42.5 million adults lacked health insurance during the first half of 2007, according to estimates from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) released by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

The average cholesterol level for US adults has dropped below 200, into the range experts say is ideal, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The findings are from data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Annual Survey (NHANES).

The decreases occurred mainly in older adults, leading experts to conclude that the decline can be attributed to effective drug treatment, as reported by the Associated Press.

Detailed findings from the survey are available in the NCHS data brief High Serum Total Cholesterol – An Indicator for Monitoring Cholesterol Lowering Efforts: U.S. Adults, 2005–2006 (PDF).

NCHS has released the following new and updated NHANES data:

2003-2004 Data
- Urinary Total Arsenic and Speciated Arsenics - Lab 6 (new)
- Housing Characteristics Questionnaire (updated)

2001-2002 Data
- Dietary Interview Data - Exam (updated)

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

Two career counselors offer advice on finding and applying for postdoctoral fellowships, with some specific advice for social scientists, in the Chronicle of Higher Education (free online access).

Drug use among US teens has declined, but ecstasy use has increased and prescription drug abuse remains a problem, according to researchers working on the Monitoring the Future Survey for the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) (Reuters).

NCHS has announced the 2005-2006 NHANES data release. The Demography files and some of the Exam and Questionnaire files are available on PopNet and SodaPop.

PRI researchers may request additional Exam files, as they become available, from the Data Archivist.

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

Crime and Justice Research - National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

Fellows Program in Population Policy Communications - Population Reference Bureau (PRB)

Graduate Fellowships for Ethnic Minorities - American Society of Criminology

Health Effects of Near-Roadway Exposures to Air Pollution - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Reducing Mental Illness Stigma and Discrimination (Collaborative R01) - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The Interaction of HIV, Drug Use, and the Criminal Justice System (R01) - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The PRI Library has received an announcement from The Grant Institute for a Grants 101: Professional Grant Proposal Writing workshop to be held in Pittsburgh January 23-35, 2008.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has completed a draft of its strategic plan and welcomes comments from the public. The deadline to submit comments is December 21.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) working group convened to evaluate the agency’s peer review and grant award process released its recommendations on Friday. Among those recommendations are cutting the length of grant applications, placing more weight on the scientific effects of proposed research, and awarding more grants to new investigators. For details, see the Chronicle of Higher Education article.

Note: The Chronicle article is available online to subscribers. PRI affiliates can read the Chronicle in the PRI Library or request online access from library@pop.psu.edu.