NIGMS Changes Policy on Support of Well-Funded Investigators

Since 1998, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has had a policy to address how it would provide support for already well-funded investigators. Any investigator with other direct support (https://bit.ly/3CrhJXV) over the threshold would require special review by the NIGMS Advisory Council. The initial level of “other direct support” was $500,000 in 1998 and it was increased to $750,000 a year later. The level has stayed the same since that time.

Earlier this year, NIGMS made two critical changes to its funding policy, in response to a new U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy (https://bit.ly/3CnIk85). The new NIH policy will require grantees to report both direct and indirect costs. This policy change in reporting other support will take effect January 25, 2022.

In response to the new NIH policy, NIGMS has raised the threshold for council review from $750,000 in other direct support to $1.5 million in other support.

NIGMS grantees are encouraged to check in with their NIGMS program officer for more information.

About the Author:


Kevin M. Wilson serves as Director of Public Policy and Media Relations for The American Society for Cell Biology. He's worked as the Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand (D-RI) and as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI). He has a BA in Politics and American Government from the Catholic University of America. Email: kwilson@ascb.org