FUNDING FOR UROLITHIASIS RESEARCH - PROGRESS AND STRATEGIES FOR FUTURE NIH SUPPORT

A review of the National Institutes of Health funding history for urol ithiasis shows that support has increased from about $3 million in 199 0 to about $4.7 million in 1993 and to an estimated $5.1 million in 19 94. The award of large project grants accounts for the increase: indiv idual research project grant funding (R01-type grants) has not increas ed, The overall funding for urologic research supported by the Nationa l Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more tha n doubled in this same period, with most of the increase attributable to the award of individual research grants. Although there has been a significant number of urolithiasis research grant applications submitt ed in this time period, the percent of successful (funded) application s continues to lag behind the number in other urology-related areas, S trategies for improving the award rate for urolithiasis-related resear ch grant applications are reviewed.