1. Developed by Constance Baldwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, constance_baldwin@urmc.rochester.edu 1 Constance D. Baldwin, Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY Make Every Word Count Twice:

2. Do the new formats make you feel squeezed?

3. Developed by Constance Baldwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, constance_baldwin@urmc.rochester.edu 3 RESEARCH PLANRESEARCH STRATEGY Specific Aims Background and Significance Significance Innovation Preliminary Studies (Progress Report) Approach (at end) Research Design and Methods Approach All sections =25 pTotal now =13 pages Revised Outline of NIH Research Plan

4. Developed by Constance Baldwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, constance_baldwin@urmc.rochester.edu 4 New NIH Format: Suggested Page Allocations Specific Aims (1 page) Research Strategy (12 pages) –Significance (~2 p) –Innovation (~1 p) –Approach (includes Preliminary Studies/Progress Report) (~9 p) K-awards: 1+12 p for Candidate Background, Career Devel Plan, and Research Strategy For R03s, R21s: 1+6 p

5. Developed by Constance Baldwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, constance_baldwin@urmc.rochester.edu 5 K-proposal: Suggested Page Allocations  Candidate Statement (~ 4pp)  Specific Aims (1 p)  Approach (~8 pp) –Significance (1.5 pp) –Innovation (.5 p) –Approach (includes Preliminary Studies/Progress Report) (6 pp) Total length= 13 pages

6. In the “enhanced” NIH world: Is smaller better?

7. Developed by Constance Baldwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, constance_baldwin@urmc.rochester.edu 7 Make every word count twice: Fly high! Work to achieve the 30,000 ft perspective –Practice your “Big Picture” skills –Develop your elevator speech –Tell it to your Mom Craft a 30,000 ft and a 5,000 ft summary statement and refer to these as you write Practice focus on design > methods, approach > techniques Create the context (big picture) carefully, add details only as needed for clarification (e.g. as examples)

8. Developed by Constance Baldwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, constance_baldwin@urmc.rochester.edu 8 Make every word count twice: Fight for brevity! Practice the rules of brevity: –Build sentences around the best subject –Choose verbs for compact power of expression –Use active voice to simplify sentences –Avoid abstractions and long-winded sentences –Avoid empty phrases (“due to the fact that…”) –Use controlled parallel constructions to embed lists Writing tutorial available at: http://www.academicpeds.org/espauthoring/page_01.ht m http://www.academicpeds.org/espauthoring/page_01.ht m Make your pictures worth 1000 words: use figures and tables to reduce need for narrative Use smart formatting to: –Simplify navigation around the proposal –Emphasize critical phrases When you repeat for emphasis, use new words to give a new spin or point of emphasis

9.  Dyslipidemia  Elevated BP  Abnormal glucose- insulin metabolism  Pro-inflammatory factors  Pro-thrombotic factors Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Abdominal Obesity Genetics, Perinatal, Puberty, Diet, Physical Activity Tobacco use/exposure Potential Precursors: Adiponectin Other inflammatory cytokines Bold = factors included in this study Proposed Metabolic Syndrome Factors in the Life Course from Obesity to Cardiovascular Disease Childhood Adolescence Adulthood

10. Study Population 9-10 yr olds (Monroe County n ~20,000) Study population (Subset of Study 1 sample)  n=30 No tobacco exposure  n=30 High tobacco exposure Chart Review: BMI 50 th to 98 th percentile Mailing from Practices about Study Phone Screening: Tobacco Exposure Written Consent and Assent (n = 240) Complete Body composition Serum History Measures Measures Practice-based and School Recruitment Subject Screening Subject Enrollment and Initial Consent Visit at 12 mo Repeat measure of Athropometric, body fat, cotinine and serum markers SUMMARY OF STUDY DESIGN Baseline Data Collection & Analysis STUDY 1: Longitudinal Aim 1A Visit at 24 mo Visit at 36 mo STUDY 2: Cross-sectional Aim 2 Longitudinal Data Collection and Analysis Measurements:  Regional Fat by MRI  Insulin sensitivity by FSGTT Cross-sectional Data Collection and Analysis Phone contact @ 6mo Phone contact @ 18m Family Meetings at Schools Consent to contact PCP Verbal tobacco screening Chart Review: BMI 50 th to 98 th percentile Phone contact @ 30m School Recruitment Pool n=5,300 Practice Recruitment Pool n=4,200 STUDY 1: Aim 1B

11. Developed by Constance Baldwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center, constance_baldwin@urmc.rochester.edu 11 Make every word count twice: Exploit those supplements! Use Letters of Support to amplify on institutional support, career development activities, and methods Use Bio Sketches (all of them!) to highlight your skills, and clarify roles of your collaborators and mentors Use Resources to build your image while reinforcing institutional commitment Use Appendices to supplement Preliminary Studies

12. In some worlds, smaller really is better

13. In other worlds, beauty comes in all sizes