Science students & educators get boost from NIH stimulus initiative

March 24, 2009

By hammersmith

STUDENTS AND SCIENCE EDUCATORS TO GET BOOST FROM NIH ARRA INITIATIVE

The National Institutes of Health recently announced American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for administrative supplements to existing NIH grants and $21 million over two years has been allocated for educational opportunities in NIH-funded laboratories for students and science educators.

“Engaging students and educators in groundbreaking scientific research will allow young people to connect with the excitement of biomedical innovation and lead to working to improve public health,” said Acting NIH Director Raynard S. Kington, M.D, Ph.D. “These ARRA-supported opportunities will help students interested in research to chart a path toward meaningful careers.”
 
Investigators and institutions that already have research grants funded by NIH will be able to apply for administrative supplements from ARRA funds to support summer students and science educators. This additional money will not only promote job creation, economic development, and accelerate the pace and achievement of scientific research, it will encourage students to pursue research careers in health-related sciences, as well as provide elementary, middle and high school, and college-level science educators with short-term research experiences in NIH-funded laboratories.

NIH will extend funding to those projects best able to provide meaningful research experiences for students and educators. These supplements are part of the $10.4 billion provided to NIH under ARRA. For more information about applying, see <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-060.html>.

Signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009, ARRA funds are expended to strengthen the economy. The NIH awards are expected to help create and maintain American jobs, as well as to enhance the quality of biomedical research in the United States. NIH conducts and supports outstanding biomedical and behavioral research, through more than 3,000 institutions across the country — institutions that have a direct impact upon the local economies in their towns, cities and states. More information about NIH’s ARRA grant funding opportunities can be found at <http://grants.nih.gov/recovery/>.
 
The activities described in this release are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To track the progress of HHS activities funded through the ARRA, visit <www.hhs.gov/recovery>. To track all federal funds provided through the ARRA, visit <www.recovery.gov>.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation’s Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit <www.nih.gov>.

Press release at: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2009/od-24.htm