Transcript Medical Rehabilitation Research and Training Support from

Career Development:
Overview of the NIH
Ralph Nitkin, Ph.D.
-National Center for Medical
Rehabilitation Research
(NCMRR)
-National Institute of Child
Health and
Human Development (NICHD)
-National Institutes of Health
(NIH)
Research is very different
from Clinical Treatment
Seek to define causative (not merely correlative)
relationships
Develop mechanistic hypotheses and predictions;
go beyond the obvious and expected results
Seek opportunities to control/isolate variables
Design experiments that critically challenge your
hypotheses and seek conclusive results
Consider other patient populations or conditions
in which to contrast outcomes and extend your
hypotheses
Need for Diversified Funding Bases
NIH, NIDRR (Dept of Ed), CDC, VA depending on domain(s) of interest:
(e.g., pathophysiology, impairment, function,
disability, or societal/health service research)
If disease specific: consider Foundations
Also, support from industry (drug companies)
Scope of the project, duration, and budget:
Pilot data, small study, major research grant,
or clinical trial?
The NIH is made up of 28
Institutes, Centers, Divisions:
OD
NEI
NHGRI
NIAAA
NIAMS
NICHD
NIDCR
NIDA
NIGMS
NINDS
NLM
CSR
NCCAM
NCRR
NCI
NHLBI
NIA
NIAID
NIBIB
NIDCD
NIDDK
NIEHS
NIMH
NINR
CIT
FIC
NCMHD
CC
National Center for Medical
Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)
Established 1990 by Public Law 101-613
To foster development of scientific
knowledge needed to enhance the
health, productivity, independence, and
quality of life of persons with disabilities
Located within the National Institute
of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD)
Other NIH Institutes supporting
Medical Rehabilitation research
NINDS, e.g., spinal cord & brain injury, cerebral palsy
Daofen Chen
[email protected]
NIAMS, e.g., arthritis, muscle physiology, bone & skin
James Panagis
[email protected]
NIA, e.g., geriatric populations
Rosemary Yancik
[email protected]
NIDCD, e.g., speech, language, balance
Daniel Sklare
[email protected]
NCI, e.g., cancer
Ann O’Mara
[email protected]
Other NIH Institutes supporting
Medical Rehabilitation research
NHLBI, e.g., exercise, cardiovascular
Denise Simons-Morton
[email protected]
NIMH, e.g., behavioral, social, emotional disorders
Cille Kennedy
[email protected]
NINR, e.g., nursing research
Kathy Mann Koepke
[email protected]
NCCAM, e.g., complementary and alternative medicine
Richard Nahin
[email protected]
NIBIB, e.g., biomedical imaging and bioengineering
John Haller
[email protected]
And Beyond the NIH
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR)
Ruth Brannon - [email protected]
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
e.g., prevention, secondary complications
Donald Lollar - [email protected]
Veterans Affairs (VA) e.g., treatment
Patricia Dorn - [email protected]
Dept of Defense –
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
e.g., mission-related
Ravi Athale - [email protected]
And Foundations and Industry support. . .
Applying to the NIH
Majority of funds go to investigator-initiated proposals rather than responding to program initiatives
NIH accepts proposals in three annual cycles,
typically: February, June, and October
Electronic submissions – be prepared!!!
Submission to funding: 9 months, probably more
Funding decisions are largely driven by peer-review,
but due to limited resources, even top
proposals are getting sent back for revisions
NIH remains especially committed to new investigators
Support provided to institutions in name of investigator:
fiscal, human subject (IRB), animal (AALAC), etc
Progression of Funding
(NIH model)
Training
Career
grants and fellowships (Ts and Fs)
development awards (K awards)
Smaller
foundation grants and pilot studies
Co-investigator
Principal
on R01, other major grants
investigator on major grant (R01)
Collaborate
in larger studies - clinical trials
Encourage investigators to
contact NIH Staff
Program official / Project officer
Scientific Review Administrator
Grants Management
Program Official
Associated with a particular research program
within an NIH Institute
Primary point of contact prior to submission
and after summary statement is released
Discuss potential grant mechanisms, funding
initiatives, and study section assignments
[As introduction, email “specific aims” page]
Can help interpret summary statements
But funding decisions are largely driven by
priority score from peer review
If funded, Program staff administers the grant:
progress reports, adjustments
Scientific Review Administrator
Associated with a particular study section –
(usually located in Center for Scientific Review)
Also SRAs within NIH Institutes; to review
training, career development, and most RFAs
SRA is the primary point of contact once the
application has been submitted to the NIH and
up to release of the summary statement
SRA oversees the review process: recruits and
assigns reviewers; checks for completeness of
application and necessary certifications, conflicts
Monitors the actual review meeting and later
puts out the summary statement
(NIH) Grants Management
Associated with particular NIH Institute
Only relevant if your application is funded
Responsible for fiscal and administrative
oversight
Prepares award notice
Speaks the same language as your
university grants administrators
Importance of Institutional Support:
Investing in your research faculty
Core research facilities and staff
Departmental seminar programs
Support for visiting scholars
Sponsoring meetings and workshops
Institutional funds
Pilot research projects
Bridge funding of established programs
Internal review boards and mentoring,
especially for junior researchers