Grant Coding Database Supports Research Program’s Mission
The ask: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) frequently needs accurate, detailed information on the research they fund. This information allows NIEHS staff to provide scientists, community members, and decision makers a snapshot of their research, as well as identify gaps and strengths in the institute’s research portfolio.
The solution: MDB worked with DERT’s Program Analysis Branch to develop the Grant Coding Database (GCDB) to categorize and store details about each funded grant. Our information specialists collaborated with DERT staff to define key ideas and develop structured terms that describe scientific and programmatic details, including how the grants fit into the NIEHS Strategic Plan. These terms were used to tag each NIEHS-funded grant for categories related to experimental methods, chemical exposures, and health outcomes. MDB also developed a relational database on the Oracle platform with an attractive, simple user interface, that allows users to pull customized reports with specific criteria. Finally, we wrote specialized database queries to check for consistency as part of the quality control process.
Notable outcomes: Over 7 years, MDB scientific information specialists coded nearly 5,000 NIEHS grants. We leveraged the database to help DERT answer specific questions about its funded research and generated eye-catching data visualizations. Our grant coding information was used extensively by DERT staff for internal program evaluation and presentations. Our resulting grant portfolios and visualizations were also used by DERT staff to produce concept clearance presentations for National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council meetings, and to brief members of Congress on specific scientific issues.
