1. Thoughts on grant writing David Fuller Dept. of Physical Therapy McKnight Brain Institute University of Florida ddf@phhp.ufl.edu GMS 6096: Introduction to NIH Grant writing for biomedical sciences. Jan 28, 2015

2. How do grants get funded? My view: 3 key considerations that apply to RO1, R21 and RO3.

3. How do grants get funded? Good idea

4. How do grants get funded? Good idea VERY clearly presented

5. How do grants get funded? Good idea VERY clearly presented Luck / Good planning

6. The following slides will provide an overview of what *I think are some of the most important aspects of a successful grant application *, others will probably have different opinions

7. Reviewers are trying their best. (reviewing is a difficult job)

8. Assume nothing except that the reader will be intelligent

9. Read as many successful grants as you can.

10. What is great art? The Scream Edvard Munch Wheat Field with Cypresses Van Gogh Girl with a Pearl Earring Johannes Vermeer

11. Templates usually don’t work The Scream Edvard Munch Wheat Field with Cypresses Van Gogh Girl with a Pearl Earring Johannes Vermeer

12. Use all available resources Collaborators: Equipment: Intellectual environment:

13. A unifying central hypothesis A good idea when possible. It usually makes the grant easier to read.

14. The Aims page should read like a (good) novel Tell a story. Help the reader. Write the review for the reviewer.

15. Choose your study section carefully Use the cover letter. Do NOT suggest specific names of reviewers.

16. Preliminary data New vs. Senior Investigator New vs. established method Central vs. peripheral hypothesis Often new investigators have more preliminary data than they think…

17. Never, ever, ever “just submit and see what happens”

18. Do not wait until the last minute for: Abstract Rebuttal Vertebrate animals Personal statements Etc.

19. *Acronyms are almost always a terrible idea *unless it is “DNA” or something at that level of public awareness

20. Figures & tables need to be very easy to read

21. Revise, Tweak, Proofread …. alot 100+ hours

22. Resubmissions Should I resubmit? Address all concerns The rebuttal is perhaps the most important part of the resubmission

23. Be prepared to admit that aspects of your initial idea (or maybe the entire idea) is/are bad Be prepared to admit that your initial draft needs to be “blown up” Resubmissions

24. R21 vs. RO3

25. R21

27. Consider carefully if the submission should be an RO1

28. R21: my experience 2 funded R21 grants Pilot data

29. RO3 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm

30. RO3 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm

31. RO3: my experience http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm

32. Thank You