Applications for more than $15 billion in federal research grants are now available as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the economic stimulus package signed into law last month by President Obama.
The grants are for scientific research, construction and improvement of research facilities and the purchase of scientific equipment, as well as funding for education and training of health care professions. There also is a significant investment for health information technology.
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., has made it a campus priority to seek stimulus funding and is encouraging UNMC personnel to apply for funding opportunities.
“The economic stimulus package contains many opportunities for UNMC personnel to further their important work while helping UNMC achieve world class status,” Dr. Maurer said. “Taking advantage of this one-time opportunity is a UNMC priority that will benefit the campus and give the economy a boost.”
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Dr. Crouse leads a task force mobilized to generate interest in applying and he serves as a resource to assist those interested in seeking funding.
All employees can check for the latest information available about stimulus funding opportunities by clicking on the “Federal Stimulus Funding Updates” icon that appears on the Web pages of UNMC Today, Vice Chancellor for Research, Sponsored Programs Administration, Government Relations, as well as the UNMC home page.
Employees are encouraged to check the Web page frequently because it will be updated as federal agencies issue stimulus announcements.
Since funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2010, most opportunities will have short response submission deadlines.
“I urge interested UNMC personnel to work quickly to prepare their grant applications,” said Tom Rosenquist, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research. “Many of our scientists are well positioned to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to receive significant funding from the NIH.”
The NIH funding will be distributed in three different ways:
1. As supplemental funding for existing grants (principal investigators are encouraged to contact program officers);
2. For previously-submitted RO1s that scored well, but were not funded; and
3. As two-year challenge grants in agency-designated priority areas.
Dr. Rosenquist said UNMC also stands to receive funding for facility improvements and scientific equipment purchases.
NIH is one of the first agencies to begin issuing funding opportunity announcements. The deadline for applying for a “Challenge Grant” ($500,000 per year, including F&A, for two years) is April 27.
It is imperative that all interested researchers considering applying for a challenge grant make their intention known by contacting Sponsored Programs Administration. Some of the challenge opportunities may involve multiple disciplines. UNMC personnel wanting assistance in identifying research opportunities or needing assistance in identifying collaborators in another discipline are encouraged to complete the short form linked here and they will be contacted.
A few UNMC researchers have received e-mails from their NIH program officers notifying them they can obtain supplemental funding for their current projects. If you currently have NIH funding, you are encouraged to contact your NIH program officer and ask how to obtain additional funding and inform Sponsored Programs Administration of any feedback you receive.
While NIH received $8.2 billion for research funding, several other agencies also received funding for research and development. The National Science Foundation received $3 billion, $1.6 billion was directed to the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality received $700 million.
In addition to research funding, there are other federal agencies with which UNMC will have funding opportunities. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services received $2.5 billion, the majority of which is for construction, renovation, and equipment, as well as addressing health professional workforce shortages.