Weathering the Storm: How to Establish and Sustain an Independent Research Career in an Era of Limited Funds Lawrence J. Prograis, Jr., M.D Senior Scientist, Special Programs and Bioethics Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Workshop Outline ■ NIH Extramural Program: Key Players, Funding Mechanisms (Alison Augustine, NIAID) ■ Overview of CSR Peer Review (Tina McIntyre, CSR ■ Peer Review Details (David Winter, CSR) ■ Panel Discussion (Charlie Li, NIAID)

Understanding & Navigating the NIH NIH Extramural Program Alison Deckhut Augustine, Ph.D. Basic Immunology Branch Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH

NIH – 27 Institutes and Centers Office of the Director National Library of Medicine National Library of Medicine Center for Scientific Review Center for Scientific Review Fogarty International Center Fogarty International Center National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Eye Institute National Eye Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities National Institute on Aging National Institute on Aging National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Human Genome Research Institute National Human Genome Research Institute National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of Nursing Research National Institute of Nursing Research National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering no funding authority National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Different Missions, Responsibilities and Constituencies National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

NIH Extramural Staff ■ Program Officer (PO) ■ Scientific Review Officer (SRO) ■ Grants Management Specialist (GMS)

Program Officer A science professional, usually Ph.D. or M.D., who: ■ Provides scientific stewardship and administration of grants & contracts awarded by NIH ■ Identifies areas of scientific priority and develops funding opportunities for extramural researchers ■ Advocate for investigators: Provides guidance on NIH extramural policy/procedures, research resources, and funding opportunities to extramural investigators

Scientific Review Officer A science professional, usually Ph.D. or M.D., who:  Is based at an NIH Institute or Center (IC), or at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR)  Manages Study Sections and review panels for grants and contracts  Selects review panel members  Assigns reviewers to applications  Compiles application summary statements

Grants Management Specialist Business/finance professional who:  Negotiates and awards all grants  Provides fiscal administration of grants  Is the government official on fiscal and policy issues and approvals

Extramural Scientist Career Path and NIH Funding Options Ph.D. or M.D. Faculty Position Award Types Career Stage Graduate Student Independent Investigator T32 F32 K22 K99 or R00 K’s Postdoctoral Fellow F31 R01 R21 P01R03R15 Transition awards R00 – Independent phase of K99/R00 Pathway to Independence R01 – Research Project Grant (up to 5 years of support, renewable) R03 – Small Research Grant (up to 2 years of support, non-renewable) R15 – Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) (up to 3 years, renewable) R21 – Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (up to 2 years of support, non-renewable) P01 – Program Project Grant (multi-project grant, up to 5 years of support, renewable)

Grant Writing 101: The Big Three  Can your research move your field forward?  Is the field important – will progress make a difference in human health?  Can you and your team conduct the work (expertise, resources)?

When will I get my grant funded? (well, sometimes it just feels that way…)

NIH wide R01-Equivalent grants Competing applications, awards, and success rates

2013 Application Success Rates Grant MechanismNIAID – New applications NIAID – Renewal applications R0112.3%29.9% R0320.3%N/A R1511.9%62.5% R2116.6%N/A P0114.3%42.9% NIH Institute 2013 Success Rate – New R Success rate – Renewal R01 NIAID12.3%29.9% NCI13%26.9% NIA11.1%29.1% NIAMS14.9%26.9% NICHD10.9%20.5% NIGMS14.8%37%

Funding Opportunity Announcements and Concepts Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA): ■ RFA: ■ Set-aside funds; One application receipt date ■ Areas of scientific interest indicated, also includes areas not supported ■ Awards may have a budget cap ■ PA: 3 Types ■ PA –No set-aside funds or special review. Reviewed in standing CSR study sections(paid with IC “payline” funds) ■ PAR – Special review (Special Emphasis Panel) convened, no set- aside funds ■ PAS – Set-aside funds, may include review by a Special Emphasis Panel

Current NIAID Concepts Concepts = Potential Opportunities ■ Molecular Mechanisms of Combination Adjuvants (RFA) ■ Program Announcement for High-Priority Immunology Grants (PA) ■ Provide for growth in the field of fundamental immunology ■ Emphasize the continued and long-term interest of NIAID in fundamental immunology, a major mission of NIAID among other NIH institutes and centers

Decline in Immunology: NIH-Wide

A Little Help From Your Friends: Pre-review ■ NIH extramural staff: ■ SRO – advice about appropriate study sections; submission requirements ■ PO - advice about research focus (before review), appropriate study sections, discussion of review results and applicant responses ■ Colleagues: read your application, well in advance of the application due date ■ GRIP: Grant Review for Immunologists Program ■ Matches new PIs with established PIs in same area ■ Obtain expert advice on grant application

What to Do After Review  Talk to your NIH Program Officer  Attends the Study Section (most cases)  Provide insights to discussion (unofficial) and possible funding options  Read the Summary Statement  Official document providing scientific merit score and summarizing reviewers comments  First paragraph (Resume) is the official summary of the meeting discussion  Strategize Next Steps  Talk to your NIH program officer again, after both of you have read the summary statement  Discuss with colleagues, mentors