Health Research at the NSF

Background NSF Health research can be found in many areas in NSF and within the mission of several cross-directorate initiatives. It is a case of use-inspired basic research. The scientific advances in basic science can be in computing, information science, engineering or social or behavioral science. The benefit to health research is important, but second to the advances in basic science. Major homes for this research: Smart and Connected Health (SCH) Big Data Cyber-physical Systems (CPS) Core Programs (IIS, CCF, CNS) QuBBD (NSF/MPS and NIH)

Smart & Connected Health (SCH) Inter-Agency Program National Science Foundation National Institutes of Health NSF Solicitation NSF 16-601 (replace 13-543) Deadline: Dec. 08, 2016 Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering, NSF

Smart & Connected Health (SCH) EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) NSF DCL NSF 17-015 Deadline: Dec. 14, 2016 Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering, NSF

Overarching Goals of SCH To transform health: from reactive to proactive from experienced-based to evidence-based medicine From clinic-centered to patient center care To wellness that extends to the home, workplace and community Move focus from disease to health and wellbeing at the individual, system, and organizational level

Scope of SCH Program Goal: Seek improvements in safe, effective, efficient, equitable, & patient-centered health through innovations in fundamental computer & information sciences, engineering & social, behavioral & economic sciences Funded work must include & address: A key health problem Fill in research gaps that exist in science & technology in support of health & wellness Include a research team with appropriate expertise in the major areas involved in the work Activities should complement rather than duplicate core programs of NSF & NIH as well as those of other agencies (ex. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality / Veteran's Administration) “advances in sociotechnical design, and in human system integration, that will ultimately produce scalable solutions that integrate well within hospital workflows and patients' lives”

Smart and Connected Health Research Areas Integration of EHR, clinical and patient data Access to information, data harmonization Semantic representation, fusion, visualization Digital Health Information Infrastructure Informatics and Infrastructure Datamining and machine learning Inference, cognitive decision support system Bring raw image data to clinical practice Data to Knowledge to Decision Reasoning under uncertainty Systems for empowering patient Models of readiness to change State assessment from images video Empowered Individuals Energized, enabled, educated Assistive technologies embodying computational intelligence Medical devices, co-robots, cognitive orthotics, rehab coaches Sensors, Devices, and Robotics Sensor-based actuation The fundamental research issues appear to naturally cluster into four broad research areas. I would like to emphasize that these are not mutually exclusive and do not represent a unique classification. Rather this classification should be used as a guide in selecting fundamental questions to be addressed by the SHB research. Digital health information infrastructure is associated with continuous accrual and integration of Electronic Health Records (EHR), pharma and clinical research data in a distributed but federated system. The ultimate goal of this research area is to bring data such as EHR to where it is needed, when it is needed. The second area Data-to-Knowledge-to-Decision comprises research concerned with making the best possible use of the data in support of evidence-based healthcare. The third area is focused on how technology could empowered individuals to participate in their own healthcare that could lead to better and more affordable care. Sensors, devices, and robotics represent technology for sensing and intervention that enables closing the loop using intelligent technologies I will describe briefly each of these four areas in more detail

What NOT to do! The following will likely result in a declined proposal: Intellectual merit is exclusively focused in health/health care SCH requires transformative advancements in computer science, engineering, behavioral and/or social sciences inspired by a need in health or healthcare Collaborations with medical providers who have no experience in research Appropriate research collaborators are key to integrating technical advancements with challenges in the health field Proposal is written by yourself and health collaborator is only consulted just prior to submission Proposed research should be influenced by health collaborators from its inception! Consider attending grand rounds to immerse yourself in health challenges and meet collaborators, or attend technical conferences to meet computer scientists and engineering collaborators Propose clinical trials or traditional disease-centric medical, clinical, pharmacological, biological, or physiological studies

Joint NSF/NIH Initiative on Quantitative Approaches to Biomedical Big Data (QuBBD) Supports research that addresses important application areas at the intersection of the biomedical and data sciences Encourages inter- and multi-disciplinary collaborations that focus on innovative and transformative approaches Collaborative efforts that bring together quantitative scientists and biomedical researchers are a requirement The program is designed to foster and support new inter- and multi-disciplinary teams of investigators.

Joint NSF/NIH Initiative on Quantitative Approaches to Biomedical Big Data (QuBBD) Examples of application areas that are appropriate: Development of methods for mobile health (mHealth) data, where mHealth includes new data not traditionally used in the biomedical sciences (e.g. data from mobile devices, social networks, wearable electronics, sensors) Development of methods for precision (or personalized) medicine. The goal of precision medicine is to develop a targeted treatment (or prevention) regimen that takes into account unique characteristics of an individual such as genetic makeup, environmental factors, and lifestyle. Deadline: September 12, 2017 (NSF 16-573)

Developing techniques to manage and analyze data Critical Techniques, Technologies and Methodologies for Advancing Foundations and Applications of Big Data Sciences and Engineering (BIGDATA) Cornerstone of the National Big Data R&D Initiative launched March 2012. Two categories for submission: Foundations: Encourages fundamental techniques, theories, methodologies and technologies of broad applicability. Innovative Applications: Encourages novel techniques, methodologies, and technologies of interest to at least one specific application (special requirements). Awards: $200K - $500K per year for 3 - 4 years. Cross-Directorate and Cross-Agency Solicitation: NSF CISE, BIO, EHR, ENG, GEO, MPS, and SBE with OFR. Developing techniques to manage and analyze data Proposals due: March 22, 2017

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Deeply integrating computation, communication, and control into physical systems Aligns with the National Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Initiative, and helped to build the foundation for the National Smart Cities Initiative. Aims to develop the core system science needed to engineer complex cyber- physical systems. Serves multiple key national priorities. Includes Transition to Practice option. Cross-Directorate and Cross-Agency Solicitation: NSF CISE and ENG with DHS, DOT, NASA, NIH, USDA. Transportation Energy and Industrial Automation Healthcare and Biomedical Critical Infrastructure Advances in CPS hold the potential to reshape our world with more responsive, precise, and efficient systems Cross-agency program to develop core system science needed to engineer complex cyber-physical systems. Multi-agency commitments: DHS, DOT, NASA, and NIH NSF: CISE and ENG Serves multiple key national priorities, including transportation, energy, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Includes Transition to Practice option. NSF co-chairs, with NIST, interagency Cyber Physical Systems Senior Steering Group. Transportation Faster and safer aircraft Improved use of airspace Safer, more efficient cars Energy and Industrial Automation Homes and offices that are more energy efficient and cheaper to operate Distributed micro-generation for the grid Healthcare and Biomedical Increased use of effective in-home care More capable devices for diagnosis New internal and external prosthetics Critical Infrastructure More reliable power grid Highways that allow denser traffic with increased safety Proposals due: March 6, 2017