The Center for Clinical Investigation (CCI) of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society provides funding for research grants for Society members annually. The grants are funded through the generosity of WOCN Society's corporate partners and WOCN Society members. The mission of the CCI is to expand the existing research base for WOC nursing practice and facilitate WOC nurses to develop their roles as clinical investigators through funded research projects.

The CCI is pleased to announce the call for proposals for 2011 research grants. If you are an RN and a member of the WOCN Society, you are eligible to apply for 1 of the following 7 grants. International members are encouraged to apply. The grant application proposal will be available soon on the WOCN Society Web site (http://www.wocn.org/Research_and_Funding/), and the submission deadline is January 31, 2011. The 7 grants available are:

1. Hollister, Inc-WOCN Society CCI Grant for Care of Patients With an Ostomy

$10 000 for each of the 2 grants

Grant priorities:

* Patient Outcomes

1. Identify the difficulties experienced by ostomates who are discharged from acute care and/or home health agencies; difficulties can include but are not limited to peristomal/stomal complications, access and supplies for care postostomy discharge from acute care, confidence in ostomy care, relationships, return to work, etc.

* Define gaps in the current process that could avoid postdischarge complications.

* Identify what resources the ostomates utilized to handle difficulties and to what extent the resources helped the ostomate

* Continuity of Care and Contribution of WOC Nurse

2. Describe/evaluate the continuity of care (or lack of this care continuity) for the ostomate during transition from out of the acute care setting to other settings (home, nursing home, rehab, etc). Outcomes can included but are not limited to:

* Effects of continuity of care and its ability to improve quality of life

* Effects of continuity of care on activities of daily life and ostomy management

* Benefits of a continuity of care program involving the WOC nurse for the ostomate during their home health experience

3. Molnlycke Health Care-WOCN Society CCI Grant for Critically Colonized/Infected Chronic Wounds

$10 000 for 1 grant

Grant priorities: critically colonized/infected chronic wounds, which can have a venous, arterial, diabetic, or pressure etiology

* Characterize the pain associated with wounds or dressing changes, effects of wound pain on quality of life or activities of daily living, and noncompliance with therapy

* Pilot interventions* to reduce pain associated with these wounds or increase compliance with therapy

* Describe patient preferences of interventions to reduce pain associated with these wounds.*

* In intervention studies involving products or product comparisons, Molnlycke products should be included.

1. Regenesis Biomedical-WOCN Society CCI Grant for Slow Healing Wounds

$5000 for 1 grant

Grant priorities: wounds that have not progressed satisfactorily in healing after 30 days of treatment

* Describe the characteristics of outpatients who have these wounds and signs and symptoms of these wounds, such as pain, edema, and healing rate

* Determine risks for these wounds, factors that promote healing; may include evaluation of failed treatments and patient satisfaction with care

* Characterize quality of life and other impact of these wounds, including emotional well-being, functional activities, and role functions; comparison before and after progress toward healing is made is also of interest

* Pilot studies of comparisons between treatments* for achieving progress in healing; rate of healing, economics, quality of life, and patient satisfaction can be outcomes

* Treatment comparisons should include pulsed radio frequency.

1. Sage Products, Inc-WOCN Society CCI Grant for Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD)

$7500 for 1 grant

IAD grant priorities:

* Assessing IAD

* Differentiating between IAD and stage 1 and 2 pressure ulcers

* Determining the risk or effect of IAD on pressure ulcers development or severity

* Economic impact of IAD or pressure ulcers

* Cost savings of prevention or treatment in hospital patients, models that predict economic impact of IAD

* Costs of treatment and effects of IAD on length of hospital stay

* Development of models that predict economic impact of IAD while adjusting for various risk factors of hospitalized patients

* Interventions to prevent or treat IAD

* Effective use of the WOC nurse in preventing or reducing IAD or pressure ulcers

1. Sage Products, Inc-WOCN Society CCI Grant for Heel Pressure

$7500 for 1 grant

Grant priorities:

* Determining the incidence of hospital-acquired heel ulcers in acute care facilities, their costs, and costs savings of prevention

* Studies of comparative effectiveness of products, devices, or practices to prevent or treat heel pressure ulcers

* Interventions to increase patients' compliance with heel protection

* Development of models that predict economic impact of heel pressure ulcers while adjusting for various risk factors of hospitalized patients

1. WOCN Society Members' Research Grant

$7500 for 1 grant sponsored by the WOCN members

Grant Priority: Topic related to WOC nursing

Generous contributions by WOCN members support the WOCN Members' Research grant. However, in order to offer a $7500 grant in 2011, approximately $2600 in additional funds need to be raised. Please make your contribution today to the WOCN Members' Research Grant by sending your check payable to WOCN Members' Research Grant by October 31, 2010, to:

WOCN Foundation, 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054, For further information, please contact:

Linda Dahle

, Program Associate, Center for Clinical Investigation, Phone: 612-625-8159

Donna Z. Bliss, PhD, RN, FAAN

Director, Center for Clincial Investigation