As the U.S. health care system continues to transition away from a fee-for-service payment model, it is critical that we accelerate translational and clinical research that demonstrates the value of care provided by sleep specialists.
We’ve already identified strategic opportunities in sleep and circadian research. Now the American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF) and MyApnea.org are acting as catalysts that will help convert those perceived opportunities into realized achievements.
American Sleep Medicine Foundation
The ASMF was established by the AASM in 1998 with a mission to enhance sleep health for all. Earlier this year the AASM announced a five-year, $10 million commitment to continue supporting the ASMF grant programs.
In response the ASMF, under the leadership of President Dr. Merrill Wise, reconfigured its grant programs to maximize the impact of this funding. The new Category I and Category II Strategic Research Awards are the centerpiece of the foundation’s strategy.
In order to support the most significant and influential projects, the ASMF has set the top funding level of the Strategic Research Awards at $250,000. Applications should focus on assessment, improvement, or innovation to achieve optimal outcomes, quality, cost-effectiveness, or value in delivery of sleep health care in the U.S. Less than one week remains for the 2014 application period, so be sure to submit your applications – and encourage your colleagues to apply – by Oct. 13.
Currently there also is an open call for applications for the new Focused Projects Award. Offering grants of up to $20,000, this mechanism will support proposals involving outcomes, quality metrics and other aspects of health services research, as well as humanitarian or educational projects. Applications are due by Nov. 3. Finally, the ASMF just announced the 2015 grant cycle for the ABSM Junior Faculty Research Award, which assists new faculty in the development of a career in academic sleep medicine. Applications are due by Dec. 8.
MyApnea.org
Another catalyst is the Sleep Apnea Patient Centered Outcomes Network, a Patient-Powered Research Network funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a nonprofit, non-governmental organization authorized by Congress through the Affordable Care Act. Led by principal investigator and AASM Board of Directors member Dr. Susan Redline, the ambitious project is engaging obstructive sleep apnea patients and their families to identify aspects of screening, prevention and management that are most relevant to patients. The project also will create a centralized web portal to support comparative effectiveness research.
Your assistance is needed to help the project meet its goal of recruiting and engaging 50,000 sleep apnea patients. Encourage your OSA patients to join this patient-led community by signing up today at www.myapnea.org.
By working together we all can play a role in seizing these opportunities to catalyze strategic sleep research.
Sincerely,
Timothy I. Morgenthaler, MD
President
