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International Advocacy Toolkit
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Organizing Questions
  1. Which organization(s) are significant sources of research funding?
  2. What does the normal science funding/policy decision-making process look like?
  3. Which patient advocacy groups, if any, are active in the area?
  4. Are there existing national/regional organizations that work towards improving research funding/policy?
  5. How do scientists currently contribute to the existing funding/policymaking/advocacy process, if at all?
  6. When are science funding/policy decisions made?
  7. What kinds of opportunities exist for scientists to interact with funders and policymakers?

  1. Which organization(s) are significant sources of research funding?

  2. What does the normal science funding/policy decision-making process look like?

    • Which group/committee/person within the funding/policy organization makes the decisions?
      •  Varies considerably between the different organizations (typically peer-review). 
    • What are the criteria the funding/policy organization(s) use to make their decisions?
      • Varies considerably between the different organizations (typically peer-review). 
  3. Which patient advocacy groups, if any, are active in the area?

  4. Are there existing national/regional organizations that work towards improving research funding/policy?

    • None
  5. How do scientists currently contribute to the existing funding/policymaking/advocacy process, if at all?

    • Varies, but typically scientists are involved in program design and peer-review.  
  6. When are science funding/policy decisions made?

    • Varies between the different organizations (typically peer-review). Major research initiatives are typically made at the EU-level by the European Research Council (ERC).  
  7. What kinds of opportunities exist for scientists to interact with funders and policymakers?

    • Can scientists invite decision makers to their lab/institution to see their work firsthand?
      • This is not typical and happens mostly in program projects that have different sub-projects.  
    • Do the funding/policy organizations hold open meetings or solicit comments from the public that researchers can participate in?
      • Varies considerably, but it can happen in different funding organizations such as VW-Stiftung and BMBF-calls.

Contributor
  • Bernhard A. Sabel, PhD, University of Magdeburg