GrantspersonshipGrantspersonship --- ---International grant applicationInternational grant application

Lin Lu

Workshop outlineWorkshop outline

• Introduction to grant writing

The process of obtaining a grant Key component of grant applications

Types of grantsTypes of grants

Objective Training/career Research Conference Equipment infrastructure

Form Investigator-initiated ---individual----groups “set-aside” grants contracts

Sources of grantsSources of grants

Government

-NNSF

-NIH

-NSFNon-government

organization

-WHO

Private foundation

Health Voluntaries- --Chinese Medical

Association

- Corporations- --Pfizer Inc.

Why people don’t get fundedWhy people don’t get funded

• Because it is too hard?

• Inadequate concept

• Poor presentation

• Poor understanding of process

• Lack of persistence

Part 1:

The process of getting a grant

The processThe processPreparing

1. Establish frame of mind

2. Develop concept (>3 m)

3. Identify funding source

4. Inform your institute

5. Refine concept

Writing6. Think like a reviewer

7. Outline, write, edit

8. Get feedback & revise

Submitting9. Get approvals (2-60 d)

10. Request assignment

11. Submit application (0 d)

12. Provide add’l materials

13. Ensure receipt

Responding14. Await review

15. Study report

16. Respond to report

Think ahead and plan backwards

Phase1: PreparingPhase1: Preparing

1. Establish frame of mind

2. Develop concept

3. Identify funding source

4. Inform your institute

5. Refine concept

1. Establish frame of mind1. Establish frame of mind

Often: little enthusiasm Better: a wonderful opportunity

2. Develop a concept that 2. Develop a concept that FITSFITS

Fills a gap in knowledge Important to

-the field

-funding agency

-you Tests a hypothesis

-(if possible)

-provides measurable results Short-term investment in long-term goals

Getting information on Getting information on agencies that fund researchagencies that fund research

InternetColleaguesAcknowledgements on paperAdministration at your institution

3. Identify funding source3. Identify funding source

Improve odds: match objectives

-research interests

-your personal characteristics

. Career phase

. Gender, ethnicity

Communicative with program staff !!!

Information to collect Information to collect

Is concept relevant Current instructions Who reviews What are criteria Funding

-percentage

-level (amount, year)

-experience

4. Inform those involved 4. Inform those involved

Funding agency: letter of intent

- required

. Screening mechanism

- optional

. Administrative planning

Individuals at your institution

- administration

- assistants

People to give feedback

5. Refine your concept5. Refine your concept

Review current literature Talk with colleagues Think hard

6. Outline, Write, and Edit6. Outline, Write, and Edit

Begin with a full outline 1-2 d

Write initial draft without editing 2-3 wk

Edit thoroughly 2-3 wk

4-6 wk

7. Think Like a Reviewer7. Think Like a Reviewer

Time spent reading proposalTime spent reading proposal

Primary reviewer 7-8 hrSecondary reviewer 1 hrsDiscussion at study section 20 min

Survey by Janet Rasey of NIH R01 proposals reviews

ImplicationsImplications Anticipate question, provide answers Know and use the review criteria1. Significance2. Innovation3. Approach4. Investigate5. Environment also: ethical conduct of research

Sample review criteriaSample review criteria

NIH

Significance

Approach

Innovation

Investigator

Environment

NSF

Intellectual merit

“Broader impacts”

American Cancer Society

Scientific merit

Investigator

Environment

Control cancer, benefit pts.

Pew Charitable Trusts

Fits their mission

Quality

Accountability

Sound design

General organizationGeneral organization Use headings frequently Write in paragraphs

-1 major idea per paragraph

- topic sentences

- initial paragraphs of section most important

Have a table of contents

Make it easy to find key points

- bold face • headings • terms - cross reference - some redundancy

Appearance Appearance

Select good type face good

Times Roman

Century Schoolbook

- size > 11 pt

- occasionally use special fonts

let your text - indent paragraphs

- skip line between paragraphs

Conform to instructions!

- type size - margins

- # pages - sections

A. A. Background and Significance

B. The importance of training in “survival skills.” Success in science requires a solid background in a specific scientific discipline as well as extensive laboratory experience. However, for individuals to develop into accomplished professional, they must acquire survival skills, that is , they must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, obtain employment and funding, manage stress and time, teach, and behave responsibly (Bloom 1992; Bird 1994; national Academy of Sciences 1995).This has always been the case and is becoming even more true as our doctoral and postdoctoral trainees need to be prepared for a variety of vocations (National Academy of Science 1995; Varmus 1995)

In addition to traditional jobs in academia, many of our trainees will ultimately find themselves doing research in industry, teaching in 4-year colleges, or serving in some administrative capacity. Others will combine their PhDs with professional degree in medicine or law and become clinical researchers, patent layers, or become involved in the formulation of public

A. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCEA. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE

The importance of training in “survival skills.” Success in science requires a solid background in a specific scientific discipline as well as extensive laboratory experience. However, for individuals to develop into accomplished professional, they must acquire survival skills, that is , they must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, obtain employment and funding, manage stress and time, teach, and behave responsibly (Bloom 1992; Bird 1994; national Academy of Sciences 1995).This has always been the case and is becoming even more true as our doctoral and postdoctoral trainees need to be prepared for a variety of vocations (National Academy of Science 1995; Varmus 1995)

In addition to traditional jobs in academia, many of our trainees will ultimately find themselves doing research in industry, teaching in 4-year colleges, or serving in some administrative capacity. Others will combine their PhDs with professional degree in medicine or law and become clinical researchers, patent layers, or become involved in the formulation of public

8. Get feedback and revise:8. Get feedback and revise:Asking for helpAsking for help

Yes− Program staff− Former reviewer− Colleague

NO!- Current reviewer

9. Get approvals9. Get approvals

Use of subjects - humans

- animals

Safety Agreements - collaborators

- consultants

Your institute

-office of research

-department chair

Clues for assignment officerClues for assignment officer

Title Abstract Specific aims Cover letter Input from program staff

10. Submit application10. Submit application

Know the deadline Anticipate problems Give yourself extra time What if you are late? - call and ask

- there often is a grace period

- sometimes there isn’t

11. Await review11. Await reviewWhat will be happeningWhat will be happening

1. Assignment2. Evaluation - staff

- peers • sitting panel • external reviewers

3. Preparation of report, which may - not be available - need to request - take 2-3 mo - be incomplete - contain contradictions

12. Study the report 12. Study the report

Possible outcomes - scored

• high

• “gray area”

• low

- rejected

Reasons for rejection:Reasons for rejection:Research proposalsResearch proposals

not innovative, important inadequate rationale uncritical approach not well reasoned

lacks expt’l detail overambitious diffuse or uncertain future

directions ethical concerns

Reasons for rejection:Reasons for rejection:FellowshipsFellowships

weak candidate - productivity

- letters

- training

Poor mentor - research

- funding

- experience

inadequate proposal - quality of research

- relevance to training

Weak institution - colleagues

- support

13. Respond to Critique13. Respond to CritiqueIf funded,

but with reduced budget

Estimate what can be accomplished Renegotiate

- objective

- experiments save rest for future application

If scores is in “gray zone”If scores is in “gray zone”

talk to program officer Consider providing additional material - rebuttal

- evidence of feasibility

If not funded

Revised application - some changes

- some polite rebuttal Request new reviewers

Part II: Components of an applicationPart II: Components of an application

Sections of an applicationTitle

Abstract

Budget & justification

Biographical sketches of key participants

Research plan

Subject welfare

Supplementary materials

TitleTitle Mini-abstract Accurate statement of long-term goals Conform to guidelines Include key words

AbstractAbstract

ContentsContents background specific aims unique features methodology expected results

method of evaluation generalizability relation to field broad impact

Abstract Abstract

Accurate Simple Interesting Not provocative Key words

Research planResearch plan

A. Specific Aims

B. Background & Significance

C. Preliminary Data

D. Research Design & Methods

A. Specific AimsA. Specific Aims

Goals long-term broad diffuse

“Specific Aims” short-term specific measurable hypothesis-driven

A. Specific AimsA. Specific Aims

Goal (long-term objective)

Develop interventions that reduce the cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Specific Aims (short-term)

1) Identify the behavioral consequences of the loss of cholinergic neurons in forebrain, and

2) Determine the extent to which these effects can be reversed by increased activation of specific subtypes of Ach receptors.

A. Specific AimsA. Specific Aims

Small number (~3-5) Specific Single sentence Lead to hypothesis-driven experiments

Example 2 Examine effect of GDNF on cell death caused by stroke

Hypothesize that GDNF attenuates cell death induced by stroke via the activation of MAP kinase

B. Background & SignificanceB. Background & Significance literature review

- rationale for project

- state of the end

your proposal

- innovation

- contribution to field

be selective deal with contradictions include own work include reviewer’s work cite sources

C. Preliminary DataC. Preliminary Data

feasibility of methods support for hypothesis

summarize critical findings include reprints in appendix interpret results critically

D. Research Design & MethodsD. Research Design & Methods

Parallel to Specific Aims Match to funds, time Be specific: methods/data analysis Be Hypothesis-driven Discuss contingencies

ExperimentsExperiments

Specific Aim 1 - Identify the behavioral consequences of the loss of cholinergic

neurons in forebrain

Experiment 1 - Use the local administration of inhibitors of Ach synthesis to

selectively reduce the availability of ACh in specific brain

regions; then examine impairments in performance in the Morris

water maze.

MethodsMethods Why your method is best Provide details - methodology

- controls

- instruments to be used

- information to be collected: value & limitations

- precision of data

- procedures for data analysis

- interpretation

Potential problems & how you will overcome them Alternative method, if yours fails

MethodsMethods

List sources of unique materials - reagents

- materials

- populations

Consider input from statistician - experimental design

- analysis procedures

Presentation of Presentation of an individual experimentan individual experiment

Expt 1: Studies of .. title parallel to

specific aim

Presentation of Presentation of an individual experimentan individual experiment

Expt1: Studies of ..

hypoth.: A will

correlate with B

hypothesis What you will

test (not prove)

Presentation of Presentation of an individual experimentan individual experiment

Expt 1: Studies of..

hypoth.: A will

correlate with B

1. Rationale

rational why you propose to do this experiment

Presentation of Presentation of an individual experimentan individual experiment

Expt 1: Studies of..

hypoth.: A will

correlate with B

1. Rationale

2. Experimental

design

design what you will do

assay method

- availability

- sensitivity

- specificity

# of replicates data analysis

Presentation of Presentation of an individual experimentan individual experiment

Expt 1: Studies of..

hypoth.: A will

correlate with B

1.Rationale

2.Experimental

design

3. comments

comments expectations problems?

- measurement

- interpretation

contingencies

TimelineTimeline

Approximate Timeline (in years)Experiment 1 2 3 4 5

Impact of GDNF on

cell death

Signaling underlying

effects of GDNF

Molecular basis of neuroprotection

Collaborators & consultantsCollaborators & consultants

Add skills, expertise Add credibility

Biographical sketchesBiographical sketches

Include for critical personnel Highlight relevant accomplishments Ensure accuracy - training, experience

- publications

- grant support

BudgetBudget

Reasonable for the project

- funding agency

- your level of experience Full budget

- itemize, justify each cost “modular” budget

- request in $25,000 increments

- limited justification

JustificationJustification

Personnel - % effort on project

- responsibilities

Ben Aster, Ph.D., 20% effort. Dr. aster is responsible for program evaluation. He develops evaluation instruments, interviews subjects, administers surveys, codes and analyzes the data, initiates follow-up inquires, and writes evaluation reports.

JustificationJustification

Animals - quantity

- cost at age

- days housed

- cost of housing

Special concernsSpecial concerns

Salary Travel Equipment - purchase

- service maintenance

New costs in subsequent years Inflationary increases

Construction of budgetConstruction of budget

Fringe benefits

- this example=20%

Direct costs (DC)

Salaries 50,000

Fringe benefits(20%) 10,000

Supplies 25,000

Equipment 15,000

Direct Costs 100,000

Construction of budgetConstruction of budget fringe benefits - this example=20%

Direct Costs (DC) Facilities & Administrative

Costs (F&A)*

- example=50%

- not on equipment

Salaries 50,000

Fringe benefits(20%) 10,000

Supplies 25,000

Equipment 15,000

Direct Costs 100,000

Facilities & Admin* 42,500

Total Award $142,500

*Also referred to as “indirect costs” (IDC)

Resources and environmentResources and environment

Document resources available - equipment

- space

- facilities

- support staff

Subject welfareSubject welfare

Know, adhere to guidelines Get appropriate approvals

Human subjectsHuman subjects

Characteristics of subjects, population Recruiting methods Criteria for selection Consent procedures Potential risks How risks will be minimized Benefits to subjects and community Inclusion of women and minorities

Vertebrate animalsVertebrate animals

Detail proposed use Justify species and number Veterinary care Minimizing stress, discomfort Justification for method of euthanasia

LettersLetters

Agreement, collaboration Recommendation Letters of agreement - obtain from collaborators, consultants - to document • type, level of involvement

• access to unique materials - improve by providing sample

Letters of recommendation - may be required - could be optional - could be inconspicuous

AppendixAppendix

Some example of materials - color or enlarged figures

- reprints of your work

- updated information

• results

• other accomplishments

Find out if,when,where Never use to circumvent page limits!!

Advice to new investigatorsAdvice to new investigators

Get funded as soon as possible - funding track record helps get more $

- proposals often not funded first time

Advice to new investigatorsAdvice to new investigators

Starting small is fine - amount

- time

Make sure previous work published Every proposal should be excellent Letters from others can help Don’t stop’till you have more than enough’