* Primetime with
Program:
Research Project Grants
(RPGs) and Training and
Career Awards
Francisco S. Sy, NIMHD
Shawn Gaillard, NIGMS
* Regular Research Grants – the RPG
What is a grant?
•
•
Grant-in-Aid = funding mechanism that allows you to carry out independent research on a problem of
importance to public health
Defined in law by Congressional authorization
What kinds of RPGs are there?
•
Many grant mechanisms at the NIH
•
•
•
•
•
Fellowship training (F, T)
Career Development (K)
Regular Research (R series)
Team Science (P, U)
Shared instrumentation (S)
Who is eligible to apply?
•
Grants are made to institutions in the name of a principal investigator
•
•
•
Some have citizenship requirements (F, T, K)
If not, then there must be appropriate work visa in place
The institution defines who is eligible to apply for an R01
Which Institutes at the NIH award grants?
•
•
Of the 27 Institutes and Centers, 24 are authorized to award grants
Most mechanisms are offered
*Grants.Gov
* http://www.grants.gov
•New, consolidated approach to the submission of
grant applications to the Federal Government
• Submission to a Central site: www.Grants.gov
o All electronic submission
o You must respond to a specific FOA
•eCommons: your account and window to the NIH
• https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/funding_program.htm
*
R01
Research Project Grant
To support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project on health related
research and development based on the stated program interests of one
or more of the NIH Institutes and Centers.
*
*
*
R03
PA-10-067; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-067.html
Budget: costs appropriate for the project, modular and non-modular formats
Project Period: up to 5 years
Renewable
Small Research Grant
To provide research support specifically limited in time and amount for
studies in categorical program areas such as pilot/feasibility studies,
secondary analyses, method/technology development. Small grants
provide flexibility for initiating studies which are generally for
preliminary short-term projects and are non-renewable.
*
*
*
PA-10-064; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-064.html
Budget: up to $100,000 direct costs over 2 years with no more than $50,000 direct costs in any
year, modular budget unless foreign entity
Project Period: up to 2 years; NOT Renewable
Not all NIH Institutes and Centers participate
*
R15
Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA)
To support individual research projects in the biomedical and behavioral
sciences conducted by faculty, and involving their undergraduate
students, who are located in health professional schools and other
academic components that have not been major recipients of NIH
research grant funds.
*
*
R21
PA-10-070; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-070.html
Direct costs up to $300,000 over 3 years, modular and non-modular budget
Project Period: up to 3 year; Renewable
Exploratory/Developmental Grant
To encourage new, exploratory and developmental research activities in their
early stages of development. Such projects may involve considerable risk but
may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel
techniques, agents, methodologies, models or applications that could have
major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
*
*
*
PA-10-069; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-069.html
Direct costs up to $275,000 over 2 years, no more than $200,000 direct costs in any year, modular
budget unless foreign entity
Project Period: up to 3 years; NOT Renewable
Not all NIH Institutes and Centers participate
*
R34
Clinical Trial Planning Grant Program
For development of a Phase III clinical trial including establishment of the research
team, development of tools for data management and oversight of the research, the
definition of recruitment strategies, and finalization of the protocol and other
essential elements of the study included in a manual of operations/procedures
PA-09-186: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-186.html
* Direct costs of up to $100,000 may be requested for the one-year period; NOT Renewable
* NEI, NIA, NIAAA, NICHD, NIDA, ODS
R34
Exploratory Clinical Research Grants
Support for research and resources for evaluating feasibility, tolerability,
acceptability and safety of novel approaches to improving mental health and
modifying health risk behavior. Support resources for obtaining the preliminary data
needed as a prerequisite to a larger-scale (efficacy or effectiveness) intervention or
services study.
E.g., “From Intervention Development to Services”
PAR-09-173: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-173.html
* Direct costs of up to $450,000 over 3 years, with no single year exceeding $225,000; NOT Renewable
* Scope and award limits vary by IC, which have specific FOAs using the R34 mechanism: NCCAM, NCI,
NCRR, NHGRI, NHLBI, NIAID, NIBIB, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIDDK, NIEHS, NIGMS, NIMH, NINDS, NINR, NLM, FIC
*
R13
Conference Grant
To support recipient sponsored and directed international, national or
regional scientific meetings, conferences and workshops.
PA-10-071: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-071.html
* Budget and Project Period: appropriate for the conference
* May be Renewed
R24
Resource-Related Research Project
To support research projects that will enhance the capability of
resources to serve biomedical research.
* See IC for availability
R25
Education Project
To support the development and/or implementation of a program as it
relates to a category in one or more of the areas of education,
information, training, technical assistance, coordination, or evaluation.
* See IC for availability
*
R41/R42
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants
To support cooperative research and development (R&D) projects between small
business concerns and research institutions, limited in time and amount.
* Phase I (R41) projects establish the technical merit and feasibility of ideas that have
potential for commercialization.
* Phase II (R42) awards support development of projects whose feasibility has been
established in Phase I.
PA-10-051; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-051.html
*
Budget and Project Period. Phase I awards normally up to $100,000 total for up to 1 year. Phase II awards normally
up to $750,000 total for up to 2 years. Only Phase II is renewable.
R43/R44
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants
To support small businesses in developing products or services that may ultimately
lead to commercialization.
* Phase I (R43) projects establish the technical merit and feasibility of R&D ideas.
* Phase II (R44) awards support the development of projects whose feasibility has been
established in Phase I and which are likely to result in commercial products or services.
PA-10-050; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-050.html
*
Budget and Project Period. Phase I awards normally up to $100,000 total for up to 6 months. Phase II awards
normally up to $750,000 total for up to 2 years. Only Phase II is renewable.
*
P01
Research Program Project
To support a broadly based, multidisciplinary, multi-investigator,
multi-project research program which has a specific major objective
or basic theme.
A program project application should have a central research focus, in
contrast to the usually narrower thrust of the traditional research
project.
Each project supported through this mechanism should contribute or
be directly related to the common theme of the total research
effort, and should demonstrate an essential element of unity and
interdependence.
The grant can also provide support for certain basic resources used by
these groups in the program, including clinical components, the
sharing of which facilitates the total research effort.
* See IC for availability and specific conditions
*
P20
Exploratory Grant
To support planning for new programs, expansion or modification of existing
resources, and feasibility studies to explore various approaches to the
development of interdisciplinary programs that offer potential solutions to
problems of special significance to the mission of the NIH. These exploratory
studies may lead to specialized or comprehensive centers.
* See IC for availability
P30
Center Core Grant
To support shared resources and facilities for use by a number of investigators
from different disciplines who provide a multidisciplinary approach to a joint
research effort, or from the same discipline who focus on a common research
problem.
The center core grant is integrated for shared use by multiple research projects,
but funded independently from them.
The center core grant provides more accessible resources than obtainable from
individual research or program projects.
* See IC for availability
*
P50
Specialized Center
To support any part of the full range of health-related research and development from very
basic to clinical. These centers may also involve ancillary supportive activities such as
protracted patient care necessary to the primary research or R&D effort.
The spectrum of activities provided within the Center will comprise a multidisciplinary
attack on a specific disease entity or biomedical problem area. Centers may also serve as
regional or national resources for special research purposes.
* See IC for availability
P60
Comprehensive Center
To support a multipurpose unit designed to bring together into a common focus divergent
but related facilities within a given community.
The comprehensive center may be based in a university or may involve other locally
available resources, such as hospitals, computer facilities, regional centers, and primate
colonies. It may include specialized centers, program projects and projects as integral
components.
Regardless of the facilities available to a program, it usually includes the following
objectives: to foster biomedical research and development at both the fundamental and
clinical levels; to initiate and expand community education, screening, and counseling
programs; and to educate medical and allied health professionals concerning the
problems of diagnosis and treatment of a specific disease.
* See IC for availability
*
T32
Institutional National Research Service Award
To enable institutions to make National Research Service Awards to
individuals selected by them for predoctoral and postdoctoral research
training in specified shortage areas. This grant enables the director of the
program to select the trainees and to develop a curriculum of study and
research experiences necessary to provide high quality research training.
PA-10-036; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-036.html
* Project Period: up to 5 years
* May be Renewed
T35
NRSA Short-Term Research Training
To provide students in health professional schools with intensive, shortterm (such as off-quarters or summer periods) research training
experiences to encourage research careers and/or research in areas of
national need.
PA-10-037; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-037.html
* Project Period: up to 5 years
* May be Renewed
*
F30
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships
To provide support for predoctoral training which leads to the combined
M.D./Ph.D. degrees. Addresses the need for training physicians to become
physician-scientists including those conducting translational and patientoriented research.
PA-10-107; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-107.html
F31
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award
To provide predoctoral individuals (doctoral candidates) with supervised
research training in specified health and health-related areas leading toward
the research degree (e.g., Ph.D.).
PA-10-108; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-108.html
Diversity: PA-10-109; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-109.html
F32
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award
To provide postdoctoral research training within the broad scope of
biomedical, behavioral or clinical research to individuals to broaden their
scientific background and enhance their potential for research in specified
health-related areas.
PA-10-110; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-110.html
*
K99/R00 NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award
To facilitate a timely transition from a mentored postdoctoral research
position to a stable independent research position with independent NIH or
other independent research support at an earlier stage than is currently the
norm.
Two Phases: initial phase (K99) of mentored support to allow the candidate
time to obtain additional training, complete research, publish results, and
bridge to an independent research position. Second phase(R00) provides
support to conduct research toward establishing his/her own independent
research program and to prepare an application for regular research grant
support (R01).
PA-10-063; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-063.html
*
*
Project Period: K99, up to 2 years; R00, up to 3 years
Budget: see specific NIH Institute and Center
*
K01
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
To provide support for supervised research and training in biomedical,
behavioral or clinical sciences that will lead to independence. The career
development experience must be in a research area new to the applicant
and/or one in which an additional supervised research experience will
substantially add to the research capabilities of the applicant.
PA-10-056; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-056.html
K08
Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career
Development Award
To provide for the development of outstanding clinician research scientists
to independence. The supervised research experience may integrate
didactic studies with laboratory or clinically-based research, or focus solely
on research.
PA-10-059; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-059.html
*
K23
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career
Development Award
To provide support for the supervised career development of clinically
trained professionals who have made a commitment of focus their research
endeavors on patient-oriented (human subjects) research, and who have
the potential to develop into productive, clinical investigators.
PA-10-060; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-060.html
K25
Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award
To support the supervised career development of usually junior faculty with
quantitative scientific and engineering backgrounds outside of biology or
medicine who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors
on behavioral and biomedical research (basic or clinical).
PA-10-062; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-062.html
*
K02
Independent Scientist Award
To support newly independent scientists who can demonstrate the need for a
period of intensive research focus as a means of developing and enhancing the
potential of their research careers.
PA-10-057; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-057.html
K05
Senior Scientist Research and Mentorship Award
To support outstanding scientists who have demonstrated a sustained, high
level of productivity and whose expertise, research accomplishments, and
contributions to the field have been and will continue to be critical to the
mission of a particular NIH institute or center. The candidate will usually also
serve as a mentor to others.
* See IC for availability; [NIAAA, NIDA, NCI]
K24
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research
To provide support for the clinicians to allow them protected time to devote to
patient-oriented (human subjects) research and to act as research mentors for
clinical residents, clinical fellows and junior clinical faculty.
PA-10-061; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-061.html
*
Translating ideas into a research plan
•
•
•
•
•
What?
Why?
How?
Who?
Where?
*Life Cycle of a Grant Application
Investigator
Center for Scientific Review
(CSR)
Integrated Review Group
Study Section
Secondary Review
National Advisory Council
Funding
*
Overall Impact: the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful
influence on the research field(s) involved.
Core Review Criteria:
• Significance: Does the project address an important problem or a critical
barrier to progress in the field? will scientific knowledge, technical capability,
and/or clinical practice be improved?
• Investigator(s): Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers well
suited to the project?
• Innovation: Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research
or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches
or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions?
• Approach:
Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned
and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project?
• Environment: Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical
resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed?
*
Overall Impact: the likelihood for the candidate to maintain a strong research program.
Core Review Criteria:
• Candidate: Does the candidate have the potential to develop as an independent
and productive researcher?
• Career Development Plan/Career Goals & Objectives: What is the likelihood
that the plan will contribute substantially to the scientific development of the
candidate leading to scientific independence?
• Research Plan: Are the proposed research question, design, and methodology of
significant scientific and technical merit, and is the research plan relevant to the
candidate's research career objectives and development plan?
• Mentor(s), Co-mentor(s), Consultant(s), Collaborator(s):
Are the mentor's
research qualifications in the area of the proposed research appropriate? Do(es) the
mentor(s) adequately address the candidate's potential and his/her strengths and
areas needing improvement?
• Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate: Is the
institutional commitment to the career development of the candidate appropriately
strong?
*
24
*
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lack of or weak impact
Significance not obvious or weak
o
o
o
Too ambitious, lacking focus
Unclear or flawed hypothesis
Feasibility unsupported
Poor writing
Applicant track record weak or lacks
appropriate expertise
Approach flawed
Deficient Environment
Wrong grant mechanism for the project
*
•
•
•
•
Carefully read the summary statement
Talk with your Institute PD
Seek help from experienced colleagues/mentors
Submit a carefully considered revised application
o
o
•
Carefully address the critiques
Don’t use your response to rebut reviewers-show them
where you agree or disagree and where you’ve made
changes
Don’t rush back with an incompletely or hastily
revised application
*
•
Strong significance to an important problem in
public health: IMPACT is high
o
•
•
•
•
•
High degree of novelty and innovation
Strong track record by a well qualified applicant
and collaborators
Clear rationale
Relevant and supportive preliminary data
Clear and focused approach that provides
unambiguous results
Careful attention to details
o
Presentation, readability, clarity of data, graphics, error bars,
spelling, etc
*
*NIH homepage:
*CSR website:
http://www.nih.gov
http://www.csr.nih.gov
*Grants at NIH:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm