NIH to cut

A new NIH policy was announced yesterday and will be applicable to all proposals submitted on or after January 25, 2009. The policy cuts down on the number of times one can resubmit a grant proposal. Currently if a proposal is not funded an amended application can be resubmitted two more times. This policy will restrict all new application and all competing renewal applications to only a single resubmission.

They claim this will result in funding "high quality" applications earlier with fewer resubmissions. I don't know that this is the case. I worry about less proposals being funded.

"This policy applies to all applications, including applications submitted under the NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, Career Development Awards, Individual Fellowships, Institutional Training Grants, Resource Grants, Program Projects, and Centers. Currently no amendments are permitted for applications received in response to a Request for Applications (RFA) unless it is specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, in which case only one amendment will be permitted."

For the Science Geeks

A friend sent me a link to this offering from Wine Woot of four wines labeled just for us science geeks. These Washington wines must be showing up in beakers everywhere! I know cesium, rhenium and and methyl, but what the heck is Ch?