1. Why and When to Write a Grant. Karen E
Why and When to Write a Grant? Karen E. Lasser, MD, MPH Associate Professor of Medicine Associate Director, Education and Training Division BU CTSI Associate Section Chief, Faculty Development Section of General Internal Medicine Boston University Medical Center

2. Goals Why write a grant? When should you write your first grant?
Types of grants

4. Starry Night – Vincent Van Gogh’s Painting of Hope & Despair

5. Why write a grant?
To work on something that feels important and that excites you

6. Why Write a grant? Without funding project is not do-able
Smoking/patient navigation example
Learn about:
Finances/budgets
Team science
Develop independence
Prestige (promotion, tenure)
Contribute to science
Improve patient outcomes

7. When to write a grant When you have some (high-impact) publications
mastered (some) research methods
A burning research idea

8. My first grants After GIM fellowship
Small internal medical school foundations, small R to AHRQ
Career development award (American Cancer Society)

9. Types of Grants Research Career development Program development
Granting agencies
-Federal (NIH, PCORI, AHRQ, CDC)
R, P, U, K, T
-Foundations
-Industry

10. What is the NIH looking for?
Grant proposals of high scientific caliber
Relevant to public health needs within NIH Institute and Center (IC) priorities.
ICs highlight research priorities on their individual websites.
Need to contact Institute or Center staff to discuss relevancy and/or focus of proposed research before submitting an application

11. NIH-Requested Research: RFAs, PAs, PARs
RFA: a more narrowly defined area for which one or more NIH institutes have set aside funds for awarding grants
Usually has a single receipt date, reviewed by a Scientific Review Group
PA: Areas of increased priority, can match unsolicited research ideas
Standard dates on an on-going basis
PAR: A PA with special receipt, referral and/or review considerations
Weekly NIH

12. NIH, continued
Review successfully funded applications, especially K awards
New Investigator and Early-Stage Investigator Status
Co-PI, multi-PI

13. Foundations- pros and cons, internal grants
Good “first grant”
Low indirect rates
Often no feedback if proposal rejected
Examples: RWJ, Commonwealth, AHA, ACS
Work with project officers
BU: DOM pilot grants, CTSI
Other Joslin, CHERISH

14. Before you start writing
Literature search, NIH reporter search
Talk to program officers
One-page summary of proposed work, send it to colleagues for review
Ask for brief 5 minute review for big-picture comments
Present ideas at RIP

15. Before you start writing
Put together research team, meet with potential collaborators
Mentoring team-for career development awards
Budget-draft it early
Months before due date: work out whole study

16. When you start writing Draft specific aims first
Review study section roster

17. Common pitfalls Too ambitious Lack of sufficient detail in the methods
Topic not of interest
Mentor not enough experience

18. Issues of Style Avoid the passive voice whenever and wherever possible
Avoid “acronym soup”

19. Miscellaneous
Support letters
Other pages

20. A career-long learning process
Once you have a good proposal, submit it to multiple funding sources (with caveats)
You need a “thick skin”
Grant writing training sessions-at BU, national societies, and elsewhere
This is just the beginning!

21. Questions?