Writing a research application

Ewa Ehrenborg

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Research application

• Write a grant application• 3-4 students/group• Send in title by Thursday November 21st

• Follow-up November 23rd (5+6), 25th (1+2) and 30th (3+4) – 20 min/group

• Use the application form provided• Send in your application by 5 pm, Monday January 9th

• Oral presentations on January 11th and12th

• Each group will act as opponent for one other group• Assessment form

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• Choose your own project within the “broad” topic allocated

– Interesting

– Relevant• Supply provisional title by November 21st

• Research plan should be a maximum of 3 A4 pages (12-point text, single spacing)

• Provide a short reference list (max 20)

Research plan

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Group 1- Metabolism and CVD: Ferdinand.Vant.Hooft@ki.se

- Energy metabolism (endocrinology):

Jens.Mittag@ki.se

Group 2- Transcription factor regulation in

inflammation: Josefin.Skogsberg@ki.se

- Interactions between lipids and coagulation factors: Angela.Silveira@ki.se

Group 3 - Vascular Biology (Molecular Imaging):

Bjorn.Gustafsson@ki.se

- Allergy: Hans.Gronlund@ki.se

Group 4 - Diabetes and co-morbidities:

Jing.Wang@ki.se

- Cell death in metabolism: Joelle.Magne@ki.se

Group 5 - Aneurysm:

Dick.Wagsater@ki.se

- Inflammation in CVD:

Anna.Lundberg@ki.se

Group 6 - Mesenchymal stem cells

and bone cell formation: Lars-Arne.Haldosen@ki.se

- Genetics of thrombosis and haemostasis:

Maria.Sabater.Ileal@ki.se

Research application - Group topics

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• Discussion partner• Facilitate the process and discuss the

strategy

NOT:

• Decide what to study

• Write the application

• Responsible for making contact

The role of the mentor

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Examples of previous titles

• The role of Natural Killer T cell subtypes in different stages of asthma

• An in vivo comparison of the cardiovascular effects of coffee diterpenes cafestol and kahweol in relation to diabetes

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Follow-up meeting

• Groups 5 and 6 - November 23rd, 10-12 am• Groups 1 and 2 - November 25th, 10-12 am• Groups 3 and 4 - November 30th, 10-12 am• Separate schedule on the web• Present your plans • Each research team ~ 20 min• Support and discussions

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Summary of research programme Importance of research

Summary/abstract

• Relevant (what is your research question?)• Clearly written• Easy to follow

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Research programme

• Title• Hypothesis/Aims• Background• Work plan including methods• Importance/ impact of results• References (max 20)

3 pages

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Research plan - Title

• Informative• Interesting - attention catching• Not too long• Should not contain abbreviations

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Research plan - Aims/Hypothesis

• State clearly the aims of the research• Explain the scientific hypothesis

– Most important part of the application– State very clearly– Is it novel?– Is it realistic?– Is it possible?– Is it well planned?

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Research plan - Background

• Introduce the field (generally + specifically)• Place the proposed research in the context of

what is already known (or not known)• How would the proposed research add to

current knowledge?

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Research plan - Work plan

• Define clearly the proposed research– Which research questions can the work

answer– Whom will carry out the work?– What facilities are needed?– What are the critical steps?

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Research plan - Methods

Describe the methods of choice– Explain the choice– Are they the best to meet the objectives?– If novel, how do they compare with already

known methods?– Novel methods require detailed description– Validation– Sample size (refer to the work of others)

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Research plan - Importance/Impact

Explain how the proposed research would contribute significantly to:– scientific knowledge– society– health care– specific patients– commercial interests

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Research plan - References

• Relevant publications (key papers)• May include previous work published by the

applicant• Cite full reference (according to instructions)

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Help the reader to understand

- clearly state the hypothesis and aims - include an overview slide (strategy & context)- relevant background- well described work plan- appropriate methods- include titles in the references

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What is the evaluator looking for?

Scoring the research question

Low = Unclear wording, poorly constructed or previously conducted

Mid = Interesting but conventional

High = Innovative and extremely important.

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Low = Materials, methods or applications are not entirely accurate

Mid = Correct, but not original methodology

High = Unique materials and techniques. Innovative, well thought through

Scoring the methodology

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Oral presentations

• January 11th and12th • 15 min presentation/group + 5-10 min discussion• 3-4 students/group – all students will present• Everybody in the group should be able to present all

parts of the application • Each group will act as “opponent “for one other group• Assessment form

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Replacement assignmentConsists of two parts:

• Your own research project

– Application (filled in forms + research proposal)

– Submit a relevant article that the application is related to and explain your choice

– Powerpoint presentation of the application

• Opponent for an application from another group

– Application will be e-mailed to you on January 9 (KI mail address)

– Critically assess the hypothesis, strategies, methods and importance of the study ( N one A4 page)

To be e-mailed to ewa.ehrenborg@ki.se by January 13

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Take home message

• Clearly state the hypothesis/aims and how it will be tested

• Specify what should be measured and why• Explain how the experiments/strategy can

contribute to an increased understanding

- could include an overview figure with strategies & pathophysiological context