Access or Login Questions

1. What is required to access the Funded Research databases?
   
2. Do I need to register to access Funded Research?
   
3. Is there a cost to access these databases?
   
4. Why don't I see a section for Funded Research on my Workbench page?
   

Search or Content Questions

1. What is COS Funded Research and what are the benefits of using it?
   
2. I am looking for grant money, am I in the right place?
   
3. Where does the information in these databases come from?
   
4. Where can I find more details or the full-text of a specific project?
   
5. Can I search all of the separate Funded databases at once?
   
6. How often are the Funded Research databases updated?
7. Can I find more up-to-date data for some of these projects?
   
8. Where can I find historical data for completed NIH projects?
   
9. How can I get NIH award amount data?
   
10. How can I search by NIH grant number?
    
11. How can I find out an NIH project's start and end dates?
    

Access or Login Questions

1. What is required to access the Funded Research databases?
   Access to the NIH, NSF, USDA, SBIR and MRC Funded Research databases is only available through our free COS Workbench. To access you simply need to Register Your Profile [or use the 'Join Now' link from the initial Funded Research page]. This service is entirely free and only takes a minute or two. Once you complete the registration, you can go into your customizable COS Workbench page at any time and from any location and access the Funded Research databases as well as other free services including our Meetings and Conferences database, Discussion Forums and the Funding Newsletter.
   
   
2. Do I need to register to access Funded Research?
   Yes. To access you simply need to Register Your Profile [or use the 'Join Now' link from the initial Funded Research page]. This service is entirely free and only takes a minute or two. Once you complete the registration, you can go into your customizable COS Workbench page at any time and from any location and access the Funded Research databases as well as other free services including our Meetings and Conferences database, Discussion Forums and the Funding Newsletter.
   
   
3. Is there a cost to access these databases?
   No. Registration and access to the COS Workbench are entirely free. If at a future date you wish to be removed from our system, just e-mail the COS Help Desk with the details of your request.
   
   
4. Why don't I see a section for Funded Research on my Workbench page?
   On your Workbench page, click on the 'Customize' link in the top right corner. This will take you to a page where you can direct which sections of the Workbench are displayed (and in which order). Check to make sure there is a check mark next to Funded Research. If not, click in the empty check box and 'Save Changes'.

Search or Content Questions

1. What is COS Funded Research and what are the benefits of using it?
   Funded Research is a group of 5 databases that allow you to research and track information on funding and award histories at leading research facilities around the world. Funded Research can be used to learn what types of research projects received funding in the past as well as those currently being funded. It also allows you to track information pertaining to the specific people and institutions receiving money. Such information can be useful in determining current trends or predicting future trends in research funding. The databases cover projects funded by 5 major government agencies:
   • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
   • National Science Foundation (NSF)
   • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
   • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
   • Medical Research Council (MRC), UK.
   
   
2. I am looking for grant money, am I in the right place?
   No. The Funded Research databases only contain information for already funded projects. For other options in finding current funding opportunities, check our Grant Options page.
   
   
3. Where does the information in these databases come from?
   The data that makes up these databases comes to us directly from the sponsoring agencies (NIH, NSF, etc.). In some cases, such as the SBIR, we may not have received updated data for a considerable length of time.
   
   
4. Where can I find more details or the full-text of a specific project?
   The information displayed in the individual records is the full extent of information provided to us. For further details you would need to contact the researcher or group receiving the funding, or the sponsoring agency.
   
   
5. Can I search all of the separate Funded databases at once?
   Yes. From your Workbench page, scroll to the section labeled 'Search COS Databases'. If you make sure the Funded Research option is checked and do a search there, that will search all 5 Funded Research databases at the same time. Results will be separated by database.
   
   
6. How often are the Funded Research databases updated?
   We are dependent on the agencies themselves to supply us with updates and sometimes schedules can be upset due to this. Normal update schedules are as follows:
   • NIH: monthly
   • NSF: monthly (due to format changes by the data providers, this has not been updated since July, 2000)
   • USDA: monthly
   • SBIR: updates have not been produced by the SBA for the last few years (last updated November 1998)
   • MRC: annually (once/year)
   
   
7. Can I find more up-to-date data for some of these projects?
   Some of these databases have similar or equivalent versions published by the agencies themselves, which may or may not have different data available:
   • CRISP database - NIH
   • Award Abstracts Database - NSF
   • Current Research Information System (CRIS) - USDA
   • SBIR/STTR awards - SBIR
   • Current Research list - MRC
   
   
8. Where can I find historical data for completed NIH projects?
   The CRISP database, located on the NIH Web site, contains historical funding information going back to 1972.
   
   
9. How can I get NIH award amount data?
   At present this is not possible. The NIH has stopped including award amounts in the information it provides publicly in the NIH Grants Database. This appears to be a permanent decision on the NIH's part. You would need to contact the NIH for more details: www.nih.gov.
   
   
10. How can I search by NIH grant number?
    Each search interface to the NIH data contains a field labeled 'Project Number' - this is the same as grant number. Just type in the project number there. The format is usually: 1 digit, space, 1 letter and 2 digits, space, 2 letters, 5 digits, dash, 2 digits - but not always. Examples:
    • 5 R01 AA11446-02
    • 3 P01 AG00538-23S1A1
    • 5 P50 AA05595-20 SUB: 0025
    
    
11. How can I find out an NIH project's start and end dates?
    The CRISP database, located on the NIH Web site, usually contains start and end dates.