New Podcast on the AREA Program

In the lastest installment of NIH podcasts on grant writing, Dr. Erica Brown, director of the NIH AREA program, explains who can apply to the AREA program and what an applicant may do to prepare the most competitive AREA application.

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Behind the 2011 NIH Success Rates

An NIH staffer provides detailed information on the 2011 NIH proposal success rates, as well as detailed award analyses.

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State of the Union Address

In his State of the Union address, President Obama discussed three issues of particular interest to higher education institutions: college tuition increases and student aid; basic research; and immigration. The White House released a summary document, “Blueprint for an America Built to Last".

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NIH Focus on Funding Smaller Research Programs

Last month, NIH announced some changes to its AREA (Academic Research Enhancement Award) Program, which is focused on funding small scale research projects at institutions with less intensive research programs. This is specifically targeted at investigators working in institutions with fewer than $6 million in annual research funding.

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National Science Board Merit Review Criteria

On 10 January 2012, the National Science Board released a report on the merit review process at the National Science Foundation (NSF), the federal agency that the Board oversees. The Board found that the NSF merit review criteria remain appropriate for evaluating proposals for NSF funding, but recommended that the agency better define the two criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts.

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Data Management Plan Tool

Several institutions, led by the University of California Curation Center, have developed a web-based Data Management Plan tool to assist investigators in the development of data management plans required by federal agencies. This website also provides sample plans for applicants to review prior to the development of their own plans.

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Federal Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Update

Overall, the federal government will reduce the budget for research and development funding by approximately 1.3% in fiscal year 2012. However, in an individual agency analysis, the largest cuts will occur in defense research spending, specifically in operational systems development and classified programs. Basic research and development, as well as basic defense research, will rise slightly over 2011 levels.

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Strategy for NIH Funding

The National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases has assembled a comprehensive resource for researchers seeking funding through the National Institutes of Health. This resource covers the entire grant submission process, including pre-proposal planning, project design, submission process, revisions and resubmissions, and awards.

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NSF Biology Reviewer Opportunities

The Directorate for Biological Sciences at the National Science Foundation is currently seeking qualified reviewers for upcoming proposal submission cycles. Interested parties should contact the relevant Program Officers in their discipline. Serving as a reviewer provides valuable professional development for future grant seeking.

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Summary of Significant Changes to the NIH GPS

The revised NIH Grants Policy Statement is applicable to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements beginning on or after 1 October 2011. The update incorporates new and modified requirements, clarifies certain policies, and implements changes in statutes, regulations, and policies that have been implemented through appropriate legal and/or policy processes since the previous version was published in October 2010.

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STEM Education

The Office of Science and Technology Policy released a comprehensive listing of STEM education investments of Federal agencies. The report's findings include an overall Federal investment in STEM education for Fiscal Year 2010 of $3.4 billion, or about 0.3 percent of the United State's total education budget of $1.1 trillion.

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Deadline Changes at the NSF BIO Directorate

Beginning in January 2012, most of the programs under the National Science Foundation Directorate of Biological Sciences will adopt an annual cycle of preliminary proposals for its core research programs.

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