International Environmental Health Conference Presented by:

John S. Petterson, Ph.D.

Director, Sequoia Foundation

Sponsored by:

Shanghai Health Bureau

Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention

California Department of Health Services

Environmental Health Investigations Branch

National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Program

Sequoia Foundation

Shanghai, People’s Republic of China April 6-8, 2004

Overview of Presentation

Sources of Money (Tom Kelly) Kinds of Requests (RFP, unsol., invited) Purpose of the Proposal Components of Proposal – and

Weighting Structure of Proposal Preparing a Budget Proposal Review Process Award Process Managing and Administering Grant

Sources of Money

Tom Kelly

Purpose of the Proposal

To win

Kinds of “Requests for Proposal”

Many names for “money is available” Unsolicited Proposals “Requests for Proposals” (RFP)

Specific Area General Areas – Quarterly/Annually

“Requests for Applications” (RFA) Granting Agency or Foundation “Areas of

Interest” Contracts

Components of the “Request for Proposals”

Purpose of this RFA Research Objectives Mechanism of Support Funds Available (expected award

level) Eligible Institutions Individuals Eligible to be Principal

Investigators Special Requirements Where to Send Inquiries Letter of Intent Submitting an Application Peer Review Process Review Criteria Award Criteria

Components of the Proposal

Face Page Description, Performance Sites, Key

Personnel Table of Contents Detailed Budget (Initial Budget Period) Budget for Entire Proposed Period of

Support Biographical Sketch Format Page (&

Sample) Resources Research Plan Human Subjects Appendix. Checklist. Personal Data

FORM PHS 398: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html#forms

Components of the Research Plan

Specific Aims (1 page) Background and Significance (2-3

pages) Preliminary Studies (6-8 pages) Research Design and Methods

(remainder of 25 pages) Literature Cited

(not counted in total pages) Appendix (additional materials,

not counted in total pages)

Specific Aims

Larger long-term goal Specific objectives to be

accomplished Solve a specific problem? Test a specific hypothesis? Create new methods? Develop new technology?

Background and Significance

Background leading to present application

Critical review of existing knowledge

Identification of data or analytic gaps to be filled

Importance and health relevance of the proposed research

Preliminary Studies

Prior studies of pertinence completed by proposed P.I

Information reflecting experience and competence of the specific investigator to pursue the proposed project.

Likelihood of project success (information considered essential by Review Committee)

Research Design and Methods

Describe the research design and procedures to be used to accomplish the specific aims

How data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted

Data sharing plan as appropriate Describe any new methodology and its

advantage over existing methodologies Discuss the potential difficulties and

limitations of the proposed procedures and possible alternative approaches

Schedule or timetable Identify any procedures, situations, or

materials that may be hazardous to staff or subjects precautions to be employed

Budget Design-1

PERSONNEL Name Role on Project Type of Appointment/Months Percent of Effort on Project Institutional Base Salary Salary Requested Fringe Benefits Total

Budget Design-2

CONSULTANT COSTS EQUIPMENT (Itemize) SUPPLIES (Itemize by category) TRAVEL OTHER EXPENSES

Proposal Review Process

Who reviews the proposals? What are they looking for? “Preliminary” screening Reviewer “principles” – finding the

most important proposal, most likely to succeed

50,000 federal grants/year, 4 reviewers (minimum) each

Each reviewer must evaluate many proposals – really seeking “easy” or obvious reasons to eliminate proposals

General Principles-1

Objective is to WIN Assume YOU are doing the evaluation Most important component is the “so

what?” -- why is this project worth funding?

Make your case clearly, confidently ! “Everything counts” – attention to

detail critical – all components must function as integrated “whole”

The “first” grant is the hardest!

General Principles-2

Funders looking for reason NOT to give you the money (i.e., very competitive) Is the project important? Is it “doable” as presented? Is this team capable of doing it? What is the likelihood of success?

Technical approach & methods Personnel expertise & mix – proven

ability to complete projects Management indicators