Yuan Liu, PhDYuan Liu, PhD

Chief, Office of International ActivitiesChief, Office of International ActivitiesDirector, Computational Neuroscience and Director, Computational Neuroscience and

Neuroinformatics ProgramNeuroinformatics ProgramNINDS, NIHNINDS, NIH

Penn State Penn State August 28, 2007August 28, 2007

NIH GrantsmanshipNIH GrantsmanshipElements of SuccessElements of Success

2Dr. Yuan Liu, NINDS, NIH8/28/2007

Office of the Director

National Instituteon Alcohol Abuseand Alcoholism

National Instituteof Arthritis andMusculoskeletal

and Skin Diseases

National CancerInstitute

National Instituteof Diabetes andDigestive and

Kidney Diseases

National Instituteof Dental andCraniofacial

Research

National Instituteon Drug Abuse

National Instituteof Environmental Health Sciences

National Instituteon Aging

National Instituteof Child Health

and HumanDevelopment

National Institute onDeafness and Other

CommunicationDisorders

National EyeInstitute

National HumanGenome Research

Institute

National Heart,Lung, and Blood

Institute

National Instituteof Mental Health

National Instituteof NeurologicalDisorders and

Stroke

National Instituteof General

Medical Sciences

National Instituteof Nursing Research

National Libraryof Medicine

Center for InformationTechnology

Center for Scientific Review

National Centerfor Complementary

and AlternativeMedicine

National Instituteof Allergy and

Infectious Diseases

National Centerfor ResearchResources

Clinical Center

National Center on Minority Health andHealth Disparities

National Institute of Biomedical Imagingand Bioengineering

FogartyInternational

Center

National Institutes of Health

How does NIH Support Research?How does NIH Support Research?• GrantsGrants

• Investigator-initiatedInvestigator-initiated research grants (majority) research grants (majority)• Program Announcements (multiple receipt dates)Program Announcements (multiple receipt dates)• Request for Applications (one time with set-aside $)Request for Applications (one time with set-aside $)

• ContractsContracts• Cooperative AgreementsCooperative Agreements

NIH GuideNIH Guide http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.htmlhttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html

R01R01 February 5February 5 June 5June 5 October 5October 5R21, R03R21, R03 February 16February 16 June 16June 16 October 16October 16

Review Review JuneJune OctoberOctober FebruaryFebruaryCouncil Council SeptemberSeptember JanuaryJanuary MayMayAwardAward DecemberDecember AprilApril JulyJuly

Cycle ICycle I Cycle IICycle II Cycle IIICycle III

There are three overlapping cycles per yearThere are three overlapping cycles per year

When to Submit Your Application?When to Submit Your Application?

What Happens to Your Application?

PIGrant

Application

Funding Institute

Program DirectorsAdvisory CouncilInstitute Director

Grants Management

Review

Initial Review Group Study Sections

Scientific Review Administrators

CSRReferral Office

Grant Award

What Should Be in the Application?What Should Be in the Application?

Face Page – Title of ProjectFace Page – Title of Project AbstractAbstract Key PersonnelKey Personnel BudgetBudget Biographical SketchBiographical Sketch ResourcesResources Research PlanResearch Plan

Specific AimsSpecific Aims Background and SignificanceBackground and Significance Preliminary StudiesPreliminary Studies Research Design and MethodsResearch Design and Methods Human Subjects and Vertebrate AnimalsHuman Subjects and Vertebrate Animals Literature CitedLiterature Cited Letters of SupportLetters of Support

Abstract

• Research goal and rationalResearch goal and rational

• General hypothesis and aimsGeneral hypothesis and aims

• Methodological approachesMethodological approaches

• SignificanceSignificance

Specific Aims

• Hypothesis-driven Hypothesis-driven

• FocusedFocused

• RealisticRealistic

Background

• Intimate familiarity with the fieldIntimate familiarity with the field• In-depth knowledge about the In-depth knowledge about the

researchresearch• Thorough literature reviewThorough literature review• Appropriate creditAppropriate credit

Preliminary Studies

• Demonstrate expertise & feasibilityDemonstrate expertise & feasibility

• Appropriate amountAppropriate amount

• Critical interpretationCritical interpretation

Design and Methods

• Hypothesis-driven, not “fishing expedition”Hypothesis-driven, not “fishing expedition”• Use sate-of-the art technologiesUse sate-of-the art technologies• Address pitfalls and alternative plansAddress pitfalls and alternative plans• Apply appropriate statistical and/or Apply appropriate statistical and/or

informatics analysisinformatics analysis• Provide adequate detailsProvide adequate details

What is a Study Section?

What is a Study Section?

What are the Review Criteria?

• SignificanceSignificance

• ApproachApproach

• InnovationInnovation

• InvestigatorInvestigator

• EnvironmentEnvironment

Significance

• Does this study address an important Does this study address an important problem?problem?

• If the aims of the application are achieved, If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced?how will scientific knowledge be advanced?

• What will be the effect of these studies on What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this the concepts or methods that drive this field?field?

Approach

• Are the conceptual framework, design, Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project?appropriate to the aims of the project?

• Does the applicant acknowledge Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? alternative tactics?

Innovation

• Does the project employ novel concepts, Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods?approaches or methods?

• Are the aims original and innovative?Are the aims original and innovative?

• Does the project challenge existing Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies? or technologies?

Investigator

• Is the investigator appropriately Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out trained and well suited to carry out this work?this work?

• Is the work proposed appropriate to Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers?investigator and other researchers?

Environment• Does the scientific environment in which Does the scientific environment in which

the work will be done contribute to the the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?probability of success?

• Do the proposed experiments take Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements?collaborative arrangements?

• Is there evidence of institutional support?Is there evidence of institutional support?

What do the Reviewers Want to Know?What do the Reviewers Want to Know?• WHYWHY is your research important? is your research important?

(background, significance, innovation)(background, significance, innovation)

• WHATWHAT are you proposing to do? are you proposing to do?(research plan, specific aims)(research plan, specific aims)

• HOWHOW are you going to do it? are you going to do it?(approaches, experimental design, method and analysis)(approaches, experimental design, method and analysis)

• Are Are YOUYOU the best person to do it? the best person to do it?(investigator, preliminary data, environment)(investigator, preliminary data, environment)

How is an Application Reviewed?How is an Application Reviewed?• Primary reviewerPrimary reviewer

• Describes application and provides critiques (5-10 min)Describes application and provides critiques (5-10 min)

• Secondary reviewer(s)Secondary reviewer(s)• Adds differences or enhancements to the primary (1-2 min)Adds differences or enhancements to the primary (1-2 min)

• CommitteeCommittee• General discussion (all members)General discussion (all members)

• ScoreScore• First given by assigned reviewersFirst given by assigned reviewers• All committee members then give individual score All committee members then give individual score

• SRASRA• Calculates the score and the percentileCalculates the score and the percentile• Prepares the Summary StatementPrepares the Summary Statement

What are in the Summary Statement?What are in the Summary Statement?

SUMMARY STATEMENTDr. John Johnson ( Privileged Communication ) Release Date: 03/01/2006(301) 496-0000JJ00@.nih.gov

SMITH, JOE PHD Application Number: 2 R01 MH99999-06A1UNIVERSITY OF SAN SIMEONDEPT OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY10550 CASTLE ROADSAN SIMEON, CA 93452

Review Group: LAMNeurobiology of Learning and Memory Study Section

 Meeting Date: 02/16/2006Council: MAY 2006 PCC: 72-NBTRequested Start: 07/01/2006 Dual IC(s): NSDA  Project Title: NEURAL CONTROL OF INVOLUNTARY EXUBERANCE SRG Action: Priority Score: 138 Percentile: 3.5Human Subjects: 10-NO HUMAN SUBJECTS INVOLVEDAnimal Subjects: 30-ANMLS INV.-VERIFIED, NO SRG CONCERNS OR COMMENT

 

What is the Next Step?What is the Next Step?Two stages of review:Two stages of review:• Study SectionStudy Section

• Scientific and technical meritScientific and technical merit

• National Advisory CouncilNational Advisory Council• Scientific, clinical and lay representationScientific, clinical and lay representation• Focus on policy and strategyFocus on policy and strategy• Make recommendations to the Institute Make recommendations to the Institute

DirectorDirector

What are the Funding Criteria?What are the Funding Criteria?

• Scientific MeritScientific Merit• Priority score/percentile Priority score/percentile

• Program RelevanceProgram Relevance• Is the project related to the mission of the funding Is the project related to the mission of the funding

institute?institute?

• Program BalanceProgram Balance• Are many similar projects already funded?Are many similar projects already funded?

• Availability of FundsAvailability of Funds• Dose the funding institute have sufficient resources Dose the funding institute have sufficient resources

available at the time?available at the time?

What is the Outcome of Review?What is the Outcome of Review?

• Fundable Fundable Receive fundingReceive funding

• Gray ZoneGray Zone Contact Program Contact Program DirectorDirector

• UnfundableUnfundable ResubmissionResubmission

How to Write a Successful How to Write a Successful Revised Application?Revised Application?

• Respond to Respond to AllAll criticisms criticisms

• Provide explicit responsesProvide explicit responses

• Supply additional data and materialSupply additional data and material

• Be Be politepolite

• Be Be persistentpersistent!!

Pearl of WisdomPearl of Wisdom

• Do not submit prematurely• Follow instructions• Be a “reviewer” of your own application• Have at least three people read your

application prior to submission • Write clearly!

“All About Grants” Tutorials

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/ The NIH Peer Review Process

http://cms.csr.nih.gov/AboutCSR/OverviewofPeerReviewProcess.htm

NIH Guidehttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html

NIH CSR Study Section Rosterhttp://www.csr.nih.gov/Roster_proto/sectionI.asp

NIH Institutes Centers and Officeshttp://www.nih.gov/icd/

Some Useful Websites

Funding Opportunities - Bioengineering

• PA-06-418 Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) [R21]

• Innovative, high risk/high impact research in new areas• Minimal or no preliminary data required

• PA-07-279 Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) [R01]

• Basic and applied multi-disciplinary research• Important biological, bioengineering or medical problems• Hypothesis-driven, discovery-driven or design-directed

• PAR-07-352 Bioengineering Research Partnerships (BRP) [P01]

• Multi-disciplinary research team• Integrative, systems approaches

http://www.becon.nih.gov/becon_funding.htm#becon

Funding Opportunities – Computational & Informatics

• PA-06-411 Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21)

• Innovative, with high risk/high impact research in new areas• Minimal or no preliminary data required

• PAR-07-344 Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R01)

• Database design, graphical interfaces, data querying, retrieval, visualization, manipulation, integration and analytical tools

• Computational modeling & simulation

• PAR-07-235 Continued Development and Maintenance of Software

• Continued development, maintenance, testing and evaluation of existing biomedical informatics/computational biology software and its applications to broader biomedical research communities

http://www.bisti.nih.gov/bistic_funding.cfm