New NIH Research Plan

How To Get By With Fewer Pages

Effective January 25, 2010 and beyondInformation from Part 5. Research Plan of NIAID’s NIH Grants Cycle

Website

Changes to Consider Writing Tips Changes to Research Plan

◦ Specific Aims◦ Research Strategy

Overview

Error correction window extended following submission – 5 days◦ If corrections are submitted after the submission

deadline, NIH does not have to accept them. Biosketches: Personal statements for all

key investigators Introduction (revisions and resubmissions)

- 1 page Research plan length and sections

Changes to Consider

The goal of the proposed research is to investigate the interaction between drug abuse and normal

aging processes. Specifically, we plan to measure changes in cognitive ability and mental and physical

health across a five-year period in a group of older drug users and matched controls. I have the

expertise, leadership and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed work. I have a

broad background in psychology, with specific training and expertise in key research areas for this

application. As a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley, I carried out ethnographic and survey research and

secondary data analysis on psychological aspects of drug addiction. At the Division of Intramural

Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), I expanded my research to include

neuropsychological changes associated with addiction. As PI or co-Investigator on several previous

university- and NIH-funded grants, I laid the groundwork for the proposed research by developing

effective measures of disability, depression, and other psychosocial factors relevant to the aging

substance abuser, and by establishing strong ties with community providers that will make it possible to

recruit and track participants over time. In addition, I successfully administered the projects (e.g.

staffing, research protections, budget), collaborated with other researchers, and produced several peer-

reviewed publications from each project. As a result of these previous experiences, I am aware of the

importance of frequent communication among project members and of constructing a realistic research

plan, timeline, and budget. The current application builds logically on my prior work, and I have chosen

co-investigators (Drs. Gryczynski and Newlin) who provide additional expertise in cognition,

gerontology and geriatrics. In summary, I have a demonstrated record of successful and productive

research projects in an area of high relevance for our aging population, and my expertise and

experience have prepared me to lead the proposed project.

Changes to Consider: Sample Personal Statement

Five key points of focus for planning◦ Is your hypothesis sound?◦ Are specific aims logical and feasible?◦ Do you understand potential problems?◦ Can you analyze the data you collect?◦ Are you the ideal PI for the project?

Your research must answer your hypothesis!

Writing Tips

How Much Detail? The Challenge: Convey impact in less detail and

space Streamline – Only put in things that you plan to use.

◦ Focus on strategy◦ Only detail experiments that let you shine◦ Limit you aims

Know your audience - To whom will your proposal be going?◦ Detail depends upon the expertise of the reviewers.

Use graphics, flowcharts, and tables◦ Remember that figures can have fonts smaller than 11pt,

which can save space.

Writing Tips (cont.)

Writing Tips: Sample Figure

Questions?

The research plan is core of your proposal! Specific Aims Research Strategy

◦ Significance◦ Innovation◦ Approach

Preliminary Studies Progress Report

Changes to Research Plan

Length:1 page Convey the big picture: the impact of your

research on the field Market your application

◦ Impact of research◦ Reason for choosing the project◦ Significance and innovation◦ Write for experts and non-experts

Form the framework of the Research Strategy Your aims should test your hypothesis

Specific Aims

Have aims that are clearly achievable (about 1 aim per year with one to two sets of experiments per aim)

Remember: You do not have to accomplish everything

with one grant. You do not have to max out the budget

and/or time allowed.

Specific Aims (cont.)

Significance Innovation Approach

Create a header for each main section

R01’s and R15’s - 12 pages R03’s and R21’s – 6 pages

Research Strategy

What to Highlight State of your field and your long term

plans◦ Advancement of the field◦ Filling knowledge gaps in what is currently being

done◦ New and unique approaches◦ Related grants

Note how your work serves NIH’s mission to improve health through science.

This section influences to which institute your proposal is sent.

Significance

How Much Is Enough? How your work challenges or can

improve existing paradigms◦ Have a broad view of your field and the

significance of your research Why are you challenging existing

paradigms? How is your work ground breaking?

Be realistic; don’t propose too much!

Innovation

Organizing Experiments Use Specific Aims to order your Approach

◦ Enter a bold header for each Specific Aim For each aim, describe the first set of

experiments◦ Outline potential next steps

Provide a flowchart Demonstrate

◦ Your understanding of the work involved ◦ Your resources and expertise to conduct the

research

Approach

Experienced investigator? Cite relevant work

Early State/New investigator? Demonstrate ability to handle the experimental methods. Note prior use of the methods.

Enlist co-investigators who possess expertise that you lack – tailor biosketches to reflect this expertise

Give a timetable

Approach (cont.)

Approach: Sample Timetable

Wasted Space

Preliminary Studies (new applications) Can be a separate subsection or incorporated

into the rest of your Approach Give preliminary data which show you are on

the right track Interpret your data with a critical eye –

consider all possible conclusions Put more focus on data from your own lab; be

clear which data are yours ◦ Demonstrate your expertise◦ Establish your competence

Approach (cont.)

Progress Report (renewal or revision) Previous grant project beginning and end

dates Summarize the importance of your findings

in relation to Specific Aims Highlight achievements – note published

and unpublished results

Approach (cont.)

NIH’s Enhancing Peer Review website◦ http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/

NIAID’s NIH Grants Cycle◦ http://funding.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/cycle/default.ht

m

ORG website – writing tips, notices◦ http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/r&g/

Contact Brooke Davis, Ph.D., OUCOM Research Grants Developer, at davisb4@ohio.edu or 740-593-2304.

Contact your program officer Read the SF 424!

For More Information

Discussion