The first post in this series introduced our Institute’s research priorities. This post outlines the major types of research project grants that NIGMS supports and where to find notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) to which you can apply.
Continue reading “Major Research Project Grant Types That NIGMS Supports and Where to Apply”Posts by Dorit Zuk
Which Grant Is Right for Me?
We’re pleased to announce the launch of the new web resource, Which Research Grant Is Right for Me? This interactive decision tree will be particularly useful for investigators who are new to or less familiar with NIGMS notices of funding opportunities that support research. Through a series of yes/no questions, potential applicants can identify the best potential fit to one or more of the major research project grant types we support, including R35, R16, R15, and R01.
The questions work through the eligibility criteria for the different award types. For example:
Continue reading “Which Grant Is Right for Me?”Wanted: Division for Research Capacity Building Branch Chief
UPDATE: The position is now closed.
We’re seeking a highly qualified scientist to serve as a branch chief in our Division for Research Capacity Building (DRCB). This is a newly created position for the Division as it reorganizes into three branches. Applicants should have significant interest in the programs managed by the Division, which seek to build capacity for conducting basic, clinical, behavioral, and translational research that fall in the mission areas of NIH. These include the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program, which supports research, research workforce development, and research infrastructure improvements in states where levels of NIH research funding have historically been low; the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program; the Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) program; and the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program. More details are available on the DRCB website.
Continue reading “Wanted: Division for Research Capacity Building Branch Chief”Wanted: Tribal Health Research Strategy Coordinator
UPDATE: The position is now closed.
We’re recruiting an outstanding individual to serve as the NIGMS Tribal health research strategy coordinator. The incumbent will report to the deputy director and assume a broad sphere of responsibilities that include, among others:
- Serving as the expert on matters related to Tribal health research within the NIGMS mission, and as a resource for the Institute director, our associate director for extramural activities, and other senior leadership within NIGMS
- Serving as a senior-level NIGMS representative in collaborations and initiatives with the NIH Tribal Health Research Office, the Indian Health Service, Tribal nations, and federal and academic partners across the country
- Formulating, planning, directing, and evaluating broad NIGMS-wide program objectives, policies, and activities for Tribal health research projects, programs, and other grants/awards including the discovery, development, and evaluation of scientific areas critical for eventual prevention and therapeutic strategies
- Advising leadership on strategies to address ongoing matters with Tribal communities
Wanted: NIGMS Clinical Research Strategy Coordinator
UPDATE: This position is now closed.
We’re recruiting for an outstanding individual to serve as the NIGMS clinical research strategy coordinator. The incumbent will report to our deputy director and assume a broad sphere of responsibilities that include:
- Advising on clinical research priorities with the NIGMS scope
- Providing guidance on the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and optimization of NIGMS’ clinical research programs and initiatives as they affect a broad range of stakeholders, from the grantee community to the general public
- Representing NIGMS in collaborations with closely aligned clinical research programs across the NIH, other federal agencies, and beyond, such as coordinating Institute-wide initiatives involving NIH and external partners
- Participating in NIH-wide clinical research committees at a senior level
- Working closely with NIGMS division directors to identify trans-divisional resources, potential synergies, and needs related to the support of clinical research
- Performing program-specific responsibilities related to clinical research, including project scientist/coordinator roles for specific clinical studies
- Serving as a knowledgeable resource for activities related to clinical research, such as biobanks, institutional review boards, and data safety and monitoring boards
- Staying up to date with standards for ethical and business approaches and policies (e.g., informed consent, opt-outs, community consultation, commercialization) related to clinical research
- Providing input and guidance for the Institute’s clinical research training programs that develop the next generation of clinical scientists
Wanted: NIGMS Small Business Development Strategy Coordinator
UPDATE: This position is now closed.
We’re recruiting for an outstanding individual to serve as the NIGMS small business development strategy coordinator. The incumbent will report to our deputy director and assume a broad range of responsibilities including:
- Providing counsel and advice to NIGMS leadership on the planning, development, and implementation of our small business programs as they affect a broad range of stakeholders.
- Serving as the Institute’s expert on matters related to new technology development by small biomedical businesses.
- Serving as a liaison between NIGMS and the NIH Small Business Education and Entrepreneurial Development office, including coordinating the development of the NIGMS omnibus solicitation and cost cap waiver guidance topics.
- Representing NIGMS in collaborations with closely aligned programs across NIH and federal agencies, including the U.S. Small Business Administration, to develop priorities and set goals for the NIGMS Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program. In particular, they will identify opportunities for synergies and strategic relationships with small business development programs across NIH and the federal government.
- Serving as the central resource for NIGMS staff and extramural researchers for information on NIGMS small business development programs.
- Developing, coordinating, and facilitating programs to provide training and mentoring for the biomedical small business community related to commercialization and entrepreneurship.
- Facilitating interactions between the NIGMS-supported small business community and the private sector, as well as with external business development organizations.
- Developing new small business-related initiatives appropriate for NIGMS, such as supporting commercialization of research in the NIGMS technology development and capacity building programs.
NIGMS Resources on Rigor and Reproducibility
I’d like to remind the NIGMS community of our clearinghouse site of materials designed to teach rigorous experimental design and enhance data reproducibility. There, you’ll find links to a number of online resources including:
Continue reading “NIGMS Resources on Rigor and Reproducibility”NIGMS Administrative Supplements for Equipment
As in previous years, we’re offering administrative supplements to NIGMS-funded R01, R35, and R37 awards for the purchase of single equipment systems (such as components of a working microscope).
The deadline for these supplement applications is March 30, 2020.
Continue reading “NIGMS Administrative Supplements for Equipment”How do I know if my work fits in the mission of NIGMS?
Ninety percent of the applications to our Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award for Early Stage Investigators (known as the ESI MIRA program) that were submitted in October are about to undergo peer review. The remaining 10% were administratively withdrawn, mostly because the research proposed fell outside the NIGMS mission. This is comparable to the proportion that was withdrawn over the past 3 years.
Withdrawn applications represent a lot of wasted time and effort on the part of affected PIs and are the source of considerable frustration. So what can you do to minimize the chance of this happening to your ESI MIRA application in the future?
Continue reading “How do I know if my work fits in the mission of NIGMS?”Perspectives on Choosing the Best Research Organism for Your Scientific Question
Consistent with NIGMS’ mission to support a diverse portfolio of biomedically relevant basic research, we aim to support research that uses a wide range of research organisms (ROs). We see this approach as the best way to increase our understanding of life.
Continue reading “Perspectives on Choosing the Best Research Organism for Your Scientific Question”