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Writing a NIH Grant ApplicationWriting a NIH Grant Application

Ellen Puré, PhD, Professor and Associate Vice Ellen Puré, PhD, Professor and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Wistar Institute President of Academic Affairs, Wistar Institute

Mitchell Schnall MD, PhD, Matthew J. Wilson Mitchell Schnall MD, PhD, Matthew J. Wilson Professor of Research RadiologyProfessor of Research Radiology

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The NIHThe NIH

27 institutes and centers

Most have active extramural grants programs

Under different local leadership and local missions◦ There are many small differences in operation among the

institutes

◦ United by common extramural purpose and language

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The Institute & CentersThe Institute & Centers

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The Institute & CentersThe Institute & Centers

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Types of applications: How are they judged?Types of applications: How are they judged?

K grants (career development)K grants (career development)• Trainee, training environment, project

R grants (research projects)R grants (research projects)• Research project

P grants (multi-investigator grants:PPG, center P grants (multi-investigator grants:PPG, center etc)etc)

• Research projects, “the group is stronger than the sum of its parts”

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Mechanics: Standard grant components Mechanics: Standard grant components Face PageFace Page

Budget/justificationBudget/justification

Bio sketch /other supportBio sketch /other support

Resources / EnvironmentResources / Environment

ApproachApproach• Specific aims:1 page

• Research strategy: 12 pages– Significance, Innovation, Approach, Prelim data

• Bibliography

• Human / Animal Studies

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Strategy assembling applicationStrategy assembling application Identify collaborators early: collect bio/other support ASAPIdentify collaborators early: collect bio/other support ASAP

Complete resources and environment ahead of time (can Complete resources and environment ahead of time (can leverage boiler plate sections if available)leverage boiler plate sections if available)

Budget at least 2 weeks before deadline (Budget at least 2 weeks before deadline (take a break from take a break from the science to completethe science to complete)-but start at least 3 months in )-but start at least 3 months in advance! advance!

DetailsDetails of animal/human studies can go outside of the of animal/human studies can go outside of the research strategy (overall description in the research strategy)research strategy (overall description in the research strategy)

Can use appendix for supporting documents, however the Can use appendix for supporting documents, however the Approach section should be self contained. (?not any more?)Approach section should be self contained. (?not any more?)

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Where does my application go?Where does my application go?

grants.gov NIH eRA CommonsApplication

Division of Receipt & Referral

Institute or Center

SRO & Study SectionReview

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What, exactly, is the review process?What, exactly, is the review process?• The procedure by which each grant application

submitted to the NIH receives a fair, independent, expert, and timely evaluation, free from inappropriate influences, so the NIH can support the most promising research.

• Two steps:– Peer review panels: generates score /percentile

– Institute council review: relevant for large grants/borderline grants

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Review Criteria: R grantReview Criteria: R grant

SignificanceSignificance

InvestigatorInvestigator

InnovationInnovation

ApproachApproach

EnvironmentEnvironment

Overall EvaluationOverall Evaluation

Each scored 1-9•overall evaluation is not derived from individual components•only overall evaluation is voted by the study section•component scores serve to identify areas of strength/weakness

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Some StatisticsSome Statistics

Center for Scientific Review (CSR)Center for Scientific Review (CSR)• Receives over 80,000 applications/year

• Recruits over 17,000 external experts

This is the volume of your competitionThis is the volume of your competition• How do I make my application rise to the top?

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Grantsmanship words to live by:Grantsmanship words to live by: Think first…..write second!!!!Think first…..write second!!!!

Vet!Vet!

Logic and clarity trumps densityLogic and clarity trumps density• Focus on the “pitch”

A grant is a marketing document A grant is a marketing document (not a clinical trial protocol)(not a clinical trial protocol)

Your primary audience is the review panelYour primary audience is the review panel

Understand the reviewer’s job, make it easyUnderstand the reviewer’s job, make it easy

Assume a diverse set of reviewers Assume a diverse set of reviewers

You share responsibility of a “bad review”You share responsibility of a “bad review”