Writing a Fundable NIH K-Series Application

My Background and why it was important to my path. I received my BS from UC Irvine, my MD from Medical College of Wisconsin, pediatric residency at CHLA and pediatric cardiology fellowship at CHLA. I had always participated in research but I did not take the reins of a project until I was a cardiology fellow. I enjoyed research when I was with a mentor who cared about my education, however, I never took ownership of a project. I did not understand how to write for scientific audiences. 2 Know your strengths and exploit them but also know your limitations and address them.

The two most important things to a successful junior career 1.Mentor – both primary and secondary 2.Your desire to pursue research 3

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The specific aims page is where it all starts and will set the tone for your entire grant. Don’t rush or minimize the importance of it. Write and re-write multiple times with your mentor. – Make sure you have a relationship with your mentor that allows for a lot of one on one interaction with this process – This is where you can judge your own mentor’s desire to help. When you are done, ask another researcher to read it, preferably someone who has experience reviewing grants 5

Five Elements of a Summary Statement – it is important to understand your strengths and limitations Candidate – Training Background – Publications – “sustained progress” – “dedicated” Career Development Plan/Career Goals & Objectives/Plan to Provide Mentoring – Plan for progression – ok to give a timeline to get an R – Secondary degree/education 6

Five Elements of a Summary Statement – it is important to understand your strengths and limitations Research Plan – All aims are related and achieve a specific goal/address primary hypothesis – Methodology – “what if your sub- hypotheses are wrong” – you have to think about how your plan addresses being wrong Mentor(s), Co- Mentor(s), Consultant(s), Collaborator(s) – NIH funding current – NIH track record – Preferably at the same institution – Must have outside consultant(s) 7

Five Elements of a Summary Statement – it is important to understand your strengths and limitations Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate – Be clear about your lab/institution, what is available to you – cores, animal labs/husbandry. – Highlight your team! – Support staff – how will you get the work done, because they know it is not going to be you alone. And if you paint a picture of doing it all yourself, they will mark you down. The ideas and planning are yours but the details take a team. – The division chief and mentor letters need to be explicit about protected time and dedication to you as a scientist. 8

Questions 9 Jon Detterich: