Developing and Submitting a Research Proposal in Psychosocial Oncology: Tips on Getting it Funded Mary Jane Esplen, PhD NCIC CCS Research Scientist & Associate Professor University of Toronto Head, Program of Psychosocial and Psychotherapy Research in Cancer Genetics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology Conference Victoria 2005 Anne Leis, PhD NCIC-CCS Research Scientist & Associate Professor Dept. of Community Health & Epidemiology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK.

Outline Introduction Introduction Why Submit a Proposal? Why Submit a Proposal? “What Reviewers Look For” “What Reviewers Look For” Importance of the Problem Importance of the Problem Scientific Merit Scientific Merit Successful Team Successful Team Nuts and bolts (format) Nuts and bolts (format)

Why Submit a Proposal?  Grant funds support all aspects of research - operating costs, salaries, trainees, consultants, supplies and services, travel, equipment, publication expenses  Peer-review provides critical evaluation & confers credibility  Deadlines/structure stimulate progress - forces investigator to develop new ideas, work through a plan, forge new partnerships disseminate findings/ publish results  Progression through the ranks

Consideration of a Grant Proposal  Prior Experience/ Research Stage  Educational Level  Current Role/ Position  Track Record  Prior Roles in Research  Specific RFAs

Rationale for the study  Interest to you and others  Under-occupied niche  Anticipate results  Build on a theme  Low risk/high risk ratio  Go for depth  Different from mentor  Focus…focus...focus  Feasibility

Relevance Timely and important topic Timely and important topic (e.g. direct and indirect relevance) Potential to advance knowledge Potential to advance knowledge (theoretical, empirical knowledge) Build on what is already known Build on what is already known Impact on the cancer burden - specify clearly Impact on the cancer burden - specify clearly Likelihood of uptake Likelihood of uptake Lead to the next research questions Lead to the next research questions Clearly Stated in Proposal ! Clearly Stated in Proposal !

Scientific Merit Impression of the science Impression of the science Overall evaluation of the scientific quality of the research Overall evaluation of the scientific quality of the research Will study lead to significant conclusions? Will study lead to significant conclusions? Clearly stated research question? Clearly stated research question? Clearly stated testable hypothesis? Purpose? Inclusion of research questions or aims that convinces of importance of study? Clearly stated testable hypothesis? Purpose? Inclusion of research questions or aims that convinces of importance of study?

Scientific Merit Is the literature well-organized, build a case and support the need for the study? Is the literature well-organized, build a case and support the need for the study? Are the models, conceptual framework clearly explained and consistent with and supported by literature? Are the models, conceptual framework clearly explained and consistent with and supported by literature? Do tables, figures, etc. efficiently, accurately and effectively illustrate the literature? Study plan? Do tables, figures, etc. efficiently, accurately and effectively illustrate the literature? Study plan? Is the methodology appropriate for the work presented? Is the methodology appropriate for the work presented?

Scientific Merit Does the study include relationship between 2 or more variables? Does the study include relationship between 2 or more variables? Include measurable outcomes? Include measurable outcomes? Will the study make a significant contribution to this area of research? Will the study make a significant contribution to this area of research? Will the study generate new knowledge? Generate hypotheses? Will the study generate new knowledge? Generate hypotheses? How confident can one be that the study is feasible? How confident can one be that the study is feasible? Foundation for future research? Foundation for future research?

Components of a Proposal  Introduction “Hook them in”  Rationale and relevance “highlight importance and niche”  Objectives “link to mandate”  Literature Review (what is currently known)  Hypotheses (if relevant to stage of research- what do we hope to learn?)  Research Plan (how will we learn it?)

Components of a Proposal (cont’d)  Participants (relevant, sufficient N available)  Materials (appropriate, reliable, valid?)  Procedure (valid, feasible)  Design  Management and Statistical treatment of data (valid approach?)  Power Analysis (credible? Sufficient N?)  Ethical Issues (do no harm, benefits, outweigh costs, appropriate checks)  Budget (appropriate, inflated?)

Composition of a research team  Principal Investigator  Co-investigators –Contribute to study design, implementation –Special expertise –Facilitate process (e.g. access to patients) –Community representative  Consultants  Trainees  Research Staff –Coordinator, -Research Assistants, Technicians, Interviewers, Data Entry, Translators

Necessary Elements for a Successful Research Team PI with expertise, experience who knows his/her limitations PI with expertise, experience who knows his/her limitations A clear, common understanding of A clear, common understanding of –the research focus –a willingness to work together and trust –the roles of the co-investigators –each team member’s expected contributions in a timely fashion –the reward system A team coordinator who acts as a central point for information exchange between team members A team coordinator who acts as a central point for information exchange between team members Efficient communication mechanisms Efficient communication mechanisms Work in a synergistic fashion Work in a synergistic fashion

Sources of Research Funds Grants Grants –Research councils, government institutes –Private Foundations –Institutional research funds (institutional research office can be very helpful) Scholarships, Career Awards Scholarships, Career Awards Contracts Contracts

Format of the grant (Nuts and bolts) Target a granting agency or a specific RFA Target a granting agency or a specific RFA Make sure your research project is a fit Make sure your research project is a fit Read all the documentation related to the submission process Read all the documentation related to the submission process Prepare your CV in the common CV format Prepare your CV in the common CV format Establish a realistic and well-documented budget that matches the implementation of the study process Establish a realistic and well-documented budget that matches the implementation of the study process Have someone verify the formatting of your grant before submitting Have someone verify the formatting of your grant before submitting

Follow the guidelines… required sections in the grant without forgetting previous experience, ethics and dissemination plan required sections in the grant without forgetting previous experience, ethics and dissemination plan number of pages, font, spacing number of pages, font, spacing Well formatted references Well formatted references appendices appendices examples of publication examples of publication KEY: KEY: –information should flow –logical order –be consistent throughout… Internal friendly review before submitting Internal friendly review before submitting

Knowledge translation Clear outcomes should be identified Clear outcomes should be identified Research with and not on cancer patients Research with and not on cancer patients Include potential users of the findings in the research process Include potential users of the findings in the research process Don’t foster unrealistic expectations Don’t foster unrealistic expectations The research to practice to policy cycle The research to practice to policy cycle Publish in both scientific and lay literature Publish in both scientific and lay literature

Good luck!