2014 Annual Research Meeting

San Diego, CAConference Updates

Dana D. Hines

My name is Dana and I am a doctoral candidate at Indiana University School of Nursing. My dissertation research focuses on care utilization among transgender women living with HIV.

In June 2014 I had the opportunity to attend the Annual Research Meeting (ARM) as an AcademyHealth Diversity Scholar. I was one of five applicants selected for this competitive, professional development program.

While at the ARM I attended the Gender and Health Interest Group meeting and various sessions related to my research interests. The following slides summarize highlights from my conference experience.

You can read more about this program at: http://www.academyhealth.org/Training/content.cfm?ItemNumber=13423&navItemNumber=1987.

About the Author

Provide tips for preparing for large conferences

Provide summary of lessons learned from Gender & Health Interest Group Meeting

Summarize key points regarding conceptual models in implementation science workshop

Highlight key questions and answers Research Funding 2014: Federal funding mechanisms session

Objectives

Conference Preparation

Map out schedule ahead of time Hard copy and iPhone or Android

apps are usually available; both are helpful

Pack a stack of business cards Write brief sentence on back about

research interest or follow-up questions to trade with other contacts

Review conference attendee list Email contacts ahead of time to

schedule meeting time at conference Find out if there are special interest

group meetings or business meetings that you can attend

Great way to network and find mentors

Interest groups provide access to mentors with similar interests and to information on postdocs and jobs

Interest groups also provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership

Benefits of Interest Groups

Complete onsite registration/check-in early Helps avoid long lines

Take a pair of walking shoes Pack snacks and have a sweater on hand Have something handy for note-taking Keep your training grants, manuscripts or

other ideas in the making handy as you sit through sessions and take notes.

While at the Conference(The Basics)

Below is a summary of take-away points:Affordable Care Act offers a breadth of research opportunities Researchers should consider working with existing data sets to

capitalize on current policy changesTrends in Research/Hot topics Same sex marriage and insurance access Impact of insurance access on same sex couples utilization of

care Health promotion and disease prevention among same sex

couples and LGBT populationsNon-traditional options for disseminating work Social media, internet, other social action groups

Gender & Health Interest Group Meeting

Look for corporate or foundation grants that match your research interests Review process similar to NIH grants, however comments

are rarely provided New investigators should consider the following:

Submitting R01 with mentor listed as PI. That way you can run the grant under the direction of the PI, gain valuable research experience and still maintain your eligibility for a K-award.

K-awards protect time, but do not provide as much project support so it is recommended that those pursuing K-awards also apply for supplemental grant funds.

Research Funding 2014

First decide on the type of grant: K-award, R01, R03, R21

Look for an appropriate institute to submit the grant (e.g. NIH, AHRQ, DHHS)

Talk with program officer about whether or not proposal is a good fit within the institute Find out which study section is most likely to review the application

Send project officer (PO) an abstract of proposed project and request a meeting, preferably one that is face to face

Use conferences or large meetings as an opportunity to meet PO Build a complimentary team of experts

Research Funding 2014(Before Submitting)

Spend a lot of time on the specific aims Be clear, tell a story, make it easy for reviewer, hand the

reviewer bullet points, use pictures and examples to explain the need/significance and purpose of your work

Catch reviewers at the specific aims page or “you’re dead in the water” Reviewers will lose interest if the if the terms are too technical or

field specific Write to the broader audience Know your audience Tailor writing to the reviewers in the section

Be detailed oriented Details prove and signal mastery of the field

Research Funding 2014 (Specific Aims)

Reviewers are NOT reading every page with scrutiny

Don’t assume that reviewers have read the RFA or program announcement

Grant applications assigned to 3 or more reviewers about 5-6 weeks before the study section meets

Research Funding 2014 (The Reviewers)

Special emphasis groups, what are they? Special emphasis groups review topics that are

being considered by NIH as standing study sections. Usually focuses on a specialized interests that impact the field

Grants ranked within each category from highest to lowest About 50% applications are discussed Lower half of grant applications not

discussed at all

Research Funding 2014(Other Tidbits)

AcademyHealth: http://www.academyhealth.org/About/?navItemNumber=498

Career Award Wizard will help you decide on the type of grant for which you should apply: http://grants1.nih.gov/training/kwizard/index.htm

Resources