Rivka Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 In my non-homeschooling life I am a researcher. This morning I opened up my work e-mail and found official notice from the National Institute of Mental Health: they have funded my grant proposal and I can begin work! I am so excited!! This has been in progress for a while. I submitted the grant last May (well, I submitted it last January and it was rejected; I submitted a revised and improved version in May) and in July the peer reviewers determined that it was an excellent proposal with high significance for public health. But then I waited, and waited, and waited, and waited while the higher-up people at NIH debated their budget and funding priorities. Now I have three years of funding support for my research, which is HUGE. In this funding climate, particularly, it's a huge deal to have grant money. I study conspiracy theories about HIV and how they affect the treatment choices of African-Americans with HIV. Previously I've found that people who believe the conspiracy theories are less likely to take HIV medicines and more likely to drop out of treatment. Now I am being funded to develop an intervention to counteract conspiracy theories and help people with HIV commit to medical treatment. If my intervention works, it will help save lives and prevent HIV infections. I am SO EXCITED. (I figure that I have to specify that, because I'm sure it doesn't show.) :D:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabeline Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 :party::party::party::party:Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 That's wonderful! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 This is awesome. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Wow! That's great! I am SO happy for you. Amy (procrastinating on the thesis again, but hoping to be a researcher too someday...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 That's incredible! Way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) That is wonderful! Congratulations! It sounds like fascinating research. It does make sense that minorities are more suspicious of the medical establishment. Edited March 1, 2011 by Sis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Rivka, that's marvelous!:D I'm also all :bigear: about the project. Congratulations! Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Yeah!!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations! I am so proud of you! (My research and grant-writing days are long past, alas.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Wow! That is terrific news, congratulations! :party::party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmoe Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congrats! It's so good to know what you'll be doing for the next three years! Yah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Wow! Congratulations are in order. That is fantastic news. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OH_Homeschooler Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 That is an AMAZING accomplishment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Way to go! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 How awesome and super exciting for you! :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Wow! Congratulations - and be sure to keep us updated as to the results of your research! :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooblink Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations, Rivka! That is great news. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 Wow! That's great! I am SO happy for you. Amy (procrastinating on the thesis again, but hoping to be a researcher too someday...) Oh, have I ever been there! I promise that there is life after your thesis and it is much, MUCH better!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations, Rivka! That is great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 :party::party::party::party: CONGRATULATIONS!!! What wonderful news! Thank you for your hard work in the field of mental health and HIV treatment and prevention. Both are very noble causes. Warmly, astrid :party::party::party::party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 That is wonderful Rivka!!! Congratulations!!!! :hurray: I hope your research makes a difference and saves lives! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 :party: It must be a great feeling to realize your work can save lives! Congratulations!!! Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2denj Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Very Cool!!! So happy for you!!! How awesome to know that you can save lives!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britomart Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Wow! Congratulations! That sounds like work well-worth doing; I'm so glad you got the grant to do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congrats! That's fabulous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations!!! And thanks for working on something so darn important!!! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 In my non-homeschooling life I am a researcher. This morning I opened up my work e-mail and found official notice from the National Institute of Mental Health: they have funded my grant proposal and I can begin work! I am so excited!! This has been in progress for a while. I submitted the grant last May (well, I submitted it last January and it was rejected; I submitted a revised and improved version in May) and in July the peer reviewers determined that it was an excellent proposal with high significance for public health. But then I waited, and waited, and waited, and waited while the higher-up people at NIH debated their budget and funding priorities. Now I have three years of funding support for my research, which is HUGE. In this funding climate, particularly, it's a huge deal to have grant money. I study conspiracy theories about HIV and how they affect the treatment choices of African-Americans with HIV. Previously I've found that people who believe the conspiracy theories are less likely to take HIV medicines and more likely to drop out of treatment. Now I am being funded to develop an intervention to counteract conspiracy theories and help people with HIV commit to medical treatment. If my intervention works, it will help save lives and prevent HIV infections. I am SO EXCITED. (I figure that I have to specify that, because I'm sure it doesn't show.) :D:D:D It sounds similar to organ donation issues that some cultures have. "My family member isn't dead. You just want to take his organs and give them to a rich person." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations!!! What a great and wonderful thing you're doing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Great news and what interesting research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 It sounds similar to organ donation issues that some cultures have. "My family member isn't dead. You just want to take his organs and give them to a rich person." Yes, definitely similar. If I'm able to develop an effective intervention, it could then be adapted to many different medical situations. I think that's part of the reason why I got funded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 This is fabulous! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congrats! It sounds like very useful research. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations Rivka!!! That is fabulous news, and what a great project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVA Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations ! Pardon my obvious ignorance: What kind of conspiracy theories are you speaking about? I must be really out of it to not know. Sorry, also, if this was already asked as I didn't read every post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations ! Pardon my obvious ignorance: What kind of conspiracy theories are you speaking about? I must be really out of it to not know. Sorry, also, if this was already asked as I didn't read every post. You're not out of it at all, you're probably just not part of a subculture where HIV issues are prominent. There are two strains of variant belief about HIV. - HIV denialism, the belief that HIV does not cause AIDS. Some names associated with denialism: the late Christine Maggiore, Peter Duesberg, former South African President Mbeki, and the editor of Mothering magazine. Denialism is usually accompanied by the belief that HIV medicines are poisonous and that a healthy lifestyle and natural/herbal medicines are all anyone needs to be healthy. Some denialists are quite well-spoken and intelligent, and they've been successful at getting their ideas into public notice - usually by arguing that "fairness" demands that "both sides" be presented, or by hooking themselves into movements with more public acceptance, like alternative medicine. Because of denialists, a lot of people who don't follow HIV have the vague impression that there is some doubt about the cause of AIDS. (There isn't.) - HIV conspiracy theories, usually the belief that HIV was intentionally created as a form of genocide against "undesirable" people like African-Americans and gay men. Conspiracy theorists often believe that there is a secret cure for HIV that is available to the rich and well-connected. (I hear Magic Johnson mentioned a lot.) They also believe that HIV medicines are poisonous and tend to think that doctors are secretly experimenting on patients and using them as guinea pigs. HIV conspiracy theorists don't have as much of a public voice as denialists. I'd say this is more of an underground/disadvantaged position. The population I study (disadvantaged inner-city African-Americans) falls mostly in the second group, although I also see some HIV denialism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mejane Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congrats! That sounds like an interesting study. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschooltoone Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulation! that's great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Yay for you! :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 wow! How exciting for you, and how wonderful that you will be helping other people!!!!! Bravo!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 That sounds wonderful! I hope all goes well in your work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arghmatey Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelanieM Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Congratulations!! Yay you!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jld Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Excellent!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Cool research topic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Inna* Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Congratulations! :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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