Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Supports Grants on Health Care Issues
Researchers are invited to submit proposals for Changes in Health-Care Financing and Organization grants, which are administered by AcademyHealth with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Four-page “brief proposals” may be submitted at any time. For more information, contact AcademyHealth by phone at 202/292-6700 or by e-mail, hcfo@academyhealth.org. (continued)

HED Support Spans Globe
Higher Education for Development, in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development, has issued several requests for higher education partnership applications. Experts from U.S. colleges and universities are encouraged to apply to work with their counterparts in developing countries on partnership programs in fields such as economic growth, telecommunications, health, agriculture, education, and journalism. Current deadlines range from February 26 to April 25, 2008. Details on all HED funding opportunities are available online. (continued)

ED Offers Updated Way to Search Resources
ED Pubs, the Department of Education’s outlet of (mostly) free education publications, has undergone an upgrade and re-launch. Available resources include applications and funding notices, display materials and newsletters, reports, and guides. Most are available in print; some CD-ROM and audio materials also are on offer. (continued)

NSF Revisits Cost Share Policy
As reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education (password required), the National Science Board has recommended that the National Science Foundation re-establish cost share requirements for certain university-industry partnership projects

DHS Science and Technology Directorate Scrutinized
The effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security’s Directorate of Science and Technology has been the subject of significant congressional criticism. A February 2008 report (provided by Congressional Quarterly) presents findings on a study of the directorate’s programs, priorities, financial management, and role within the federal research community. The directorate, which has faced charges that its efforts are too focused on development, and not enough on basic research, failed to increase basic research expenditures to 20 percent of its budget, as intended, in the DHS FY 08 budget request.