Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13/U13)

Note that the table below contains updated information on the conference funding time line.

NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13/U13) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-041.html)

NIH Conference Grant Kiosk (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r13/index.htm)

The mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is to reduce the burden of human illness and dysfunction from environmental causes by understanding each of these elements and how they interrelate. The NIEHS Conference Grant program is considered an integral part of the overall mission of the Institute; thus it is critical that all conference grant applications have a direct relationship to advancing the mission of NIEHS. The focus of all conference grants should be on understanding, at least in part, the role of environment and/or gene-environment interactions in disease/dysfunction. When possible, intervention/prevention strategies, community outreach activities (via participation of advocacy groups and/or non profit organizations) and translation of basic research into clinical or public policy should also be included.

NIEHS is interested in supporting investigator initiated scientific meetings, defined as a "gathering, symposium, seminar, workshop, or other organized formal conference where persons assemble to coordinate, exchange, and disseminate information or to explore or clarify a defined subject, problem or area of knowledge," that will advance the field of environmental health sciences. NIEHS wishes to stress that it supports all these mechanisms, not just large conferences. It is also interested in receiving applications for the support of mini symposia or day long focused symposia at national meetings on topics of relevance to NIEHS.

With regard to larger workshops and conferences, the NIEHS would prefer to support conferences that are multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary in nature and foster interactions and exchanges among individuals who normally would not engage in such activities. The inclusion of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior investigators is specifically encouraged, and funds can be requested for this purpose. In addition, NIEHS encourages community participation in conferences and workshops whenever feasible. This includes having breakout sessions and or extra sessions with advocacy and public interest groups to discuss ethical, legal and social issues as well as to sensitize scientists as to their role in translation of research to community benefit.

All NIEHS supported meetings must result in a specific product or measurable outcome that could be used to judge the success of the meeting. This includes one or more of the following: a published manuscript/monograph, a published meeting report, data made available through the Internet, evaluation data on participation and interactions fostered through the meeting, examination of specific outcomes such as interactions with community or advocacy groups or efforts to translate research to public health outcomes and community benefit.

 Back to top

Budget Guidelines

NIEHS will accept applications under the following budget guidelines: The maximum amount of support that may be requested is $25,000. Please note that an average award from NIEHS is $8,000. NIEHS actively participates in co-funding with other NIH institutes.

NIEHS does not accept multiple applications for a single scientific meeting. Applicants and/or organizers of the meeting are responsible for coordinating the submission of a single cohesive application. Exceptions will be made for a single satellite meeting to be held in conjunction with the larger meeting.

Funding Priorities and Funding Limits

Conferences that are more highly focused and more directly related to the NIEHS mission will receive higher priority than more general meetings. Currently, the maximum amount NIEHS will provide to any R13 application is $15,000. However, conferences from organizations with large funding resources may be limited to $8000.

Multi-year Funding

Due to budgetary considerations, NIEHS will not accept investigator-initiated requests for multi-year funding of conference applications.

Advance Permission to Submit an Application

A letter requesting permission (LRP) to submit a conference application is required and must be received via e-mail no later than six (6) weeks prior to the selected receipt date. The application receipt dates for conference grants are April 12, August 12, and December 12. All conference applications now must undergo a second level review by the Advisory Council of the funding institute. This is a change in procedure instituted under the most recent NIH reauthorization bill. In addition, NIH policy requires conference grants to be funded prior to the start of the conference. Therefore additional time is required between receipt of application and conference start dates. Please review the chart at the top of the page and carefully select a receipt date that will allow sufficient time for an award to be made.

Please include the following information in the LRP:

• Meeting Title, Date and Location
• PI name and address
• Meeting justification e.g. Meeting purpose and goals (2-3 sentences and justification of need)
• Preliminary draft program with speakers if known or suggested possible speakers
• Amount requested and purpose

Inquiries

Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Applicants are encouraged to discuss possible submissions with the NIEHS conference coordinator who may suggest discussions with appropriate health science administrators. Please see http://www.niehs.nih.gov/funding/grants/contacts.cfm for the program contact for a specific area of science.

Conference Contact

 Back to top