Why and When to Write a Grant. Karen E Why and When to Write a Grant? Karen E. Lasser, MD, MPH Associate Professor of Medicine Associate Director, Education and Training Division BU CTSI Associate Section Chief, Faculty Development Section of General Internal Medicine Boston University Medical Center

Goals Why write a grant? When should you write your first grant? Types of grants

Starry Night – Vincent Van Gogh’s Painting of Hope & Despair

Why write a grant? To work on something that feels important and that excites you

Why Write a grant? Without funding project is not do-able Smoking/patient navigation example Learn about: Finances/budgets Team science Develop independence Prestige (promotion, tenure) Contribute to science Improve patient outcomes

When to write a grant When you have some (high-impact) publications mastered (some) research methods A burning research idea

My first grants After GIM fellowship Small internal medical school foundations, small R to AHRQ Career development award (American Cancer Society)

Types of Grants Research Career development Program development Granting agencies -Federal (NIH, PCORI, AHRQ, CDC) R, P, U, K, T -Foundations -Industry

What is the NIH looking for? Grant proposals of high scientific caliber Relevant to public health needs within NIH Institute and Center (IC) priorities. ICs highlight research priorities on their individual websites. Need to contact Institute or Center staff to discuss relevancy and/or focus of proposed research before submitting an application

NIH-Requested Research: RFAs, PAs, PARs RFA: a more narrowly defined area for which one or more NIH institutes have set aside funds for awarding grants Usually has a single receipt date, reviewed by a Scientific Review Group PA: Areas of increased priority, can match unsolicited research ideas Standard dates on an on-going basis PAR: A PA with special receipt, referral and/or review considerations Weekly NIH e-mail

NIH, continued Review successfully funded applications, especially K awards New Investigator and Early-Stage Investigator Status Co-PI, multi-PI

Foundations- pros and cons, internal grants Good “first grant” Low indirect rates Often no feedback if proposal rejected Examples: RWJ, Commonwealth, AHA, ACS Work with project officers BU: DOM pilot grants, CTSI Other Joslin, CHERISH

Before you start writing Literature search, NIH reporter search Talk to program officers One-page summary of proposed work, send it to colleagues for review Ask for brief 5 minute review for big-picture comments Present ideas at RIP

Before you start writing Put together research team, meet with potential collaborators Mentoring team-for career development awards Budget-draft it early Months before due date: work out whole study

When you start writing Draft specific aims first Review study section roster

Common pitfalls Too ambitious Lack of sufficient detail in the methods Topic not of interest Mentor not enough experience

Issues of Style Avoid the passive voice whenever and wherever possible Avoid “acronym soup”

Miscellaneous Support letters Other pages

A career-long learning process Once you have a good proposal, submit it to multiple funding sources (with caveats) You need a “thick skin” Grant writing training sessions-at BU, national societies, and elsewhere This is just the beginning!

Questions? Karen.lasser@bmc.org