About the Book

This primer on the mechanics of applying for NIH grants offers hands-on advice that simplifies, demystifies, and takes the fear out of writing a federal grant application. The graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, or junior research faculty member applying for a prestigious NIH grant faces many complex issues and situations. Although many grant writing guides already exist, they are overly general in helping applicants navigate the complexities peculiar to the NIH process. Also, although several NIH institutes provide information regarding grant submissions, such info tends to be general and awkward to access. This book provides specific and detailed step-by-step guidance in completing an NIH application through a number of unique features.

Written by an author with proven success in obtaining NIH grants and in developing grant application workshops for university and convention settings, this book features actual forms from NIH grant applications which have been annotated so as to guide readers step-by-step, highlighting unexpected nuances that can make all the difference between winning – and losing – a grant.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Acknowledgments Foreword The National Institutes of Health The NIH Mission Basic NIH Facts NIH Funding Allocations Other Funding Agencies Mentoring and Collaborative Relationships Finding and Working With a Mentor Developing New Collaborative Relationships Maintaining Ongoing Collaborative Relationships Types of Award Mechanisms Classes of Grant Mechanisms Specific Grant Mechanisms Training Grants Career Awards Grant Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities Funding Levels for Different Grant Mechan The SBIR and STTR Award Mechanisms Preparation and Preliminary Steps Are You Ready? Try Out Your Ideas on Your Colleagues The NIH Web Site: A Useful Resource Healthy People 2010 The NIH Roadmap Initiative The NIH “Guide for Grants and Contracts” Requests for Applications The Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP) Database Contacting NIH Program Staff Strange Bedfellows: Politics and Science Pilot Data Choosing Your Research Team and Conducting Initial Negotiations Summary Writing the Application, Part I: The Scientific Content General Notes Concerning Scientific Writing Writing the Proposal The NIH Review Criteria The Abstract Section A: Specific Aims Section B: Background and Significance Section C: Preliminary Studies Section D. Research Design and Methods Common Reviewers’ Criticisms Sections G Through K Additional Information Required for Mentored NRSA Awards Proposal Development Timeline Revise, Revise, Revise, Proofread, Proofread Writing the Application, Part II: Human/Animal Concerns A Note Concerning Just-in-Time Procedures A Brief Discussion of Ethics and Accountability Required Education in the Protection of Human Participants Section E: Ethical Concerns Human Subjects Concerns Informed Consent Expedited Review Waiver of the Requirement for a Signed Consent Form Inclusion of Children in Research Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Research NIH Coding Scheme for Acceptability Regarding Inclusion of Women and Minorities The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Certificates of Confidentiality Data and Safety Monitoring Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Conclusion Writing the Application, Part III: The PHS 398 and SF 424 Forms Packets Changes in the Application Process The PHS 398 Form Pages The Budget Justification (PHS 398 and SF 424) Consortia and Subcontracts (PHS 398 and SF 424) The Checklist (PHS 398 Only) Modular Budgets (PHS 398 and SF 424) SBIR and STTR Budgets The Biographical Sketch Page (PHS 398 and SF 424) The Resources Page (PHS 398 and SF 424) Other Support Page (PHS 398 and SF 424) Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table Page (PHS 398 and SF 424) Letters of Support (PHS 398 and SF 424) Personal Information on the PI (PHS 398 only) Variations in the Form Pages (PHS 398 only) Electronic Submission and the New SF 424 Form Finding Research Opportunities and Downloading Applications Packages The Budget Components of the SF 424 (R&R) SF 424 (R&R) Budget Components SF 424 (R&R) Modular Budgets SF 424 (R&R) Biographical Research Plan Comp SF 424 (R&R) Checklist Program Income, Assurances, and Certifications Submitting the Application The Electronic Research Administration for Grants Administration Support The Cover Letter Know your Integrative Review Group and Study Section Submission Dates Where and What to Send The Grant Review and Award Process The Grant Review Process The Summary Statement The Percentile Rank The Review Criteria Scoring the Application If Your Score Is Not in the Fundable Range Resubmission Postscript: Be Careful What You Wish For Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: Helpful Web Sites Appendix C: Checklists Index About the Author