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Academic Research Enhancement Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) ProgramAward (AREA) Program

Erica Brown, PhD

NIH AREA Program Director

NIH Regional Seminar Scottsdale, Arizona

April 28, 2011

OverviewOverview

• Goal of AREA program

• Applying for an AREA grant

• Funding for the AREA program

• Strategies for successfully competing for AREA funding

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Purpose of the AREA ProgramPurpose of the AREA Program

Support small research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences conducted by faculty and students in educational institutions that have not been major recipients of NIH research grant funds

Goals of AREA ProgramGoals of AREA Program

• To support meritorious research

• To expose students to research

• To strengthen the research environment of the institution

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• Pilot research projects and feasibility studies

• Development, testing, and refinement of research techniques

• Secondary analysis of available data sets

• Similar discrete research projects that demonstrate research capability

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Research Supported by the AREA ProgramResearch Supported by the AREA Program

Applying for an AREA Grant…Applying for an AREA Grant…

• Funded through the R15 grant mechanism– Program Announcement (PA) Number: PA-10-070

– http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-070.html

• Receipt dates– Standard application deadlines: February 25, June

25, and October 25

– AIDS-related research deadlines: May 7, September 7, and January 7

• All NIH ICs participate in the AREA program, except FIC and NIMHD

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Applying for an AREA Grant…Applying for an AREA Grant…

• Project period is limited up to 3 years

• Direct cost limited to $300,000 over entire project period

• Research Strategy limited to 12 pages

• Multiple PIs are allowed

• Preliminary data are not required but are allowed

• Grants are renewable

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Eligible InstitutionsEligible Institutions

• Institutions offering baccalaureate or advanced degrees in biomedical or behavioral sciences

• Receives < $6 million per year in NIH research support in at least 4 of the past 7 years

• Applicants should consult the list of ineligible institutions on the AREA Program website– http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm

• Foreign institutions are not eligible but may be included as a collaborating institution

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Eligible IndividualsEligible Individuals

• Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research at an eligible institution

• PI can not have an active NIH research grant– May be a collaborator on an active NIH grant held by

another PI

• PI may not be awarded more than one AREA grant at a time

• PI may not submit another application to the NIH for essentially the same research project

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Special Submission RequirementsSpecial Submission Requirements

• A profile of available and former students at the institution– Demographics

– Number who are enrolled in baccalaureate and doctoral degree programs (if applicable)

– Number who have obtained advanced degrees in the health-related sciences

• A description of the special characteristics of the institution that make it appropriate for an AREA grant

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Special Submission RequirementsSpecial Submission Requirements

• For any proposed research sites other than the applicant institution, provide a brief description of the resources

• If relevant, a statement of institutional support for the proposed research project

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A Special Note about the BudgetA Special Note about the Budget

• Include the total requested budget for all years of the proposed project in Budget Period 1.

– For example, if applying for a 3-year grant, request all funds in year 1.

• If the direct costs for all years is $250,000 or less, use the Modular Budget format

• If the direct costs for all years is more than $250,000, use the R&R Detailed Budget

• Unlike most NIH grants, funds for all project years are awarded upfront (project start date)

• Progress reports due annually

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Data for AREA Program – Last 5 YearsData for AREA Program – Last 5 Years

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Fiscal Year

Applications Reviewed

Applications Awarded

Success Rate

Total Funding

2006 725 184 25.4% $37,938,780

2007 862 216 25.1% $45,228,704

2008 759 213 28.1% $44,395,633

2009 805 178 22.1% $37,299,776

2010* 992 185 19.0% $52,352,418

* Policy change: Increased institutional eligibility cap to $6M/year and increased cap on individual awards to $300,000

Data for AREA Program – Last 5 YearsData for AREA Program – Last 5 Years

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Fiscal Year

Applications Reviewed

Applications Awarded

Success Rate

Total Funding

2006 725 184 25.4% $37,938,780

2007 862 216 25.1% $45,228,704

2008 759 213 28.1% $44,395,633

2009 805 178 22.1% $37,299,776

2010* 992 185 19.0% $52,352,418

* Policy change: Increased institutional eligibility cap to $6M/year and increased cap on individual awards to $300,000

Data for AREA Program in 2010Data for AREA Program in 2010

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NIH Institutes/Centers

Applications Reviewed

Applications Awarded

Success Rate

Total Funding

NIAAA 9 3 33.3% $754,973 NIA 48 4 8% $1,351,672 NIAID 134 21 16% $6,054,043 NIAMS 26 6 23% $1,432,869 NCCAM 10 2 20% $408,651 NCI 120 24 20% $7,475,247 NIDA 21 4 19% $923,025 NIDCD 13 1 8% $219,369 NIDCR 9 3 33% $974,267 NIDDK 38 19 50% $5,368,154 NIBIB 27 3 11% $836,901 NIEHS 37 10 27% $3,047,112 NEI 24 5 21% $1,608,391 NIGMS 199 36 18% $9,686,918 NICHD 81 8 10% $1,917,869 NHGRI 3 1 33% $316,455 NHLBI 71 11 16% $2,936,353 NLM 1 0 0% $0 NIMH 41 6 15% $1,543,010 NINR 28 3 11% $803,313 NINDS 49 15 31% $4,693,826 NCRR 3 0 0% $0 FY Total 992 185 19% $ 52,352,418

Strategies for SuccessStrategies for Success

• Find the NIH Institute or Center that supports your area of research– Research objectives of the NIH Institute and Centers

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area_grant_objectives.htm

– AREA contacts at each NIH Institute and Center http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/contacts/parent_R15.html

• Include a cover letter suggesting an appropriate Institute and up to three appropriate study sections

– Study Section rosters http://www.csr.nih.gov/Roster_proto/sectionI.asp

– Study Section expertise http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescriptionNew/

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Strategies for SuccessStrategies for Success

• Address the AREA-specific programmatic goals in the application

– Experience of the investigator in working with students

– Profile of available and former students at the institution

– How students will benefit from this research experience

– The suitability of the institution for an award

– The impact the AREA grant will have on the institution

• Include a collaborator or consultant if you don’t have the necessary expertise or resources

• AREA grant is a research award, not a training award– Focus on hands-on research not course work

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Thank you…Thank you…

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Questions?

Erica Brown, PhDNIH AREA Program Director

ebrown1@mail.nih.gov