How to Get a Grant from NIA

1. How to Get a Grant from NIA (Almost) Everything You Wanted to Know about NIA Funding but Were Afraid to Ask Robin Barr, Ph.D. Director, Division of Extramural Activities National Institute on Aging Webinar March 26, 2019

2. Rule #1 If you do not apply, you do not get funded.

3. Rule #2 Know what to apply for.

4. Rule #3 Know when to apply.

5. Rule #4 Know what resources are available to help you.

6. On knowing what to apply for… • Funding on someone else’s grant (e.g., co-investigator, diversity supplements, etc.) • Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) R15 grants • R03 pilot grants • R21 exploratory grants • Loan repayment programs • Fellowships (F-series awards) • Career awards (K-series awards) • Non-NIH sources

7. CSR-Reviewed Applications

8. NIA-Reviewed Research Applications

9. Other Pay Lines Applications responding to ADRD program announcements: PS <= 40 Career Awards: General – PS <= 21, Alzheimer’s – PS <= 28

10. Approaching NIA Staff: Before You Submit We don’t bite! And it is a good idea… If you know the program contact, then that is the appropriate person. If you don’t know the program contact, then my office is the appropriate spot.

11. Approaching NIA Staff: After You Submit Before initial review: Contact the scientific review officer (SRO) for your application After initial review but before the summary statement: Wait! After the summary statement is released: Contact your program officer Always check ERA Commons for news of your application!

12. NIA and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease https://www.nia.nih.gov/about/nia-and-national-plan-address-alzheimers-disease • Prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025 • Optimize care quality and efficiency • Expand supports for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. • Enhance public awareness and engagement • Track progress and drive improvement

13. Alzheimer’s Research: NIA Priorities Approved concepts for new funding opportunities are posted here after each National Advisory Council on Aging Meeting: https://www.nia.nih.gov/approved-concepts Current AD/ADRD funding opportunities are listed here: https://www.nia.nih.gov/ad-foas

14. On knowing what to apply for…NIA’s Career Award Program

15. K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award Salary: Up to $75k, Research Development to $25k (mentored phase). R00 phase: Total cost to $249k Within fouryears of finishing research training, relaxed residency requirement, intramural eligible. • K99/R00 (Clinical Trial Required Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-129.html • K99/R00 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed Version) – https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-130.html

16. K01 — Mentored Research Scientist Development Award An early or mid-career award for individuals with some prior postdoctoral research experience. (75% min effort, Salary $75k, Research $20k) • Critical: Show need for career development. • Contrast with R03, R21, R01 K01 (Clinical Trial Required Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-127.html K01 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa-19-126.html

17. K08 — Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award An award for junior clinicians with little-to-moderate research training who wish to become independent clinician-scientists. $100k plus fringe (75% effort) $25k a year research development • For physicians and health-professionally trained researchers K08 (Clinical Trial Required Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-116.html K08 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa-19-117.html

18. K23 — Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award Development Award $100k salary 25k/50k research development expenses “When a physician and patient are in the same room at the same time and at least one is alive.” K23 (Clinical Trial Required Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-118.html K23 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa-19-119.html

19. K76 — Beeson Award • Annual RFA • $160k to $200k in costs per year • Annual meeting • Primarily for physicians • Competitive, attractive K76 (Clinical Trial Required Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-19-018.html K76 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-19-017.html

20. K25 — Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award An award for relatively junior scientists who have been trained in quantitative disciplines who now wish to develop their careers in biomedical research. Salary up to $75,000. Research expenses up to $40,000 a year. K25 (Clinical Trial Required Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-125.html K25 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed Version) - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-19-124.html

21. Small Business Opportunities at NIA September 2018: NIA created the Office of Small Business Research Director: Dr. Todd Haim Program Officer: Dr. M-D Kerns Outreach Coordinator: Ms. Maureen Thomas Budget Analyst: Ms. ArminehGazarian http://bit.ly/niasmallbusiness

22. Office of Small Business Research Strategic Priorities • Applicant Outreach – travel to meetings • Applicant Assistance • Grantee assistance in commercialization https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/nia-small-business-programs-overview

23. Follow the Inside NIA Blog For weekly updates on NIA funding priorities, initiatives, and more. www.nia.nih.gov/research/blog

24. Get monthly email updates On NIA Funding Opportunity Announcements and Notices. Sign up: http://bit.ly/NIAFOAlist Share with your colleagues!

25. Q&A – NIA Approach • I know that NIA funding depends solely on the score that grant receives during the Scientific Review Meeting. Do you think that's an appropriate way to fund the projects rather than taking a more holistic approach by looking at the overall candidate? – Albina • How much preliminary data is needed to apply for NIA funding?—Silvia

26. Q&A – Early Stage Investigators • How can early career researchers utilize NIA resources for small projects to launch a research agenda?—Sarah B. • I am an emerging scholar and do not have many publication records yet. I believe that I have some good ideas though. Can I still apply and get funded? Do I have to have someone who have received NIA grants previously? Would you say I wait a little bit?—Kathy

27. Q&A – Early Stage Investigators (cont.) • How can we strategize to make the best use of ESI status?—Bonnielin S.

28. Q&A – AD/ADRD Funding • What studies are viewed as ADRD related studies (thus having a more favorable pay line). What criteria do you use to decide whether a study is an ADRD related study? – Mae • For PFAs that are not dementia-specific, is including dementia-specific Aims in the grant viewed favorably by NIA or review committees?—Robert

29. Q&A – AD/ADRD Funding (cont.) • Dementia/Alzheimer's disease is influenced by lifestyles (smoking, for example), genetic factors, and the interplay of the two factors. Will NIA support gene-lifestyle interaction studies of dementia/Alzheimer's disease?—Changwei

30. Q&A – RFAs/FOAs & General Funding • I’m wondering about funding opportunities, or the perspective of the NIA in funding PIs at smaller undergraduate institutions. Specifically, I’m curious about the NIAs stance on R15s...—Adrienne • Is there any specific grant application that international scholar could apply for in the field of dementia/geriatric research?—Yuanjin

31. Q&A – RFAs/FOAs & General Funding (cont.) • Would you please explain what the application status "Council Review Completed" means with regards to process and timeline for next steps? –Olga

32. Q&A – K Awards • What advice would you give to those who want to become competitive candidates for NIA K applications? If you could address the number and quality of first author publications, journal impact factors, building research focus, etc., it would be appreciated.—Preeti • Please give tips on obtaining a K23 award and how to proceed if just over the payline. I would also appreciate tips on how to transition from a K-award to an R-award. – Halima

33. Q&A – K Awards (cont.) • When applying for a K award, what should be considered when determining whether to apply to NIA vs. another institute that may be more appropriate for the disease under study?—Alexandra • Are there different funding priorities for K award projects vs. other funding opportunities through NIA? If so, how are they different? What are the most important areas of focus or to highlight in K applications?—Monica

34. Q&A – SBIR/Small Business • I am interested in learning more about the Diversity Supplement opportunities for SBIR Phase II recipients—Marie

35. Q&A – Scores and Submission • A grant application's score is within the published pay line of NIA, albeit it is close. The program office still suggested submitting an amended application. Why?—Q. • What is the best follow-up approach when a project/brief 'Letter of Intent' is described as 'not a direct fit' & there is no reply to revised version of project & 'Letter of Intent'? Is it possible to find another NIA staff member to contact?—Mary

36. Stay in Touch! For inquiries on: • Career awards, fellowships, diversity supplements: Contact Shahrooz Vahedi shahrooz.vahedi@nih.gov • R21s, R13s/U13s, U19s: Contact Sanoj Suneja sunejas@mail.nih.gov • R03s, R15s: Contact Rene Etcheberrigarayrene.etcheberrigaray@nih.gov • Small Business applications: Contact Todd Haim todd.haim@nih.gov • And sometimes I can help too…. Robin Barr rb42h@nih.gov

37. Thank you!