Title: Writing a Department of Psychiatry Seed Funding Application: Some Tips and Tricks When Applying for Pilot Funds
1Writing a Department of Psychiatry Seed Funding
Application Some Tips and Tricks When Applying
for Pilot Funds
Dr. Marnin J. Heisel, Ph.D., C.Psych. The
University of Western Ontario
Department of Psychiatry Research Interest Group
Presentation July 11, 2013
2What is a Pilot Study?
- Typically a small study, of limited scope and
duration (and cost) - Intended to
- test a concept (proof-of-principle)
- evaluate methods or measures
- test the safety of a study protocol
- establish ones research abilities (as a PI)
- assess the feasibility of data collection
- generate an effect size for future analyses
- demonstrate the soundness of an idea
- pave the way for a future larger study
3- Pilot studies are really not intended to be
ultimate research projects, sui generis - They are intended to test a new idea or
practice, to demonstrate that something has
promise or can work, with the ultimate aim of
facilitating or promoting a larger project or
undertaking - Pilot projects are successful if they lead to
- innovative/important (publishable) findings,
and - success in extramural funding competitions
4- One of the most common requests made by
reviewers of full-scale grants (especially
regarding new ideas, new researchers or
research teams, or innovative protocols) is for
some pilot data to demonstrate that the study
can be carried out by this team in this fashion,
and has a good chance of being completed and
succeeding - Having some pilot data, even if only a little,
can sometimes make a difference between
getting a so-so review (and no funding) and
getting a project funded
5- Sometimes it appears that reviewers want the
full study to be carried out before they will
consider funding the full study this is not
appropriate - Yet, reviewers (and funders) do not want the
pilot study to be the end of the research, but
rather the beginning - Sadly, however, this sometimes occurs
6- When it comes to moving health care
practices forward efficiently, Canada is a
country of perpetual pilot projects. We seldom
move proven projects into stable, funded
programs, and we rarely transfer the outcomes
of pilot projects across jurisdictions. This
approach is not serving our health care system
well. - Hon. Monique Bégin
7Westerns Department of Psychiatry Seed Funding
Competition
- Purpose primarily (although not exclusively)
to support research by trainees junior faculty - The intention is to support new research ideas
and new researchers - It constitutes an investment, by the Department
of Psychiatry, in its people (researchers,
faculty, and trainees) and in the future of
mental health research - To raise the Departments profile
- To lay the foundation for extramural grants
8Westerns Department of Psychiatry Seed Funding
Competition What It Is
- A competitive grant application process
- Not everyone will be funded, but repeat
submissions are possible ( often encouraged) - A peer-reviewed funding competition
- Projects are reviewed by the Department of
Psychiatry Research Committee typically 2 or
more individuals are selected to provide an
anonymous review of the project
9Westerns Department of Psychiatry Seed Funding
Competition What It Is Not
- A source of on-going funding
- A source of top-up or gap funding
- A way of preserving financial resources
- A vehicle for preferentially supporting a
subject area or type of research or research
group or program or theme or individual - A source of start-up funds
- A source of funding for equipment
- A source of funding for travel or conference
support - A source of funding for training or education
10Some Logistics
- The seed funding competition currently occurs
twice yearly (usually in Spring and Fall) - This year, we have decided to stagger the seed
funding competition with the Lawsons Internal
Research Funding (IRF) competition - The departmental research office issues a call
for proposals, usually 1 or more months prior
to the submission deadline - Faculty and trainees are encouraged to apply
for funding and are provided with instructions
and application forms (please follow them!)
11Some Logistics (cont.)
- Project funding limit 7,500 (previously 5K)
- Available funds vary from competition to
competition (and from year to year) we are
currently in good fiscal shape-so apply often - Funds are primarily to be devoted to carrying
out a project, not for purchasing large
equipment or for travel or conference support - R.A. support, payment of participants (and for
participant travel), for expendable equipment,
and other direct study expenses are generally
appropriate when within funding limits
12Some Logistics (cont.)
- Partial, top-up, or gap funding is generally not
encouraged, and may not be supported - Although we are happy to support pilot studies,
studies solely designed to assess project
feasibility generally do not fare well - We want to see innovative ideas, strong and
appropriate methods, team members with
relevant and/or necessary skills for carrying out
the project, and projects with broader mental
health relevance and with a good likelihood of
translating into successful extramural funding
applications
13Before Submitting Your Application
- Plan well in advance writing grants takes time
- You typically dont want to begin writing your
grant a day before the submission deadline - When writing your application, think about the
work you want to do (or project youd like to
carry out), and then think about how you can
begin to carry-out that program of research or
what sort of data might be helpful to begin
establishing your argument (and competence) - Then focus your ideas seed fund projects need
not be large or excessively complicated
14- Take the time to review the literature, see what
has been done before, what has worked (and
what hasnt), and to identify gaps in the field - Applications will likely not be funded if the
study being proposed has already been done by
someone else, or it has not worked, or the
published study was far more advanced than
what you are proposing - Be up to date, use current methods and tools
and ask relevant questions - Show innovation, but within reason
- Attend to issues of grantsmanship
15Grantsmanship
- See (for e.g.,)
- the Art of acquiring peer-reviewed research
funding (Jacob Kraicer) - http//www.hfsp.org/funding/art-grantsmanship
16Grantsmanship
- Wordsmithing
- Strategizing
- Persuasion
- Demonstrate knowledge, acumen, and vision
- Walking the walk and talking the talk
- to get you funding
17- Ultimately, great research studies begin with
great ideas researchers generally are rewarded
for being thinkers (although not always) - Your project is likely to float (or sink)
depending on the science involved - If the idea is good, the aims reasonable, the
methods strong, and the team (and budget)
appropriate, you stand a good shot at success - Although not always on your first attempt
please do not despair if you are not funded
18- When writing your application, please be very
clear regarding - how your project fits within the field
- how your research will help advance the field
(incrementally, at first) - your study goals/aims and hypotheses
- your study methods, measures, procedures
- your sample (if relevant)
- your personnel (if relevant)
- data collection, storage, and security
- data analysis (including statistical approach)
- sample size justification!!!!!
- relevant ethical issues
- anticipated pitfalls (and remedies)
- dissemination/KT
- next steps (especially plans for future grants)
19- It helps to demonstrate passion and excitement
about your topic if you arent enthused about
your work, the reviewer isnt likely to be
either - Write clearly
- avoid jargon
- define key terms
- avoid acronyms (they can lead to acrimony)
- avoid lengthy and run-on sentences
- keep to one idea per sentence
- and one main idea per paragraph
- avoid meandering literature reviews
- demonstrate the need for your study
20- A good grant reads likea good read
- There is format, syntax, context, and a clear
beginning, middle, and end - You are telling a story walk your reader
through it, from beginning to end - Dont leave it to your reviewer to figure out
what you are saying (or the value in your
project) they might not - Try to adopt a tone of interest, competence,
and respect, avoid being argumentative
21- Applicants are strongly encouraged to be in
touch with me to discuss project ideas well
ahead of submission deadlines - I am happy to provide feedback and assistance
in developing project ideas - It is, similarly, a very good idea to find
strong research mentorship and to access your
mentor in developing the research idea and
methods and in writing (and re-writing) your
application - Please have your work peer-reviewed prior to
submitting it for funding - You might want to ask a friend to read it too
22A Few Words on Budgeting
- 7,500 will only go so farbut its a start
- Budget appropriately
- Demonstrate that your expenses are
appropriate and necessary in order to carry out
your study - Be economical, if you can
- Share resources, if you can
- But dont worry about asking for 7,500 if that
is what you need - Make sure to justify your proposed expenses
- And please get the math right
23After Submitting Your Application
- Once you have submitted your application, it
will be reviewed initially by the research office
to generally make sure that it fits within the
scope/instructions of the competition - We will then send it out for peer-review to
department research committee members (and
occasionally to faculty outside of the research
committee, if additional expertise is required) - Reviewers will be asked to share their review
with the research committee (in-person or in
writing) for the committees review of
proposals and funding decision-making
24- Similar to CIHR, we use a 5-point scale (5 is
best) submissions scored below 3.5 are
typically not considered eligible for funding - Submissions scored above 3.5 are not
automatically approved for fundingthat
decision is made based on committee discussion
and available funds during that competition - We wont always know how many projects will
be funded for a while (e.g., if someone is
awaiting word on other outstanding funding
submissions)
25- I will write to you, informing you of the
results of the competition, and sharing your
reviews - I may also ask for clarification on certain
points - Possible results you are funded, you are not
funded, or you are partially funded, contingent
on some issue(s) - I am always available to meet and talk about
the funding competition in general and your
submission in particular - I am also happy to help you think-through next
steps (whether you had been funded or not)
26- Do not despair if you are not funded at first
- It never feels good to be turned-down for
funding that never goes away in ones career - Successful researchers are not necessarily
smarter, brighter, luckier, or more plugged-in
to clinical/scientific/political/funding
realities than are those who are not
successful - Successful researchers somehow find a way to
avoid being devastated by rejection (usually)
and lick their wounds and try again (and again,
and again, and again sometimes) - I knoweasy to sayhard to do
27After you Are Funded
- Before receiving access to project funds, you
must - Receive research ethics approval (we can help
you with this) - Write a ROLA and open a study account
(Bernice James can help with this) - Buy needed equipment, hire needed personnel,
recruit needed participants, do needed research! - Disseminate your findings
- Seek/receive extramural funding support
- Await call from the Nobel committee
28Thank You