Step 3. Explore Funding Options and Get Connected

Acquiring funding is a fundamental part of all research projects. Therefore, researchers interested in post-disaster research should focus on funding early since obtaining funding is often one of the biggest barriers to carrying out early post-disaster research. For more detailed information on grant writing and funding options review the Grant Module or contact the DREM Center (sasha.dremcoordinator@gmail.com).

There are many places to look for funding. It is important to chose the right funder for each project. Research the different funding sources in order to determine which is the best match for your proposed project. the following is an abbreviated list of the funding sources.

National Institute on Drug Abuse	The Rockefeller Foundation
Centers for Disease Control	Ford Foundation
National Institute of Health	WK Kellogg Foundation
US Department of Health and Human Services GrantsNet	Center for Health Care Strategies
The Foundation Center	The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Commonwealth Fund	IREX
Annie E. Casey Foundation	SAMSHA
National Institute of Mental Health	National Institute of Nursing Research

The National Institute of Health (NIH) is one of the largest public funders of health-related research. Here is a brief outline of the types of grants that NIH makes available.

RO1: Investigator initiated research grant

RO3: Small investigator initiated research grant

R21: Exploratory investigator initiated grant

Rapid Grant Mechanism: Designed for faster grant review in the post-disaster context.

T Series: Institutional training grants

K Series: Individual career awards

P5O: Center grant (an institutional grant used to fund multidisciplinary programs of medical research)

UO1: Cooperative agreement (a form of research assistance where the government is a partner in the research)

PO1: Program project grant (supports a set of research projects conducted by several collaborating investigators)

Funding Tips

1. Research the different types of grants available and apply to the type of grant that most fits your proposed project
2. Each funding source has its own grant format and regulations. Be sure to follow the guidelines provided by the funding source
3. Keep in mind that there are different cycles throughout the year when one can submit grant proposals

Get Connected

There are a number of steps one should take in order to create partnerships in research projects.

1. Establish relationships with other researchers involved in the post-disaster research field
2. Create contacts with representatives in the federal and state governments as well as large national disaster-response and disaster-preparedness organizations
3. Identify and contact local community based organizations that may be helpful in the dissemination of your findings.