Current Stimulus News and Updates

Latest Updates, June 17th

The deadlines for many of the NIH stimulus programs described below have passed.  NIH's Center for Scientific Review reports that they received an over 20,000 challenge grant applications. To put this number into perspective, CSR ordinarily reviews 48,000 applications each year.  CSR has enlisted the aid of 15,000 mail reviewers to read the applications and send in written reviews; these will be examined by an "editorial board" type study section to determine which awards receive funding. 

Speaking at a May 21st hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that has jurisdiction over NIH, Acting Director Raynard Kington stated that NIH may double the initially promised $200 million in funds for the program.  However, even $400 million will fund only 1-2% of the applications.  NIH has issued a notice reminding applicants that NIH requires a final rejection of the first submission of a proposal (such as a Challenge Grant application) before it can be resubmitted for funding under a different funding mechanism (such as an R01 grant).  Unsuccessful Challenge Grants can be resubmitted starting in 2009's third review cycle.  Tony Scarpa, head of NIH's Center for Scientific review, predicts as many as 55,000 applications during the first two review cycles of 2010. 

NSF Funding

The National Science Foundation has unveiled its plans for stimulus spending.  In addition to funding meritorious grants that fell below paylines and paying for major infrastructure projects, the NSF is issuing four major funding announcements.

Major Research Instrumentaion (MRI)

The MRI program will fund up to $200 million worth of instrumentation grants proposed through this announcement.  The deadline for solicitations is August 10th, 2009 visit the website for more details.

Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI)

The NSF will also be funding up to $200 million in facilities improvement projects, with details in this announcement. Letters of intent are due July 1st, 2009, with full proposals due on August 24th, 2009.

The other new announcements will fund the EPSCOR program and a new initiative for Professional Science Master's Degrees.  More information on these programs will be announced at a later date. 

Archived Stimulus Funding Announcements (application deadlines have passed)

Updated--April 6th, 2009--As part of the recently passed economic stimulus legislation (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), NIH has announced a variety of new funding opportunities, which are detailed below.  Because the goal of the legislation is to create or preserve jobs, NIH is required to act quickly in awarding these funds, so members are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

Challenge Grants
The NIH challenge grants are a new funding mechanism intended to jumpstart research that could make an impact on the progress of biomedical and behavioral sciences or public health.  To qualify, applicants must submit a proposal (12 page maximum) by APRIL 27TH, 2009 that addresses a specific challenge area in biomedical research.  A complete list of these challenges is available at the Challenge Grant website, along with a formal Request for Applications (RFA) and information on the application procedure.

Instrumentation and Construction Awards
The National Center for Research Resources has published information on stimulus funding for instrumentation and construction.  NCRR will be awarding these funds through existing mechanisms, though some programs have had their maximum award sizes significantly increased.  Details are at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-RR-09-008.html

ASBMB will be holding a symposium on biomedical infrastructure programs on April 19, at the annual meeting in New Orleans.  NCRR Director Barbara Alving, and Michael Marron, Director of the Division of Biomedical Technology at NCRR, are scheduled to attend.  More information on the symposium is available at: http://friendfeed.com/rooms/nihinfrastructure09

Administrative Supplements
NIH is encouraging applications for administrative supplements to existing grants (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-056.html).  These supplements are being handled directly by the Institute or Center that awarded the initial grant; a list of each I/C’s policy, and deadline (if any), is available at: http://grants.nih.gov/recovery/ic_supp.html

Additional details on modular budgets for supplements and revisions (next item) are available at:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-079.html

Competitive Revisions
NIH is also accepting applications for competitive revisions to existing grants. Applications for the first round of these revisions are due on April 21st, 2009; additional rounds may or may not be offered at a later date. 

Summer Research and Education Funds
A third supplement opportunity is available to fund summer research experiences for high school students, undergraduates, and science educators.  Again, supplements are being handled directly by the Institute or Center that awarded the initial grant; a list of each I/C’s policy, and deadline (if any), is available at: http://grants.nih.gov/recovery/ic_supp.html

Two-Year Funding of Meritorious Awards
In addition to the above mechanisms, which require direct applications to the NIH, stimulus funds will also be used to pay for two year funding of meritorious applications which have already been submitted and approved for funding by the respective institute/center council, but which could not be awarded due to budget constraints.  Program directors will contact the investigators of grants being considered for such awards to discuss how the project will be modified to fit within the shortened time frame.  More information is available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-078.html

Reporting Requirements
The stimulus legislation requires that the NIH report on the use of the funds, for publication on the Recovery act website (http://www.recovery.gov/).  Accounting procedures will differ from non-stimulus awards; for instance, the funds cannot be mingled with existing budgets, as this would prevent NIH from reporting on the specific progress and job creation that was possible as a result of the stimulus package.  Some of these details are available from NIH now, and grantees should expect that additional reporting requirements may be added in the future. 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-080.html