• NIH expands Initiative to Encourage Bench-to-Bedside Research

In 2006, the National Institutes of Health awarded nearly $4 million to fund 19 bench-to-bedside medical research projects designed to speed translation of promising laboratory discoveries into new medical treatments. It was the first time applications for these awards, given since 1999, were open to research teams made up of NIH intramural and extramural collaborators from medical schools, health-care organizations and private industry. All but one of the funded projects include extramural partners; nine of the 19 projects involve researchers from two or more NIH institutes or centers.

The 2006 awards were made in four categories funded by the NIH Office of Rare Diseases; the NIH Office of AIDS Research; the National Center on Minority Health and Health disparities; and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health. A fifth category is co-funded by sponsoring institutes and, for the projects’ extramural components, the NIH National Center for Research Resources. Project teams receive up to $200,000 over two years to support their work.

Also in 2006, projects in minority health and health disparities and women’s health were specifically funded for the first time. Quality of the science, promise for becoming an active clinical trial, and potential for offering a new medical treatment or better understanding an important disease process were among selection criteria.

Previous Awards Funded
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

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