Questions and Answers Table of Contents
What's the difference between extramural and intramural research?
NIAID intramural labs
are headed by federal employees who work for the Institute. We fund intramural
research directly as part of our budget, including salaries, laboratories,
and other resources.
For extramural research, NIAID awards grants and contracts to outside institutions,
which pay for research projects and resources, including the salaries
of principal
investigators they employ.
What percentage of the NIH budget is intramural?
Out of NIH's approximately $29 billion budget for FY 2008, about 10 percent was slated for intramural research, mostly at NIH's Bethesda, Maryland, campus.
Do intramural scientists write grant applications?
Generally not. However, intramural scientists
can apply for some NIH grants,
e.g.,
K22 career awards, fellowships, and Roadmap initiatives. Go to Intramural Submission of NIH Grant Applications SOP.
Are some intramural resources open to extramural
scientists?
Rarely. Resources are shared only if an extramural program is sponsoring
them. You may collaborate with intramural staff through a CRADA; see
the next question.
Do NIAID intramural scientists collaborate extensively
with extramural scientists?
Yes. To find NIAID intramural staff, go to the Division
of Intramural Research staff list.
Does
NIAID have resources to facilitate those collaborations?
Yes. Find online information at Office
of Technology Development and Division
of Intramural Research.
Do intramural programs undergo peer review?
Yes. NIAID's Board of Scientific Counselors conducts rigorous reviews of Division of Intramural Research staff and laboratories and advises the NIAID director on the status of the Institute's intramural research programs. Go to the BSC roster.
Is it easy to get tenure in intramural?
No. Intramural scientists
undergo thorough peer reviews by the Board
of Scientific Counselors,
and a very small percentage becomes tenured.
Can intramural scientists serve on NIH scientific review
groups?
Yes. Scientific
review groups may include up to one-fourth
federal employees, such as NIH intramural scientists. In practice,
roughly only one percent of peer
reviewers are federal employees. For more information, see 42
CFR Section 52h.4(c) of the Federal
Register.
What if my question wasn't answered here, or I'd like to suggest a question?
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