How to Succeed with NIH: September 28, 2018 Tips for Targeting, Writing, and Packaging a Successful Proposal September 28, 2018 Presenter: Deborah Hernandez, Sr. Director, Research Development Division of Research and Innovation

Workshop Objectives Review NIH’s Research Focus & Programmatic Structure Explore Funding Opportunities, Mechanisms, & Strategies Explain Proposal Evaluation/Review Criteria & Process Discuss How to Assemble a Competitive Proposal

Research Focus & Programmatic Structure About the National Institutes of Health NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/mission-goals Awards $37 billion/yr. for research; 80% goes to competitive grants Part of DHHS. Organized into 27 quasi-independent Institutes and Centers with disease and/or target population focus – each receives a direct appropriation and manages its own budget https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/nih-organization

Funding Opportunities & Strategies How do I find and evaluate NIH funding opportunities? Search Engines like: GrantForward; Grants.gov; etc. Can also sign up for weekly announcements: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv_dev.htm What types of proposal mechanisms does NIH offer? https://grants.nih.gov/grants/grant_basics.htm (watch video) NIH uses grants, contracts, and cooperative agreement mechanisms Funding Opportunity Announcements may be a RFP, PA or PAR Grant programs are grouped into series: R, P, K, T & F Cooperative Agreements are coded U

NIH Proposal Evaluation Criteria Five Criteria, plus Overall Impact Significance – Are you addressing an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? How will the result improve knowledge, technical capability, or clinical practice and/or change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive the field? Investigator(s) – Does the research team have appropriate experience and training and demonstrated record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? Innovation - How will the work shift current research via novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions or through refinement, improvement, or new application of existing knowledge? Approach – Are strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks presented? If applicable, are plans in place for the protection of human subjects and justification of study design (method and criteria)? Environment – Are necessary resources, support, and collaboration in place? Overall Impact: Likelihood the project will exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved

NIH Proposal Review Process Multi-step Peer Review Center for Scientific Review – completeness and assignment to IC and Study Section Study Sections (Scientific Review Groups) TOPICAL Led by a Scientific Review Officer – NIH staff who assigns proposals for review and prepares summary statements. Primary peer review for scientific evaluation and proposal scoring Scoring Proposals are scored from 1-9, with 1 BEST Assigned reviewers (3) provide preliminary scores; top scoring proposals on a panel are discussed in full meeting If discussed ALL panel members will provide overall impact scores Percentile Rankings Advisory Council or Board for the IC reviews and recommends projects IC Director makes funding decision

Assembling a Competitive Proposal Required documents Project Abstract Project Narrative Introduction for resubmissions/revisions Specific Aims Research Strategy (6-12 pages) Significance Innovation Approach References Budget and Budget Narrative Biosketch (5 pages) Facilities and Resources Equipment If applicable - Human Subjects, Animal Subjects, Letters of Support/Consortium Letters, Resource Sharing Plan, & Appendix

NIH – Abstract, Narrative & Specific Aims Project Summary/Abstract - 30 line maximum self‐contained description of the project which includes a statement of objectives and methods to be employed. Project Narrative (Public Relevance Statement) - 2 – 3 sentences for lay audience explaining “Relevance to Public Health”. Specific Aims – 1 page This is your scientific summary. Include broad, long-term goals; the hypothesis or hypotheses to be tested; and specific time-phased research objectives (aims). Your goal should be to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop a product or new technology. Your specific aims should delineate what you will accomplish by the end of the grant—critical steps/deliverables. Briefly address all five review criteria: Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, and Environment

NIH – Research Strategy The Research Strategy is framed around 3 of the review criteria and is typically 6-12 pages Significance: Are you addressing an important problem? How will scientific knowledge, technical capability, or clinical practice be improved? How will concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field be changed? Innovation: To what degree are you using novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions or proposing a refinement, improvement, or new application to something already established? Approach: What strategies, methodologies, and analyses will you employ, and are these well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Do you address potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success? *Must present preliminary results/findings, even if unpublished.

NIH – Data Sharing Plan Required for all Proposals requesting $500 or more - Model Organisms - Genomic Data - Data

NIH Proposals – Biosketch NIH guidance for preparing biosketches Visit https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm for forms and narrative guidance Feel free to use help tools, such as SciENcv https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/ 5 pages, 5 sections: Basic data on name, title, and education/training Personal Statement (can include up to 4 pubs) Positions and Honors Contribution to Science (up to 5 w/ up to 4 pubs) Research Support (ongoing and completed for prior 3 years) When constructing the biosketch – think like a reviewer

NIH Proposals – Biosketch What goes in a personal statement? State the goal of the project and what you hope to achieve Describe your qualifications (academic preparation or prior experiences) and/or unique skills that position you to do work in this content area, on this topic, and/or with this particular audience. Describe experience managing projects and/or working with collaborators. Address any work disruptions or gaps

NIH Proposals – Biosketch What to Include in Contributions to Science Historical background that frames the scientific problem; Central finding(s); Influence of the finding(s) on the progress of science or the application of those finding(s) to health or technology; and your specific role in the described work. For each contribution, you may cite up to four publications or research products that are relevant to the contribution. If you are not the author of the product, indicate what your role or contribution was. NOTE: The contributions can be in thematic areas or may be in specific methodology or technology areas. The framework is up to you.

Questions? You can reach me at x2648 or via e-mail dhernndz@Memphis.edu You can reach Mary at x4911 or via e-mail mary.earheart.brown@Memphis.edu Research Development Webpage http://www.memphis.edu/rsp/development/index.php