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Components of a Successful AREA (R15) Grant

This article provides information on the components of a successful AREA (R15) grant proposal, including important research questions, focused and organized proposals, demonstration of expertise, and positive impact on research activity. It also discusses the peer review process and provides tips for writing a successful proposal.

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Components of a Successful AREA (R15) Grant

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  1. Components of a Successful AREA (R15) Grant Rebecca J. Sommer Bates College

  2. Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program (R15), NIH • Funds small-scale, health-related research projects at institutions that are not major recipients of NIH funding • Major goal is to expose undergraduate students to meritorious biomedical and behavioral research • 25 - 31% of proposals funded in 2004-2007

  3. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm

  4. Recovery Act-Funded AREA Request for Applications (RFA-OD-09-007) • Single submission, due September 24, 2009 • Increases total funding to $300,000 direct costs • Extends eligibility to Institutions receiving less than 6 million dollars annual NIH funds • NIH plans to make the increases permanent by the next standard due date (October 25, 2009)

  5. Factors Key to Success • Important research question • Focused and organized proposal • Demonstration of expertise • Positive impact on research activity of undergraduates and PI

  6. Important Research Question • Meritorious research project • Collaboration not competition • Can be a new area of research

  7. Focused and Organized Proposal • Focused and organized at the level of both the writing style and research approach • Two-four closely related Specific Aims are appropriate

  8. Demonstration of Expertise • More flexibility in judging potential for success (more than publication record and preliminary data) • Include letters of support • Provide convincing Methods and “Alternative Approaches” • Perhaps include a collaborator

  9. Positive Impact – AREA Grant Statement • PI experience in supervising undergraduate student research • Suitability and enhancement of research environment • Availability of well-qualified students • Evidence of Institutional support • Supports release/leave time

  10. A Few “Nuts and Bolts” • On-line submission • register in grants.gov and eRA Commons • Signing Official needs to submit the application • be prepared to meet other in-house requirements • Modular vs. detailed budget • modular budgets are more flexible but limited to total of $250,000 direct costs

  11. Get to Know AREA Program Contact Person and Institute Program Officer • Don’t hesitate to email/call your AREA Contact Person for guidance • find most appropriate Institute, Scientific Review Group (SRG) and particular study section • NIH Institute or Center (IC) • get a measure of the IC’s commitment/enthusiasm for AREA proposals and your project in particular • after review, the IC Program Officer becomes your main point of contact

  12. Peer Review is a Two-Step Process • Center for Scientific Review • Integrated Review Groups, each is made up of several different study sections • provides comments and funding priority score • NIH Institute or Center (IC) • Advisory Council or Board, makes funding decisions based on the review and the goals of the IC • IC Program Officer can “pull a proposal up”

  13. Writing for Step One of Peer Review Process • Find and request the best Integrated Review Group and study section for your proposal http://cms.csr.nih.gov/peerreviewmeetings/csrirgdescriptionnew/ • Write to your audience • know the members of your probable study section • read the Guidelines for Reviewers http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/ReviewerGuidelines/

  14. CSR Review Criteria • Significance • Investigator(s) • Innovation • Approach • Environment • Additional Review Criteria (Protections for Human Subjects, Resubmission, Renewal...)

  15. Outcome of Step One of Peer Review Process • Five individual core criteria scores and overall impact/priority score • Summary Statements • reviewer critiques and summary of discussion • Streamlining • less competitive applications are not discussed or given a priority score at study section meetings, still receive the written critiques and criteria scores submitted by assigned reviewers

  16. Don’t Get Discouraged • It usually takes more than one submission! • Use comments to revise and resubmit • Standard AREA submission deadlines are February 25, June 25 and October 25.

  17. AREA (R15) Program Website • http:/grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section • Lists eligible institutions • Provides email addresses for AREA Program Contact Persons • Describes NIH Institutes and Center objectives • Links to Peer Review Information

  18. Thank you! • You can contact me at rsommer@bates.edu

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