1. Principals of Research Writing & Design Educational Series Reviewing Scientific Literature & Grants 101
Alaina Boyer, PhD
Senior Research Associate
Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
19 June 2015

2. Reviewing Scientific Literature
Literature review relevance
Resources
Critically reviewing scientific literature
Tips

3. Why conduct a literature review
Helps determine where excess research exist and where new research is needed
Provides a solid theoretical framework; a proposed study
Justify a proposed study as one that contributes something new to the body of knowledge
Framing valid research methodologies, approaches, goals, and questions
Identify areas of controversy in the literature
Audience question- Any other reasons?

4. Resources
Pubmed - About 20 million citations for biomedical literature in the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health care systems, and preclinical sciences.
CINAHL-literature related to nursing and allied health professionals.
Cochrane Library-collection of six databases for systematic reviews, registry of controlled trials, health technology assessments, to name a few
Medline- research articles in all areas of medicine, including dentistry and nursing, (Medline falls under Ovid)
Ovid Databases- Suite of primarily medical databases including Evidence-based Medicine resources, Ovid Medline, Embase, and alternative and complementary medicine. Links to full-text journals and e-books.
Web of Science- Access the world’s leading scholarly literature in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities and examine proceedings of international conferences, symposia, seminars, colloquia, workshops, and conventions. No full text, but comprehensive coverage.
[audience question]- does anyone have any other research databases they use and would like to share with the group

5. A database you can enter a title or abstract – this database can be helpful if you want some ideas on where to submit your paper (caveat) your literature review process should also inform this decision and may work better
May be helpful to help you find relevant articles to cite in your paper (perhaps a good starting point- may not be a good ideal to rely solely on this database) as it pulls only from Medline
Jane will then compare your document to millions of documents in Medline to find the best matching journals, authors or articles.

6. Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Insert screen shot*
Funded by NIH- provides access to reliable, precise measures of patient–reported health status for physical, mental, and social well–being.
PROMIS measures can be used as primary or secondary endpoints in clinical studies of the effectiveness of treatment, and PROMIS® tools can be used across a wide variety of chronic diseases and conditions and in the general population.
The uniqueness of PROMIS® lies in four key areas:
Comparability—measures have been standardized so there are common domains and metrics across conditions, allowing for comparisons across domains and diseases.
Reliability and Validity—all metrics for each domain have been rigorously reviewed and tested
Flexibility—PROMIS can be administered in a variety of ways, in a different forms
Inclusiveness—PROMIS encompasses all people, regardless of literacy, language, physical function or life course.

7. NIH Toolbox NIH toolbox website www.nihtoolbox.org
*fees may apply for using toolbox for studies not funded by the NIH*
Description - multidimensional set of brief measures assessing cognitive, emotional, motor and sensory function from ages 3 to 85, meeting the need for a standard set of measures that can be used as a “common currency” across diverse study designs and settings
This facilitates the study of functional changes across the lifespan, including evaluating intervention and treatment effectiveness

8. The literature review process
[stages of the literature review process] illustrates the sequential steps to collect, know, comprehend, apply, and analyze synthesize, and evaluate quality literature in order to provide a firm foundation to a topic and research method
the output of the literature review process should demonstrate that the proposed research (i.e. your study) contributes something new to the overall body of knowledge
Levy & Ellis, 2006, vol 9, Informing Science Journal

9. Literature Review Tips
Cite recent literature, unless a seminal body of work
Be organized- utilize bibliographic management software (endnote, mendely (free), zotero (free), etc)
Keep records of your findings (template example)
Title & Year
Authors
Topic
Key Points
Relation to your topic

10. Questions

11. Grants 101 Major grant sponsors Where to look for grant announcements
Knowing your audience
Major sections of a grant
Grant resources

12. Grant Sponsors Federal Sponsors Foundation Sponsors
Noted are some the most common (well known ) federal and foundation sponsors of grants, note there are many more
Major differences between federal and foundation sponsor
Federal- big splash, focus mostly on big topics that meet “national needs” (e.g. cancer, Alzheimer disease), have a fairly systematic way of obtaining information about grants and how to apply for them
Foundation sponsors-tend to have very specific interests (HIV, malaria), includes several types “national, family, special purpose, corporate, community” , tend to have a non—systematic way of obtaining information about them and applying for their funds

13. Foundation Sponsors foundationcenter.org
Insert screen shot of web page here
Approximately 100,000 foundations in the USA
Highlight some of the features of the webpage

14. Federal Sponsors www.grant.gov
26 grant making agencies, thousands of programs
Highlight some of the features of the webpage
NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. NIH leadership plays an active role in shaping the agency's research planning, activities, and outlook. Will focus on NIH grants

15. NIH Grant Process- At a glance

16. Know your audience
Keep in mind many topics can be addressed from many perspectives- be strategic

17. NIH Institutes & Centers
1. NCI
Cancer Institute
14. NIDA
Drug Abuse
2. NEI
Eye Institute
15. NIEHS
Environmental Health Sciences
3. NHLBI
Heart Lung and Blood
16.NIGMS
General Medical Sciences
4. NHGRI
Human Genome Research
17. NIMH
Mental Health
5. NIA
Aging
18. NIMHD
Minority Health & Health Disparities
6. NIAA
Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
19. NINDS
Neurological Disorders & Stroke
7. NIAID
Allergy & Infectious Disease
20. NINR
Nursing Research
8. NIAMS
Arthritis, Musculoskeletal, & Skin Diseases
21. NLM
Library Medicine
9. NBIB
Biomedical imaging & Bioengineering
22.CIT
Center for Information Technology
10. NICHD
Child Health & Human Development
23.CSR
Center for Scientific Review
11.NIDCD
Deafness & other Communication Disorders
24. FIC
Fogarty International Center
12. NIDCR
Dental & Craniofacial Research
25. NCCIH
Center for Complementary & Integrative Health
13.NIDDK
Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
26. NCATS
Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
For example- you maybe interested in (obesity- attitudes toward obesity, health outcomes associated with obesity, healthcare implications associated with obesity, cognitive outcomes associated with diabetes in older adults), “framing” your research interests to “fit” the mission and initiative of a specific NIH center/institute
Note- each institute and center has a mission and detailed description of what type of research they support

18. NIH Grants- The Basics
1- Start by re(reading) the grant website and request for applications (RFAs)
2-Take note of deadlines
3- Take note of NIH contact people
4- Engage the program officer- his/her job is to assist you with the grant process
Begin with an
Arrange a meeting (by phone, at a conference, when you are in DC, etc)
#4- depending on your questions the program officer will ask for a draft of your “specific aims” prior to meeting with you, the specific aims will provide the program officer with some insight in to your grant proposal, allowing him/her to provide more effective assistance to you

19. Types of NIH Grants
R03
R21
Provides limited funding for a short period of time
(2 years maximum)
Supports variety of projects: pilot studies, collection of preliminary data, secondary data analysis.
Budget generally up to $50,000 per year
Not renewable
Exploratory/discovery research
Encourages new, exploratory and developmental research projects
Limited to up to two years of funding
Combined budget for direct costs for the two year project period usually may not exceed $275,000.
No preliminary data is generally required
Focus on some of the smaller grants often sought after by early career investigators
(R03)-If your question requires pilot data its nice option, a stepping stone to a larger grant, the expectation is that the investigator will collect and analyze the data
Collect and analyze the data time frame
(R21)-High risk/ high gain, Taking something tried and true to a new population

20. Secondary Data Analysis
Types of NIH Grants
K99/00
Secondary Data Analysis
Up to five years of support consisting of two phases
1-2 years mentored support for postdocs
3 years of independent support
Awardees expected to compete successfully for independent R01 support during transition period
Budget generally up to $249K (R00 phase)
R21 –type of grant
Focus on facilitating research that explores innovative hypotheses through the use of existing data sets
2 year maximum
Great way to increase publication record
Budget vary by NIH institute/center
(K99/00) 1-2 yrs kind of a postdoc type position, developing new expertise, then you jump and do an independent project
Very competitive ,*Only for emerging scholar (so many years after receiving our degree) – 4 years*
For the extramural K99 phase, Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. The total cost for the independent phase (R00) may not exceed $249,000 per year. This amount includes salary, fringe benefits, research costs, and applicable indirect costs. Indirect costs will be reimbursed at the extramural sponsoring institution’s indirect cost rate. Indirect costs requested by consortium participants are included in the total cost limitation.
[secondary data analysis] direct funds vary by institute/center. For example National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute budget max is $150K over 2 yrs (not to exceed 75K per year). Comparatively, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases budget max is $275K over 2yrs

21. Diversity Supplements
Goal is to enhance diversity and re-entry in to the research workforce (two different grants)
Administrative supplement (provides salary support) for a race/ethnic minority investigator
Research project must work within the scope of the parent grant (larger NIH grant such as an R01)
Provides short-term and long-term funding support
1.    Short-term Investigator Research Supplement: This supplement provides short-term support for faculty members to conduct full-time research in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical or social sciences for three to five months each year during the summer or another portion of the academic year, over a maximum period of four years.
2.    Long-term Investigator Research Supplement: This supplement provides long-term research support for faculty members to conduct research in the biomedical,
behavioral, clinical or social sciences. Support is usually provided for up to two years at a minimum of 9 person months (equivalent to 75% effort) during each 12-month period.

22. Renewal, Resubmission, Revision
NIH Standard Due Dates
New Applications
Cycle 1
Cycle 2
Cycle 3
RO3
February 16
June 16
October 16
R21
K99/00
February 12
June 12
October 12
Renewal, Resubmission, Revision
Generally these are absolute but you should always check and confirm
Cycle 1
Cycle 2
Cycle 3
RO3
March 16
July 16
November 16
R21
K99/00
March 12
July 12
November 12

23. NIH Application –Major Sections
Specific Aims
Research Strategy
Sub-sections (Significance, Innovation, Approach)
Environment
Protections for Human Subjects
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children
Targeted Planned Enrollment Table
Budget
Budget Justification
Biosketches
References
Letters of support*
Key personnel documents
Depending on the grant
Focus on the specific aims and research strategy

24. Specific Aims & Research Strategy
Specific Aims (1 pg)
Research Strategy- Significance (1.5pg for R03)
Opening paragraph, current state of the knowledge and summary of gaps
Innovation of proposed research and how it fills some gaps
List objectives e.g., test hypotheses, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm, address barrier in the field, or develop new technology.
Finish with summary of the potential broad impact of the proposed research will have.
Explain the importance of problem or critical barrier to progress in the field
Explain how proposed project improves scientific knowledge.
Describe how concepts, methods, treatments, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
Cite seminal, persuasive work from high impact factor journals
[specific aims]- provides essential info to summarize the proposal- * most important aspect of the grant, reviewers often draw their “initial” conclusion about your grant based on the specific aims

25. Research Strategy Innovation (approx. 1.5pg) Approach (2.5-3pgs)
Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research
Describe novel/improvements methods, advantages over what currently exists
State why you are so enthusiastically proposing the research and why the work should be done
State what is novel and gaps that will be filled
Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims
The data to be analyzed – source, descriptive for sample, etc,
Variables to be used
Analysis strategy and procedures
Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims
Approximate page parameters for an R03

26. Tips for Early Stage Investigators
Describe institutional investment in the success of the investigator,
Resources for classes, travel, and training
Collegial support such as career enrichment programs
Availability of organized peer groups
Logistical support such as administrative management , oversight ,and best practices training
Describe in environment section

27. Overview of how grants are scored
Scored on a 9-point scale
1 indicates exceptionally strong application with essentially no weaknesses.
9 indicates an application with serious and substantive weaknesses with very few strengths
5 considered an average score
Scale used by all study group review members to provide overall impact/priority score for each application.
Scale used by assigned reviewers to score five individual criteria (e.g., Significance, Investigator(s), Innovation, Approach, Environment)

28. Grant Writing Tips
1- Start early- at least 4-5 months to write a grant proposal
2- Use short declarative sentences, minimize use of complex sentences
3- Cite sparingly in the specific aims section
4-Recruit reviewers (experts in the field, in statistics/methods, style (English, grammar, etc) to review your grant prior to submission
5- Obtain a copy of a funded grant application
6- Become familiar with the grant submission process at your institution
7- Avoid jargon
8- Include a schematic of grant timeline (even if not requested)
* Additional tip- avoid (if it all possible) submitting a final proposal (and manuscript) on a Friday. People make more errors and “rush” the process whether or not they know they are doing it – advice from a tenured full professor who has served on a NIA grant committee for many years

29. Determine the association between measures of PA and brain health.
Examples of timelines
Top example- a figure depicting the study design with the intervention timeline included
Bottom example-simple timeline for different phases of a study
Aim
Research Activities
Pre-award
’14-‘15
’15-‘16 ’
16-’17
Determine the association between measures of PA and brain health.
Cohort development √
Data collection
Data Analysis & preparation of results for publication

30. Additional Resources
(Literature review)- The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It (word document)
(Grants) NIH Website
(Grants) YouTube video of a NIH grant review session
(Grants) NIH Reporter

31. Please complete evaluation forms prior to leaving- Thanks!

32. All sessions held at the MVA from 12pm-1pm
Session Schedule
All sessions held at the MVA from 12pm-1pm
Date
Topic
June 19
Literature Reviews & Grants 101
June 26
Writing a Scientific Manuscript (Part 1)
July 10
Writing a Scientific Manuscript (Part 2)
July 17
Fundamentals of Study Design
July 24
Fundamentals of Biostatistics (Part 1)
July 31
Fundamentals of Biostatics (Part 2)
Slides will be loaded to the MVA website
To RSVP call (615) or

33. NIH Centers & Institutes
Know your audience
NIH Centers & Institutes
1. NCI
14. NIDA
2. NEI
15. NIEHS
3. NHLIBI
16.NIGHMS
4. NHGRI
17. NIMH
5. NIA
18. NIMHD
6. NIAA
19. NINDS
7. NIAID
20. NINR
8. NIAMS
21. NLM
9. NBIB
22.CIT
10. NICHD
23.CSR
11.NIDCD
24. FIC
12. NIDCR
25. NCCIH
13.NIDDK
26. NCATS
* Print list of full NIH institutes and centers*
Keep in mind many topics can be addressed from many perspectives- be strategic
For example- you maybe interested in (obesity- attitudes toward obesity, health outcomes associated with obesity, healthcare implications associated with obesity, cognitive outcomes associated with diabetes in older adults), “framing” your research interests to “fit” the mission and initiative of a specific NIH center/institute