# Presentation: 507544

## Preparing a Grant Application: Steps to Success

**Notes:**
H.S. -- AHRQ/ORREP        thank  				IHS
T  4 ?S  at  end  &  thru out

copy  of  slides  in folder  &  other  handouts

Handouts  should be a useful references for the future

## Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

- Shelley Benjamin & Karen Rudzinski
-  Division of Research Education, OEREP
- training@ahrq.gov

## Overview

- Getting Started
- Application processes
- Application strategies

## Getting Started

- Internet is funding gateway
- AHRQ and NIH use essentially same application process
- Keep abreast of research priorities and open solicitations

## AHRQ’s Website – www.ahrq.gov

|                             |
| --- |
|  |

|      | AHRQ Research Agenda |
| --- | --- |
|      | Funding Announcements  |
|      | Research Policies  |
|      | Grants Process |
|      | Grant Application Basics |
|      | Training and Education |
|      | Contracts |

**Notes:**
Research Findings --  Web  1” dwn
R. Activities...  past issues,
funded grants, other anouncmnts
key word search
	minority health
	patient safety
	long term care, 
	rural health, etc

## NIH AND AHRQ GrantApplication Similarities

- Announcement publication:  NIH *Guide for Grants **(http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html) **and **www.http://grants.gov*
- Mechanisms – e.g., RO3, R36, K08, K02, R01
- Application forms: PHS 398, 416-1
- Receipt dates
- Application submission and referral – NIH Center for Scientific Review
- Application review procedures
- For AHRQ “assignment,” line 2 of the application (PHS form 398) should indicate the name of an AHRQ PA/RFA

## AHRQ/NIH Solicitations -- Request for Applications (RFA)

- Formal statement inviting applications (grant or coop. agree.) on a well-defined area with specific objectives
- Specific, one-time application receipt _date_
- Specific $ and # of awards
- Special review panels or study section review

**Notes:**
LEFT              2              RIGHT
PA has on-going, multpl applct’n receipt dates  [p. 21].     RFA 1 date
PA doesn’t expire    RFA exp  date

In G ancmnt the PA or RFA ~ Mech of Support by code-- R01, R03, P01, T32, U01, etc [ refer handout pg or PA -- AHRQ HSR]
CODES Usd  Extra Progs (IMPAC)

## AHRQ/NIH Solicitations -- Program Announcements (PA)

- Describes AHRQ’s broad research interests.
- Individual project designs reflect the ideas and creativity of the investigators.
- Set receipt dates; funding dependent upon availability of money
- Reviewed by standing study sections – HCRT for training grants
- All active individual training grants are in form of PA

## Examples of Program Announcements – research topics of interest to AHRQ

- PAR-04-039 _[AHRQ Grants for Health Services Research Dissertation](http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-04-039.html)_
- PAR-04-016 AHRQ Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program (M-RISP)
- PA-03-117 AHRQ Grant Program for Large Conference Support
- PAR-01-040 AHRQ Small Research Grant Program
- PAR-00-141 Small Grant Program for Conference Support
- PA-00-111 AHRQ Health Services Research—Program Announcement
- PA-00-069 Predoctoral Fellowship Awards For Minority Students
- PA-00-010 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards
- PAR-99-164 Independent Scientist Awards
- PA-99-005 Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards

## Application Processes

- Most AHRQ research grant applications must use PHS form 398 --_[http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html](http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html)_* *
- Fellowship applications use form PHS 416-1_[http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/416/phs416.htm](http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/416/phs416.htm)_* *
- All forms can be found under “*Tools and Resources*” at http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/training/trainix.htm
- All applications sent to the NIH Center for Scientific Review – will be changing to electronic submission in near future
- Investigators may request (*in cover letter with application*) assignment of an application to a specific study section and/or agency/institute (*request assignment is not guaranteed*)

## Application Receipt Dates

- Health Services Research Dissertation Awards -- **Receipt Deadline Date:** February 15, June 15, October 15
- Independent Scientist Awards -- **Receipt Deadline Date:** February 17, June 15, October 15
- Mentored Clinical Scientist Award  -- **Receipt Deadline Date:** February 1, June 1, October 1
- Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards -- **Receipt Deadline Date:** April 5, August 5, December 5 --  these may be changing soon
- Predoctoral Fellowship Awards for Minority Students -- **Receipt Deadline Date:** May 1, November 15--  these may be changing soon

## Slide 12

## Application Process

- Application must be received by due date _***or***_ bear a proof-of-mailing date by deadline (*read the announcement to find which pertains*)
- Applications sent from NIH to AHRQ, where they are assigned to a study section and to a specific  PO at a Center/Office within AHRQ
- Review typically occurs 4 months after applications received
- Funding decisions occur 1-3 months later
- Resubmission – generally two allowed, dissertations one

## AHRQ Staff Involved in Grants Process

- Referral Officer
- Review Staff – Scientific Review Administrator and Grants Management Specialist Team
- Program Staff – Project Officer (PO)
- Grants Management

## Phases of an Application/Project & Agency Staff Contacts 

- Preapplication
*P.O.s,  Review/Referral, Grants Management*
- Application
*Review/Referral, Grants Management*
- Grant award
*P.O.s, Grants Management*
- Post closeout
*P.O.s, Grants Management*

##  Scientific Review Group (“Study Section”)

- Scientific Review Administrator
- Recruits and selects reviewers
- Assigns applications to specific reviewers
- Sees that each application gets review that is competent, thorough and fair
- Assures that proper review criteria used
- Prepares summary statements of review
- Reviewers are Members or temporary members of Study Section or “SEP”
- Scientists with appropriate expertise
- Dependable, reasonable, open minded

## Review Procedures

- Applications assigned to 2-3 reviewers for written comments, but reviewed and discussed by all reviewers
- If all reviewers agree in advance that an application is non-competitive, the study section may choose not to discuss the application (triage process). At present all training/career development grants are discussed – may change
- A summary statement conveying the comments and assessment of the reviewers is sent to the principal investigator

## Ingredients of a Successful Grant Application

- GOOD IDEA
- GOOD SCIENCE
- GOOD APPLICATION
-        Adapted from:  Gordon, Stephen L. “Ingredients of a Successful Grant Application to the National Institutes of Health.”  J. Orthopaed. Rsch. 7:138-141 (1989) (as reprinted in *Preparing a Research Grant Application to the National Institutes of Health)*

**Notes:**
If U respnd clrly & well to th seqnc of ?s in th aplct’n U will be on th way towrds dvlpng a well crafted applct’n.		PRACTICE:
statng spcfc obj in 1-2 sentences &
how hypth (small in #) link to OBJ
decrb how analys pln is designed to ans hypoth			    
Hndout--cmprhnsve “schlrly _/ lst + rvwrs -- SEE ROSTER (+ HRDI)

## What Determines Which        Awards Are Made?

- Scientific merit
- Significance and originality
- Methods
- Program considerations
- What is uniquely AHRQ
- Existing portfolio balance
- Anticipated IMPACT of research
- Availability of funds

## Application Preparation Suggestions

- Follow Instructions
- Be clear
- Be organized
- Watch your language
- Cover all bases
-        Adapted from Federal Grants & Contracts, “Project Opportunities in Research, Training, and Services Grant Workshop”  by Pam Moore

**Notes:**
Font size 10pt+, margins, density 15- charc/” & 6- lines w/in vrtcl “ e.g. rsch pln 25 pgs, biosktch 2pg. Key persnnl
abstrct dstnguishes btwn L-T Goals & spcfc aims & avoids sumries of pst triumphs
clrly &acrtly state wh U will do & why import
dscus th lit & id gaps u will address xpln mthds & whu

## Basic Elements of                           the Research Plan

- Specific aims
*What does the investigator intend to do?*
- Background and significance
*Why is the work important?*
- Preliminary studies
*What has the applicant already done?*
- Research design and methods
*How is the applicant going to do the proposed work?*

## Common Problems in Applications

- Lack of original idea and/or scientific rationale
- Diffuse, superficial, or unfocused research plan
- Questionable methodology
- Lack of important details
- Lack of experience in methodology
- Lack of generalizability of findings or methods
- No attention to human subjects and/or population representation issues
- Unrealistically large amount of work

## New Common Problem – “Applications of Application”

- No apparent translatability of research into practice or policy
- Not unique to AHRQ

## Practical Tips

- Make a rough draft of your application ... then let it sit so you can distance yourself and review it a bit more dispassionately
- Does the draft seem coherent? Are transitions logical?
- Have you checked for grammar, spelling and typographical errors?  Is the draft readable?
- Have an objective person review the draft and final copy; involvement of mentors is critical
- All of this requires hard work, study, and mental discipline

## Specific Issues with Dissertation Applications

- Letters
- Involvement of Mentors
- Adequacy of committee membership
- Relevance to HSR and AHRQ
- Balance between specificity, originality, and career potential
- Doability

## Specific Issues with Career Development Applications

- Balance between career development plan and research
- Mentors (K08)
- Doability
- Why need the funds
- Adequacy of career development plans given where are at in career and what are proposing to do

## What Steps to Successful Career Development Looks Like

- Graduation

- Publication

- Visibility & Dissemination

- Change Practices

- Save Lives and Dollars