Grant Application Review Committee
Checklist & Instructions
For “K” Series NIH Applications
It is highly recommended (but not required) that trainees submit a complete grant application to the Center for
Translational Medicine Internal Grant Application Review Committee, which is comprised of clinical and translational
scientists. The Committee will critically evaluate the application’s merit based on criteria similar in rigor to that used for
the NIH peer-review process. After examining the grant, the Committee will meet with the trainee to provide criticisms
and suggestions for revision and modification of all elements of the grant application. These include the research plan,
compliance with federal policies, rules and guidelines for clinical research, timelines and budget request, etc. The
scientific mentor(s) is required to be present at this meeting. Based on this feedback, the trainee should revise the
proposed plan to address the issues raised by the committee – a process that should be guided by his/her
mentors/consulting team. At the request of the trainee, the process of review and revision by the Committee can be
repeated. For more information, contact: CTMEducation@UTSouthwestern.edu.
The goal of the committee is to get everyone funded. During the meeting, all feedback should be taken into
consideration with that spirit in mind.
GRC Recommendations/Tips for Success:
• Carefully and thoroughly review the FOA for the K23, especially sections IV and V.
• In the training section:
o Talk about who you will be and what you need
o Write specific aims for your training plan
o Clearly state why you need this specific training; include information about why you need specific
courses, etc.
o Include a training table that shows how you will achieve your training plan over the proposed period of
time (see examples provided by the committee)
• The background should not be mixed with hypothesis/aims – it’s too hard to follow
o The background should be at the front of the specific aims section, along with the rationale/justification
o Background should include information about what has been done in the past and include preliminary
data; brag about your ability to pull this off
o Make it clear how this project will get you an R01
o After the background section, detail out each specific aim and hypothesis
• The research plan and training plans should have some synergy to them.
• Follow the NIH guidelines regarding font, spacing, margins, etc.
o http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm#inst
o http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/research/translational-medicine/fundingopportunities/kiosks/success.html
o http://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/plainlanguage/gettingstarted/
• Help the reviewers – write sentences that the reviewer can put into their review and include white space
throughout the document for their old eyes.
• Summarize at the end of each section (why it’s important, what to do about it, why you are the person to do it).
• Use bolded topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph; then, the paragraph should unpack the topic
sentence.
• Efficiently and repetitively convey what you want to do, what you will do, and how it will advance the science.
• Clearly state how you will accomplish your aims and always focus on proving feasibility of the study.
• Lucidly communicate a creative scientific idea combined with ability to impact of moving science in a mode
towards a clinical end that is not only credible, but you think will make an enormous boost toward a patient
population that is in some type of need.
• The instructions require that materials be organized in a particular format. Reviewers are accustomed to
finding information in specific sections of the application. Organize your application to effortlessly guide
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reviewers through it. This creates an efficient evaluation process and saves reviewers from hunting for
required information.
Think like a reviewer. A reviewer must often read 10 to 15 applications in great detail and form an opinion
about each of them. Your application has a better chance at being successful, if it is easy to read and follows
the usual format. Make a good impression by submitting a clear, well-written, properly organized application.
Start with an outline following the suggested organization of the application.
Be complete and include all pertinent information.
Be organized and logical. The thought process of the application should be easy to follow. The parts of the
application should fit together.
Write one sentence summarizing the topic sentence of each main section. Do the same for each main point in
the outline.
Make one point in each paragraph. This is key for readability. Keep sentences to 20 words or less. Write simple,
clear sentences.
Before you start writing the application, think about the budget and how it is related to your research plan.
Remember that everything in the budget must be justified by the work you've proposed to do.
Be realistic. Don't propose more work than can be reasonably done during the proposed project period. Make
sure that the personnel have appropriate scientific expertise and training. Make sure that the budget is
reasonable and well justified.
Capture the reviewers' attention by making the case for why NIH should fund your research. Tell reviewers why
testing your hypothesis is worth NIH's money, why you are the person to do it, and how your institution can
give you the support you'll need to get it done. Be persuasive.
Include enough background information to enable an intelligent reader to understand your proposed work.
Although though not a requirement for assignment purposes, a cover letter can help the Division of Receipt and
Referral in the Center for Scientific Review assign your application for initial peer review and to an IC for
possible funding.
Use the active, rather than passive, voice. For example, write, "We will develop an experiment, "not "An
experiment will be developed."
Use a clear and concise writing style so that a non-expert may understand the proposed research. Make your
points as directly as possible. Use basic English, avoiding jargon or excessive language. Be consistent with
terms, references and writing style.
Spell out all acronyms on first reference.
Use sub-headings, short paragraphs, and other techniques to make the application as easy to navigate as
possible. Be specific and informative, and avoid redundancies.
Use diagrams, figures and tables, and include appropriate legends, to assist the reviewers to understand
complex information. These should complement the text and be appropriately inserted. Make sure the figures
and labels are readable in the size they will appear in the application.
Use bullets and numbered lists for effective organization. Indents and bold print add readability. Bolding
highlights key concepts and allows reviewers to scan the pages and retrieve information quickly. Do not use
headers or footers.
Identify weak links in your application so the application you submit is solid, making a strong case for your
project.
If writing is not your forte, seek help well in advance!
The NIH does not allow you to include “in-press” publications on your biosketch; if you publish something
relevant to your K after submission, notify the NIH so the information can be included in your application.
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Grant Application Review Committee Checklist
Please send all documents listed below to CTMEducation@UTSouthwestern.edu by the deadline.
Applications WILL NOT BE REVIEWED by the Grant Review Committee if they are:
• Submitted after the deadline
• Do not include all sections listed below in BOLD
• Are more than one page over the TOTAL page limit
Although they are not required for review, the committee will give feedback on sections not listed in bold
Check if
Submitted
Title of Document
Introduction to Resubmission/Revision Application (if resubmitting)
Project Summary/Abstract
Specific Aims
Candidate’s Background
Career Goals and Objectives
Career Development/Training Activities During Award Period
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Plans and Statements by Mentor and Co-mentor(s)
Letters of Support from Collaborators, Contributors, and Consultants
Description of Institutional Environment
Institutional Commitment to Candidate’s Research Career Development
Research Plan
-specific aims, innovation, approach/strategy
-bibliography/references
Protections of Human Subjects
Inclusion of Women and Minorities
Inclusion of Children
Targeted/Planned Enrollment
Other Research Plan Sections (if applicable)
-Vertebrate Animals
-Select Agent Research
-Consortium/Contractual Arrangements
-Resource Sharing Plans
Budget/Budget Justification
Candidate’s Biographical Sketch
Mentor, Co-mentor, and Other Senior Key Persons Biographical Sketches
Appendix (limited to 10 PDF attachments)
Page Limits
(if different
from FOA, FOA
supersedes)
1
1
1
12 including
Research Plan
1
6 total
6 total
1
1
12 including
Candidate
Information
4
4 each
*12 total pages including Candidate Background, Candidate Goals/Objectives, Candidate Plan for Career
Development/Training, and Research Plan. All tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts must be included within the
12-page limit.