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Scott McClelland Craig Cohen Richard Chaisson 6th December 2013 2nd Bi-Annual CFAR SSA Meeting Cape Town, South Africa
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Writing a compelling grant to fund your research
Scott McClellandCraig Cohen
Richard Chaisson
6th December 2013
2nd Bi-Annual CFAR SSA Meeting
Cape Town, South Africa
Overview• Introduction
– Components of a research grant– Review criteria and the review process
• Novel hypotheses and innovation• Assembling your team• Tackling the approach
Key Components of Research Proposal
• Title• Budget &
Justification• Abstract & Key
Personnel• Research Plan
Review Criteria
• Overall Impact• Significance: How will scientific
knowledge be advanced?• Approach: Are the framework, design,
methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate?
Review Criteria
• Innovation: Is the project original or does it provide a necessary step for advancing the field?
• Investigators: Adequate training/ expertise of investigative team?
• Environment: Will the research (and training) environment contribute to the probability of success?
Cartoon Credit: Chris O’Hara from Googledocs.com
Consider your Audience(s)
Two to three primary reviewers
Consider your Audience(s)
5 to 15 additional reviewers
Research Plan
• Hypotheses and Specific Aims• Research Strategy
– Significance– Innovation– Approach
• Human Subjects
Research Plan
• Hypotheses and Specific Aims• Research Strategy
– Significance– Innovation– Approach
• Human Subjects
Getting Started
“Experiencing a Writers Block” www.torito.nl
Start with a Thorough Review of the Relevant Literature
Preparing to Write
• Comprehensive literature search• Search references of retrieved articles• Read carefully
– Consider taking notes or highlighting• Talk with colleagues• Talk with grant contact person
Inadequate Preparation Prior to Writing – A Fatal Flaw
Image Credit: Funzug.com
Hypotheses and Specific Aims• States the research questions (hypotheses)
and how they will be addressed (aims)
Burning Question Approach
Milliondollardatsun.com
Big, Big Aim Approach
istockphoto.com
Hypotheses & Specific Aims
• Start with a brief narrative describing long-term goals
• Followed by numbered list of aims– Most successful larger applications have 2-
4 aims (3 is typical)– Multiple aims should be clearly related
• Should fit on one page• State hypotheses clearly
Lack of clear hypothesis – A fatal flaw
Sample Structure of Aims Page
Innovation
• Be careful with innovation.– It is enough to show how the work is new
and unique and how it will add significantly to what's known.