The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published general guidance for organizations requesting support for scientific meetings. Details can be found in the following program announcement, published Oct. 26, 2005, in the online NIH Guide for Grants & Contracts:
NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-149.html
Applications submitted in response to this program announcement must be made electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 forms and application guide.
Special Information for Potential Applicants to NIGMS
Areas of Interest
Three of the four NIGMS Divisions support scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops on basic biomedical research that is not targeted to specific diseases or disorders. Additional information on the areas of science supported by NIGMS can be obtained from the NIGMS home page or by talking to one of the contact people listed below. However, it is important to note that simply because a scientific meeting falls within the general areas of science supported by NIGMS, it does not mean that NIGMS will be interested in supporting the meeting. Again, it is extremely important that the applicant discuss this issue with one of the NIGMS contact people listed below before preparing a letter of intent or an application.
The fourth NIGMS Division, the Division of Minority Opportunities in Research, administers research and research training programs aimed at increasing the number of minority biomedical scientists. Two of the Division's components, Special Initiatives and MARC (Minority Access to Research Careers), also support meetings, conferences, workshops, and other activities that build networks among individuals and educational institutions to promote minority participation in sponsored research.
NIGMS Contacts
The following individuals are the NIGMS contacts for information on supporting a scientific meeting:
Dr. Karin Remington
Director, Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
301-451-6446
E-mail: remingka@nigms.nih.gov
Dr. Catherine Lewis
Director, Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics
301-594-0828
E-mail: lewisc@nigms.nih.gov
Dr. Judith H. Greenberg
Director, Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology
301-594-0943
E-mail: greenbej@nigms.nih.gov
Dr. Clifton Poodry
Director, Division of Minority Opportunities in Research
301-594-3900
e-mail: poodryc@nigms.nih.gov
Dr. Michael E. Rogers
Director, Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry
301-594-3827
E-mail: rogersm@nigms.nih.gov
Mechanism of Support and Evaluation Process
Scientific meetings supported by NIGMS are funded by assistance mechanisms (grants and cooperative agreements) and may be funded for up to five (5) years. All applications for such meetings will be evaluated for programmatic relevance by NIGMS staff and reviewed for merit by the Center for Scientific Review or the NIGMS Office of Scientific Review.
Receipt Dates
All applications must be submitted at least six (6) months prior to the meeting. Applications will be received on the three Center for Scientific Review receipt deadlines of April 12, August 12, and December 12.
