Research Funding: Navigating the NIH Grant Maze

1
Research Funding Navigating the NIH Grant Maze

• Special thanks
• Marianna Bledsoe, M.A.
• Resources Development Branch
• Cancer Diagnosis Program,
• National Cancer Institute

2
NIH Structure

• 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs)
• Institutes
• e.g. National Cancer Institute, National Heart,
  Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of
  Dental and Craniofacial Research , National
  Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke,
  National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and
  Bioengineering
• Centers
• e.g. Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
  National Center for Research Resources

3
Whos Who

• Review Staff
• Center for Scientific Review (CSR) or
  Institute/Center staff-these are the people who
  can answer general questions
• Responsible for receipt, referral and review of
  applications
• Program Staff
• Responsible for the scientific funding and
  oversight of grants

4
What is NIH Looking For ?

• The best science
• Expertise and resources to get it done
• Who Can Get One?
• Any qualified scientist with academic credentials
  and experience appropriate to the application
• Institution is the grantee (exceptions
  fellowships and career rewards)
• Shared responsibilities
• Domestic or Foreign

5
Updates on Budget 2003

• Continuous resolution funding levels low
• NCI
• New Investigator RO1 17
• Continued grant RO1 17
• New initiatives RO1 12
• 2003 Senate and House Approved Budget
• 27.3 billion to NIH (16.2 increase over 2002)

6
Types of NIH Grants

• Training Grants
• Investigator-Initiated
• Regular Research Grant R01
• Program Project Grant P01
• Specialized Programs of Research Excellence
  (SPORE)
• Other
• Small Business
• Innovative Research Grant (SBIR)
• R43, R44
• Technology Transfer Research (STTR)
• R41, R42

7
Keep up with NIH Initiatives

• Initiatives
• Used by Institutes and Centers to stimulate
  research in particular areas
• Announced in NIH Guide
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html
• Program Announcements
• No set aside, Usually reviewed by CSR
• Exploratory Grants R21
• R21/R33

8
The Application Process

• PHS 398 for most competing grants
• Instructions critical-dont miss the deadline
• Special requirements for animals, human subjects,
  inclusion of women, minorities, and children
• Call appropriate NIH staff or research officers
  of University for help

9
and more Process

• Receipt and Assignment
• Applications submitted to Center for Scientific
  Review-Study section organization in process of
  review and restructure
• Assigned to an IC and an appropriate Scientific
  Review Group (SRG)
• Initial Peer Review
• Managed by Scientific Review Administrators (CSR
  or IC staff)
• Generally 3 reviewers, make recommendation and
  discussed in section if viewed in upper half.
• Some initiatives and grant types have special
  review process

10
Understand the system.

• Scoring
• Priority scores
• Each SRG member assigns a score ranging from 1
  5
• 1 best 5 worst
• Composite score calculated (100 best 500 worst)
• Percentiles
• Rank relative to other applications reviewed by
  SRG at the last three meetings
• Range from .5 (best) to 99.5 (worst)

11
and the intent of Feedback

• Summary Statement (the pink sheet)
• Summarizes comments during review process
• Provides an opportunity for revision based on
  reviewers comments-argue at your own risk!
• will also include a summary of discussion of all
  members
• Advisory Council/Board Review
• Second level of peer review
• Review applications for human subjects, animal
  welfare concerns ensure that initial peer review
  is appropriate
• Concurrence with initial peer review

12
IC Funding Decisions

• Pay lines
• Scientific Merit
• Programmatic Balance
• Budgetary Factors
• Other considerations

13
You made it!

• Pre-Award
• IC staff review issues that must be resolved
  prior to funding
• Human subjects/animal welfare issues
• Inclusion of women, minorities and children
• Scientific overlap
• Award
• Negotiation by grants management staff
• Notice of Grant Award
• Post-Award
• Non-competing continuation (yearly progress
  reports)

14
Dont Forget

• Follow grant application instructions (PHS398 or
  other)
• Identify yourself as a new investigator
• If submitting in response to an initiative,
  address special requirements and specific points
  listed in the announcement-why is your
  application meritorious?
• Pay careful attention to the review criteria
• Develop clearly stated hypothesis
• Neatness, spelling and presentation are very
  important.

15
Remember to

• Write clearly and concisely KISS and FOCUS-your
  reviewer may not be an expert in your area
• Document resources and institutional support
• Demonstrate solid understanding of literature,
  strengths and weaknesses methods
• Describe potential pitfalls and alternative
  approaches
• Bring in collaborators to fill gaps in expertise
  and resources (document with letters of support)

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Helpful Hints

• Include information essential to the review in
  the body of the application, not the appendix
• Organize using outline format, numbers per the
  instructions. Highlight or ital key information
  so it is not missed.
• Your CV is an opportunity to impress, dont
  forget to update it and show a track record of
  productivity or reasons why not.
• Base the budget on the science justify and
  address overlap
• Seek advice and have others read your final draft

17
Career Track Opportunities
18
Cancer Training Branch Website
cancer.gov/cancertraining
19
http//cancertraining.nci.nih.gov/