Writing the NIH Grant Proposal 3/e

William Gerin received his BA in Psychology from Stanislaus State College in Turlock, California in 1979, where he studied operant and classical conditioning avoidance models in animals. He became interested in the role of human interactions in emotional regulation, and received his PhD in Social Psychology from Columbia University in 1984, under the mentorship of Stanley Schachter. In 1985 Gerin undertook an NIH-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Epidemiology at the Cornell University Medical Center. He then went on to Mount Sinal Hospital and (back to) Columbia University, when he moved his laboratory to the Pennsylvania State University, in the Department of Biobehavioral Health, where he is a Professor, and the Director of the Experimental Cardiovascular Psychophysiology Laboratory. His current research areas include the examination of acute biological responses, including blood pressure, heart rate variability, cortisol, endothelial function, and inflammatory markers, to stress and negative emotionality. His other areas of study include the role of emotional regulation in the development of hypertension and coronary heart disease, non-pharmacological interventions to lower blood pressure and improve medication adherence in culturally diverse patient populations, health disparities in the treatment and outcomes of hypertension, and the role of psyochosocial factors in cardiovascular disease. Christine H. Kapelewski Kinkade earned her BS in Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2006 and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Pennsylvania State University in 2011. After graduating, she went to work at the University of California, Berkeley for two years as a Research Compliance Analyst. Chrissy is now at the University of California, Davis where she is a Clinical Trials Analyst for the Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials. Niki Page is the Director of Grants and Contracts for the College of Health and Human Development. Niki has worked as a research administrator at the Pennsylvania State University since 2001. She has performed a variety of roles, to include project management over a large DOE Research Center; to being the first Pre-Award Director of Penn State's Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office. She has shepherded more than 4,000 sponsored research applications and enjoys partnering with faculty teams to help them navigate the ever change world of extramural funding. Prior to joining Penn State, Niki proudly served in the U.S. Air Force.

Preface About the Authors Acknowledgments CHAPTER 1. The National Institutes of Health The NIH Mission Basic NIH Facts Other Funding Agencies CHAPTER 2. Mentoring and Collaborative Relationships and What to Do If Things Go Awry Developing New Collaborative Relationships Maintaining Ongoing Collaborative Relationships Finding and Working With a Mentor What to Do When Interpersonal Problems Arise CHAPTER 3. Types of Award Mechanisms Identifying the Correct Grant Mechanism for Your Proposal . . . The Menu Classes of Grant Mechanisms NIH Small Grant Program (R03) Scope NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) Factors to Consider in Identifying an Award Mechanism Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) Research Supplements Success Rates for Different Grant Mechanisms and Different I/Cs The SBIR and STTR Award Mechanisms In What Areas Is the NIH Interested? CHAPTER 4. Preparation and Preliminary Steps Are You Ready? Try Out Your Ideas on Your Colleagues The NIH Website: A Useful Resource The NIH "Guide for Grants and Contracts" Requests for Applications Contacting NIH Program Staff Choosing Your Research Team and Conducting Initial Negotiations Summary CHAPTER 5. Writing the Application, Part I: Scientific Content and Writing Strategies The Scientific Content General Notes Concerning Scientific Writing Sections of the Proposal The NIH Review Criteria New Procedures Implemented by NIH Concerning Content of the Proposal Resources Writing the Individual Sections of the Grant Text Research Strategy Common Reviewers' Criticisms Proposal Development Timeline Revise, Revise, Revise, Proofread, Proofread . . . Summary CHAPTER 6. Writing the Application, Part II: Ethics Human Subjects Research Use of Stem Cells Use of Biohazards and Select Agents Humane Care and Use of Animals Summary CHAPTER 7. Writing the Application, Part III: Filling Out Budgets and Other Forms Changes to the Application Process The Title The Budget The Budget Justification Consortia and Subcontracts SBIR/STTR Budgets Identifying Research Opportunities and Downloading Applications Packages The Components of the SF 424 (R&R) Form The Budget Justification Letters of Support and/or Collaborators/Consultants The SF 424 Form Summary CHAPTER 8. Submitting the Application and the Grant Review and Award Process Submission The Grant Review and Award Process Overall Impact Scored Review Criteria CHAPTER 9. Be Careful What You Wish For . . . Notice of Grant Award (NGA) Managing Your Grant Award Setting Up the Command Structure Bookkeeping Yearly Progress Reports Mea Culpa Summary Postscript Glossary Index