The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), part of the National Institutes of Health, announced today it will provide up to an estimated $122 million over the next five years to fund Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) in seven IDeA-eligible states. By promoting the development, coordination and sharing of research resources and expertise, these awards expand research opportunities and increase the number of competitive investigators in 23 eligible states and Puerto Rico. The INBRE is a component of the IDeA program, which is designed to improve the competitiveness of investigators in states that historically have not received significant levels of NIH research funding.
The lead institutions for statewide networks receiving this second phase of five-year funding are the New Mexico State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Delaware, University of Idaho, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. INBRE grants aim to enhance biomedical research capacity, expand and strengthen the research capabilities of biomedical faculty, and provide access to biomedical resources for promising undergraduate students throughout the eligible states.
"IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence create opportunities for students in all regions of the country to pursue careers in biomedical research that range from bench science to community engagement," said NCRR Director Barbara M. Alving, M.D.
Through the IDeA program, NCRR supports institutions and communities in 23 states and Puerto Rico with grants that fund multiple areas of biomedical research and reach out to diverse populations. INBRE funding enables academic health centers to:
- build and strengthen the lead and partner institutions' biomedical research expertise and infrastructure;
- support faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students through career development and training in research at the participating institutions;
- provide research opportunities for undergraduate students and serve as a pipeline for undergraduate students to continue in health research careers within IDeA states;
- provide outreach activities to students at undergraduate institutions, community colleges and tribal colleges participating in the state's network; and
- enhance science and technology knowledge of the state's workforce.
INBRE has been a catalyst for transformations in research competitiveness. The Idaho and Delaware networks are two examples of where these changes are already being realized. Over the past five years, the Idaho INBRE program has developed an unprecedented network of research and educational collaborations which has led to a doubling in the number of Idaho undergraduates pursing science and health-related careers. In Delaware, catalyzed by INBRE grants, the state has seen its NIH funding nearly double between 2000 and 2007, showcasing the improvement in the competitiveness of Delaware investigators.
For full descriptions of the following networks, visit www.ncrr.nih.gov/inbre/2009-05.
New Mexico State University (Las Cruces)
$17.4 million
New Mexico IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey B. Arterburn, Ph.D.
University of Alaska Fairbanks
$17.7 million
Contaminants and Infectious Agents: Molecular Approaches
Principal Investigator: George M. Happ, Ph.D.
University of Delaware (Newark)
$17.4 million
IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence
Principle Investigator: David S. Weir, Ph.D.
University of Idaho (Moscow)
$16.5 million
Idaho INBRE Program
Principal Investigator: Carolyn Hovde, Ph.D.
University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City)
$18.5 million
Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence
Principal Investigator: Joan Hunt, Ph.D., D.Sc.
University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha)
$16.6 million
Nebraska Research Network in Functional Genomics
Principal Investigator: James B. Turpen, Ph.D.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City)
$18.2 million
Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence
Principal Investigator: Frank J. Waxman, Ph.D.
For more general information about the IDeA program, visit www.ncrr.nih.gov/idea.
The National Center for Research Resources, part of NIH, provides laboratory scientists and clinical researchers with the resources and training they need to understand, detect, treat and prevent a wide range of diseases. NCRR supports all aspects of translational and clinical research, connecting researchers, patients and communities across the nation. For more information, visit www.ncrr.nih.gov.
The National Institutes of Health — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.