Dear Colleagues,

We had a record 82 peer reviewed journal publications last year, thanks in large part to the D&D grant program and Journal Author Support Group!

The D&D Review Committee (Jacob Klerman, Lauren Olsho, Laura Peck, Bill Rhodes, Minki Chatterji) met in August  to review proposals for funding beginning October 2014.  They received 12 proposals, and have funds to support 7 of them.  They are:

·         Alison Comfort, IHD: “Do Free Pregnancy Test Kits Increase the Number of Family Planning Clients Supplied by Community Health Workers? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Madagascar.”

·         Sue Greco, ERD:  “Disease and Economic Burden of Arsenic in Private Wells in the United States.”

·         Todd Grindal, SEP: “A Tale of Two Systems: Family Income and Special Education.”

·         Chia-Lin Ho, USH: “The Categorical-Dimensional Exploration of Combat-Related PTSD.”

·         Norah Mulvaney-Day, USH: “Tobacco Use Among Youth with Behavioral Health Issues: A Structured Literature Review.”

·         Sharmini Radakrishnan, USH: “The Impact of Information in Health Care Markets: Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Abuse of Opioid Pain Relievers.”

·         Jorge Ugaz, IHD: “Impact of Natural Disasters on Fertility Behavior: Evidence of Treatment Effect Heterogeneity.”

There will be another competition in February 2015 for funding April  2015.  Many of the proposals not funded at this round have been encouraged to make a presentation at JASG/Journal Author Support Group and to resubmit later.  Those interested in applying for a  D&D award are strongly encouraged to begin attending JASG.  In future D&D competitions, attendance at JASG will be a consideration (potential applicants are encouraged to keep a log of when they attend JASG).

JASG meets twice a week for the presentation of papers—D&D awardees and others.  Those wishing to be added to the distribution list for JASG should contact Kathryn Niforos.  Those wishing to give a presentation at JASG, should contact Jacob Klerman.  Those receiving a “revise and resubmit” from a journal (or a rejection, with intention to submit elsewhere) are encouraged to present the comments received and to discuss how to respond and can receive a JASG Mini-Grant for doing so.  In addition, funds are available for new PhDs to attend JASG (contact Jacob Klerman to discuss).

I want to thank the Review Committee for its careful and prompt review, the DVPs and others for encouraging so many strong proposals, and our many journal authors from across the company for making publishing a priority.

Thanks,

Mark