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Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program
Erica Brown, PhDDirector, NIH AREA ProgramNational Institutes of Health
1NIH Regional Seminar…Indianapolis, IN…April 2012
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OverviewOverview
• Background information on AREA program
• Applying for an AREA grant
• Funding for the AREA program
• Updates to the program
• Strategies for successfully competing for AREA funding
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BACKGROUND INFORMATIONBACKGROUND INFORMATION
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Purpose of the AREA ProgramPurpose of the AREA Program
Support small-scale research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences conducted by faculty and students in educational institutions that have not been major recipients of NIH research grant funds
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Goals of AREA ProgramGoals of AREA Program
• Support meritorious research
• Expose students to research
• Strengthen the research environment of the institution
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UNIQUE ASPECTS OF AREA UNIQUE ASPECTS OF AREA GRANT APPLICATIONSGRANT APPLICATIONS
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Applying for an AREA Grant…Applying for an AREA Grant…
• Funded through the R15 grant mechanism– Program Announcement (PA) Number: PA-12-006
• Receipt dates– AIDS-related research deadlines: May 7, September
7, and January 7
– Standard application deadlines: February 25, June 25, and October 25
• All NIH ICs participate in the AREA program except FIC,NIMHD, and NCATS
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Applying for an AREA Grant…Applying for an AREA Grant…
• Project period is limited up to 3 years
• Direct cost limited to $300,000 over entire project period
• Multiple PIs are allowed
• Research Strategy limited to 12 pages
• Grants are renewable
• Preliminary data are not required but are allowed
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Eligible InstitutionsEligible Institutions
• Institutions offering baccalaureate or advanced degrees in biomedical or behavioral sciences
• Receives less than $6 million per year in NIH support (averaged over 7 years)
• Applicants should consult the list of ineligible institutions on the AREA Program website– http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm
• Ineligible institutions may serve as collaborator/consultant on an AREA grant
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Eligible IndividualsEligible Individuals
• Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research– Primary faculty appointment at AREA eligible
institution
• PI can not have an active NIH research grant– May be a collaborator on an active NIH grant held by
another PI
• PI may not be awarded more than one AREA grant at a time
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Special Submission RequirementsSpecial Submission Requirements
• A profile of available and former students at the institution– Demographics
– Number who are enrolled in baccalaureate and doctoral degree programs (if applicable)
– Number who have obtained advanced degrees in the health-related sciences
• A description of the special characteristics of the institution that make it appropriate for an AREA grant
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Special Submission RequirementsSpecial Submission Requirements
• A brief description of the resources available at other proposed research sites
• A statement of institutional support for the proposed research project
• Evidence of the PI’s experience in supervising students on a research project– Summary in Personal Statement (Biosketch)
– Highlight publications that involved students
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A Special Note about the BudgetA Special Note about the Budget
• Unlike most NIH grants, funds for all project years are awarded upfront (project start date)
• Include the total requested budget for all years of the proposed project in Budget Period 1.
– For example, if applying for a 3-year grant, request all funds in year 1.
• If the direct costs for all years is $250,000 or less, use the Modular Budget format
• If the direct costs for all years is more than $250,000, use the R&R Detailed Budget
• Note: Progress reports still due annually
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FUNDING STATISTICS FOR FUNDING STATISTICS FOR AREA PROGRAMAREA PROGRAM
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NIH Funding Statistics for AREA ProgramNIH Funding Statistics for AREA Program
Excludes awards made with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds
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Policy Changes in FY 2010Policy Changes in FY 2010
• Increased the cap on direct costs from $150,000 to $300,000 for up to 3 years
• Increased institutional eligibility cap from $3M to $6M per year
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NIH Funding Statistics for AREA ProgramNIH Funding Statistics for AREA Program
Excludes awards made with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds
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IC Funding Statistics for 2011IC Funding Statistics for 2011
NIH Institutes/Centers
Applications Reviewed
Applications Awarded
Success Rate
NIAAA 9 1 11.1%NIA 66 7 10.6%NIAID 172 29 16.9%NIAMS 49 6 12.2%NCCAM 24 4 16.7%NCI 185 23 12.4%NIDA 34 6 17.6%NIDCD 23 9 39.1%NIDCR 18 4 22.2%NIDDK 53 8 15.1%NIBIB 31 3 9.7%NIEHS 47 4 8.5%NEI 20 2 10.0%NIGMS 313 62 19.8%NICHD 114 8 7.0%NHGRI 6 1 16.7%NHLBI 111 9 8.1%NLM 2 0 0.0%NIMH 49 5 10.2%NINR 38 2 5.3%NINDS 87 22 25.3%NCRR 3 1 33.3%FY Total 1454 216 14.9%
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WHAT’S NEW?WHAT’S NEW?
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Recent Changes to the Review of Recent Changes to the Review of AREA GrantsAREA Grants
• Cluster AREA grants within study sections or in Special Emphasis Panels (SEPs)
• Greater inclusion of AREA community in review panels
• Revised and Clarified the AREA Program Announcement (PA)– FY 2013 (Feb. 25 receipt date)
• Educate reviewers about the unique aspects of AREA grants and the changes to the PA
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Changes to AREA PAChanges to AREA PA
• Strengthened language about inclusion of students– “Encouraged” to “should”
• Clarified budget language– Request entire budget in Budget Period 1
– Modular budget vs. detailed budget format
• Revised review criteria– Evaluate goals of program
– Evaluate all R15 special submission requirements
– Softened language of the expected Overall Impact and Significance of the proposed research
• Implementation: FY 2013 (Feb. 25, 2012 receipt date)
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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSSTRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
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Build and Sustain a Vital Research Build and Sustain a Vital Research EnvironmentEnvironment
• Understand the NIH extramural research program
– Know the guidelines, deadlines, submission & correction process, and review criteria
• Make a commitment to establishing an environment in which research can succeed
– Start up packages for equipment and supplies
– Credit for student involvement in research
• Consider the importance of collaborative research in establishing a successful research environment
– Tenure decisions
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• Do not pressure investigators to apply if their projects are not ready for peer review
– Only 2 submissions allowed per project
– Quality over quantity; submit best application
• Help investigators with the “Facilities and Other Resources” section of application– Profile of student body
– Description of the institution and research environment
– Letter of institutional commitment to research project
Build and Sustain a Vital Research Build and Sustain a Vital Research EnvironmentEnvironment
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Strategies of Successful InvestigatorsStrategies of Successful Investigators
• Find the NIH Institute or Center that supports your area of research– Research objectives of the NIH Institute and Centers
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area_grant_objectives.htm
– AREA contacts at each NIH Institute and Center http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent_R15.html
• Include a cover letter suggesting an appropriate Institute and up to three appropriate study sections
– Study Section expertise http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescriptionNew/
– Study Section rosters http://www.csr.nih.gov/Roster_proto/sectionI.asp
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Strategies of Successful InvestigatorsStrategies of Successful Investigators
• Include a collaborator or consultant if you don’t have the necessary expertise or resources
• Understand the review criteria and the review criteria questions
– Each question should be addressed in the application
• In resubmitted applications, respond thoroughly and diplomatically to all of the reviewer comments
• AREA grant is a research award, not a training award
– Focus on hands-on research not course work
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Strategies of Successful InvestigatorsStrategies of Successful Investigators
• Address the AREA-specific programmatic goals in the application
– Support meritorious research
• Research should contribute to the field
• Results should be publishable
– Expose students to research
• Profile of available and former students at the institution
• Experience of the investigator in working with students
• How students will be incorporated into the research project
• How students will benefit from this research experience
– Strengthen the research environment
• The suitability of the institution for an award
• The impact the AREA grant will have on the institution
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Thank you…Thank you…
Erica Brown, PhDDirector, NIH AREA Program
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