SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Peter R. Jackson, Ph.D

SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

Peter R. Jackson, Ph.D.

Peer Review from an NIH Institute Perspective

March 3, 2007

Chief, AIDS Clinical Review BranchScientific Review Program

Division of Extramural ActivitiesNIAID, NIH


The National Institutes of Health (NIH)supports medical and behavioral scientific

research in the pursuit of fundamentalbiological knowledge and the application of that

knowledge to improve public health.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conducts and supports basic and applied

research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.


NIAID SCIENTIFIC REVIEW ROLE

Conduct peer review of applications and contract proposals for scientific and technical merit

Implement peer review policies and procedures ensuring excellence and fairness

Participate in initiative development Conduct grantsmanship workshops for the

extramural community – national and international


NIAID Scientific Review ProgramNIAID Scientific Review Program

Over 30 scientists (Ph.D., D. Pharm., MD, DVM etc) Infectious diseases (virology, bacteriology,

parasitology), immunology, therapeutics, vaccines, molecular biology, biochemistry

Academia, business, government lab experience 4 chartered committees for career development,

training applications. Each meets 3 times / year Bulk of reviews are ad hoc panels recruited

exclusively for the review. Guarantees reviews are focused on the science.


NIH PEER REVIEW POLICIESOffice of Extramural Research for

Peer Review Policy

http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/peer/peer.htm

VIDEO OF A PEER REVIEW MEETINGhttp://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/

PolicyProcedureReview+Guidelines/OverviewofPeerReviewProcess/InsidetheNIHGrantReviewProcessVideo.htm


NIAID Funding MechanismsNIAID Funding Mechanisms

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/mechan.htm

Note: Different ICs may have different specificpurposes for the certain funding mechanism.Consult the funding IC you plan to apply.


NIAID Funding OpportunitiesNIAID Funding Opportunities

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/budget/opps.htm Updated site Lists the approved NIAID initiatives. Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) Usually RFA, RFPs

NIH Guide Notices: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html


NIAID Research ConceptsNIAID Research Concepts

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/budget/in-main.htm Concepts represent early planning stages for

initiatives: (program announcements, requests for applications, or request for proposals).

Council approval does not guarantee that a concept will become an initiative.

If NIAID publishes an initiative from a concept it appear in the Funding Opportunities and in the NIH Guide.


NIAID Grants Preparation GuidanceNIAID Grants Preparation Guidance

ALL ABOUT GRANTS TUTORIALS http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/default.htm

These tutorials help biomedical investigators, especially new ones, plan, write, and apply for the basic NIH research project grant, the R01.


ACTUAL APPLICATIONS AND SUMMARY STATEMENTSACTUAL APPLICATIONS AND SUMMARY STATEMENTS

Center for Scientific Review WWWhttp://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/InsidetheNIHGrantReviewProcessVideo.htm

K08 (Clinical Investigator –Training)R03 (Small Grants)R01 (Investigator Initiated Research)

NIAID WWWhttp://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/

R01 (Investigator Initiated Research)

All four applications and summary statements are on the CD


ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS

New, original ideas Focused research, administrative plans /approaches Appropriate resources/facilities Knowledge of relevant published work Experience with the essential methodology Future directions and contingency plans Adequate staff with experience/training in essential

methodology Prepared according to NIH / NIAID requirements


WHY APPLICATIONS FAILWHY APPLICATIONS FAIL

Superficial, unfocused research, organizational, administrative plan(s)

Insufficient knowledge of relevant literature and research area(s) PI and/or key staff deficient in effort, number, experience,

training Excessive work for requested period Insufficient details in the application Inadequate attention to the submission requirements


““THE RULES”THE RULES”for for

Navigating the NIH Peer Review SystemNavigating the NIH Peer Review System


Include everything called for in the Form PHS 398 or the Form 424 and in the RFA or PA (if relevant).

Address ALL the review criteria

Make the Description as understandable and complete as possible (write it last!)

Include everything necessary for reviewers to assess your work

Only the application is reviewed

Applications are NOT compared

YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETE IN ITSELFYOUR APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETE IN ITSELF


MAKE IT MAKE IT EASYEASY FOR THE REVIEWERS FOR THE REVIEWERS

Present clear overall organization Be concise Make your application visually appealing: charts,

tables, diagrams, flow-charts Use appendices well Cross-reference, label, number everything Write to the Review Criteria, in order


PLAY IT STRAIGHTPLAY IT STRAIGHT

Lay out potential limitations, problems Show how you propose to deal with them Don't pad biosketches with irrelevant items Don't over- or under-estimate the budget Do not assume reviewers will know what you mean Do not assume reviewers will ignore review criteria Don't indulge in blatant self-promotion


READ and CAREFULLY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONSREAD and CAREFULLY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

Follow format and content (Form PHS 398, version 09/2004; Form 424) guidelines

Address Special Requirements of award type or solicitation

Know the Deadlines – special for AIDS, solicited applications (RFA, PA)

FOLLOW NEW SUBMISSION RULES


BE AWARE OF CHANGES IN SCIENCE AND POLICIESBE AWARE OF CHANGES IN SCIENCE AND POLICIES

Look at NIH / NIAID pages on WWW

Communicate with Program Officers

Stay in touch with your University / Institution Office of Sponsored Programs (or similar activity)

Communicate with Scientific Review Administrators


BE AWARE OF CHANGES IN SCIENCE AND POLICIESBE AWARE OF CHANGES IN SCIENCE AND POLICIES

NIH Manual Chapters http://www1.od.nih.gov/oma/manualchapters/scripts/mcs/browse.asp

NIAID Standard Operating Procedureshttp://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/sop/default.htm

NIAID Research Funding

http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/researchFunding/


DON’T WORK IN A VACUUMDON’T WORK IN A VACUUM

Actively seek out collaborations Network widely Read a successful similar application

(and its summary statement) Allow enough time for honest feedback

from senior investigators


DON’T GIVE UP!DON’T GIVE UP!

Study criticisms in summary statement

Decide if problems are repairable

Attend diligently to each criticism

Keep a positive tone and attitude

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Initial failure is common:learn from it and succeed – the majority do!


NIH Electronic Receipt Web Site: http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/

NIH Electronic Receipt Web Site Map: http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/site_map.htm

NIH Guide Notices: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html

Instruction SourcesInstruction SourcesElectronic Submission is Happening!


Questions?Peter R. Jackson, PhD

Chief, AIDS Clinical Research Branch (ACRB)Scientific Review Program, Division of Extramural Activities

NIAID, NIH, DHHS6700-B Rockledge Drive, Room 3133, MS 7616

Bethesda, MD 20892-7616

[email protected]: 301-496-8426

Fax: 301-480-2310


Documents

SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Peter R. Jackson, Ph.D