NIH establishes website for new investigators

NIH establishes website for new investigators

The average age at which health researchers receive their first R01 (research project) grant from the National Institutes of Health has risen steadily since the 1980s, with Ph.D. scientists now getting their first grants at age 42 and M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. researchers receiving their first grants at age 44. Although NIH has taken steps to fund younger researchers more often and more quickly, the gap between new and established investigator grant awards remains a serious problem.

To address this problem, the Office of Extramural Research (OER) at the National Institutes of Health recently unveiled a new website aimed at new investigators. "Resources for New Investigators" contains links to help with the NIH grant application process, institute-by-institute policies regarding new investigators and a detailed explanation of how grants are reviewed from the Center for Scientific Review. The site also lists non-NIH links for grant advice, special awards for new investigators and several studies and statistics related to grants for young researchers.

The advice is helpful for all researchers, not just those new to the game. To take advantage of this information, go to grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm.
In addition, OER encourages suggestions to enhance and expand the website with additional non-commercial content. Visitors who know of additional resources can send suggestions to OEPMailbox@mail.nih.gov.

Source: NIH Guide, week ending 12/11/2004, NOT-OD-05-014 and
Health Behavior Information Transfer (HABIT) e-newsletter, January 2005, Vol. 8, No. 1