Transcript Rice Biomed NIH 28Oct08
Competing for Funding in the Biomedical Sciences
from the National Institutes of Health & Elsewhere October 28, 2008 John Ivy [email protected]
Office of Proposal Development Texas A&M University Texas A&M Health Science Center
Texas A&M University Office of Proposal Development
• • Unit of Office of Research and Graduate Studies Supports Texas A&M faculty in the development and writing of research and educational proposals • center-level initiatives • multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research teams • research affinity groups • junior faculty research • diversity in the research enterprise • a suite of grant writing training programs to help faculty develop and write more competitive proposals Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 2
OPD Member List
• • • • • • •
Jean Ann Bowman
, PhD [email protected]
Physical Geography/Hydrology, earth, ecological, environmental
Mike Cronan
, PE, BS (Civil/Structures), BA, MFA Center-level proposals, research and educational partnerships, new proposal and training initiatives [email protected]
Lucy Deckard
, BS, MS (Materials) [email protected]
New faculty initiative, fellowships, engineering/physical science proposals, equipment, and instrumentation
John Ivy
, PhD (Molecular Biology) NIH biomedical and biological science initiatives [email protected]
Phyllis McBride
, PhD (English) Proposal writing training, biomedical, editing [email protected]
Libby Pasciak
Scheduling, workshop management, project coordination
Robyn Pearson
, BA, MA (Anthropology) [email protected]
Social sciences and humanities proposals, editing and rewriting Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 3
O
ffice of Proposal Development
OPD-WEB http://opd.tamu.edu/
• • • • • • • • For an electronic version of this presentation Funding opportunities & how to search for them Junior faculty support Proposal development resources Grant writing seminars and workshops PI perspectives on competitive proposals Craft of Grant Writing Workbook Agency Toolkits Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 4
28 Oct. 2008
For more info
• Go to http://opd.tamu.edu
click “Seminar Materials” then “Seminars by Date” look for this seminar • For an electronic version of this presentation • For additional resource materials • Lists of helpful links • “Toolkit” on NIH Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 5
General Strategies for Writing Competitive Proposals – Topics
• • • • • Finding Research Funding Opportunities Analyzing the RFP & Its Role in Proposal Development Analyzing and Assessing the Agency Culture, Mission and Research Priorities Understanding the Review Process & Writing to Reviewers Overview of How to Write a Competitive Project Summary & Proposal Narrative Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 6
If you don’t write grants, you won’t get any
•
Target the proposal at the intersection where: • research dollars are available • your research interests lie • available time to write a competitive proposal
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28 Oct. 2008
Finding Research Funding Opportunities
• Who • What • Where • How • • • • The agencies you're searching The type of project or grant mechanism Where do you find their RFPs?
How do you find or learn of their RFPs?
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28 Oct. 2008
Your Research Interests will define funding sources
• Your research interests should align with the Mission of the Agency • Biology • Biomedicine • Health disparities • Behavior • Biochemistry • Computational science • Interdisciplinary studies Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 9
Know the category of funding in which you are interested
• • • • • • • • Research Training Fellowship Student retention Student recruitment Diversity Curriculum Loan reimbursement Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 10
Funding Sources for Biomedcial Research
• • • • • • • • National Institutes of Health $29 bill.
National Science Foundation $6 bill.
Dept. of Health & Human Services Department of Defense Foundations Environmental Protection Agency US Department of Agriculture National Aeronautics & Space Admin.
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Where do you find the RFPs?
(Who ya gonna call?)
• • • • • • • • • Network with colleagues Funding sources cited in literature acknowledgements Companies and Foundations that support professional societies Google searches University posted listings Federal agency web sites Foundation web sites Discussions with Agency and Foundation Representatives E-mail listserves (
last but not least
) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 12
Example of a Google Search
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OPD-Web Funding Opportunities
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Grants.gov
The Grants.gov web portal serves as a single point of access for
all federal agency grant announcements
. New funding announcements from federal agency are posted to this site daily, and a range of other features allow subscribing to email funding alerts, linking to agency web sites, and searching for funding among agencies.
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http://www.grants.gov/
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Search & Browse Grant Opportunities
• Search http://www.grants.gov/applicants/se arch_opportunities.jsp
• Browse agencies http://www.grants.gov/search/agenc y.do
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Grants.gov Search
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Vaccine Keyword Results
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Grants.gov Browse by Agency
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Receive Grants.gov Funding Email Alerts
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http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/
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• • •
Life Science Funding Source Listings
Grants.gov
http://www.grants.gov
National Institues of Health • Office of Extramural Research • Individual Institutes and Centers http://grants.nih.gov/grants/OER.htm
• • National Science Foundation • • Find Funding Funded Research http://www.nsf.gov/ http://www.nsf.gov/funding/ http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ • GrantsNet sponsored by AAAS and HHMI http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/funding Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/default.htm
Philanthropy News Digest RFP listings • • American Cancer Society American Heart Association http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/ http://www.cancer.org/docroot/RES/RES_0.asp
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=9713 • • • Cancer Research Institute Life Sciences Research Foundation National Multiple Sclerosis Society http://www.cancerresearch.org/criprogs.html
http://www.lsrf.org/geninfo.htm
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/ Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 25
Identifying funding opportunities
SUMMARY
• • • Develop search protocols to fit research interests Know relevant agencies Learn grant cycles 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 26
NSF Biological Sciences Directorate
• • The
mission
of the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) is to enable discoveries for understanding life. BIO supported research advances the frontiers of biological knowledge, increases our understanding of complex systems, and provides a theoretical basis for original research in many other scientific disciplines.
NSF supports fundamental research in science and engineering,
except for the
medical
sciences
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28 Oct. 2008
NSF Biological Sciences Directorate - Divisions
• • • • • Biological Infrastructure Environmental Biology Emerging Frontiers Integrative Organismal Systems Molecular & Cellular Biosciences Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28
NIH Mission
•
NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its
mission
is
• science in pursuit of
fundamental knowledge
behavior of living systems and • the about the nature and
application of that knowledge
extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
to Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 29
FY 2007 Operating Plan
NIH Discretionary Budget Authority $29.228 Billion
28 Oct. 2008 >80% awarded to >325,000 extra-mural researchers Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 30
It's competitive out there ~ NIH Congressional Appropriations
NIH FY2007: Increase of $620 million $30 $29.2
$28.6
$28.6
$28.0
$27.1
$25 $23.3
$20 $20.5
$17.8
$15 $13.7
$15.6
$10 $5 $0 FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 DOUBLING
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New Grant Applications and Success Rates
During and After Doubling Period
35% 30% 31%
49,656
60,000 50,000
43,069
25% 20% 15%
24,154
10%
22%
+8,359 Projecte d 19% 40,000 30,000 20,000 + 8,303 5% 10,000 0%
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
0 Success Rates Applications
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Success Rate: FY 2007
It's competitive out there!
• Research Project Grant application overall success rate • 47,455 applications • 10,100 funded • 21.3% success rate • New 18.2% • • Continuation 38.7% Supplements 33.7% 28 Oct. 2008 DP1, DP2, P01, R01, R03, R15, R21, R33, R34, R36, R37, R55, R56, RL1, RL2, RL5, RL9, U01, U19 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 33
Competition for funds from the NIH and other sponsors, intensifying year by year, now stands at an unprecedented level, and shows no sign of abating. Never before have so many established investigators faced so much uncertainty about their longevity as active scientists. Never before have so many novices faced so many disincentives to entering or continuing a research career.
Dr. William F. Raub, NIH Associate Director for Research and Training, strategy paper, 1982 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 34
NIH – 20 Institutes, 7 Centers
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National Institutes of Health
• NIH is a
basic
research agency • • • • Each Institute has its own mission Each Institute has its own budget Each Institute has its own activities Each Institute has its own ways of doing things When you’re planning to submit a grant,
check with Program Officers
determine their specific policies and interest in your science.
from different institutes to Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 36
Identify NIH Funding Opportunities
• • NIH Office of Extramural Research http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm
• NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html
• • • • Search by keyword Browse by Requests for Applications (RFAs) Browse by Program Announcements (PAs) Automatic funding alerts Institutes and Centers (IC) homepages • Listed at http://www.nih.gov/icd • • Go to IC homepage Browse or search their “Research Funding” or "Extramural Funding” section 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 37
NIH Funding Mechanisms
•
Three principal types
• Training — T & F • Career — K • Research Project Grant — R 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 38
Unsolicited vs. Solicited
• NIH makes a distinction between
solicited
versus
unsolicited
proposals •
Unsolicited
(investigator-initiated) proposals (82%) • Parent Announcements (Program Announcements, PA) •
Solicited
(agency-initiated) proposals (18%) • Program Announcements (PA) • New research programs and updates to ongoing programs (renewable) • Request for Applications/Proposals (RFA/RFP) • One time request to fulfill specific agency research objective or need Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 39
• •
NIH Training Awards
Individual Training
awards – for predoctoral (F31), postdoctoral (F32), or senior fellowships (F33) Limited to US citizens or legal aliens
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grants (T32) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grants (T35) Individual Predoctoral Awards For M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (F30) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship Minority Students (F31) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship Students w/ Disabilities (F31) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (F31) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships (F32) Senior Fellowships (F33)
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NIH Career Development K Awards
• • • • Directed at retraining, professional career development, or recognition of career success K Kiosk http://grants1.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards.htm
Career Award Wizard Helps you select the right career award http://grants.nih.gov/training/kwizard/index.htm
Participation may be restricted to certain Institutes and Centers Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 41
NIH Career Awards
• • K Kiosk http://grants1.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards.htm
Career Award Wizard - Helps you select the right career award http://grants.nih.gov/training/kwizard/index.htm
• Some directed at • • retraining , professional career development, and recognition of career success (may be restricted to certain ICs) K01 Mentored Research Scientist Provide mentored career development in a new research area • 3-5 yr, 75% effort • K02 Independent Scientist • Provides support for newly independent scientists (see IC provisions) who can demonstrate the need for a period of intensive research focus as a means of enhancing their research careers. • 3-5 yr, 75% effort • K05 Senior Scientist • Provides protected time for outstanding senior scientists who have demonstrated a sustained high level of productivity conducting biomedical research • • NIAAA and NIDA only 5 yr, 75% effort Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 42
NIH Career Awards
• • K07 Academic Career • Supports individuals interested in introducing or improving curricula in a particular scientific field • 2-5 yrs, 25-75% effort K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist • Provides support and “protected time” to individuals with a clinical doctoral degree for an intensive, supervised research career development experience • • Biomedical and behavior research 3-5 yr, 75% effort • K12 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development • Institutional programs to support the research career development of clinicians only or clinicians and Ph.D. basic research scientists • 5 yr, 75% effort • K18 Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research • • To encourage investigators to obtain the training they need to appropriately use stem cells in their research • K22 Career Transition Supports an individual postdoctoral fellow in transition to a faculty position • 3 yr, 75% effort • K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development • Development of the independent research scientist in the clinical area • 3-5 yr, 75% effort Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 43
NIH Career Awards
• K24 Midcareer Investigator Awards in Patient-Oriented Research • Development of clinical mentors conducting funded research.
• 3-5 yr, 25-50% effort • K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development • To foster interdisciplinary collaboration in biomedical research by supporting career development experiences for scientists with quantitative and engineering backgrounds • 3-5 yr, 75% effort • K26 Midcareer Investigator Award In Mouse Pathobiology Research • Provides support for established pathobiologists who wish to devote up to 50 percent of their effort to research and mentoring in the field of mouse pathobiology • 25-50% effort • K30 Clinical Research Curriculum Development • Institutional award for development of a clinical research curriculum • 5 yr, up to $200,00/yr • K99/R00 NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) • 2 years mentored postdoctoral research + 3 years independent research in tenure track position (or equivalent) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 44
NIH Research Program Grants
• Numerous funding mechanisms •
R01
Research Project Grant • Supports discrete, specific, highly successful outcome projects • All ICs support this mechanism •
R03
• Small Grant Supports small research projects; limited time and resources are the key elements •
R21
Exploratory/Independent Research Grant • Supports ‘high risk-high yield’ research projects •
R15
Enhancement Award (AREA) Grant • Academic and Research Small research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences conducted by students and faculty in health professional schools and other academic components that have not been major recipients of NIH research grant funds
Research Grant Programs NIH Research Project Grant Program (R01) NIH Small Grant Program (R03) NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13 and U13) NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Grants (R15) NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) NIH Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34) Program NIH High Priority, Short-Term Project Award (R56)
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NIH Research Program Grants
• • • • R01 Research Project Grant R03 Small Research Grant R21 Exploratory, Developmental Research Grant R15 Academic and Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Grant
Research Grant Programs
NIH Research Project Grant Program (R01) NIH Small Grant Program (R03) NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13 and U13) NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Grants (R15) NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) NIH Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34) Program NIH High Priority, Short-Term Project Award (R56) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 46
Research Grants for Independent Scientists
• • • • R01 – Large Research Grant • 4-5 years, $250,000+/yr R03 – Small Grant • 2 year max, $50,000/yr max R21 – Exploratory Research Grant • High Risk – High Reward • Transformational • 2 years, $275,000 total R15 – Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) • Primarily undergrad institutions • Institute must have received <$3mill/yr in NIH funding 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 47
• • • • • •
Finding NIH Funding
Search All Federal Agencies – Grants.gov
Search all of NIH – NIH OER Search your favorite NIH IC(s) – NIH IC home pages Sign up for email notices by weekly/daily listserves Sign up for RSS feeds Other strategies – Other sources • Google • Colleagues • National Science Foundation • Acknowledgements in publications • Philanthropy News Digest / The Foundation Center • Commercial search providers – Community of Science (COS) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 48
Finding NIH Funding
• • • Office of Extramural Research (OER) about http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/intro2oer.htm
• Publishes Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for all NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) NIH funding opportunities page • OER Home page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm
• NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html
• Subscribe to weekly listserv!
Grants.gov
• Includes funding opportunities for NIH in addition to the other 25 federal grant-making agencies • Located at http://www.grants.gov/Index • Subscribe to weekly listserv Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 49
Office of Extramural Research (OER)
• NIH makes a distinction between
solicited
versus
unsolicited
proposals •
Unsolicited
(investigator-initiated) proposals (82%) • Parent Announcements (Program Announcements, PA) •
Solicited
(agency-initiated) proposals (18%) • Program Announcements (PA) • New research programs and updates to ongoing programs (renewable ) • Request for Applications/Proposals (RFA/RFP) • One time request to fulfill specific agency research objective or need Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 50
Funding Opportunity Announcements
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Application Due Dates
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Parent Announcements
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Identifying NIH Solicitations by Topic
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Example – Sequencing Technology
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Example – Sequencing Technology
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Identifying NIH Solicitations by IC
•
Search by Agency (IC)
• Identify funding opportunities within an agency • Steps for searching….
• Identify Agency (IC) • Go to their homepage ( http://www.nih.gov/icd ) • Go to their “Research Funding” or Extramural Funding” section • Perform search Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 58
Identifying NIH Solicitations by IC
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Identifying NIH Solicitations by IC
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Staying Informed on NIH FOAs
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RSS Feed of NIH FOAs
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Remember, investigator-initiated grants represent >80% of those funded by NIH!
100% 80%
Percentage of R01 and R29 Awards Allocated to Investigator-Inititated Applications, Program Announcements, and Requests for Application, FY 1995 to FY 2003
Requests for Applications Awards Program Announcement Awards Investigator-Initiated Awards Agency initiated 60% 40% 20% 0% 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Fiscal Year
2000 2001 2002 2003 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University Investigator initiated 64
Elements of an NIH FOA
• • A Funding Opportunity Announcement Part I. Overview Information • Issuing Organization • Participating Organizations • Components of Participating Organization • Title • Announcement Type • Program Announcement Number • Key Dates • Executive Summary 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 65
Contents of an NIH PA
Part II. Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description 1. Research Objectives Section II. Award Information 1. Mechanism(s) of Support 2. Funds Available Section III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants A. Eligible Institutions B. Eligible Individuals 2. Cost Sharing or Matching 3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria Section IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Information 2. Content and Form of Application Submission 3. Submission Dates and Times A. Submission, Review and Anticipated Start Dates 1. Letter of Intent B. Sending an Application to the NIH C. Application Processing 4. Intergovernmental Review 5. Funding Restrictions 6. Other Submission Requirements 28 Oct. 2008 Section V. Application Review Information 1. Criteria 2. Review and Selection Process A. Additional Review Criteria B. Additional Review Considerations C. Sharing Research Data D. Sharing Research Resources 3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates Section VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 3. Reporting Section VII. Agency Contact(s) 1. Scientific/Research Contact(s) 2. Peer Review Contact(s) 3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s) Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 66
• • •
Program Solicitation
From the PA or RPF – • Determine supporting ICs • Identify mechanism (R, T, U, etc.) • Determine eligibility • Identify review criteria Learn essential information to develop and write a competitive proposal that is
fully responsive
to the agency’s objectives and review criteria.
Continuously use the RPF throughout proposal development and writing
as a reference point to ensure that an evolving proposal narrative fully addresses and accurately reflects the goals and objectives of the funding agency –
including the review criteria.
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Elements of the FOA
• • Funding Opportunity Announcement NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03) 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 68
Program Solicitation, RFP
• • • The solicitation represents an invitation by a funding agency for applicants to submit requests for funding in research areas
of interest to the agency or foundation
.
The RFP is
not a menu or smorgasbord offering the applicant a choice
of addressing some topics but not others, depending on interest, or some review criteria but not others.
The RFP is a agency.
non-negotiable listing of performance expectations
reflecting the stated goals, objectives, and desired outcomes of the Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 69
Reviewing the RFP
• • • Clarify ambiguities; if unresolved… Get clarification from a program officer. Ambiguities needs to be resolved prior to proposal writing so the proposal narrative maps to the guidelines with informed certainty.
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Role in Proposal Organization
• •
Use the RFP to develop the structure, order, and detail of the proposal narrative. Use the RFP as an organizational template during proposal development to help ensure every RFP requirement is addressed fully.
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Reading Material Referenced in the RFP
• • If the RFP refers to any publications, reports, or workshops, it is important to read those materials, analyze how that work has influenced the agency’s vision of the program, and cite those publications in the proposal in a way that illustrates the topics are acknowledged and understood.
Echo the language of the agency.
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Map your expertise to the RFP
• • • Is it a fit?
Is it
really
a fit?
• No partial fits allowed • No wishful thinking • Close doesn’t count If you are not a fit – don’t submit 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 73
Analyzing the funding agency
• Analyzing the mission, strategic plan, investment priorities, and culture of a funding agency provides information key to enhancing proposal competitiveness.
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Analyze the Agency: NIH Culture
• • Trans-NIH initiatives • • – research that cuts across typical agency boundaries of various ICs http://www.nih.gov/about/transnih.htm
Model Organisms for Biomedical Research • • • • • • Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Bioengineering Consortium Biomaterials and Medical Implants Bioinformatics at the NIH Mammalian Gene Collection Cognitive & Emotional Health Translational Research • Part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research • • http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/ http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/clinicalresearch/ overview-translational.asp
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NIH Funding Investments and Priorities
• • • • NIH has investment priorities based on past research findings and current trends in science Targeted areas (FY 2008 proposed budget): • HIV/AIDs • Biodefense • Roadmap for Biomedical Research • Enhanced Support for New Investigators • Physical Infrastructure NIH FY2007 budget is $28.8 billion (FY2008 proposed $28.85 billion) NIH funds research projects inside their own laboratories (
intramural
) and outside their laboratories at national and international locations (
extramural
) • • • Extramural funding Intramural Funding Research Infrastructure 85% 10% 5% 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 76
Know your home-base IC's Mission
28 Oct. 2008 About NIDA For Researchers Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 77
NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
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NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
• • • Theme: New Pathways to Discovery • Building Blocks, Pathways, and Networks Implementation Group • Molecular Libraries and Imaging Implementation Group • Structural Biology Implementation Group • Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Implementation Group • Nanomedicine Implementation Group Theme: Research Teams of the Future • High-Risk Research Implementation Group • Interdisciplinary Research Implementation Group • Public Private Partnerships Implementation Group Theme: Re-engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise • Clinical Research Implementation Group Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 79
New Investigator Program
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm
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For New Investigators
• K99/R00 Pathway to Independence • Must have fewer than 5 yr postdoc experience • Open to US and non-US citizens • 2 yr mentored Post-doc; 75% effort required • 3 yr independent, tenure-track or equivalent position; 75% research effort • R01 – fast review for new investigators • Check box on cover page for new investigators • Example: Oct 5 Submit Mar 1 Summary Statement Mar 20 Resubmit (Mar 5, Jul 5, Nov 5) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 81
For New Investigators
• More lenient R01 payline for new investigators (varies by IC) • In FY07, 500 R01 awards to be made to new investigators • DP2 – Director’s New Innovator Award • For exceptionally creative work of new investigators • Requires highly innovative approaches that have the potential to produce an unusually high impact • Must have completed doctoral degree within ~10 yr • Awards up to $300,00 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 82
• • •
A New Initiative: Identify Early Stage Investigators
Designed to encourage early transition to independence • the average age at which an investigator first obtains R01 funding has increased by more than 5 years between 1980 to and 2001
New Investigator:
An NIH research grant Principal Investigator who has not yet competed successfully for a substantial, competing NIH research grant
Early Stage Investigator (ESI):
Time Investigator and is within 10 years of completing his/her terminal research degree or is within 10 years of completing medical residency • An individual who is classified as a New or First NIH will collect necessary data from the eRA Commons personal profile • • NIH will eliminate the New Investigator Check Box on the application face page New or First-Time Investigators will continue to be identified by determining whether the individual has had significant, previous NIH funding • PD/PIs who receive a substantive, competing NIH research grant will lose their New Investigator status and hence their status as an ESI • •
Applications from ESIs and New Investigators will be identified to reviewers so that appropriate consideration of their career stage can be applied during review New Investigators as well as ESIs will be eligible for the “Full Implementation to Shorten the Review Cycle for New Investigator R01 Applications Reviewed in Center for Scientific Review (CSR) Recurring Study Sections
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Assess the Competition: Know what was recently funded
• Learning about recently funded research in your area helps you understand what an agency is looking for in the review process • Search on-line databases of funded projects • Review abstracts of funded proposals on agency web sites • Talk to the principal investigators of funded proposals in your area • Obtain copies of funded proposals • Ask the PI 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 84
CRISP
http://report.nih.gov/crisp/
• • Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects A searchable database of federally funded biomedical research •
What similar projects have been funded?
•
Has someone already been funded to pursue my idea?
• •
Who are my competitors?
Who are potential collaborators?
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R03 Awards, FY2006-2008, Rice University
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CRISP search results
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Preparing Proposals
• • • • All NIH proposals use either the electronic form
SF424
or the paper
PHS398
.
The transition to SF424 for F and K awards is delayed Step 1: Download the Instructions and Forms via the NIH OER website • http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/fundi ng/424/ • http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/fundi ng/phs398/phs398.html
Step 2:
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 89
Writing for Reviewers
• • • Reviewers often have 8 or 10 proposals to read Use white space, underlining, bold, bullets, figures, flowcharts to make main points easy to find Put main idea of sections and paragraphs up front Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 90
Must Convince Reviewers…
• •
Your proposed research should be funded
• It’s important and supports the agency mission and program goals • It’s exciting • It has a good chance of succeeding
You are the person who should conduct the proposed research
• You are knowledgeable and well-qualified • You have the support and resources required Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 91
Albert Einstein on Grant Writing
• • • If you can't explain something simply, you don't understand it well.
Most of the fundamental ideas of science are essentially simple, and may, as a rule, be expressed in language comprehensible to everyone.
Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 92
Structure of Proposal
•
Often dictated by solicitation or other agency document
• NIH – SF424 • NSF – Grant Proposal Guide • DoD – Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) •
Also guided by evaluation criteria
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 93
•
Before you begin . . .
Make sure you have identified the following: • Goal • Indicates the purpose for the project as a whole • Should be aligned with the agency’s mission • Aims (Objectives) • Indicate the purpose for each specific part of your project • • Should be aligned with your overall goal Should be specific and measurable • Rationale • Indicates why you want to achieve your purpose • Should be clear and logical • Expected outcomes • Indicate what will change as a result of your research (e.g., behavior, performance, process, produce) • Should include both immediate and long-term outcomes Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 94
Speak with the Program Officer –
early and often
• Do your homework first • Make an appointment • Listen to the response • Request clarification • Follow up 95 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University
Never be timid about contacting a program officer for clarification
•
Timidity is never rewarded in the competitive grant process
.
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Common Elements of PHS398 R01
• • • • • • • • • • • • Cover page/face sheet Description: Project Summary (Abstract) & Relevance Performance site, key personnel Table of contents Budget page(s) Budget justification Biosketch of PI, biosketch of all other major/key personnel Resources Research Plan (Items A-D) Other Information under Research Plan (Items E-J) • References cited, human or animal research subjects, inclusion of minorities/children in clinical studies, data sharing plans, etc.
Appendix items Checklist Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 97
Know your NIH General Review Criteria
• • • • • Investigator • Education, training, relevant experience Environment • Suitability of facilities and institution support Significance • Ability of the project to improve health Approach • Feasibility of methods and appropriateness of budget Innovation • Originality of research Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 98
Introductory writing tips
• • • Summary (Abstract) and Introduction (Specific Aims) are key • May be all reviewers read • Must excite and grab the attention Reviewers will assume errors in language and usage will translate into errors in the science Don’t be overly ambitious in what you propose, but convey credibility and capacity to perform 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 99
Introductory writing tips
• • • • Sell your proposal to a good scientist but not an expert Some review panels may not have an expert in your field, or panels may be blended for multidisciplinary initiatives Agencies & reviewers fund compelling, exciting research Proposals are not journal articles – proposals must be user-friendly and offer a narrative that tells a story that is memorable to reviewers Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 100
Cover Sheet
• Requires that you provide basic information about yourself, your institution, and your proposed research project • Often offers you the opportunity to indicate if you are a “new investigator” (until Feb. '09/) 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 101
Title
• • • • Used by agency administrators to route your proposal to the appropriate reviewers Should provide an accurate representation of your proposed project Should generate interest in and enthusiasm for your proposed project Should conform to agency requirements • Program name • Number of characters (NIH: 81 incl. spaces) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 102
Project Summary (Abstract)
• • • • Used by agency administrators to route your proposal to the appropriate reviewers Provides a concise overview of the proposed project Requires that you provide a great deal of information within a very limited amount of space (NIH – 30 lines) Becomes public record if the project is funded Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 103
Project Summary (Abstract)
• • • • One of the most critical sections Consider writing the Abstract after you've written your Research Plan Use the same elements of the Specific Aims in the same order Include • Brief introduction to the topic • Gap in knowledge or critical need • Broad, long-term goals • Specific Aims • Describe research design and methods • Summarize the
Significance
• Avoid use of the first person of the project • Avoid summary of past accomplishments Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 104
Project Summary (Abstract)
• • • • • May be the only thing the reviewer reads Must “grab” the reviewer Should communicate concisely: • Intellectual framework of proposed project • Your long-range goals • Specific Aims • Significance of the proposed project • Who will be conducting the project and, briefly, their qualifications • Project outcomes Must communicate excitement Check for additional requirements • e.g., intellectual merit and broader impacts in NSF proposals Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 105
Project Relevance
• • • • The second component of the Project Summary/Abstract (i.e., “Description”) is
Relevance
.
Corresponds to "
Project Narrative
" in SF424 forms Using no more than two or three sentences, describe the relevance of this research to public health. Be succinct and use plain language that can be understood by a general, lay audience. Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 106
Budget & Budget Justification
• • Budget • Budget categories are defined by the funding agency • Get help (institutional grants administrator) • Be reasonable. The reviewers also do research!
Budget Categories • Direct • Personnel • • • Equipment Travel Materials, Other Supplies • Indirect • F&A (Facilities & Administrative) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 107
Budget & Budget Justification
• Budget Justification • Personnel • Who? What will they do? How much effort (%)? • Why is this person critical to the success of the project?
• Equipment • • • What do you need? Why do you need it? Is there a similar apparatus nearby that you can use (if yes, why not use it)?
• Travel Where do you need to go? How many times will you go there? How many of the project personnel will go? Approximately how much will it cost and why?
• Materials, Other Supplies Equipment maintenance contracts? Fee for service resource?
• F&A • Determined by what your institution has negotiated • Limited by funding mechanism Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 108
Connect budget to the research narrative
• • • Be sure activities discussed in the narrative (Research Plan) are reflected in the budget In
budget justification
, personnel, materials, supplies, equipment, travel should reflect that necessary to complete Research Plan Base budget on real costs • Remember that reviewers know what things cost • Factor in both direct and indirect costs • Factor in cost escalations for multi year projects Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 109
NIH Biographical Sketch
• • • • Four page maximum Section A. Positions and Honors Section B. Publications • List publications reflective of the topic of the current proposal (or maximum) Section C. Research Support • Current and completed support • Begin with projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in the application Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 110
Biographical sketch
• • Emphasize qualifications relevant to the proposed project • Ability to conduct project • Ability to manage project Adhere to agency’s formatting requirements • Use the required form • Stay within prescribed page limits • Place information in the required order • If you are collaborating – format your colleagues’ resumes like your own Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 111
Sample NIH Biosketch (via http://grants.nih.gov/grants/OER.htm
)
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• • • • • • Laboratory Clinical Animal Computer Office Other
Resources
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Resources
• • Demonstrate that it is feasible to conduct the proposed research project at your institution Demonstrate that you are part of an intellectually stimulating and supportive research environment 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 114
Research Plan
Introduction (Resubmissions only) A) Specific Aims Long-range goals Hypothesis B) Background & Significance C) Preliminary Studies / Progress Report D) Research Design and Methods Structure based on Specific Aims Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 115
Role of the Proposal Narrative
• • • • • • • • • • Helps incubate ideas, concepts, connections & details Synthesizes ideas and detail Connects ideas to performance details Develops order, logic, transitions, and connectedness Helps the timing, logistics, and collaborations of proposal development Integrates collaborators’ ideas Provides a common structure to meld disciplinary strands Makes ideas accessible to others Converges on a common language A competitive narrative requires persistence, continuous revisions, and many draft iterations to converge on perfection Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 116
Specific Aims
• • • • • • • • Critically important Must provide a conceptual overview Must outline the project goals, objectives (aims), and expected outcomes Must be clearly written Must grab the reviewer’s attention Must generate enthusiasm for the project Must be able to stand alone Often Title, Abstract and Specific Aims may be the only three parts that
all
reviewers will have an opportunity to read Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 117
Specific Aims
• PHS's Instructions "List the broad, long-term objectives and the goal of the specific research proposed, for example, to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology. One page is recommended." ~ Grants.gov Application Guide SF424 (R&R) Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 118
Specific Aims
• • • • • • • • Provide a framework for the reviewer State a long-range goal of your research program Tie to program/agency mission and goals State a specific hypothesis that your experiments will address Provide a rationale for your approach State specific, measurable Specific Aims Discuss expected outcomes
Do not be overly ambitious!
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 119
General organization of the Specific Aims
Introduction to the problem. General Identification of need or gap in knowledge.
Long term research goal and specific project goal Central hypothesis Specific Aims Specific 28 Oct. 2008 Project outcomes & benefits Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 120
Specific Aims
• • • • Write this section for all your audiences, primary reviewers and other reviewers, since they'll all read it. Choose aims the reviewers can easily assess. • To be assessable, make each specific aim an endpoint rather than a best effort. Do not confuse specific aims with your project's long term goals. • Specific aims are what you plan to accomplish by the end of the grant.
• Your aims are the accomplishments by which the success of your project is measured.
• Aims are not activities, e.g., measure, study One approach: organize this section into four paragraphs.
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Specific Aims – Paragraph 1
• • • • Introduce the project.
• Relate the project to the agency’s mission.
Educate the reviewer.
• Summarize the important knowledge.
Identify the gap in the knowledge or state the critical need.
Identify the problem created by the gap or the critical need.
~Adapted from Morrison and Russell
Grant Application Writer’s Workbook
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Specific Aims – Paragraph 2
• • • Describe your long-range research or career goal(s).
• Ensure that your long-range career goal aligns with the agency’s mission.
State your overall project goal.
• Ensure that the overall project goal addresses an identified gap in knowledge and represents a step toward achieving your long range career goal.
Present your central hypothesis (or, alternatively, a statement of need).
• Be sure that you present a true hypothesis – one that can be objectively tested to determine its validity – rather than a predetermined conclusion.
~Adapted from Morrison and Russell
Grant Application Writer’s Workbook
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• •
Specific Aims – Paragraph 2 (cont.)
Explain your rationale for pursuing the project.
• Indicate what it will be possible to accomplish when your research is complete.
Describe your qualifications and research environment.
• How you are better prepared than other, equally qualified researchers.
• Identify special training, expertise, experience, and, most importantly, relevant preliminary data.
• Identify access to human and animal subject pools; to unique equipment and instrumentation; and to collaborations and partnerships.
• Why you are the best resercher in the best environment to address the research question.
~Adapted from Morrison and Russell
Grant Application Writer’s Workbook
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Your Central Hypothesis
• • • The foundation of your application – the conceptual underpinning on which the entire structure rests.
Generally applications should ask questions that prove or disprove a hypothesis rather than use a method to search for a problem or simply collect information.
The goal of more applied research may be to discover basic biology or develop or use a new technology.
• If your application is not hypothesis-based, state this in your cover letter and give the reasons why the work is important.
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Your Central Hypothesis
• • • • Choose an important, testable, focused hypothesis that increases understanding of biologic processes, diseases, treatments, or preventions and is based on previous research. State your hypothesis in both the Specific Aims section and the Abstract. Example of a good research hypothesis: • Analogs to chemokine receptors can inhibit HIV infection.
Examples of a poor research hypothesis: • Analogs to chemokine receptors can be biologically useful. • A wide range of molecules can inhibit HIV infection.
~ NIAID "How to Plan a Grant Application" Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 126
Specific Aims – Paragraph 3
• Delineate your specific aims in a bulleted list.
• Ensure that specific aims correlate with your central hypothesis.
• Ensure that all specific aims relate to and support your overall project goal.
• Design your specific aims and experiments so they answer the question posed by the hypothesis.
• Provide conceptual rather than descriptive specific aims. ~Adapted from Morrison and Russell
Grant Application Writer’s Workbook
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Specific Aims – Paragraph 3 (cont.)
• Delineate your specific aims in a bulleted list (cont.).
• Delineate a reasonable number of specific aims, presented in a logical order.
• “Why” aims are generally stronger than “what” aims.
• Define a clear purpose, working hypothesis or statement of need, and expected outcome for each specific aim.
• Make sure no specific aim is dependent on the successful outcome of another aim.
~Adapted from Morrison and Russell
Grant Application Writer’s Workbook
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Specific Aims – Paragraph 4
• • • • Identify the project’s innovation, e.g., a unique approach or technology Delineate the project’s expected outcomes • Should validate central hypothesis and resolve gap in knowledge Summarize the project’s significance Provides segue to Background and Significance ~Adapted from Morrison and Russell
Grant Application Writer’s Workbook
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Specific Aims
• • • Don't be overly ambitious • 2-5 aims for an R01 Avoid descriptive aims • No fishing expeditions; no look-and-see!
Use brief, concise, informative, conceptual statements (headline style) 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 130
What vs. Why Aims
• • "What" aims • Determine amino acid sequence of protein Y of antiviral Z-sensitive wild-type virus X.
• Determine amino acid residue changes in protein Y of 100 natural antiviral Z-resistant virus X isolates.
• In culture, select for virus X variants that develop resistance to antiviral Z and identify altered protein Y residues.
versus "Why" aim • Identify virus X protein Y candidate amino acid residues responsible for antiviral resistance.
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Background & Significance
• • • Consider starting with Significance and tie into Specific Aims • Specify how your research will extend and advance knowledge in the field; what you will be able to do following successful research that you cannot now do.
Provide a literature review Demonstrate your familiarity with the field 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 132
Background & Significance
• • Background should tie closely to your proposed research • Describe state of the field • Provide context for proposed project • Nature of the problem and Identification of the opportunity • Alternative hypotheses or models • Be thorough and concise Do not be dismissive of previous research Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 133
Significance
• • • • • Consider placing up front Explain explicitly why proposed research is important • Tie to agency and program goals • Relate to review criteria (e.g., innovation) Make this easy to find Opportunity to make important points up front Communicate your excitement!
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 134
Preliminary Data / Progress Report
• • • • Discussion of preliminary data must connect clearly to proposed project Determine how much preliminary data to include • Can vary with funding mechanism Present the results in a logical order Illustrate your results 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 135
Research Design & Methods
• • • • • • • Structure based on Specific Aims or Review Criteria Be very clear about how you will accomplish your stated goals and objectives Include approaches and detailed methods Include details • What, specifically, will you do when you get the money?
• Schedules and milestones may be helpful • This is especially important if you are a relatively new researcher Identify expected, measurable outcomes Identify and address anticipated problems and how you will deal with them Avoid ambiguous terminology —be specific!
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 136
Project schedule
• • Delineate the key milestones Incorporate the agency and program requirements
Aim 1:
E valuate the extent to which John of Rupescissa drew upon and expanded the research of his contemporaries
Task 1:
Transcribe and collate manuscripts
Task 2:
Translate manuscripts
Task 3:
Analyze manuscripts
Q 1 Year 1 Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 1 Year 2 Q 2 Q 3 Q 4
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 137
Research Ethics
• Address all relevant ethical issues regarding inclusion of human and animal subjects and use of hazardous materials, select agents, or recombinant DNA • Justify use of human and animal subjects and or hazardous materials, select agents, or rDNA • Demonstrate that potential benefits outweigh potential risks • Delineate training procedures • Explain safeguards from potential risks • Discuss reporting procedures Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 138
Formatting Requirements
• • • Font • Arial, Helvetica, Palatino Linotype, or Georgia typeface • Black font color • Font size of 11 points or larger • Symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters; the font size requirement still applies • Type density, including characters and spaces, must be no more than 15 characters per inch • Type may be no more than six lines per inch Page Margins • Use
standard paper size (8 ½" x 11)
• Use at least one-half inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) for all pages Figures, legends, tables, graphs, charts, etc. may use smaller font Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 139
The funded proposal
The author of a funded proposal has accomplished the basic goal of grant writing when she has
• Ensured the reviewers were intrigued and excited about the proposed research, • Understood its significance, and • Were confident in the researcher’s capacity to perform.
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Review of NIH Proposals
• • • • Center for Scientific Review (CSR) • Administers and coordinates peer review • http://www.csr.nih.gov/default.htm
Divisions (4) Integrated Review Groups (IRG) – 23 Study Sections (SS) – 220 • Scientific Review Officer (SRO) • Members (peers with expertise in SS research) • Standing members • Ad hoc members • Study section rosters posted http://www.csr.nih.gov/Roster_proto/sectionI.asp
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What happens when you submit an application?
Center for Scientific Review
FUNDING DECISION
Scientific Review Group or IC Review Branch IC Advisory Council Institute Director Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 142
Understand the NIH Review Process
• Two-step Review process • Peer review is merit-based • • • Applications receive three individual reviews Scores range from 100 –500 Written critiques provided to investigator • Advisory Council or Board • Meritorious proposals considered against mission, needs, and budget 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 143
Your application is reviewed at study section by:
● ● ● Experts Non-experts People who are reading lots of grants ● ● People who want to be excited by science People who will be irritated by a sloppy application
Submit a high quality application!
Have people review your application critically
well before
submission Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 144
NIH General Review Criteria
• • • • • Investigator • Education, training, relevant experience Environment • Suitability of facilities and institution support Significance • Ability of the project to improve health Approach • Feasibility of methods and appropriateness of budget Innovation • Originality of research Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 145
CSR – Review & ‘Streamlining’
• • • • • • • Proposal received at CSR Assigned to an IRG, then to a Study Section (SS) The Scientific Review Administrator (SRA) assigns a primary, secondary, and tertiary reviewer Investigator-initiated proposals (R01, R03, R21) are read by the 1 °, 2°, 3° reviewers
Bottom 50% of proposals are identified about 1 week prior to the SS meeting ( triaged or streamlined )
Streamlined applications receive summary statements verbatim from each reviewer, but are
not discussed nor scored
All 3 reviewers must agree on the streamlined proposals in order for the proposal to be triaged Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 146
CSR – Scoring Proposals
• • • • SS meets to review applications Primary reviewer presents your proposal to the group (reads the abstract) • SS members discuss your application, the primary reviewer is able to answer questions about the proposal SS members assign a score to the proposal between 1-5 (1=outstanding, 5=forget it) After the meeting the SRA calculates the average score for each proposal, multiply by 100 to get a 3 digit score (100-500) • SRA calculates a priority score or percentile ranking of the score; based on the past 3 cycles of grant scores within SS • SRA prepares a written critique of your proposal based on reviewer’s comments Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 147
Three possible outcomes of proposal review
1.
Triaged 2.
Discussed, scored, not funded 3.
Discussed, scored,
FUNDED!
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Receive review comments
• If your proposal is not funded … • Deal constructively with rejection 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 149
•
Revisions & Resubmission
Three strikes “you’re out” • • • • • • • Read the reviewer’s comments Take a break Re read the reviewer’s comments
Don’t take them personally
Read the reviewer’s comments,
AGAIN
Call the program officer for more feedback Evaluate if you should resubmit • Begin working on the revisions. Incorporate the revisions that you think make your proposal better than the previous submission Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 150
Interpreting Reviews – Planning to Resubmit
• • • • Were certain issues mentioned consistently?
• Plan how to address those issues Did the reviewers misunderstand your proposal?
• Plan how to make your text more clear Was no clear issue mentioned?
• May not have excited reviewers enough • May not be an area they wish to fund now • May not fit into their research portfolio Many funded proposals were funded after multiple submissions →
intelligent
perseverance is the key!
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 151
Revise and resubmit your application
• • • Respect the views of reviewers Review the reviews Decide whether or not you have a viable project • If you don’t, revise the idea or come up with a new one • If you do, revise and resubmit the application Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 152
Receive review comments
• If your proposal is funded …
C e l e b r a t e !
28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 153
• • • • •
Tips for Success at NIH
Understand NIH’s mission and overall goals • Propose research topics that cross the boundaries of various IC • Leverage tools and resources from other research areas to approach your research topic • Create multidisciplinary research teams Focus on NIH priorities Search for funding opportunities often and using different strategies, e.g., agency or topic search, and submit unsolicited proposals when possible Look for various opportunities to acquire funding, e.g., diversity supplements, career awards Partner with established NIH investigators Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 154
Tips for Success with NIH Grants
• • • • • • • • Read the solicitation Sign up for the Weekly NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices Identify your "IC home" Get to know your Program Officer Study the "how-to" NIH websites Develop a descriptive title Write a concise, non-ambiguous Abstract/Summary Write Specific Aims that are hypothesis driven with clear, measurable outcomes Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 155
The Last Word: The proposal is the only reality
A proposal is not unlike a novel or a movie. It creates its own,
self-contained
reality. The proposal contains all the funding agency and review panel will know about your capabilities and your capacity to perform. With few exceptions, an agency bases its decision to fund or not fund entirely on the proposal and the persuasive reality it creates.
Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 156
Additional Resources
• • 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, TAMU http://opd.tamu.edu/ • Funding Opportunities http://opd.tamu.edu/funding-opportunities • Resources for Junior Faculty http://opd.tamu.edu/resources-for-junior faculty • The Craft of Grant Writing workbook http://opd.tamu.edu/the-craft-of-writing workbook National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.gov/ • Find Funding http://www.nsf.gov/funding/ • Funded Research http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 157
Web Resources
• National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov/ • Grant Application Basics http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grant_basics.htm
• All About Grants Tutorial http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/default.htm
• New Investigator Portal http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/new/portal.htm
• Annotated R01 Research Plan and Summary Statement http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/app/ • Mock Peer Review Video http://www.csr.nih.gov/Video/Video.asp
• CRISP funded biomedical research http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/ Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 158
• Grants.gov
Web Resources
http://www.grants.gov
• GrantsNet sponsored by AAAS and HHMI http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/funding • Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/default.htm
• Philanthropy News Digest RFP listings http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/ • American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/docroot/RES/RES_0.asp
• American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=9713 • Cancer Research Institute http://www.cancerresearch.org/criprogs.html
• Life Sciences Research Foundation http://www.lsrf.org/geninfo.htm
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society http://www.nationalmssociety.org/ Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 28 Oct. 2008 159
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Grant Writers' Seminars and Workshops http://grantcentral.com/ 28 Oct. 2008 Office of Proposal Development, Texas A&M University 162