Transcript Slide 1

Career Development
Grants
American College of Epidemiology Annual Meeting
September 17, 2007
Faith Davis, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
Jennifer Peel, PhD, Colorado State University
Career Development Awards
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This presentation will focus on NIH awards
Many other organizations have similar awards,
e.g.,
American Cancer Society
 American Lung Association
 American Heart Association
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 And likely many more…

28th Annual American College of Epidemiology
Meeting
Marriott Harbor Beach Resort
Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
September 17, 2007
NIH Support For Research
Training And Career
Development in Epidemiology
NCI Cancer Training Branch
Lester S. Gorelic, Ph.D.
Program Director, Clinical/Prevention Sciences
[email protected]
National Cancer Institute Cancer
Training Branch (CTB) *
Interim Branch Chief:
J. Carl Oberholtzer
[email protected]
Program Directors:
Lester Gorelic
Sonia Jakowlew
Shannon Lemrow
Nancy Lohrey
Dorkina Myrick
*:cancer.gov/researchandfunding/trainin
g
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Learning Objectives
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Where to find information
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What is available
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What is provided
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How to choose the support that best
meets your needs
Organization Of Presentation
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Overview
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Institutional programs
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Individual awards
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Administrative supplements
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Putting it all together
Conventions
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NIH funding mechanisms used in place of
program names
Blue: NCI-specific programs
Red: Clinicians only
Caveat: Will discuss only those programs that
conceivably can be used for training and CD in
epidemiology. To be sure, contact the
component NIH institute
Overview
Where To Find Information
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Office of Extramural Research:
Funding:
http://grants.nih.gov/training/index.htm
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Extramural (Outside of NIH):
Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research
Service Awards (NRSA)
 Career Development (K) Awards
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Relevant links
http://grants.nih.gov/training/extramural.htm
http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm
http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmenta
wards.htm
Where To Find Information,
cont’d
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Office of Extramural Research:
Funding:
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Extramural, cont’d:
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Selected programs for special
populations: Research supplements to
promote diversity in health-related
research:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05015.html
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Intramural (within NIH)
http://www.training.nih.gov/
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Individual NIH institute websites
Where To Find Information, cont’d
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NIH Wide Initiatives: Roadmap for
Biomedical Research
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Provides a framework of the priorities the
NIH must address in order to optimize its
entire research portfolio
Focus:
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New pathways to discovery
Research teams of the future
Re-engineering the clinical research enterprise
Relevant link:
http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/
Where To Find Information,
cont’d
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NIH Wide Initiatives: Roadmap for
Biomedical Research, cont’d
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Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Career
Development programs
Training an Interdisciplinary Workforce
Relevant links
http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/
http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/clinicalresearch/clinicaltrainin
g/futureleaders.asp
http://grants.nih.gov/training/T_Table.htm
Institutional Programs
Institutional Programs
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Generally for individuals with a limited number
of publications (if consistent with program
selection criteria) or unable to obtain a strong
institutional commitment to career development
(pre, postdoc)
Individuals apply to an ongoing program for a
“slot”
Prepares an individual to apply for an individual
research career (K) award; if appointed as a
predoc, a postdoc fellowship (F32); or an R-grant
Provides a training experience in biomedical
research
Institutional Programs, cont’d
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NRSA T32 & T90
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K12 programs
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Training experience in biomedical research
(T32) or interdisciplinary research (T90)
NCI supports ca. 170 T32 programs, 11
focus specifically on epidemiology
“Physician scientist” career development
programs
Roadmap initiative
NCI R25T programs
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NCI supports 40 R25T programs
4 of the R25T’s specifically focus on
epidemiology
Institutional Programs
Basic provisions & requirements
T32 & T90 Programs
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PI is an established investigator
Trainees (predoc, postdoc) must be US
citizens or permanent residents (not
for an NIH T90)
Requires full-time (40 hr/week)
commitment
T32 & T90 Programs,
cont’d
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Up to 5 years of predoc, 3 years
postdoc support is possible
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Legislated stipend levels
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No support for research
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Institutional allowance for training
expenses
K12 Programs
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Two types: Clinicians only. Clinicians &
postdoctoral Ph.D.’s
Provides salary and research support
Requires ≥ 75% effort commitment
May have core didactic requirements
May require multiple mentors
May have a specific research focus §
Must contact sponsoring NIH institute for
specifics
The NCI R25T Program
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Curriculum-based predoc/postdoc/Jr. faculty
program with required didactic and
“laboratory” requirements
Requires multiple mentors for each
appointee
Does not require 75% percent or full-time
effort commitment
Support for curriculum development,
implementation, evaluation, PI salary
Salary and research support for appointees
Individual Awards
Individual Awards
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Fellowships (F’s) and Career Awards (K’s)
Mentored ((K01, K08), K07, K23, F31, F32)
“Transitioning” or “Cross” (K99/R00, K22’s)
award
Unmentored K’s (New (K22’s) & Established)
Individual (K&F) Awards
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Not R grants
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K & F’ s are for individuals who can
demonstrate the need for additional
training/career development before they are
fully independent
 R grants are for independent
investigators
K & F’s focus on training or career
development
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R-grant focus is on research
Individual (K&F) Awards
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Not R grants, cont’d
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Multiple interconnected elements
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PI, sponsor (mentor), mentor’s statement §,
training/career development plan (K’s), research
plan, institutional commitment, environment
R grants: PI, research, environment
K’s generally reviewed at the institute level
(not F’s)
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Unsolicited R-grants (and F’s) are reviewed at CSR
§
Individual Awards
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Support a research career
development experience (K’s) or
research training experience (F’s)
Prepare an F32 awardee to apply for
a K-award/R-grant or a K-awardee to
apply for an R-grant
Fellowships
F’s can be used to support up to 3
years of mentored postdoc (F32) or up
to 5 years (F31) of mentored predoc
research training
 Generally applicable to any area of
biomedical research
 Purpose of the F-program could be to
increase the diversity of the biomedical
research work force (NCI F31)
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K-Awards
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Can be used to support up to 5 years of
mentored research career development
leading to independent investigator status
(K01, NCI K07; K08, K23)
Can be used to provide protected
(unmentored) time to “new” investigators
to initiate their first independent research
program (K22)
K-Awards, cont’d
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Can be used to support a mentored
research experience followed by a
transition to and support during an
independent position (K99/R00, K22)
Individual K’s generally applicable to a
specific aspect of biomedical research
(viz., basic science, patient-oriented
research) and research career stage
Individual Awards
Basic Provisions & Requirements
Mentored Individual Awards
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Fellowships: F31,F32
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Need a sponsor
Need publications (not an F31)
Do not need institutional commitment
K-Awards: K01,K07, K08, K23
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Postdoctoral (fellows) to junior faculty
Need a mentor
Need publications
Need strong institutional commitment
Mentored Individual Awards,
General Provisions
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Three (F32) to five year (F31, K’s) nonrenewable
US Citizen or permanent resident
Require full-time (F31, F32) or at least 75%
effort commitments (K’s)
Mentors
Provide stipends (F31, F32) or salaries (K’s)
Provide research support (K’s)
“Cross” Or
“Transitioning”Awards
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K22’s
Pathway to Independence Award
(K99/R00)*
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/pathway_indep
endence.htm;
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-297.html
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Facilitate a “seamless” transition of
individuals from postdoc to independent
investigator
Supports up to 1-2 years of mentored
postdoctoral training (K99) followed by
Support of up to 3 years for protected time as
an independent investigator to initiate first
independent research program (R00)
*NCI limits use to basic science
research in human cancer
Individual Awards: Independent
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NCI Transition Career Development Awards
(K22)
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Provides protected time (up to 3 years) to
newly independent* investigators to initiate
their first independent research program
NCI limits award to POR, CPCBPS;and basic
science PhD’s (working in human cancer
systems) in Federal intramural settings
Do not need a sponsoring institution at the
time of application
*: Moving from a postdoc position
including a mentored K-grant to a first
independent research position or
≤ 2 yrs in 1st independent position
Administrative Supplements To
Enhance Diversity In Biomedical
Research
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NIH:
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Supplements to research project grants
(RPG’s)
 All stages in career development
Supplements to T32 grants
 NCI: CURE program
NCI:
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Supplements to R25T programs (CURE
program)
Putting it all together
Continuum Of Opportunities
Newly
Independent
Mentored
Predoc
T32
T90/R00
R25T
F31
Post/Fellow
Jr.Faculty
T32
T90/R00
R25T
K12
R25T
K12
F32
K07
K01
K07
K08
K23
K22
Continuum Of Opportunities
Newly
Independent
Mentored
Predoc
T32
T90/R00
R25T
F31
Post/Fellow
Jr.Faculty
T32
T90/R00
R25T
K12
R25T
K12
F32
K07
K22
K01
K07
K08
K23
K22
K22
Continuum Of Opportunities
Newly
Independent
Mentored
Predoc
T32
T90/R00
R25T
Post/Fellow
T32
T90/R00
K99
F31
Jr.Faculty
K22
R00
Resources For Success Rates
T32’s : 1996-2006:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/award/training/tra
in9606.htm
K-awards: up to 2005:
http://grant.nih.gov/training/data/rcpsucc.xls
28th Annual American College of Epidemiology
Meeting
Marriott Harbor Beach Resort
Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
September 17, 2007
NIH Support For Research
Training And Career
Development in Epidemiology
NCI Cancer Training Branch
Lester S. Gorelic, Ph.D.
Program Director, Clinical/Prevention Sciences
[email protected]
Training and Career Development
Awards for Pre-Docs, Post-Docs
and Junior Faculty
Lynda Lisabeth
University of Michigan
Departments of Epidemiology and
Neurology
Background
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PhD in Epidemiology (2003)
Joined neurology faculty in 2003
K23
National Institute for Neurologic Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS)
 September 2005 – May 2010
 Stroke population
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In-person interviews
 Blood draws
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Feedback from Reviewers
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Piggy backed on R01
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Clear mentoring plan (frequency of meetings,
information on past trainees, etc.)
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Multiple mentors
Commitment to other projects
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Mechanisms in place
≥75% effort
Overlap with ongoing studies – uniqueness
Feedback from Reviewers
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Travel – on-site research, scientific meetings
Career development plan – mix theoretical,
hands on experience and coursework
Support from Department Chair
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Research space, start-up funds
Lessons Learned
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High scientific interest, unique study population,
need for well trained researchers
Contact Project Officer
Prior to submitting grant
 Copy grant to PO at time of submission
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Review successful K grant applications
Preliminary data
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Feasibility of proposed research
Lessons Learned
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Detailed career development plan
Discuss Reviewer comments with PO
(conference call), include mentor on call
Publication track record
Number of publications
 Topic of K award
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Training and
Career Development Awards
for Pre-Docs, Post-Docs
and Junior Faculty
Charlotte Joslin
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Background
K23 Award, National Eye Institute (NEI)
– September 2004 – August 2009
Clinical research background
– Mostly a clinician (70% time in clinic)
– NEI-sponsored prospective cohort study: institution CoInvestigator
– FDA clinical trials: institution PI and Co-Investigator
– Industry sponsored research
K23 Award
– PhD in epidemiology
– Determining corneal and intraocular lens power in post-LASIK
eyes needing cataract surgery and intraocular lens implant
Feedback from Reviewers
1. Candidate and Career Development Plan
– Demonstrate productivity and research
potential: papers, collaborations, recent
activity
– Career goals – be specific!
– Demonstrate aptitude and interest in goals
– Provide specific details about plans:
coursework, seminars, meetings, travel, etc.
Feedback from Reviewers
2.
Mentors and Institutional Commitment
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3.
Highly qualified mentors with federal funding
Diverse mentor expertise
Meet training and research goals of project
Institutional commitment releasing time for research
Research Plan
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“Appropriate to primary goal . . . a mentored
research experience which she can accomplish
within the proposed time period and that builds on
her current expertise while allowing her to expand
her skills in new areas.”
Feedback from Reviewers
3. Research Plan (continued)
Well conceived
Important clinical problem
Include preliminary results
Be aware that it may be reviewed as R01!!
Lessons Learned
Career development proposal should build on
current expertise and develop skills in new areas
– Use caution too avoid research projects too similar to
mentor’s existing research and interests
– Demonstrate independence in proposal
Mentor selection critical
– Establish relationships
– Mentors selected are usually local; however,
commuting relationships allowed
Lessons Learned
Review successful career development proposals
Know and communicate with your project officer!!
Training and Career Development
Awards for Pre-Docs, Post-Docs, and
Junior Faculty
Lisa Metsch, Ph.D.
University of Miami Miller School
of Medicine
Department of Epidemiology and
Public Health
Funding Background
HIV/AIDS Epidemiologic and Behavioral Research –
Focus on HIV prevention and access to care issues
Received K01 award, National Institute on Drug
Abuse, 1997 – 2004
Received grant from Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation, 1998 - 2002
Received Large CDC awards, 1999 - 2004
Received Two R01 awards (NIDCR and NIDA), 2004
– 2009, 2005 – 2010
Served on NIH CSR HIV/AIDS IRG, 1999 – present
Reviewed K-awards
Top 10 List
from a perspective of a reviewer
#10: Sell yourself, but do not oversell -- Make
reviewers think that this is the perfect time for
you to have a K-award
#9 Mentor Dilemma – Pick the right mentor and
show that they will have time for you and they
have been successful with mentoring others
#8 Having more than one mentor should be
considered
Top 10 List
#7 Career Plan should address skills that
you are lacking, should be complete and
should make sense
#6 Career Plan should include evaluation
plan on how you will evaluate whether
your careers goals have been met
#5 Letters from Mentors and Department
Chair/Dean are critical
Top 10 List
#4 Research Project should be significant but
feasible – sometimes “the more simple, the
better.”
#3 Background and significance should be
comprehensive, tell a compelling story and close
to perfect
#2 Methods should be well-justified and rationale
for all decisions should be provided
Top 10 List
#1 Ideally, career plan and
research project should provide
foundation for you to be
competitive to obtain R01 level
funding
In Conclusion…
This top 10 list represents the views of
one reviewer
Study sections will vary in how they
evaluate K-awards
 Review other successful K-awards
 Give time to have your K-award reviewed
by senior investigators before submission
 Best of Luck!
Take Home Message
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Read the Institute websites
Call the targeted institute contact
Explore private organization alternatives
Develop niche training/research plan
Find appropriate mentors
Draft great letters
Get approval for any exceptions/changes
Document all changes for audit purposes