Finding Funding for Your Research

1. Finding Funding for Your Research GCRC Workshop August 17, 2007 Lynne Hutchison Manager, Research Grant Development VUMC Office of Research

2. Workshop goals: • Take the mystery out of finding funding resources • Create a roadmap for your search • Learn to access internal resources • Learn to access external resources

3. Life’s a mystery… finding funding is not • If you can use the Internet, you can find funding resources • There’s no special talent or insider knowledge required • Ask for help if you need it • That’s what colleagues are for!

4. Create a roadmap for your search • Step 1:WHERE are you (in your career)? • Funding sources will vary depending on career level

5. Roadmap: Where are you? • Postdocs need to look at: • Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) – NIH http://grants1.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm • NIH Fellowship Funding http://grants1.nih.gov/training/F_files_nrsa.htm • Early career investigators need to look at: • NIH K (Career Development) Awards: http://grants1.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards.htm • New Investigator Resources http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm • Various Private Foundation Awards http://www.vanderbilt.edu/oor/funding/restricted.php

6. Step 2: WHERE do you want to go? • Goal: To find funding for your area of research. • To achieve goal, you must think of EVERY POSSIBLE ROUTE to that goal. • In this case, SEARCH TERMS are your routes. • Example: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)…

7. For PTSD, search under: • Neuroscience & Brain • Mental Health & Behavior • Violence/Trauma/Disaster • Drug/Alcohol Abuse/Addiction • High-risk occupation/military • Domestic Violence • Depression/Anxiety • Suicide • WHAT ELSE????

8. Step 3: WHO can get you there? • Think outside the box! (The box being NIH) • WHO has a stake in your research? • Example: PTSD • Dept. of Defense • Social service/welfare agencies (state/fed) • Mental health agencies & associations • Foundations that address any of your search terms (e.g., domestic violence, family services, brain disorders, etc.)

9. Access internal resources… • Office of Research web site: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/oor/funding/index.php • Discovery Grants, VPSD, P&F Funding • Awards: Restricted & Unrestricted • BRET Career Development Officehttp://bret.mc.vanderbilt.edu/career_development/html/funding.htm • Corporate & Foundation Relationshttp://corporate.vanderbilt.edu/howcontact.htm • Faculty advisors/mentors/peers

10. Access external resources: Government • The big dog: NIHhttp://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html • The bigger (but less obedient dog): Grants.govhttp://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp • The whole (annoying) zoo: ResearchResearchhttp://lite.researchresearch.com/getPage.cfm?pagename=SWFOpsbyDisc&lang=SW&type=FundingOpp

11. Sign up for listservs • At NIH:http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm • At Grants.gov: http://www.grants.gov/search/subscribeAdvanced.do

12. Access external resources: Private • Best place to start: VUMC OORhttp://www.vanderbilt.edu/oor/funding/unrestricted.php • Collection of resources: The Foundation Centerhttp://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/individuals/ • Other media: Wall Street Journal, New York Times &

13. What top researchers recommend • Network! Attend professional conferences • Form alliances with VUMC research powerhouses: imaging, pharmacology, VICC • Search NIHFunding Opportunities page • Talk to NIH Program Officers