Volume 12, number 1: July 8, 2005
FUNDING TIPS
Peer Review at NIH
Dr. Alexandra Ainsztein, Scientific Review Administrator from the NIH Center for Scientific Review, gave some pointers about the peer review process at NIH during a recent forum on campus. At the UNC-Chapel Hill Grant Writing Symposium, which was sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Services, Ainsztein suggested young investigators are ready to submit an NIH application when they have:
- published two or three strong papers in the past three years;
- established an important, well-developed problem backed by good research questions;
- developed a robust strategy to answer the research questions;
- designed and described a solid research plan; and
- documented expertise.
She also gave these tips to maximize applicants’ chances for success:
- Start early
- Read the PHS 398 packet
- Formulate goals and specific aims
- Line up advisors to read applications
- Utilize NIH resources, including scientific review administrators or program directors
- Correctly sign applications
- Submit supplemental data wisely
In addition, Ainsztein urged all investigators to voluntarily serve on an NIH study section. The best way to learn how study sections work is to serve on one, she said. Detailed information on the requirements of study section reviewers and the nomination process is available on the NIH web site.
Click here to access to Ainsztein’s and other presentations from the symposium.
EDInfo Mailing List
If you are interested in funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Education (ED), you can subscribe to the agency’s EDInfo mailing list. EDInfo sends weekly email messages describing ED news, funding opportunities, and teaching and learning resources. Information on ED grants is published in EDInfo several weeks before the announcements appear in Grants.gov or the Federal Register. Since ED is prone to late notification of its funding opportunities, this earlier notification can be valuable in allowing more time for proposal development. Click here to subscribe to EDInfo.
New Health Foundations
New health foundations are formed when nonprofit hospitals or HMOs convert to profit-making entities. The funds from the conversions are funneled into a foundation devoted to the betterment of the nonprofit’s home community, often in the areas of health care and medicine. These organizations may be interested in partnering with projects that serve the needs of communities. The Foundation Center has more information about these conversions. READ MORE
"The Business of Giving: Governance and Asset Management in Foundations Formed From Health Care Conversion," published in March 2005, contains more information and a list of new health foundations.
Change in Z. Smith Reynolds Grant Application Procedures
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has changed its grant application form and now requires all grant proposals be submitted online. Anyone interested in applying for a grant from the foundation is strongly encouraged to read the foundation’s grantmaking guidelines before attempting to submit an application. READ MORE