Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Nursing research grant funding

EDITORIAL

Nursing research grant funding

With the creation of the CNPq in 1951, the career of investigator was established. The main goal of creating the CNPq was the development of a highly competent investigator and the allocation of resources to fund research of already recognized investigators.

The funding mechanisms of research grants (Bolsa de Produtividade em Pesquisa [PQ]) are dictated by the normative resolution,(1) which distinguishes investigators according to their scientific productivity. The normative resolution describes the process for research grant funding application, the criteria for research funding, and the classification of investigators. Investigators are classified as follows: (1) Senior investigator – a minimum of 15 years of research funding in the category 1 at A or B level; (2) Investigator 1 – minimum of 5 years of completion of the doctorate; and (3) Investigator 2 – a minimum of 2 years of completion of the doctorate. It is important to note that Investigators 1 are further categorized as A, B, C, or D level.

The criteria for evaluation of the investigator and funding of PQ in nursing have been established by the Nursing Advisory Committee (Comitê de Assessoramento da Enfermagem [CA-EF]) following normative guidance from the funding mechanism of research grants (Bolsa de Produtividade em Pesquisa[PQ]) and consensus from the Life Sciences Advisory Committee. These criteria for evaluation and funding of PQ in nursing have a time-span of 3 years. The evaluation of investigators and funding of PQ in nursing is very competitive. The number of PQ is predetermined in each evaluative process and it accounts for classification of investigators and their scientific productivity. However, criteria for evaluation of scientific productivity change over time due to differences in areas and subareas of scientific knowledge development. This change allows the committee to use specific criteria of scientific productivity based on the time of the evaluation.

The instrument used during the evaluative process has fields that allow classifying the applicants as Investigator 1, level A, B, C, or D level or as Investigator 2. The applicants are classified accordingly using qualitative and quantitative prerequisites and ad hoc recommendations. The number of research grant funds is predetermined in the official announcement. The scientific productivity of the investigator 1 level A through D is evaluated through specific indicators using the using indicators of the last 10 years and of the investigator 2 using indicators of the last 5 years.

Both quantitative and qualitative criteria are used to evaluate the applications for funding of PQ. These criteria include the quality of the projects, which is evaluated by ad hoc reviewers; the productivity of investigators according to their program of research; the relevance of the productivity to the discipline of nursing; the consistency and contribution of the productivity to the development of human resources; the balance between scientific productivity and development of new investigators; the academic maturation of the investigators and their involvement in the coordination or participation in research projects; the contribution of investigators to scientific innovation; and their participation in the task of editing scientific journals.

In 2008 there were 113 research grants funded in nursing. There research funding were distributed to the following levels: 1A (10 grants); 1B (14 grants); 1C (18 grants); 1D (7 grants); and level 2 (64 grants). Research grant applications in 2008 for funding in 2009 have increased substantially. In 2009, 128 research grants were funded. Funding was distributed to the following levels: 1A (10 grants); 1B (13 grants); 1C (18 grants); 1D (10 grants); and level 2 (77 grants). There was a cancellation of 1B research grant in 2009 because of death of the funded investigator. The increase in number of grants in 2009, 3 grants in level D and 13 grants in the level 2, occurred due to new funding mechanisms that were created in nursing. The upgrade or downgrade of level 1 research grants are dependent on the amount of funding set aside (20% are for level A and 10% are for the other levels). Fifty percent of research grants funding are set aside for level 2. There are continuing efforts to adjust this distribution system in the current year.

REFERENCE

Lorita Marlena Freitag Pagliuca

Professor of the Department of Nursing at the UFC

Titular Member of the CA-EF at the CNPq

Coordinator of the CA-EF (July 2007 – June 2009)

  • 1
    RN-016/2006. Anexo 1: Bolsas Individuais no País.[Internet]. Brasília (DF):CNPq; 2006. Disponível em: www.cnpq.br/normas/rn_06_016.htm

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    16 July 2009
  • Date of issue
    June 2009
Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo R. Napoleão de Barros, 754, 04024-002 São Paulo - SP/Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 5576 4430 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: actapaulista@unifesp.br