Writing Successful Research Grant Proposals Dipali Sharma PhD Associate Professor Breast Cancer Program, Department of Oncology Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Overview Understanding the process Key Resources Mechanisms Key Elements The Grantsmanship Help the reviewers

Time line three cycles regular R01 deadlines- June 5, Oct 5, Feb 5 revised submission deadlines-a month later some RFAs may have different deadlines typically 9 months between 1st and 2nd submission assignment of the study section possibility to submit additional information grants submitted June 5th will be typically reviewed in October

Understanding the Process Start Early Your strengths and interests Find your niche Do an NIH RePORTER search Build the idea / hypothesis The research plan- look wide and dig deeper Don’t fly alone Look for funding mechanisms RFA’s (requests for applications) or PA’s (program announcements) http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/search_results.htm?year=active&scope=rfa

Important pointers Understand the Funding mechanisms Strategize Read the funding opportunity announcement carefully Decipher the key points Evaluate the fit Call the project officer-discuss Strategize Follow the format directions Look for special instructions (if any) Incorporate key review criteria

Key Resources NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices (The NIH Guide TOC) • Weekly email with new FOAs – To Subscribe to the NIH Guide LISTSERV, send an e-mail to listserv@list.nih.gov with the following text in the message body (not the "Subject" line): • subscribe NIHTOC-L your name – (Example: subscribe NIHTOC-L Bill Jones) • Your e-mail address will be automatically obtained from the e-mail message and add you to the LISTSERV.

Key Resources NIH RePORTER SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for NIH and Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Provides access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities, including information on NIH expenditures and the results of NIH supported research Some details on funded projects http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for NIH and Other PHS Agencies http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/SF424_RR_Guide _General_Adobe_VerB.pdf

Selected NIH Grant Mechanisms • K-awards – Research career development • R03 – NIH Small Grant Program • R21– NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award • R01– NIH Research Project Grant Program

R01 mechanism-basic description • The R01 provides support for health-related research and development based on the mission of the NIH. R01s can be investigator-initiated or can be in response to a program announcement or request for application • The Research Project (R01) grant is an award made to support a discrete, specified project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing the investigator's specific interest and competencies, based on the mission of the NIH

Basic elements of an R01 Research Strategy (12 pages)- the science Specific Aims Approach Significance Innovation Research plan Human Subjects Gender and minority inclusion Inclusion of children Vertebrate Animals Literature Cited

Basic elements of an R01 Key personnel / Biosketch Letters of support Personal Statement Positions and Honors Publications (limited to 15) Relevant to the application Other publications important to the field Research support – any overlaps Letters of support Resource Sharing Plan Summary Limited to 30 lines Public health relevance Narrative 3 sentences

Basic elements of an R01 Facilities and other resources Environment-contribution to success Institutional commitment to PI Laboratory Facilities-Animal-Cores and any specific cores Equipment All equipment needs are covered Any specific equipment is required Budget modular/detailed Personnel Justification Show off the team No page limit Cover Letter Requesting a specific study section

Specific Aim Page • Brief introduction Statement of problem Significance Rationale for study Hypothesis • Stating the Specific aims • Over viewing methods • ONE PAGE MAX

Research Strategy • Significance • Innovation Importance of the problem Addressing critical barrier Improve scientific knowledge or technical capability discuss the deliverables. Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved. • Innovation How the application challenges or shifts the current state Discuss novel concepts, approaches, methodology etc Any refinements, improvements

Research Approach • Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. • Include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted • Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims. Include preliminary studies-demonstrate productivity and feasibility

Research Approach • Summarize what we know from existing literature • Clearly point out the gaps • Highlight how this proposal will fill those gaps in knowledge • Write a narrative that is easy for the reader to follow • Remember the reviewer may not have the same depth of knowledge you do While at the same time don’t assume they can not find relevant literature Don’t overlook key papers/findings

The Grantsmanship • Writing Style • Pointers/Signposting The Team Clear Easy to Follow “Tell a story” Use spell check, grammar check Read, review, read Get it reviewed internally Incorporate all figures Define acronyms the first time you use them Let it breathe • Pointers/Signposting What you are going to tell Tell what you want to tell Summarize what you told The Team Incorporate the players, discuss their role in the proposal PI, Co-PI, any facility, core etc

Help The Reviewers • Review criterion Significance Innovation Investigators Approach Environment Overall Impact- what is the likelihood of the research to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field

Help The Reviewers Write brief summary statements at the end of each section Highlight sentences that spell out the Significance, and Innovation “This research is significant because…” “These aims are innovative as they show…” “Our work is important because…” Write statements that justify your approach (rule in or rule out) Why using this approach is better Use Preliminary Data to demonstrate your Expertise and Environment Include experts write about their expertise in personnel section take a look at their biosketch

Common mistakes Waiting until the last minute Funding mechanism does not match the project Weak statistical plan or low power No back-up plans Lack of expertise in a key area Poor organization Weak or missing hypotheses Lack of significance No innovation Too ambitious