Applying for a Grant at the NIH

Helen Quill, Ph.D.

Chief, Basic Immunology Branch

Division of Allergy, Immunology & Transplantation

NIAID, NIH

The Application Process

NIH Referral and Review SystemNIH Referral and Review SystemRegular Research Grant ApplicationsRegular Research Grant Applications

CSR

Program & PolicyConsiderations

FundingDecisions Scientific

Management

NIGMSNIA

NIAAANEI

NIAMS

NIMH

NHLBI

NHGRI

NICHDNIDDKNIDA

NINDSNIAID

NIDCR

NINR

NIEHS

NIDCD

NLM

NCRR

FIC

Referral

Scientific ReviewNCCAM

NIBIBNCMHD

2 Independent Assignments for Your Grant Application upon Receipt at NIH

CSR Initial Review Group (IRG)Study Section

Scientific Review Administrator (SRA)Reviews the application

NIH Institute or Center (IC)Program Officer

Funds the application

Center for Scientific Review (CSR)Receipt and Refferal Office

Peer Review of NIH Support MechanismsPeer Review of NIH Support Mechanisms

Research Project Grant (R01)Research Project Grant (R01) Program Project Grant (P01)Program Project Grant (P01)Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32)Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) Center Grant (P30, P50, P60)Center Grant (P30, P50, P60)

ContractsContracts

Fogarty International CenterFogarty International Center RFAsRFAsFellowship (F05, F06)Fellowship (F05, F06) Mentored Clinical ScientistMentored Clinical Scientist

ShortShort--Term Training (T35)Term Training (T35) Development Award (K08)Development Award (K08)Small Business Grants (R41, R42Small Business Grants (R41, R42 Conference Grant (R13)*Conference Grant (R13)*

R43, R44)R43, R44) Marc Fellowships (F34, F36, T34)Marc Fellowships (F34, F36, T34)Academic Research EnhancementAcademic Research EnhancementMinority Biomedical SupportMinority Biomedical Support

Award (R15)Award (R15) Grant (S06)Grant (S06)Biomedical Biomedical Ressearch GupportRessearch Gupport Resource Grant (P40, P41, R24,Resource Grant (P40, P41, R24,

Shared Instrumentation Shared Instrumentation R26, R28R26, R28Grant (S10)Grant (S10)

CSRCSR InstitutesInstitutes

Peer Review

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.”

-Steven Wright

CSR (Center for Scientific Review)

Study Section

peer review panel

15-25 reviewers, mostly from academia

IRG (integrated review group)

group of study sections

New Immunology IRG

New Study Sections: est. June 2004

Innate Immunity & Inflammation (III)

Immunity & Host Defense (IHD)

Cellular & Molecular Immunology (CMI)-A

Cellular & Molecular Immunology (CMI)-B

Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune & Immune-Med. Dis. (HAI)

Transplantation, Tolerance & Tumor Immunology (TTT)

Vaccines Against Microbial Diseases (VMD)

F32 Postdoctoral Grants

Scientific Review AdministratorScientific Review Administrator

• Checks applications to ensure completeness• Selects reviewers for study section• Assigns applications to reviewers• Manages the study section meeting• Prepares the summary statements• Provides advice to applicants about study sections

( ) Designated Federal official scientist with overall , :responsibility for the review process including

Institute Program Officer

Designated Federal official with overall responsibility for the funding process

• Scientist trained in area of coverage• Develops targeted research programs• Approves funding and oversees funded grants• Approves yearly progress reports• Assists PI with both administrative & scientific

questions• Attends study section as observer

Typical Timeline for a New Typical Timeline for a New Individual Research Project Individual Research Project Grant Application (R01)Grant Application (R01)

–Submit in February (June, October)–Review in June (October, February)

–Council in September (January, May)–Earliest award in December (April, July)

9-10 months from submission to funding

There are three overlapping cycles per year:

Review Process

6-8 wks before study section meeting SRA assigns and sends applications to primary, secondary, tertiary reviewers (mostly academics) for evaluation

At study section meeting - These 3 reviewers give initial scores- Primary presents research plan, discusses PI, etc.- Secondary emphasizes points of agreement/disagreement- Tertiary adds his/her 2 cents worth- General discussion/questions among panel members- All panel members vote a priority score

Less expected from new PI

Review Process

1-2 months after review- SRA prepares summary statement (written critique document) and calculates percentiles (R01s)- CSR or Institute mails summary statement to PI

~5 months after reviewInstitute sends Notice-of-Grant Award by e-mail to PI’s business office

Paylines

• Payline is based on percentile (rank) • Percentile: your score percentiled against current scores in

that study section plus the previous 2 rounds of review in that study section

• Each Institute determines its own payline (e.g. in 2003, NIAID 22.0%; NCI 20.0%)

• Payline may be different from prior fiscal year• For most Institutes, percentiles within the payline get

funded automatically• Study sections may recommend budget/time cuts;

Institutes usually follow these recommendations

Grant Application CycleGrant Application Cycle

Applicant InstitutionSubmits application

Receives award

Study Section or Review Group

at NIH

Funding Instituteor Centerat NIH

Funding Mechanisms

NIH Opportunities for NIH Opportunities for Independent Young Investigator Independent Young Investigator GrantsGrants

?? Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award( 08)K( 08)K

?? Mentored Patient Mentored Patient-- Oriented Research Career Oriented Research Career Development Award Development Award( 23)K( 23)K

?? ( 22) Transition Grant K ( 22) Transition Grant K –– restricted restricted eligibility @ NIAID eligibility @ NIAID

?? Small Grant Small Grant( 03)R( 03)R?? / Exploratory Developmental Grant/ Exploratory Developmental Grant( 21)R( 21)R

?? Regular Research Grant Regular Research Grant( 01)R( 01)R

K08Mentored Clinical Scientist

Development Award

• Clinical doctoral degree only

• US citizenship or green card

• 3-5 yrs of support

• Salary: up to $75K + FB/yr

• Supplies: up to $20K/yr

• 75% effort required

K23Mentored Patient-Oriented Research

Career Development Award

• M.D. or Ph.D. working with patients• US citizen or green card• Candidates just out of specialty or sub-specialty

training• Project must be patient-oriented research• 3-5 yrs of support• Salary: up to $75K + FB/yr• Supplies: $25K/yr• 75% effort required

K22Research Scholar Development Award

• Postdoc moving to assistant professor• Eligibility

– Current NIAID intramural postdoc

– Current postdoc on NIAID training grant/fellowship

– US citizen or green card

• 2 yrs non-renewable• Yr 1: $150K; yr 2: $100K• Can apply without a sponsoring institution

SUCCESS RATES FOR NIAID TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

Grant Type• F32• K02• K08• K22• K23• K24• T32

OVERALL

2002 Success Rate (%)25636659392760

43

Mechanisms for Preliminary StudiesMechanisms for Preliminary Studies

•• ( 03)Small Grants R ( 03)Small Grants R•• / / Feasibility New Technology Innovative High Risk Ideas/ / Feasibility New Technology Innovative High Risk Ideas

•• 50,000/ ; 2 $ year years maximum50,000/ ; 2 $ year years maximum

•• Institute Review Institute Review

•• / ( 21)Exploratory Developmental Grants R/ ( 21)Exploratory Developmental Grants R•• ( )Feasibility for those without preliminary data ( )Feasibility for those without preliminary data

•• 275,000 2 $ over years275,000 2 $ over years

•• Increasing use Increasing use

•• CSR Review CSR Review

R01 Success Rates (%)All PIs

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

NIH 30.9 31.6 31.4 31.3 N/A

NIAID 35.5 30.9 30.8 34.2 30.8

NCI 30.2 29.8 26.9 26.0 25.9

NHLBI 30.7 34.6 33.3 34.4 32.0

NIDDK 32.8 30.2 27.2 27.2 30.9

R01 Success Rates (%)New PIs NIH-wide

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Applications reviewed

6,464 6,984 7,059 7,139 7,265

Grants awarded

1,539 1,596 1,670 1,640 1,596

Success rate 23.8 22.9 23.7 23.0 22.0

Solicited Research ProgramsNIH Institutes

Requests for Applications (RFA)Requests for Applications (RFA)

•• Announcement describing an Institute research Announcement describing an Institute research initiative in a well initiative in a well-- defined scientific area defined scientific area

•• Invitation to the field to submit research grant Invitation to the field to submit research grant applications for a one applications for a one-- time competition time competition

•• SetSet-- aside of funds for a certain number of awards aside of funds for a certain number of awards

•• Applications generally reviewed within the issuing Applications generally reviewed within the issuing Institute by one Institute by one-- time study section time study section

Program AnnouncementProgram Announcement•• Invites grant applications in a given research area Invites grant applications in a given research area

•• May describe new or expanded interest in a particular May describe new or expanded interest in a particular research area research area

•• May be a reminder of a continuing interest in a May be a reminder of a continuing interest in a particular research area particular research area

•• Generally has no funds set aside Generally has no funds set aside

•• Applications reviewed in CSR along with unsolicited Applications reviewed in CSR along with unsolicited grant applications grant applications

When Preparing an ApplicationWhen Preparing an Application

?? Read and follow instructions Read and follow instructions

?? “ ”Never assume that reviewers will know what you mean “ ”Never assume that reviewers will know what you mean

?? ; Refer to literature thoroughly demonstrate expertise ; Refer to literature thoroughly demonstrate expertise

?? State rationale of proposed investigation State rationale of proposed investigation

?? , , Include discussions of interpretations pitfalls alternative , , Include discussions of interpretations pitfalls alternativeapproachesapproaches

?? Include well Include well-- (designed tables and figures (designed tables and figures’ don t cram’ don t cram))?? , Present an organized lucid write , Present an organized lucid write-- (up (up neatness counts neatness counts))?? Obtain pre Obtain pre-- review from faculty at your institution review from faculty at your institution

Common Problems in ApplicationsCommon Problems in Applications

•• ( 01, )Insufficient preliminary data R etc ( 01, )Insufficient preliminary data R etc•• , , Diffuse superficial or unfocused research plan, , Diffuse superficial or unfocused research plan•• Absence of an acceptable scientific rationale Absence of an acceptable scientific rationale•• . Lack of justification re physiological relevance . Lack of justification re physiological relevance•• Questionable reasoning in experimental approach Questionable reasoning in experimental approach•• Lack of experience in the essential methodology Lack of experience in the essential methodology•• Lack of sufficient experimental detail Lack of sufficient experimental detail•• Uncritical approach Uncritical approach•• Unrealistically large amount of work Unrealistically large amount of work

•• Lack of knowledge of published relevant work Lack of knowledge of published relevant work•• Lack of new or original ideas Lack of new or original ideas•• Uncertainty concerning future directions Uncertainty concerning future directions

How NIH Staff Can Help You

CSR Scientific Review Administrator (SRA)

Before review

Advice on study section, amount of preliminary data, supplementary data, etc.

How NIH Staff Can Help You

Institute Program OfficerBefore review

Scientific advice on proposed Aims; on revised Aims; on study section, etc.

After review– Discuss review, summary statement, revision– Provide information on payline, funding status– Rarely – help with funding outside the payline

How NIH Staff Can Help You

Use the Institute Program Officer

as your point person at NIH

for Grantsfor GrantsNIH GUIDE and ContractsNIH GUIDE and Contracts

U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesU.S. Department of Health and Human Services

•• Announces NIH Scientific Initiatives Announces NIH Scientific Initiatives

( )solicited research programs( )solicited research programs

•• Provides NIH Policy and Administrative Information Provides NIH Policy and Administrative Information

( including not( including not-- )infrequent changes )infrequent changes

Spend some time at the NIH and NIAID

websites!

Websites

• NIH Home Page: www.nih.gov• Training/Career Development: www.training.nih.gov• Grant Guidelines/Forms: • www.nih.gov/grants/documentindex.htm• How to Write a Grant:

www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/write/index.htm• NIH Guide: • http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html• NIAID Solicited Biodefense Research Programs:• www.niaid.nih.gov/biodefense

New Immunology IRG

New Study Sections: est. June 2004Innate Immunity & Inflammation (III)Immunity & Host Defense (IHD)Cellular & Molecular Immunology (CMI)-ACellular & Molecular Immunology (CMI)-BHypersensitivity, Autoimmune & Immune-Mediated Diseases

(HAI)Transplantation, Tolerance & Tumor Immunology (TTT)Vaccines Against Microbial Diseases (VMD)F32 Postdoctoral Grants