1 Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program Erica Brown, PhD NIH AREA Program Director NIH Regional Seminar Scottsdale, Arizona April 28, 2011

Overview Goal of AREA program Applying for an AREA grant Funding for the AREA program Strategies for successfully competing for AREA funding 2

3 Purpose of the AREA Program Support small research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences conducted by faculty and students in educational institutions that have not been major recipients of NIH research grant funds

Goals of AREA Program To support meritorious research To expose students to research To strengthen the research environment of the institution 4

Pilot research projects and feasibility studies Development, testing, and refinement of research techniques Secondary analysis of available data sets Similar discrete research projects that demonstrate research capability 5 Research Supported by the AREA Program

Applying for an AREA Grant… Funded through the R15 grant mechanism –Program Announcement (PA) Number: PA – 070.htmlhttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA html Receipt dates –Standard application deadlines: February 25, June 25, and October 25 –AIDS-related research deadlines: May 7, September 7, and January 7 All NIH ICs participate in the AREA program, except FIC and NIMHD 6

Applying for an AREA Grant… Project period is limited up to 3 years Direct cost limited to $300,000 over entire project period Research Strategy limited to 12 pages Multiple PIs are allowed Preliminary data are not required but are allowed Grants are renewable 7

Eligible Institutions Institutions offering baccalaureate or advanced degrees in biomedical or behavioral sciences Receives < $6 million per year in NIH research support in at least 4 of the past 7 years Applicants should consult the list of ineligible institutions on the AREA Program website – Foreign institutions are not eligible but may be included as a collaborating institution 8

Eligible Individuals Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research at an eligible institution PI can not have an active NIH research grant –May be a collaborator on an active NIH grant held by another PI PI may not be awarded more than one AREA grant at a time PI may not submit another application to the NIH for essentially the same research project 9

Special Submission Requirements A profile of available and former students at the institution –Demographics –Number who are enrolled in baccalaureate and doctoral degree programs (if applicable) –Number who have obtained advanced degrees in the health-related sciences A description of the special characteristics of the institution that make it appropriate for an AREA grant 10

Special Submission Requirements For any proposed research sites other than the applicant institution, provide a brief description of the resources If relevant, a statement of institutional support for the proposed research project 11

A Special Note about the Budget Include the total requested budget for all years of the proposed project in Budget Period 1. –For example, if applying for a 3-year grant, request all funds in year 1. If the direct costs for all years is $250,000 or less, use the Modular Budget format If the direct costs for all years is more than $250,000, use the R&R Detailed Budget Unlike most NIH grants, funds for all project years are awarded upfront (project start date) Progress reports due annually 12

Data for AREA Program – Last 5 Years 13 Fiscal Year Applications Reviewed Applications Awarded Success Rate Total Funding %$37,938, %$45,228, %$44,395, %$37,299, * %$52,352,418 * Policy change: Increased institutional eligibility cap to $6M/year and increased cap on individual awards to $300,000

Data for AREA Program – Last 5 Years 14 Fiscal Year Applications Reviewed Applications Awarded Success Rate Total Funding %$37,938, %$45,228, %$44,395, %$37,299, * %$52,352,418 * Policy change: Increased institutional eligibility cap to $6M/year and increased cap on individual awards to $300,000

Data for AREA Program in NIH Institutes/Centers Applications Reviewed Applications Awarded Success Rate Total Funding NIAAA9333.3%$754,973 NIA4848%$1,351,672 NIAID %$6,054,043 NIAMS26623%$1,432,869 NCCAM10220%$408,651 NCI %$7,475,247 NIDA21419%$923,025 NIDCD1318%$219,369 NIDCR9333%$974,267 NIDDK381950%$5,368,154 NIBIB27311%$836,901 NIEHS371027%$3,047,112 NEI24521%$1,608,391 NIGMS %$9,686,918 NICHD81810%$1,917,869 NHGRI3133%$316,455 NHLBI711116%$2,936,353 NLM100%$0 NIMH41615%$1,543,010 NINR28311%$803,313 NINDS491531%$4,693,826 NCRR300%$0 FY Total % $ 52,352,418

Strategies for Success Find the NIH Institute or Center that supports your area of research –Research objectives of the NIH Institute and Centers –AREA contacts at each NIH Institute and Center Include a cover letter suggesting an appropriate Institute and up to three appropriate study sections –Study Section rosters –Study Section expertise New/ New/ 16

Strategies for Success Address the AREA-specific programmatic goals in the application –Experience of the investigator in working with students –Profile of available and former students at the institution –How students will benefit from this research experience –The suitability of the institution for an award –The impact the AREA grant will have on the institution Include a collaborator or consultant if you don’t have the necessary expertise or resources AREA grant is a research award, not a training award –Focus on hands-on research not course work 17

Thank you… 18 Questions? Erica Brown, PhD NIH AREA Program Director