1. MedStar Health Research Institute
How to Solicit a Grant from the Federal Government and Who Should We Apply To?
Jason G. Umans, MD, PhD
MedStar Health Research Institute
Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science

2. I have no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.
Jason G. Umans, MD
I have no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.

3. Roadmap for next 9 minutes
Focus on the NIH
Brief mention of FDA, AHRQ, CMS
Focus on young investigators
Preparation and credibility
Career transitions, independence, team science
Funding opportunities, PAs, RFAs,
Information sources
Obvious questions that most ignore

4. Bubbles-not just in housing

5. NHLBI funding by mechanism http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/index.htm
Grant Program
Percentile
Priority Score
Description
R01
10.0
Research Project Grant
  ESI
20.0*
  Early Stage Investigator
R21
Discontinued (as were the R03s)
R15 20
Academic Research Enhancement Awards
R41, R42
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants
R43, R44 25
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR)
P01 15
Program Project Grant
  P01 Subproject
  Program Project Grant: Subproject
K awards 19
Career Development Awards

7. Do I (Should I) Want a K. K-kiosk: http://grants. nih
5 full years of 75% effort and salary
Funding lines of 15-40%
Salary of $75k; Research funds $25-50k
Need a mentor (with a training track record)
Institutional support, environment, resources
Money to actually do the proposed research
Clear pathway to independence

8. The CTSAs: Thinking Differently
Network of 60 CTSA institutions/consortia
Translational research and training infrastructure
Focus on multidisciplinary team science
All have K(L2) programs (3-5y)
All have pilot grant programs
All have core labs and services

9. The Credible Applicant
Has had research (not just clinical) training
Publications (with convincing contributions)
Small, independent grants (from non federal or pilot grant sources—remember the NHLBI is out of this business)
Project experience
Collaborators and Mentors, as needed-you’re never really “independent”
Resources to ensure success
And…a great proposal!

10. What’s out there? Read the Institute web pages
Subscribe to and read the (weekly) NIH Guide
Program Announcements (PAs)
(the playing field is not level)
Requests for Applications (RFAs)
Don’t be the last one to find out

11. How do they know? Talk with the program officer
They actually want to help you
You can go back again and again
Institute website, priorities
Conferences (to set funding priorities)
Contracts, Cooperative Networks

12. Summary of Key Questions
Decide if you want to do investigator-initiated research?
Do you like running your own show, working in a team, or a hybrid?
Are you ready for prime time research funding? And are the resources adequate to do the research?
Is a K award appropriate or useful? What else should I do to develop my career?

13. Summary of Key Questions
Am I in the right place, with the right resources, the right mentor, and the right collaborators?
Do I know where to look for funding opportunities and how willing am I to adapt my research to NIH priorities?
Do I love this crazy life?