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Study Section Trends:Career Development Awards

Moderator: William G. New,Associate Dean for Research, SOM

Study Section Trends

• AgendaAgenda– Welcome, Announcements and IntroductionsWelcome, Announcements and Introductions– Panelists’ PresentationsPanelists’ Presentations– DiscussionDiscussion

Study Section Trends

• ProblemProblem

– Early awards often launch research Early awards often launch research careerscareers

– New investigators usually do not New investigators usually do not know what their applications know what their applications should include or emphasizeshould include or emphasize

• ObservationsObservations– Review committees tend to look Review committees tend to look

differently on career development differently on career development awards than on research awardsawards than on research awards• IndividualIndividual• Career pathCareer path• MentorsMentors

Study Section Trends

• PanelistsPanelistsMabel Caban, M.D.Mabel Caban, M.D.

• Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitationand Rehabilitation

James S. Goodwin, M.D.James S. Goodwin, M.D.• Professor of Medicine and Director of Sealy Center on Professor of Medicine and Director of Sealy Center on

AgingAging

Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D.Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D.• Vice-Chair and Professor, Neuroscience and Cell BiologyVice-Chair and Professor, Neuroscience and Cell Biology

Slobodan, “Bobo” Paessler, D.V.M., Ph.D.Slobodan, “Bobo” Paessler, D.V.M., Ph.D.• Assistant Professor, Department of PathologyAssistant Professor, Department of Pathology

Scott Weaver, Ph.D.Scott Weaver, Ph.D.• Vice-Chair for Research and Professor, Department of Vice-Chair for Research and Professor, Department of

Pathology; and Director for Tropical and Emerging Pathology; and Director for Tropical and Emerging Diseases, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious DiseasesDiseases

Study Section Trends

National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) K

Awards What a Reviewer Requires

Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D.Director, Mission ConnectVice Chair and Professor,

Neuroscience and Cell Biology

National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) K Awards

1) The NINDS supports a broad spectrum of K awards, including both mentored and independent awards.

2) Described in the NINDS training and career development website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research training.htm

3) Awards include the K01, K02, K08, K22, K23, K24 and K25.

NINDS K Awards

1) The major objective is to support the career development of clinician scientists (must have MD or equivalent AND “board” certified; i.e., able to treat patients in the US).

2) This includes research experience and grantsmanship.

NINDS K22, K24 and K25 Awards

K22: Enables outstanding individuals to obtain a research training experience in the NINDS Division of Intramural Research and facilitate successful transition to an extramural environment as independent researchers. 2-3 years in a NINDS intramural laboratory followed by 2-3 years of support for an independent research project in an extramural institution.

K24: Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research

K25: Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award

NINDS K01 Awards

1) For investigators at the postdoctoral or early faculty development stage to focus their efforts on translational research in neurological disorders.

2) To promote more extensive interaction among basic and clinical researchers.

3) To accelerate the development of interventions and effective treatments that will improve the quality of life of persons with neurological disorders.

3 Types of NINDS K01 Awards1) "NINDS Mentored Research Scientist

Development Awards in Translational Research" (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-140.html).

2) "Career Development Award for Minority Scholars in Neuroscience" (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-106.html).

3) Re-Entry Into the Neurological Sciences Program (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/postdoc.htm#k01).

NINDS K01 Awards

Factors of PI Considered in Review • Demonstrated the potential for highly productive

independent research in the period after the doctorate. • The candidate must identify mentor(s) with extensive

basic and/or clinical research experience.• Candidates must be willing to spend a minimum of 75

percent of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development during the entire award period.

• The candidate must clearly describe the need for intensive research supervision for a period lasting 3-5 years, leading to research independence.

NINDS K08 and K23 Awards1) Both are MENTORED awards (Junior PI with

Senior Co-I who has successful NIH track record) BUT the NINDS encourages applicant institutions to demonstrate strong commitment toward the academic independence of candidates for these Awards (read here MUST HAVE A FACULTY APPOINTMENT AND PROTECTED TIME).

2) The level of institutional commitment IS A MAJOR FACTOR.

3) K08 is translatable research, K23 is patient oriented research.

NINDS K08 and K23 AwardsScientific Factors Considered in Review

1) Junior PI must have publication record (4 or 5) and evidence of success in research (small grants).

2) Senior PIs must be outstanding in terms of productivity and grantsmanship; recognized leader in the research area and have a track record of success in training independent investigators .

3) Scientific project must be feasible, translatable and be deemed a valuable training experience.

4) Ability of scientific independence of junior PI must be addressed.

5) All successful mentored awards have some course work included as part of training experience.

NINDS K08 and K23 Awards

Institutional Factors Considered in Review1) Type of institutional appointment.2) Sufficiency of funds available to carry out the

proposed research.3) Sufficiency of dedicated space for the

candidate.4) Sufficiency of protected time for the candidate

(75% or so effort).5) Other resources available to the candidate.

NINDS K02 Awards1) Follows a K08 award to support the continued

career development of independent clinician-scientists for an additional 5 years (to obtain an R01 or equivalent).

2) The award provides both Salary and Research costs for the first 3 years, and continued salary support for years 4 and 5, contingent on receipt of an R01 or equivalent award.

3) NINDS considers an R01-equivalent grant to be an independent, peer-reviewed, multi-year award with the K02 awardee as PI, and the total award must be for a minimum of $75,000 per year for 3 years or $100,000 per year for 2 years.

Thank you for your attention.

Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D.Director, Mission ConnectVice Chair and Professor,

Neuroscience and Cell Biology

Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career

Development Award (K08)Mabel Caban, M.D.Mabel Caban, M.D.

Dept. Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation-SOMDept. Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation-SOMDivision Rehabilitation Science-SAHDivision Rehabilitation Science-SAH

National Cancer Institute K08 in 2005 for “Effects of National Cancer Institute K08 in 2005 for “Effects of Disability on the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer”Disability on the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer”

Choose a Mentor

• Single most important decisionSingle most important decision

• ChemistryChemistry

• Productivity Productivity – Active grant writers & publishingActive grant writers & publishing– Resources & track record of training othersResources & track record of training others

• Someone with whom you have publishedSomeone with whom you have published

• Ask if he/she will support your Ask if he/she will support your applicationapplication

Participating Organizations• Check NIH website:Check NIH website:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa-06-512.html

• Take advantage of your profileTake advantage of your profile

• Seed funding (search InfoEd)Seed funding (search InfoEd)– Institution, foundation or national academiesInstitution, foundation or national academies

• Read the Program AnnouncementRead the Program Announcement

• Contact the Institute: check your eligibilityContact the Institute: check your eligibility

• Contact department head & UTMB directorsContact department head & UTMB directors

Decision Making• 75% research75% research

• 25% clinical25% clinical

• Request funded K awards from mentorRequest funded K awards from mentor• Writing the grant:Writing the grant:

– MentorMentor– Environment: institutional support & resourcesEnvironment: institutional support & resources– CandidateCandidate

• Develop idea from work as research fellowDevelop idea from work as research fellow– Specific Aims and ModelSpecific Aims and Model– Significance: innovative, timely, importantSignificance: innovative, timely, important– Responsible conduct of researchResponsible conduct of research– Sound methodologySound methodology

The Process

Apply CIRWH Start K award Draft to Submit Summary Program NOGASeed Grant award Application Program Director K08 Statement Contact

5/2003 8/2003 8/2003 1/2004 2/2004 8/2004 8/2004 10/2005

Timeline

• Start nowStart now

• Meet with mentor and provide drafts q. Meet with mentor and provide drafts q. weekweek

• Use editorsUse editors

• UTMB is the right placeUTMB is the right place

• You can do itYou can do it

The Process

Two Slides Worth of Advice on K Awards

James S. Goodwin, M.D.George & Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in

Geriatric Medicine Director, Sealy Center on Aging

Writing a Career Development Proposal:

General Advice• Thinking straight is immensely difficult for everyone. Do Thinking straight is immensely difficult for everyone. Do

not handicap yourself by using complex, florid language.not handicap yourself by using complex, florid language.

• An NIH proposal is like a long letter to two or three people An NIH proposal is like a long letter to two or three people – the only people who will ever read it. Your job is to make – the only people who will ever read it. Your job is to make it easy for those two or three individuals to understand it easy for those two or three individuals to understand your proposal. your proposal.

For example:For example: Avoid abbreviationsAvoid abbreviations Use frequent summariesUse frequent summaries Use headings for everythingUse headings for everything Construct lots of diagrams, figures, tables, lists and Construct lots of diagrams, figures, tables, lists and

white spacewhite space

• Schedule your efforts so that you produce a complete first Schedule your efforts so that you produce a complete first draft at least four weeks prior to submission. Send it out draft at least four weeks prior to submission. Send it out for review.for review.

Sealy Center on Aging

The major product of a K-Award is the individual, The major product of a K-Award is the individual, not the science.not the science.

Thus, it is key to: Thus, it is key to: • Provide a credible career development plan. Provide a credible career development plan.

This cannot be an afterthought. This cannot be an afterthought. • Think long and hard about what you want to be Think long and hard about what you want to be

doing in five years – really. Then communicate doing in five years – really. Then communicate that in a coherent manner and make sure the that in a coherent manner and make sure the rest of the proposal is consistent with that rest of the proposal is consistent with that vision. vision.

Sealy Center on Aging

Writing a Career Development Proposal:

Specific Advice

Thoughts on a K08 Award Application

Slobodan, “Bobo” Paessler, D.V.M., Ph.D.Slobodan, “Bobo” Paessler, D.V.M., Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Department of PathologyAssistant Professor, Department of Pathology

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases K08 in 2004 for “VEE Pathogenesis Diseases K08 in 2004 for “VEE Pathogenesis

and Vaccine Development”and Vaccine Development”

Characteristics of a Strong Career Development Grant

Mentor, Basic SciencesScott Weaver, Ph.D.Scott Weaver, Ph.D.

Vice-Chair for Research and Professor, Vice-Chair for Research and Professor, Department of PathologyDepartment of Pathology

Director for Tropical and Emerging Diseases, Director for Tropical and Emerging Diseases, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious

DiseasesDiseases

Characteristics of a Strong Career Development Grant Mentor,

Basic Sciences1.1. History of strong, stable grant funding, preferably History of strong, stable grant funding, preferably

including NIH R01s, and preferably extending including NIH R01s, and preferably extending through the proposed training period.through the proposed training period.

2.2. Strong publication record, preferably including Strong publication record, preferably including collaborative, interdisciplinary publications that collaborative, interdisciplinary publications that have involved past trainees.have involved past trainees.

3.3. History of mentoring trainees who have been History of mentoring trainees who have been productive and remained in science, ideally in productive and remained in science, ideally in academic biomedical research as faculty.academic biomedical research as faculty.

4.4. Ability to provide trainee with a tailored set of Ability to provide trainee with a tailored set of training activities to meet their career goals.training activities to meet their career goals.

Thank you.

Questions from the audience.

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