Proposal writing

What is your question

Why is your study important

How are you going to do it

Key Points of Your Proposal

Who’s the boss

1. You can write in either English or Chinese for this proposal. However, both Chinese and English titles and abstracts are required.

2. For terms not universally known, spell out the term the first time it is used followed by the appropriate abbreviation in parentheses; the abbreviation may be used thereafter.

3. Type the proposal in single spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman.

4. You must include at least one figure following the rules instructed in the class

General guideline

5. The Research Plan of your project should consist of in the order of all the following components:

Chinese and English title and abstracts Hypothesis and Specific aims Background and significance Preliminary data Research design and methods Anticipated results References.

The maximum number of pages is 10 pages including reference.

Title and Abstracts (1 page maximum)

name &lab中文標題

摘要

English titleAbstract

name &lab中文標題

摘要

English titleAbstract

10-1

Put both Chinese and English titles and abstracts in the first page of your proposal.

Describe concisely the research design and methods for achieving these goals (250 words maximum).

Title

• Title must reflect the central theme: selling point

• Attractive and easy to understand• Concise and Informative: avoid non-informative

words like “ A study of---”• Avoid acronyms• English and Chinese titles should be consistent

but not word-to-word translation

Abstract

• First impression to the reviewers

• Concisely describe every part of your paper

• Write it last, following the logic of the proposal

.

Early onset breast cancer has been the unique and major health problem in Taiwan with annual increase-----

The etiology and mechanisms of breast cancer in young women is unknown. It has been suggested that carcinogenesis in utero may account for the early-onset of this cancer-------------

To test this hypothesis, we have used fed pregnant mice with fatty diet and found increase in incidence of mammary tumors in the new born mice.----------------------

In this proposal, we will examine the alteration of mammary gland differentiation pathway in the mammary tumors derived from the new born mice using microarray, SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) as well real-time PCR techniques -------------

This study of alterations in mammary gland differentiation in the mammary tumor of new born mice will allow us to identify the genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in the early-onset breast cancer.

This information could be useful for diagnosis/treatment of early-onset breast cancer in Taiwan---------------------------

Importance

Outstanding problems

Hypothesis

Experimental approaches

Summary

Answers

Significance

Background and preliminary data

Hypothesis and Specific Aims

Hypothesis and Specific AimsObjective, rationale, and hypothesis

Specific aim 1

Specific aim 2

Specific aim 3

Hypothesis and Specific AimsObjective, rationale, and hypothesis

Specific aim 1

Specific aim 2

Specific aim 3

List the rationales and objectives of your proposal, and hypotheses to be tested. (Optional: use a overview figure to explain your hypothesis and aims)

Describe concisely and realistically what the specific research is intended to answer the hypothesis.

Hypothesis and Specific Aims

• Begin with a statement of long term overall goal: overview, significance, central hypothesis

• List the specific aims one by one concisely• Not too many aims; 2-4 best• Be specific, no general and ambiguous statements• Be realistic, no unachievable aims; best if supported

by preliminary results• Aims should be logically linked and arranged

accordingly; testing your hypothesis• Link aims to Experimental Design

Hypothesis

• State your hypothesis clearly in the abstract and specific aims.

• Hypothesis should be based on experimental data; Hypothesis non fingo!

• Use relevant literatures and preliminary data to help build the case to support the hypothesis --- no reinventing the wheel

• Seeing is believing: Use schematic figures or diagrams to help reviewers understand your thinking.

Examples for overview figure for hypothesis

Pictures say more than a thousand words!

A good figure can improve proposal clarity. Drawing process clarifies your thinking. If you don’t understand the process, you can’t draw it. Make cartoons of:•A scientific equipment that you are using and an explanation of how it works to solve your problem•a novel physical, chemical or mathematical equations •a flow chart showing the steps in a process and the possible steps, feedback loops, causes and consequences.

Specific aim 1

Specific aim 2

Specific aim n

Subaim 1a

Subaim 1b

Subaim 1n

Paragraph

logic

logic

Specific aims

Sections

Proposal

tests

When you divide a section into subsections, all the pieces should be of the same pie

Specific Aims

Specific Aim #1. Identification of downstream genes involved in ----. This purpose of this aim will test the hypothesis that-------. This study will be able to allow us to identify ----- Subaim 1a: Yeast two-hybrid technique will be used to ----- Subaim 1b: Deletion analysis will be used to -----

Title

Hypothesis

Approaches

Importance

Specific Aim 1. To determine the role of nucleosomes in the regulation of Igk locus rearrangement. Our preliminary results showed that the V(D)J recombinase could not recognize RSS targets if they were arranged into a nucleosome structure. We propose experiments to extend these observations by 1) determining what fraction of the Jk gene segments are in the nucleosomal structure in cells undergoing rearrangement as compared with non-lymphoid cells, 2) determining if nucleosomes are phased across the Jk locus, 3) determining whether nucleosome remodeling complex can alter the accessibility of the Jk cluster in native or reconstituted chromatin. This analysis will give us insight of the mechanism of Igk gene rearrangement.

Rationale and hypothesis

Significance

Approaches

Title

Background and Significance Briefly sketch the background of the present proposal, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps which the project is intended to fill.

State concisely the importance of the research, such as health relevance, scientific contribution, uniqueness and originality.

Background

• Information needed for people to understand your proposal.

• Important and interesting problems still standing.

• Hypothesis ( if need detailed explanation)

Funnel approachChecklist approach

How to organize background information

Significance

• State concisely and clearly the importance of your study.

• Emphasize the novelty or innovation.– So what?– I’m the best person to do it

• Convey the significance of your research to– 1) scientific contribution – 2) improving public health – 3) make big money

Preliminary Results

• Show only the relevant experiments supporting your hypothesis

• The results should not be ambiguous• Figure and table legends should be clearly

written; figure numbers should correspond to the text; be sure to label the figures

• Do not show published results in this section

Research Design and Methods

List as specific aims

Aim1 experiment1Aim2 experiment2

Use if you separate aims by different approaches.

List as specific aims

Aim1 experiment1Aim2 experiment2

Use if you separate aims by different approaches.

List as general methods

Experiment1Experiment2

Use when you apply similar approach to multiple aims.

List as general methods

Experiment1Experiment2

Use when you apply similar approach to multiple aims.

Research Design(1)

• Do NOT write as protocol or operation manual• Design the experiments to solve the problems

posed in the specific aims in logical order• Be realistic, do not plan too many experiments

or out of your expertise; manageable; focus! • Be logical; step-by-step leading to your goal• Provide information on statistical analysis

whenever applicable

Research Design(2)

• Updated technologies. • Competence in using techniques proposed• Evaluate the design critically; alternative

approaches, pros and cons• Control! Control! Control!• A schematic diagram will help the reviewers

to understand complicate experimental design

Anticipated Results

• Why good results will be expected • Reasonable time table for achieving results• Alternative Interpretations critically evaluated• How the results will support your hypothesis• Potential difficulties and limitations of the experiment,

and alternative approaches to achieve the aims.• How your results would be important for a group

project

Reference (2 page maximum)

Please choose “Author-date” style in your Endnote:In text: (Almeida et al. 2006)Almeida, C. G., R. H. Takahashi and G. K. Gouras (2006). "-

amyloid accumulation impairs multivesicular body sorting by inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome system." J. Neurosci. 26(16): 4277–4288.

• Should correspond to the text• Updated; don’t miss the most relevant ones• Consistent format

What is your question

Hypothesis

Why is your study important

Significance

How are you going to do it

Research design

Key Points of Your Proposal

Benefits of Writing Proposal

• Allow you to review and critically evaluate your current research program

• Convince yourself and others that your research is worth doing

• Keep you focused on your research program• Develop novel ideas during writing proposal

Writing Stages

2. Writing the First Draft2. Writing the First Draft

4. Finishing4. Finishing3. Revising, Revising, Revising3. Revising, Revising, Revising

1. Getting in the Mood1. Getting in the Mood

Save multiple copies of your draft

RO1 grant writing timeline

Proposal deadline

5 月 7 日

How to start?

How to start?How to start: how to get ideas

Goal/Specific problems

How to solve problems

Preliminary data Literature search

RationaleRationale

Hypothesis

Get ideas Get more ideas

Writing a Proposal

• Ideas, Ideas, Ideas! Make a folder and enter thoughts anytime. Also put in papers or any related info.

• Based on facts ; no speculations• Checking in literatures for similar ideas• Evolution of ideas Hypothesis• Obtain preliminary results to support your hypothesis

Initial Planning: start early!

Order of Writing a Proposal

• Title(8)• Abstract(7)• Background and Rationale(2)• Overall Goal and Specific Aims(1)• Significance(3)• Preliminary Results (relevant ones)(4)• Experimental Design(5)• Expected Results(6)• Budget(9)• Check list

When you write

Keep the big picture in mind!!!

Remember who’s the boss !!!

Keep in mind when you write

Overall Goal and Hypothesis: do I know what I’m doing?

why your proposal is important/interesting that deserves to be supported: Extensive literature search. Convince yourself the significance and contribution of your proposal

Specific Aims and experiment design:

How to solve problems I posed .

Do my experiments meet the accept standard?

How will I record the work as it proceeds?

After first draft….

Have others read and critiqueCan they understand the rationale described, its significance, and the procedure proposed? Do they share your view of the study, if not, why?Revise proposal

Double check before turning in: SpellingFormatCitation requirement

What is your question

Why is your study important

How are you going to do it

Key Points of Your Proposal

Reasons Why Proposal is Rejected

• Importance and rationale not clearly stated• The problem is outmoded or trivial• No specific aims! Aims too diffuse or general• Similar experiments have already been done• No evidence for competence to carry out the proposal• Not realistic; overly ambitious plan

Reasons Why Proposal is Rejected

• No experimental design! Or no correlation with the specific aims; poor design

• Too many factors or variables that will give ambiguous interpretations

• No hypothesis; fishing expedition; technique looking for problem

• No Controls• Proposed study will not give useful information or

new contributions• Proposal depends on a key experiment with uncertain

outcome