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posted by martyb on Monday August 06 2018, @03:09AM   Printer-friendly
from the sad-news dept.

A major US non-profit group focused on improving child health has abruptly terminated US$3 million in research grants — leaving nearly 40 scientists confused, angry and scrambling to secure new funding.

On 24 July, 37 grant recipients received an e-mail from the March of Dimes Foundation in New York City informing them that their 3-year grants had been cut off, retroactively, starting on 30 June. Many of the researchers were only a year into their projects, and had had just enough time to hire and train staff, purchase supplies and generate preliminary results. Now, several say that they might need to lay off employees, euthanize lab animals and shelve their research projects if they cannot find other funding — fast.

The March of Dimes, which is supported largely by individual donations, made the decision to revoke the grants because of a budget shortfall, says Kelle Moley, the group's chief scientific officer. "I know this is harsh news," Moley says. "As a former grantee, this would be devastating to me as well."

That is small consolation to many researchers whom Nature spoke to.

Source: Nature


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  • (Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 06 2018, @12:29PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 06 2018, @12:29PM (#717801)

    Sometimes you have to blame the victim.

    Grant-based research is a stupid idea; certainly, leads to evermore dependence on shady organizations such as governments.

    It would be better for researchers to attach themselves to self-sustaining, profitable organizations instead.

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  • (Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Monday August 06 2018, @01:13PM (2 children)

    by opinionated_science (4031) on Monday August 06 2018, @01:13PM (#717815)

    "It would be better for researchers to attach themselves to self-sustaining, profitable organizations instead."

    That's called corporate research. Then it's not grant , it's an investment.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 06 2018, @01:15PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 06 2018, @01:15PM (#717816)

      Thanks for the input...

    • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday August 07 2018, @04:27PM

      by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Tuesday August 07 2018, @04:27PM (#718307) Homepage Journal

      They're like politicians. When you give, they do whatever the hell you want them to do!!!

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 06 2018, @04:15PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 06 2018, @04:15PM (#717884)

    > Grant-based research is a stupid idea; certainly, leads to evermore dependence on shady organizations such as governments.
    > It would be better for researchers to attach themselves to self-sustaining, profitable organizations instead.

    You do know that the computers and internet have developed from government programs? Also stuff like modern medicine, rockets, satellites, GPS...

    If you think governments are that bad, please stop using all those things. Thank you.