Training Grants: Introduction

1. Training Grants: Introduction • Read the Program Announcement • Read the Program Announcement • Read the Program Announcement • Pick most appropriate program • Follow directions and organize in order

2. Training Grants: Evaluation • Who is the reviewer • Condition of the Reviewer when reading your grant • This person needs help • This person is your advocate in the committee meeting • Tell a compelling story cleanly and concisely

4. Training Grants: Applicant • Trainee • What makes you a stellar candidate to invest in? • Past scholarly record – consistent with career goals? • Level of commitment is measured by past performance • Is past research training reflected in record of productivity? • Publications indicate ability to complete work • Will your goals contribute significantly to the aims of the award

5. Training Grants: Applicant • Career Development section is Critical • How does course work extend capabilities – i.e. development into an independent scientist • Progression of coursework • Degree granting programs • How does environment support development • What does the project accomplish that you have not already done • Required issues – Responsible Conduct of Research. Human and animal research subject ethics

6. Training Grants: Mentors • Symbiosis of candidate and mentor – prior papers or other activities • Mentoring plan - formal evaluation feedback and period • Candidate often is active in formulating mentor letter • Same mentor vs. new mentors

7. Training Grants: Mentors • Core Faculty • Focused on trainer’s record and past trainees • Specify why chosen – what does each contribute • NIH funding and their productivity • External v Internal Oversight committees • Point is – highly productive and supportive environment for training

8. Training Grants: Project • Clinical Projects • Control of Cohort • Diverse vs specific issues and how overcome • Objective vs Subjective Outcomes • Quantitative Measurements • Statistical methods

9. Training Grants: Project • Bench Projects • Model Considerations – animal v cells etc • Transgenics – will they multiply? • Mechanisms • Quantitative Methods • Real-time PCR • Micro-chip array – RNA and DNA • Proteonomics

10. Training Grants: Project • Sequential Aims: dependence on success of first aim • Use of new technologies – only if relevant and have preliminary data to support your capability • Predict outcomes – provide alternatives • Power Analysis to justify enrollment - especially if human or animal research

11. Training Grants: Evaluation • Criteria for project evaluation – put in sections for reviewers • NIH – Significance, Innovation, Approach • Add a Rationale before each study

12. Training Grants: Pitfalls • Common Problems • Poor demonstration of hypothesis validity • Lack of focus • Lack of mechanisms (descriptive v mechanistic) • Smog of Polluted Writing

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14. Editing is an art If you will teach your children to give away their things you will at the same time be teaching them to receive thegift of heaven this world wants so much to give Weitzman Ad Agency Annapolis, MD 2007

15. Training Grants: IRB Meeting • Reviewer as advocate • Committee encouraged to discuss only top 50% of applications • Reviewer credibility within committee • Succinctly presents essence of your application in compelling manner • Can not use “F-word”

16. Training Grants: IRB Meeting • Propelling application to top score • Top score from other reviewers • Middlin’ score from other reviewers • Poor score from others

17. Training Grants: Preparation • Finish first draft at least two weeks before deadline – send to mentor(s) for revisions. • Budgets - do not wait to the end for this step • Revise slowly with sufficient time to recognize your errors. • Rushed, chaotic applications indicate the applicant’s research style