National Institute of
General Medical Sciences

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), a part of the National Institutes of Health that supports basic biomedical research and research training, has established a new Center for Research Capacity Building (CRCB). It will serve as the hub for NIGMS capacity-building programs, which include the Institutional Development Award (IDeA), Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) and Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH). These programs were previously housed in a branch of the Institute’s Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD).

IDeA builds research capacities in states that historically have had low levels of NIH funding by supporting basic, clinical and translational research; faculty development; and infrastructure improvements. SCORE focuses on increasing the research competitiveness of faculty at institutions that have a historical mission focused on serving students from underrepresented groups. And NARCH supports research, research training, and faculty and infrastructure development through partnerships between American Indian/Alaska Native tribes or tribally based organizations and academic institutions that conduct intensive biomedical research.

“Our capacity-building programs are highly complex and support an exceptionally broad range of research areas through a variety of grant mechanisms,” said NIGMS Director Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D. “The new organizational structure will allow for more efficient planning, coordination and execution among the research, research training and research resource access activities of these important programs.”

NIGMS solicited public input on the proposed organizational change, which will not alter the missions, goals, staff or budgets of the component programs.

The acting director of the new center is W. Fred Taylor, Ph.D., who has served as chief of the TWD’s Capacity Building Branch since 2013 and as director of the IDeA program since 1998.

For more information about the Center for Research Capacity Building, visit http://www.nigms.nih.gov/about/overview/pages/crcb.aspx.

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To arrange an interview with Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D., or W. Fred Taylor, Ph.D., contact the NIGMS Office of Communications and Public Liaison at 301-496-7301 or through our contact form.