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Keys to Grant Writing Success Terrie Vasilopoulos 10/06/2014

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About Me Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology Joint appointment in Orthopedics Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State Postdoc at University of Chicago Funding T32 in graduate school F32 during postdoc Collaborator on both NIH and foundational grants Former President of UofC Postdoctoral Association

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How to find funding? What do you need support for? Research, salary, travel Basic science, clinical, translation Specific area (aging, cancer, etc.) Develop keywords!

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Specific Funding Agencies

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Links to Searches Links to notification systems

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COS Funding

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Specify Citizenship Requirements Specify Postdoctoral Grants

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http://www.foundationcenter.org/

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COMMON AWARD MECHANISMS

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NIH

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F32 http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA postdoctoral fellowship is to enhance the research training of promising postdoctoral candidates who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in scientific health-related research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

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F32 Eligibility U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents Duration Up to 3 years (maximum) Award Stipends, some tuition and fees, institutional allowance Mentored Statement from mentor Mentors record

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F32 Training plan In addition to research proposal New experience Formal must be as developed and thoughtful as research proposal Responsible Conduct of Research Taken very seriously Service Payback Service obligation of 1 month for each month of support during the first 12 months 2 nd year of F32 qualifies Or must hold a qualified position in biomedical sciences Research or research training teaching

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Fiscal Year Applicant Degree# Reviewed# Awarded Success Rate 2013MD1443222.2% 2013PhD1,45839727.2% 2013MD-PhD35925.7% 2013Other66011717.7% 2013TOTAL2,29755524.2% F32 Success Rates

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K99/R00 http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawar ds.htm http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawar ds.htm The purpose of the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions, and to provide independent NIH research support during the transition that will help these individuals launch competitive, independent research careers.

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K99/R00 Eligibility No citizenship requirement Duration 3-5 years in 2 phases: Phase 1: 1-2 years mentored support for postdocs Phase 2: up to 3 years independent supports Must receive a independent research position Award Stipend, institutional allowance, research support Levels change between phases

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K99/R00 Success Rates Fiscal YearActivity CodeNIH Institute / Center Number of Applications Reviewed Number of Applications Awarded Success Rate 2 Total Funding 3 2013K99NHLBI1122522.3%$2,680,777 2013K99NIDCR14321.4%$317,907 2013K99NIDDK651218.5%$1,078,911 2013K99NINDS741317.6%$1,185,131 2013K99NIAID31619.4%$611,435 2013K99NIGMS1361511.0%$1,340,093 2013K99NICHD731216.4%$1,326,269 2013K99NEI28414.3%$377,604 2013K99NIEHS261142.3%$1,089,826 2013K99NIA311135.5%$1,260,548 2013K99NIAMS21314.3%$258,625 2013K99NIDCD23834.8%$896,423 2013K99NIMH531222.6%$1,072,184 2013K99NIDA221150.0%$1,407,650 2013K99NIAAA18738.9%$824,243 2013K99NINR5360.0%$279,295 2013K99NHGRI10440.0%$373,319 2013K99NIBIB33515.2%$449,510 2013K99NCCAM400.0%$0 2013K99NLM12325.0%$252,425 2013K99OD Other11100.0%$129,708 2013K99Activity Total92620321.9%$21,136,192

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Other K awards Use K award Wizard http://grants.nih.gov/training/kwizard/ For basic scientists: K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award K02 Independent Scientist Award (for funded scientist) K22 Career Transition Award K25 Mentored Quantitative Career Development Award For clinician-scientists: K02 Independent Scientist Award (for funded scientist) K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award K22 Career Transition Award K23 Mentored Patient-oriented Career Development Award

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Other Grant/Fellowship Mechanisms National Science Foundation (NSF) Requires: Citizenship/green card http://www.nsf.gov/funding/education.jsp?fund_type =3 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/education.jsp?fund_type =3 Department of Defense (DOD/CdMRP) https://cdmrp.org/Program_Announcements_and_Fo rms/ https://cdmrp.org/Program_Announcements_and_Fo rms/ Usually need to have less than 4 years of postdoc training. Only certain areas of research have postdoc grants.

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Other Grant/Fellowship Mechanisms American Heart Association http://my.americanheart.org/professional/Research/Fundi ngOpportunities/Supporting%20Information/Winter-2014- --Postdoctoral-Fellowship_UCM_443314_Article.jsp http://my.americanheart.org/professional/Research/Fundi ngOpportunities/Supporting%20Information/Winter-2014- --Postdoctoral-Fellowship_UCM_443314_Article.jsp Visa holders may apply Need to have no more than 5 years of postdoctoral training American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/research/applyforaresearchgrant/g ranttypes/postdoctoral-fellowships http://www.cancer.org/research/applyforaresearchgrant/g ranttypes/postdoctoral-fellowships Eligibility: US citizens or permanent residents of the US Need to have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral training

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TIPS FOR WRITING A SUCCESSFUL GRANT/FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

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Getting Started Read the literature broadly - not deeply; save important papers for a deeper read later Engage your lab, mentors and collaborators Make an effort to talk with the relevant Program Officer(s) Try to obtain examples of successful grants Begin early to define, organize and plan the content Early means 6 - 9 months before the deadline!

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Getting Started Download and carefully read all instructions and deadlines Make sure you are registered for government internet based application and award systems, particularly the eRA Commons Talk with lab/department administrators about budgeting, all required approvals, and routing procedures Contact collaborators and arrange for letters of reference as needed

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Get Excited! Enthusiasm for research will (and should) be reflected in application and proposal Reviews can tell!

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Basic Elements of Most Grants Specific Aims Background/Significance Methods/Approach Preliminary Data Training plan

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Specific Aims Get their attention! Should write this early in process and send to PO 1-2 paragraphs for overview Objectives for research and training List of AIMS, clearly defined Summary of what will be gained from this work/training

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Specific Aims Reviewers must be able to understand significance and feasibility of proposal from aims Clear and concise Typically 2-4 Aims Later aims should not be dependent on success of previous aim!

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Background/Significance Clearly state why your proposed research is important Geared towards both experts and reviewers with general science background Review previous work, highlight gaps in knowledge, address how your work will address gaps. Highlight novelty and innovation Also, make sure proposal is aligned with mission of funding institution NIH public health

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Methods/Approach Try to organize by Aims, if possible Include overview of methods and rationale Are you using reliable/valid approaches? Define everything: target population, independent and dependent variables, covariates, instruments, etc. Flow charts and tables! Demonstrate feasibility Sample size estimations/power G*Power is free! Thoughtful data analytic approaches Unless part of your proposal, stick to modern/accepted methods Consult with a statistician..early! Discuss expected outcomes, possible interpretations and problems, and alternatives

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Preliminary Data Shows you can actually do what you say your are going to do Feasibility/Plausibility Usually contains a couple figures and some text (not long) Difficult if you do not have pilot data or funding Ask collaborators to share data Ask chair for some minimal funding

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Training Plan Additional technical training Didactic training Depend on education level and background Balance with getting enough didactic training and having enough time to do research Professional training Anything that will help you become a successful researcher Communication, writing, teaching, management, leadership

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Training Plan Must be thoughtful and relevant Cannot appear as an afterthought Linked closely with your career goals Helps to create an IDP Meaningful interaction between you and your mentor Mentoring team Shows that you are serious in your training to be an independent scientist

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Peer Review Reviewers either sit around a table or conference call and talk about your grant

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Peer Review Triage Tosses out least 50% of grants (not scored) unscored grants save reviewers time Get reviewer comments but no summary of panel discussion Make sure your grant grabs their attention!

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Peer Review Reviewers either: 1) write a review (1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd reviewer, score) 2) or are a reader for the grant Panels can have heavy load Again, specific aims set the tone for how they will view your grant

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Peer Review Review criteria: Significance Approach Innovation Investigators Environment http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/reviewer_guidelin es.htm http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/reviewer_guidelin es.htm

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Scoring Final score is mean of reviewers scores x 10 Ranked as a percentile score for some mechanisms ScoreDescriptor Additional Guidance on Strengths/Weaknesses 1Exceptional Exceptionally strong; essentially no weaknesses 2Outstanding Extremely strong; negligible weaknesses 3Excellent Very strong; only some minor weaknesses 4Very Good Strong but numerous minor weaknesses 5Good Strong but at least one moderate weakness 6Satisfactory Some strengths; some moderate weaknesses 7Fair Some strengths but at least one major weakness 8Marginal A few strengths; a few major weaknesses 9Poor Very few strengths; numerous major weaknesses

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Scoring Preliminary Scores Entered prior to meeting on secure website Can be seen by other study group members Final priority scores Voted by study group members Reviewers are instructed to revise scores after meeting

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Peer Review Structured Critiques: Overall strengths and weaknesses Strengths & weaknesses of each core criterion Scores for each core criterion Comments on other review considerations Additional comments (advice) http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/reviewer_ guidelines.htm#general_guidelines http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/reviewer_ guidelines.htm#general_guidelines

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Common Criticisms/Weaknesses Typos, bad writing Lack of clear, strong hypotheses and aims Approach does not match aims Unfocused review of previous research Lack of novelty/innovation/relevance to institutional mission Overly ambitious (too much work/training proposed)

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Common Criticisms/Weaknesses Lack of detail in approach Superficial training plan Lack of evidence that applicant and mentor worked together on application Lack of expertise in applicant and/or mentor team Biosketches

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From my experience Start early Give it the time it deserves, itll show Talk to people.dont be shy Mentor, other collaborators, PO, peers Once someone is committed, make sure they do what they said Dont be afraid to move one Do as much as you can to help your collaborators Be excited.and careful Rememberits about you and your work

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Thanks!