It ALWAYS Takes Longer Than You Think Managing

It ALWAYS Takes Longer Than You Think: Managing Grant Proposal Timelines Howard Goldstein and colleagues CBCS Research Forum October 20, 2015

Acknowledgment Lisa Cunningham, NIDCD (2015). Crafting and vetting your first R 01. Presented at ASHA Lessons for Success. Rockville, MD.

Study section should never see a grant application that hasn’t already been reviewed

You have to nail the Specific Aims page • Why this research is critically important • You have compelling preliminary data • You have the expertise for this project • Specifically, what you are going to do • How the field will be advanced when this project is complete

It takes a year to write an R 01 The first 6 months: Intensive reading and thinking Talk #1 Specific Aims Draft #1 Intensive reading and thinking Talks #2 & #3 Specific Aims Draft #2 10 Readers Specific Aims Draft #3 Plan malleability Plan clarity and precision Intensive reading and thinking Specific Aims Draft #4

It takes a year to write an R 01 Months 7 -12: Collaborators Writing 90 days to go 60 days to go Readers #1 Readers #2 Full Draft #1 Full Draft #2 Back to Aims Full Draft #3 SUBMIT Administrative Budget IACUC/IRB

Do: Read the RFP and instructions carefully. Get help from your friendly and knowledgeable research administrator Identify questions that have high scientific relevance Talk to colleagues about most fundamental questions in your field Consider bringing a new approach to a field where it has not been applied Consider your skills and passions and find a niche Your lab should offer something unique to the field Show a drawing of your overarching hypothesis or your theory of change Share your summary statement with colleagues, especially experienced grant getters If at first you do not succeed, try again.

Do not: Propose domino aims or fishing expeditions Propose strictly descriptive research Be overly ambitious Leave room for concern about your independence Argue with reviewers or fail to adequately address their comments

Fun or Daunting: The Timeline and Process of Grant Proposal Writing Alison Salloum, Ph. D. Associate Professor & Interim Director School of Social Work It ALWAYS Takes Longer Than You Think: Managing Grant Proposal Timelines CBCS Forum October 20, 2015

Working Documents Monthly timeline Read, think, unstick, read, think, unstick and repeat List of components AIMS Research Plan New/additional components Prioritize Student assistance Work with Administrators

Working Documents Notes from Project Officer LISTEN Questions to resolve (consult!) Design considerations

Working Documents Co-Investigator meetings Application (subsections, special requirements, links) Readers/Reviewers Organization, easy read, perfect

Are You Hitting all Green Lights? Significance Investigators Innovation Approach Environment MC Cost Tailoring Physio/bio

“If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn’t be called research” - Albert Einstein