Much work goes into writing a grant, work above and beyond any research required to understand and prepare the scientific content of the proposed program description. This homework is based on understanding the priorities of the funding agency to which the grant applications will be submitted. Requests for funding clearly outweigh the total funds available from both the government and the private sector. Private sector funding sources are also being swamped with requests. In this environment, it is essential to view grant writing in a special light.
Successful applications are generally the product of the art of grantsmanship.
The key is to think of the whole as more than the sum of its parts. A grant application should be a harmonious entity, not a conglomeration of disjointed parts. This chapter will focus on the grant writing process, discussing the most common NIH extramural research grant application and the funding oportunities in the private sector, and describing how to apply for them successfully. Various disclaimers apply.