The California Stem Cell Agency, better known by the acronym CIRM, has done a vast amount of good over the past decade and a half, and today it needs your help for the future. CIRM, which stands for the “California Institute for Regenerative Medicine”, has funded a huge array of stem cell and other research […]
Please take a couple minutes now to help fund future of CIRM Read More »
I recently started 2 polls on the future of CIRM. The polls are focused on the effort led by Robert Klein to get more funding from the State of California for the stem cell agency. They asked readers about whether Californians will refund CIRM and whether Californians should refund CIRM. Basically, the polls are asking
Upbeat poll results on the future of CIRM funding Read More »
Some stuff on my mind for our TGIF Science this week. Research Funding Ups: NIH. Is it my imagination or is NIH funding slightly improving? This is the overall vibe I’m hearing from the trenches. Research Funding Ups and Downs: CIRM. CIRM funded some basic research to the tune of a total of $4 million,
TGIF Science: funding, CRISPR v. NgAgo, secrets, Zika, & more Read More »
The California Stem Cell Agency CIRM seems to be in budget cutting mode these days, which from a general perspective makes sense as CIRM seeks to continue operating on its remaining funding through a longer period of time as far out as to 2020. However, not all cuts are necessarily positive. For example, CIRM reportedly (note: many
CIRM 2.0 Should Include Bridges Training Program Read More »
Is the new multi-billion dollar NIH Brain Initiative a stroke of madness or genius? For some non-brain researchers scrambling for funding from NIH, it could well just give them a stroke. At the same time as the NIH and Obama are asking for $4.5 billion (yes, with a b) for the new “big science” Brain
Multi-Billion Dollar NIH Brain Initiative A Stroke of Genius or Madness? Read More »
The GOP, guided by nationally-respected CEOs, has devised a 20-point plan (below) to turn NIH into a for-profit enterprise in reaction to Sequestration. $1,000 service fee per grant application. Destination fee: Applicant’s proposal is guaranteed to be assigned to requested study section. $5,000. Extra “baggage” fee to those whose previous grants were triaged to make those
Literally unbelievable secret GOP plan for NIH Sequestration Read More »
My cartoon take on a possible future for grant review.
The future of grant review: robots? Read More »
Yesterday I had part I of my interview with NIGMS former Director, Dr. Jeremy Berg. Today we have part II of the interview, which I found very interesting and helpful in providing a glimpse into NIH. I appreciate Dr. Berg doing the interview and his frankness. Given the budgetary issues facing NIH in terms of
Jeremy Berg interview part II: the future of NIH funding Read More »
Obtaining research grant funding is a critical part of science, but the process seems to be getting more challenging each year. Funding rates are decreasing. Applicant frustration is increasing and many grant applicants tell me they feel confused about the differences between funded and unfunded proposals. The largest funder of biomedical research in the U.S.
Interview with NIGMS Director, Jeremy Berg, part 1: grant advice, meritocracy Read More »
What’s the deal with California Prop. 29? Every so often a proposition comes along that just flat out makes complete sense. Arguing against it is sort of like saying the Earth is flat. Just such a proposition is California Prop. 29, which will be voted on on Tuesday, June 5 as part of the presidential
Vote “Yes” on Prop 29 to help find a cure for cancer Read More »