In 2006, the Whitaker Foundation decided its work was done. The philanthropic organization was formed by U.A. and Helen Whitaker with the goal of creating a worldwide field of biomedical engineering. Once it determined it had achieved its "primary objective," it shut down.

The year before, 31 biomedical researchers received Whitaker grants, some close to $100,000. Trouble was, the money was guaranteed to disappear - and soon. Here, some present their advice on how to handle funding you know will run out.

Plan ahead.

It's obvious advice, but bears a mention. The minute Edward Brown at the University of Rochester received $93,550 from the Whitaker Foundation to pursue research on imaging angiogenesis and vascular function in tumors, he started looking for his next grant. "Certainly, you're looking for funding within the next year," he said. "Fortunately, that worked." Before his Whitaker grant was up, Brown had obtained a five-year grant...

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