Does the funding announcement restrict your eligibility?

Is this Project Feasible?

Signs of an Unfeasible Project

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Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Opportunities (SBIR/STTR)

Employee Directory

NSF Forms & Guidelines

The NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide

How to prepare a NSF proposal

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Information regarding current funding opportunities (including grants, cooperative agreements, fellowships, etc.) can be found in the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). This web-based system supports the entire life cycle of NASA research solicitations and awards; from the release of announcements, through the peer review and selection process, to awards management. 

Search for NASA funding via the NSPIRES page (for all NASA solicitations:  grants, cooperative agreements, and fellowships), Grants.gov (for NASA grants), or SPIN.

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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

The CDC provides funding to health-related and research organizations for health information dissemination, preparedness, prevention, research, and surveillance. 

Search for CDC funding via CDC's Funding and Procurement Office, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

USAID provides funding for global health and humanitarian assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Eurasia.  The USAID Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) assists faith and community-based organizations by providing information on funding and partnership opportunities with government as well as other faith and community-based  groups.

Search for USAID funding via USAID's Business site, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA funds research related to national environmental issues via grants and fellowships or contracts. 

Search for EPA funding via EPA's Science and Technology page, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) of DOD supports research on breast, prostate, ovarian and lung cancer, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, autism, etc. Grant applications are solicited once a year.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development office for the DOD. 

Search for DOD funding via DARPA's Funding Opportunities page, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

The Life and Medical Sciences Division of the DOE funds a diverse portfolio of research to develop fundamental biological information and to advance technology in support of DOE's missions in biology, medicine, and the environment.  Major research areas include genomics research, health sciences research related to radiation and imaging techniques, and scientific user facilities. 

Search for DOE funding via DOE's e-center, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) 

The DHHS (also referred to as HHS) is the parent organization of the NIH, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Health Resources and Services Administration, among others.

Search for HHS funding via HHS's Grants & Funding page, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ funds research and programs related to the criminal justice system, including substance abuse and victims of crime.

Search for DOJ funding via DOJ's Funding Resources page, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)

The VA Office of Research & Development funds 4 types of research related to veteran health care:  Biomedical Laboratory, Clinical Science, Health Services, and Rehabilitation. 

Search for VA funding via VA's Funding page, Grants.gov, or SPIN.

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State and Local County Sponsors

State of California

California Breast Cancer Research Program (submitted through Proposal Central)

California Counties

San Bernardino County

Riverside County

Community Development Block Grants (CDBD)

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Private Sponsors

Submit the proposal through Research Administration if:

There is an announced deadline for the proposal, and

There is no limit* on number of submissions per institution.

American Cancer Society

American Diabetes Association

American Heart Association

American Heart Association (Western Affiliate)

American Institute for Cancer Research

Association of Schools of Public Health

CDC Foundation

Health Effects Institute

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International

Nancy R. Gelman Foundation (for breast cancer)

Susan G. Koman Foundation (for breast cancer)

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LLU Funding Sources

Grants for Research and School Partnerships (GRASP)

The purpose of the GRASP awards, an intramural award offered through the LLU Office of the Vice President for Research Affairs, is: 

to promote inter-school collaboration in research;

encourage faculty to become more involved in research; and

to develop grant preparation skills and general preliminary data for subsequent, extramural peer-reviewed proposals. 

More information about eligibility and criteria for evaluation can be found at LLU's GRASP page.

DOES YOUR SCHOOL, DEPARTMENT OR CENTER OFFER RESEARCH FUNDING? 

Please submit information regarding your funding opportunities to researchaffairs@llu.edu. 

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Fellowships and Training

Grantsnet:  Includes information on biomedical grants and fellowships for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and undergraduates.

The National Academies Fellowships Office:  Administers predoctoral, dissertation, and postdoctoral fellowship programs.

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Grants & Funding Resources

Grants & Funding Information Service:  An information service provided by the University of Washington.  While some of the information provided is for UW researchers only, many non-UW related funding sources are also listed by subject area.

The Grantsmanship Center, in partnership with the Annenburg Foundation and the California Community Foundation, is an extensive resource of grants information and grantsmanship training.

Do you have a resource that you would like to see listed here?  Submit information about grant funding resources to researchaffairs@llu.edu. 

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Other Resources of Interest

Useful Resources for Getting Funded 

Grantsmanship Vocabulary

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Are you eligible for funding opportunity? 

Adapted from Arizona State University's Investigator Handbook.  Used with permission.

Limited Submissions

Check the announcement to see if the sponsor limits the number of proposals that can be submitted from an institution.  If it does, the proposal must be submitted via LLU's Limited Submissions process.

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Does LLU restrict your eligibility?

The Principal Investigator (PI) must fulfill the eligibility requirements outlined in the LLUAHSC policy and procedure (H-11): Principal Investigator Eligibility.  In general,

Any officer of the institution or any person holding a full-time faculty appointment at the level of Assistant Professor or above in any school of the institution may serve as a PI.

An employee who does not have a faculty appointment may collaborate with an experienced investigator who agrees to oversee the study as the PI.

Employees may apply to the Vice President for Research Affairs (VPRA) to be authorized to serve as PI.  After reviewing the application, the VPRA will recommend an action to the Research Oversight Committee, which will make the final decision.

A faculty member who is a candidate for a degree may not be the PI of record for IRB, IACUC, or grant applications that pertain to the degree.

The PI acts in the name of the institution in directing a research program. The PI will work under the oversight of the institutional officers and with the approval of the VPRA.  Loma Linda University expects that the PI will:

Be responsible for directing and identifying the resources necessary to complete the project;

Have a working knowledge of applicable institutional and governmental policies and regulations;

Be solely responsible for the ethical and professional conduct of the research and safety of the research personnel as defined in the University's administrative handbook.

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Does the Funding Announcement restrict your eligibility?

Restrictions on the PI

Review the announcement for restrictions on the PI.  Many sponsors restrict PIs by:

U.S. Citizenship

The PI's field of expertise

Number of years since receipt of PhD

Tenure

Restrictions on the Institution

Review the announcement for restrictions on the institution (see guidance if sponsor limits the number of proposals to be considered from one institution).

The PI is eligible if the sponsor requires LLU to be:

An institution of higher education (IHE)

A non-profit organization

A 501(c)(3) entity

The PI is not eligible if the sponsor requires LLU to be:

A land-grant school

A minority serving institution

A small business entity

A local education agency (LEA)

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Is this project feasible?

The purpose of determining feasibility is to identify potential risks or problems and to ensure that the project can be properly carried out and managed.  Most importantly, the feasibility of a project can aid in the decision-making process and minimize financial strains on the department and institution.

A good feasibility analysis can indicate whether a sponsored project is likely to get the institution's approval or disapproval.

Feasibility Checklist

Research Affairs - Financial Management has developed a Feasibility Checklist that should be used as soon as an investigator is considering submitting a proposal.  This checklist is an excellent start in deciding whether the PI's current resources and time will support the project plan. 

Mission and Policy of the Institution

The underlying principles of the project are within Loma Linda University's mission and values

The approach used in the program is in compliance with the institution's policies and procedures

The investigator is eligible to serve as Principle Investigator (PI) according to institutional policy

Time

There is sufficient time to prepare the proposal package, get all required approvals, and submit the proposal.  See Recommended Time line.

If other institutions/organizations are involved as part of a consortium agreement or as sub-award recipients, there is sufficient time to get documentation of their involvement.

Responsible Conduct of Research

There is sufficient time to address regulatory compliance issues regarding human subjects, animal care and use, radioactive materials, bio-hazardous materials (including "select agents"), export controls, research conflict of interest and human stem cell research

There is sufficient time to fulfill any federally mandated education requirements related to the above issues

Resources

Training is available when described as necessary

Personnel, materials, facilities, and research space are available when described as necessary

Administrative support personnel are available

Affordable for the Department (possible sharing of costs)

The following costs are affordable, considering sponsor budget guidelines and the department's operating budget:

The total costs of program materials

The total costs of training

The training time and effort commitment of new or existing personnel

Administrative support personnel

If cost sharing or matching funds is required, the department has sufficient funds to fulfill cost sharing commitments

Facilities and Administration (F&A) Rate

The sponsor provides F&A (at what rate?)

If F&A is restricted additional steps may be required to cover costs

Budget and Project Plan

Examine other project costs for all activities usually performed

Overlap between projects is reasonable

Rate of planned progress is reasonable based on prior projects

Summary totals agree with detailed breakdowns

Dates, milestones, and timeframes are consistent

Allocated effort matches the anticipated workload

Allocated effort matches the costs in the budget

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Signs of an Unfeasible Project (Reasons "Not to be")

PI/Personnel Issues

PI is too inexperienced in the proposed area of research or research methods

PI is ineligible according to sponsor's requirements or LLU's requirements

PI and other key personnel have too few publications to establish credibility in the field

Key people cannot participate in the study

Key persons (in a multidisciplinary project) cannot agree on objectives

Internal staff experience and training is insufficient for the project

Research Plan / Methodology Issues

Overambitious research plan with an unrealistically large amount of work

Project lacks enough preliminary data

Issue is scientifically premature

Risks (probability of adverse consequences) are too high

Cost/benefit or risk/reward ratio isn't favorable enough

Requirements are unclear, or keep changing radically

Methods are unsuited to the objective

Proposed model system is not appropriate to address the proposed question

Experiments are too dependent on the success of initial proposed experiment.  Lack of alternative methods in case the primary approach does not succeed.

Problem is more complex than the PI appears to realize

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