Grant Mechanisms Research Projects R01 Research Project R03 Small Research Grant R21...

Grant MechanismsGrant MechanismsResearch ProjectsResearch Projects

R01R01 Research ProjectResearch Project

R03R03 Small Research Grant Small Research Grant

R21R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant Exploratory/Developmental Grant

R15R15 Academic Research Enhancement Award Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) (AREA)

R43, R44R43, R44 Small Business Innovation Research Grant Small Business Innovation Research Grant (SBIR) (SBIR)

P01P01 Research Program Project Research Program Project

Grant MechanismsGrant MechanismsFellowship & Research Career ProgramsFellowship & Research Career Programs

F31F31

F32F32

Predoctoral Individual National Research Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA)Service Award (NRSA)

Postdoctoral Individual National Research Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) Service Award (NRSA)

K22K22K01K01

Career Transition Award (NIAID)Career Transition Award (NIAID)Career Transition Award (NCI)Career Transition Award (NCI)

K08K08 Clinical Investigator Award Clinical Investigator Award

K23K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award Development Award

Review of your proposalReview of your proposal

• Each grant has about 3 reviewers

• 60-100 grant / study section

• All study section members score the grant 100-500

• There are hundreds of study sections

• Study section rosters (about 20 people) can be found at:

• Choose a study section that has goals consistent with your proposal

• You can lose on the abstract and first page

http://www.csr.nih.gov/Roster_proto/sectionI.asp

http://www.csr.nih.gov/Roster_proto/sectionI.asp

http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/award/award.htm

Grant WritingGrant Writing

What makes a good grant proposal?What makes a good grant proposal?

What makes a great grant proposal?What makes a great grant proposal?

Good ideaGood idea

Good scienceGood science

Good applicationGood application

A good proposalA good proposal Well performed studyWell performed study

Appropriate and up-to date Appropriate and up-to date technologytechnology

Carefully analyzed data that is Carefully analyzed data that is accurately reportedaccurately reported

Ethical considerations dealt with Ethical considerations dealt with appropriatelyappropriatelyIs this enough?

Benchmarks of an Benchmarks of an “Outstanding” “Outstanding”

ApplicationApplication New or original ideasNew or original ideas

Focused, incisive research planFocused, incisive research plan

Knowledge of published relevant workKnowledge of published relevant work

Experience in essential methodologyExperience in essential methodology

Future directions and contingency plansFuture directions and contingency plans

More Benchmarks of an More Benchmarks of an outstanding proposaloutstanding proposal

Published in respected journals

Recognized and cited by peers

Presented at high-quality meetings

Fundable on competitive grant review

What makes an What makes an outstanding outstanding proposal?proposal?

Asks important questionsAsks important questions

Has potential to yield “seminal” Has potential to yield “seminal” observationsobservations

Does the project have Does the project have the potential to yield a the potential to yield a

“seminal” observation? “seminal” observation?

Create truly new knowledge?Create truly new knowledge?

Lead to new ways of thinking?Lead to new ways of thinking?

Lay the foundation for further Lay the foundation for further research in the field?research in the field?

Writing a Grant ProposalWriting a Grant Proposal

Good ideaGood idea



Pursue original science

Pursue original Pursue original sciencescience

Consider your Consider your perspective:perspective:

Novel vs. derivativeNovel vs. derivative

Hypothesis-driven Hypothesis-driven vs. “fishing vs. “fishing expedition”expedition”

Mechanistic vs. Mechanistic vs. descriptivedescriptive

http://www.sciencecartoonsplus.com/order.html

Picking a Research Picking a Research ProjectProject

• Ten steps to picking a Research Project

C. Ronald Kahn New England Journal of Medicine.

1994

Steps to picking a Steps to picking a Research ProjectResearch Project

• Anticipate Results you might obtain

Is the most successful outcome interesting?

What would be the next step if you are successful?

Are you prepared to follow up?


• Is the area of interest to a large fraction of the scientific community?

• If only of interest to a limited number of people in the field, results may be difficult to publish and hard to fund


• Is the field overpopulated?

• Look for an under-occupied niche that has potential


• The best ideas come from listening to talks and reading papers outside your area of interest.

• Talks and papers outside your area of interest may point you in truly new directions and allow you to anticipate the evolution of the field.


• Find a balance between low-risk and high-risk projects

• Include a high-interest project because this will be an opportunity to make a truly seminal observation


• Be prepared to pursue the work to the next important level.

• To be recognized for important research accomplishments may require a willingness to pursue a project to any depth necessary


• Differentiate yourself from your mentor

• This is especially true of you stay at the same institution.

• Independence is an important criteria for promotion and tenure

• You need to be more expert than your mentor in some area even if you choose to collaborate.

Picking a Picking a Research ProblemResearch Problem• However, collaboration can be a good strategy However, collaboration can be a good strategy

especially if you are not technically prepared to especially if you are not technically prepared to carry out a particular aspect of the projectcarry out a particular aspect of the project

• List an expert in this area as a collaborator on List an expert in this area as a collaborator on your grant.your grant.

• Once you have established some expertise in an Once you have established some expertise in an area, you can become more independent.area, you can become more independent.


• Focus rather than trying to make an impact in three or four different areas at once.

• At first focus on one or at most two projects and define very limited goals.


Good ideaGood idea



Good ScienceGood Science Logical and organized Research PlanLogical and organized Research Plan

Rationale for the Methods chosenRationale for the Methods chosen

Include Experimental PitfallsInclude Experimental Pitfalls

Include Alternative ApproachesInclude Alternative Approaches

Sufficient Experimental DetailSufficient Experimental Detail

GoodGood ScienceScience Use appropriate controlsUse appropriate controls

Avoid “shotgun” approaches and “fishing Avoid “shotgun” approaches and “fishing expeditions”expeditions”

Do not assume reviewers with know what Do not assume reviewers with know what you mean: SPELL IT OUTyou mean: SPELL IT OUT

Good ScienceGood ScienceThe Hypothesis The Hypothesis

A meaningful hypothesis and a A meaningful hypothesis and a means to test itmeans to test it

Rationale for the hypothesisRationale for the hypothesis

A set of related aimsA set of related aims

Aims that are focused and not Aims that are focused and not diffusediffuse

Formulate Sound Formulate Sound HypothesesHypotheses

What’s the hypothesis here?What’s the hypothesis here?


Good ideaGood idea



Good ApplicationGood Application

Read and Follow all instructionsRead and Follow all instructions

Make sure your Institute offers the type of Make sure your Institute offers the type of grant you plan to prepare. For instance, grant you plan to prepare. For instance, not all Institutes offer R21 grantsnot all Institutes offer R21 grants

Use clear and grammatically correct Use clear and grammatically correct EnglishEnglish

Write short, clear sentences. Minimize Write short, clear sentences. Minimize the use of overly technical jargonthe use of overly technical jargon

Avoid Reviewer fatigueAvoid Reviewer fatigue

Selling Your IdeasSelling Your Ideas

It’s your responsibility to make it effortless It’s your responsibility to make it effortless for the reviewers to understand…for the reviewers to understand…

Your ideasYour ideasWhy they are importantWhy they are importantWhy your approach is reasonable and feasibleWhy your approach is reasonable and feasible

Present an organized, lucid write-up!Present an organized, lucid write-up! Write for the skeptic: how would you Write for the skeptic: how would you

convince your harshest critic?convince your harshest critic? Do not write the application for the Do not write the application for the

“specialist:” assume the reviewers won’t “specialist:” assume the reviewers won’t know your system as well as you doknow your system as well as you do

Keep your focus on your big picture

Focus: do not let your ideas wander Focus: do not let your ideas wander from your main themefrom your main theme

Show how this project fits into your “big Show how this project fits into your “big picture” research objectives, describe picture” research objectives, describe future directionsfuture directions

Presentation & Presentation & FormattingFormatting

Prepare a reviewer-friendly application!Prepare a reviewer-friendly application! Organize with headings & subheadings, but Organize with headings & subheadings, but

avoid too many levelsavoid too many levels Include well-designed tables and figures Include well-designed tables and figures

with appropriate legendswith appropriate legends Stay within the page limitationsStay within the page limitations Use a readable typeface and font size (Ariel Use a readable typeface and font size (Ariel

11pt)11pt) Minimize grammatical & typographical Minimize grammatical & typographical

errorserrors

Components of a Components of a Grant ApplicationGrant Application

AbstractAbstract

Specific AimsSpecific Aims

Background and SignificanceBackground and Significance

Preliminary ResultsPreliminary Results

Research designResearch design

Keys for a Successful Keys for a Successful Grant ApplicationGrant Application

AbstractAbstract

Pretend reviewer has Pretend reviewer has only this page to read only this page to read

Abstract should be a Abstract should be a mini outline for the mini outline for the proposal.proposal.


AbstractAbstract

Include a general statement of the Include a general statement of the problem being addressed including problem being addressed including gaps in gaps in our knowledgeour knowledge

Include your hypothesis and why your Include your hypothesis and why your experiments will fill the gaps in our experiments will fill the gaps in our knowledge (and why this is important)knowledge (and why this is important)

Include an outline of the specific aims and Include an outline of the specific aims and methods to be used, expected outcomes methods to be used, expected outcomes and the long-range significance.and the long-range significance.


AbstractAbstract

Specific AimsSpecific Aims

The Specific Aims are the first part of the The Specific Aims are the first part of the proposal that the reviewer reads. Include a short proposal that the reviewer reads. Include a short description of problem and background summary description of problem and background summary (one paragraph)(one paragraph)

The Specific Aims should address an hypothesis The Specific Aims should address an hypothesis and the hypothesis should be clearly statedand the hypothesis should be clearly stated

They should be bulleted and clearly and They should be bulleted and clearly and succinctly outline the proposed research.succinctly outline the proposed research.

Important TipImportant TipSpecfic AimsSpecfic Aims

The specific aims should be interrelated but The specific aims should be interrelated but should not depend on the success of one aim to should not depend on the success of one aim to perform the others.perform the others.

Example:Example: Aim 1 proposes to identify and clone the cellular Aim 1 proposes to identify and clone the cellular

receptor that restricts HXV infection to humans. In receptor that restricts HXV infection to humans. In Aim 2, there are plans to construct transgenic mice Aim 2, there are plans to construct transgenic mice expressing the receptor to develop an animal model expressing the receptor to develop an animal model for HXV to study pathogenesis. for HXV to study pathogenesis.

What if there is more than one receptor? Or you are What if there is more than one receptor? Or you are not successful in identifying putative receptors? Or not successful in identifying putative receptors? Or infection is also blocked at a stage past entry?infection is also blocked at a stage past entry?

Identify hole in our knowledge

Explain why this hole is important

State your hypothesis and long term goals

Identify a series of logical steps to test your hypothesis

Keys for a Successful Grant ApplicationKeys for a Successful Grant ApplicationSpecific AimsSpecific Aims


Specific AimsSpecific Aims List the aims as a bulleted list with List the aims as a bulleted list with

a brief description of the a brief description of the approaches to be used after each approaches to be used after each aim aim

Be specific. Avoid generalities. Be specific. Avoid generalities.

Avoid saying you will characterize Avoid saying you will characterize or describe a phenomenon or or describe a phenomenon or determine the relationship determine the relationship between two processesbetween two processes


Specific AimsSpecific Aims Think about “aim” as a verb.Think about “aim” as a verb.

Your aims should suggest a particular Your aims should suggest a particular outcome rather than being outcome rather than being descriptive.descriptive.

Do not merely “characterize” or Do not merely “characterize” or “describe” something! It’s boring “describe” something! It’s boring and it doesn’t convey the importance and it doesn’t convey the importance or excitement of what you hope to or excitement of what you hope to accomplish accomplish


Specific AimsSpecific Aims A specific aim that collects A specific aim that collects

data with out describing data with out describing the rationale for the the rationale for the hypothesis sounds like a hypothesis sounds like a fishing expedition.fishing expedition.

Each aim should include a Each aim should include a hypothesis if possible.hypothesis if possible.


Specific AimsSpecific Aims Is the scope of the problem Is the scope of the problem

achievable?achievable?

Avoid proposing 10 years of Avoid proposing 10 years of work in a 3 or 4 year proposalwork in a 3 or 4 year proposal


Specific AimsSpecific Aims Combine low risk aims with one or two that Combine low risk aims with one or two that

are innovative and originalare innovative and original

An innovative aim will include novel concepts An innovative aim will include novel concepts or approaches or approaches

An innovative aim should advance the fieldAn innovative aim should advance the field

The specific aims should be interrelated but The specific aims should be interrelated but one aim should not depend on the success of one aim should not depend on the success of anotheranother

Brief summaryof background

HypothesisLong term goal

Rationale

Specific Aims


Backround and Backround and SignificanceSignificance

Rationale

Rationale

Rationale



Set the stageSet the stage

Show how existing work lays the Show how existing work lays the ground work but does not go far ground work but does not go far enoughenough

Bring together ideas and results (yours Bring together ideas and results (yours and others)and others)

Identify gaps that your proposal will fillIdentify gaps that your proposal will fill

Lay out still unanswered questions you Lay out still unanswered questions you will answerwill answer



Compare and contrast work of Compare and contrast work of others. Evaluate and critique others. Evaluate and critique it, but do so respectfullyit, but do so respectfully

Cite literature judiciously. Cite literature judiciously. You can’t cite every finding, You can’t cite every finding, but try to be fair.but try to be fair.

One more Tip…One more Tip…

After describing the background After describing the background that relates to a particular aim, end that relates to a particular aim, end that section with: that section with:

This problem will be addressed in This problem will be addressed in Aim _. Remind the reviewer that Aim _. Remind the reviewer that you are going to you are going to save the daysave the day and and solve that problem in this grant by solve that problem in this grant by filling in that particular gap in our filling in that particular gap in our knowledgeknowledge


Preliminary ResultsPreliminary Results

In God we TrustIn God we Trust

All others must bring DataAll others must bring Data


Preliminary ResultsPreliminary Results Demonstrate expertise in the Demonstrate expertise in the

techniques you are going to use.techniques you are going to use.

Show your hypotheses are supported Show your hypotheses are supported by your initial studiesby your initial studies

Include only pertinent dataInclude only pertinent data

Advance your data clearly and Advance your data clearly and professionally (don’t be sloppy)professionally (don’t be sloppy)

Include well-designed tables and Include well-designed tables and figuresfigures

Research Design & Research Design & MethodsMethods

Provide a well-focused Provide a well-focused research planresearch plan

Provide sufficient Provide sufficient experimental detailexperimental detail

Address data Address data interpretation, interpretation, anticipated results and anticipated results and alternative approachesalternative approaches

Propose a realistic Propose a realistic amount of workamount of work

Secure collaborators for Secure collaborators for areas in which you lack areas in which you lack experience and trainingexperience and training


Experimental Design Experimental Design

Address each Aim one at a timeAddress each Aim one at a time

Keep numbering consistent between Keep numbering consistent between Specific aims and Experimental Specific aims and Experimental Design section Design section

Make sure design and methods are Make sure design and methods are well-developed and appropriate?well-developed and appropriate?

Are problems areas addressed?Are problems areas addressed?


Experimental Design Experimental Design Start with a brief overview to Start with a brief overview to

remind reviewers what you are remind reviewers what you are doingdoing

Start each aim with brief rationale Start each aim with brief rationale and hypothesis to be testedand hypothesis to be tested

Provide framework for description of Provide framework for description of experimental details which followexperimental details which follow


Experimental Design Experimental Design If each aim has common If each aim has common

experimental detail, you can end experimental detail, you can end the entire section with a General the entire section with a General methods section, separate from methods section, separate from the specifics for each Aim.the specifics for each Aim.

Most reviewers what to see how Most reviewers what to see how the general research design the general research design plays out before fine details of plays out before fine details of methodology.methodology.


Experimental Design Experimental Design How much detail is enough?How much detail is enough?

Convey credibility but don’t get too bogged Convey credibility but don’t get too bogged down in details.down in details.

If you have previously shown expertise If you have previously shown expertise either in preliminary results or publications, either in preliminary results or publications, you don’t need as much detail as if the you don’t need as much detail as if the techniques are new to you.techniques are new to you.

Arrange for collaborations or Arrange for collaborations or coinvestigators in scientific areas in which coinvestigators in scientific areas in which you do not have established credentials.you do not have established credentials.

Research Design and Research Design and MethodsMethods

Do provide the Do provide the rationalerationale for each for each experimental approachexperimental approach

Discuss possible Discuss possible outcomes outcomes and and how these will be how these will be interpretedinterpreted

Discuss potential pitfalls and Discuss potential pitfalls and alternative approachesalternative approaches

A Picture Can Be Worth a A Picture Can Be Worth a Thousand WordsThousand Words

Illustrate models instead of Illustrate models instead of describing them in the textdescribing them in the text

Use schematics to summarizeUse schematics to summarize If data figures or schematics are If data figures or schematics are

inserted into the Preliminary Studies inserted into the Preliminary Studies or Research Design sections, make or Research Design sections, make sure sure both the figure and the legendboth the figure and the legend are legible and easily readable by the are legible and easily readable by the reviewerreviewer

Both the figure and legend can easily be read by the reviewers.

Using FiguresUsing Figures

The legend can be read but the schematic cannot be read.


Neither the figure nor the legend can be read. Why bother showing it?


Useful TipUseful Tip

Add a short summary at the end Add a short summary at the end of the Research Design and of the Research Design and Methods section to drive home Methods section to drive home what will be learned from the what will be learned from the studies and why that is studies and why that is significant. Future directions can significant. Future directions can be included briefly.be included briefly.

Bottom Line?Bottom Line?

What will the reviewers What will the reviewers be looking for?be looking for?

How will they judge the How will they judge the application?application?

Benchmarks of an Benchmarks of an “Outstanding” “Outstanding”

ApplicationApplication New or original ideasNew or original ideas

Focused, incisive research planFocused, incisive research plan

Knowledge of published relevant workKnowledge of published relevant work

Experience in essential methodologyExperience in essential methodology

Future directions and contingency plansFuture directions and contingency plans

Review of Research Review of Research GrantsGrants

REVIEW CRITERIAREVIEW CRITERIA

SignificanceSignificanceApproachApproachInnovationInnovationInvestigatorInvestigatorEnvironmentEnvironment



Investigator - who are you? Make sure Investigator - who are you? Make sure your CV is complete and conveys your your CV is complete and conveys your areas of expertise and training.areas of expertise and training.

Make sure your preliminary results Make sure your preliminary results section conveys who you are. Actions section conveys who you are. Actions speak louder than words.speak louder than words.



Environment - Make sure you convince Environment - Make sure you convince reviewers that your institution addresses all reviewers that your institution addresses all requirements of the proposed research plan.requirements of the proposed research plan.

List areas of expertise of colleagues, List areas of expertise of colleagues, research cores and facilities that will aid research cores and facilities that will aid your research, any institutional support that your research, any institutional support that exists.exists.

Justify reliance on external resources.Justify reliance on external resources.

What if your first grant is What if your first grant is not funded?not funded?

Don’t give upDon’t give up

Initial failure is commonInitial failure is common

What if your first grant is What if your first grant is not funded?not funded?

Learn from it and succeed - a majority Learn from it and succeed - a majority dodo

Study criticism in pink sheetStudy criticism in pink sheet

Decide if problems are reparableDecide if problems are reparable

Attend diligently to each criticismAttend diligently to each criticism

Keep a positive tone and attitude in Keep a positive tone and attitude in addressing criticismaddressing criticism

Most common reasons Most common reasons for failurefor failure

Lack of new or original ideasLack of new or original ideas

Diffuse, superficial or unfocused research Diffuse, superficial or unfocused research planplan

Lack of knowledge of published relevant Lack of knowledge of published relevant workwork

Lack of experience in the essential Lack of experience in the essential methodologymethodology

Uncertainty concerning the future directionsUncertainty concerning the future directions

More reasons for failureMore reasons for failure

Questionable reasoning in experimental Questionable reasoning in experimental approachapproach

Absence of acceptable scientific Absence of acceptable scientific rationalerationale

Unrealistically large amount of workUnrealistically large amount of work

Lack of sufficient experimental detailLack of sufficient experimental detail

Uncritical approachUncritical approach

RememberRemember

There is no grantsmanship that will turn a There is no grantsmanship that will turn a bad idea into a good one, but…….bad idea into a good one, but…….

There are many ways to disguise a good There are many ways to disguise a good oneone

William Raub, Past Deputy Director of NIHWilliam Raub, Past Deputy Director of NIH

ResourcesResources

National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health http://www.http://www.nihnih..govgov

National Science Foundation National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.govhttp://www.nsf.gov

Hints for Writing Successful NIH grants by Ellen Barrett. Hints for Writing Successful NIH grants by Ellen Barrett. http://chroma.med.miami.edu/Ellens.how.to.htmlhttp://chroma.med.miami.edu/Ellens.how.to.html

Extramural Funding OpportunitesExtramural Funding Opportuniteshttp://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/extra/extdocs/gntapp.htmlhttp://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/extra/extdocs/gntapp.html

Sounding Board: Picking a Research Problem by C. Ronald Sounding Board: Picking a Research Problem by C. Ronald Kahn. The New England Journal of Medicine. 330:1530Kahn. The New England Journal of Medicine. 330:1530

How to Ask for a Research Grant by Janet S. Rasey. In Writing, How to Ask for a Research Grant by Janet S. Rasey. In Writing, Speaking, and Communication Skills for Health Professionals. Speaking, and Communication Skills for Health Professionals. Yale University Press. Pg 91-117Yale University Press. Pg 91-117

http://www.nih.gov/

http://www.nih.gov/

http://www.nih.gov/

http://www.nih.gov/

http://www.nsf.gov/

http://chroma.med.miami.edu/Ellens.how.to.html

http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/extra/extdocs/gntapp.html

Scientific QuestionsScientific Questions

FocusedFocused Lead to testable hypothesesLead to testable hypotheses InterestingInteresting SignificantSignificant

Drill down to a specific Drill down to a specific questionquestion

What does PTH do?What does PTH do? What does PTH do in osteoblasts?What does PTH do in osteoblasts?

How does PTH regulate bone formation How does PTH regulate bone formation in osteoblasts?in osteoblasts? What are the downstream targets of PTH in What are the downstream targets of PTH in

osteoblasts?osteoblasts? What are the immediate early genes What are the immediate early genes

induced by PTH through the cAMP-PKA induced by PTH through the cAMP-PKA pathway in osteoblasts?pathway in osteoblasts?

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