The NINDS Sustainable Transformation of Institutional Research Rigor (STIRR) Initiative aims to support the establishment of programs to enhance research rigor and transparency practices within academic and research institutions to promote a culture of high-quality neuroscience research.
See the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), the informational video, or the FAQs below for more information. There are no additional active receipt dates for this NOFO.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Overview
Where can I find the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO)?
The NOFO can be found here: NINDS Sustainable Transformation of Institutional Research Rigor (STIRR) Program (RC2 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
What is the purpose of this initiative?
This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) aims to support the establishment of programs to enhance research rigor and transparency practices within academic and research institutions to promote a culture of high-quality neuroscience research. Attention to principles of rigorous study design and transparent reporting are essential to enable the neuroscientific community, as well as the biomedical community at large, to design and perform valid experiments and to assess the value of scientific findings. Awards are intended to support the implementation of innovative programs, strategies, and approaches at the departmental, inter-departmental, or equivalent intra-institutional entity level. These organizational entities will provide clarity of vision, comprehensive assistance, effective evaluation, and sustainable commitment to transforming the local scientific culture. Such transformation should improve demonstrably the scientific rigor and transparent reporting of neuroscience research studies performed by investigators within the organizational entity and encourage the adoption of similar measures by the broader research community.
Note that this initiative is intended to allow institutional entities to develop and pilot innovative approaches to improving research rigor and transparency through changes in community resources, policies, and/or practices (rather than to sustain programs long-term). Applicants should describe how they intend to ensure continuation of successful program activities to solidify culture change, including long-term support of evaluation and dissemination activities beyond the period of the award (i.e., after grant funding ends).
Where can I find videos or articles about the initiative?
2023 NINDS Concept Clearance
At the February 2023 National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council Meeting, Program Director in the NINDS Office of Research Quality, Devon Crawford, presented the concept for developing an initiative to change culture around rigor and transparency within institutions. You may watch the recording via NIH Videocast.
2023 NINDS Director's Message
In May 2023, NINDS Director Walter Koroshetz wrote a Director's Message entitled "New Activities and Resources for Enhancing Research Quality" about the launch of this initiative. See the Director's Message for more information.
2023 NINDS Informational Video
In August 2023, NINDS Program Director Devon Crawford created an informational video about STIRR with important details about the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). You may watch the video on the NINDS Youtube channel.
What is an "intra-institutional entity" or "organizational entity"?
Applicant entities may include departments, offices, libraries, inter-departmental collaborations, or equivalent intra-institutional organizational structures, but the program’s goals must include increasing rigor and transparency of neuroscience research performed by investigators within the institution or organization. The proposed activities must be implemented by and/or applicable to more than one laboratory or scientific group.