Grantsmanship: Best Practices for the Research Statement

(1)

Grantsmanship

:

_:

Best Practices for the

Research Statement

--

Women in Science at Columbia

_{Women in Science at Columbia}

-

-(WISC)

(WISC)

November 5, 2013 November 5, 2013 Jaime S. Rubin, Ph.D. Dept. of Medicine

College of Physicians and Surgeons Columbia University

(2)



 Types of AwardsTypes of Awards



 Fellowships (FFellowships (F’’s), Training grants (Ts), Training grants (T’’s), Career s), Career

Transition Awards, Research grants,



 Funding AgenciesFunding Agencies



 FederalFederal



National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health,

National Science Foundation



 Voluntary Health Organizations, Professional Voluntary Health Organizations, Professional

Societies, Foundations, Industry, Other



 Planning & Organizing a Research ProposalPlanning & Organizing a Research Proposal



 Research StatementResearch Statement

Topics to be Discussed

(3)



 FederalFederal



Topics to be Discussed

(4)

Not All Funding

Opportunities Are the Same



 Different mission statementsDifferent mission statements



 Fellowships (FFellowships (F’’s)s)



 Research project (RResearch project (R’’s)s)



 Different fundingDifferent funding



 Stipend/SalaryStipend/Salary



 Comprehensive research costsComprehensive research costs



 Different time framesDifferent time frames



 Not renewable: 3 years (FNot renewable: 3 years (F’’s)s)



(5)

Types of Awards



 Individual fellowshipsIndividual fellowships



 Training grantsTraining grants



 Career transition awardsCareer transition awards



 Career development Career development

awards



 Research grantsResearch grants



 Program ProjectsProgram Projects



 Loan Repayment ProgramLoan Repayment Program



 Administrative Administrative

supplements



 Cooperative agreementsCooperative agreements



 Institutional Clinical & Institutional Clinical &

Translational Science Translational Science Award (CTSA) Award (CTSA)   SubcontractsSubcontracts   ContractsContracts

(6)

Graduate School Post-doctoral Years Instructor/ Assistant Professor Individual Fellowship T32 Training Grant Mentor’s Research Grant Individual Fellowship T32 Training Grant Mentor’s Research Grant

Timeline of Funding

for Junior Investigators

(7)

Pre

-

_-

doc/Post

_doc/Post

-

_-

doc:

_doc:

Institutional Training Grant

(NIH

-

T32)



 PrePre--docs/Postdocs/Post--docs selected by institutiondocs selected by institution



 Research training in specific areaResearch training in specific area



 Defined number of slotsDefined number of slots



(8)

Pre

-

_-

doc/Post

_doc/Post

-

_-

doc:

_doc:

Individual Fellowship



 Supports specific individual Supports specific individual



 Stipend, health fees, tuition, travelStipend, health fees, tuition, travel



 NIH: F31 (PreNIH: F31 (Pre--doc); F32 (Postdoc); F32 (Post--doc)doc)



 Review criteria:Review criteria:



 Individual fellowIndividual fellow



 MentorMentor



 Research projectResearch project



(9)

Pre

-

doc Fellowships (F31s)

Applications, awards, and success rates

(10)

Post

-

doc Fellowships (F32s)

Applications, awards, and success rates

(11)

National Science Foundation National Science Foundation

Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)



 3 years3 years of support ($132,000 total)of support ($132,000 total)



 Stipend of $32,000Stipend of $32,000, , CostCost--ofof--education allowanceeducation allowance of of

$12,000

$12,000 to the degreeto the degree--granting institutiongranting institution



 Individuals Individuals early in their graduate careersearly in their graduate careers with with

demonstrated potential for significant achievements in demonstrated potential for significant achievements in

science and engineering science and engineering



 ““Research with Research with diseasedisease--related goalsrelated goals, including work , including work

on the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or on the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or

mental disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human mental disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human

beings is normally

beings is normally not supportednot supported…”…”



 US citizens/nationals/permanent residentsUS citizens/nationals/permanent residents



(12)



 FederalFederal



Topics to be Discussed

(13)

Individual Fellowships

Pre

-

_-

docs and Post

_{docs and Post}

-

_-

docs

_docs

Non-government, non-profit agencies

 Voluntary Health Organizations  Private Foundations

(14)

American Heart Association (Founders Affiliate ) American Heart Association (Founders Affiliate )

Pre

Pre--doctoral Fellowship Programdoctoral Fellowship Program



 Cardiovascular function and disease and strokeCardiovascular function and disease and stroke



 Basic science, clinical, bioengineering, public health, Basic science, clinical, bioengineering, public health,

epidemiological, behavioral, and community research epidemiological, behavioral, and community research



 FundingFunding



 Stipend/Salary: $22,000; Fringe Benefits:Stipend/Salary: $22,000; Fringe Benefits: $1,000$1,000



 Award Duration:Award Duration: 11--2 years2 years



 CitizenshipCitizenship



 U.S. citizen/ Permanent resident/ Pending permanent U.S. citizen/ Permanent resident/ Pending permanent

resident./Visas (e.g. F1, H1

(15)

American Heart Association (Founders Affiliate ) American Heart Association (Founders Affiliate )

Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Postdoctoral Fellowship Program



 Cardiovascular function and disease and strokeCardiovascular function and disease and stroke



 Basic science, clinical, bioengineering, public health, Basic science, clinical, bioengineering, public health,

epidemiological, behavioral, and community research epidemiological, behavioral, and community research



 FundingFunding



 Stipend/Salary: $38,000Stipend/Salary: $38,000--$52,000; Fringe Benefits:$52,000; Fringe Benefits: $1,000$1,000



 Award Duration:Award Duration: 2 years2 years



 CitizenshipCitizenship



 U.S. citizen/ Permanent resident/ Pending permanent U.S. citizen/ Permanent resident/ Pending permanent

resident./Visas (e.g. F1, H1

(16)

The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

 Supports early postdoctoral research training in all

basic biomedical sciences

 Candidates who hold, or are in the final stages of

obtaining PhD, MD, or equivalent - candidates who have no more than one year of postdoctoral research experience

 3-year fellowships

 Stipend: $49,000-$51,000; Research Allowance: $1,500  US and foreign citizens

(17)

PhRMA

Foundation

-

-Pharmacology/Toxicology

Pharmacology/Toxicology



 ““research that integrates information on research that integrates information on molecular or molecular or

cellular mechanisms of action

cellular mechanisms of action with information on the with information on the

effects of an agent observed in an intact organism, either in

experimental animal or clinical studies or both.

experimental animal or clinical studies or both.””



 integrate integrate ““mechanism of action of a drug or chemical at the mechanism of action of a drug or chemical at the

molecular or cellular level with the drug effect observed in a

human or laboratory animal

human or laboratory animal. An applicant is expected to . An applicant is expected to describe the significance of a

describe the significance of a hypothesishypothesis being tested in the being tested in the context of potential influences of biochemical, physiological,

context of potential influences of biochemical, physiological,

behavioral, or social systems.

(18)

PhRMA

Foundation

_Foundation

-

-Pharmacology/Toxicology

Pharmacology/Toxicology



Pre

-

Doctoral Fellowships



 Advanced Ph.D. candidates, stipend of $20,000 per Advanced Ph.D. candidates, stipend of $20,000 per

year for a maximum of two years



Post

-

Doctoral Fellowships



 $40,000 annual stipend (for up to 2 years) to $40,000 annual stipend (for up to 2 years) to

graduates of from

graduates of from PharmDPharmD., M.D., and Ph.D. ., M.D., and Ph.D. programs

(19)



 FederalFederal



Topics to be Discussed

(20)



 Research Statement Research Statement -- Important to understand:Important to understand:



 Mission of funding agencyMission of funding agency 

 e. g. Specific Disease focuse. g. Specific Disease focus



 ““TypeType”” of researchof research 

 e. g. Basic vs. Clinicale. g. Basic vs. Clinical



 Career levelCareer level 

 e. g. early stage pree. g. early stage pre--doc/postdoc/post--doc vs. last stage doc vs. last stage



 Review criteriaReview criteria 

 NIH: F31 and F32 NRSA FellowshipsNIH: F31 and F32 NRSA Fellowships



 NSF: Graduate Research Fellowship ProgramNSF: Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Planning & Organizing a

Research Proposal

(21)

NIH NRSA

Fellowships:

(22)

(23)

(24)

(25)

(26)

National Science Foundation National Science Foundation

Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

(27)

National Science Foundation: GRFP National Science Foundation: GRFP

(28)

(29)

(30)



 FederalFederal



Topics to be Discussed

(31)

When Preparing an Application:



 Read instructionsRead instructions



 Never assume that reviewers Never assume that reviewers ““will know what will know what

you mean you mean””



 Refer to literature thoroughly and Refer to literature thoroughly and

thoughtfully thoughtfully



 Explicitly state the rationale of the proposed Explicitly state the rationale of the proposed

investigation investigation



 Include wellInclude well--designed tables and figuresdesigned tables and figures



(32)

Elements of a Good Proposal

  FeasibleFeasible   RelevantRelevant   UniqueUnique   InnovativeInnovative   ClearClear   BriefBrief   ConsistentConsistent

(33)

Anticipate Questions

and

Answer them before

they are asked

(34)

Investigator

  CompetentCompetent   EnthusiasticEnthusiastic   ThoroughThorough   ProfessionalProfessional

(35)

Common Proposal Problems



Title



 Too longToo long



 ConfusingConfusing



 Cute but distractingCute but distracting



 Not program relatedNot program related



Cover Page



 Does not follow format preciselyDoes not follow format precisely



(36)



Abstract



 Not comprehensiveNot comprehensive



 Omits significant elementsOmits significant elements



 Poor grammar or spellingPoor grammar or spelling



 Too longToo long



 Cut and paste jobCut and paste job



Objectives/Outcomes



 Not clearNot clear



 Too ambitiousToo ambitious



 OmittedOmitted



 Procedures rather than objectivesProcedures rather than objectives



Innovation



 Not new or innovativeNot new or innovative



 Attempt to justify new equipment/materialsAttempt to justify new equipment/materials



(38)



Statement of Need



 Deals with wants, not needsDeals with wants, not needs



 No documentationNo documentation



 Unrelated to objectives/outcomes desiredUnrelated to objectives/outcomes desired



 Problem already solvedProblem already solved



(39)



Task/Activity Plan



 Insufficient detailInsufficient detail



 Tasks not related to objectivesTasks not related to objectives



 Tasks not justified by needsTasks not justified by needs



 Time and task charts not includedTime and task charts not included



 Responsibilities not clearResponsibilities not clear



(40)



Evaluation of Project Progress



 Unrelated to objectivesUnrelated to objectives



 Unrelated to innovationUnrelated to innovation



(41)



Project Staffing



 No identification of responsibilities and rolesNo identification of responsibilities and roles



 No documentation of competence No documentation of competence

(e.g. bio sketches) (e.g. bio sketches)



 No indication of time and effort for each No indication of time and effort for each

individual contributing to project individual contributing to project

(42)



Budget



 Unrelated to activities proposedUnrelated to activities proposed



 Little or no contribution from institutionLittle or no contribution from institution



 Amounts not supported by proposalAmounts not supported by proposal



 Budget justification missingBudget justification missing



 Categories not those of funding agencyCategories not those of funding agency



(43)



Collaborative Efforts



 Names and responsibilities of all involved Names and responsibilities of all involved

in proposal not identified in proposal not identified



 No identification of institutions involvedNo identification of institutions involved



Review of Literature



 Unrelated to needs, objectives, Unrelated to needs, objectives,

innovations innovations



 Does not lead reader to proposed projectDoes not lead reader to proposed project



 Dated materialDated material



(44)

Why Are Proposals Turned Down?

Research Plan



 The problem is The problem is trivialtrivial or is unlikely to or is unlikely to

produce new or useful information. produce new or useful information.



 The proposed research is based on a The proposed research is based on a

hypothesis that rests on doubtful

hypothesis that rests on doubtful, unsound or , unsound or insufficient evidence.

insufficient evidence.



 The The proposal is more complexproposal is more complex than the than the

author realizes. author realizes.

(45)



 The problem is The problem is local in significancelocal in significance, ,

production, or control, or otherwise fails to production, or control, or otherwise fails to

fall clearly in the mainstream of the discipline. fall clearly in the mainstream of the discipline.



 The problem is The problem is intellectually prematureintellectually premature -- only only

a pilot study. a pilot study.



 The problem as proposed is The problem as proposed is overly involvedoverly involved

with too many elements required to be with too many elements required to be

investigated simultaneously. investigated simultaneously.



 The description of the research leaves the The description of the research leaves the

proposal nebulous

proposal nebulous, diffuse, and without a , diffuse, and without a clear aim.

(46)

Investigator



 Investigator Investigator does not have experiencedoes not have experience or or

training for the proposed research. training for the proposed research.



 Investigator appears to be Investigator appears to be unfamiliarunfamiliar with with

pertinent literature or methods, or both. pertinent literature or methods, or both.



 Investigator's Investigator's previously published workpreviously published work in in

the field does not inspire confidence. the field does not inspire confidence.



 Investigator Investigator relies too heavily, or relies too heavily, or

insufficiently

insufficiently, on experienced associates., on experienced associates.



 Other responsibilitiesOther responsibilities prevent investigator prevent investigator

from devoting sufficient time to this project. from devoting sufficient time to this project.

(47)

Resources & Environment



 Available equipment is unsuited to the research.Available equipment is unsuited to the research.



(48)

Research Design and Methodology



 The proposed methodology, including tests and The proposed methodology, including tests and

procedures, are

procedures, are unsuitedunsuited to the objective. May to the objective. May be

be beyond the competencebeyond the competence of the investigator.of the investigator.



 The overThe over--all design is all design is not carefully thought outnot carefully thought out..



 StatisticalStatistical aspects are not given sufficient aspects are not given sufficient

consideration. consideration.

(49)



 Approach Approach lacks imaginationlacks imagination or originality.or originality.



 ControlsControls are either inadequately conceived or are either inadequately conceived or

described. described.



 Proposed materialProposed material for research is unsuited of for research is unsuited of

difficult

difficult to obtain.to obtain.



 The The number of observationsnumber of observations proposed is proposed is

unsuitable. unsuitable.

(50)

Additional Problems



 Requirements for Requirements for equipmentequipment, personnel or , personnel or

time are unrealistic. time are unrealistic.



 Current research grants are adequate in scope Current research grants are adequate in scope

and funding to cover the proposed research. and funding to cover the proposed research.

(51)

Mentored Fellowship/Training/

Career Development Awards



 MentorMentor



 Too many other responsibilities Too many other responsibilities

(e.g. administrative, clinical)



 Too many other mentees Too many other mentees

(e.g. students, post

(e.g. students, post--docs)docs)



 Not appropriate scientificallyNot appropriate scientifically



 Too juniorToo junior



 Limited experience as a mentorLimited experience as a mentor



 Limited funds to support proposed Limited funds to support proposed

research

(52)

Mentored Fellowship/Training/

Career Development Awards



 InstitutionInstitution



 Limited scientific/technical resourcesLimited scientific/technical resources



 Limited career development Limited career development

opportunities



 Limited opportunities for career Limited opportunities for career

advancement

(53)

NIH: one round of applications

(54)

Reviewers’ Comments

(55)

(56)

Great Great Definitely fund Definitely do not fund

Bell Curve of Reviewer’s Grant Applications

(57)

(58)

(59)

Research Resources

(60)

Career Development Plan

not Comprehensive

(61)

(62)

All Components of the Application

are as Strong as Possible

(63)

Common Problems with Grant

Applications from New Investigators



 Overly ambitiousOverly ambitious



 Not independent of previous mentorNot independent of previous mentor’’s researchs research



 Fishing expeditionFishing expedition



 Not hypothesis drivenNot hypothesis driven



 Descriptive, not mechanistic projectDescriptive, not mechanistic project



 UnfocussedUnfocussed



 No or insufficient preliminary dataNo or insufficient preliminary data



 Unrealistic budgetUnrealistic budget



 Methodologies beyond the expertise of investigator Methodologies beyond the expertise of investigator

or research team

(64)