NIH reports that applications for $1.5 billion in grants funded through President Obama’s stimulus package are now available. These grants will fund scientific research, construction and improvement of research facilities, as well as the purchase of scientific equipment.

NIH says that at least $200 million will be put into challenge grants, which support studies on specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral areas. $1 billion will go toward construction grants to help build new or improve existing research facilities. The rest will take the form of shared instrumentation grants to facilitate the purchase of research equipment.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, NIH will receive a total of $10 billion: $8.5 billion for research and $1.5 billion to upgrade research facilities.

NIH Makes $1.5B in Stimulus Bill Grants Available

Challenging research will receive $200 million, $300 million will be allotted to purchase equipment, and the rest is for construction and upgrading.