How to Obtain NIH Grants

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• How to Obtain NIH Grants
• Review of Proposal Pieces

A workshop providing information on the process
of applying for external research
awards. Sponsored by USF Office of Research
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Pieces of an NIH Proposal

• Cover sheet
• Checklist (inserted at end)
• Page for description, sites, and personnel
• Table of Contents
• Research Plan
• Budget (modular) and justification
• Biographical Sketches
• Resources
• These items will be uploaded to the SF424 forms
  to be submitted.

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Pieces of an NIH Proposal

• Research Plan Text (25 single-spaced pages)
• Specific Aims
• Background and Significance
• Preliminary Studies/Progress Report
• Research Design and Methods

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Specific Aims

• Specific research objectives
• Hypothesis-based
• Feasible- within the proposed timeframe
• Comparative and relative
• Be concise
• Limited to one page

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Background and Significance

• References should reflect current knowledge
• Convey the importance and relevance of the
  research aims
• Highlight potential impact
• Address how research results can be applied
• Two to three pages are recommended

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Preliminary Studies/ Progress

• Describe the relationship of previous work to the
  current proposed work
• Figures, tables and graphs should be accurate and
  logical
• If you lack expertise for a proposed method,
  include a collaborator or consultant
• letter of support or agreement

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Research Design and Methods

• Overview of the proposed design and conceptual
  framework
• Research goals should relate to proposed
  hypotheses
• Include details related to specific methods
• Include details of how data collection and
  analysis
• Include proposed work plan and feasible timeline
• Ensure that the budget is feasible to the
  research plan

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Additional Pieces to Consider

• Human Subjects
• Vertebrate Animals
• Literature Cited
• Consortium/contractual arrangements
• Letters of support

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Biographical Sketches NIH

• Maximum of 4 pages
• Education
• Table with institution, degree, year, field
• Then NORMAL Chronological Order for
• Positions and Honors
• Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
• Research Support in the last 3 years
• list in order of relevance with brief summary of
  project goals and PI responsibilities

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Project Summary/Description Tips

• Long-term objectives
• Specific aims
• Fit to program goals
• General plan for research with design/method
• No jargon or abbreviations
• No first person or summaries of previous work
• Should be self-contained and accessible to most
• Emphasize value of project Intellectual merit and
  broader impact

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BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION
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What Goes In a Budget?

• All costs related to fundable activities on
  project
• Personnel (w/ fringe benefits, tuition, etc.)
• Equipment
• Travel (usually national only)
• Participant Support Costs
• Materials Supplies Publication Costs
• Subawards/Subaccounts
• Indirect Costs
• Justification
• SAMPLE MODULAR BUDGET
• SAMPLE BUDGET

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Grant Personnel

• Salaries Fringe ( insurance)
• Calculator
• Principal Investigators Co-PIs Senior Personnel
• Undergraduate / Graduate Students tuition
• Technicians, Programmers, Non-clerical staff
• Consultants
• Clerical Staff are usually not allowed.

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Direct Costs

• Equipment (cost sharing may be required)
• However, Cost sharing should be avoided if
  possible.
• Travel
• Participant Support Costs
• Conferences/Workshops
• Human Subjects
• Materials Supplies Publication Costs
• Subawards/Subaccounts
• Office Supplies are typically not allowed.
• Grant Personnel

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Indirect Costs

• Also called FA (Facilities Administration) or
  Overhead
• The rate applies to MTDC or Modified Total Direct
  Costs
• MTDC Direct costs tuition equipment-
  subcontract amounts
• Represents costs of space, copiers, research
  office personnel, and other available university
  supplies and services
• Type and location of research can affect IDC
  rate.
• Affiliate, off campus research
• Check the agency guidelines for any stipulations
  about indirect costs.

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Budget Justification/Narrative

• Expectation to justify requests
• Requirement to address compliance issues
  including cost accounting standards and effort
• Chance to provide extra details or explain
  atypical requests
• Extra opportunity to explain details of project
• SAMPLE BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

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Justifying Resource Requests

• Personnel
• Describe what role each person will perform
• on the project
• Try to avoid implying a university cost share.
• Use language like One month of salary is
  requested for the PI who will oversee all aspects
  of the project.
• If no funding is requested, describe a role The
  Co-PI will serve as a mentor to the graduate
  students.
• Avoid overly specific time/effort estimates.

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Justifying Resource Requests

• Supply a brief summary of why the resources are
  essential to the project
• Why you need the equipment, supplies, etc.
• How the travel will benefit the project
• (especially important for international
  requests)
• What types of materials are needed
• (cannot include routine office supplies)
• Publications costs and tuition need little/no
  explanation

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Avoiding Accounting Problems

• Compliance issues cost accounting standards for
  computers, office supplies, clerical help.
• It is critical to explain why the request
• is essential to the project and beyond
• the scope of what the university typically
  
• provides to its faculty members.