Writing your first budget

General Rules Follow instructions Read guidelines Be realistic Be honest

Two Basic Scenarios -The easy one: the modular budget -The more difficult one: the itemized budget

Modular Budget Modules of $25,000 Maximum of 10 modules for RO1, less for R21 Same number of module every year Includes everything from salaries to supplies Limited justifications (personnel, consortium and equipment) Advantages: easy, more flexibility on how to use the money Disadvantages: less money, no escalation, cuts are also modular

Itemized (or detailed) Budgets Limit of $500,000 in direct costs. Otherwise need special authorization from Institute. Salaries are detailed, including benefits Supplies: everything over $1,000 is detailed Consultant costs Travel Patient care Others

Justifications Everything needs to be justified from personnel to equipment, to supplies, travel and miscellaneous expenses Equipment: first year only in all grants Again the best way to go is to be: realistic and honest Beware of hidden costs: glass washing, publication costs, facility access and usage (boarding fee to use facility, hourly charge for usage), computer support, telephone, etc…. Remember that you are reviewed by scientists that are running labs and writing grants and their recommendations will be followed.

A few recommendations Do not hesitate to ask senior investigators Call the grant administrator of your institute Call the NIH if you have a difficult questions that nobody feels confortable answering locally Don’t shoot for the stars, don’t under-estimate costs Score high on your science, the better the percentile the more money will come your way