abstracts for grants yale

7/30/2019 Abstracts for Grants Yale

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How to Write a Winning Abstract

for Grant Applications

Elena Kallestinova, PhD.

Graduate School Writing Center


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The Challenge of Obtaining Funding


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Reviewers Expectations at Initial

Reading

Interesting, innovative ideas that wouldcontribute to the field;

Solid data showing that the approach haspromise;

Evidence that the PI is well qualified to do theresearch.

A crisp, specific project description with aresearch plan that is well thought out;

Writing that is clear and concise.


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The Reality of the Grant Review

Process

NIH Reviewers:

20 100 proposals forreading;

6 8 proposals as

primary reviewers.


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A grant application is notscience; it is the marketing of

science.-J.L. Ferrara and A.H. Schmaier


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Grant Writing as Genre of

Academic Writing

Type : Persuasive writing;

Purpose: to persuade proposal reviewers tofund the proposed research


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The abstract must sell the grant.

If I dont get interested by the first

page, the proposal is lost.

* NIH study section reviewers comments;

from Robert Porter, 2005. What Do Grant

Reviewers Really Want, Anyway?

Reviewers Remarks*


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Abstracts are very important!

All your peer reviewers read your abstract.

Abstracts are used to decide where to

assign your application.

They show the importance and relevance of

your research.


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Abstract Writing

Structure of an abstract;

Types of Abstracts;Writing Principles;

Hands-on exercises.


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Function of the Abstract

The function of the abstract is to

describe succinctly every major aspectof the proposed project.


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Structure of the Abstract

Brief background;

Problem

Objectives and hypotheses; Preliminary results;

Methodology and/or strategy;

Significance and innovation;


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Signals of the Structure

Problem

has not been determined

is unclear

X is limited by

The questions remainswhether

Objective

Our objective is We propose to

We will examine the

hypothesis that

Strategy

We will achieve this goal by

Specifically, we will by

Our general strategy is to

Significance or impact

is important for

These results may play a rolein

Y can be used to

will provide insights into


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Example

Global warming is arguably one of the most pressing

concerns of our time. However, we lack an effective model

to predict precisely by how much the temperature will rise

as a consequence of the increased levels of CO2 and other

factors. The width of this range is due to several

uncertainties in different elements of the climate models,

including the variability in the Suns rate of energy output.To gain greater insight into the relationship between solar

energy output and global temperature, we propose to

launch the internationally led ABC satellite in April 2012.

Our aim is to collect for 2 years data on the solar diameter

and shape, oscillations, and photospheric temperaturevariation. We will assess these data to model solar

variability. Our findings will dramatically advance our

understanding of solar activity and its climate effects.

Background

Problem

Objective

Strategy

Significance


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ExampleX is a major human pathogen, which infects over

100 million people per year, leading to highmorbidity and mortality. Current therapies for X

are expensive, poorly tolerated, and only partially

effective in controlling the pathogens and in

limiting disease. Recently, we and othersucceeded in establishing a system to grow X in

cell culture. These systems will allow us to

completely dissect the life cycle of X. Our initial

characterization of cell culture-produced Xindicates unusual physical properties.

Understanding of Xs life cycle will aid in the

development of improved pharmaceuticals.

Problem

statementis missing

Objectiveis missing


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Types of Abstracts

Technical Abstracts Lay Abstracts

The same content

Written for federal

agencies;Contain shorter

background sections;

Elaborate on preliminary

results, research strategies

and specific aims.

Written for private

foundation and corporations;Should be widely

understandable;

Contain longer background

sections and significance

sections.


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Background Section

Most people over the age

of 35 years exhibit

emphysema, a major

manifestation of chronic

obstructive pulmonary

disease (COPD). Cigarette

smoke, pollutants, and

gender are thought to be

important determinants ofthe severity of the

disorder.

Emphysema is a major subset of chronic

obstructive lung disease, predicted to

reach epidemic proportions by 2020.

The condition develops in most people

over the age of 35 and can lead to the

loss of oxygen exchange, lung

enlargement, and, if severe, complete

respiratory failure. Cigarette smoke,

pollutants, and gender are thought to beimportant determinants of the severity

of the disorder.

Technical AbstractLay Abstract


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Problem Section

Disease-altering treatment or

reliable diagnostic features that can

be used to measure the progress ofthe disease have not yet been

determined.

Curative therapies or

reliable diagnostic

biomarkers do not exist for

emphysema/ COPD.

Lay AbstractTechnical Abstract


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Objective Section

Therefore, we propose to

identify new diagnostic or

therapeutic targets for

emphysema by exploring its

underlying mechanisms.

Our objective is to identify

new diagnostic or therapeutic

targets for emphysema by

applying our recent discovery

of novel molecules in mouse

models to humans.

Lay Abstract Technical Abstract


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Preliminary Results Section

Using genetically altered mouse

models, we have recently

discovered two novel molecules

involved in the development of

lung emphysema, X and Y. We

found that a substantial

increase in these molecules

destroys lung tissue, resulting

in emphysema. Interestingly,

both molecules are controlled

by a specific cell wall structure(receptor Z).

Aging or cigarette smoke-exposed mice exhibit

lung changes that partially mimic human

emphysema, and mice deficient in toll-like

receptor Z, a canonical receptor for

lipopolysaccharides, exhibit an accelerated

form of spontaneous, age-induced

emphysema. We hypothesize that the

synergistic or addictive effects of age and

smoking on Z function in susceptible individuals

may explain the pathogenesis and temporal

characteristics of emphysema. We haveidentified to molecules regulated by Z, an

oxidant-generating enzyme (X) and a protease

(y), and implicated both in the pathogenesis of

emphysema in mice.



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Strategy Section

We believe that the

synergistic or additive

effects of age and

cigarette smoke on Zsfunction may explain

disease development and

characteristics.

This proposal will directly build on and

expand our pilot findings. Specifically,

we will first confirm the role of Z, X, and

Y in the pathogenesis of age-inducedand cigarette smoke-induced

emphysema and validate their roles as

therapeutic targets. Subsequently, we

will analyze molecular interactions of

these molecules in young and aged

people in relation to cigarette exposure,

gender, and emphysema/COPD.



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Significance Section

These studies will provide

important insights into the

pathophysiologic

mechanisms of emphysema,ultimately leading to the

identification of novel

targets for diagnostic or

therapeutic interventions.

Analysis of the role of receptor Z,

as well as those of X and Y, in age-

induced and cigarette smoke-

induced emphysema will provideinsights into the underlying

mechanism of the disorder and

may ultimately lead to the

identification of novel targets for

diagnostic and therapeutic

interventions.

Lay Abstract Technical Abstract


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Type Differences

Technical Abstracts Assume background

knowledge;

Few justifications; Extensive use of

terminology;

Few definitions andexamples;

Few linking phrases.

Lay Abstracts Require background;

Frequent initial purpose

clauses; Terminology is used with

caution;

More definitions andexamples;

Wide range of linking phrases.


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Avoid in abstracts:

Any information not covered in

your proposal;

Any confidential information;

Graphs or images;

Citations.


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Common Problems with Abstracts

Excessive length; Unclear sentences.

Writing problems


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Vigorous writing is concise. A sentenceshould contain no unnecessary words, a

paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the

same reason that a drawing should have no

unnecessary lines and a machine no

unnecessary parts. This requires not that the

writer make all his sentences short, or that he

avoid all detail and treat his subjects only inoutline, but that every word tell.

William Strunk, Jr.

in Elements of Style

From Wordy to Concise Sentences


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Tips to Avoid Wordy Abstracts

Level of Vocabulary; Level of Grammar;

Level of Content.


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Avoid Redundancies

circle around;

final outcome;

new innovations;

particular interest;

summarize briefly;

shorter/longer in length; puzzling in nature;

already existing;

completely eliminate;

basic fundamentals;

estimates roughly at;

period of time;

main essentials;

true facts.


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Avoid Abbreviated Redundancies

HIV virus = Human Immunodeficiency

Virus;AIDS syndrome = Acquired ImmunoDeficiency

Syndrome;

CPU unit = Central Processing Unit;


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Avoid Useless and Emotional

Intensifiers

Really, always, very, quite, extremely, severely,clearly, certainly, essentially, actually:

The results clearly show that the protein was

absent in the fraction.The results show that

Our results may indicate that siRNA duplexpossibly caused an RNA interference effect.

Our results suggest that siRNA duplex causes anRNA interference effect.


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Use Simpler Vocabulary

A large number of = many;

Along the lines = like;

As a general rule = generally; Exhibits the ability = can;

On the occasion of = when;

Is equipped with = contains; In the light of the fact = because.


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Level of Grammar

Trim your clauses or phrases.


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Omit Overview Phrases and

Sentences

Recent studies described/reported that

The experiment shows that

Our recent studies reported that intracellular calcium

is released when adipocytes are stimulated with

insulin. (15 words)

Intracellular calcium is released when adipocytes are

stimulated with insulin. (10 words)


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We found a signature marker, which was theinterleukin-7 receptor alpha-chain, that distinguishedthe subset of effector cells that would survive anddevelop into memory CD8 T cells from those that

would die.

We found a signature marker, the interleukin-7receptor alpha-chain, that distinguished the subset

of effector cells surviving and developing intomemory CD8 T cells.

Shorten Which/that clauses


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Avoid Expletive Constructions

there is/are or it isThere is fellowship training in Allergy and ClinicalImmunology and Pulmonary Medicine at Yale

University.

Yale University provides fellowship training in Allergyand Clinical immunology and Pulmonary Medicine.


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Level of Content

Condense background;

Omit or subordinate less important

information: Definitions;

Experimental preparations;

Details on methods;

Exact data;

Confirmatory results;

Comparisons with previous studies.


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Clarity and Simplicity of

Your IdeasThe abstract should distil the essential

elements of the research project into

short, concise, and clear statements.


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Your reviewer is reading through the

proposals, but shes left at the last

moment. Its 6 a.m. on the day shes

flying to Washington. Shes sitting at

the bus stop, its raining, she has the

flu, and shes got your proposal in frontof her. Your writing should be able to

persuade her that this is a great

proposal, even under those conditions.(Brett Tyler, Virginia Bioinformatics

Institute).


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Clarity and Simplicity of Your Ideas

Level of Vocabulary

M l l


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Most unclear sentences resultfrom nominalizations:

Verbs: discover - discovery,

resist - resistance,

react - reaction,

fly - flying.

Adjectives: different - difference,

proficient - proficiency,

important - importance,careless - carelessness.


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Put the Action into the Verb

Sentences with action verbs arenatural, direct, and easy to understand.

Make decision - decideCause a decrease - decreased

Be a failure - fail

Have a tendency - tend


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Example 1.

An increase in heart rate occurred.

Heart rate increased.Example 2.

These studies contributed to the identification of

the cellular progenitors of memory CD8 T cells..These studies helped to identify the cellularprogenitors of memory CD8 T cells.

Avoid Weak Verbsbe, have, do, make, cause, provide, get,

seem


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Avoid Noun Clusters

Nouns are commonly used as modifiers:Blood flow;

Protein metabolism;

Lung function.Do not add another noun to anexisting noun pair:

Filament length variability

Air space phospholipid pool


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Untangling Noun Clusters

Filament length variabilityVariability of filament length

Air space phospholipid poolPhospholipid pool in the air space

Chronic sheep experimentsChronic experiments in sheep


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Choose your words wisely:

affect vs. effect; among vs. between;

since vs. before; interval vs. period

How smoking affects the health is still amatter if concern to physicians. (to act onor influence)

We studied the effect of the X on MZ1cells. (a result condition)


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Avoid Ungrammatical Forms of

Words

Words with the suffixes ability, -zation, -ology or -ized.

Changeability of X occurs when Y is added.

X can change when Y is added.


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Level of Grammar

For snoring?! Hell, thats nothing.I once shot a man for ending a

sentence in a preposition.


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Avoid phrases or clauses between the

subject and the predicate

Estrogen, through engagement of membranereceptors, stimulates rapid endothelial cell signaling.

Estrogen stimulates rapid endothelial cell signalingthrough engagement of membrane receptors.

Sentences are better understood if thesubject and verb are not interrupted.


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Write Shorter Sentences

Easy to understand ( 20-22 words);

Emphasize the idea;

Weigh more;

It is generally accepted in the field ofmedicine that rheumatic fever is an

autoimmune disease.

Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease.


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Level of Content

U Cl P


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Use Clear Pronouns

Avoid missing pronoun antecedents.We have a clearer understanding of the signals

controlling formation of memory CD8 T cells

during bacterial infection, and this will greatlyimpact new generation vaccines and

immunotherapies.

This knowledge will greatly impact new

generation vaccines and immunotherapies.


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Avoid ambiguous pronoun

antecedentsLaboratory animals are not susceptible tothese diseases, so research on them is

hampered.

Research on these diseases is hampered

because laboratory animals are notsusceptible to them.


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Avoid ambiguous comparisons

Our results are similar to previous studies.

Our results are similar to the results ofprevious studies.

Our results are similar to those of previousstudies.


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Begin sentences with informationfamiliar to your reader.

End sentences with information

that readers cannot anticipate.

Go From Old to New

Volcanic pipes are composed of a deep

narrow cone.a. Solidified magma usually fills the cone.b. The cone is usually filled with solidified

magma.


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Example

Macular degeneration is affected by diet.

a. Vitamin B6 is one of the diet

components that influences the

progression of macular degeneration

b. One of the diet components that

influences the progression of maculardegeneration is vitamin B6.


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Checkpoint

Abstract does not omit any part;

It is written with the reader in mind;

It meets the word count limitations;

Its ideas are clearly expressed.


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From S.K. Inouye and D.A. Fiellin. 2005. An Evidence-Based Guide to Writing

Grant Proposals for Clinical Research.

Task Timeline (months before submission)

R f


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References

Barnard, Stephanie, et al. 2001. Writing, Speaking, Communication Skills for Health Professionals. Yale

University Press.Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. 2008. The Craft of Research. The

University of Chicago Press.

Hofmann, Angelika. 2009. Scientific Writing and Communication. Oxford University Press.

Zeiger, Mimi. 2000. Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers. McGraw-Hill Companies.

Williams, Joseph M. 2007 Style: Lessons in Clarity. Pearson, Longman.Robert Porter, 2005. What Do Grant Reviewers Really Want, Anyway? Journal of Research

Administration, April.

Inouye, Sharon K. and David A. Fiellin. 2005. An Evidence-Based Guide to Writing Grant Proposals for

Clinical Research. Annals of Internal Medicine, 142:274-82.

Ferrara J.L. and A.H. Schmaier. 2002. Hematology grants workshop. Hematology American Society

Hematology Education Program, 484-9.

Strunk, William. Elements of Style. Ithaca, N.Y.: Priv. print. [Geneva, N.Y.: Press of W.P. Humphrey], 1918;

Bartleby.com, 1999. www.bartleby.com/141/.

Most of the examples are taken and adapted for educational purposes from NIH Abstract Reporter of

funded grant proposals publicly available at www.projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm.

abstracts for grants yale

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