at 12 weeks and at 24 weeks. PsychoedPlusMed participants reported higher satisfaction with treatment onset, treatment duration, and sexual confidence.