Down the Road to Funding:

1
Down the Road to Funding Getting That First NIH
Grant
Dr. Ann M. Schreihofer
Department of Physiology Medical College of
Georgia ASchreihofer_at_mcg.edu
Experimental Biology, April 2006
2
Getting started
1. NIH website www.nih.gov
-Grants Funding Opportunities
-Grants OER home page
http//grants1.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm
2. CRISP database
-See who and what NIH is funding with summaries
http//crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/crisp_query.generat
e_screen
3. NIAID spells it out for applicants
http//www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/qa/newpi.htm
http//www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/default.htm
3
Learning the PHS 398 (aka RO1 forms)
1. Figure out those forms (.pdf or .doc?)
-Print out instructions from NIH website
-Look at examples on website or colleagues
2. Use the modular budget system
-Request maximum number of years (5)
-Know the maximum direct costs (250K/year)

• Tackle one section at a time

-Attend to page limits and font requirements
4
Submission Deadlines
1. Regular competing applications 3 cycles
Cycle 1 submit Feb. 1, review Jun-Jul, start
Sept
Cycle 2 submit June 1, review Oct-Nov, start
Jan
Cycle 3 submit Oct. 1, review Feb-Mar, start
May
2. Institutional routing prior to submission
-Check with your Office of Grants and Contracts
-internal routing forms due BEFORE grant
submission
5
Electronic Submissions to NIH
1. Register with NIH eRA Commons NOW
Registration through institution ask your Grants
Office
View grant details review, scores, contact
information
Manages grants submit progress reports
https//commons.era.nih.gov/commons/
2. PHS 398 replaced by SF424RR SOON
RO1 applications will be submitted on-line by Feb
1, 2007
Grants submitted to FOAs at http//grants.gov
Changes in forms (some new, some PHS 398)
Download PureEdge Viewer and pdf generator for
forms
http//era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/
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News for New Investigators
1. CHECK that New Investigator Box!
-Box on Face Page (Page 1 of PHS 398)
-Never been a PI on NIH award (except R03, R15,
R21)
2. New Investigator Policies (vary by institute)
-Change review emphasis
feasibility not preliminary data, training not
track record
-Higher payline funding at higher percentiles
-Fund for full requested time
-Expedited review process for resubmissions
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NIH Pathway to Independence Award
1. Program starts Fall 2006 (due April 7, 2006)
-new grant promotes transition to independence
-facilitate receiving an R01 earlier in career
http//grants.nih.gov/grants/new
investigators/index.htm
2. Up to 5 years
-Year 1-2 mentored phase (K99) 90K
for postdocs ( 5 years) look for independent
position
-Years 3-5 independent phase (R00) 249K
activate with tenure-track offer apply for R01
still as a New Investigator
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The R01 Research Plan (25 pages)
A. Specific Aims (1 page)
State broad, long-term objectives of the project
B. Background (2-3 pages)
Sketch background, highlight gaps, state
importance
C. Preliminary Data (6-8 pages)
Illustrate research leading to project aims
D. Research Design Methods (13-16 pages)
Outline experimental protocols to address aims
E. Human subjects F. Vertebrate subjects
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Honing in on a Hypothesis
1. Start with a phenomenon
-seminal observation (obesity ? diabetes)
-critical gap in knowledge based on literature
2. Investigate a mechanism or pathway
-may use multiple methods or models
3. Do not characterize or describe
-no fishing expeditions predict outcomes
3. Remember NIH goal improve public health
-link your project to this goal, even if
indirectly
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NIH Peer Review Criteria
1. Significance
Important problem? Advance field if aims achieved?
2. Approach
Logical designs, methods, analyses / acknowledge
pitfalls?
3. Innovation
Challenge existing paradigms novel approaches?
4. Investigators
Is the project feasible? Adequate expertise?
5. Environment
Institutional support? Adequate facilities?
Collaborations?
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Aims Advice
1. Follow logically from introductory
paragraph, diagram, and hypothesis
2. Ask direct questions Sell your ideas
- succinct statement of goals
- no nuances, caveats
3. Propose multiple approaches
-reductionist, integrative, translative
4. NO Fatal Flaws
-clear independence of aims
12
Building a Background
1. Carefully choose pertinent literature
-focus on studies that support your hypothesis
-back up claims with citations
2. Use section headings to highlight issues
-guide the reader, organize their thoughts
-help reviewer make a case for your project
3. Add a paragraph of innovation/novelty
-help reviewer be excited about your project
13
Picking Preliminary Data
1. Illustrate the phenomenon
-outline characterization of model
-illustrate reasons for hypothesis
2. Demonstrate methods
-show mastery of techniques or measures
3. Maximize readability
-bolded section headings state major issue
-clear figures that stand alone with legend
14
Research Design Methods
1. Restate each aim with a brief rationale
-establish numbering and wording system
Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that
Experiment 1.1 To determine whether
Experiment 1.2 To determine whether
2. Outline experimental protocols chronologically
-include group sizes, with mention of stats
3. May put general methods at the end
4. End each experiment description with
-Expected alternative outcomes, potential
concerns
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Make it reviewer-friendly
1. Diagrams/flowcharts
-For aims page, models, complex experiments

• White spaces

-Saying less can be more effective
3. Bolding section headings
-Facilitate reading background, experiments
4. Sample outcome diagrams
-Illustrate complex experiments
5. Timeline diagram at end of plan