1. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH What Is A Strong Grant Application? What Is A Strong Grant Application? Simple steps to a successful grant application Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D. National Institute of Mental Health Office For Special Populations Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D. National Institute of Mental Health Office For Special Populations HU-UTEP 5 th ANNUAL INSTITUTE on POSTDOCTORAL PREPARATION

2. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH What Research does NIH support? NIH conducts and supports basic, applied, and clinical and health services research to understand the processes underlying human health and to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, diagnose, and treat human diseases and disabilities. NIH conducts and supports basic, applied, and clinical and health services research to understand the processes underlying human health and to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, diagnose, and treat human diseases and disabilities. 24 NIH Institutes/Centers support research in a wide range of institutions 24 NIH Institutes/Centers support research in a wide range of institutions

3. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH What Research does NIH support? Meritorious projects that address research priorities and mission of an Institute/Center Meritorious projects that address research priorities and mission of an Institute/Center Most research grants are investigator initiated projects Most research grants are investigator initiated projects A variety of mechanisms support large and small scale projects A variety of mechanisms support large and small scale projects Training that supports the NIH research effort Training that supports the NIH research effort

4. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH What Research does NIH support? CRISP: a public, searchable database with titles, abstracts, and institutional information about individual NIH supported grants. CRISP: a public, searchable database with titles, abstracts, and institutional information about individual NIH supported grants. WWW.NIH.GOV WWW.NIH.GOV (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects)

5. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Identify the appropriate NIH Grant Mechanism Match where you are in your career Match where you are in your career Pre-doc, Post-doc, New faculty memberPre-doc, Post-doc, New faculty member Match the type of research Match the type of research e.g. basic, risk and protective factors, pilot data, intervention development, secondary analyses, treatment, efficacy/effectivenesse.g. basic, risk and protective factors, pilot data, intervention development, secondary analyses, treatment, efficacy/effectiveness Match what funds are needed Match what funds are needed e.g how much $$, over how many years e.g how much $$, over how many years

6. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Be careful where you start Step 1: Identify a mentor(s) with a track record with a track record with a commitment to you & your career goals with a commitment to you & your career goals need not be your research advisor need not be your research advisor more than one is OK! more than one is OK!

7. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Don’t be impulsive Step 2: Plan ahead Grant writing takes time…probably more time than you expect Grant writing takes time…probably more time than you expect Bounce ideas off mentors & colleagues Bounce ideas off mentors & colleagues Talk to NIH program staff Talk to NIH program staff Decide on your target deadline Decide on your target deadline Get organized Get organized Talk to NIH program staff Talk to NIH program staff

8. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Know the answers to these questions Step 2.1: Plan ahead What do you intend to do? Why is the work important? What has already been done? How are you going to do the work?

9. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH There are standards There are standards Step 3: Don’t be cute…make the reviewers’ job easier Use the correct forms (PHS398, PHS416, 424 R&R) Use the correct forms (PHS398, PHS416, 424 R&R) Follow the instructions Follow the instructions Use the recommended format Use the recommended format Fill the forms out completely Fill the forms out completely Follow the instructions Follow the instructions Don’t guess—ask questions, e.g., NIH contacts Don’t guess—ask questions, e.g., NIH contacts Follow the instructions Follow the instructions

10. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Harness your passion Step 4: Be creative but pragmatic… Formulate your Specific Aims Formulate your Specific Aims Seek feedback (remember planning) Seek feedback (remember planning) Focused? Focused? Feasible? Feasible? Realistic (what can you actually get done)? Realistic (what can you actually get done)? Good training vehicle for you? Good training vehicle for you? Every aim and experiment must be clearly related to the overall goal of your proposal. Every aim and experiment must be clearly related to the overall goal of your proposal.

11. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH What’s really being evaluated? Step 5: It’s about you AND your idea The candidate The candidate Research plan Research plan Training/career development plan Training/career development plan The sponsor The sponsor The institutional environment The institutional environment

12. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH How does the Reviewer Review? Step 6: Consider the review criteria (F) : your background and potential to develop into an independent researcherCandidate : your background and potential to develop into an independent researcher : mentor research and mentoring track record; quality of resources and commitment to training/career development of the candidate Sponsor/Mentor and Training Environment : mentor research and mentoring track record; quality of resources and commitment to training/career development of the candidate : scientific merit, significance, feasibility & relationship to career plans Research Training Proposal: scientific merit, significance, feasibility & relationship to career plans Training Potential: value of this experience in context of candidate’s preparation

13. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH How does the Reviewer Review? Step 6.1: Consider the review criteria (R type) Significance: Does the study address an important problem?Significance: Does the study address an important problem? Approach: Are conceptual framework, design, methods, analyses, problems and alternatives appropriate?Approach: Are conceptual framework, design, methods, analyses, problems and alternatives appropriate? Innovation: Is the project original and innovative?Innovation: Is the project original and innovative? Investigators: Does team have appropriate training, experience, suitability for project?Investigators: Does team have appropriate training, experience, suitability for project? Environment: unique features, collaborations, institutional supportEnvironment: unique features, collaborations, institutional support

14. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Be Convincing! Step 7: Demonstrate mastery of your research topic Explicitly state your rationale. Explicitly state your rationale. Cite the appropriate literature thoroughly. Cite the appropriate literature thoroughly. Include preliminary data. Include preliminary data. Identify problematic aspects of hypotheses or techniques; indicate back-up strategies. Identify problematic aspects of hypotheses or techniques; indicate back-up strategies. Provide expected/alternative outcomes and interpretations. Provide expected/alternative outcomes and interpretations. Don’t forget your training/career development plan! Don’t forget your training/career development plan!

15. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Can You help the Reviewer? Step 8: Help the reviewers do their jobs Use a “reviewer-friendly” format. Use a “reviewer-friendly” format. Present the proposal in “bite-sized bits.” Use section headings, bold type, etc. to enhance readability. Present the proposal in “bite-sized bits.” Use section headings, bold type, etc. to enhance readability. Be concise! Be concise! Walk the reader through the experiments. Don’t just present a list of methods. Walk the reader through the experiments. Don’t just present a list of methods. Include an explicit timeline. Include an explicit timeline.

16. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH The application is you on paper Step 9: Don’t assume…don’t be sloppy Don’t assume the reviewers will know what you mean…spell it out for them. Don’t assume the reviewers will know what you mean…spell it out for them. Attend to your grammar. Avoid jargon. Attend to your grammar. Avoid jargon. Make sure you’ve completed all required sections in the indicated order. Make sure you’ve completed all required sections in the indicated order. Get in-house critiques well in advance of the deadline. (planning) Get in-house critiques well in advance of the deadline. (planning) Use headings, captions, legends, figures with care Use headings, captions, legends, figures with care Spell Check and Read your application carefully before submitting. Spell Check and Read your application carefully before submitting.

17. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH What is in your control? Step 10: Common problems to avoid Lack of new or original ideas Lack of new or original ideas Absence of an acceptable scientific rationale Absence of an acceptable scientific rationale Lack of knowledge of relevant, published work Lack of knowledge of relevant, published work Overly ambitious (unrealistic) research plan Overly ambitious (unrealistic) research plan Superficial or unfocused research plan Superficial or unfocused research plan Questionable reasoning in experimental approach (feasibility) Questionable reasoning in experimental approach (feasibility) Lack of experience with an essential methodology (feasibility) Lack of experience with an essential methodology (feasibility) Insufficient experimental detail Insufficient experimental detail Quality of presentation Quality of presentation

18. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH What makes a winner? Step 11: A strong research application… Has well-defined Specific Aims. Has well-defined Specific Aims. Proposes novel, interesting & focused hypothesis-driven experiments. Proposes novel, interesting & focused hypothesis-driven experiments. Promises to advance knowledge. Promises to advance knowledge. Provides supporting Preliminary Data. Provides supporting Preliminary Data. Has an appropriately detailed Experimental Design. Has an appropriately detailed Experimental Design. Documents appropriate scientific expertise. Documents appropriate scientific expertise. Has a reasonable & justified budget. Has a reasonable & justified budget. Training applications need other strengths too. Training applications need other strengths too. Addresses the agency priorities and mission Addresses the agency priorities and mission

19. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Even the best laid plans…… Step 12: If you need to revise Remember that the review is not a judgment of you personally, only of your application. Remember that the review is not a judgment of you personally, only of your application. Read/Study the review carefully and discuss it with the program official. Read/Study the review carefully and discuss it with the program official. Get help in revising. Get help in revising. Be polite in responding to criticism Be polite in responding to criticism Be responsive to all of the reviewers’ criticisms. Be responsive to all of the reviewers’ criticisms. Put all ego aside. If in doubt, do it their way. Put all ego aside. If in doubt, do it their way.

20. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH Let’s Review Step 13: Don’t make the process more difficult than it is. Plan carefully, follow directions Plan carefully, follow directions Be Realistic Be Realistic Ask for Help and Advice Ask for Help and Advice Convey your passion for your science Convey your passion for your science Ask for Help and Advice Ask for Help and Advice This is supposed to be fun This is supposed to be fun Let us know when you succeed Let us know when you succeed

21. Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D.; NIMH www.nih.gov www.nimh.nih.gov www.nih.gov www.nimh.nih.gov Michael A. Sesma, Ph.D. msesma@mail.nih.gov