Funding Opportunities Starter Grants Marc R. Moon, M.D. Joseph C. Bancroft Professor of Surgery Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery & Center for Diseases of the Thoracic Aorta Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, Missouri AATS Grant Writing Workshop, March 2011
How to be successful Typical sequence: Submit two grants Get discouraged Revert to a clinical career Research career requires persistence / progress The best way to learn to write a grant: Read old grants successful and unsuccessful Review old pink sheets Find a mentor (someone who does research)
How to be successful NIH: New investigators get a scoring benefit New investigator Novice investigator How do we prove that we are not novice investigators? Previous research experience Preliminary data Publications in peer-reviewed journals as primary author (case reports and book chapters are useless) New investigator MUST demonstrate his capability to perform the proposed research independently Independent investigator working alone
Impact of Collaboration Co-investigators are essential to your cause All Basic Science today is multidisciplinary. (D. Jones) Go to other department research conferences Meet other scientists Talk about your project Ask others about their projects Collaborate develop ideas together Find experts in fields in which you are not an expert With co-investigators, your proposal can use the term we to demonstrate expertise Co-investigator data becomes preliminary data for your grant
Impact of co-investigators To a new investigator: Starter Grants Impact of Collaboration Co-investigator, Dr. X, has an international reputation in lung transplant for pulmonary hypertension. It is highly likely that he would provide some of the senior leadership necessary for Dr. Y to complete this research. To an experienced investigator adding a new dimension to his research: Co-investigator, Dr. X, has extensive experience with the BARK knockout mouse model. Her molecular biology laboratory has a distinguished record of funding and publication in high-level scientific journals. Her addition as a collaborator in this project is a positive.
Potential Benefits Potential benefits of Starter grants: To get salary support To get financial support (supplies, animals, tech) To generate preliminary data To develop the skills (and appearance) of an independent investigator Peer validation of your work
Available Options Post-Doc Research Scholarships NRSA (NIH), TSFRE fellowship, others (ACS/ASA/AHA) Intramural Grants Hospital / University funds Department funds Foundation / Society Grants AATS, TSFRE, others (ACS / ASA) K08, K23 Mentored NIH grant
Postdoctoral Research Scholarship Post-Doc Research Scholarships NRSA (NIH), TSFRE fellowship, others (ACS/ASA/AHA) Research proposals are generally a subset of mentor s work Preliminary data not essential (but always helpful) Track record of mentor is important T32 training grant position no peer validation salary support financial support for lab preliminary data independent investigator peer validation NO NO
Intramural Grants Starter Grants Intramural Grants Hospital / University / Department funds Demonstrates commitment from your institution Provides funds to develop preliminary data (2-3 yrs) Essential for developing a successful research career Ideally 1-2 papers as primary author salary support financial support for lab preliminary data independent investigator peer validation NO NO
Foundation / Society Grants Foundation / Society Grants TSFRE, AATS others (ACS / ASA) Research proposal describes new ideas Previous research experience is very helpful Preliminary data / publications are very helpful salary support financial support for lab preliminary data independent investigator peer validation /NO /NO
K08, K23 K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Grant 3-5 years of support (75% effort) Research proposal describes new ideas NIH funded mentor is essential Previous research experience / data are helpful salary support financial support for lab preliminary data independent investigator peer validation
Impact of a Mentor Starter grants invariably require a Mentor Find the right Scientific Mentor Rarely your division chief Track record of NIH funding (associate/full professor) Look outside your department biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, cardiology, genetics How is he/she going to help you become an independent investigator? (not just a cog in their research wheel!) Letter of recommendation is very important
Impact of a Mentor Letter of recommendation from the Mentor Mentors track record of research / previous mentees How is he/she going to help you become an independent investigator? Comprehensive training plan timeline is a plus Describe previous lab experience of applicant and/or initial, preliminary work that demonstrates PI competence Letter should describe how your research will differ from mentor (demonstrate innovation)
Impact of the Chief Starter grants invariably require the right Department / Chief Chief needs to be dedicated to supporting research Department with a track record of research is helpful (we do not want to waste funds) Culture of Research Chief must be willing to support research endeavors financially tech support, animals, supplies for 2-3 years Chief must realize important of preliminary data that HE HAS TO FUND
Impact of the Chief Letter of recommendation from the Chief How is he/she going to support you so that you can become an independent investigator (financially) Must supply funds for all research needs (cannot be dependent on the starter grant) dedication to research Protected time is absolutely essential ( 40% is ideal) We do not care about your clinical experience We do not care about your clinical workload (except to demonstrate that it is not going to interfere with your research)
How to be successful Progression to independent investigator: Learn research skills as a postdoc performing mentor s studies Develop ability as an independent investigator using a mentored starter grant to perform your own studies Previous experience and preliminary data are both important: The PI has received outstanding basic research training in the molecular biology laboratory at University X with Dr. X. The PI is currently Assistant Professor at University Y, and while he appears well-poised to proceed with the experiments proposed, some preliminary data from his current institution demonstrating feasibility would be helpful.
How to be successful Impact of starter grants to the next level Applying for a mentored foundation grant (not yet an independent investigator): As a postdoctoral research fellow, the PI received a NIH NRSA and coauthored 15 manuscript in peer-reviewed journals, 8 as primary author. This experience provided the applicant a solid research foundation. Applying for R01 funding (demonstrating capability to be an independent investigator): The PI received the Michael DeBakey Research Award from the American Association for Thoracic Surgery in 2008. He used this funding to develop the novel model of Disease X described in this grant and published two manuscripts describing his unique methodology.
How to be successful Starter grants should describe a line of investigation that leads to future studies - No dead-end studies PI should be able to build on results to submit NIH grant (R01) This is a study that should be performed, but it is unclear how the findings from this study will guide future investigation or promote a career in translational research. Clinical studies (with no basic or epidemiologic science) are never funded as extramural starter grants The clinical rational for pursuing this line of investigation is appropriate, although it is difficult to imagine how this study will stimulate future growth in the research arena for the PI.
How to be successful If at first you don t succeed, try, try again. The odds of getting a grant are low (but the odds are zero if you give up) Read the reviews carefully and thoughtfully Do not take reviews personally Address EVERY suggested change when you resubmit (even if to a different agency the reviewers may still be the same!)
Funding Opportunities Starter Grants Marc R. Moon, M.D. Joseph C. Bancroft Professor of Surgery Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery & Center for Diseases of the Thoracic Aorta Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, Missouri AATS Grant Writing Workshop, March 2011