NIAID Workshop on
Grantsmanship, Funding,
and Peer Review
NIH Structure and Grantsmanship
Alison Deckhut Augustine, Ph.D.
Basic Immunology Branch
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Presentation Outline
■ NIH Structure and Grantsmanship (Alison)
■ Funding Opportunities (Lawrence Prograis, MD)
■ Grant Application Process/Peer Review (B.
Duane Price, PhD)
NIH – 27 Institutes and Centers
Office of the Director
National Institute
on Aging
National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism
National Institute
of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases
National Institute
of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases
National Cancer
Institute
National Institute
of Child Health
and Human
Development
National Institute on
Deafness and Other
Communication
Disorders
National Institute
of Dental and
Craniofacial
Research
National Institute
of Diabetes and
Digestive and
Kidney Diseases
National Institute
on Drug Abuse
National Institute
of Environmental
Health Sciences
National Eye
Institute
National Institute
of General
Medical Sciences
National Heart,
Lung, and Blood
Institute
National Human
Genome Research
Institute
National Institute
of Mental Health
National Institute
of Neurological
Disorders and
Stroke
National Institute
of Nursing Research
National Center
for Research
Resources
National Library
of Medicine
National Institute of
Biomedical Imaging
and Bioengineering
National Institute
National Center on
on Minority Health
Minority Health and
and Health
Health Disparities
Disparities
National Center
for Complementary
and Alternative
Medicine
Fogarty
International
Center
Clinical Center
Center for
Information
Technology
Center for
Scientific Review
no funding
authority
Different Missions, Responsibilities and Constituencies
A Typical NIH Institute/Center
National
Advisory
Council
Extramural
Biomedical
Research
Grants
Board of
Scientific
Counselors
Office of the IC
Director
Biomedical
Research
Contracts
Intramural
Basic &
Clinical
Research
Clinical
Trials
Understanding/Navigating the NIH
NIH Extramural Staff
■ Program Officer (PO)
■ Scientific Review Officer (SRO)
■ Grants Management Specialist (GMS)
Program Officer
A science professional, usually Ph.D./M.D. level,
who:
■
Serves as an advocate for investigators
■
Provides scientific stewardship and administration of
grants & contracts awarded by NIH
■
Identifies areas of scientific priority and develops funding
opportunities for extramural researchers
■
Provides guidance on NIH extramural policy/procedures,
research resources, and funding opportunities to
extramural investigators
Scientific Review Officer
A science professional, usually M.D. or Ph.D. level,
who:
 Is based at an NIH Institute or Center (IC), or at the
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)



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Manages Study Sections and review panels for
grants and contracts
Selects review panel members
Assigns reviewers to applications
Compiles application summary statements
Grants Management Specialist
Business/finance professional who:

Negotiates and awards all grants

Provides fiscal administration of grants

Is the government official on fiscal and policy
issues and approvals
Types of NIH Funding Opportunity
Announcements (FOAs)
FOA: Call for applications in a particular
research area of interest to one or multiple NIH
Institutes.
Contracts
 RFP
 BAA
Grants
 Request for Application (RFA)
 Program Announcement (PA)
Types of NIH Funding Opportunity
Announcements (FOAs)
Request for Application (RFA)
 One application receipt date
 Set-aside funds
 Areas of scientific interest indicated, also includes
areas not supported by the RFA
 Awards may have a budget cap
 Programmatic, Review, and Grants Management
contacts
Types of NIH Funding Opportunity
Announcements (FOAs)
Program Announcement (PA) – 3 types
 PA – general type. No set-aside funds or special
review. Reviewed in standing study sections, paid
with IC “payline” funds
 PAR – Special review (Special Emphasis Panel)
convened, no set-aside funds (paid with IC “payline”
funds)
 PAS – Set-aside funds, may include review by a
Special Emphasis Panel
When will I get my grant funded?
(well, sometimes it just feels that way…)
Grant Writing 101: The Big Three
 Can your research move your field forward?
 Is the field important – will progress make a
difference in human health?
 Can you and your team conduct the work (expertise,
resources)?
Grant Writing 101
 Read FOA instructions thoroughly
 Never assume the reviewers will “know what you mean”
 Refer to literature thoroughly
 State rationale of proposed studies
 Include well-designed tables and figures
 Present an organized, clear story
Common Grant Writing Mistakes
Lack of new or original ideas; incremental advances
 Absence of a solid scientific rationale
 Insufficient knowledge of relevant published work
 Diffuse, superficial or unfocused research plan or
experimental approach
Proposed studies are too broad or too narrow
Limited/no experience in essential techniques, no collaborators with
required expertise
Lack of discussion of possible pitfalls and alternative approaches
Uncertainty concerning future directions
A Little Help From Your Friends
■ NIH extramural staff:
■ SRO – advice about appropriate study sections; submission
requirements
■ PO - advice about research focus (before review), appropriate
study sections, discussion of review results and applicant
responses
■ Colleagues: read your application, well in advance of the
application due date
■ GRIP: Grant Review for Immunologists Program
■ Matches new PIs with established PIs in same area
■ Obtain expert advice on grant application
http://www.aai.org/Education/GRIP/index.html
Mechanisms (Funding Opportunities)
Lawrence Prograis, M.D.
Division of Allergy, Immunology and
Transplantation
PhD Career Track and NIAID
Funding Mechanisms

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


T32 - Institutional training grant (NRSA)-has pre- & postdoc slots
F31 - Individual (diversity) predoc fellowship (NRSA)
F31 – Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (NRSA) [FY2015 available]
F32 - Individual postdoc fellowship (NRSA)
K01- Mentored Research Scientist Award
K22 - Research Scholar Development Award
K99/R00 - Pathway to Independence Award
Award
Types
High
School
Student
Career
Stage
T32 F31
T32
Graduate
Student
F32
K01
Postdoc
Phase
Ph.D.
K99 R00 or
K22
Independent
Investigator
Faculty
Position
Diversity Supplements
20
MD Career Track and NIAID
Funding Mechanisms




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T35 - NRSA Short Term Institutional Research Training Grant
F30 - Individual predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellows (NRSA)
T32 - Institutional training grant (NRSA)-has pre-& postdoc slots
F32 - Individual postdoc fellowship (NRSA)
K01 - Mentored Research Scientist Award
K08 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award
K23 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
K24 - Mid-Career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research
K22- Research Scholar Development Award
Award
Types
T35 F30
T32
Medical
Student
M.D.
Clinical
Training
Phase
F32
Research
Training
Phase
K01
K08
K23
K24
Independent
Investigator
Faculty
Position
Diversity Supplements
21
NIAID Fellowship Awards (Fs)
F30: started FY14
 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for
Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree
Fellows (Parent F30)
F31 (Div):
 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for
Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in
Health-Related Research (Parent F31 - Diversity)
F32:
 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA)
for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (Parent F32)
FY15: Sign on to F31:
 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for
Individual Predoctoral Fellows
22
Individual Fellowship Awards (Fs)
 Individual awards
 Cannot change the scope, move fellowship, or
change mentor without prior NIH approval
 NIH determines stipend levels and limited
tuition reimbursement, training related
expenses; F&As 8%
 Review at CSR (currently 24 SS)
 http://public.csr.nih.gov/StudySections/Fellowship/Pages/def
ault.aspx
 Success rate < 20%
23
NIAID Career Development
Awards (Ks)
K08:
Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08)
K23:
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23)
K24:
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24)
K22 (PAR):
NIAID Career Transition Award (K22)
K99/R00:
NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00)
NIAID supports only 1 year of a mentored phase (K99) and 2 years of the independent (R00)
phase. This is a deviation from the support from all the other ICs.
K01:
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01)
NIAID Career Development (K01) Awards in Epidemiology, Modeling, and Outcomes Research
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AI-08-040.html
K25:
Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25)
24
Career Development Awards (Ks)
 Individual awards
 MDs (K08 and K23) to support development to become
independent investigators
 K24 (associate professor)**supports mentoring of young clinical
investigators
 Salary for K08/23 awards: $90K/$50K research support; F&A 8%
 Most are mentored, others are not
 PhDs (MDs): Mostly K22 and K99/R00: transition awards; also
K01 and K25
 Review at NIAID SRP by 4 chartered committees (AIDS, AITC,
MID and MID-B)
• Candidate, Career Dev. Plan, Research Plan, Mentor(s), Env./Inst. Com.
 Success rates about 30+%
25
Postdoc (PhD/MD) – Should I apply for a
K22 or a K99/R00?
 NIAID Research Scholar
Development Award (K22)
 Transition award (postdoc-toassistant professor)
 2 year award
 No mentored phase. Fundable
score, s/he has one year to find a
position as assistant professor
Phase 2:
•
•
•
•
Assistant Professor position
Own lab space
Significant start-up funds
Little teaching/ no administrative
responsibilities
 $150K (Year 1) + $100K (Year 2)
 Success rate: >25%
 NIAID’s Pathway to Independence
Award (K99/R00)
 Transition award (postdoc-to asst.
professor)
 3 year award (other ICs 5yrs)
 1 yr mentored phase ($90K/yr)
 Awardee becomes assistant
professor (internal approval similar
to K22 phase 2)
 2 yr independent R00 phase
($249K/yr TC)
 No US citizenship required
 Success rate: ca. 7-18%
NIAID Transition Awards
(K22 or K99/R00)
Postdoc with less than 4 years of
postdoc experience
Assistant Professor
+/- 1 year
Submits a K22 or
K99 application
and receives a
fundable score
Secures a faculty
Position
&
Submits the K22 phase II
or R00 application
NIAID makes the
award to the new
institution/candidate.
Success Rates for NIAID Training and
Career Grants, FY2012
Grant Type
Applications Awards
Success Rate
F32 Awards
240
47
19.6%
K08
38
15
39.5%
K22
51
15
29.4%
K23
32
17
50.1%
K99
33
6
18.2%
T Awards
72
23
31.9%
NIAID Training Pay lines
Overall Impact Score
FY
F31
F32
K (not K99)
T32
2013
30
25
26
14
2012
24
22
24
16
2011
26
24
31
22
2010
28
28
26
28
Loan Repayment programs (LRP)
 NIH wants to encourage outstanding health professionals to pursue careers in
biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical research. If you commit at least two years
to conducting qualified research funded by a domestic nonprofit organization or U.S.
federal, state, or local government entity, NIH may repay up to $35,000 of your
qualified student loan debt per year. Loan repayment benefits are in addition to the
institutional salary you receive for your research.





Clinical Research
Pediatric Research
Health Disparities Research
Contraception and Infertility Research
Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
 General LRP site:
• http://www.lrp.nih.gov/index.aspx
• A recorded overview webinar from the LRP Office: http://go.usa.gov/aHx
NIH WEBSITES
 Training at NIH
• http://www.training.nih.gov
 NIH Research Training Opportunities
• http://grants1.nih.gov/training/extramural.htm
 NIH Guidelines and Forms
• http://www.nih.gov/grants/documentindex.htm
 NIAID Advice on Training
• http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/training/default.htm
 How to Write a Grant
• http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/write/index.htm
Non-NIH Research Funding Websites
 Fogarty International Center:
http://www.fic.nih.gov/funding/index.htm
 National Science Foundation (NSF):
http://www.nsf.gov/
 FastLane: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp
 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) http://www.darpa.mil/
 The Congressionally Directed Medical Research
Programs (CDMRP) http://cdmrp.army.mil/
32
Research Support Funding Websites
 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation:
http://www.fgatesfoundation.org/default
 The Wellcome Trust: http://www.wellcomefund.ac.uk/
 The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria:
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/
 amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS
Research:http://www.amfar.org/
 The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative: http://www.iavi.org/
 The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation: http://www.sloan.org/
 Centers for Research Libraries (includes dissertations):
 http://www.crl.edu/catalog/index.htm
33
Private Funding Sources:
(National and International)
A short list of NIAID's List of Foundations and Other
Funding sources at:
• http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/ann/Pages
/found.aspx
34
NIH Peer Review
B. Duane Price, PhD
Senior Scientific Review Officer
Immunology Review Branch,
Division of Extramural Activities, NIAID
Application Processing
*
CSR assigns
applications to study
section (review) & NIH
Institute (funding)
Researcher writes
and
Institution submits
application to NIH
Summary Statement
and Priority Score
transmitted to
applicant (Commons)
and NIH extramural
staff
3- 4 reviewers
assigned to read and
write critiques for each
application
Study section composed of
20-30 reviewers –
review/discuss applications
Mock Peer Review
 Sample R01 Applications and Summary Statements
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/grant/pages/
appsamples.aspx
 NIH Grant Review Process YouTube Videos
http://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/Insidet
heNIHGrantReviewProcessVideo.htm
NIH Scoring Range
38
Understanding the Summary Statement
 Impact/Priority Score: 1-9 scale
 Percentile: Approximate percentage of applications
receiving an impact/priority score from the study section
during one year (3 review cycles), NOT all types of grants
receive a percentile
 Resume: Official summary of review meeting discussion, for
scored applications only
 Critiques: Reviewers written comments
What to Do After Review
 Talk to your NIH Program Officer
 Attends the Study Section (most cases)
 Provide insights to discussion (unofficial) and possible funding
options
 Read the Summary Statement
 Official document providing scientific merit score and
summarizing reviewers comments
 First paragraph (Resume) is the official summary of the meeting
discussion
 Strategize Next Steps
 Talk to your NIH program officer again,
after both of you have read the summary statement
 Discuss with colleagues, mentors