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Risk Prevention and Health Behavior (RPHB) Study Section: Endorsement of Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior (RPIA) Anita Miller Sostek, Ph.D. Director, DCPS, CSR, NIH, DHHS Peer Review Advisory Committee May, 2006

Principles for Modifying Study Sections  Evaluation of the stability of the workload over time.  Extensive input from a broad base of stakeholders:  Chair and committee members  IC staff  Representatives of the relevant research communities.  Opportunities for interaction among the stakeholder groups to inform a plan for the initial partitioning of the study section.

Process for Forming the RPIA Study Section  Initially, a SEP was formed to reduce overload in two of the four study sections in the RPHB IRG. A logical body of applications that could be removed concerned addictive behaviors (includes, the use or abuse of alcohol, tobacco, other licit and illicit drugs, and gambling).  After a couple of review rounds, it was clear that the applications formed a coherent, well integrated area of science. Gradually, related IRGs (BBBP and HOP) contributed applications and by the 5/2006 review round the RPIA SEP had a full review load.  During the same period, the study section content was discussed with experienced reviewers, program officers and leaders in the field. A variety of stakeholders assisted with the planning and the direction that guidelines should take.

RPIA Topics that Evolved in the SEP  Etiology of substance abuse and other addictions across life span  Mechanisms leading to addiction vulnerability, including biological, social and psychological factors  Addiction within high-risk groups  Factors leading to progression of substance use and relapse  Prevention of underage drinking, tobacco use and use of illegal drugs  Tobacco cessation and relapse prevention  Prevention of the progression from use to abuse  Relapse prevention and abstinence support  Prevention of problem gambling and treatment

Pre-RPIA SEP “Membership”  SRA: Gayle Boyd, Ph.D.  16 reviewers have participated in three or more precursor meetings.  6 reviewers are women  2 reviewers are minorities  Geographic distribution: East (4), South (5), Central (3), West (4) 10/20051/2006 Review Load4746 5/200610/

Addictions-Related SEP Applications by Mechanism and Council Round

Overview of Draft Guidelines for RPIA Study Section  Research that aims to identify psychosocial and biological antecedents and risk pathways for the onset, development and progression of addictive behaviors across the lifespan.  Research leading to the development and testing of interventions to prevent or reduce onset, progression toward addiction, and continuation of addictive and related problem behaviors.  Domains of risk include biological, genetic, psychological, behavioral, interpersonal, and environmental factors, at the individual and group levels in humans.  Studies may address personality, temperament, genetic vulnerability, affect/motivation, family and social influences, co-occurring risk behaviors, co-morbidity, violence, victimization, social or economic disadvantage, and other factors pertaining to individuals, situations or social environment(s).  Both qualitative and quantitative methods may be applied.

Telephone conference was convened to discuss formation of RPIA and draft guidelines. Participants included leaders in the field, reviewers and program officers from affected ICs  Unanimous agreement about need for such a study section  Agreement on importance of biological and genetic factors and need for interdisciplinary expertise  Enthusiasm for housing studies of risk and protective influences with prevention  Overlap issues concerning group/community approaches (w/ HOP) and treatment/intervention/ services research (w/ former ADAMHA ICs) Comments were considered in updating guidelines

Current Directions in Addictions Research to be Accommodated in RPIA  Interdisciplinary focus, e.g., biology, genetics, neuroscience  Cessation and relapse in adolescents  Co-morbidity  “Real world” measurement  Cross-generation transmission of risk  High-risk groups  New intervention delivery modes  Cost effectiveness