Latest News about the Stimulus and Research at Brown


NIH OPPORTUNITY NETWORK TO EXPAND BASIC BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH

Posted on November 20

National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced the launch of the Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network (OppNet), a trans-NIH initiative to expand the agency’s funding of basic behavioral and social sciences research (b-BSSR). The b-BSSR field studies mechanisms and processes that influence behavior at the individual, group, community and population level. Research results lead to new approaches for reducing risky behaviors and improving the adoption of healthy practices. All NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) share the mission of supporting b-BSSR.

For more information, please see the NIH announcement: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/nov2009/od-18.htm

ARRA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WORKSHOPS

Posted on September 10

The Office of the Vice President for Research will be offering a critical information session in an effort to simplify reporting requirements for Principal Investigators and to ensure that the University meets the additional ARRA reporting obligations. The information session will be offered as follows:

Monday September 14 @ 2PM - Barus & Holley, room 141

Thursday September 17 @ 10 AM - 70 Ship Street, Auditorium, room 107

Friday September 25 @ 3 PM - Smith-Buonanno, room 201

We encourage both Principal Investigators and their support staff to attend one of these sessions. If you have any questions on ARRA reporting, or the content of these information sessions, please contact Marisa Schasel at Marisa_Schasel@Brown.edu.

UPDATE ON STIMULUS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGE GRANTS

Posted on June 9

NIH has recorded receipt of over 21,000 Challenge Grants. NIH officials are concerned about the out-year implications for this unprecedented number. Specifically, the concern relates to what may happen to the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) future paylines if the vast majority of unfunded Challenge Grants are resubmitted as regular RO1 grant applications. Applicants should take this into consideration when preparing R01s to be submitted in the February cycle, which may well be swamped with declined Challenge Grants.

Review Process: NIH had previously announced that the enhanced review criteria issued in NOT-OD-09-025 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-025.html and the new scoring system announced in NOT-OD-09-024 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-024.html will be effective for all applications that submitted for Recovery Act funding opportunities. The new scoring system will utilize a nine-point rating scale (1 = exceptional; 9 = poor). In addition, the NIH will suspend the appeals procedures for investigators for ARRA projects, due to the time sensitivity of the granting process. According to NIH leaders, researchers can expect to receive their score on Challenge Grant applications in late July, with summary statements available by early August and awards issued by September 30, 2009.

MARCH WEB SEMINAR on STIMULUS FUNDING is archived HERE

Posted on April 3, 2009

The web seminar originally scheduled for March 23rd, then broadcast on March 30th, is now available in archived form here. The PowerPoint from this seminar is available here.

Synopsis: Brown has hired Lewis-Burke Associates LLC of Washington, DC, a leading full service government relations firm, to advise us on the process of applying for stimulus funds. April Burke, president and founder of Lewis-Burke Associates, made a presentation with some of her colleagues who have expertise in federal funding and are in close communications with agency program directors. After the presentation there was a question and answer session, all of which was recorded.

Register for the upcoming WEB SEMINAR to be held on Monday, March 23rd, 3pm

Posted on March 19, 2009

The web seminar will provide more details and answer specific questions on the stimulus funding. To get further information and receive the web address for this seminar, please send an e-mail to the below address by Friday, March 20th. If you have specific questions about stimulus funding opportunities, you should also submit them via e-mail by this Friday deadline, it order to give us more time to effectively research and answer them. Email to: VP_Research@brown.edu