Looking for funding for a collaborative research project? If so, we wanted to let you know that the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) is accepting applications for its Community University Research (CURES) program through September 11, 2015.

Open to communities and community-based organizations across the State of Michigan, the CURES program provides funding to support collaborative and innovative research projects that offer unique solutions for improving patient and community health outcomes. Six funding mechanisms are available to support various types of translational research.

Community and academic investigators who want to learn more about MICHR’s CURES funding opportunity are encouraged to view an informational webinar at this link. You may also CLICK HERE for information about MICHR’s pilot grants, including application expectations and eligibility requirements. If you have any questions about this CURES funding opportunity, then please contact Adam Paberzs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (734) 763-8880. 

The Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (Detroit URC) has selected 12 community-academic teams from across the U.S. to participate in the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Partnership Academy. This new, year-long program is designed to enhance participants' knowledge and skills in CBPR, with the aim of using this collaborative research approach to address racial and ethnic inequities in health in their communities. 

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the CBPR Partnership Academy includes a week-long intensive course, taught by both University of Michigan academic researchers and Detroit community partners, at the U-M School of Public Health in July; one year of structured learning opportunities; and access to ongoing networking and mentorship. Throughout the year, the newly formed partnerships will work together to develop and implement a joint CBPR research project focused on improving the health and well-being of the communities involved.

Academy participants were selected through an extensive, competitive review process and hail from the states of Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, North Carolina, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin. There are participants from large cities, rural areas, and a tribal community—and the communities they are working with include low-income new mothers, immigrant workers, HIV-positive individuals, and others. Some of the issues being addressed by the Academy teams include obesity, violence prevention, worker health and safety, and mental health.

"We are very excited about our inaugural cohort for the CBPR Partnership Academy," said Barbara Israel, Director of the Detroit URC and one of the early co-pioneers of the innovative CBPR approach. "It's a very diverse group of community and academic partners, all of whom are doing very meaningful work."

Please click here for profiles of the 2015 Academy Teams. 

University of Michigan School of Public Health (U-M SPH) Professor and Detroit URC Co-Director Richard Lichtenstein has been selected for the 2015 Gary L. Filerman Prize for Educational Leadership.

The Prize recognizes individuals from Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)-member programs who have made outstanding contributions to the field of health administration education; exhibited leadership in the field; and enriched their institutions, students, and field through their work.

"Please join me in congratulating Rich for this prestigious and well-deserved award for his outstanding contributions to educational leadership in health administration," said Detroit URC Director and U-M SPH Professor Barbara Israel. "As anyone who has been fortunate enough to take a course from Rich, or see him make a presentation, he indeed exemplifies the best that educators can accomplish, and he has thousands of students who have benefited from his teaching. I so value his knowledge, teaching style, and approach to students and colleagues alike." 

Prof. Lichtenstein, who received both his MPH and PhD from U-M, is the S. J. Axelrod Collegiate Professor of Health Management and Policy. His research interests include: Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR); Racial and ethnic disparities in health; Barriers to health insurance coverage for low-income children; The effects of discrimination on access to health care; and, efforts to increase diversity in the health workforce.

Prof. Lichtenstein is the director of the U-M SPH Summer Enrichment Program in Health Management, an internship program for undergraduate students interested in eliminating health disparities. Dr. Lichtenstein is also on the Board of Directors of the Neighborhood Service Organization in Detroit and of the Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, MI. He is also a trustee of two Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs), which provide health benefits to groups of retirees. Dr. Lichtenstein formerly was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

The Prize will be awarded at the AUPHA Annual Meeting in June 2015.