A research team at the at Oregon State University is giving drug tests to entire cities by measuring amounts of drugs in wastewater streams. The findings could be used to track the spread of dangerous drugs like methamphetamines. Jennifer Field, the study’s lead researcher, said the findings indicate that self-report surveys underestimate drug abuse. (AP via Centre Daily Times)

The following grant announcements are new this week on the Population Research Institute Funding Announcements web page.

Carnegie Scholars Program - Carnegie Corporation of New York

Changing Faces of America’s Children: Young Scholars Program - Foundation for Child Development

Conference and Workshop Grants - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

Dissertation Fieldwork Grants - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

Hunt Postdoctoral Fellowships - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

International Collaborative Research Grants - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

International Dissertation Research Fellowships (IDRF) - American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) - Andrew W. Mellon Foundation - Social Science Research Council (SSRC)

Pilot Project Funding (for Penn State researchers) - Pennsylvania State University

Post-Ph.D. Research Grants - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholars in Health Policy Research - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Sofia Kovalevskaja Award for Outstanding Young Scientists and Scholars - Humboldt Foundation

Substance Abuse Policy Research Program - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Wadsworth African Fellowships - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

Wadsworth International Fellowships - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

Wadsworth Short-Term Fellowships - Wenner-Gren Foundation For Anthropological Research, Inc.

While US life expectancy has grown, it is behind Japan and most of Europe, ranking 42nd globally (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report). Reasons cited include lack of universal health coverage, racial and socioeconomic disparities, obesity, and a relatively high infant mortality rate.

The National Center for Education Statistics has released a new report titled “Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States and Other G-8 Countries: 2006″ This report describes how the education system in the United States compares with education systems in the other G-8 countries–Canada, France. Germany. Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom.

To view and download the report in pdf format, Click here.

The PRI Library has received an announcement from the National Children’s Study for scientist project officers. One of the desired areas of expertise is sociology/demography.

The following grant announcements are new this week on the Population Research Institute Funding Announcements web page.

Advancing Measurement of Equity and Patient-Centered Care to Improve Health Care Quality - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Basic and Translational Research Opportunities in the Social Neuroscience of Mental Health (R01) - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Genome-wide Association Studies in the Genes, Environment, and Health Initiative - Study Investigators (U01) - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

International Affairs Fellowships - Council on Foreign Relations

International Extramural Associates Research Development Awards (IEARDA) (G11) - Fogarty International Center (FIC) - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers 2008 (P30) - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

PSID Pilot Grant Competition - National Institute on Aging (NIA) - Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID)

Research on Alcohol-Related Public Policies such as Those Detailed in the Alcohol Policy Information System (R01) - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Research on Alcohol-Related Public Policies such as Those Detailed in the Alcohol Policy Information System (R03) - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Research on Alcohol-Related Public Policies such as Those Detailed in the Alcohol Policy Information System (R21) - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Silvio O. Conte Centers for Interdisciplinary Research on Brain, Behavior, and Mental Health (P50) - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Spencer Dissertation Fellowships - Spencer Foundation

State Health Access Reform Evaluation - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation Grants - U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation

U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation Supported Workshops - U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation

NCHS has announced the availability or updates for the following NHANES labs:

New
Lab 06 Heavy Metals (2003-2004)
Lab 06 Urinary Mercury (2003-2004)

Updated
Lab 06 Methylmalonic acid and Homocysteine (2003-2004)
Lab 24 Polyfluorinated compounds (2003-2004)
Lab 26 Priority Pesticides and Organophosphate Pesticides (2001-2002)
Lab 28 Persistent Organochlorines, Furans, and Co-Planar PCBs (2001-2002)
Lab 26 Priority Pesticides and Organopohosphate Pesticides (1999-2000)

PRI researchers may request the above data from the Data Archivist.

Demand for long-term care is expected to explode as the baby boomer generation ages, but the system is already stretched and costs can mount quickly (Oxford Analytica via Forbes.com).

As part of a series on the leading causes of illness and death in the US, the New York Times includes a feature on cancer patients.

A Consumer Reports poll found that 67% of respondents were completely or very satisfied with their health insurance, up from 64% last year (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report).