Grant Writing1 Grant Writing Lecture What are the major types of grants available in mental health research? What is the process of grant preparation and submission? What are some general principles that apply to writing most grant applications? What grants might you apply for while in graduate school? What can you do to increase the chance that your grant will be funded?

Grant Writing2 Sources of Funding in Mental Health Federal agencies (NIMH, NIAAA, NIDA, NSF) State agencies(e.g.,Texas State Alcohol Beverage Commission) Private foundations (Hogg Foundation) Other specific organizations (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)

Grant Writing3 Types of NIH Grants Investigator-initiated research grants (R01) Collaborative research project grants (R01) Treatment development grants (R21) Career development awards (K awards) Institutional training grant (T awards) Conference grants (R13) *Fellowship training grants (F31,F32) *Dissertation research grants (R03)

Grant Writing4 Major Sections of Most NIH Grant Applications Specific aims Background/significance of the problem Previous work/preliminary studies Research methods Human subjects References Appendices

Grant Writing5 What are the Ingredients of a Strong Mental Health Grant Application?

Grant Writing6 What Makes a Good Research Grant? Significance –Does the project address an important mental health problem? –Will findings significantly advance scientific knowledge? –Will findings significantly enhance clinical practice?

Grant Writing7 What Makes a Good Research Grant? Innovativeness of the proposed project –Does it investigate a new problem? –Does it investigate a new theory? –Does it investigate new methods?

Grant Writing8 What Makes a Good Research Grant? Strength of the approach –Adequacy of the design to address the major research aims –Methods for recruiting, screening, and selecting participants –Adequacy of assessment methods –Adequacy of interventions/manipulations –Adequacy of sample size and statistical analyses –Adequacy of methods for protecting human subjects

Grant Writing9 What Makes a Good Research Grant? Strength of the principal investigator –Previous scientific contributions of the investigator –Scientific contribution in the proposed research area –Publication record –Track record in obtaining grant funding

Grant Writing10 What Makes a Good Research Grant? Strength of the research environment –Environment that supports research –Clinical and research facilities –Collaborative arrangements with agencies/clinics –Quality of collaborators

Grant Writing11 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Objective of grant mechanism –Provide funds to facilitate the training of predoctoral applicants to become productive mental health researchers

Grant Writing12 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Eligibility –Currently in an accredited M.D. or Ph.D. clinical training program –Must have an established researcher willing to sponsor the applicant

Grant Writing13 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Scope of Support –The annual stipend for Predoctoral Fellows with disabilities is $10,008; a maximum of five years of support is available. Funds will also be provided for tuition and fees per 12-month period to the predoctoral fellows sponsoring institution to help defray such trainee expenses as research supplies and equipment

Grant Writing14 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation criteria –Strength of the applicant

Grant Writing15 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation of the applicant –Evidence of the applicant’s commitment to a research career –Demonstrated potential for a productive research career –Quality of the applicant’s academic record, awards, and honors –Extent and quality of applicant’s previous research and/or clinical training

Grant Writing16 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation criteria –Strength of the applicant –Strength of the proposed research training plan

Grant Writing17 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation of the research training plan –Specificity and clarity of the description of the knowledge and research skills to be acquired –Overall potential of the plan to provide the fellow with individualized supervised experiences that will foster research skills –Clarity, completeness, and significance of the goals of the research training plan –Knowledge of relevant literature and methods in the proposed research area

Grant Writing18 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation of the research training plan (cont.) –Adequacy of the plans for protection of human subjects –Adequacy of the plans to include women, minorities, and children in the research, if applicable –Adequacy of the plans for training fellow in the responsible scientific conduct of research

Grant Writing19 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation criteria –Strength of the applicant –Strength of the proposed research training plan –Strength of the faculty sponsor

Grant Writing20 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation of the research training environment –Evidence that there is an established M.D/Ph.D. program –Access to facilities and related resources (e.g., equipment, space, computer time, subject populations) necessary to provide the applicant a high-quality training environment –Strength of the institution’s commitment to research training as demonstrated by ongoing programs, experienced faculty, and in particular, commitment to the proposed M.D./Ph.D. student –Track record of the department and sponsor in training students to become active researchers

Grant Writing21 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation of the applicant’s references –Strength and specificity of the proposed sponsors endorsement of the applicant, including identification of the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses –Strength and specificity of additional references as well as adequacy of these reports based on the referees opportunity to observe and evaluate the applicant’s potential as a research scientist

Grant Writing22 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation criteria –Strength of the applicant –Strength of the proposed research training plan –Strength of the faculty sponsor –Strength of the training environment

Grant Writing23 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Strength of the research environment –Environment that supports research –Clinical and research facilities –Collaborative arrangements with agencies/clinics –Quality of collaborators

Grant Writing24 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Objective –Provide funds for promising applicants to to conduct dissertation research on a significant problem in mental health

Grant Writing25 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Eligibility –Currently in an accredited Ph.D. training program –Must have completed all requirements except dissertation and internship –Must have dissertation approved by their committee –Research must focus on one of the following areas: Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychopathology HIV/AIDS Research Mental Health Services Research

Grant Writing26 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Evaluation criteria –Significance of the problem

Grant Writing27 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Significance of the problem –The project is focused primarily on a significant problem in mental health, or in child/adolescent developmental psychopathology, HIV research, or mental health services research –Potential generalizability, heuristic value, and usefulness of the research findings

Grant Writing28 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Evaluation criteria –Significance of the problem –Research design and methods

Grant Writing29 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Evaluation of research design and methods –The problem to be addressed is clearly defined –The grant application shows an excellent grasp of scientific principles and adequate knowledge of other research related to the problem –The research methods are fully described including sampling procedures, description of experimental groups, description of types and sources of data to be gathered, discussion of possible methodological problems, and description of specific analyses to be performed

Grant Writing30 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Evaluation criteria –Significance of the problem –Research design and methods –Qualifications of the applicant and support structure

Grant Writing31 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Evaluation of the applicant and support structure –The applicant shows promise as a research investigator in areas relevant to the application –The experience and training of the applicant are sufficient to carry out the research –The proposed project is consistent with the long-term research interests of the applicant –Strength and specificity of the endorsements of the references concerning the applicants potential to contribute to mental health research

Grant Writing32 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Evaluation of the applicant and support (cont.) –Faculty advice, support, and necessary supervision are available and suitable –The available facilities and organizational arrangements are appropriate to the research

Grant Writing33 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship NRSA Submission process –Prepare application forms (PHS 416-1) –Send original application and two copies –Receipt dates (Apr, Aug, Dec) –Review dates (Jun, Oct, Feb) –Funding dates (Aug, Dec, Apr)

Grant Writing34 NIMH Dissertation Research Grant Submission process –Prepare application form PHS 398 (REV 9/91) –10 page limit (not including human subjects) –Send original application and two copies –Receipt dates (Aug, Dec, Apr) –Review dates (Oct, Feb, June) –Funding dates (Dec, Apr, Aug)

Grant Writing35 NIMH Predoctoral Fellowship Evaluation of the faculty sponsor –Adequacy and relevance of sponsor’s academic and research qualifications and experience in providing research supervision to trainees –Evidence of the proposed sponsor’s understanding and commitment to fulfilling the role of sponsor –Evidence that the sponsor understands the applicant’s research training needs and the sponsor’s ability to assist in meeting these needs –Adequacy of the sponsors ongoing research program as a context for the expected research training