Transcript Slide 1

Components of a Successful
AREA (R15) Grant
Rebecca J. Sommer
Bates College
Academic Research Enhancement
Award (AREA) Program (R15), NIH
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Funds small-scale, health-related research
projects at institutions that are not major
recipients of NIH funding
Major goal is to expose undergraduate
students to meritorious biomedical and
behavioral research
25 - 31% of proposals funded in 2004-2007
Fiscal
Year
Institute/
Center
Number
Reviewed
Number
Awarded
2007
NIAAA
2007
Total Cost
Awarded**
Success
Rate***
8
3
$599,579
37.50%
NIA
37
7
$1,232,164
18.90%
2007
NIAID
93
22
$4,580,648
23.70%
2007
NIAMS
29
5
$966,675
17.20%
2007
NCCAM
13
3
$622,249
23.10%
2007
NCI
86
19
$3,969,643
22.10%
2007
NIDA
23
8
$1,671,362
34.80%
2007
NIDCD
16
2
$446,250
12.50%
2007
NIDCR
7
3
$667,830
42.90%
2007
NIDDK
43
9
$1,942,555
20.90%
2007
NIBIB
21
9
$1,956,207
42.90%
2007
NIEHS
31
5
$1,035,778
16.10%
2007
NEI
21
5
$1,115,454
23.80%
2007
NIGMS
200
63
$13,217,017
31.50%
2007
NICHD
46
8
$1,673,536
17.40%
2007
NHGRI
4
1
$195,814
25.00%
2007
NHLBI
56
18
$3,858,629
32.10%
2007
NLM
2
0
$0
0.00%
2007
NIMH
32
9
$1,918,513
28.10%
2007
NINR
37
6
$1,263,140
16.20%
2007
NINDS
57
11
$2,295,661
19.30%
2007
TOTAL
862
216
$45,228,704
25.10%
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm
Recovery Act-Funded AREA Request
for Applications (RFA-OD-09-007)
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Single submission, due September 24, 2009
Increases total funding to $300,000 direct costs
Extends eligibility to Institutions receiving less
than 6 million dollars annual NIH funds
NIH plans to make the increases permanent by
the next standard due date (October 25, 2009)
Factors Key to Success
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Important research question
Focused and organized proposal
Demonstration of expertise
Positive impact on research activity of
undergraduates and PI
Important Research Question
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Meritorious research project
Collaboration not competition
Can be a new area of research
Focused and Organized Proposal
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Focused and organized at the level of both
the writing style and research approach
Two-four closely related Specific Aims are
appropriate
Demonstration of Expertise
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More flexibility in judging potential for
success (more than publication record and
preliminary data)
Include letters of support
Provide convincing Methods and “Alternative
Approaches”
Perhaps include a collaborator
Positive Impact – AREA Grant Statement
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PI experience in supervising undergraduate
student research
Suitability and enhancement of research
environment
Availability of well-qualified students
Evidence of Institutional support
Supports release/leave time
A Few “Nuts and Bolts”
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On-line submission
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register in grants.gov and eRA Commons
Signing Official needs to submit the application
be prepared to meet other in-house requirements
Modular vs. detailed budget
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modular budgets are more flexible but limited to
total of $250,000 direct costs
Get to Know AREA Program Contact
Person and Institute Program Officer
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Don’t hesitate to email/call your AREA
Contact Person for guidance
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find most appropriate Institute, Scientific Review
Group (SRG) and particular study section
NIH Institute or Center (IC)
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get a measure of the IC’s
commitment/enthusiasm for AREA proposals and
your project in particular
after review, the IC Program Officer becomes
your main point of contact
Peer Review is a Two-Step Process
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Center for Scientific Review
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Integrated Review Groups, each is made up of
several different study sections
provides comments and funding priority score
NIH Institute or Center (IC)
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Advisory Council or Board, makes funding decisions
based on the review and the goals of the IC
IC Program Officer can “pull a proposal up”
Writing for Step One of Peer Review
Process
Find and request the best Integrated Review
Group and study section for your proposal
http://cms.csr.nih.gov/peerreviewmeetings/csrirgd
escriptionnew/
 Write to your audience
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know the members of your probable study section
read the Guidelines for Reviewers
http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/Revie
werGuidelines/
CSR Review Criteria
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Significance
Investigator(s)
Innovation
Approach
Environment
Additional Review Criteria (Protections for
Human Subjects, Resubmission, Renewal...)
Outcome of Step One of Peer Review
Process
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Five individual core criteria scores and
overall impact/priority score
Summary Statements
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reviewer critiques and summary of discussion
Streamlining
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less competitive applications are not discussed or
given a priority score at study section meetings,
still receive the written critiques and criteria
scores submitted by assigned reviewers
Don’t Get Discouraged
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It usually takes more than one submission!
Use comments to revise and resubmit
Standard AREA submission deadlines are
February 25, June 25 and October 25.
AREA (R15) Program Website
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http:/grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section
Lists eligible institutions
Provides email addresses for AREA Program
Contact Persons
Describes NIH Institutes and Center objectives
Links to Peer Review Information
 Thank
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you!
You can contact me at [email protected]