Be$tMatch, an AI tool to help faculty researchers find matching funding opportunities
The WVU Health Sciences Office of Research and Graduate Education has launched Be$tMatch, an artificial intelligence-powered platform that connects faculty researchers with new funding opportunities matching their research interests.
Developed in-house, Be$tMatch uses large language models to analyze NIH Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) published within two weeks and compare them with descriptions of research interests provided by faculty researchers at the HSC. The platform delivers the search outcome every two weeks. If matching NOFOs are identified for a faculty researcher, he or she will receive personalized email notifications to look into these NOFOs more closely and make informed and timely decisions on whether and when to start developing grant applications.
“It is exciting that Be$tMatch offers a powerful tool for helping us stay on top of federal funding opportunities. Trying to write grants while keeping up with additional NIH funding announcements, on top of managing trainees and trying to manage other lab responsibilities, is pretty daunting. It’s easy to feel like you’re always missing something relevant. Getting automated notices from Be$tMatch is a big help with staying on top of what’s relevant and current, especially with the shifts occurring in NIH funding opportunities.”
— Morgan Bridi, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience, SoM
“Be$tMatch is a valuable tool that I appreciate. It helps surface relevant funding opportunities that might otherwise be missed. I’m using it to help identify ways to support health services research that advances WVU’s land-grant mission—particularly in addressing public health needs across West Virginia.”
— Adam Baus, PhD, MA, MPH; research associate professor, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences; director, Office of Health Services Research — SoPH
“Faculty will benefit from the Best Match program through its personalized approach and search efficiency. Be$tMatch is based on a specific research description you provide, ensuring you will receive a customized notification of funding announcements. I receive funding announcements related to cancer-cachexia and cancer-associated fatigue, thus eliminating the need to actively search the numerous RFAs, PAs, and NOFOs within the cancer field.”
— Emidio Pistilli, PhD, professor, Department of Health Professions, SoM
Since its recent launch, Be$tMatch has delivered curated alerts to a group of investigators involved in research on the Health Sciences campus. Expansion plans are underway, with the potential to include other funding agencies and academic units. The initiative is helpful for early-career researchers to get connected from the start.
“Be$tMatch is our first foray into applying AI technology to develop tools that service faculty investigators at WVU. Despite the sharp decline of new NOFOs being published in the past few months due to policy changes in the federal level, the platform still has already gained positive feedback from faculty users. We are monitoring the performance of the platform and engaging a continues process to further improve its effeteness. We also plan to include NOFOs from other funding sources including additional federal agencies and funding organizations in the private sector in Be$tMatch, and expand its service to faculty investigators across the WVU campuses beyond the HSC. We look forward anticipated an expanded Be$tMatch will be able to help all WVU faculty investigators to consistently identify funding opportunities that best support their research in a timely manner.”
— Ming Lei, PhD, senior associate vice president, Health Sciences Office Research and Graduate Education and Vice Dean of Research, SoM
Learn more about Be$tMatch and other innovative research tools available on the WVU Health Sciences campus.