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NH&MRC PROJECT GRANTS

RESEARCH GRANTS FORUM 23 RD November 2005 . NH&MRC PROJECT GRANTS. Speaker: Associate Professor Janet Keast. NH&MRC Project Grants. Procedural changes Deciding whether to apply or not Features of competitive applications How to respond to panel feedback. Procedural changes.

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NH&MRC PROJECT GRANTS

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  1. RESEARCH GRANTS FORUM 23RD November 2005 NH&MRC PROJECT GRANTS Speaker: Associate Professor Janet Keast

  2. NH&MRC Project Grants • Procedural changes • Deciding whether to apply or not • Features of competitive applications • How to respond to panel feedback

  3. Procedural changes • “Intent to Apply”: only to construct panels • Increased number of panels • Similar style of research plan as 2005 • 3 spokespersons per grant, but all panel members score • No rejoinders but (eventually) iterative grant application process and two rounds/year

  4. Deciding whether to apply or not • Novel, interesting idea on important area • Supported by convincing pilot data, other indicators of project feasibility • Well-designed research plan • Quality track record (relative to opportunity) • Do you need more time to establish techniques, pilot data, collaborations, publications?

  5. 2. Deciding whether to apply or not (cont’d) • Discuss whether or not to apply with experienced colleagues - do this before drafting detailed application • Allow time to get feedbackon detailed research plan • Consider timing of any additional competing applications

  6. Features of competitive applications • Significance and innovation: why your specific questions are important and interesting (= likely impact) • Quality of research: demonstrate excellent design and why you are capable of completing the work • Track record: quality, relevant to application, outcomes of relevant collaborations

  7. Features of competitive applications(cont’d) • Balance between background, preliminary data and research plan • Demonstrated feasibility • Interesting, clear, focused story - avoid large slabs of text • Simple hypotheses - convince reader that either a positive or negative result will be important

  8. Features of competitive applications(cont’d) • Get the reader’s attention early - don’t waste the early paragraphs on platitudes • Predict possible pitfalls: have fallback position • Do not have everything dependent on Aim 1 • Estimate realistic achievements within grant period

  9. Features of competitive applications(cont’d) • CIs and AIs: clear role of each • Over- and under-commitments • Clarify any potential overlaps between projects • Stick to guidelines (don’t push the envelope) • CI publications: • published or “in press” only for appropriate years • journal quality, senior authorship, citations

  10. Features of competitive applications(cont’d) • Budget • Realistic justified personnel numbers, seniority (unnamed PSP4/5?) • Project-specific equipment • Make some effort justifying DRCs

  11. New Investigators • Assessed and scored with other grants using identical procedures • Consider feasibility of project, environment • Project distinct from recent mentor’s work • Track record must be excellent (relative to opportunity) - importance of senior authorship • Prepare to accept criticism and to respond positively in a re-submission

  12. 4. How to respond to panel feedback • Ask experienced colleagues for opinion • Be brutal: cull experiments that were clearly not supported • Genuinely re-assess track record (quality of publications, position in author list) • Delay re-application if necessary

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