1. “REBP- How to write research proposals for funding”
Gülcan Arusoglu, Ph.D. 
Head, Assistant Prof.
Istanbul S. Zaim University
Dept. of Nutrition and Dietetics
Istanbul – Türkiye

2. Presentation Content Call for proposals How to get started
The basics of writing a proposal
Title, proposal acronym, abstract, and keywords
Introduction, research objectives
Methods, techniques
Tables and figures, results, references
Project organization and management
Do we need partner organization? Why?
Workpackages
CV of the researcher
Budget and ethics
Summary table of how to apply package

3. Call for proposals search for possible ways of funding, e.g.:
call for national/ international proposals
check criteria for proposals for each call – different calls will have different criteria and templates
make sure that your idea/research questions fits the call
make sure that you will be able to meet criteria of the call (e.g. deadline of submission, number of partners)

4. The basics of writing a proposal
Getting started:
What do I have to say?
What is the right format for the message?
What is the audience for the message?
How does the project fit in criteria of the call?

5. what’s this study about?
Title: Ask Yourself
What is the single most important point of this study?
How would I tell my colleague, in one short descriptive sentence:
what’s this study about?
A descriptive, specific title perfectly framing your study will be apparent only after you’ve written the paper and abstract.
Start with a short descriptive working title

6. Proposal Acronym Often an acronym is used. For example:
Dietitians Improving Education and Training Standards (DIETS)

7. Abstract
Emphasize importance of the project, formulate research question and explain methods
check the call for exact template
J of Clinical Epidemiology. Effective writing and publishing scientific papers. part XI, part XII, part IX, part X, part VI

8. Introduction
The introduction must allow readers to understand the biological, clinical, or methodological rationale for your study.
A good introduction will ‘‘sell’’ the study to reviewers
The introduction should be as concise as possible.

9. Introduction Existing state of knowledge
Gaps in knowledge which research will fill.
State what you Intend to do
Give pertinent references
It does not
Review the history of the subject
Does not identify all the other gaps in knowledge
Don not include methods, results and discussion

10. Checklist for the introduction
Check, if the introduction has a funnel shape with clear sections on general background (what is this all about?);
What is known and what is unknown about this specific subject (why was this study needed, and why is it important?);
primary research question (what did we want to know?); and
study aim and design (what did we do to answer the research
question?). What are the primary and secondary outcomes
and or milestones?
Ask yourself, ‘‘Will this introduction sell my paper to reviewers?’’

11. Research objective
Have a clear understanding of the primary research objective.
Without this, it will be impossible to write a clear and concise story.
Exm:
-The aims of the proposal is to improving the understanding…..
-The results will be highly pertinent to the understanding of the…
-The data obtained from this project will enable…..

12. Methods
Reason for selecting the design of the study. e.g. RCT, clinical trial, animal study, cross sectional, cohort etc.
What Subjects/patients/animals/specimens
techniques will be used?
Statistical methods that will be used for
analysis
need for approval of medical ethical committee
ethics (informed consent e.g.)

13. Checklist for the methods section
Include basic information on study design, setting and subjects, data collection, data analysis, and ethical approval
Refer to previous publications from the same large research project, such as a study protocol, for additional information (if applicable)
Ask yourself, ‘‘Would a researcher be able to reproduce the study with the information I provide in this paper?’’

14. Use clear, clean, and unemotional language.
Try to use active verbs, and consider using signaling words (such as to determine whether…, to clarify this…, to compare…).
Use present tense for established facts (e.g., ‘‘low back pain is a common reason to consult physical therapists’’) and
past tense or present perfect for findings you do not consider established.

15. Techniques
Give enough details for readers to assess the validity of the results, and repeat the study
If standard techniques are used, give appropriate reference, any modifications should be clearly explained
If a drug/supplement trial- clear description of trial

16. Statistics Consult a statistician, if necessary.
Clearly mention the statistical methods that will be used or that will be used? for appropriate verification of reported results.
What is the statistical power calculation of the proposal?

17. Project organisation and management
make clear how the project will be organised; which partners will be involved in decision making, will there be administrative support, how wil the project be monitored
often a SWOT analyses will be part of the proposal

18. Consortium What partners do you need to answer you research question?
The proposal should indicate
partners involved in the project
each partners’s role in the project
the reason why each partner is important for the project
Provide a list of all participants indicating the legal entity, the department carrying out the work and the supervisor of the action.

19. Workpackages
Large projects are often divided into several workpackages.
Each workpackage has its own objectives and activities and deliverables
Each workpackage has a co-ordinator and members from relevant partner organisations (explain why partners are in this particular workpackage)

20. Example for WP

21. Description of the phases, work plans, milestones and deliverables (Q: Quarters of year)
Time Period
Phases/Work Plans (WP) / Deliverables (D)
Year 1
(Q1)
(approx. 3 months)
PHASE 1: …..
• WP1.1 …
• WP1.2 …
Milestone 1: …
D1.1 ….
D1.2 ….
(Q2, Q3, Q4)
PHASE 2:…

22. CV of researcher A CV of prinical investigator is often required.
Research experience with CV
Research results including publications, teaching, etc.
Independent thinking, leadership qualities, and capacity to transfer knowledge
Match between the fellow's profile and project

23. Budget Develop a clear budget proposal.
How budgets should be presented will differ widely, so please check whether their are templates to be used for the call you apply for your proposal.

24. Medical ethical approval
Check whether your proposal needs be to approved by a medical ethical committee.
If a medical ethical committee needs to be involved, please check guidelines for sending proposals for your committee (since these will vary across Europe).
If medical ethical committee approval needs to be obtained, these committees will have guidelines and criteria for documents to be developed and reviewed.

25. Summary Table of Content
Research project
Theoretical background
The study system
Hypotheses and predictions
Research methodology
Objective 1 – Measuring …..
Objective 2 – …….
Originality and innovative nature of the project
Timeless and relevance of the project
Quality of the group/supervisors
TRAINING
Clarity and quality of the research training objectives for the researcher
Relevance and quality of additional scientific training as well as of complementary skills offered

26. Summary Table of Content
RESEARCHER
Research experience
Research results
IMPLEMENTATION
Quality of infrastructures/facilities and practical arrangements for the implementation and management of the project
Feasibility and credibility of the project, including work plan
IMPACT
Contribution to European excellence and European competitiveness
ETHICAL ISSUES
Addressing ethical concerns
Ethical issues table
REFERENCES