It is the best of times and the worst of times for health science researchers. The pace of discovery and the level of funding are at an all-time high. However, competition for funding and the economic contraction of many United States biomedical institutions has thrust a new role--or rather intensified a current role--to all principal investigators: secure extramural funding from a variety of sources at ever higher levels.
"Disintermediation" is a buzz-word in these days of the Internet. For researchers, this means search it yourself. The availability and easy accessibility and searchability and browsability of on-line databases for identifying funding information provides a unique opportunity to offer services to the entire community in a convenient, accurate, timely, and cost-effective manner. Internet-based resources allow the principal investigator to select from a wide range of search criteria and to target specific types of funding sources.
We consider databases such as the Community of Science Funding Opportunities a virtual catalog which opens the door to innumerable links and direct access information to federal, state, local, foundation, not-for-profit, associations, and professional groups.
Our objective is gradually shifting from individual searches, to educating the faculty and staff about the breadth and scope of information available on-line. The closer we come to achieving this objective, the more aware and savvy the faculty and staff become. The individual faculty member is the only person who can determine whether a funding opportunity is appropriate, and he/she is the only one who can contact a sponsor and concisely convey the focus of his/her work. The more we cultivate a climate of self-help, the better off our faculty and staff will be when it comes to an awareness of funding opportunities outside of the NIH. In addition, we must encourage faculty and staff to make an effort to contact the sponsor's program official to talk about their scientific objectives.
The Internet has encouraged development of large databases with sophisticated search engines. At Jefferson, we hope that Community of Science Funding Opportunities, by providing easy access, will encourage Jeffersonians to:
- seek more funds
- cultivate a variety of sources
- continue to innovate
- be advocates for funding of health sciences research
- broaden awareness of and application to a variety of funding sources--private foundations, government programs, and commercial underwriting
The Internet is changing how we seek, find, apply for, and report on funded research. Tasks frequently delegated in the past--including identification of new, potential grant sources and specific opportunities--are now more closely becoming the job of every individual researcher and faculty member of the academic enterprise.
A JEFFLINE Username and Password
Your portal to quality services via the Internet
All Jefferson photo ID holders are entitled to special services via JEFFLINE, including Britannica Online, MDConsult, COS Funding Opportunities, OVID suite of databases, and OTBibsys for occupational therapy literature.
To obtain or change your JEFFLINE Username and Password, from the JEFFLINE homepage, click on the books labeled "Databases." Follow the directions.
For assistance, phone the Scott Memorial Library Reference Desk at 215-503-8150.
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