Earmark funding opportunities workshop scheduled for June 29

UNMC faculty, researchers and administrators interested in congressionally-directed funding and the best avenues to secure it are encouraged to attend a workshop on Tuesday at noon in the Durham Research Center, Room 1004.

More information Attendees are invited to bring lunch. Cookies and refreshments will be available. The workshop will be broadcast to UNMC’s College of Dentistry in a room to be determined.

Commonly called earmarks, congressionally-directed funding is a line-item in a federal appropriations bill that directs money to a specific organization for a specific purpose.

In academia, earmark funding builds infrastructure and research expertise and helps institutions like UNMC to level the playing field with larger institutions.

Congressionally-directed funding is competitive and is limited to a select number of projects that align with federal government priorities.
UNMC directly received nearly $16 million in congressionally-directed funding in fiscal year 2010 for projects such as:

• A liquid bandage;
  
• A computer-aided surgical system;
  
• Robotic surgery;
  
• Nanocrystalline “smart” coatings; and
  
• A database of chronic diseases in rural Nebraska.

In addition, a UNMC collaborative project generated $2.4 million for UNMC.

The one-hour workshop will be hosted by UNMC’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and the Office of Government Relations. The workshop will cover:

• The difference between congressionally-directed funding and grant funding;
  
• University and congressional timelines;
  
• How to write an earmark request; and
  
• The congressional process.

Following the workshop, there will be an optional 30 minute networking session to identify potential collaborations.

Attendees should RSVP to scizek@unmc.edu.