National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health AREA PROGRAM (R15)AREA PROGRAM (R15)

Thomas J. Wenzel Thomas J. Wenzel

Bates College, Lewiston, Maine Bates College, Lewiston, Maine

NIH AREA ProgramNIH AREA Program

$300K direct support (1-3 years)$300K direct support (1-3 years)

Match with institute or center within NIHMatch with institute or center within NIH

Meritorious researchMeritorious research Significant novel question or hypothesisSignificant novel question or hypothesis Significant impactSignificant impact

Review CriteriaReview Criteria

Significance – quality of researchSignificance – quality of research Approach – experimental methodApproach – experimental method Innovation – novelty of workInnovation – novelty of work Investigator – expertise/record in fieldInvestigator – expertise/record in field Environment – infrastructure to support Environment – infrastructure to support

workwork

Components of ProposalComponents of Proposal

Specific Aims (1 page)Specific Aims (1 page)

Research Strategy (12 pages)Research Strategy (12 pages)

Research StrategyResearch Strategy SignificanceSignificance InnovationInnovation Approach – divide by each specific aimApproach – divide by each specific aim

Introductory paragraphIntroductory paragraph Justification and feasibilityJustification and feasibility

Review relevant literatureReview relevant literature Preliminary studiesPreliminary studies

Research designResearch design Expected outcomesExpected outcomes Potential problems/Alternative strategiesPotential problems/Alternative strategies

TimetableTimetable Future DirectionsFuture Directions

Common Problems Common Problems Significance or InnovationsSignificance or Innovations

Not significant, or exciting, or new Not significant, or exciting, or new researchresearch

Lack of compelling rationale for Lack of compelling rationale for experimentsexperiments

Incremental or low-impact researchIncremental or low-impact research Weak or little biological, biomedical, or Weak or little biological, biomedical, or

behavioral relevancebehavioral relevance

Common ProblemsCommon ProblemsExperimental ApproachExperimental Approach

Lack of clear, strong hypotheses, Lack of clear, strong hypotheses, questions, or modelsquestions, or models

Too ambitious; too many aims proposedToo ambitious; too many aims proposed Unfocused or unrelated aims; unclear or Unfocused or unrelated aims; unclear or

unintegrated goalsunintegrated goals Limited or narrow aims; not addressing the Limited or narrow aims; not addressing the

important questionsimportant questions Unnecessary experimental details for Unnecessary experimental details for

standard methodsstandard methods

Not enough detail on novel methods, assays, or Not enough detail on novel methods, assays, or reagentsreagents

Insufficient on unconvincing preliminary dataInsufficient on unconvincing preliminary data Lack of appropriate controls; data difficult to Lack of appropriate controls; data difficult to

interpretinterpret Not directly testing hypothesis – more confirmatory Not directly testing hypothesis – more confirmatory

datadata Correlative or descriptive data – fishing expeditionCorrelative or descriptive data – fishing expedition Experiments not directed toward mechanismsExperiments not directed toward mechanisms No discussion of alternative models or hypothesesNo discussion of alternative models or hypotheses No discussion of potential pitfallsNo discussion of potential pitfalls No discussion of data interpretation or future No discussion of data interpretation or future

directionsdirections

Common ProblemsCommon ProblemsInvestigatorInvestigator

No/little demonstration of expertise or No/little demonstration of expertise or publications on proposed approachespublications on proposed approaches

Low productivity; few recent or few primary Low productivity; few recent or few primary author papersauthor papers

Required collaborators not recruited – letters Required collaborators not recruited – letters from collaborators missingfrom collaborators missing

Specific AimsSpecific Aims

One-page summary of questions, goals, One-page summary of questions, goals, or hypothesesor hypotheses

Includes methods and how they will Includes methods and how they will address and answer the hypothesesaddress and answer the hypotheses

Need to prioritize aimsNeed to prioritize aims Integrate specific aim with proposed Integrate specific aim with proposed

approachapproach

Scientific ExpertiseScientific Expertise

Publications in research areaPublications in research area Preliminary dataPreliminary data Collaborations when appropriateCollaborations when appropriate

Include letters of supportInclude letters of support Include biographical sketchInclude biographical sketch

Must be clear that PI is in charge of the Must be clear that PI is in charge of the project and collaborator only assistingproject and collaborator only assisting

Renewal ApplicationsRenewal Applications

Plan for renewal immediately upon Plan for renewal immediately upon receipt of grantreceipt of grant

Fix renewal submission date in your headFix renewal submission date in your head

Start short-term projectsStart short-term projects

Start long-term projectsStart long-term projects