grant writing
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Grant WritingAn Overview
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
What is a grant?
• “A grant is a mechanism by which an agency awards money to fund a research study or other activity, such as an educational program, service program, demonstration, or research project.”
Gitlin, Laura N., Kevin J. Lyons. Successful Grant Writing: Strategies for Health and
Human Service Professionals. 2nd ed. (2004).p.xi
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Why apply for a grant?• Advance scientific knowledge in your field AND advance your professional
career
• A grant means that experts in the field acknowledge your idea as important and worthy of public or private support.
• A grant means an enhanced prestige of your institution.
• A grant means a contribution to the financial health of your department, school or agency
• A grant means new opportunities for your research assistants.
• A grant means a new program that otherwise can be too expensive for your institution to support and implement
(Gitlin & Lyons, 2004)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Why start now?
Grant writing is an important part of your professional growth strategy. It should become a long-range plan for your professional growth and development:
• Build individual credentials• Build a track record of funding• Work on teams with more experienced researchers• Develop a plan for long-range, personal development
(Gitlin & Lyons, 2004)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
How do I get a grant?
Federal Agency Private Foundation Corporation
Getting Financial Support
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Funding = your interest + the interests of a funding agency
• “No matter how good your idea and how well-written your proposal, if the agency to which you are applying is not interested in your project, you will not be funded!”
Rief-Lehrer, Liane. Grant Application Writer’s Handbook.
4th ed. (2005)
Photo by Anne Hornyak
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Federal Government
• The majority of grants are received through the federal agencies.
• The Public Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S.Department of Education have a variety of programs of potential interest to the health professionals.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of DHHS.
photo by Shubert
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Private Foundations
• 700,000+ U.S. foundations offer grants to individuals, institutions, or other non-profit groups.
• Generally only independent foundations and community foundations provide grants to independent investigators.
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Corporations
• Large corporations are interested in the testing or evaluation of their own products. The private sector is a potential source of funding.
• Corporations provide grants for research projects that advance the interests of the company.
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
In this tutorial, we’ll be focusing on federal grants.
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• The Federal focal point for medical research in the United States.
• NIH is comprised of 27 separate components (Institutes and Centers)
• The majority of NIH funding is distributed in the form of grants.
• To fulfill its mission, NIH:– Supports the research of
non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions in the United States and abroad
(Reif-Lehrer, 211)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Mission of NIH
• Understanding what research NIH funds and why it does so can help you focus your application.
• NIH's mission is to create fundamental knowledge about living systems and apply that knowledge to reduce human illness and disability.
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
NIH Agency’s Mission
• Your project should meet the mission of the institute or agency likely to fund it.– For example: As one of NIH's 27 semi-autonomous
institutes, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports basic and applied research to understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
NIH Institutes and Centers
• http://www.nih.gov/icd/index.html
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Glossary of NIH Terms
• IC - Institutes and Centers• PI - Principle Investigator (an individual, a recipient of the grant)• PA - Program Announcement• RFA - Request for Applications• FOA - Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA or RFA)• CSR - Center for Scientific Review
For a complete list of terms and abbreviations click here
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
What are the types of projects that receive funding?
• Projects of High Scientific Caliber:– NIH looks for grant
proposals of high scientific caliber that are relevant to public health needs and are within NIH Institute and Center (IC) priorities. ICs highlight their research priorities on their Web sites.
• Investigator-Initiated Research– NIH strongly encourages
investigator-initiated research across the spectrum of their mission. They issue hundred of FOAs in the form of PAs and RFAs to stimulate research in particular areas of science.
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
What are Parent Announcements?
• Parent Announcements are requests for investigator-
initiated, unsolicited research grant applications that
do not fall within the scope of targeted
announcements.
• The majority of NIH applications are submitted in
response to parent announcements.
• Parent Announcements are also used for conference
and scientific meetings grants
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Uniqueness
• By law, NIH cannot support a project already funded or pay for research that has already been done.
Photo by Knokton
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Types of NIH Grants
• NIH grants are grouped into “Series”, all of which are grouped according to the type of research being conducted.
– Research Grants (R series)– Career Development Awards (K series)– Research Training and Fellowships (T & F series)– Program Project/Center Grants (P series)– Resource Grants (various series)– Trans-NIH Programs
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Understanding Grant Process
Step I (12-14 months)
SubmittingSubmit application to NIH/Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR), Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
using Grants.gov and eRA Commons for electronic submission
Writing (1-2 months)Begin writing several months prior to deadline.
Planning (10-12 months)Start early, collect preliminary data,
establish internal deadlines.
Start here
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Understanding Grant Process
Step II (3 months)
Scientific Review Officer (SRO) assigns application to reviewers and readers.
CSR assigns applicationto an NIH Institute/Center (IC) and a Scientific Review Group (SRG).
Application Arrives at CSRApplication compliant with NIH policies are assigned for review and funding consideration.
You've submitted your application
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Understanding Grant ProcessStep III (4 months)
Congratulations!A fundable score results in award
Not FundedNIH has resources available to help applicants prepare a possible application revision and resubmission.
Post Review
Second Level of ReviewThe Advisory Council/Board of the potential awarding IC performs the second level of review.
NIH program staff members examine application priority scores and consider these against the IC’s needs.
Statement SummaryWithin one or two months of the SRG meeting, a summary statement will be available to the Principal Investigator
Priority ScoreEach reviewer marks a score sheet with a numerical score
Subsequently, the scores from all of the SRG members are averaged to produce a single score
Initial Level of ReviewScientific Review Group (SRG) members review and evaluate application
for scientific merit.
Your Application is assigned to Peer Review
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Priority Scores
The lowest scores indicate the highest level of merit.
• 100-150: Outstanding• 150-200: Excellent• 200-250: Very Good• 250-350: Good• 350-500: Acceptable
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Competition
• The NIH receives thousands of applications for each application receipt round. Funding on the first attempt is difficult, but not impossible.
Photo by Marc Soller
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Planning
• Develop your ideas for funding– An idea must fit with your long term career interests, as well
as the interests of a funding source– Examine these seven sources:
• Clinical or professional experience• Professional literature• Communications with colleagues and funded investigators• Social trends• Legislative initiatives• Public documents• Goals and priorities of funding agencies
(Gitlin, 59)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
“Even the best idea will not be funded unless it matches the interest of a funding agency. Competitive ideas must reflect both contemporary thought in a field and the interests of an agency”
(Gitlin, 66)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
More Planning
• Learn about your institution– Knowing your institution’s policies early in the
proposal development will help you expedite the process, prepare a budget, and complete the application.
– If your research proposal involves human subjects, plan ahead for its approval by your Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to conducting any type of research.
(Gitlin, 69)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Searching for Grants
• Determine what type of grant you will be using and
which IC is most appropriate to fund this type of
research
• Search for the proper FOA through grants.gov
• Once you have identified the FOA, read the FOA in
detail, read the instructions carefully and follow the
instructions exactly
Finding and Applying for NIH Grants. SJM Family Foundation, Inc., 2008. p.21
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Search Exercise
Click here
Take 5 minutes to search for a grant on the www.grants.gov web site.
Suggested topic: obesity and diabetes in children
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Writing
• Be prepared to write, rewrite, and rewrite.• Writing takes time; plan a working schedule.• A well-written proposal should be clear,
focused and precise.• A poorly written proposal has the potential to
limit the chances of having a competitive idea funded.
(Gitlin, 149)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Tips for Grant Writing
• Follow an outline• Prepare figures, tables, and
images before you write your proposal
• Be accurate• Be clear & consistent• Use words correctly
• Use sentences of 17 to 23 words
• Start paragraphs with clear, informative topic sentences
• Think about style• Know when to avoid
highly technical language
(Reif-Lehrer ,137-145)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Submitting an Application
• Applications are submitted electronically.• NIH expects applications to be submitted on-time.• Electronic submission involves two separate systems
working together: Grants.gov and eRA Commons.• Grants.gov requires a one-time registration by the
applicant organization. The applicant organization and the Principle Investigator (PI) must also complete a one-time registration in the eRA Commons.
(NIH Guide to Writing a Grant, 20.)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Strategies for Novice Grant Writers
• Identify a research area• Start a comprehensive literature review• Develop a presentation at the professional meeting• Write an article and submit to a smaller, local or state journal.• Contact a publisher in your field and offer to review books• Get experience in conducting research• Seek out funding for a small project first• Collaborate with experienced researches
(Gitlin, 17)
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Understanding the NIH Review Process
• Evaluative Criteria:– Significance– Approach– Innovation– Investigator– Environment
Click here to view a video on Peer Review at NIH
(39 minutes) This video is recommended but not required for a completion of the
tutorial.
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Recommended Resources
• “Grants and Funding” BU Medical Library subject guide
• Gitlin, Laura N., Kevin J. Lyons. Successful Grant Writing: Strategies for Health and
Human Service Professionals. 2nd ed. (2004).
• Rief-Lehrer, Liane. Grant Application Writer’s Handbook.
4th ed. (2005)
• Finding and Applying for NIH Grants. SJM Family Foundation, Inc., 2008.
• Grant Process Overview - from Office of Extramural Research, NIH
MS 640: Introduction to Biomedical Information
Questions?
Please contact your section instructor
http://courseinfo.bu.edu/courses/09sprggmsms640_a1/
Thank you!