Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter 29 Writing Proposals to Generate Evidence

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: A research proposal is a written document specifying what a researcher intends to study.

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer True A research proposal is a written document specifying what a researcher intends to study; proposals are written by students seeking approval for dissertations and theses, and by researchers seeking financial or institutional support.

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Functions of Proposals Written document What is to be studied Written by students for dissertation and theses Written by researchers seeking financial or institutional support

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Dissertation Proposals: The Committee Choose advisor carefully Assemble a committee with balanced skills and members who will work well together Become familiar with committee members’ work Take detailed notes on members’ suggestions

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Content of Dissertation Proposals Typically 20 to 40 pages in length Learn what type of proposal is expected Literature review section especially important

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: The NIH is the largest source of research funds for health researchers in the United States.

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer False The federal government is the largest source of research funds for health researchers in the United States. In addition to regular grants programs through Parent Announcements, federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announce special opportunities.

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Federal Funding for Research Proposals in the United States Grants—Funding mechanisms: –Announcements of broad agency objectives –Periodic program announcements of new program interests –Request for Applications (RFAs) on specific topics

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Federal Funding for Research Proposals in the United States (cont’d) Contracts for explicitly described studies: –Request for Proposals (RFPs)

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Nurses Variety of NIH Grants Research Project Grants AREA Grants Small Grants Exploratory/Developmental Grants

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Types of Grants Through NIH (Including NINR) Research Project Grant (R01)—the basic grant program Area Research Enhancement Awards (AREA)(R15)—grants for researchers from colleges/institutions that have tended to emphasize teaching

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Broad Review Criteria for R01 Grants 1.Significance of the problem 2.Proposed methodologic approach 3.Originality/innovativeness 4.Investigator qualifications 5.Quality of the research environment

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: NIH grant applications also require budgets, which can be an abbreviated modular budget if requested funds for R01 grants do not exceed $300,000 in direct costs per year.

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer False NIH grant applications also require budgets, which can be an abbreviated modular budget if requested funds for R01 grants do not exceed $250,000 in direct costs per year.

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Content of Grant Applications for NIH Submitted online Require uploaded PDF attachments Research plan component  Specific Aims  Research Strategy

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins NIH Budget Modular budget Do not exceed 250,000 dollars

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins NIH Review Process Three cycles of grant reviews annually Two levels of review: –Scientific review groups (study sections): 15 to 20 peer reviewers –Advisory council: scientific and lay representatives

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins NIH Review Process (cont’d) Study section reviewers: –Perform triage (scored versus unscored applications) –Assign priority scores (score of 10 is the most meritorious ranking and 90 is the lowest possible score) –Prepare pink sheets with priority score and comments (sent to applicants)

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Tips on Proposal Development—Prior to Writing Start early Select an important problem Know your audience Review a successful proposal Create a strong research team

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Tips on Proposal Development Build a persuasive case Justify methodologic decisions Begin and end with a flourish Adhere to instructions Pay attention to presentation Have the proposal critiqued