6 Steps to a Winning Grant Application (NIAID Newsletter)

“Summary

  • Create an experimental design that will achieve your Specific Aims and test your hypothesis.
  • Use an iterative process to make sure all parts track with each other.
  • Consider the anticipated outcome of the experiments and the scope of the research.
  • Use a running tab and create a timeline to keep the project within a reasonable scope.”

from the February 1, 2012, NIAID Funding Newsletter

Early Career Researchers Wanted as NIH Reviewers


Reviewing grants is an EXCELLENT way to learn what does and doesn’t work in terms of grantsmanship. However, traditionally you needed to have NIH funding to serve on one of their study sections. But that’s changed. NIH has recently undertaking efforts to add early career reviewers (ECRs) to study sections. They’re actively looking for individuals who have an “active, independent research program, who are published in peer reviewed research journals, and who have not reviewed for CSR in a face-to-face meeting.” NIH funding is not a prerequisite for participation. Interested? More information is available on the webpage for the ECR Program.

Policies on Research Ethics

45 CFR part 46 (DHHS regulations on the use of human subjects in research.

Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research

National Institutes of Health. (2009)  Update on the Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research. (NOT-OD-10-019)

Society for Neuroscience. Guidelines: Responsible Conduct Regarding Scientific Communication.

World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki.

Ethics and Human Subjects in Research (selected resources)

45 CFR part 46

DHHS regulations on the use of human subjects in research.

Belmont Report

Korenman, S. Teaching the Responsible Conduct of Research in Humans.

National Institutes of Health. Decision Tree for Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Extramural Research. OER Human Subjects Website

Pence GE. Classic Cases in Medical Ethics: Accounts of Cases that Have Shaped Medical Ethics, with Philosophical, Legal, and Historical Backgrounds. NY, NY, McGraw-Hill, 2004.

World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki.

Ethics and Use of Animals in Research (selected resources)

American Psychological Association. Research with Animals in Psychology

Chimpanzees in Biomedical Research: Assessing the Necessity. National Academies Press (2011).

Institute for Animal Laboratory Research (ILAR)Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th edition (2011).

Journal of Animal Ethics

National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)

Federal Funding Agencies (U.S.)

Department of Defense (DOD): Congressionally Mandated Medical Research Programs

DOD funding opportunities go well beyond the development of missiles. Research on a broad range of medical conditions relevant to military personnel (active and veterans) is funded by the agency.

Department of Education

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Grants.gov

This is THE central location to find information on federal grant opportunities as well as the site through which most applications must be submitted.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Fogarty International Center at NIH

The arm of NIH that is specifically focused on global health.

NASA

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research

Also see our post on other NIH grant writing resources.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

They provide “…support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences.”

NIH Grant Writing Resources

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the single largest funder of biomedical research in the US. Useful links include

All About Grants Tutorials

This is one of the best resources at NIH for information and advice on grant writing. It was developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), but the lessons are directly applicable to grants submitted to the other NIH Institutes and Centers.

era Commons

NIH’s site for Electronic Research Administration of grants.

Fogarty International Center (FIC)

”Fogarty” is the arm of NIH that focuses on global health and capacity building in low- to middle-income countries. In addition to FIC funding opportunities, they also maintain an extensive directory of other funding opportunities for individuals who are not US citizens/residents.

Inside the NIH Grant Review Process

A video of a (staged) grant review. The site contains links to the applications reviewed and the corresponding summary statements. Three types of grants are evaluated: Standard research grant (R01), career development grant (K08), and a small innovative grant (R03). Produced by the Center for Scientific Review.

NIH R01 Investigator Resources

An outstanding set of resources! Developed by NIAID, but the vast majority of the information is applicable across NIH.

RePORTER

A searchable database of “reports, data and analyses of NIH research activities.” Useful for examining the focus, scope, and institutes funding projects in your area.

Sample R01 grant applications and summary statements

Another great resource from NIAID.

Study Section Roster Index

Through the links on this page, you can access descriptions and rosters for each of the study sections run by the Center for Scientific Review at NIH.