1. Keys to a Successful Grant Application E. Brooke Lerner, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Emergency Medicine Medical College of Wisconsin

2. Acknowledgements No financial conflicts of interest Have reviewed grants for HRSA, local IRC- seed grants, National Organizations, and others

3. Why Writing a Grant is A Lot Like Learning to Ice Skate

4. Two Parts to Ice Skating Muscle Edges

5. Objectives Describe ways to improve the “muscle” or science in your grant Describe ways to improve the “edges” or polishing of your application

6. Grant Muscles = Science A lecture like this can not really help you improve your science  The issues are specific to the topic Two key ways to build your science muscle  Get a personal trainer – Find a mentor  Do lots of repetitions – Do preliminary work

7. Find a Mentor Every researcher should have at least one  Guide you in your decisions Where and when to apply and what to include  Even those who are mentors have mentors Who?  Ideal world – one person  Real world – multiple people who help with different parts Where?  Within or outside your institution

8. Preliminary Work The more money you ask for the more you need to show you will be successful Seed funds can help with this  Still want to show things you have done to prepare Obvious – work that led you to this proposal But also: Know the literature Looked for other ways or data sources Team has worked together Complete things to publication

9. Grant Edges = Polish How are grant applications used?  Persuade agency to give you money! How are they selected  Cut 1: Follow the directions? (administrative review)  Cut 2: Peer review  Cut 3: How far down the list will the money go (may be some mission alignment)

10. What you are really writing… A persuasive essay  You have a great idea  The idea is important  You are the right person in the right place with the right resources to get the job done  You have a great way to get the job done and you have thought of everything

11. What do reviewers want from you? Be clear – Tell them what they need to know If reviewers can not find it, understand it or forgets it your score will not reflect it  Use sub-headings to make it easy to follow  Don’t dance around it – “say it” If you wouldn’t say it out loud like that -- don’t write it like that  Use bolding to make key points  Don’t be afraid to say it again and again

12. What do reviewers want from you? Follow the directions  No points for originality or creativity in presentation Original/creative proposal is good  Use headings and sub-headings to guide them  Provide the information the reviewers are asked to consider Make it easy for them to score you well Make a sub-heading for the criteria Consider bolding the answer

13. What do reviewers want from you? Always proof your submission  Speling count and so do gramar  A sloppy application raises concern of sloppy or lazy researcher  Have lots of people read it before you submit it Someone not in your field – make deals Someone who isn’t a scientist – Mom/AA  Consider reading out loud Voice will catch what eyes have missed  Especially on your 50th reading!

14. What do reviewers want from you? Use only common abbreviations  Saving space may cost clarity Avoid specialized jargon and regional jargon  Peer reviewers may be in your area but not know your specific topic  If you think – “Oh, they know that” Think again – who would know that?  Who might be on the committee? Explain it!

15. Writing Style Write simply  No unnecessary words  No unnecessary sentences  No long multiple clause sentences  Limit parenthesis use Listen to Strunk and White and be:  Specific  Definite  Concrete

16. The Small Parts They may be short but don’t underestimate how important they are  Abstract  Specific Aim pages SWEAT THIS SMALL STUFF!

17. Abstract May be the only thing some reviewers read!  Only assigned reviewers have to read everything  But everybody votes Spend time on it  Summarize the proposal  Don’t forget you are still selling your work Best to write last but not last minute

18. Specific Aims One page overview  Why project is important  Why you are the right person in the right place  The aims  The significance This is an art! Work on it a lot  Make a great first impression Be realistic  Aims that can be done for the $ and in time

19. Ways to improve your grant applications Review Grants  Learn from others’ mistakes rather than your own Volunteer anywhere you can  Local review committees  National Organizations  IRB

20. Be Thick Skinned Even good grants get rejected  19% of new R01 grants are funded  27% funding rate for R03 and R21 grants Have back up plans Be committed to a long process Be persistent

21. Keys to a great grant Read instructions Start early Logical and sound idea Clearly define problem and significance Write clearly Describe methods sequentially with visuals Include evaluation measures Be realistic Get multiple reviews from others Follow the directions *borrowed from Clay Mann University of Utah

22. Conclusion Whether you’re ice skating or writing a grant  Build your muscles  Work your edges Both are required for success!

23. Questions? eblerner@mcw.edu