This area of research includes the development of new technologies, mechanisms of human disease, therapeutic interventions and clinical trials. NIMH realizes that there are serious obstacles to accomplishing the objectives of this program. New physicians are faced with the rather severe demands placed on them to perform clinical duties. This reality is compounded by the difficulties of the NIH funding channels, as well as the real disincentives of both time and money involved in clinicians devoting their careers to research. D.s are also challenged by the need to obtain grant support and at the same time acquire the clinical knowledge to function effectively in translational research activities.
Multidisciplinary research is especially encouraged.
This knowledge can be increased through cost analysis studies, cost effectiveness studies, cost benefit studies, cost offset studies, and cost modeling studies. It can also be increased through advances in the methods used to measure costs of treatment and prevention interventions. The research objectives include, but are not limited to, the broad goal of advancing scientific understanding of treatment and prevention costs and outcomes as they relate to costs. Studies to improve the methodologies of estimating costs and comparing costs to outcomes are also encouraged. Applications are encouraged to study skeletal growth and development from the perspectives of mechanisms of pattern formation, cartilage induction, endochondral ossification, intramembranous bone formation, biomechanics, and the clinical treatment of the resulting disorders.