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It’s February 2025.
The air is thick with uncertainty.
NIH budgets are shifting. Indirects are dropping. Federal research grants? Under scrutiny.
For early-career researchers, the path ahead feels unsteady.
But here’s the thing—uncertainty is only dangerous if you don’t adapt.
The old playbook relied heavily on NIH R01s. But institutions are redefining what research success looks like. Tenure-track pathways once required two R01s—now? The push to diversify funding means foundation grants, industry collaborations, and alternative sources are carrying more weight.
If you’ve been relying solely on NIH funding, it’s time to rethink your approach.
NIH may still be the largest biomedical research funder, but it’s no longer the only path to sustaining your work. And with indirects dropping to 15%, the funding source itself might matter less than ever before.
So, where do you go from here?
1️⃣ Start Local: Institutional Funding
Your home institution is the low-hanging fruit of research funding. If you haven’t tapped into these, you’re leaving money on the table.
In my residency, I wanted to work with real-world data but had no access to it. One night, while skimming through my department’s intranet, I found an RFA for a small institutional award—only a few thousand dollars. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to purchase the National Inpatient Sample database.
That single move jumpstarted my research. The project led to multiple publications, a national conference presentation, and new mentorship opportunities.
- T32 postdoctoral programs → Protect your research time. I was on an institutional T32 for two years before securing my first career development grant.
- Career development grants (K12, KL2, internal awards) → Secure bridge funding for career transitions.
- Pilot grants & small awards → They add up.
💡 Pro Tip: These grants might not be glamorous, but they open doors. They get you datasets, build your CV, and show larger funders that you’re already securing support.
2️⃣ Expand Beyond NIH: Government & Federal Grants
While NIH remains an option, other agencies offer untapped potential.
During my early career, I was simultaneously working on securing a VA appointment while writing my first NIH career development grant. It’s another story that my appointment is still processing three years later—but that’s the reality of government bureaucracy.
- Training Grants: F30/F31 (students), F32 (postdocs), T32 (program-based).
- Career Development Awards: K23, K08, K25—critical for early-stage researchers.
- Exploratory & R01-equivalent grants: K99/R00 (transition grants), R21 (exploratory), R03 (small pilot studies), R01 (gold standard).
- VA Research Grants: If your work aligns with veteran health, VA funding is robust and often overlooked.
- CDC, AHRQ, PCORI: Focused on public health, healthcare delivery, and patient-centered outcomes.
- NSF: A strong option for computational biology, bioinformatics, AI in healthcare, and fundamental biomedical sciences.
- DoD (Department of Defense): Funds research in mental health, infectious diseases, traumatic injury, and military-relevant health.
💡 Pro Tip: Some of these agencies have higher funding rates than NIH. If your research aligns, apply.
3️⃣ Think Beyond the Bench: Foundation & Nonprofit Grants
Some of the most mission-driven funding comes from foundations.
Before my first National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, I secured multiple small foundation grants, including a Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) Pilot Grant, the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network (SPARTAN) Grant, the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) Grant, and a National Psoriasis Foundation Grant. These provided the critical preliminary data that strengthened my NIH application.
Additionally, I was funded by a Rheumatology Research Foundation career development grant for a year before transitioning to NIH funding.
- Field-specific funding: Rheumatology Research Foundation, American Heart Association.
- Disease-specific fellowships: GRAPPA, SPARTAN, ASAS (for PsA/SpA).
- Private healthcare foundations: Patient-centered research attracts philanthropic support.
💡 Pro Tip: Foundations are faster than federal funding and have fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
4️⃣ Industry Funding: Not Just for Clinical Trials
Many researchers avoid industry funding because of conflict-of-interest concerns.
But not all industry funding is tied to clinical trials.
I was once involved in designing a pragmatic trial with a drug company, but I had to withdraw to avoid conflicts of interest. But it was a great learning experience working with industry leaders.
- Observational studies & real-world evidence research: Companies need data on how therapies work in the real world.
- Biotech collaborations: If you work in translational medicine, biotech partnerships can accelerate your research.
- Consulting & advisory roles: Ethical considerations matter, but these can supplement your funding and influence future research.
💡 Pro Tip: Transparency is key. Clearly define research independence in agreements.
5️⃣ Alternative Models: Philanthropy & Crowdsourcing
Traditional funding models are no longer enough.
One of my colleagues had a rare disease research project fully funded by a single donor.
She didn’t start with NIH. She met a patient advocacy group, which led to a private donation that funded her entire study.
- Institutional philanthropy: Many universities have donor networks supporting faculty research.
- Private donors & benefactors: If your research impacts patient care, some families want to support your work.
- Crowdsourcing platforms: Experiment.com and GoFundMe have been used for niche research funding.
💡 Pro Tip: If you can communicate why your research matters, you can attract funding outside traditional channels.
The Real Key: Reframing Your Research
Regardless of where you apply, funding comes down to alignment.
Every funding body has a mission—your job is to make sure your research fits that mission.
- What problems does this funder care about?
- How does your work contribute to their goals?
- Why is your research the right fit for their investment?
If you haven’t already, develop a one-page summary of your research. Keep it clear, compelling, and adaptable for different audiences.
The Future of Funding: It’s About Strategy, Not Just Science
The landscape is shifting.
Institutions no longer expect every researcher to sustain themselves on R01s alone.
With NIH indirects dropping to 15%, tenure committees are starting to count foundation and alternative funding the same as NIH grants.
That means:
- A strong foundation grant can be just as valuable as an R01.
- Industry and private funding are becoming more accepted in academia.
- The ability to secure multiple funding streams is now a sign of a successful researcher.
The uncertainty around NIH funding is real. But your ability to keep moving forward shouldn’t depend on a single source.
Diversification isn’t just a safety net. It’s the new reality of research funding.
Start now. The researchers who prepare today will be the ones leading tomorrow.
