This is my humble note in preparation of my first R01 application. Hopefully it will be helpful for other new investigators.
The most recent FOA for a R01 grant: PA-18-484
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-18-484.html
To be noted: NCATS and FIC do not accept R01 from this FOA.
The PO of NEI:
Dr. Ellen Liberman Telephone: 301-451-2020 Email: esl@nei.nih.gov
It is always helpful to send your specific aims to the PO of the institution you are submitting your grant to and ask if your proposal will be suitable for a R01 application.
SF424 instruction and forms for the R grants:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-e/research-forms-e.pdf
Read the instruction carefully. This long instruction file is very helpful.
R01 Grants: Navigating NIH Peer Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW6fzTGCTdw&t=2s
Checklist for an R01 application
1. Cover letter
Provide sufficient information to help the SCR officer for study section assignment.
2. Project Summary (1 page)
A lay summary that will be posted in public for all readers.
3. Project Narritive (3 sentences)
Challenge, hypothesis, research plan
4. Specific Aims (1 page)
5. Research Strategy (12 page)
Significance (3-4 pages)
Innovation ( 1 paragraph)
Preliminary data and approach (7-8 pages)
Methods (1 page)
Time line (0.5 page)
6. Biological Sketch (5 pages)
Describe in the personal statement why the PI is strongly capable for the project
7. Vertebrate animal and approval letter from IACUC
8. Equipment
9. Facilities
10. Institutional support
11. Support letters from Department chair and Mentor
12. Budget Justification
13. Budget
14. Letters of Commitment from Co-investigators
For New Investigators and Early stage investigators, it is important to show strong institutional support, experience in running lab and managing money.
What type of proposal the reviewers are looking for:
High impact (fill a blank, move the field forward)
Exciting ideas
Clarity
Realistic Aims and timelines
Concise with things everybody knows
Noted limitations of the study
A clean well-written application
To find the appropriate study section for your proposal:
1. Check the NIHReporter (https://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm?CFID=13426506&CFTOKEN=37675107) for similar projects where they were reviewed
2. Check the Center for Scientific Review rosters (https://www.csr.nih.gov/Roster_proto/sectionI.asp#r)
Study sections that may be relevant to my next proposal:
BNVT, DMP, DDNS, DPVS
Avoid small font, overstuffing, an incomplete application, late submission, an unclear cover letter that will lead to assignment to a wrong study section.
How to write your research strategy:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/format-and-write/write-your-application.htm
The guidelines for each element
Specific Aims: "State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will have on the research field(s) involved. List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed (e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology). "
Impact: A sustained powerful influence
Significance: Premise
Current controversies or issue of importance to the field
Bring something new to the table
Broad enough to be of interest to general field
Investigators: Appropriate experience and training, Leadership approach for multiple PI project, Expertise of Co-Is complement to each other.
Innovation: Technical and conceptual.
Approach: Well reasoned, appropriate, scientific rigor, biologic relevance. Keep focused and feasible. Be self-critical and propose alternatives. Articulate each aim, what you will do, why it is important, how you will do it. how each piece contribute to the overall project.
Environment: Institutional support, physical resources, equipment, collaborative increment
Budget: I was strongly suggested by the senior faculty in the deparment that for ESI or new investigators, it is better to apply the NIH modular grant that the direct cost should be no more than 250K per year.
Four Rigor and transparency elements:
1. Scientific Premise: is there a strong scientific foundation for the project (should be addressed in Significance)?
2. Scientific Rigor: are there strategies to ensure a robust and unbiased approach (addressed in approach)?
3. Consideration of Relevant biological variables such as sex (addressed in approach).
4. Authentication of key biological and/or Chemical resources (addressed in new attachment). This point will not affect impact score.
Register for the Early Career Reviewer (ECR) (https://public.csr.nih.gov/ForReviewers/BecomeAReviewer/ECR)
when you have
1. > 2 years as a full-time faculty member or researcher in a similar role. Post-doctoral fellows are not eligible.
2. Evidence of an active, independent research program. Publications, presentations, institutional research support, patents, acting as supervisor of student projects.
3. Have at least 2 recent senior-authored research publications in peer-reviewed journals in the last 2 years. In press publications are considered and author position can be as single author, corresponding author, or first or last author.
3. Have not served on a CSR study section in a role other than mail reviewer. (Mail reviews do not include participation in the meeting.) Review service at other agencies or at other NIH institutes/centers are not disqualifiers.
4. Current funding is not required. (Anyone who has received an R01 award is over-qualified and could be considered as a temporary reviewer.)
Here is the link to ECR application:
https://public.csr.nih.gov/ForReviewers/BecomeAReviewer/ECR/ApplytotheECRProgram
Be noted that the pool of ECR applicant is 15,00 per year and only 500 is enrolled as ECR per year. So get a senior reviewer's nomination may be very helpful (not sure about this because I have not tried yet).
Example of R01 grants:
https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/IS/sample-grant-applications.html
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