National Association of IDeA Principal Investigators (NAIPI): The collective voice of the IDeA community.
NAIPI aims to protect and promote the IDeA programs. It fosters interactions, promotes resource sharing, enhances the national visibility of the INBREs, COBREs, and CTRs, develops consensus on priorities, identifies and disseminates best practices, identifies opportunities and develops strategies.
History of IDeA
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutional Development Award (IDeA) was established in 1993 to broaden the geographic distribution of NIH funding for biomedical and behavioral research. The program fosters health-related research and enhances the competitiveness of investigators at institutions located in states in which the aggregate success rate for applications to NIH has historically been low.
Our Mission
The mission of NAIPI is to provide leadership and communication for the development, promotion and improvement of biomedical research through the INBRE, COBRE, and CTR IDeA programs.
Our Objectives
Strengthening Connections Across the IDeA Community
We bring together researchers, institutions, and stakeholders to build meaningful relationships within the IDeA Program. By fostering collaboration and open communication, we help ensure that ideas, challenges, and successes are shared across the community.
Sharing Resources to Maximize Impact
NAIPI encourages the exchange of tools, knowledge, and infrastructure across INBRE, COBRE, and CTR programs. By making it easier to share what works, we help institutions do more with their resources and accelerate research progress.
Raising National Awareness of IDeA Programs
We work to increase recognition of the IDeA Program and its contributions to biomedical research. By elevating its visibility, we help highlight the importance of supporting research in historically underfunded states.
Aligning on Priorities for the Future
NAIPI brings the community together to identify shared goals and shape the future direction of the IDeA Program. Through collaboration and dialogue, we help ensure efforts are focused where they matter most.
Promoting and Sharing What Works
We identify successful approaches across the IDeA network and share them broadly. By highlighting best practices, we help institutions improve programs, avoid common challenges, and build on proven strategies.
Creating Opportunities and Strategic Growth
NAIPI helps uncover new opportunities for collaboration, funding, and innovation. We develop strategies that support long-term growth and advance the shared mission of the IDeA community.
Hear from Our Leadership
Dr. Alan Tackett
President, NAIPI
Alan Tackett, PhD, is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is a Principal Investigator for the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) that is focused on epigenomics and systems biology.
Dr. Robert Scott Seville
Past President, NAIPI
Robert (Scott) Seville, PhD, is a Professor of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming, the only post-secondary, degree-granting institution in the state. He is the former Director of the NIH-funded Wyoming INBRE program. His research interests included parasitology, taxonomy and systematics, evolution, and science education.
Dr. Shelley Lusetti
Vice President, NAIPI
Shelley Lusetti, PhD, is a professor and department head of chemistry and biochemistry at New Mexico State University. She is also the Principal Investigator of the New Mexico IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (NM- INBRE).
Dr. Lucy Liaw
Secretary, NAIPI
Lucy Liaw, PhD, is a Faculty Scientist III, director of the Research Training Programs, and director of the Mouse Genome Modification Core. She is also a Principal Investigator for a COBRE at the MaineHealth Institute for Research.
Dr. Curtis Noonan
Treasurer, NAIPI
Curtis Noonan, PhD is a Professor of Epidemiology in the School of Public and Community Health Sciences at the University of Montana, where he also serves as the Principal Investigator of the Center for Population Health Research and is affiliated with the Montana Clinical and Translational Research Center.
Sonet Weed
Executive Director, NAIPI
Sonet Weed, M.S., is a prominent biomedical research administrator and financial executive based in Arkansas. She serves as the Executive Director of Research Administration for the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).