Writing the NIH Grant Proposal

William Gerin received his BA in Psychology from Stanislaus State College in Turlock, California in 1979, where he studied operant and classical conditioning avoidance models in animals.  He became interested in the role of human interactions in emotional regulation, and received his PhD in Social Psychology from Columbia University in 1984, under the mentorship of Stanley Schachter.  In 1985 Gerin undertook an NIH-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Epidemiology at the Cornell University Medical Center.  He then went on to Mount Sinal Hospital and (back to) Columbia University, when he moved his laboratory to the Pennsylvania State University, in the Department of Biobehavioral Health, where he is a Professor, and the Director of the Experimental Cardiovascular Psychophysiology Laboratory.  His current research areas include the examination of acute biological responses, including blood pressure, heart rate variability, cortisol, endothelial function, and inflammatory markers, to stress and negative emotionality.  His other areas of study include the role of emotional regulation in the development of hypertension and coronary heart disease, non-pharmacological interventions to lower blood pressure and improve medication adherence in culturally diverse patient populations, health disparities in the treatment and outcomes of hypertension, and the role of psyochosocial factors in cardiovascular disease. Christine H. Kapelewski Kinkade earned her BS in Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2006 and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Pennsylvania State University in 2011.  After graduating, she went to work at the University of California, Berkeley for two years as a Research Compliance Analyst.  Chrissy is now at the University of California, Davis where she is a Clinical Trials Analyst for the Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials.   Niki Page is the Director of Grants and Contracts for the College of Health and Human Development.  Niki has worked as a research administrator at the Pennsylvania State University since 2001.  She has performed a variety of roles, to include project management over a large DOE Research Center; to being the first Pre-Award Director of Penn State′s Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office.  She has shepherded more than 4,000 sponsored research applications and enjoys partnering with faculty teams to help them navigate the ever change world of extramural funding.  Prior to joining Penn State, Niki proudly served in the U.S. Air Force.

Preface
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1. The National Institutes of Health
The NIH Mission
Basic NIH Facts
Other Funding Agencies
CHAPTER 2. Mentoring and Collaborative Relationships and What to Do If Things Go Awry
Developing New Collaborative Relationships
Maintaining Ongoing Collaborative Relationships
Finding and Working With a Mentor
What to Do When Interpersonal Problems Arise
CHAPTER 3. Types of Award Mechanisms
Identifying the Correct Grant Mechanism for Your Proposal . . .
The Menu
Classes of Grant Mechanisms
NIH Small Grant Program (R03)
Scope
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21)
Factors to Consider in Identifying an Award Mechanism
Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs)
Research Supplements
Success Rates for Different Grant Mechanisms and Different I/Cs
The SBIR and STTR Award Mechanisms
In What Areas Is the NIH Interested?
CHAPTER 4. Preparation and Preliminary Steps
Are You Ready?
Try Out Your Ideas on Your Colleagues
The NIH Website: A Useful Resource
The NIH “Guide for Grants and Contracts”
Requests for Applications
Contacting NIH Program Staff
Choosing Your Research Team and Conducting Initial Negotiations
Summary
CHAPTER 5. Writing the Application, Part I: Scientific Content and Writing Strategies
The Scientific Content
General Notes Concerning Scientific Writing
Sections of the Proposal
The NIH Review Criteria
New Procedures Implemented by NIH Concerning Content of the Proposal
Resources
Writing the Individual Sections of the Grant Text
Research Strategy
Common Reviewers’ Criticisms
Proposal Development Timeline
Revise, Revise, Revise, Proofread, Proofread . . .
Summary
CHAPTER 6. Writing the Application, Part II: Ethics
Human Subjects Research
Use of Stem Cells
Use of Biohazards and Select Agents
Humane Care and Use of Animals
Summary
CHAPTER 7. Writing the Application, Part III: Filling Out Budgets and Other Forms
Changes to the Application Process
The Title
The Budget
The Budget Justification
Consortia and Subcontracts
SBIR/STTR Budgets
Identifying Research Opportunities and Downloading Applications Packages
The Components of the SF 424 (R&R) Form
The Budget Justification
Letters of Support and/or Collaborators/Consultants
The SF 424 Form
Summary
CHAPTER 8. Submitting the Application and the Grant Review and Award Process
Submission
The Grant Review and Award Process
Overall Impact
Scored Review Criteria
CHAPTER 9. Be Careful What You Wish For . . .
Notice of Grant Award (NGA)
Managing Your Grant Award
Setting Up the Command Structure
Bookkeeping
Yearly Progress Reports
Mea Culpa
Summary
Postscript
Glossary
Index