NIH Biomedical Research Support Grant Program

GAO surveyed the Biomedical Research Support Grant (BRSG) program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The purpose of the survey was to determine whether the program's objectives were being achieved and grant funds were being properly used. GAO reviewed policies, procedures, guidelines, plans, and studies related to the program and interviewed officials who are responsible for its implementation. GAO performed onsite reviews of four grantees and conducted interviews with two other grantees. During onsite visits, grantee officials were interviewed and grantees' systems for managing their grants, including their financial records and annual reports to NIH, were reviewed. Grants are made to public or nonprofit universities, hospitals, laboratories, and other institutions to complement other types of targeted research support. Each grant is administered at the grantee institution by a program director who is advised by a standing committee of qualified scientific and administrative personnel. Each grantee must submit annual reports to NIH which show how funds have been used and what was achieved.