Class (1) Tuesday Jan 22 Introduction - Review class format and goals. Discuss "who applies for grants & why?" To Do: Distribute
syllabus with website link, get class list and emails. Discuss class
format, NIH grant format, review forms. Discuss general principles of
grant application process. Note:
we will be using the "old" NIH forms (hard copy blank Word template
forms) to write a mock grant -- click on the link below to download
blank forms to your computer. In reality, NIH has now switched to an
on-line system using grants.gov and eraCommons -- we will discuss this
new system on Feb 19, and do some practice navigation of my eraCommons
account on-screen. Click here to download blank forms for mock NIH grant (Word) Assignment:
Draft your hypotheses, and use these to draft your Specific Aims for
next class. Bring copy for everyone in the class including me (11
copies), or distribute by email prior to class.
For more information on the basics of grant writing for NIH go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grant_basics.htm CLICK HERE FOR OLD PHS FORM INSTRUCTIONS (PDF) CLICK HERE FOR NEW SF424 on-line INSTRUCTIONS (PDF)
Class (2) Tuesday Jan 29 Turn in copies (11) of draft Specific Aims.
Discuss NIH grant application process;
structure of agencies, study sections, PA’s and RFA’s, types of grants
(RO1, B-start, K series, R21), program officers, study sections.
Distribute copies of student Specific Aims for review.
For more information see: http://www.nih.gov/icd/index.html http://cms.csr.nih.gov/AboutCSR/Welcome+to+CSR/ Assignment: Read class Specific Aims and comment (bring comments to next class). Start on your Background & Significance.
Class (3) Tuesday Feb 5 Discuss each students Specific Aims with questions and suggested modifications. Assignment: Revise your own Specific Aims based on feedback, continue with your Background & Significance.
Class (4) Tues Feb 12 Discuss NSF applications. NSF divisions, Fastlane process (grant applications on-line). Guest visit, Dr. Claire Michaels (former NSF Program Director). Click on link below for NSF website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/browse_all_funding.jsp Assignment: Continue with Background & Significance, to be turned in with revised Specific Aims by Feb 26.
Class (7) Tuesday March 4 Discuss each students B&S section, provide feedback. Assignment: Revise B&S based on feedback, continue with Experimental Methods & Design.
Tuesday March 11 (no class, UConn Spring Break).
Continue revisions of B&S, finish Experimental Design &
Methods, bring copies of Experimental Design to class (or email) for
Mar 18.
Class (8) Tuesday March 18 Turn in (or email) draft Exp Design & Methods. Discuss budgeting details
including
per diems for animals, indirect costs, how to estimate expenses for
supplies and equipment. Discuss budget justification, and signature
process required within University prior to submission (Dept. Head and
OSP). Review internal resources for grant preparation, including IACUC and IRB. http://www.osp.uconn.edu/proposals.php http://iacuc.uconn.edu/ http://irb.uconn.edu/ Assignment: Continue to prepare other grant sections (Abstract, Bio Sketch, Facilities, budget).
Class (9) Tuesday March 25 Discuss Experimental Design & Methods, with feedback. Assignment:
Continue to revise and finish grants based on feedback, complete
budget. Remember to use the full PHS398 forms on the download site,
including cover page, abstract, facilities, Bio Sketch etc. For
purposes of this assignment, assume you are a newly hired Assistant
Professor with a 9-month Academic Appointment, with a lab comparable to
the one you now work in.
Class (10) Tuesday April 1 Q&A with Judy Jansen & Gisele Russo, from Psychology/Grants Management (bring your budget questions).
Continue discussions of student Methods sections.
If time, discuss new system of online NIH grant management(eraCommons, grants.gov). Use projector to navigate Dr. Fitch's eraCommons account on-line.
(If you were submitting an NIH RO1 in reality, this new on-line process would be used).
Click on link below for more information:
http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/ Assignment: Finish grants.
Class (11) Tuesday April 8 Bring finished grants to class and distribute hard copies (11). Review the peer review process, the mock "site visit" format, and how to prepare and score “pink sheets” for next week.
Watch movie on NIH review panel process.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer_review_process.htm Assignment: Read
and comment on grants you are assigned for Site visit. There will be 4
site visits per class, 1/2 hour each, 5 site visitors per grant (one
Primary reviewer, two Secondary, and one Outside reviewer). Each person
(including auditors) will site visit other grants. Primary reviewers
will prepare the “pink" (review and scoring) sheets (outside reviewers
and secondary reviewers provide verbal or draft-written input to the
Primary Reviewer for this purpose).
Tuesday April 15 (no class).
Class (12) Tuesday April 22. 4 mock site visits (1/2 hr each). Assignment: Prepare
“Pink Sheet,” including score, for grant you were assigned for Site
visit/Primary Reviewer. Incorporate any verbal or written feedback from
the secondary and outside reviewers.
Class (13) Tuesday April 29 4 mock site visits (1/2 hr each). Turn in pink sheets. Assignment: Prepare
“Pink Sheet,” including score, for grant you were assigned for Site
visit/Primary Reviewer. Incorporate any verbal or written feedback from
the secondary and outside reviewers.
Class (14) Tues May 6, 2008 (last class)
This additional class will need to be scheduled (1.5 hour) to provide
for 3 additional mock site visits (total participants = 11). This will
be at a time convenient to everyone in the class.
