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Grants & funding.

The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. In fiscal year 2022, NIH invested most of its $45 billion appropriations in research seeking to enhance life, and to reduce illness and disability. NIH-funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.

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Grants Home Page

NIH’s central resource for grants and funding information.

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Find Funding

NIH offers funding for many types of grants, contracts, and even programs that help repay loans for researchers.

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Grant applications and associated documents (e.g., reference letters) are due by 5:00 PM local time of application organization on the specified due date.

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How to Apply

Instructions for submitting a grant application to NIH and other Public Health Service agencies.

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About Grants

An orientation to NIH funding, grant programs, how the grants process works, and how to apply.

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Policy & Compliance

By accepting a grant award, recipients agree to comply with the requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement unless the notice of award states otherwise.

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Grants News/Blog

News, updates, and blog posts on NIH extramural grant policies, processes, events, and resources.

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Explore opportunities at NIH for research and development contract funding.

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Loan Repayment

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs repay up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.

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The U.S. National Science Foundation offers hundreds of funding opportunities — including grants, cooperative agreements and fellowships — that support research and education across science and engineering.

Learn how to apply for NSF funding by visiting the links below.

Finding the right funding opportunity

Learn about NSF's funding priorities and how to find a funding opportunity that's right for you.

Preparing your proposal

Learn about the pieces that make up a proposal and how to prepare a proposal for NSF.

Submitting your proposal

Learn how to submit a proposal to NSF using one of our online systems.

How we make funding decisions

Learn about NSF's merit review process, which ensures the proposals NSF receives are reviewed in a fair, competitive, transparent and in-depth manner.

NSF 101 answers common questions asked by those interested in applying for NSF funding. 

Research approaches we encourage

Learn about interdisciplinary research, convergence research and transdisciplinary research.

Newest funding opportunities

Joint national science foundation and united states department of agriculture national institute of food and agriculture funding opportunity: supporting foundational research in robotics (frr), nsf regional innovation engines (nsf engines), expanding geographic and institutional diversity in social, behavioral, and economic sciences (sbe), cyberinfrastructure for public access and open science (ci paos).

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NIH Awards by Location & Organization Explore year-by-year NIH funding by institution, state, congressional district, and more!

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Research Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities by type.

Requests for Applications (RFA) Find current and recent NCI-supported RFAs that provide funding for various areas of cancer research.

Program Announcements (PA) Find current and recent PAs that invite requests for funding applications to support specific area of cancer research.

NCI and Trans-NIH Initiatives Find current and recent NCI and Trans-NIH Research Project Grants (R01 and R21) that provide funding for specific areas of cancer research.

Requests for Proposals for Contracts Find opportunities for contract funding.

NCI Special Initiatives

Funding Announcements and Notices for COVID-19 When the pandemic began, NCI issued and revised certain existing grants and cooperative agreements to make funds available to study COVID-19. Open funding notices can be found on this page.

Cancer Grand Challenges NCI is partnering with Cancer Research UK to provide multiple rounds of funding for international, interdisciplinary teams to submit approaches addressing one of the open Cancer Grand Challenges. This page shares information on open opportunities and how to apply.

MERIT Award (R37) Early Stage Investigators who have submitted an R01 application within the NCI payline may be eligible for consideration for the Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) (R37) Award.

Outstanding Investigator Award (R35) The Outstanding Investigator Award gives investigators the freedom to work on long-term projects with unusual potential in cancer research.

Provocative Questions Program Provocative Questions is an NCI initiative that intends to assemble a list of important questions, or problems that are paradoxes in cancer research that will stimulate research communities to use laboratory, clinical, and population sciences in new, effective, and imaginative ways.

Research Specialist Award (R50) The R50 encourages the development of stable research career opportunities for exceptional scientists who want to continue to pursue research within the context of an existing NCI-funded basic, translational, clinical or population science cancer research program, but not serve as independent investigators.

NCI Funding Opportunities by Research Topic

Artificial Intelligence (AI) AI research is supported by a wide variety of grant and contract programs across NCI.

Basic Biology Research projects in basic cancer biology are supported and coordinated through the Division of Cancer Biology (DCB).

Behavioral Research Behavioral research in cancer prevention and control is supported by the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS).

Biorepositories and Tissue Sample Collection Development of biospecimen-related policies and practices affecting NCI Biorepositories is coordinated and managed through the Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch (BBRB).

Cancer Health Disparities Basic cancer research from a health disparities perspective is supported by the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD).

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research contributing to the advancement of evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine practice is supported by the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM).

Epidemiology and Cancer Control Research in genetic, epidemiologic, behavioral, social, and surveillance cancer research is supported by the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS).

HIV /AIDS and Cancer Research on HIV/AIDS pursued throughout the NCI, including programs in AIDS-related cancer are coordinated by the Office of HIV and AIDS Malignancy (OHAM).

Nanotechnology Research supporting the application of nanotechnology to all aspects of cancer research is supported by the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer program that is managed by the Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research (OCNR).

Physical Sciences-Oncology Research supporting the establishment of scientific teams and individual scientists from the fields of physics, mathematics, chemistry, and engineering to develop novel approaches for cancer research is managed by the Physical Sciences in Oncology Initiative.

Prevention Research that determines and reduces a person’s risk of developing cancer, as well as research to develop and evaluate cancer screening procedures, is supported by the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP).

Proteomics Research supporting the development of technologies and reagents that will advance our understanding of protein biology in cancer is supported by the Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research (OCCPR).

Small Business and Small Business Technology Transfer Opportunities to increase small business and private sector participation to develop and commercialize novel technologies to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer are managed by the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR and STTR) programs.

Statistical Methodology Resources for statisticians are available from StatFund, an online resource that provides information about biostatistical funding opportunities.

Technology Development Research supporting the development of technologies in clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological research are managed by the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies Program (IMAT).

Translational Research Research supporting the translation of promising research areas into improved diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for cancer patients is supported by the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD).

A Comprehensive Guide to Research Funding and Grants

In the ever-evolving landscape of scientific and scholarly pursuits, the quest for knowledge and innovation is fueled by a crucial resource: research funding and grants. These financial lifelines serve as the backbone for countless groundbreaking investigations, empowering researchers and institutions to push the boundaries of understanding and transform the world around us.

Whether you're a seasoned academic, an aspiring scientist, or an inquisitive mind, this comprehensive guide will take you on a journey through the intricate world of research funding and grants. From understanding the various types of available support to navigating the competitive application process, we'll equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to secure the resources necessary to bring your ideas to life.

Embark on this exploration with us as we delve into the inner workings of research funding, unraveling the mechanisms that drive scientific progress and unlock new realms of possibility. Prepare to be inspired, informed, and empowered to turn your research dreams into reality.

Understanding Research Funding and Grants

What are research funding and grants.

Research funding and grants refer to the financial resources provided to individuals or organizations to support research activities and projects. This funding can come from various sources , including government agencies, private foundations, non-profit organizations, and private companies.

The primary purpose of research funding and grants is to facilitate the advancement of knowledge, foster innovation, and promote the development of new technologies, products, or treatments. By providing financial support, research funding and grants enable researchers, scientists, and scholars to undertake research projects that may not be feasible or sustainable through their own resources or institutional budgets.

Research Funding

Research funding refers to financial support provided by various organizations, institutions, governments, and foundations to enable researchers to carry out their projects and investigations.

This funding is essential to cover the costs associated with research activities, including but not limited to personnel salaries, equipment, materials, travel, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings.

Research funding can be awarded for a wide range of disciplines, from scientific research and medical studies to social sciences, humanities, and arts.

Research Grants

Grants are a specific type of research funding that is typically awarded based on a competitive application process.

A grant is a sum of money given to an individual researcher, research team, institution, or organization to support a specific research project or initiative.

Unlike loans, grants do not need to be repaid. They are provided with the expectation that the funded research will contribute valuable insights, innovations, or advancements in a particular field.

Grants are often awarded through a formal application process, which requires researchers to submit a detailed proposal outlining their research objectives, methodologies, budget, timeline, and expected outcomes.

Grant applications are evaluated based on criteria such as the significance and originality of the research, its potential impact, the feasibility of the proposed methods, the qualifications of the researchers, and how well the project aligns with the goals of the funding organization.

Key Differences

While research funding is a broader term encompassing any financial support for research activities, grants specifically refer to funds awarded through a competitive application process.

Grants are a subset of research funding, and they are highly sought after due to their non-repayable nature and the prestige associated with being selected as a grantee.

Research funding is the umbrella term that encompasses all forms of financial support for research endeavors, and grants are a specific mechanism through which this support is provided.

Grants are a vital lifeline for researchers and scholars to carry out their work and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields.

Why are Research Funding and Grants Important?

Research funding and grants are of paramount importance for several compelling reasons:

1. Fueling Innovation and Progress

Research funding and grants provide the financial resources necessary to conduct groundbreaking research and develop innovative solutions.

Many of the world's most significant advancements, whether in science, technology, medicine, or other disciplines, have been made possible through funded research projects.

These projects lead to new discoveries, novel technologies, and improved ways of addressing complex challenges.

2. Advancing Knowledge and Understanding

Research funding supports studies that contribute to the expansion of human knowledge and understanding.

Whether it's uncovering the mysteries of the universe, exploring the intricacies of human behavior, or studying historical events, research projects funded by grants provide insights that contribute to the intellectual growth of society.

3. Addressing Societal Challenges

Research has the power to address pressing societal challenges, such as climate change, healthcare disparities, poverty, and more. Funding and grants enable researchers to explore potential solutions, develop evidence-based policies, and create strategies to mitigate these challenges and improve quality of life.

4. Enhancing Education and Training

Research projects often involve collaboration between researchers, students, and educators. Funding supports research opportunities for students, fostering a culture of hands-on learning, critical thinking, and skill development.

This interaction between research and education enriches academic environments and nurtures the next generation of scholars and scientists.

5. Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

Many research projects require expertise from multiple disciplines. Research funding encourages interdisciplinary collaboration by supporting teams that bring together experts from diverse fields to tackle complex problems from multiple angles.

This approach can lead to more comprehensive solutions and novel insights.

6. Boosting Economic Growth

Innovation driven by research has a direct impact on economic growth. New technologies, products, and services that result from research projects can create jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship, and contribute to economic prosperity by driving industries forward.

7. Enabling High-Risk, High-Reward Research

Some research ideas are highly innovative but also carry significant uncertainty. Grants provide the means to explore these high-risk, high-reward projects that might not receive traditional funding due to their experimental nature.

This encourages researchers to think outside the box and push the boundaries of knowledge.

8. Supporting Public Policy and Decision Making

Research findings often inform public policy decisions, helping governments and organizations make evidence-based choices that benefit society. Funding for research ensures that decision makers have access to accurate and reliable information when shaping policies and making important choices.

9. Strengthening Global Competitiveness

Countries and institutions that invest in research funding and grants enhance their global competitiveness. Cutting-edge research attracts top talent, fosters innovation, and positions nations at the forefront of scientific and technological advancements.

In summary, research funding and grants play a pivotal role in shaping the present and future of society. They drive innovation, advance knowledge, tackle challenges, and ultimately contribute to the betterment of humanity as a whole.

What are the types of research funding?

Research funding can come from various sources, each with its own objectives, criteria, and processes.

Here are some common types:

• Government Funding : Provided by government agencies at the national, regional, or local level. This funding often supports research in areas of national interest, public policy priorities, or scientific advancement. Examples include grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States or the European Research Council (ERC) in Europe.
• Private Funding : Offered by private organizations, foundations, corporations, or philanthropic individuals. Private funding may target specific research areas or support projects aligned with the donor's interests or corporate goals.
• Academic Funding : Provided by universities, colleges, and academic institutions to support research conducted by faculty, students, or research teams affiliated with the institution. This funding may include internal grants, fellowships, or institutional support for research activities.
• Nonprofit Funding : Offered by nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing research in specific fields, addressing social or environmental issues, or promoting scientific innovation. Nonprofit funding may come from charitable donations, endowments, or fundraising efforts.
• International Funding : Provided by international organizations, such as the United Nations, World Bank, or UNESCO, to support research projects that address global challenges, promote international collaboration, or contribute to sustainable development goals.
• Industry Funding : Offered by companies and industry associations to support research and development (R&D) activities related to product innovation, technology advancement, or market research. Industry funding may include grants, contracts, or partnerships with academic or research institutions.
• Crowdfunding : Involves raising funds for research projects through online platforms where individuals or organizations contribute small amounts of money to support specific research initiatives. Crowdfunding enables researchers to engage with a broader community and gather financial support from a diverse range of sources.
• Venture Capital Funding : Provided by venture capital firms or investors to support research-intensive startups or entrepreneurial ventures with high growth potential. Venture capital funding typically involves equity investment in exchange for a stake in the company and aims to support the development and commercialization of innovative technologies or products.

These are just a few examples, and research funding can also be categorized based on other criteria such as project duration, funding mechanism (grants, contracts, fellowships), or funding amount (small-scale grants vs. large-scale initiatives).

It's important to note that the availability and eligibility criteria for different types of research funding can vary significantly. Researchers should carefully evaluate each funding opportunity to determine which ones align with their research goals and needs.

Additionally, diversifying funding sources can help mitigate risks and provide a more stable financial foundation for research projects.

For more information read 50 Best Research Funding and Grants Bodies

How to Navigate the Grant Application Process?

Navigating the grant application process can be a complex but rewarding endeavor. Proper preparation and attention to detail can significantly increase your chances of securing research funding.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you successfully navigate the grant application process:

1. Identify Funding Opportunities

Research and compile a list of funding sources that align with your research goals and project objectives. Consider factors such as the funding organization's mission, priorities, and eligibility criteria.

2. Read and Understand Guidelines

Carefully review the grant guidelines and application instructions provided by the funding organization. Pay attention to deadlines, required documents, formatting guidelines, and evaluation criteria.

3. Craft a Compelling Proposal

Develop a clear and concise proposal that outlines your research objectives, methods, significance, and expected outcomes. Address how your project aligns with the goals of the funding source and its potential impact on the field.

4. Budget for Research Expenses

Create a detailed budget that outlines how you plan to allocate the grant funds. Include costs for personnel, equipment, materials, travel, and any other expenses relevant to your research project.

5. Letters of Recommendation and Collaboration

Obtain strong letters of recommendation from colleagues, mentors, or experts in your field who can attest to your qualifications and the significance of your research. If applicable, detail any collaborations or partnerships that enhance the quality of your project.

6. Submission

Submit your application materials according to the specified guidelines and deadlines. Ensure that all required documents are included and that your application adheres to formatting requirements.

7. Review and Revise

Before submitting, review your proposal for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Consider seeking feedback from colleagues or mentors to identify areas for improvement.

8. Tracking and Follow-Up

Keep track of your submissions and their corresponding deadlines. Some funding sources may provide updates or require additional information during the review process.

9. Await Decision

After submitting your application, be patient and wait for the funding organization to review and evaluate the proposals. The review process duration varies, but you can usually find estimated timelines in the guidelines.

10. Address Feedback (if applicable)

If your proposal is rejected but you receive feedback, take the opportunity to understand the reasons for rejection and make necessary improvements for future applications.

11. Acceptance and Post-Award Management

If your proposal is accepted, carefully review the terms of the grant award. Establish systems for financial management, progress reporting, and compliance with the funding organization's requirements.

12. Fulfill Reporting Requirements

Throughout the course of your research project, provide regular progress reports and updates as required by the funding organization. This demonstrates your accountability and ensures transparency.

13. Acknowledge Funding Support

Properly acknowledge the funding organization's support in any publications, presentations, or dissemination of your research findings.

Remember that the grant application process can be competitive, so make sure to put your best foot forward by thoroughly preparing and submitting a well-crafted proposal that clearly communicates the significance of your research and your ability to carry out the project effectively.

Top Resources for Finding Research Funding

Finding the right research funding opportunities can be a daunting task, but there are several resources that can help you identify suitable grants for your projects.

Here are some top resources to consider:

1. Online Databases and Grant Search Engines

• Grants.gov : A comprehensive database of U.S. federal grants.
• Foundation Directory Online: Provides information on private foundations, corporate giving programs, and grantmaking public charities.
• Pivot (formerly known as COS Pivot) : Offers a searchable database of funding opportunities from various sources worldwide.
• GrantForward : Allows you to search for grants from government agencies, foundations, and other organizations.

2. Professional Organizations and Associations

• Many professional organizations related to your field of study offer grants and funding opportunities to support research projects. These organizations often promote funding opportunities through their websites, newsletters, and conferences.

3. University Research Offices

• Your institution's research office or grants office can provide valuable assistance in finding funding opportunities. They often maintain databases of grants, offer workshops on grant writing, and provide guidance on the application process.

4. Government Agencies

• National and regional government agencies often provide funding for research projects in various fields. Visit government agency websites related to your research area to explore available funding opportunities.

5. Philanthropic Foundations

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Ford Foundation

6. Research Journals and Publications

• Academic journals and publications in your field might include advertisements or announcements for research grants, especially those that align with the journal's focus.

7. Research Funding Newsletters

• Some websites and organizations offer newsletters that aggregate and deliver information about research funding opportunities directly to your inbox. Subscribing to these newsletters can help you stay updated on the latest opportunities.

8. Social Media and Online Communities

• Follow relevant organizations, institutions, and researchers on social media platforms. Online research communities and forums might also share information about funding opportunities.

9. Institutional Networks and Colleagues

• Network with colleagues, mentors, and collaborators in your field. They might be aware of funding opportunities that align with your research interests.

10. Research Conferences and Workshops

• Attend conferences and workshops related to your research area. These events often feature sessions on research funding, where you can learn about available opportunities and network with potential funders.

Remember that the availability of funding opportunities can change over time, so regularly check these resources, stay informed about upcoming deadlines, and tailor your application to the specific requirements of each grant.

You may like reading these guides:

• 50 Best Research Funding and Grants Bodies
• Research Funding Bodies by Country

Tips for a Successful Grant Application

Crafting a successful grant application requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a clear presentation of your research project's significance and feasibility.

Here are some essential tips to help you create a compelling grant application:

1. Understand the Guidelines

• Carefully read and understand the grant guidelines and instructions. Ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria and adhere to formatting, page limits, and submission requirements.

2. Align with the Funder's Mission

• Tailor your proposal to match the funding organization's mission and priorities. Clearly demonstrate how your research aligns with their goals and how it will contribute to their mission.

3. Clearly Define the Problem

• Start by clearly articulating the problem or research question your project aims to address. Explain why this problem is important and how your research will provide valuable insights or solutions.

4. Outline Your Research Plan

• Describe your research plan, including your objectives, methodologies, and anticipated outcomes. Make sure your plan is well-structured, feasible, and logically presented.

5. Emphasize Significance

• Clearly explain the potential significance of your research. How will it advance knowledge in your field, address a gap, or have broader implications for society?

6. Highlight Innovation

• Highlight the innovative aspects of your project. Explain how your approach is unique, original, or different from existing research.

7. Describe Your Team and Expertise

• Showcase your qualifications and the expertise of your team members. Highlight how your collective skills make you well-suited to conduct the proposed research.

8. Budget Wisely

• Develop a realistic budget that outlines how the grant funds will be used. Justify each expense and ensure it aligns with the scope of your project.

9. Show Collaboration (if applicable)

• If your project involves collaboration with other researchers, institutions, or organizations, explain how these collaborations will enhance the quality and impact of your research.

10. Address Ethical Considerations

• Discuss any ethical considerations related to your research, including human subjects, animal welfare, and potential conflicts of interest. Clearly outline your plan to address these concerns.

11. Write Clearly and Concisely

• Use clear, concise, and jargon-free language. Avoid overly technical terms that might confuse reviewers who are not experts in your specific field.

12. Provide Supporting Evidence

• Use data, statistics, and literature references to support the importance of your research and the feasibility of your methods.

13. Proofread and Edit

• Review your application for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. A polished application demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail.

14. Seek Feedback

• Have colleagues or mentors review your application before submission. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement.

15. Meet Deadlines

• Submit your application well before the deadline to account for any unexpected issues that may arise.

16. Be Persistent

• If your application is not successful, don't be discouraged. Use feedback to improve your proposal for future applications.

Remember that grant reviewers receive numerous applications, so making your proposal stand out requires careful planning, a clear narrative, and a persuasive argument for the importance and feasibility of your research.

Managing and Reporting Grant Funds

Effectively managing and reporting grant funds is crucial to ensure transparency, accountability, and the successful execution of your research project.

Here's a guide on how to manage and report grant funds:

1. Establish Financial Systems

• Set up dedicated financial accounts to manage grant funds separately from your personal or institutional accounts. This helps maintain clear financial records.

2. Develop a Detailed Budget

• Create a comprehensive budget that outlines how you plan to allocate the grant funds. Specify the costs for personnel, equipment, materials, travel, and other expenses related to your research project.

3. Track Expenses and Receipts

• Keep meticulous records of all expenses related to your research project. Retain receipts, invoices, and documentation to support your financial claims.

4. Adhere to Grant Guidelines

• Ensure that you use the grant funds in accordance with the guidelines and restrictions set by the funding organization. Any deviation could lead to problems during audits or reporting.

5. Monitor Expenditures

• Regularly monitor your expenses to ensure that you are staying within your budget. Adjust your spending as needed to avoid overspending in one category at the expense of others.

6. Maintain Communication

• Keep the funding organization informed about significant developments, changes in project scope, and any potential issues that might affect your project's timeline or outcomes.

7. Submit Interim Reports

• Many grants require interim progress reports that detail the accomplishments, challenges, and financial status of your project at specific intervals. Submit these reports promptly and accurately.

8. Fulfill Reporting Requirements

• Provide any required documentation or information to the funding organization for compliance and reporting purposes. This might include progress reports, financial reports, and other documentation.

9. Transparency in Expenditure

• Ensure that all grant funds are used for project-related expenses. Maintain a clear distinction between personal and project-related expenditures.

10. Regularly Reconcile Accounts

• Regularly reconcile your financial records with your grant account to ensure accuracy and detect any discrepancies or errors.

11. Keep Detailed Records

• Document every transaction, decision, and correspondence related to your project's financial management. This documentation can be crucial in case of audits or inquiries.

12. Address Changes Appropriately

• If there are changes to your project's scope, budget, or timeline, communicate with the funding organization as early as possible. Seek approval for significant changes.

13. Plan for Unforeseen Expenses

• Build some flexibility into your budget to accommodate unforeseen expenses or unexpected changes in your research project.

14. Seek Professional Guidance

• If you're unfamiliar with financial management, consider seeking advice from your institution's finance office or hiring an accountant to help manage grant funds effectively.

15. Prepare for Final Reporting

• As your project nears completion, prepare a comprehensive final report that summarizes your achievements, outcomes, challenges, and financial expenditures.

16. Acknowledge Grant Support

• Properly acknowledge the funding organization's support in your project's outputs, presentations, and publications, as required by their guidelines.

By diligently managing and accurately reporting grant funds, you not only fulfill your obligations to the funding organization but also ensure the ethical use of resources and the successful completion of your research project.

Grant Writing Best Practices

Writing a successful grant proposal requires a combination of strategic planning, persuasive communication, and attention to detail.

Here are some best practices to help you craft an effective grant proposal:

1. Understand the Grant Guidelines

• Thoroughly review the grant guidelines and instructions before you start writing. Make sure you understand the funding organization's priorities, criteria, and deadlines.

2. Tell a Compelling Story

• Craft a narrative that engages the reader and clearly conveys the importance of your research project. Use a storytelling approach to make your proposal memorable and impactful.

3. Align with the Funder's Mission

• Tailor your proposal to align with the funding organization's mission and objectives. Clearly demonstrate how your research project aligns with their goals.

4. Start with a Strong Opening

• Begin your proposal with a strong and concise introduction that grabs the reader's attention and outlines the key points of your project.

5. Clearly Define the Problem

• Clearly articulate the problem or research question your project addresses. Explain why it matters and how your research will contribute to solving it.

6. Present a Feasible Plan

• Describe your research plan in a clear and logical manner. Highlight the methods you'll use, how you'll gather data, and the steps you'll take to achieve your objectives.

7. Emphasize Significance and Impact

• Explain the potential significance and impact of your research. Describe how your findings could advance knowledge, benefit your field, or address a broader societal issue.

8. Demonstrate Expertise

• Showcase your qualifications and expertise as well as those of your team members. Highlight your track record of successful research and relevant accomplishments.

9. Include a Realistic Budget

• Develop a detailed and realistic budget that accurately reflects the costs associated with your research project. Justify each budget item and provide a clear rationale.

10. Highlight Innovation

• Showcase the innovative aspects of your research project. Explain how your approach is novel and how it differs from existing research.

11. Address Ethical Considerations

• Discuss any ethical considerations relevant to your research, including human subjects, animal welfare, and potential conflicts of interest. Outline your plan to address these concerns.

12. Use Clear and Concise Language

• Write in clear, concise, and jargon-free language. Avoid overly technical terms that might confuse non-expert reviewers.

13. Structure Your Proposal Well

• Organize your proposal into sections that flow logically, including an introduction, problem statement, objectives, methods, significance, budget, and conclusion.

14. Provide Supporting Evidence

• Use data, statistics, and references to support the importance of your research and the feasibility of your methods.

15. Proofread and Edit

• Carefully proofread your proposal for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. A well-polished proposal reflects professionalism and attention to detail.

16. Seek Feedback

• Have colleagues, mentors, or experts review your proposal before submission. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement.

17. Follow Submission Guidelines

• Adhere to the submission guidelines precisely. Ensure that you submit all required documents and meet the specified deadlines.

18. Prepare for Revisions

• Be prepared to revise your proposal based on feedback or if the funding organization requests changes.

Remember that grant reviewers often receive numerous applications, so your proposal needs to stand out by being clear, compelling, and well-organized.

Invest time in crafting a strong proposal that effectively communicates the value of your research and your capacity to execute it successfully.

Navigating Rejection and Reapplication

Facing rejection in the grant application process is a common experience, even for highly qualified researchers. It's essential to view rejection as an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Here's how to navigate rejection and reapply successfully:

1. Understand the Process

• Recognize that grant rejections are not a reflection of your worth as a researcher. Many factors beyond your control can influence funding decisions.

2. Analyze Feedback

• If the funding organization provides feedback on your proposal, carefully review it. The feedback can offer valuable insights into areas that need improvement.

3. Don't Get Discouraged

• Don't let rejection deter you from pursuing your research goals. Keep in mind that successful researchers often face multiple rejections before securing funding.

4. Reframe Your Perspective

• Consider rejection as an opportunity to refine and strengthen your proposal. Use the feedback to make necessary improvements.

5. Revise Your Proposal

• Based on the feedback received, revise your proposal to address the reviewers' concerns and enhance its clarity, significance, and feasibility.

6. Seek Additional Input

• Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or experts in your field to review your revised proposal. Fresh perspectives can provide valuable insights.

7. Update Your Approach

• If your initial approach was not successful, consider adjusting your research question, methods, or scope. Adapting your approach can make your proposal more competitive.

8. Be Strategic in Reapplication

• If the funding organization allows resubmissions, ensure that you have made substantial improvements to your proposal before reapplying.

9. Tailor to Other Opportunities

• Explore other funding opportunities that align with your research. Tailor your proposal to fit the specific goals and priorities of different funders.

10. Focus on What's Improved

• In your revised proposal, highlight the changes you've made based on the feedback received. Demonstrating your willingness to adapt and improve can be positively received.

11. Strengthen Collaborations

• Consider collaborating with researchers who have a successful track record in securing grants. Collaborative proposals can enhance the credibility and impact of your project.

12. Manage Timing

• Be strategic in your timing. Reapply once you've made substantial improvements and refined your proposal, but also consider how the timing aligns with the grant cycle.

13. Prepare for Resubmission

• Ensure that you have all necessary documents and revisions ready for resubmission well before the deadline.

14. Stay Persistent

• Grant writing and application is a learning process. Stay persistent, and use each rejection as a stepping stone toward improving your skills.

Remember that rejection is a normal part of the grant application process. It's a chance to learn, grow, and ultimately enhance the quality of your research proposals.

Every rejection brings you one step closer to refining your approach and securing the funding you need to advance your research goals.

Ethical Considerations in Grant Applications

Ethical considerations are of utmost importance in research, and they should be thoroughly addressed in grant applications.

Demonstrating a clear understanding of ethical principles and how you plan to uphold them is crucial for building trust and ensuring the integrity of your research project.

Here are some ethical considerations to include in your grant application:

1. Human Subjects Research

• If your research involves human participants, provide details about how you will obtain informed consent, protect participants' privacy and confidentiality, and ensure their well-being throughout the study.

2. Animal Welfare

• If your research involves animals, describe how you will ensure their humane treatment, minimize discomfort, and follow appropriate animal care guidelines.

3. Research Integrity

• Emphasize your commitment to conducting research with the highest standards of integrity. Address issues such as data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and other unethical practices.

4. Conflict of Interest

• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity of your research. If any exists, explain how you plan to manage or mitigate these conflicts.

5. Data Management and Sharing

• Outline how you will handle data collection, storage, and sharing. Discuss plans for data anonymization, preservation, and accessibility to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

6. Informed Consent

• If working with human participants, describe your informed consent process. Explain how you will provide participants with clear and understandable information about the research, risks, benefits, and their rights.

7. Vulnerable Populations

• Address how you will protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable populations, such as minors, elderly individuals, or individuals with cognitive impairments.

8. Cultural Sensitivity

• If your research involves different cultural or ethnic groups, discuss how you will ensure respect for cultural norms, values, and beliefs. Address potential issues of cultural appropriation or misrepresentation.

9. Data Privacy and Security

• Describe how you will protect participants' personal information and data from unauthorized access or breaches.

10. Ethical Review and Approval

• If required by your institution or funding source, mention that your research has undergone ethical review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent body. Highlight any approvals or certifications you have obtained.

11. Responsible Conduct of Research

Highlight your commitment to responsible research practices and your willingness to adhere to codes of conduct, guidelines, and regulations relevant to your field.

12. Transparency and Open Science

• Emphasize your dedication to transparency in reporting your research findings, sharing data, and adhering to open science principles.

By addressing these ethical considerations in your grant application, you demonstrate your commitment to conducting research that upholds the highest ethical standards.

Ethical considerations not only ensure the well-being of participants and the integrity of your work but also enhance your credibility as a researcher.

Research funding and grants play a pivotal role in driving progress, innovation, and discovery across all fields of study.

By understanding the different types of funding sources, mastering the art of grant proposal writing, and adhering to ethical considerations, researchers can increase their chances of securing the financial support needed to bring their projects to fruition.

Remember, the journey of research funding is a continuous one, involving dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to advancing knowledge and improving the world.

Related Guides

• DOE Grant Funding: Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Programs: A Comprehensive Guide
• Ford Foundation Grants
• European Research Council (ERC) Grants: The Ultimate Guide
• Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide
• NASA Grant Funding: A Comprehensive Guide

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Federal Funds for R&D

This series reviews current and historical trends in Federal obligations and funding for research and development in science and engineering.

Most recent data year

• Federal R&D Obligations Increased 0.4% in FY 2022; Estimated to Decline in FY 2023 InfoBriefs | NSF 24-322 | April 3, 2024 New
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2022–23 Data Tables | NSF 24-321 | April 3, 2024 New
• Federal Funding to University Affiliated Research Centers Totaled $1.5 Billion in FY 2021 Other | NSF 24-315 | January 16, 2024
• Federal Funding for Experimental Development in FY 2021 Was Concentrated in Engineering and Life Sciences Other | NSF 24-314 | January 16, 2024
• The Department of Energy Accounted for over 60% of All Federal Funding for R&D Plant in FY 2021 Other | NSF 24-313 | January 16, 2024
• Reclassification of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers as Federal Intramural Performers of R&D InfoBriefs | NSF 24-312 | January 4, 2024
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2021–22 Data Tables | NSF 24-309 | December 21, 2023
• Federal Obligations for R&D Increased Nearly 14% in FY 2021, Supported by COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Funding InfoBriefs | NSF 23-352 | September 25, 2023
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2020–21 Data Tables | NSF 22-323 | April 28, 2022
• Driven by Stimulus Funding, Federal R&D Obligations Increased 18% in 2020; Largest Year-to-Year Change since 1963 InfoBriefs | NSF 22-324 | March 24, 2022
• Growth in Federal Research Obligations for Life Sciences Between 1970 and 2020 Other | NCSES 21-200 | June 10, 2021
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2019–20 Data Tables | NSF 21-329 | May 12, 2021
• Federal R&D Obligations Increased 10% in 2019; Largest Year-to-Year Change Since 2009 InfoBriefs | NSF 21-328 | April 28, 2021
• One-Fourth of Federal Obligations for R&D Are Directed to Two States: California and Maryland InfoBriefs | NSF 22-318 | February 16, 2022
• Federal R&D Obligations Increase 8.8% in FY 2018; Preliminary FY 2019 R&D Obligations Increase 9.3% Over FY 2018 InfoBriefs | NSF 20-308 | January 30, 2020
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2018–19 Data Tables | January 14, 2020
• Federal R&D Obligations Increase an Estimated 2.7% in FY 2018 InfoBriefs | NSF 19-321 | June 17, 2019
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2017–18 Data Tables | June 17, 2019
• Federal R&D Obligations Increase 3% in FY 2017: Research Obligations Decrease Slightly While Those for Development Increase 7% InfoBriefs | NSF 18-311 | July 30, 2018
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2016–17 Data Tables | July 12, 2018
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2015–17 Data Tables | April 5, 2017
• Total Federal Research and Development Funding Down 1% in FY 2015, but Funding for Research Up 1% InfoBriefs | NSF 17-316 | March 21, 2017
• Federal Funding for Research Increases by 6% in FY 2014; Total Federal R&D Up 4% InfoBriefs | NSF 16-311 | April 20, 2016
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2014–16 Data Tables | April 20, 2016
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2013–15 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 15-324 | June 29, 2015
• Federal Funds for Research and Development FYs 2012–14 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 14-316 | September 30, 2014
• Federal Funding for Basic Research at Universities and Colleges Essentially Unchanged in FY 2012 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 14-318 | September 4, 2014
• Federal Research and Development and R&D Plant Funding Drop by 9% in FY 2013 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 15-322 | May 14, 2015
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2011–13 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 14-312 | July 28, 2014
• Federal Funding for Research Drops by 9% in FY 2011 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 13-336 | September 24, 2013
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2010–12 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 13-326 | July 8, 2013
• Federal Research and Development and R&D Plant Obligations Show Modest Growth in FY 2010 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 13-317 | March 26, 2013
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2009–11 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 12-318 | July 2, 2012
• ARRA Increased Federal Research and Development and R&D Plant Obligations by $19.2 Billion for FY 2009–10 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 12-314 | April 30, 2012
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2008–10 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 12-308 | April 18, 2012
• Federal Funding of Basic and Applied Research Increases in FY 2009 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 11-324 | July 26, 2011
• Department of the Air Force Revises Development Data for FY 2000–07 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 11-304 | January 3, 2011
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2007-09 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 10-305 | May 12, 2010
• Federal R&D Support Shows Little Change in FY 2008 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 09-320 | October 2, 2009
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2006–08 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 10-303 | October 15, 2009
• FY 2008 Data Show Downward Trend in Federal R&D Funding (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 09-309 | February 4, 2009
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2005–07 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 09-300 | November 14, 2008
• Federal R&D Funding Down in FY 2007 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 08-303 | February 13, 2008
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2004-06 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 07-323 | June 1, 2007
• Federal Agencies Supported R&D Growth over the Period FY 1994-2004 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 07-302 | December 18, 2006
• Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2003-05 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 06-313 | May 12, 2006
• Federal Support for R&D and R&D Plant Projected at $110 Billion in FY 2005 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 06-300 | November 17, 2005
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 2002, 2003, and 2004 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 05-307 | April 12, 2005
• Federal Obligations for R&D and R&D Plant Expected to Reach Over $105 Billion in FY 2004 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 04-331 | July 29, 2004
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1970-2003; Federal Obligations for Research by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 04-335 | August 12, 2004
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1973-2003; Federal Obligations for Research to Universities and Colleges by Agency and Field of S&E (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 04-332 | August 11, 2004
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 2001, 2002, and 2003 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 04-310 | April 20, 2004
• Federal Funding for R&D and R&D Plant Continues to Grow in the 21st Century (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 03-321 | June 20, 2003
• Federal Obligations for Research by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E: FYs 1970-2002 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 04-313 | April 30, 2004
• Federal Obligations for Research to Universities and Colleges by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E: FYs 1973-2002 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 04-314 | April 30, 2004
• Federal Funds for R&D, Detailed Historical Tables, FYs 1951-2002 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 03-325 | August 14, 2003
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 2000, 2001, and 2002, Volume 50 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 02-321 | July 16, 2002
• Changing Composition of Federal Funding for R&D and R&D Plant Since 1990 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 02-315 | April 18, 2002
• Classification Revisions Reduce Reported Federal Development Obligations (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 02-309 | February 28, 2002
• Federal Funds for R&D: Detailed Historical Tables: FYs 1951-2001 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 01-334 | July 31, 2001
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1999, 2000, and 2001, Volume 49 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 01-328 | July 11, 2001
• Federal Funds for R&D, FYs 1970-2001, Federal Obligations for Research by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 01-333 | July 1, 2001
• Federal Funds for R&D: Federal Obligations for Research to Universities and Colleges by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E: FYs 1973-2001 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 01-331 | July 1, 2001
• FY 2001 Department of Defense Share of Federal R&D Funding Falls to Lowest Level in 22 Years (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 01-319 | February 26, 2001
• Federal Funds for R&D, Federal Obligations for Research by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E, FYs 1970-2000 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 01-306 | December 14, 2000
• Federal Funds for R&D, Federal Obligations for Research to Universities and Colleges by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E, FYs 1973-2000 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 01-307 | December 14, 2000
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1998, 1999 and 2000, Volume 48 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 00-317 | June 23, 2000
• Federal Survey Shows Defense Funding of Industry Is Largest Share of Federal R&D in FY 2000 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 00-309 | February 1, 2000
• Federal Funds Survey, Detailed Historical Tables, FYs 1951-99 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 99-347 | June 8, 1999
• Federal Funds Survey, Fields of S&E Research Historical Tables, FYs 1970-99 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 99-345 | June 2, 1999
• Federal Funds Survey, Fields of S&E Research to Universities and Colleges Historical Tables, FYs 1973-99 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 99-346 | June 1, 1999
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1997, 1998, and 1999, Volume 47 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 99-333 | March 23, 1999
• Federal Funding Supports Moderate Growth for Basic Research in the 1990's (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 99-319 | January 7, 1999
• Federal Funds Survey, Fields of S&E Research Historical Tables, FYs 1970-98 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 98-326 | January 1, 1999
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1996, 1997, and 1998, Volume 46 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 98-332 | December 1, 1998
• Federal Funds Survey, Detailed Historical Tables, FYs 1951-98 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 98-328 | August 1, 1998
• Federal Funds Survey, Fields of S&E Research to Universities and Colleges Historical Tables, FYs 1973-98 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 98-327 | August 1, 1998
• Federal Obligations for Applied Research Keep Pace with Those for Basic Research (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 98-309 | April 27, 1998
• Federal Funds Survey, Fields of S&E Research to Universities and Colleges Historical Tables, FYs 1977-97 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | SRS 00-402 | July 1, 2000
• Federal Funds Survey, Fields of S&E Research Historical Tables, FYs 1974-97 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | SRS 00-401 | October 19, 1999
• Federal Funds Survey, Detailed Historical Tables, FYs 1951-97 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | SRS 99-401 | October 4, 1999
• Federal Basic Research Share Grows During a Period of Declining R&D (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 97-308 | May 15, 1997
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1995, 1996, and 1997, Volume 45 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 97-327 | February 6, 1997
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1994, 1995, and 1996, Volume 44 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 97-302 | May 1, 1997
• Federal Funding for R&D and R&D Plant to Drop in FY 1996; Department of Defense Survey Data Expanded (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 96-306 | June 18, 1996
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1993, 1994, and 1995, Volume 43 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 95-334 | June 1, 1995
• Small Decrease in Federal Funding for R&D and R&D plant Expected in FY 1995 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 95-315 | May 25, 1995
• Selected Data on Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1992, 1993, and 1994 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | SRS 95-405 | January 1, 1995
• Federal Funds for R&D Detailed Historical Tables: FYs 1956-1994 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 94-331 | November 1, 1994
• Federal Funding for R&D and for R&D Plant Expected to Decrease in FY 1994 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 94-309 | June 1, 1994
• Federal Funds for R&D: FYs 1992, 1993, and 1994, Volume 42 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 94-328 | April 1, 1994
• Federal Funds for R&D: Federal Obligations for Research by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E: FYs 1971-1994 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 94-332 | January 1, 1994
• Federal Funds for R&D: Federal Obligations for Research to Universities and Colleges by Agency and Detailed Field of S&E: FYs 1975-1994 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 94-330 | January 1, 1994
• Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development

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• Search NCSES to find data and reports or browse the Publication Index .
• See permissions for reuse of NCSES material.

Last Updated: June 05, 2013

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• v.12(1); Jan-Feb 2021

Research Funding—Why, When, and How?

Shekhar neema.

Department of Dermatology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Laxmisha Chandrashekar

1 Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Dhanvantari Nagar, Puducherry, India

Research funding is defined as a grant obtained for conducting scientific research generally through a competitive process. To apply for grants and securing research funding is an essential part of conducting research. In this article, we will discuss why should one apply for research grants, what are the avenues for getting research grants, and how to go about it in a step-wise manner. We will also discuss how to write research grants and what to be done after funding is received.

Introduction

The two most important components of any research project is idea and execution. The successful execution of the research project depends not only on the effort of the researcher but also on available infrastructure to conduct the research. The conduct of a research project entails expenses on man and material and funding is essential to meet these requirements. It is possible to conduct many research projects without any external funding if the infrastructure to conduct the research is available with the researcher or institution. It is also unethical to order tests for research purpose when it does not benefit patient directly or is not part of the standard of care. Research funding is required to meet these expenses and smooth execution of research projects. Securing funding for the research project is a topic that is not discussed during postgraduation and afterwards during academic career especially in medical science. Many good ideas do not materialize into a good research project because of lack of funding.[ 1 ] This is an art which can be learnt only by practising and we intend to throw light on major hurdles faced to secure research funding.

Why Do We Need the Funds for Research?

It is possible to publish papers without any external funding; observational research and experimental research with small sample size can be conducted without external funding and can result in meaningful papers like case reports, case series, observational study, or small experimental study. However, when studies like multi-centric studies, randomized controlled trial, experimental study or observational study with large sample size are envisaged, it may not be possible to conduct the study within the resources of department or institution and a source of external funding is required.

Basic Requirements for Research Funding

The most important requirement is having an interest in the particular subject, thorough knowledge of the subject, and finding out the gap in the knowledge. The second requirement is to know whether your research can be completed with internal resources or requires external funding. The next step is finding out the funding agencies which provide funds for your subject, preparing research grant and submitting the research grant on time.

What Are the Sources of Research Funding? – Details of Funding Agencies

Many local, national, and international funding bodies can provide grants necessary for research. However, the priorities for different funding agencies on type of research may vary and this needs to be kept in mind while planning a grant proposal. Apart from this, different funding agencies have different timelines for proposal submission and limitation on funds. Details about funding bodies have been tabulated in Table 1 . These details are only indicative and not comprehensive.

Details of funding agencies

Application for the Research Grant

Applying for a research grant is a time-consuming but rewarding task. It not only provides an opportunity for designing a good study but also allows one to understand the administrative aspect of conducting research. In a publication, the peer review is done after the paper is submitted but in a research grant, peer review is done at the time of proposal, which helps the researcher to improve his study design even if the grant proposal is not successful. Funds which are available for research is generally limited; resulting in reviewing of a research grant on its merit by peer group before the proposal is approved. It is important to be on the lookout for call for proposal and deadlines for various grants. Ideally, the draft research proposal should be ready much before the call for proposal and every step should be meticulously planned to avoid rush just before the deadline. The steps of applying for a research grant are mentioned below and every step is essential but may not be conducted in a particular order.

• Idea: The most important aspect of research is the idea. After having the idea in mind, it is important to refine your idea by going through literature and finding out what has already been done in the subject and what are the gaps in the research. FINER framework should be used while framing research questions. FINER stands for feasibility, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant
• Designing the study: Well-designed study is the first step of a well-executed research project. It is difficult to correct flawed study design when the project is advanced, hence it should be planned well and discussed with co-workers. The help of an expert epidemiologist can be sought while designing the study
• Collaboration: The facility to conduct the study within the department is often limited. Inter-departmental and inter-institutional collaboration is the key to perform good research. The quality of project improves by having a subject expert onboard and it also makes acceptance of grant easier. The availability of the facility for conduct of research in department and institution should be ascertained before planning the project
• Scientific and ethical committee approval: Most of the research grants require the project to be approved by the institutional ethical committee (IEC) before the project is submitted. IEC meeting usually happens once in a quarter; hence pre-planning the project is essential. Some institutes also conduct scientific committee meeting before the proposal can be submitted for funding. A project/study which is unscientific is not ethical, therefore it is a must that a research proposal should pass both the committees’ scrutiny
• Writing research grant: Writing a good research grant decides whether research funding can be secured or not. So, we will discuss this part in detail.

How to write a research grant proposal [ 13 , 14 , 15 ] The steps in writing a research grant are as follows

• Identifying the idea and designing the study. Study design should include details about type of study, methodology, sampling, blinding, inclusion and exclusion criteria, outcome measurements, and statistical analysis
• Identifying the prospective grants—the timing of application, specific requirements of grant and budget available in the grant
• Discussing with collaborators (co-investigators) about the requirement of consumables and equipment
• Preparing a budget proposal—the two most important part of any research proposal is methodology and budget proposal. It will be discussed separately
• Preparing a specific proposal as outlined in the grant document. This should contain details about the study including brief review of literature, why do you want to conduct this study, and what are the implications of the study, budget requirement, and timeline of the study
• A timeline or Gantt chart should always accompany any research proposal. This gives an idea about the major milestones of the project and how the project will be executed
• The researcher should also be ready for revising the grant proposal. After going through the initial proposal, committee members may suggest some changes in methodology and budgetary outlay
• The committee which scrutinizes grant proposal may be composed of varied specialities. Hence, proposal should be written in a language which even layman can understand. It is also a good idea to get the proposal peer reviewed before submission.

Budgeting for the Research Grant

Budgeting is as important as the methodology for grant proposal. The first step is to find out what is the monetary limit for grant proposal and what are the fund requirements for your project. If these do not match, even a good project may be rejected based on budgetary limitations. The budgetary layout should be prepared with prudence and only the amount necessary for the conduct of research should be asked. Administrative cost to conduct the research project should also be included in the proposal. The administrative cost varies depending on the type of research project.

Research fund can generally be used for the following requirement but not limited to these; it is helpful to know the subheads under which budgetary planning is done. The funds are generally allotted in a graded manner as per projected requirement and to the institution, not to the researcher.

• Purchase of equipment which is not available in an institution (some funding bodies do not allow equipment to be procured out of research funds). The equipment once procured out of any research fund is owned by the institute/department
• Consumables required for the conduct of research (consumables like medicines for the conduct of the investigator-initiated trials and laboratory consumables)
• The hiring of trained personnel—research assistant, data entry operator for smooth conduct of research. The remuneration details of trained personnel can be obtained from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) website and the same can be used while planning the budget
• Stationary—for the printing of forms and similar expense
• Travel expense—If the researcher has to travel to present his finding or for some other reason necessary for the conduct of research, travel grant can be part of the research grant
• Publication expense: Some research bodies provide publication expense which can help the author make his findings open access which allows wider visibility to research
• Contingency: Miscellaneous expenditure during the conduct of research can be included in this head
• Miscellaneous expenses may include expense toward auditing the fund account, and other essential expenses which may be included in this head.

Once the research funding is granted. The fund allotted has to be expended as planned under budgetary planning. Transparency, integrity, fairness, and competition are the cornerstones of public procurement and should be remembered while spending grant money. The hiring of trained staff on contract is also based on similar principles and details of procurement and hiring can be read at the ICMR website.[ 4 ] During the conduct of the study, many of grant guidelines mandate quarterly or half-yearly progress report of the project. This includes expense on budgetary layout and scientific progress of the project. These reports should be prepared and sent on time.

Completion of a Research Project

Once the research project is completed, the completion report has to be sent to the funding agency. Most funding agencies also require period progress report and project should ideally progress as per Gantt chart. The completion report has two parts. The first part includes a scientific report which is like writing a research paper and should include all subheads (Review of literature, material and methods, results, conclusion including implications of research). The second part is an expense report including how money was spent, was it according to budgetary layout or there was any deviation, and reasons for the deviation. Any unutilized fund has to be returned to the funding agency. Ideally, the allotted fund should be post audited by a professional (chartered accountant) and an audit report along with original bills of expenditure should be preserved for future use in case of any discrepancy. This is an essential part of any funded project that prevents the researcher from getting embroiled in any accusations of impropriety.

Sharing of scientific findings and thus help in scientific advancement is the ultimate goal of any research project. Publication of findings is the part of any research grant and many funding agencies have certain restrictions on publications and presentation of the project completed out of research funds. For example, Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) research projects on completion have to be presented in a national conference and the same is true for most funding agencies. It is imperative that during presentation and publication, researcher mentions the source of funding.

Research funding is an essential part of conducting research. To be able to secure a research grant is a matter of prestige for a researcher and it also helps in the advancement of career.

Financial support and sponsorship

Conflicts of interest.

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Are you interested in air quality research helping underserved communities.

Our new funding opportunity Air Quality Information: Making Sense of Air Pollution Data to Inform Decisions in Underserved Communities Overburdened by Air Pollution Exposures Funding Opportunity is now open. 

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Are you interested in coastal ecosystems research?

Our new funding opportunity Coastal Ecosystems Climate Resilience is now open. 

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Our new funding opportunity Advancing Sustainable Chemistry is now open.

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EPA funds extramural research  through its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program; the People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Program and the Small Business Innovation Research Program. These research programs help to engage top research scientists and students that results in a strong scientific foundation to support the Agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.

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Historic investments accelerate R&D, support clean energy future

WASHINGTON, D.C. —   The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced more than $59 million to 25 U.S. colleges and universities, two national laboratories, and one industry organization to support nuclear energy research and development and provide access to world-class research facilities. With these awards, DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy has surpassed $1 billion in total funding to U.S. colleges and universities advancing nuclear energy research and training the next generation of nuclear energy leaders. 

Since 2009, this historic funding initiative has supported some of the most influential nuclear technology research of the 21st century, including advanced reactor concepts, accident tolerant fuels, and structural materials of nuclear reactors. These awards are a crucial investment in future scientists and engineers who are working to advance nuclear technology to help reach President Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Eclipsing one-billion-dollars represents an incredible investment in our nation’s colleges and universities, as well as the faculty and students performing nuclear energy research,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Kathryn Huff . “We’re going to need a thriving workforce to triple nuclear energy by 2050 and meet the President’s ambitious climate goals. These awards move us one step closer to realizing a clean energy future.”  

In the most recent round of awards, 50 total projects were supported in the following areas:

• Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) Research and Development ($44 million): Supports 44 awards and brings collaborative teams together to solve complex problems to advance nuclear science and technology. 
• CINR Integrated Research Projects ($9 million): Funds three multidisciplinary teams to address specific research challenges and capability gaps in nuclear energy. 
• Nuclear Science User Facilities ($6.6 million): Provides three research teams (1 industry organization and 2 national laboratories) access to world-class facilities and unique capabilities to help maintain the existing fleet of reactors and advance next generation nuclear technologies. Additionally, four of the CINR Research and Development university awardees will also receive Nuclear Science User Facility access funds. 

To learn more about these awards, visit Nuclear Energy University Program website. 

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Updated Analyses Suggest Continued Decline in Research Project Grant Funding Inequalities for NIH-Supported Investigators, but Organizational Inequalities Remain: FY 1998 to FY 2023

We previously showed in this January 2022 blog (based on this paper ) that the inequalities in the distribution of Research Project Grant (RPG) funding to principal investigators increased, especially at the top end of funding, during the NIH budget doubling and the first few years after the 2013 budget sequestration. The degree of inequality appeared to fall, however, after NIH implemented the Next Generation Researchers Initiative (NGRI) near the end of  FY2017. Here we present follow-up data that shows that the trends seen in recent years appear to be continuing in fiscal year (FY) 2023.

When reading this post, please keep in mind that, in general, NIH awards grants to institutions , not individual scientists. For simplicity here, we refer to PIs receiving awards, but understand this means the scientists designated by their institutions as Principal Investigators.

Measuring Inequality

Our previous post details how economists describe inequality, which we used for our analyses here. In brief:

• The “Top-proportion” allows us to track the percent of funds awarded to the top XX percent of investigators. For example, what percent of funds go to the top 1% of investigators. Were funds allocated uniformly, the top 1% of investigators would receive 1% of the funds. In an extremely unequal situation, the top 1% of investigators might receive over 50% of the funds.
• The “standard deviation of the log of funding (“SD-log”)”, by contrast, reflects more on the low and middle rungs of funding.
• The “Theil Index” is more sensitive to the higher rungs of funding, like the top-proportion approach. It enables us to explore inequalities between groups as well as those within groups.

Inequality of RPG Funding for Principal Investigators

As we saw previously, the percent of RPG funds going to the top 1% and top 10% of investigators increased during the NIH budget doubling and following the first years after budget increases following the FY2013 budget sequestration (Figure 1, panels A and B). After the announcement of NGRI late in FY2017 , however, the degree of inequality fell. We can see that in FY 2023 the percent of funds going to the top 1% of investigators dropped below FY2013 levels (Figure 1, panel B). The Theil index showed a similar trajectory (Figure 1, panel D). we did not see any clear trends in the SD-log (Figure 1, panel C), suggesting no changes seen for researchers at the lower or middle rungs of funding.

The FY 2023 data also demonstrate similar characteristics for the top 1% of funded investigators as seen before. They are more likely to be in late career stages (Panel A), male (Panel B), white (Panel C), hold an MD degree (Panel D), and supported by multiple RPG awards (see also Table 1).

Table 1: Investigator Characteristics According to Centile of Funding in Fiscal Year 2023. Values shown in parentheses are percentages for categorical variables and IQR for continuous variables. IQR = inter-quartile range. ND = not displayed due to small cell size.

Inequality Between and Within Groups

Next, we sought to understand if the inequalities seen were “within-group” or “between-group.” As a reminder from our prior post, we can consider height inequalities of athletes to conceptualize this concept. For instance, there is a great deal of “between-group” inequalities in the heights of jockeys and professional basketball players. On the other hand, we would primarily observe “within-group” inequalities if we focused on professional basketball players from either the east or west coast.

Focusing our attention back on NIH supported scientists categorized by career stage, we can use Theil index to assess these types of inequalities. A visual look at the distribution of funding for these PIs in FY 2023 shows the inequalities are primarily within- group for gender, race-ethnicity, and degree (Figure 2).

Organizational Inequalities

While investigator inequalities declined since FY2017 (Figure 1, panels A, B, and D), we saw an increase in organizational inequalities over the same time (Figure 3, Panels A, B, and D). The degree of organizational inequality was still lower in FY2023 than when it peaked in the late 2000s.

There were also between-group inequalities, with medical schools receiving substantially more funding than other kinds of institutions (Figure 4).

Our follow-up (FY 2023) analyses continue to show that investigator inequalities substantially declined since NGRI. However, organizational inequalities modestly increased during the same time. We will continue to follow these data to better understand how our programs and policies can help us reduce funding inequalities when possible.

RELATED NEWS

This was an exceptionally informative publication and we thank yo so very much. Our organization, which is quite small and receives a small 1.4 million dollar grant from NIH had to make a series of obscure hurdles in the submission process. With a single grants manager who serves other roles in our organization, the submission was wrought with possible single critical failures, as NASA would say, that would have tanked our months of work before it was able to be reviewed. As an example, after submitting our first proposal years ago, we had not received a confirmation and wondered what was wrong. After over an hour of calls, we were informed we had not had a “signing official signature”. Such things have improved, but there is so much more that could be done to ensure small institutions can compete with universities that had pre-approval grant managers that exceed the total employees of a the small institutions. I will not go into the details, but a very detailed seminar for small org submitters that includes small numbers of attendees to allow for many questions would be wonderful.

On another level, the review process, in which I have participated in multiple times. had a substantial improvement with the bias training recently instituted. My experience is that the readers give famous institutions with massive funding streams and seasoned PI’s, far more latitude and do not question the proposal on the same level they do for smaller institutions.

More access to program, managers/officers in the proposal process would help. They have been very helpful in ensuring we execute the grant to its best level.

How would the numbers change if awards funding clinical trials were excluded?

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Gen Z and millennials are the engine of our economy. Everything that is created, built, served, and sold in Canada is increasingly being done by millennials and Gen Z. They’re the young parents, the students doing cutting-edge research, the young entrepreneurs with startup ideas. Canada’s success depends on their success.

To secure Canada’s competitive edge, we need to support and empower tomorrow’s problem solvers and make sure every generation reaches their full potential. That’s why we’re investing in cutting-edge research – to create more good jobs, including in innovation and technology – while making education more affordable.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today highlighted an over $4.6 billion package of measures from Budget 2024 to strengthen Canadian research and innovation.

Here’s what we’re doing:

Providing $2.6 billion in core research grant funding, scholarships, and fellowships to support our researchers and their ground-breaking discoveries:

• This includes $1.8 billion in core research grant funding for a 30 per cent increase over five years of Canada’s core research grant programs that support faculty-led research projects. It will indirectly support thousands of graduate student and post-doctoral fellows with their research, including their work on climate action, health emergencies, artificial intelligence, and psychological health.
• And $825 million over five years to the granting councils to increase the annual value of master’s and doctoral students’ scholarships to $27,000 and $40,000, respectively, and post-doctoral fellowships to $70,000. To make it easier for students and fellows to access support, the enhanced suite of scholarships and fellowship programs will be streamlined into one talent program. This new program will also increase the number of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows benefiting from research scholarships and fellowships by approximately 1,720 each year.
• This funding will also provide $30 million over three years for Indigenous researchers and their communities, which would be distributed with $10 million each for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit partners.
• To provide better co-ordination across the federally funded research ecosystem, we will bring together our three research funding organizations within a single new capstone research funding organization. The granting councils will continue to exist within this new organization, and continue supporting excellence in investigator-driven research, including linkages with the health portfolio.
• Together, these measures will play a critical role in not only supporting Canadian researchers in solving the world’s greatest challenges – but building a generation of highly educated, highly skilled individuals as a foundation of Canada’s future economic growth and prosperity.

Investing $1.3 billion to keep post-secondary education affordable:

• This funding will extend for an additional year the increase in full-time Canada Student Grants from $3,000 to $4,200 per year, and interest-free Canada Student Loans from $210 to $300 per week. This includes increases to other Canada Student Grants by 40 per cent.
• It will also increase the housing allowances used by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program when determining financial need, which will provide additional student aid to approximately 79,000 students each year.
• These investments will make sure that our younger generations can access quality post-secondary education at an affordable cost.

Investing $734 million to support Canada’s world-leading research infrastructure and institutes :

• Supporting TRIUMF, Canada’s sub-atomic physics research laboratory, located at the University of British Columbia. This investment will upgrade infrastructure at the facility, keep Canada at the forefront of physics research, and enable new medical breakthroughs and treatments, from drug development to cancer therapy.
• Investing in CANARIE, a national not-for-profit organization that manages Canada’s ultra high-speed network to connect researchers, educators, and innovators.
• Providing funding to Saskatoon-based Canadian Light Source, helping scientists and researchers to continue making breakthroughs in areas ranging from climate-resistant crop development to sustainable mining processes.
• Supporting the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, headquartered at Queen’s University. This funding will help engineers, researchers, and scientists innovate in areas like clean technology and medical imaging.
• Investing in the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for Pandemic Research, advancing the study of high-risk pathogens to support vaccine and therapeutic development.

These investments will unlock and accelerate economic growth for Canada. We’re creating opportunities, boosting innovation, and accelerating economic growth – and that’s just some of the things that we are proposing in Budget 2024. Alongside these measures, we’re building more homes faster, investing in health care, and making life more affordable to make sure every generation can get ahead.

“Budget 2024 is about ensuring fairness for the next generation. With these historic investments, we’re investing in Canadian students, researchers, and innovators so they can solve the problems of tomorrow. This will unlock massive economic growth and make Canada stronger, fairer, and more prosperous.” The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

“Our government is securing the future of top-tier research and innovation in Canada by investing in younger generations today. This is about fostering homegrown research talent and encouraging Canadian brainpower to scale-up their innovative ideas in Canada ‒ all as part of our work to help younger generations get ahead.” The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

“Today’s research is tomorrow’s economy. That’s why Budget 2024 supports Canadian researchers at the forefront of discovery and innovation as they continue to position Canada as a global leader in science research. These investments reflect the ambition and vision of our next generation of researchers.” The Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Quick Facts

• An estimated total cost of $1.1 billion in 2024-25 for the increased student grants and loans, which will be available for the 2024-25 school year.
• An estimated cost of $154.6 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $32.3 million per year ongoing to modernize shelter allowances.
• $399.8 million over five years, starting in 2025-26, for TRIUMF.
• $176 million over five years, starting in 2025-26, for CANARIE.
• $83.5 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, for Canadian Light Source.
• $45.5 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, for the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute.
• $30 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, for the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for Pandemic Research at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
• Since 2016, the federal government has committed: more than $16 billion to support scientific discovery, develop Canadian research talent, and attract top researchers from around the planet; and over $2 billion to foster growth across Canada’s AI ecosystem and digital infrastructure.
• Since 2016, the federal government has supported more than 638,000 post-secondary students per year, on average, with more than $38.4 billion in up-front grants and interest-free loans – enabling young Canadians to pursue their education, regardless of their background. To ensure this support keeps up with the cost of an education, the government permanently increased Canada Student Grants by 50 per cent to $3,000. As outlined above, Budget 2024 announced the government’s intention to extend for an additional year the increase in full-time Canada Student Grants from $3,000 to $4,200 per year, and interest-free Canada Student Loans from $210 to $300 per week.
• The Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 was tabled in the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on April 16, 2024.
• The Strategic Science Fund, which announced the results of its first competition in December 2023, providing support to 24 third-party science and research organizations starting in 2024-25.
• Canada recently concluded negotiations to be an associate member of Horizon Europe, which would enable Canadians to access a broader range of research opportunities under the European program starting this year.
• The steady increase in federal funding for extramural and intramural science and technology by the government, which was 44 per cent higher in 2023 relative to 2015.
• Budget 2024 also includes a $2.4 billion package of measures to accelerate job growth in Canada’s AI sector, boost productivity by helping researchers and businesses develop and adopt AI, and ensure this is done responsibly.  Learn more .

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Alberta’s Bill 18: Who gets the most federal research funding? Danielle Smith might be surprised by what the data shows

PhD student, Sociology, University of Alberta

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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently tabled Bill 18, the Provincial Priorities Act in the provincial legislature. If passed into law, the bill will give the Alberta government power to vet any agreements between the federal government and post-secondary institutions, and other “provincial entities.”

The proposed legislation could have a tremendous impact on whether scholars in Alberta can secure federal research funding. The bill would prohibit provincial entities like municipalities, post-secondary institutions and health authorities from making deals with the federal government unless they obtain approval from the province.

In terms of federal funding for Alberta universities, the Tri-Council Agencies — The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) — are the main, non-partisan mechanism through which the government of Canada funds research across disciplines.

Through these sources, faculty and graduate students obtain funding to conduct research in diverse fields that contribute to health , science and engineering and social sciences and humanities innovation and insight .

Universities across the country sign an agreement with the Tri-Agencies every five years on how to administer the funding.

Should the provincial government intervene in this process under Bill 18, some critics feel university research could be jeopardized . Numerous research projects could be at risk of losing access to grants and awards, which thousands of research assistants and students rely on to support themselves and their research. It could also limit opportunities for teaching and training.

Bill 18 and federal grants

Smith recently told CBC that her aim is to ensure “all people from all political perspectives are able to engage in a robust debate and have a robust research agenda.”

“If we did truly have balance in universities, then we would see that we would have just as many conservative commentators as we do liberal commentators,” the premier said.

It is not clear, however, what Smith means by “liberal” and “conservative,” leaving room for arbitrariness in the bill’s proposed vetting process.

The provincial Minister of Advanced Education, Rajan Sawhney, defended Bill 18, saying: “Albertans have a right to know exactly what these grants are and what they are funding.”

Sawhney said the bill will allow the Alberta government to make sure research getting funded aligns with provincial priorities.

What Smith and Sawhney do not seem to realize is that every Albertan — actually, every Canadian — already has access to all the information, which has been publicly available on Tri-Council websites for years.

SSHRC provides a full list of the peer-reviewers on its merit review committees. All of them are Canadian and international scholars who are experts in their own field.

It also provides an awards search engine where the public can find records of all research projects that have received funding since 1998.

Fact-checking Alberta government claims

In order to fact check the concerns raised by Smith, we collected information on 35,828 research projects funded by SSHRC between the fiscal years of 2013-14 and 2022-23.

These projects were funded under one of the eight major, regular and most competitive programs offered to faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across Canada: Insight Development Grants, Insight Grants, Canada Graduate Scholarships doctoral and master’s programs, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships.

We wanted to know what disciplines receive the most funding — and whether SSHRC funding has been primarily going to social science disciplines that are often mischaracterized by conservatives as liberal or left-leaning.

Our findings suggest the opposite of what Smith has alleged.

On the federal level, psychology, education and fine arts received the largest share of the $2.1 billion paid out through the eight SSHRC programs in the last 10 fiscal years. Social justice and social inequality are not even the subject matter of these research areas.

Interestingly, management, business and administrative studies acquired more dollars from SSHRC than many social science disciplines seen by conservative commentators as left-leaning, like sociology , geography , social work and criminology .

A similar pattern can be found among the 2,535 research projects in Alberta we examined. Education, psychology and management, business and administrative studies received the largest share of funding. Business research in the province actually received more money than most social science subjects, a phenomenon that is most likely in line with Smith’s United Conservative Party (UCP).

There is simply no factual basis to suggest that federal agencies favour liberal or leftist research. If anything, social science disciplines often considered leftist by the right-wing are actually underfunded.

Bill 18 will not maintain a balance of political viewpoints in academic research. Rather, it could strip post-secondary researchers of the already limited funding they have access to. And it could see certain research go unfunded if the provincial government arbitrarily decides that it does not conform to UCP’s ideology and agenda.

The Alberta government’s proposed legislation could undermine the academic independence of Canadian universities — and risks their reputation for high-quality research in the service of public interests across society that does not face political interference from the government.

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Morehead State among universities to receive NSF/KCV funding for academic research 

• 22 April 2024

Morehead State is recognized for academic excellence and a commitment to faculty and student research. MSU recently received significant funding to further research efforts and opportunities.  

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded more than $8.25 million to Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), an initiative of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), for a program addressing inequities in academic research funding. It will support underrepresented higher education institutions with research infrastructure like Morehead State.  

The project, Granting Emerging and Developing Institutions a Competitive EDGE (Equitable and Diverse Grant Ecosystem), or KCV EDGE, will provide holistic support for research grant administration to partner institutions MSU, Kentucky State University (KSU), and Northern Kentucky University (NKU).  

"MSU is excited to be part of this KCV EDGE award. We look forward to working with KCV, NKU, and KSU to enhance our research infrastructure and help to create more opportunities for MSU faculty and staff in their pursuit of external funds," said MSU Director of Research & Sponsored Programs Dr. Shannon Harr. "We are also thrilled to be able to enhance some of our Office of Research & Sponsored Programs procedures utilizing these funds."  

KCV Executive Director Kayla Meisner said the program emerged because some Kentucky institutions needed equal access to research funding.  

"We designed KCV EDGE to dismantle these barriers to give our regional, rural, minority-serving, and community and technical institutions a competitive advantage when pursuing federal research grants," Meisner said. "Through their success, we can transform research infrastructure in the commonwealth and beyond."  

The KCV EDGE program will support MSU, KSU and NKU for five years to help each institution develop sustainable research infrastructure. Partner institutions will receive support in grant proposal writing, administration and compliance, technology commercialization and leadership development. Additionally, over $5 million of the grant will be given as sub-awards to partner institutions to build institutional capacity, such as staffing, to support an expanded research enterprise.  

The KCV team plans to expand the program into a statewide and later national model to increase access to research funding and technology transfer support.  

KSTC President Terry Samuel said this KCV grant funding naturally expands and supports KSTC's efforts to assist Kentucky higher education institutions that need more dedicated technology transfer resources.  

"This unprecedented, shared services model is already making a difference for innovators throughout the state, and with the addition of KCV EDGE, has the power to make a national impact," Samuel said.  

The KCV EDGE program funding will support MSU's future academic research efforts and significantly benefit not just Kentucky higher education but the state's future economy.  

"This award is a testament to the work of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures and the many higher education researchers, who are already creating opportunities for Kentucky to build upon the economic momentum we're experiencing throughout the state," said Governor Andy Beshear. "We know there are great ideas coming from faculty, staff and students on campuses across Kentucky. By helping all of our postsecondary institutions succeed in pursuing additional research funding, KCV EDGE will strengthen Kentucky's competitiveness as a center for research and innovation while creating high-quality jobs in the region."  

For more information about KCV EDGE, visit kycommercializationventures.com.   

To learn more about MSU’s Office of Research & Sponsored Programs , contact Harr at [email protected] or call 606-783-2010 . 

Dr. Shannon Harr Director, Office of Research & Sponsored Programs 606-783-2130 Email Us

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