Effective January 25, 2010 and beyond Information from Part 5. Research Plan of NIAID’s NIH Grants Cycle Website

 Changes to Consider  Writing Tips  Changes to Research Plan ◦ Specific Aims ◦ Research Strategy

 Error correction window extended following submission – 5 days ◦ If corrections are submitted after the submission deadline, NIH does not have to accept them.  Biosketches: Personal statements for all key investigators  Introduction (revisions and resubmissions) - 1 page  Research plan length and sections

The goal of the proposed research is to investigate the interaction between drug abuse and normal aging processes. Specifically, we plan to measure changes in cognitive ability and mental and physical health across a five-year period in a group of older drug users and matched controls. I have the expertise, leadership and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed work. I have a broad background in psychology, with specific training and expertise in key research areas for this application. As a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley, I carried out ethnographic and survey research and secondary data analysis on psychological aspects of drug addiction. At the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), I expanded my research to include neuropsychological changes associated with addiction. As PI or co- Investigator on several previous university- and NIH-funded grants, I laid the groundwork for the proposed research by developing effective measures of disability, depression, and other psychosocial factors relevant to the aging substance abuser, and by establishing strong ties with community providers that will make it possible to recruit and track participants over time. In addition, I successfully administered the projects (e.g. staffing, research protections, budget), collaborated with other researchers, and produced several peer-reviewed publications from each project. As a result of these previous experiences, I am aware of the importance of frequent communication among project members and of constructing a realistic research plan, timeline, and budget. The current application builds logically on my prior work, and I have chosen co- investigators (Drs. Gryczynski and Newlin) who provide additional expertise in cognition, gerontology and geriatrics. In summary, I have a demonstrated record of successful and productive research projects in an area of high relevance for our aging population, and my expertise and experience have prepared me to lead the proposed project.

 Five key points of focus for planning ◦ Is your hypothesis sound? ◦ Are specific aims logical and feasible? ◦ Do you understand potential problems? ◦ Can you analyze the data you collect? ◦ Are you the ideal PI for the project? Your research must answer your hypothesis!

How Much Detail?  The Challenge: Convey impact in less detail and space  Streamline – Only put in things that you plan to use. ◦ Focus on strategy ◦ Only detail experiments that let you shine ◦ Limit you aims  Know your audience - To whom will your proposal be going? ◦ Detail depends upon the expertise of the reviewers.  Use graphics, flowcharts, and tables ◦ Remember that figures can have fonts smaller than 11pt, which can save space.

The research plan is core of your proposal!  Specific Aims  Research Strategy ◦ Significance ◦ Innovation ◦ Approach  Preliminary Studies  Progress Report

 Length:1 page  Convey the big picture: the impact of your research on the field  Market your application ◦ Impact of research ◦ Reason for choosing the project ◦ Significance and innovation ◦ Write for experts and non-experts  Form the framework of the Research Strategy  Your aims should test your hypothesis

 Have aims that are clearly achievable (about 1 aim per year with one to two sets of experiments per aim) Remember:  You do not have to accomplish everything with one grant.  You do not have to max out the budget and/or time allowed.

 Significance  Innovation  Approach  Create a header for each main section  R01’s and R15’s - 12 pages  R03’s and R21’s – 6 pages

What to Highlight  State of your field and your long term plans ◦ Advancement of the field ◦ Filling knowledge gaps in what is currently being done ◦ New and unique approaches ◦ Related grants  Note how your work serves NIH’s mission to improve health through science. This section influences to which institute your proposal is sent.

How Much Is Enough?  How your work challenges or can improve existing paradigms ◦ Have a broad view of your field and the significance of your research  Why are you challenging existing paradigms?  How is your work ground breaking? Be realistic; don’t propose too much!

Organizing Experiments  Use Specific Aims to order your Approach ◦ Enter a bold header for each Specific Aim  For each aim, describe the first set of experiments ◦ Outline potential next steps  Provide a flowchart  Demonstrate ◦ Your understanding of the work involved ◦ Your resources and expertise to conduct the research

 Experienced investigator? Cite relevant work  Early State/New investigator? Demonstrate ability to handle the experimental methods. Note prior use of the methods.  Enlist co-investigators who possess expertise that you lack – tailor biosketches to reflect this expertise  Give a timetable

Wasted Space

Preliminary Studies (new applications)  Can be a separate subsection or incorporated into the rest of your Approach  Give preliminary data which show you are on the right track  Interpret your data with a critical eye – consider all possible conclusions  Put more focus on data from your own lab; be clear which data are yours ◦ Demonstrate your expertise ◦ Establish your competence

Progress Report (renewal or revision)  Previous grant project beginning and end dates  Summarize the importance of your findings in relation to Specific Aims  Highlight achievements – note published and unpublished results

 NIH’s Enhancing Peer Review website ◦  NIAID’s NIH Grants Cycle ◦ m m  ORG website – writing tips, notices ◦  Contact Brooke Davis, Ph.D., OUCOM Research Grants Developer, at or 740-  Contact your program officer  Read the SF 424!