grant writing for success grant writing for success leshawndra n. price, ph.d., nimh, nih dana...

GRANT WRITING FOR SUCCESS

Grant Writing for Success

LeShawndra N. Price, Ph.D., NIMH, NIHDana Plude, CSR, NIH

Henry Khachaturian, Ph.D., OEP/NIH

Take Home Messages

Become a well-informed consumerLearn about NIH Institutes’ and Centers’

missions, programs, and specific uses of funding mechanisms

Contact appropriate program staff early and often

Develop a plan for your research and careerTalk with potential mentors, collaborators, &

peersTake advantage of many available resources

Grant Writing for Success

Writing the Application: Start Planning EARLY Develop your good idea

Use the NIH webpage (www.nih.gov) Talk to your NIH Program Official(s)

Provide a good presentation Align with review criteria Identify collaborators Seek advice and feedback from colleagues Funding & peer review

START PLANNING YOUR APPLICATION

EARLY

Grantsmanship Tips101

“Anatomy” of Grant Process“Anatomy” of Grant Process

Program StaffProgram Staff ProgramAnnouncement

or RFA

ProgramAnnouncement

or RFA

Grant Application(R01, R03, R21,K01, K08, etc.)

Grant Application(R01, R03, R21,K01, K08, etc.)

NationalAdvisoryCouncil

NationalAdvisoryCouncil

Program Staff Program Staff

$

Rev

isio

nR

evis

ion

Researcher

IdeaInstitution

Researcher

IdeaInstitution

CSRReferral

and Review

CSRReferral

and Review

CollaboratorsCollaborators

Assess Your Readiness…Then, Determine Your Goals

6

You are here

Success is Relative…

and

Local

Pre-Submission Planning Timeline

call NIH

Assess Your Readiness

Research Experience Previous supported research/Principal Investigator Research administration experience Publications in proposed/related research areas

TimeCommitmentKnowledge

Assess Your Capacity

Research support available to youInstitution (e.g., Office of Sponsored

Research, office space, lab space, clerical assistance) Graduate students/research staff support Colleagues with research experience

Know who can help you at your institute and at the NIH

Make a Plan…Plan to Work…Work Your Plan

10

• Make a Plan

• Plan to Work

• Use Your Time Effectively

• Work Your Plan

• Be Flexible Enough for Course Corrections

DEVELOPING YOUR GOOD IDEA INTO:

STRONG SCIENCE A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION

Grantsmanship Tips101

Components of Strong Applications

Strong Idea +Strong Science

=Strong Application

Does it address an important problem?Will scientific knowledge be advanced?Does it build upon or expand current

knowledge?Is it feasible …

to implement? to investigate? in my hands/lab?

Good Idea

FURTHER DEVELOPING YOUR GOOD IDEA

UNDERSTAND THE MISSION OF THE NIH

Grantsmanship Tips101

Understanding the Mission

Mission of each NIH IC is based and defined in law Authorizations (create/continue an agency – periodic) Appropriations ($ for the agency – annual)

ICs establish specific research emphases Legislative mission Current state of science

Use the Web to find out!

www.nih.gov

Look for the IC Website of Interest

18

GRANTS.NIH.GOV

Identifying NIH Initiatives

Most NIH Institutes establish specific research Initiatives and Priorities Become knowledgeable about research and

researcher development activities at NIH and ICs related to your research interests

Read the web pages regularly Participate in IC workshops and programs (e.g.,

technical assistance workshops, webinars)Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs)

Must respond to a FOA via Grants.gov

20

GRANTS.NIH.GOV

NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts

Official publication listing NIH funding opportunities and policy notices Request for Applications (RFA) Program Announcements (PA, PAR,

PAS) Request for Proposals (RFP) Notices (NOT)

Published daily, distributed weekly

NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html

Identify NIH Funded Grants

See what research projects the NIH or any Institute has funded

Get to know projects that are ongoing in your research area

Find potential collaborators for your project and/or competition in the field

Determine if there are any potential projects eligible for supplement opportunities

Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool (RePORT)

http://report.nih.gov

A searchable database of federally supported biomedical research

Access reports, data, analyses, expenditures, results of NIH supported research activities

Identify, analyze IC research portfolios, funding patterns, funded investigators:

• Identify areas with many or few funded projects• Identify NIH-funded investigators and their

research• Identify potential mentors/collaborators

http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm

NIH RePORTer

Search Results

SEARCHING NIH WEBSITES IS A GOOD START

BUT FOLLOW UP WITH PERSONAL CONTACT

Contact NIH program staff early Ask what information would help them advise you about IC

interest & “goodness of fit” Are there related FOAs?

Grantsmanship Tips101

What should I talk about with a Program Official?28

Give us a thumb nail sketch of what you have in mind

Does the idea fit the Institute’s interests?Get information from us on FOAsWhat kinds of grant mechanisms can be

used and are there any priorities for those mechanisms?

Will the PO read a concept paper? Send one.

Email to set up a time to discuss—remember, this is advice, not obligation

What is a Concept Paper?29

A short summary of a project that serves as a “calling card” for the investigator

Components■ Initiative to which you are applying■ Study Goals■ Problem/Significance■ Research Question■ Hypotheses■ Design/Analysis■ Participants/Collaborators

ARE YOU READY TO WRITE?

GRANT WRITING IS A LEARNED SKILL Writing grant applications, standard operating protocols

and manuals of procedures that get approved are learned skills

Writing manuscripts that get published in peer reviewed journals is a learned skill

GRANTSMANSHIP IS A FULL TIME JOB Learn about the grant application process

Grantsmanship Tips101

Principles of Success

Understand the agency mission Every IC is different!

Understand the peer review processLearn and practice the skills of writing

applications for grant fundsSecure collaborators (mentors) to

complement your expertise and experience Don’t compete … collaborate!

Collaborate with Others

Collaborate with others In your department In other departments

Network at MeetingsStay connected to past

colleagues and mentorsUse technology (social

networking sites)Cultivate a strong

network that understands the funding process

Remember … Before you start

Talk to Program Staff at appropriate ICRead instructions for application formAre you a New or Early Stage Investigator?

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm

Know your audience Which Integrated Review Group (IRG) is most likely to

get your application?Propose research about which you are passionate and totally committed to doing

PRESENTING GOOD IDEAS CLEARLY

IS PARAMOUNT!

DEVELOPING YOUR IDEA

Grantsmanship Tips101

3 Simple Steps

3 Simple StepsRead the application

instructions carefullyRead the application

instructions carefullyDon’t forget … ... read the application

instructions carefully

Presentation Matters

Develop a Strong Research Plan

Grab the reader immediatelyState long-term objectives

AND expected impactExplicitly state hypotheses

and research question

Specific Aims

Develop a Strong Research Plan

Why is this research important?

Expands on the specific aimsIdentifies key themes of the

literature and links to specific aims

Critically analyzes existing literature

Documents a solid theoretical basis for your study

Background/Significance

Develop a Strong Research Plan

How previous work -- by you, your team, and others -- leads to this study

Demonstrate your experience, competence and likelihood of continued success

Must flow logically from literature review and major themes of the problem area

Preliminary Studies/Progress Report

Develop a Strong Research Plan

Does your plan flow logically from the literature review and prior studies?

How will each hypothesis be tested?

Do your measures capture the variables needed to test hypotheses?

Why did you choose those measures?

Methods and analyses must match

Approach

Develop a Strong Research Plan

For clinical studies be explicit and thorough in discussing intervention or system to be

studied target population inclusion and exclusion criteria independent and dependent

variables all measures and instruments power analyses

Approach-

Clinical Studies

Develop a Strong Research Plan

Failure to …

Document why the problem is important

Distinguish empirical findings from speculation

Critically analyze key themes in literature

Consider alternative perspectives

Read, understand, and cite the crucial studies

Common Miscues

Develop a Strong Research Plan

Superficial of unfocused research plan

Lack of sufficient detail

Unrealistically large amount of work

Lack of new or original ideas

Outdated methodology

Poorly written, difficult to follow

More Miscues

Ask Collaborators to Review Your Application

Show your draft application to: Your collaborators A colleague that does not know what you intend to do Someone who is not your best friend

Draft “reviewers” must understand: What you intend to do Why you believe it is important to do Exactly how you’re going to do it.If they don’t get it, you must revise your application!

ALIGN YOUR APPLICATION WITH THE REVIEW CRITERIA TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT:

Significance Investigator Innovation Approach Environment

Grantsmanship Tips101

Align with Review Criteria

1. Overall Impact2. 5 Core Review Criteria:

Significance Investigator Innovation Approach Environment

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-025.html

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-024.html

Review Criteria for Career Development Awards

CandidateCareer Development Plan Goals and ObjectivesResearch PlanMentor(s), Co-mentor(s), Consultants, CollaboratorsEnvironment & Institutional Commitment to

Candidate

Review Criteria compared: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/guidelines_general/Review_Criteria_at_a_glance.pdf

Final Priority Score

OVERALL IMPACTThe likelihood for the project to exert a sustained,

powerful influence on the research field(s) involved: in consideration of the following five core review criteria, and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project

proposed)

Address this on your Specific Aims page!

Align with Review Criteria

Scored Criteria Application

Significance Research Strategya. Significance

Investigator(s) Biosketch - Personal StatementLetters of Support

Innovation Research Strategyb. Innovation

Approach Research Strategyc. Approach

Environment Facilities & Other Resources

Other Review Considerations

Human subjectsAnimal care and useSelect agentsModel organism sharing planData sharing planThe FOA will list the review criteria and any additional issues that reviewers will be asked to evaluate.

G E T F E E D B A C K

S H O W YO U R D R A F T A P P L I C AT I O N TO A C O L L EA G U E

S H O W YO U R D R A F T A P P L I C AT I O N TO A C O L L EA G U E … W H O D O E S N OT A L R EA DY K N O W W H AT YO U I N T E N D TO D O

S H O W YO U R D R A F T A P P L I C AT I O N TO A C O L L EA G U E … W H O I S N OT YO U R B E S T F R I E N D

Grantsmanship Tips 101

YO U R D R A F T R E V I E W E RS N E E D TO U N D E R S TA N D What you intend to do Why you believe it is important to do Exactly how you are going to do it

I F T H E Y D O N ’ T G E T I T, YO U M U S T R E V I S E YO U R A P P L I C AT I O N .

L EAV E E N O U G H T I M E F O R R E V I S I O N S

Grantsmanship Tips101

PROVIDE A GOOD PRESENTATION

Grantsmanship Tips101

Keys to Good Presentation

Be realistic … not overly ambitiousDiscuss potential problem areas and possible solutionsBe explicit

Reviewers cannot read your mind! Don’t expect reviewers to read between the lines Don’t assume they know what you intend!

Get to the right review groupTitle, abstract, specific aims all point to the main goals of your

projectAttach a cover letter for the Center for Scientific Review

Division of Receipt and Referral suggest IC and review group assignment* outline areas of key expertise needed for appropriate

review do not name specific reviewers

* Consult with Program Official

Understand the dynamics of peer review:Reviewers will review many applicationsMake your application easy to read and easy to

understandThe impact and significance should be clear throughout

the applicationConvince them to be your advocate

Get them on your side!

GUIDANCE FOR A COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATION

Grantsmanship Tips101

Strong significance to an important problem in public health: IMPACT is high

High degree of novelty and innovation Strong track record by a well qualified applicant Clear rationale Relevant and supportive preliminary data Clear and focused approach that provides unambiguous

results Careful attention to details

— Spelling, punctuation, grammar, fonts, clarity of data, error bars, spelling, etc

Hallmarks of a Competitive Grant Application

How to assure that your application is competitive?

Good ideas, well presented always winThink clearlyWrite clearlyBe complete but not verboseNever lose sight of the significancePoint to the impactPay attention to details

FUNDING DECISIONS

Grantsmanship Tips101

• Scientific merit

• Program considerations

• Availability of funds

What Determines Which Applications Are Funded?

Remember how applications become grants

• Funding Decisions are based on:• scientific merit and impact• program considerations• available funds

• Funding Decisions are made by the Institute Director

AFTER PEER REVIEW

Grantsmanship Tips101

After the Review

• Read the summary statement• Reread the summary statement• Contact your program officer and be prepared to discuss:

• what the reviewers said about your application (after you have summary statement)

• Scores and percentiles• the likelihood of funding• the prospects of a revised application

• Wait for the AWARD, or• Listen to advice from Program Officer about options

If Not Funded, Try Again!

NIH Regional Seminars June 2013

You are in good companyKnow your optionsGet advice, RegroupContact your Program Officer

Revising and Resubmitting

Write A Clear Introduction SectionAddress All Criticisms ThoroughlyRespond ConstructivelyAcknowledge and Accept the Help of Reviewer

CommentsDon’t Be Argumentative!Don’t be Abrasive or Sarcastic!

Additional Supporting Material

Examples

Reviewers’ Concerns taken from Grant Applications and Summary Statements

# 1There is not a

CLEAR HYPOTHESIS, or

WELL DEFINED GOALS

Provide a focused hypothesis, objectivesDescribe the importance and relevance of your

problemBe clear on how your project will move the field

forward

# 2

The specific aims do NOT TEST the Hypothesis, or

the specific aims DEPEND on results from previous aims

The best applications are those with independent specific aims that address the targeted goals

# 3

The project is OVERLY AMBITIOUS

Set realistic goals for the budget and project period you propose

# 4

PRELIMINARY DATA are lacking

Include preliminary data for all aimsUse preliminary data to show knowledge of methods

and data analysesBut DO propose more than just confirming

preliminary results

# 5

It is not clear that the Investigator can do the PROPOSED RESEARCH

Don’t propose what you can’t doInclude Collaborators and Consultants on your

projectDescribe the value of datasets and experimental

models

# 6

The background section is MISSING KEY publications and experimental findings

Thoroughly describe the literature, especially controversies, but…. Support your views and ideas Be sure you have included key references

# 7Methodological details,

alternative approaches, or interpretation of data

are INADEQUATELY DESCRIBED

Don’t assume the reviewers know the methodsProvide other experimental directions you might use

should you encounter problemsShow the reviewers that you have thought about your

research plan

Three Simple Rules to remember when planning,

writing and submitting your application

Style Matters

Proofread for typo’s – they are not only annoying but detract from intelligibility

Organization - look at CSR Reviewer Resources to see what the REVIEWERS are instructed to evaluate; map the organization of your application to the Reviewers’ expectations – Significance is critical

Reference citations – make sure the references agree with the citations in the text; missing or erroneous errors are costly

Make figures LEGIBLE with labeled axes

Size Matters

Mind the page limits – Grants.gov will reject the application

Do not ‘overstuff’ by shifting content to a section where it does not belong (e.g., using Human Subjects section or appendix to spell out details of methodology)

Use limited space thoughtfully and effectively – don’t waste space on reiterating points

Make your application ‘read like butter’

Substance Matters

Focus on the MAIN objectivesClearly link methods to AIMs/ObjectivesKnow your audience – 3 (or so) assigned reviewers not all

of whom have focal expertise in your area.

Be FOCUSED, CONCISE AND SUCCINCT

http://public.csr.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx

"Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end, because once you get there, you can move mountains."

Where Do I Get More Information?

NIH homepage: http://www.nih.gov/

Office of Extramural Research (OER): http://www.grants.nih.gov

CSR website: http://www.csr.nih.gov/

Writing a SuccessfulCareer (K) Application

What is Different about K awards?

• Strategy

• Planning

• Application Requirement

• Review Criteria

Timeline for K Applications

Review:

Jun/July

Oct/Nov

Feb/Mar

Council:

October

January

May

Award Date:

December

April

July

Receipt Date:

Feb 12 (Mar

12)

Jun 12 (Jul

12)

Oct 12 (Nov

12)

Develop a Strategy (1 of 2)

Assess your career situation and needs. Find an experienced mentor(s) and collaborators.

Asses the field and the competition. See what is being funded by NIH: Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT).

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Can you fill in any gaps with collaborators or consultants?

Find out what resources and support your organization has and what additional support you will need.

Develop a Strategy (2 of 2)

Is there an added value to your receiving a K award? Why not another funding mechanisms?

Give yourself plenty of time to write the application, probably three to six months.

Know your organization's key contacts and internal procedures for electronic application.

Call an NIH Program Officer to discuss you research training needs and career development plans.

Plan Your Application

Coordinate the application with your mentor’s schedule. Remember that a K application is a collaboration between you and your mentor.

Make sure your planning and feedback are adequate by putting together your own review committee.

After you've settled on a project, draft a short description of your specific aims and discuss these with the committee.

Application Requirements

Candidate Qualifications, Career Goals and Objectives

Mentor (s), Collaborators, and Consultants

Institution Environment and Commitment to the Candidate

Specific Aims Research Strategy

Candidate’s Qualifications

Biographical Sketch:

Personal Statement: Your research experience and other qualifications for this K award.

Research Support: Your/colleagues accomplishments attesting to qualifications of the research team.

Candidate’s Background:

Coordinate with information in the Biographical Sketch, e.g., research and/or clinical training experience that has prepared you for the K award.

Career Goals and Objectives

Explain any new or enhanced research skills you will gain as a result of the K award.

Stress other activities that will enhance your research career, e.g., courses, techniques.

If you have changed research direction, discuss reasons for the change, and justify how it will help you to develop your research career.

Always provide a career development timeline, including plans to apply for subsequent grant support.

Mentor(s), Collaborators, Consultants

Each mentor must explain how he/she will contribute to the development of the candidate.

Discuss the research and also other activities, e.g., seminars, scientific meetings, presentations.

Document the sources and amounts of anticipated support for the candidate’s research project.

Discuss plans for transitioning the candidate to the independent investigator stage by the end of the K award.

Provide details for any previous experience as a mentor.

Institution’s Environment & Commitment

Document a strong, well-established research program related to the candidate's interests.

Experienced faculty, facilities and resources available for the candidate.

Opportunities for intellectual interactions, e.g., journal clubs, seminars, and presentations.

Commitment to the candidate’s career development independent of the K award.

Agree to provide adequate office and lab space, time and support to the candidate for the period of K award.

Specific Aims of the Project

Provide a clear statement of each aim’s objectives, for example:

To test a stated hypothesis

To create a novel design

To solve a specific problem

To challenge an existing paradigm

To address a critical barrier to progress in the field

To develop new technology

Research Strategy

Significance: Provide an explanation of the

importance of the problem you are trying to study.

Explain how your proposed study will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, or clinical practice in one or more fields.

Discuss how existing concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, or interventions may be impacted if the proposed aims are achieved.

Research Strategy

Innovation: Provide an explanation on how your

proposed research project may challenge current research or clinical practice paradigms.

Describe and fully discuss any novel theoretical concepts, approaches, methodologies, or interventions that may be developed or used.

Describe any advantage over existing approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.

Research Strategy

Approach:

Describe the methodology and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project.

Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims.

For early stages of development, describe strategies to establish feasibility and manage high-risk aspects of the proposed work.

Responsible Conduct of Research

Discuss the five components outlined in the NIH Policy: Format, Subject Matter, Faculty Participation, Duration, and Frequency.

Is the plan appropriate for your career stage, and will it enhance your understanding of ethical issues related to research?

Document any prior participation in RCR training and/or propose plans to receive additional instruction.

Career Award Review Criteria

Scored Review Criteria: Candidate Career Development Plan, Goals

and Objectives Research Plan Mentor(s), Consultants(s),

Collaborator(s) Environment and Institutional

Commitment to the Candidate

Career Award Review Criteria

Candidate: Research, academic and/or clinical record Commitment and potential to develop as

an independent and productive researcher

Quality of the letters of referenceCareer Development Plan, Goals and

Objectives: Contribute substantially to the scientific

development of candidate Content, scope, phasing, and duration of

the plan in the context of prior experience

Career Award Review Criteria

Research Plan:

Scientific and technical merit of the research question, design and methodology

Relevance of the proposed research to the candidate‘s career objectives

Appropriateness of the research plan to the stage of research development and as a vehicle for developing the research skills described in the career development plan

Career Award Review Criteria

Mentor(s), Consultants(s), Collaborator(s):

Qualifications, funding, and statement by Mentor(s), collaborators, and/or Consultants

Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate:

Assurance that minimum 75% effort will be devoted to research and related activities

Capable faculty and research facilities Assurance that institution intends for the

candidate to be an integral part of its research program

Career Award Review Criteria

Additional Review Criteria: Protection of Human Subjects Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and

Children Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals Biohazards

Additional Review Considerations: Responsible Conduct of Research Select Agents Resource Sharing Plans Budget and Period of Support

…AND WE HOPE YOU FIND SUCCESS WITH NIH

FUNDING !

Use all your NIH Resources