1. Grant Writing Information Session
Kristen Burwell
Graduate Writing Fellow
May 1, 2013

2. Types of Grants - NIH
T: Institutional Research Training Grant – granted to institutions for graduate students and post-doc appointments
F: Fellowships – Individual post-doc fellowships for behavioral science or biomedical research
K: Research Center Development Awards – granted to develop research scientists with potential
NIH
K awards can be given to early or later career scientists

3. Types of Grants – Cont’d
R: Research Grants – awarded to fund a specific objective or study in the area of interest of the principal investigator
P: Program Grants – awarded to senior investigators to fund a broad long-term program of research (typically focus on disease mechanisms)
P: Center Grants – awarded to senior investigators

4. Grant Outline Specific Aims Research Strategy References
Background
Significance
Innovation
Approach
References
Human Subjects, Environment, etc…

5. Grant Outline Cont’d Budget and budget justification
Subcontract paperwork (optional)
Biosketches
Letters of Support
Administrative pages
Any subcontract paperwork, if including co-investigators from other institution

6. Scoring Criteria
Impact scores run from 10 to 90, where 10 is best. Generally speaking, impact/priority scores of 10 to 30 are most likely to be funded; scores between 31 and 45 might be funded; scores greater than 46 are rarely funded.

7. Before you begin… Be very familiar with the review criteria
Significance – scientific, practical relevance
Investigators – expertise and training
Innovation – shift in current research
Approach – soundness of research strategy
Environment – institutional resources and access to relevant equipment
Approach: Soundness of overall strategy, methods, analyses. anticipate problems, address risks

8. Timeline Create a writing timeline or calendar Be realistic
Incorporate opportunities for multiple reviews before final submission
Use your resources

9. Grant Components Specific Aims
Discuss the purpose of the proposal and public health relevance
Discuss current literature
Discuss the gap in knowledge and why it should be addressed
Include long-term and short-term goals
Include hypothesis for each aim
Demonstrate the impact of your work (innovation and expected outcomes)
Discuss current literature (what do we already know)

10. Grant Components Cont’d
Background and Significance
Mention why the work is significant, including benefits to the knowledge obtained
Conduct a critical evaluation of major findings
Cite key articles
Discuss how your project may address discrepancies in the literature
Provide a rationale for all of the gaps that you have identified

11. Grant Components Cont’d
Preliminary Studies
Demonstrate you and your teams’ competence and expertise
Prevent relevant data and conclusions
Connect the preliminary data with your proposed research
Include figures and tables

12. Grant Components Cont’d
Research Design and Methods
Discuss how you will conduct your research study
Organize by specific aims
Include specific methodology to accomplish your research goals
Include your power analysis
Mention limitations and alternative strategies to avoid or handle potential problems

13. Grant Opportunities
EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study
Deadline: late October, early November
New Requirement: cannot involve human subjects
Proposal Description: 5 pages

14. EPA STAR Materials Application for Federal Assistance, (SF) 424
EPA Key Contacts Form ( )
Front Page
Personal Statement
Proposal Description
Background Information:
Education & Relevant Experiences Publications & Presentations Course Work
Letters of Recommendation (sent by referees)

15. How can I help you?