Yuan Liu, PhD Chief, Office of International Activities Director, Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Program NINDS, NIH Yuan Liu, PhD Chief, Office of International Activities Director, Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Program NINDS, NIH Penn State August 28, 2007 Penn State August 28, 2007 NIH Grantsmanship Elements of Success

Office of the Director National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute 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 Drug Abuse National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 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 Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Eye Institute National Eye Institute National Human Genome Research Institute National Human Genome Research Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 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 General Medical Sciences National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of Nursing Research National Institute of Nursing Research National Library of Medicine National Library of Medicine Center for Information Technology Center for Information Technology Center for Scientific Review Center for Scientific Review National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Center for Research Resources National Center for Research Resources Clinical Center Clinical Center National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Fogarty International Center Fogarty International Center National Institutes of Health

How does NIH Support Research? GrantsGrants Investigator-initiated research grants (majority)Investigator-initiated research grants (majority) Program Announcements (multiple receipt dates)Program Announcements (multiple receipt dates) Request for Applications (one time with set-aside $)Request for Applications (one time with set-aside $) ContractsContracts Cooperative AgreementsCooperative Agreements NIH Guide NIH Guide

R01 February 5June 5October 5 R21, R03February 16June 16October 16 Review JuneOctoberFebruary Council SeptemberJanuaryMay AwardDecemberAprilJuly Cycle ICycle IICycle III Cycle ICycle IICycle III There are three overlapping cycles per year There are three overlapping cycles per year When to Submit Your Application?

What Happens to Your Application? PI Grant Application Funding Institute Program Directors Advisory Council Institute Director Grants Management Review Initial Review Group Study Sections Scientific Review Administrators CSR Referral Office Grant Award

What Should Be in the Application? l Face Page – Title of Project l Abstract l Key Personnel l Budget l Biographical Sketch l Resources l Research Plan l Specific Aims l Background and Significance l Preliminary Studies l Research Design and Methods l Human Subjects and Vertebrate Animals l Literature Cited l Letters of Support

Abstract Research goal and rationalResearch goal and rational General hypothesis and aimsGeneral hypothesis and aims Methodological approachesMethodological approaches SignificanceSignificance

Specific Aims Hypothesis-drivenHypothesis-driven FocusedFocused RealisticRealistic

Background Intimate familiarity with the fieldIntimate familiarity with the field In-depth knowledge about the researchIn-depth knowledge about the research Thorough literature reviewThorough literature review Appropriate creditAppropriate credit

Preliminary Studies Demonstrate expertise & feasibilityDemonstrate expertise & feasibility Appropriate amountAppropriate amount Critical interpretationCritical interpretation

Design and Methods Hypothesis-driven, not “fishing expedition”Hypothesis-driven, not “fishing expedition” Use sate-of-the art technologiesUse sate-of-the art technologies Address pitfalls and alternative plansAddress pitfalls and alternative plans Apply appropriate statistical and/or informatics analysisApply appropriate statistical and/or informatics analysis Provide adequate detailsProvide adequate details

What is a Study Section?

What are the Review Criteria? SignificanceSignificance ApproachApproach InnovationInnovation InvestigatorInvestigator EnvironmentEnvironment

Significance Does this study address an important problem?Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced?If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field?What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field?

Approach Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project?Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?

Innovation Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods?Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Are the aims original and innovative?Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?

Investigator Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work?Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers?Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers?

Environment Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements?Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?Is there evidence of institutional support?

What do the Reviewers Want to Know? WHY is your research important?WHY is your research important? (background, significance, innovation) WHAT are you proposing to do?WHAT are you proposing to do? (research plan, specific aims) HOW are you going to do it?HOW are you going to do it? (approaches, experimental design, method and analysis) Are YOU the best person to do it?Are YOU the best person to do it? (investigator, preliminary data, environment)

How is an Application Reviewed? Primary reviewerPrimary reviewer Describes application and provides critiques (5-10 min)Describes application and provides critiques (5-10 min) Secondary reviewer(s)Secondary reviewer(s) Adds differences or enhancements to the primary (1-2 min)Adds differences or enhancements to the primary (1-2 min) CommitteeCommittee General discussion (all members)General discussion (all members) ScoreScore First given by assigned reviewersFirst given by assigned reviewers All committee members then give individual scoreAll committee members then give individual score SRASRA Calculates the score and the percentileCalculates the score and the percentile Prepares the Summary StatementPrepares the Summary Statement

What are in the Summary Statement? SUMMARY STATEMENT Dr. John Johnson ( Privileged Communication ) Release Date: 03/01/2006 (301) SMITH, JOE PHD Application Number: 2 R01 MH A1 UNIVERSITY OF SAN SIMEON DEPT OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY CASTLE ROAD SAN SIMEON, CA Review Group:LAM Neurobiology of Learning and Memory Study Section Meeting Date: 02/16/2006 Council:MAY 2006PCC: 72-NBT Requested Start:07/01/2006Dual IC(s): NSDA Project Title: NEURAL CONTROL OF INVOLUNTARY EXUBERANCE SRG Action: Priority Score: 138 Percentile: 3.5 Human Subjects: 10-NO HUMAN SUBJECTS INVOLVED Animal Subjects: 30-ANMLS INV.-VERIFIED, NO SRG CONCERNS OR COMMENT

What is the Next Step? Two stages of review: Study SectionStudy Section Scientific and technical meritScientific and technical merit National Advisory CouncilNational Advisory Council Scientific, clinical and lay representationScientific, clinical and lay representation Focus on policy and strategyFocus on policy and strategy Make recommendations to the Institute DirectorMake recommendations to the Institute Director

What are the Funding Criteria? Scientific MeritScientific Merit Priority score/percentilePriority score/percentile Program RelevanceProgram Relevance Is the project related to the mission of the funding institute?Is the project related to the mission of the funding institute? Program BalanceProgram Balance Are many similar projects already funded?Are many similar projects already funded? Availability of FundsAvailability of Funds Dose the funding institute have sufficient resources available at the time?Dose the funding institute have sufficient resources available at the time?

What is the Outcome of Review? Fundable Fundable Receive funding Gray Zone Gray Zone Contact Program Director Unfundable Unfundable Resubmission

How to Write a Successful Revised Application? Respond to All criticismsRespond to All criticisms Provide explicit responsesProvide explicit responses Supply additional data and materialSupply additional data and material Be politeBe polite Be persistent!Be persistent!

Pearl of Wisdom Do not submit prematurely Follow instructions Be a “reviewer” of your own application Have at least three people read your application prior to submission Write clearly! Do not submit prematurely Follow instructions Be a “reviewer” of your own application Have at least three people read your application prior to submission Write clearly!

l l “All About Grants” Tutorials l l The NIH Peer Review Process l l NIH Guide l l NIH CSR Study Section Roster l l NIH Institutes Centers and Offices l l “All About Grants” Tutorials l l The NIH Peer Review Process l l NIH Guide l l NIH CSR Study Section Roster l l NIH Institutes Centers and Offices Some Useful Websites

Funding Opportunities - Bioengineering PA Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) [R21] Innovative, high risk/high impact research in new areas Minimal or no preliminary data required PA Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) [R01] Basic and applied multi-disciplinary research Important biological, bioengineering or medical problems Hypothesis-driven, discovery-driven or design-directed PAR Bioengineering Research Partnerships (BRP) [P01] Multi-disciplinary research team Integrative, systems approaches

Funding Opportunities – Computational & Informatics PA Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21) Innovative, with high risk/high impact research in new areas Minimal or no preliminary data required PAR Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R01) Database design, graphical interfaces, data querying, retrieval, visualization, manipulation, integration and analytical tools Computational modeling & simulation PAR Continued Development and Maintenance of Software Continued development, maintenance, testing and evaluation of existing biomedical informatics/computational biology software and its applications to broader biomedical research communities