Reeves J J
Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman 99164, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2007 Mar;85(13 Suppl):E16-7. doi: 10.2527/jas.2006-529. Epub 2006 Oct 23.
Dedicated funding for animal reproduction did not start until 1985 and was available primarily in the reproductive efficiency and physiology areas of the Animal Science Program. Funding for individual grants and duration of funding were similar between the National Institutes of Health and the USDA, typically in the range of 3 yr, with total direct costs of $150,000. The names of these programs have changed over time; the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program started in 1991 with a program in animal reproduction. The USDA did not change the award size for individual grants until 2001, when it gradually increased through 2003. The USDA then markedly increased individual grants in 2004 to a funding level of $300,000 to $500,000 over 3 to 4 yr. This has been beneficial for the funded scientist but discouraging to the applicants with high-ranking nonfunded grants. The number of grants funded per year is approaching a low critical number, with an average of only 10 new grants funded per year. At the present funding level it will be difficult for even the best scientist to sustain a research career based only on USDA funding.
专门用于动物繁殖的资金直到1985年才开始，主要用于动物科学项目的繁殖效率和生理学领域。美国国立卫生研究院和美国农业部在个人资助金额和资助期限方面相似，通常为3年，直接成本总计15万美元。这些项目的名称随时间有所变化；国家研究倡议竞争性资助计划始于1991年，有一个动物繁殖项目。美国农业部直到2001年才改变个人资助的金额，之后在2003年之前逐渐增加。然后在2004年，美国农业部大幅提高个人资助，在3至4年内资助水平达到30万至50万美元。这对获得资助的科学家有利，但对排名靠前却未获资助的申请人不利。每年获得资助的项目数量正接近一个较低的临界值，平均每年只有10个新的项目获得资助。在目前的资助水平下，即使是最优秀的科学家仅靠美国农业部的资助也很难维持其研究事业。
