Volume 11, number 10: april 1, 2005
FUNDING TIPS
NC Biotechnology Center Science and Technology Programs
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center provides funding programs for bioscience and biotechnology research that focuses on the use of living cells. These programs include Institutional Development Grants, Faculty Recruitment Grants, Collaborative Funding Grants, Multidisciplinary Research Grants, and grant and sponsorship funding for qualified biotechnology meetings and events. Click here for information about these funding programs.
In addition to providing funding, the center sponsors several groups designed to promote ongoing intellectual exchange and collaboration among academic and industrial researchers on basic and applied research topics. These include the RNA Society of N.C., Plant Molecular Biology Consortium, and the Triangle Virology Association.
Interested researchers also may subscribe to the N.C. Biotechnology Center's bimonthly e-newsletter BT Catalyst. This newsletter publicizes the center's funding programs as well as news, issues, and trends important to the state's biotechnology community. The March/April issue contains a list of recent awards given to Carolina researchers. Click here to subscribe.
Advice for Researchers Planning Proposals for the NC Biotech Center
Carolina recently hosted the North Carolina Biotechnology Center Funding Information Forum, which featured speaker Dr. Maria Rapoza. Rapoza, vice president and director of the center’s Science and Technology Development Program, offered the following advice to investigators planning to submit proposals to the center:
- Applicants should discuss their proposals in advance with the program officer to ensure a good match with the center’s goals.
- Center staff will preview proposals at any stage of their development up to two weeks before the deadline.
- Proposals are reviewed using an external scientific review panel of three reviewers who are recruited specifically for each competition.
- Generally, out-of-state collaborations are not allowed.
The center's science and technology development grants are intended to help researchers develop projects that will be competitive in the federal funding arena. On July 1, 2005, the center will move to an electronic proposal submission process.
Conference Provides Funding Information for Research in Vaccines and Therapeutics
The third Bio-Chem Defense Vaccines and Therapeutics Conference will be held April 18 to 20 in Arlington, Virginia. It will provide detailed information about the role universities, pharmaceutical companies, the biotechnology industry, and the public health community can play in addressing the nation's need for bio-chem defense vaccines and therapeutics.
This conference will focus on
- research and development (R&D) opportunities at National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases and Department of Defense;
- business and scientific opportunities in dual-purpose R&D;
- fast track testing and approval; and
- Project Bioshield implementation.
The agenda also includes a bio-chem defense networking fair where interested organization representatives can come together to explore opportunities for partnering and collaboration. READ MORE
Learning How to Write Successful Foundation Grant Proposals
Researchers interested in a review of writing foundation grant proposals can view the Foundation Center’s free online tutorial on the process of developing and writing a successful grant proposal. This short course in proposal writing was excerpted from The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 4th ed., by Jane C. Geever, which is available in the GrantSource Library, along with a number of other guides to writing grant proposals.
The Foundation Center also sponsors numerous workshops, including “Foundation Fundraising: An Introductory Course.” This full-day course teaches beginners how identify potential funders. Click here for details and locations of this and other workshops.
Click here for more information about proposal writing resources at the GrantSource Library, including where to get help at Carolina.
AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy
Date: April 21 to 23
Place: Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, Washington, D.C.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Forum on Science and Technology Policy will provide a venue for discussion and debate about budget and other policy issues facing the science and technology community. There will be sessions on current policy issues, including the future of scientific communication and publishing, a systemic view of the workforce, science and global health disasters, and the role of R&D in U.S. and global economies. There will also be an opening session on the budgetary and policy context for science and technology in 2005 and 2006. READ MORE
Customize Your COS Funding Alert Service
The Community of Science (COS) funding alert service, provided through the GrantSource Library, notifies faculty and research staff about relevant new and updated funding opportunities from federal and private agencies. The funding alert can be customized to run specific searches.
Many Carolina faculty and staff members with existing COS accounts have not updated their profiles recently. To ensure that you are getting the most effective results from your COS funding alert service, login and update your expertise profile. If you have forgotten your username and password, please email the GrantSource Library. By specifying more precise keywords and other descriptors, you can refine your funding alert to produce more accurate search results.
New faculty or staff who wish to receive COS funding alerts need to register with COS. Go to “Join” to activate an account, and then to “Add an Alert” to start getting your own email funding alerts.
If you are interested in learning how to customize this service to your particular interests, the GrantSource Library staff will be happy to assist you. Please contact us at 962-3463 or gs@unc.edu.