TAFP Foundation-based support for research in Texas

This is part three of a special four-part series. To access the other parts, follow the links below:

+ Part 1: Examining the health of family medicine research
+ Part 2: Outcomes of Foundation-supported research
+ Part 4: Supporting the future development of research in Texas

As the philanthropic arm of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, the TAFP Foundation emphasizes scientific and educational activities in support of the discipline and the promotion of health among patients in Texas. The objective of the Research Grants Program is to stimulate, support, and disseminate family medicine research that promotes high-quality family medicine care and health for the people of Texas. Funding priorities for the program include:

• family medicine manpower and distribution,
• family medicine outcome studies,
• ambulatory care studies, and
• other studies in support of the discipline.

Since 1988, the TAFP Foundation has offered funding support for family medicine research in Texas.

Record of Support

Despite the limited availability of funds, the Research Grants Program has provided a total of about $210,000 in support of 58 studies to date. At any point in time, the Foundation supports up to 12 studies. Table 5 summarizes the distribution of areas supported through this program.

Half of the studies focused on ambulatory care for a variety of clinical problems. In addition, these 58 funded studies represent the work of 44 different researchers from across the state of Texas. About 75 percent of the completed studies have published a summary in TEXAS FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

Financial Stewardship

Due to the limited availability of funds, the Research Grants Program attempts to ensure the maximum value in its funding decisions. This policy enables the Foundation to support as many studies as possible.

Grant applications are reviewed by the Research Grants Committee based upon the following criteria:

• relevance to family medicine,
• quality of study design,
• appropriateness of data analysis, and
• cost versus benefit.

Funding of approved studies is dependent upon their approval by the local Institutional Review Board to ensure protection of human subjects. In addition, researchers are required to submit progress reports twice annually and a final report at the conclusion of the study.

The Foundation employs several budgetary policies designed to limit funding expenses. For instance, requested direct costs are limited to a maximum of $5,000 per study. TAFP Foundation funds can only be used for direct costs; no indirect costs are supported. Travel funds for the presentation of results at conferences are not provided and because conducting research is an expected part of employment, faculty in academic or teaching programs cannot receive funding to support their time spent on research. Funds cannot be used to purchase computer equipment; this should be provided by their institutions. All expenses must be clearly justified in the application, any unused funds must be returned to the Foundation and the Research Grants Committee must approve any rebudgeting of funds. In addition, when funded studies are to be conducted at least partially outside of Texas, the Foundation provides half of the funding and encourages the investigator to seek matching funds from AAFP.

These policies have resulted in a high yet conservative funding rate. Since 2005, 18 grant applications have been funded. However, 22 percent of these funded studies received less than the amount requested. Thus, in 20 years, the Foundation has supported 44 researchers involved in 58 studies for little over $200,000.