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\nIt's a major undertaking-preparing and submitting an NIH biomedical research grant application to support your research training needs or pursue your scientific research. This highly competitive endeavor can be subverted by poor planning, preparation, disorganization and lackluster presentation. The successful recipient allows ample time to plan, organize and write a grant application that competes well in the peer review process and ultimately earns funding.
\nThis section offers tips and strategies for planning and organizing your application. Be sure to work closely with your institution's grants support office, the Office of Sponsored Programs, to determine the internal procedure for submitting an application to the NIH. Though the advice provided is relevant for all research grants, it is general in nature and geared toward the NIH Research Project (R01). The tips and guidelines included in this document are not intended to replace your organization's internal guidance, specific advice provided by NIH program or grants management staff, or instructions found in the various application guides.
\nHe who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
An important first step in planning is to understand how NIH works. Your application should fit within the mission and research priorities of the NIH Institute or Centers likely to fund your application. Check out our page on understanding NIH to learn more.
\n \nUse RePORTER to Help Identify Where Your Research Fits Best
\nNow that you have a better understanding of the organization, use NIH's RePORTER , a Report Expenditures and Results tool that allows users to search a repository of NIH-funded research projects and access publications, including other valuable information for researchers in the planning process. Use the RePORTER search interface to search by term, or use the Matchmaker interface to input an abstract or other scientific text to find a list of the 100 most similar projects NIH is funding. In this way you can:
\nUse this information to carve out a niche that will allow you to significantly advance knowledge in your respective field and help you develop a list of who to contact at NIH.
\n \nContact NIH Staff
\nWe strongly recommend that you contact the NIH prior to submitting an application.
\nSee Understand Staff Roles to learn more about how and when to contact staff during the application and award process.
\n \nFind a Funding Opportunity that Fits Your Research
\nAll applications must be submitted in response to a funding opportunity, so this is a critical step in the planning process. Read Find and Understand Funding Opportunities for more details.
\n \nDetermine Application Submission Date
\nEach funding opportunity will state the submission date(s) (also known as receipt date, due date, or application deadline) for grant applications. This date varies depending on the activity code, specific program, or funding opportunity. If you do not believe that you can meet the application deadline comfortably, strongly consider delaying to the next submission date. Reviewers will point out when they feel an application is premature because of inadequate development and presentation, including a poorly conceived budget.
\nRFAs (requests for applications) and some PARs (Program Announcements with special receipt, referral and/or review consideration) and PASs (Program Announcements with set-aside funds) have special receipt dates indicated in the funding opportunity.
\n \nPlan Within Your Organization
\nDeveloping and submitting a grant application is a team effort.
\nObtain Any Required Prior Approvals from NIH
\nCertain situations which require prior approval from NIH to submit your application and therefore, need to be considered in the planning process.
\nGet to Know the NIH Peer Review Process & Criteria
\nPanels of expert scientists review all grant applications submitted to the NIH in a process known as peer review. Although several factors contribute to whether your application will be funded, great emphasis is placed on how the reviewers rate the scientific merit of your proposal. Section V of every funding opportunity details the review criteria that will be used to assess your application. Take note of these criteria and keep them in mind as you plan your application.
\n \nConsider These Additional Application Elements
\nThink about required documentation. Are you using stem cells or select agents? Are you studying vertebrate animals or identifiable human subjects? Know whether you are required to prepare a modular budget or a detailed budget.
\nDetermine the expertise needed to strengthen your research study team (individuals, collaborating organizations, resources, etc.). Most scientific work requires collaboration among researchers, and NIH is dedicated to fostering such relationships.
\nNIH offers funding opportunities tailored to new investigators. Take the time to research whether you and your project qualify using the New Investigators Program page. What are some of the other advantages?
\nIf your project includes either human subjects and/or live, vertebrate animals, then assurances must be provided.
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HHS regulations for Protection of Human Subjects in 45 CFR Part 46 define a human subject as a living person about whom an investigator conducting research obtains either data through intervention or interaction with the person, or identifiable private information.
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) Web Site
The Public Health Service (PHS) requires institutions to establish and maintain proper procedures to ensure the appropriate care and use of all animals involved in research, research training, and biological testing activities conducted or supported by the PHS. Investigators seeking PHS funds to support animal activities in their research must comply with the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals .
As with human subjects, investigators must provide assurances that live, vertebrate research animals are treated properly as well as state the benefits of the research to humanity. When preparing your application, read the vertebrate animals section of the Grant Application Guide. They list the elements your application must describe.
In the planning process, investigators will need to consider how to address the basic principles of rigor and transparency and include how the following four areas of focus apply to their proposed research (some exceptions apply, see NOT-OD-16-011):
\n1) the scientific premise forming the basis of the proposed research,
2) rigorous experimental design for robust and unbiased results,
3) consideration of relevant biological variables, and
4) authentication of key biological and/or chemical resources.
As with any step in the planning stages, investigators are encouraged to work with their institution and contact a NIH program official with specific scientific questions.
\n \nOrganize Your Time to Complete the Application
\nAt this point, you should have a very good idea of what needs to be done and who will be helping along the way. It's time to make a more detailed plan of how and when everything should be accomplished, given your time and resources.
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