Writing a research application
Ewa Ehrenborg
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Research application
• Write a grant application
• 3-4 students/group
• Send in title by Friday November 23rd
• Follow-up November 26th (1+2+3) and 30th (4+5+6) –
20 min/group
• Use the application form provided
• Send in your application by noon, December 21st
• Oral presentations on January 17th and18th
• Each group will act as opponent for one other group
• Assessment form
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Research plan
• Choose your own project within the “broad”
topic allocated
– Interesting
– Relevant
• Supply provisional title by November 23rd
• Research plan should be a maximum of 3 A4
pages (12-point text, single spacing)
• Provide a short reference list (max 20)
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Research application - Group topics
Group 1
- Mesenchymal stem cells and
bone cell formation:
Lars-Arne.Haldosen@ki.se
Group 4
- Metabolism and CVD:
Ferdinand.Vant.Hooft@ki.se
- Allergy:
Hans.Gronlund@ki.se
- Vascular remodelling:
Cecilia.Osterholm.Corbascio@ki.se
Group 2
- Immunological aspects of
gastric disease:
Ola.Winqvist@ki.se
Group 5
- Aneurysm:
Hanna.Bjorck@ki.se
- Cell death in metabolism:
Joelle.Magne@ki.se
Group 3
- Thyroid diseases:
Jens.Mittag@ki.se
- Thrombosis and hemostasis:
Angela.Silveira@ki.se
- Diabetes and co-morbidities
Jing.Wang@ki.se
Group 6
- MicroRNA and vascular disease:
Lars.Maegdefessel@ki.se
- Inflammation in CVD:
D.Johansson@ki.se
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The role of the mentor
• Discussion partner
• Facilitate the process and discuss the
strategy
NOT:
• Decide what to study
• Write the application
• Responsible for making contact
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Examples of previous titles
• The role of Natural Killer T cell subtypes in
different stages of asthma
• An in vivo comparison of the cardiovascular
effects of coffee diterpenes cafestol and
kahweol in relation to diabetes
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Follow-up meeting
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Groups 1-3 November 26th, 10-14
Groups 4-6 November 30th, 10-14
Separate schedule on the web
Present your plans
• Each research team ~ 20 min
• Support and discussions
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Summary of research programme
Importance of research
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Summary/abstract
• Relevant (what is your research question?)
• Clearly written
• Easy to follow
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Research programme
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Title
Hypothesis/Aims
Background
Work plan including methods
Importance/ impact of results
References (max 20)
3 pages
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Research plan - Title
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Informative
Interesting - attention catching
Not too long
Should not contain abbreviations
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Research plan - Aims/Hypothesis
• State clearly the aims of the research
• Explain the scientific hypothesis
– Most important part of the application
– State very clearly
– Is it novel?
– Is it realistic?
– Is it possible?
– Is it well planned?
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Research plan - Background
• Introduce the field (generally + specifically)
• Place the proposed research in the context of
what is already known (or not known)
• How would the proposed research add to
current knowledge?
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Research plan - Work plan
• Define clearly the proposed research
– Which research questions can the work
answer
– Whom will carry out the work?
– What facilities are needed?
– What are the critical steps?
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Research plan - Methods
Describe the methods of choice
– Explain the choice
– Are they the best to meet the objectives?
– If novel, how do they compare with already
known methods?
– Novel methods require detailed description
– Validation
– Sample size (refer to the work of others)
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Research plan - Importance/Impact
Explain how the proposed research would
contribute significantly to:
– scientific knowledge
– society
– health care
– specific patients
– commercial interests
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Research plan - References
• Relevant publications (key papers)
• May include previous work published by the
applicant
• Cite full reference (according to instructions)
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Help the
reader to
understand
- clearly state the hypothesis and aims
- include an overview slide (strategy & context)
- relevant background
- well described work plan
- appropriate methods
- include titles in the references
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What is the evaluator looking for?
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Scoring the research question
Low = Unclear wording, poorly constructed
or previously conducted
Mid = Interesting but conventional
High = Innovative and extremely important.
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Scoring the methodology
Low = Materials, methods or applications
are not entirely accurate
Mid = Correct, but not original methodology
High = Unique materials and techniques.
Innovative, well thought through
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Oral presentations
• January 17th and18th
• 15 min presentation/group + 5-10 min discussion
• 3-4 students/group – all students will present
• Everybody in the group should be able to present all
parts of the application
• Each group will act as “opponent “for one other group
• Assessment form
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Replacement assignment
Consists of two parts:
• Your own research project
– Application (filled in forms + research proposal)
– Submit a relevant article that the application is related to
and explain your choice
– Powerpoint presentation of the application
• Opponent for an application from another group
– Application will be e-mailed to you before January 9 (KI
mail address)
– Critically assess the hypothesis, strategies, methods and
importance of the study ( ̴ one A4 page)
To be e-mailed to ewa.ehrenborg@ki.se by January 18
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Take home message
• Clearly state the hypothesis/aims and how
it will be tested
• Specify what should be measured and why
• Explain how the experiments/strategy can
contribute to an increased understanding
- could include an overview figure with
strategies & pathophysiological context
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