writing an effective k award - university of arizona · writing an effective k application. brief...
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P. Kay Lund, PhD [email protected]
Henry Khachaturian, PhD [email protected]
Division of Biomedical Research WorkforceOffice of the Director
National Institutes of Health
Writing an Effective K Application
BriefOverviewofGrantProcess
FOA
NIH
StudySectionandCouncilReviewInstitute/Center
CSRFeed
back&Revision
ProgramStaff
Department of Health and Human ServicesPart 1. Overview InformationNational Institutes of Health (NIH)Funding Opportunity TitleNIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00)PA-16-193
Award
Timeline for K Applications
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Review:
§ Jun/July
§ Oct/Nov
§ Feb/Mar
Council:
§ October
§ January
§May
AwardDate:
§ December
§ April
§ July
ReceiptDate:
§ Feb12(Mar12)
§ Jun12(Jul12)
§ Oct12(Nov12)
§ Supportprotectedtimeforintensive,supervisedcareerdevelopmentexperiencewithanexpectationforatransitiontoanindependentResearchIntensiveposition
§ K01ResearchScientist:Biomedicalorbehavioralsciences
§ K08ClinicalScientist: Individualswithclinicaldoctoraldegreespursuingtranslationalresearch—applicationofbasicresearchdiscoveriestowardthediagnosis,management,andpreventionofhumandisease
§ K23PatientOriented:InvestigatorscommittedtoPatient-OrientedResearch(POR– directinteractionwithhumansubjects;researchonmechanismsofhumandisease,therapeuticinterventions,clinicaltrials,anddevelopmentofnewtechnologies)
§ K99/R00PathwaytoIndependence:Facilitatesrapidtransitionfromamentoredpostdoctoralpositiontoindependentresearchposition
IndividualMentoredKAwards
Writing an Effective K Application
• StartEarly
• DevelopaStrategy
• PlanYourApplication
• ApplicationRequirement
• ReviewCriteria
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§ ThegeneralruleofthumbforaKawardistostartatleast3monthspriortotheapplicationduedate(orsooner)
§ Notifyyourrefereesearlyandgivethemplentyoftimetosubmitlettersofreference(ensuretheyhavecurrentCVandaimsofgrant)
§ Atleastamonthbeforeyouwanttoapply,you'llneedtogetanNIHCommonsaccount
§ Youwillalsoneedtoknowwhoisyourorganization'sAuthorizedOrganizationalRepresentative(AOR)
Start Early
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§ Assessyourcareersituationandneeds.
§ Findanexperiencedmentor(s)andcollaborators
§ Assesthefieldandthecompetition.SeewhatisbeingfundedbyNIH:ResearchPortfolioOnlineReportingTools(RePORT)
§ Whatareyourstrengthsandweaknesses?Canyoufillinanygapswithcollaboratorsorconsultants?
§ Findoutwhatresourcesandsupportyourorganizationhasandwhatadditionalsupportyouwillneed
Develop a Strategy (1 of 2)
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§ IsthereanaddedvaluetoyourreceivingaKaward?Whynotanotherfundingmechanisms?
§ Giveyourselfplentyoftimetowritetheapplication,atleastthreemonths(andsixmonthsforplanningandpreliminarydata)
§ Knowyourorganization'skeycontactsandinternalproceduresforelectronicapplication
§ CallanNIHProgramOfficertodiscussyouresearchtrainingneedsandcareerdevelopmentplans
Develop a Strategy (2 of 2)
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§ Coordinatetheapplicationwithyourmentor’sscheduleaKapplicationisacollaborationbetweenyouandyourmentor
§ Makesureyourplanningandfeedbackareadequatebyputtingtogetheryourownreviewcommittee
§ Afteryou'vesettledonaproject,draftashortdescriptionofyourspecificaimsanddiscussthesewiththecommittee
Plan Your Application
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§ Sharpenthefocusofyourapplication…avoidan“over-ambitious”project– butitshouldbenovelandsignificant!
§ Yourhypothesisshouldbetestableandaimsdoablewiththeresourcesyouarerequesting
§ Makesurethescaleofyourhypothesisandaimsfitsyourrequestoftimeandresources
§ Reviewerswillquicklypickuponhowwellmatchedyourresearchandcareerdevelopmentobjectivesare
Don't Propose Too Much
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§ CandidateQualifications,CareerGoalsandObjectives
§ Mentor(s),Collaborators,andConsultants
§ Institution’sEnvironmentandCommitmenttotheCandidate
§ SpecificAims§ ResearchStrategy
Application Requirements
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MakeLifeEasyforReviewers:§ Writeclearlyandconcisely§ Guidethereviewerswithgraphicsasmuchaspossible§ Labelallmaterialsclearly§ Makesurefiguresandlegendsarereadable§ Editandproof
KnowTheseReviewProblemsandSolutions:§ Writeacompellingargumentforwhyyourcareerwillbe
enhancedbyreceivingaKaward§ Writeforbothexpertsandnon-expertinyourfield
A Few Tips as You Write
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BiographicalSketch:§ PersonalStatement:YourresearchexperienceandotherqualificationsforthisKaward
§ ResearchSupport:Yoursandyourcolleaguesaccomplishmentsattestingtoqualificationsoftheresearchteam
Candidate’sBackground:§ CancoordinatewithinformationintheBiosketch,butmakesurekeyinformationisprovidedhere,evenifrepeatsBiosketch
Candidate’s Qualifications
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� ExplainanyneworenhancedresearchskillsyouwillgainasaresultoftheKaward
� Stressotheractivitiesthatwillenhanceyourresearchcareer,e.g.,courses,techniques
� Ifyouhavechangedresearchdirection,discussreasonsforthechange,andjustifyhowitwillhelpyoutodevelopyourresearchcareer
� Alwaysprovideacareerdevelopmenttimeline,includingplanstoapplyforsubsequentgrantsupport
� Careerdevelopmentcanincludeavisittoanotherlaboratory,tolearnnewtechnologiesorapproaches
NETWORKINGISGOOD!
Career Goals and Objectives
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� Eachmentormustexplainhowshe/hewillcontributetothedevelopmentofthecandidate.
� Discusstheresearchandalsootheractivities,e.g.,seminars,scientificmeetings,presentations
� Documentsourcesandamountsofanticipatedsupportforthecandidate’sresearchproject
� MentorshoulddiscusstheplansfortransitioningthecandidatetotheindependentinvestigatorstagebytheendoftheKaward- andconveyclearsupportforthepathwaytoindependence
� Providedetailsofpreviousexperienceasamentorandoutcomesofmentees
Mentor(s), Collaborators, Consultants
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� Documentastrong,well-establishedresearchprogramrelatedtothecandidate'sinterests
� Experiencedfaculty,facilitiesandresourcesavailableforthecandidate
� Opportunitiesforintellectualinteractions,e.g.,journalclubs,seminars,andpresentations
� Commitmenttothecandidate’scareerdevelopmentindependentoftheKaward
� Agreetoprovideadequateofficeandlabspace,timeandsupporttothecandidatefortheperiodofKaward
Institution’s Environment & Commitment
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Provideaclearstatementofeachaim’sobjectives,forexample:
§ Totestastatedhypothesis
§ Tocreateanoveldesign
§ Tosolveaspecificproblem
§ Tochallengeanexistingparadigm
§ Toaddressacriticalbarriertoprogressinthefield
§ Todevelopnewtechnology
Specific Aims of the Project
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§ TheresearchcomponentofaKapplicationshouldbedrivenbystronghypothesesratherthanadvancesintechnology.
§ Generally,aresearchprojectshouldaskquestionsthatproveordisproveahypothesisratherthanuseamethodtosearchforaproblemorsimplycollectinformation.
§ However,sometimesappliedresearchisimportanttodiscoverbasicbiologyordeveloporuseanewtechnology.
§ Developafocusedhypothesisthatincreasesunderstandingofanimportantbiologicprocess,healthordiseaserelatedissueandisbasedonastrongpremise(previousresearch,needforfurtherstudy).
A few Tips on the Hypothesis (1/2)
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§ Makesureyourideaisnottoobroad.Yourhypothesismustbetestableduringyour3to5yearawardwiththelevelofresourcesyouarerequesting.
§ Demonstratehowyourprojectfitsinandadvancesyourfield.Makethisexplicit.
§ Remember,methodsarethemeanstoperformyourexperiments.Yourexperimentalresultswillproveordisproveyourhypothesis.
§ Ifyouhavemorethanonehypothesis,chooseone- thatistestable,significantandinnovative.
A few Tips on the Hypothesis (2/2)
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Significance:§ Provideanexplanationoftheimportanceoftheproblemyouaretryingtostudy
§ Explainhowyourproposedstudywillimprovescientificknowledge,technicalcapability,orclinicalpracticeinoneormorefields
§ Discusshowexistingconcepts,methods,technologies,treatments,orinterventionsmaybeimpactediftheproposedaimsareachieved
Research Strategy (1 of 3)
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Innovation:§ Provideanexplanationonhowyourproposedresearchprojectmaychallengeorimprovecurrentresearchorclinicalpracticeparadigms
§ Describeandfullydiscussanynoveltheoreticalconcepts,approaches,methodologies,orinterventionsthatmaybedevelopedorused
§ Describeanyadvantageoverexistingapproaches,methodologies,instrumentation,orinterventions
Research Strategy (2 of 3)
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Approach:§ Describethemethodologyandanalysestobeusedto
accomplishthespecificaimsoftheproject.
§ Discusspotentialproblems,alternativestrategies,andbenchmarksforsuccessanticipatedtoachievetheaims
§ Forearlystagesofdevelopment,describestrategiestoestablishfeasibilityandmanagehigh-riskaspectsoftheproposedwork
§ Payattentiontorigorousexperimentaldesign– powercalculations,sufficientN,biologicalvariables,appropriatestatisticaltestsandauthenticationofreagents
Research Strategy (3 of 3)
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§ DiscussthefivecomponentsoutlinedintheNIHPolicy:§ (1)Format,(1)SubjectMatter,(3)FacultyParticipation,(4)Duration,and(5)Frequency
§ Istheplanappropriateforyourcareerstage,andwillitenhanceyourunderstandingofethicalissuesrelatedtoresearch?
§ DocumentanypriorparticipationinRCRtrainingand/orproposeplanstoreceiveadditionalinstruction
Responsible Conduct of Research
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ScoredReviewCriteria:Ø CandidateØ CareerDevelopmentPlan,Goalsand
ObjectivesØ ResearchPlan(IncludesreviewofScientific
Premise,rigorousexperimentaldesign,biologicalvariables)
Ø Mentor(s),Consultants(s),Collaborator(s)Ø EnvironmentandInstitutionalCommitmentto
theCandidate
Career Award Review Criteria (1 of 5)
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Candidate:
§ Research,academicand/orclinicalrecord
§ Commitmentandpotentialtodevelopasanindependentandproductiveresearcher
§ Qualityoflettersofreference
CareerDevelopmentPlan,GoalsandObjectives:
§ Contributesubstantiallytothescientificdevelopmentofcandidate
§ Content,scope,phasing,anddurationoftheplaninthecontextofpriorexperience
Career Award Review Criteria (2 of 5)
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ResearchPlan:
§ Scientificandtechnicalmeritoftheresearchquestion,designandmethodology
§ Strongpremise,rigorousexperimentaldesignandstatisticalanalyses,unbiasedapproach,addressesrelevantbiologicalvariables(e.g.sex)
§ Relevanceoftheproposedresearchtothecandidate‘scareerobjectives
§ Istheresearchplanappropriatetothestageofresearchdevelopmentandfordevelopingtheresearchskillsdescribedinthecareerdevelopmentplan
Career Award Review Criteria (3 of 5)
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Mentor(s),Consultants(s),Collaborator(s):
§ Qualifications,funding,andstatementbyMentor(s),collaborators,and/orConsultants
EnvironmentandInstitutionalCommitmenttotheCandidate:
§ Assurancethatminimum75%effortwillbedevotedtoresearchandrelatedactivities
§ Capablefacultyandresearchfacilities
§ Assurancethatinstitutionintendsforthecandidatetobeanintegralpartofitsresearchprogram
Career Award Review Criteria (4 of 5)
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AdditionalReviewCriteria:§ ProtectionofHumanSubjects§ InclusionofWomen,Minorities,andChildren§ CareandUseofVertebrateAnimals§ BiohazardsAdditionalReviewConsiderations:§ ResponsibleConductofResearch§ SelectAgents§ Authenticationofkeybiologicalorchemicalresources
§ ResourceSharingPlans§ BudgetandPeriodofSupport
Career Award Review Criteria (5 of 5)
About Grants
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http://grants.nih.gov/grants/about_grants.htm
GrantsBasics
GrantsProcessOverview
PlanYourApplication
HowtoApply
Receipt&Referral
PeerReview
Pre-AwardProcess
Post-AwardMonitoringandReporting
KeeptheJoyinResearchWritingaGrantisFun
TraineesandMenteesprovideaScientificFamilyForever
THANKYOU!QUESTIONS?
RigorinKAwardApplicationandReview