Transcript The R15 AREA application

Academic Research
Enhancement Award
Sandra J. Hewett, PhD
Professor of Neuroscience
Department of Biology
01/06/12
Purpose of the Award
Supports small-scale research projects at educational
institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees
for a significant number of the Nation's research scientists but
that have not been major recipients of NIH support
• to support meritorious research
• to strengthen the research environment of the
institution
• to “expose” students to research.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area_grant_objectives.htm
AREA Success Rates
Fiscal Year
Institute
apps reviewed
# apps awarded
Success Rate
Total Funding
2011
NIAAA
9
1
11.1%
$442,002
2011
NIA
66
7
10.6%
$2,350,611
2011
NIAID
172
29
16.9%
$11,082,423
2011
NIAMS
49
6
12.2%
$2,291,815
2011
NCCAM
24
4
16.7%
$1,593,102
2011
NCI
185
23
12.4%
$9,096,399
2011
NIDA
34
6
17.6%
$2,329,770
2011
NIDCD
23
9
39.1%
$3,441,179
2011
NIDCR
18
4
22.2%
$1,539,082
2011
NIDDK
53
8
15.1%
$2,935,643
2011
NIBIB
31
3
9.7%
$1,089,506
2011
NIEHS
47
4
8.5%
$1,658,432
2011
NEI
20
2
10.0%
$655,117
2011
NIGMS
313
62
19.8%
$18,209,000
2011
NICHD
114
8
7.0%
$3,545,040
2011
NHGRI
6
1
16.7%
$277,097
2011
NHLBI
111
9
8.1%
$3,445,562
2011
NLM
2
0
0.0%
$0
2011
NIMH
49
5
10.2%
$1,850,521
2011
NINR
38
2
5.3%
$894,386
2011
NINDS
87
22
25.3%
$8,435,761
2011
NCRR
3
1
33.3%
$341,672
2011
FY Total
1454
216
14.9%
$77,504,120
Details
• Project period is limited to 3 years
• Direct costs are limited to $300,000 over the entire
project period (1-3 yr)
• Multiple PIs allowed
• This is NOT a training or fellowship program. The
application should include plans to expose students to
hands-on research but should not include training plans.
• All NIH ICs participate except FIC (Fogarty International
Center) and NIMHD (National Institute of Minority Health
and Disparities)
• Preliminary data are not required; however, they may be
included if available.
AREA Restrictions for PI Eligibility
MAY NOT:
• be the PI of any active NIH research grant including another AREA
grant at the time of award of an AREA grant (although s/he may be
one of the project personnel for an active NIH grant held by another
PI).
• be awarded more than one AREA grant at a time (although s/he
may hold successive new or competing renewal AREA grants).
• submit an application to NIH for another research grant for
essentially the same project proposed in a pending AREA application
(in accordance with the general NIH prohibition against the
submission in the same review cycle of more than one application for
the same work).
Write the body of the application with the core criteria that will be
specifically addressed in your summary statements
(discussed later) as headings:
Significance: Explain how your project addresses an important problem
or will break down a critical barrier to progress in the field.
Innovation: Examples: -Novel theoretical concept that will shift current
research practices
-New approaches or methodologies
-Use of existing instrumentation in novel ways
-Generation of new materials (inventions)
Approach :
• Make sure overall strategy, methodology and analyses are
well- reasoned and/or well-justified.
• Preliminary data not needed but can be included if you have
some.
• Include feasibility data to demonstrate ability to successfully
perform new techniques, if no preliminary data.
• References from your lab or others to show likelihood of
success of the approach.
• Describe expected results or (from my perspective the latter is
best) all possible outcomes and how each would be
interpreted.
• Have Section specifically for “Questions/Pitfalls/Remedies”
where you identify problems (if they exist) and present
alternative strategies should they be necessary.
Environment:
• Facilities and Resources:
1. Include a profile of SU and its academic component.
Estimate the number who have obtained the
baccalaureate degree and have gone on to obtain
academic or professional doctorate degree in health
related sciences in last 5 yr.
2. Specific listing of how many undergrads and master’s
students you have personally trained and whom have
advanced to academic or professional doctorate degree
should be clearly articulated. [Can be included in
biosketch as well].
3. Describe the special characteristics of the
school/academic component that make it appropriate for
AREA grant, according to the three objectives.
4 . Describe the likely impact of an AREA on the PI and the
research environment of the school.
Investigator:
PIs Biosketch should include the following (4 pages):
See Example as these have changed: Follow the Directions!!!!
1) Previous or Current Experience in Supervising Students in
Research Should be Clearly Explained in Personal Statement
2) If published with students make sure to point this out your
publication section. For instance, underline name or star* and tell at
the beginning of the section that this denotes undergraduate or
graduate student trained.
3) Describe other relationships within the institutional framework
(e.g., cross- departmental collaborations)
Must submit a Biosketch for ALL “Key Personnel” (PI, Co-PI, significant
collaborator) . Significant contributors to the grant should include in their
personal statement how they will contribute to the science and to the
education of students.
Budget:
1. The entire budget MUST be requested in Budget Period 1
2. Faculty on 9-mo. appointments may request 3 mo. of
summer salary. Request for UG student salary both AY
and summer acceptable (and encouraged for it
indicates an investigator’s commitment to undergraduate
research).
3. Salary for technical personnel or grad students permitted
but should relate in justification how this person will help
the undergraduate students and not just further PIs
research.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grants_process.htm

Critique template contains a total of 18 boxes
(see handout).
1. Significance
6. Resubmission
13. Overall Impact
2. Investigator(s)
7. Renewal
14. Budget and Period of Support
3. Innovation
8. Revision
15. Select Agents
4. Approach
9. Protection of Human
Subjects
16. Applications from Foreign
Organization
5. Environment
10. Inclusion of
17. Resource Sharing Plan
Women, Minorities, and
Children
11. Vertebrate Animals
12. Biohazards
18. Additional Comments to Applicant
Impact
High Impact
Moderate Impact
Low Impact
Score Descriptor
1
Exceptional
2
Outstanding
3
Excellent
4
Very Good
5
Good
6
Satisfactory
7
Fair
8
Marginal
9
Poor
Strengths/Weaknesses
Strengths
Weaknesses
Score
Descriptor
Additional Guidance on Strengths/Weaknesses
1
Exceptional
Exceptionally strong with essentially no weaknesses
2
Outstanding
Extremely strong with negligible weaknesses
3
Excellent
Very strong with only some minor weaknesses
4
Very Good
Strong but with numerous minor weaknesses
5
Good
Strong but with at least one moderate weakness
6
Satisfactory
Some strengths but also some moderate weaknesses
7
Fair
Some strengths but with at least one major weakness
8
Marginal
A few strengths and a few major weaknesses
9
Poor
Very few strengths and numerous major weaknesses
Minor Weakness: An easily addressable weakness that does not substantially lessen impact
Moderate Weakness: A weakness that lessens impact
Major Weakness: A weakness that severely limits impact
• No Triage, just non-discussed
• Discuss ~ 50-60% of applications.
• Non-discussed applications receive criterion
scores only
Summary Statements


Summary statement are shorter and more
focused (see handout).
Discussed applications will also have a
summary of the panel’s discussion at the
meeting.

ALL applications will be scored.
◦ Not discussed applications will receive
criterion scores only with no summary.
What you DON’T want to see:
Assignment Role: Rev 1
Significance: 4
Investigator(s): 2
Innovation: 5
Approach: 8
Environment: 2
Reviewer's Preliminary Overall/Impact
Score: 7
What you DO want to see:
Assignment Role: Rev 1
Significance: 2
Investigator(s): 1
Innovation: 2
Approach: 2
Environment: 2
Reviewer's Preliminary Overall/Impact
Score: 2
Frequently Asked Questions:
Academic Research Enhancement
Award (AREA)
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/area_faq.htm#3240