The application

acceptance

evaluation and funding of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2018

including general program

youth program

regional program in the field of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） were comprehensively summarized and combed to provide references for the future project application of TCM researchers. In 2018

the Department of Medicine of the National Natural Science Foundation of China received2322 general programs

2315 youth programs

and 558 regional programs applications

totaling 5 195 applications in the field of TCM. Among the top 3 most applications for general programs and youth programs were TCM internal medicine

acupuncture

and TCM surgery. The top 3 most applications for regional projects were TCM internal medicine

ethnic medicine

and TCM orthopedics. Online peer communication evaluation mainly evaluates the project’s innovation

scientific significance

rationality of research content

feasibility of research program

preliminary research foundation and research team status

etc. In addition

the review process places great emphasis on the verification of scientific integrity. Research integrity was much emphasized during program dvaluation. After formal examination

preliminary review of the meeting

communication review

and final review of the meeting

646 projects were finally approved. The funding rates were 12. 96%

10. 97%

and 16. 31%

respectively. The average funding intensity was570 000 RMB

210 000 RMB

and 350 000 RMB. Some problems in the project application are mainly due to the weak research foundation of the pre-application period

over-emphasis on the micro-molecular mechanism such as the cell signal pathway

the weakened research characteristics of the overall view of TCM

insufficient original innovation of TCM theory and technical methods

and insufficient research on national feactured medicine

and attention should be paid to above problems in future research.