Research Services presents

1. Research Servicespresents Study Section Trends:Career Development Awards Moderator: William G. New, Associate Dean for Research, SOM

2. Agenda Welcome, Announcements and Introductions Panelists’ Presentations Discussion Study Section Trends

3. Study Section Trends • Problem • Early awards often launch research careers • New investigators usually do not know what their applications should include or emphasize

4. Study Section Trends • Observations • Review committees tend to look differently on career development awards than on research awards • Individual • Career path • Mentors

5. Study Section Trends • Panelists Mabel Caban, M.D. • Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation James S. Goodwin, M.D. • Professor of Medicine and Director of Sealy Center on Aging Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D. • Vice-Chair and Professor, Neuroscience and Cell Biology Slobodan, “Bobo” Paessler, D.V.M., Ph.D. • Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology Scott Weaver, Ph.D. • Vice-Chair for Research and Professor, Department of Pathology; and Director for Tropical and Emerging Diseases, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases

6. National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) K Awards What a Reviewer Requires Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D. Director, Mission Connect Vice Chair and Professor, Neuroscience and Cell Biology

7. National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) K Awards • The NINDS supports a broad spectrum of K awards, including both mentored and independent awards. • Described in the NINDS training and career development website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research training.htm • Awards include the K01, K02, K08, K22, K23, K24 and K25.

8. NINDS K Awards • The major objective is to support the career development of clinician scientists (must have MD or equivalent AND “board” certified; i.e., able to treat patients in the US). • This includes research experience and grantsmanship.

9. NINDS K22, K24 and K25 Awards K22: Enables outstanding individuals to obtain a research training experience in the NINDS Division of Intramural Research and facilitate successful transition to an extramural environment as independent researchers. 2-3 years in a NINDS intramural laboratory followed by 2-3 years of support for an independent research project in an extramural institution. K24: Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research K25: Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award

10. NINDS K01 Awards • For investigators at the postdoctoral or early faculty development stage to focus their efforts on translational research in neurological disorders. • To promote more extensive interaction among basic and clinical researchers. • To accelerate the development of interventions and effective treatments that will improve the quality of life of persons with neurological disorders.

11. 3 Types ofNINDS K01 Awards • "NINDS Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards in Translational Research" (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-140.html). • "Career Development Award for Minority Scholars in Neuroscience" (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-106.html). • Re-Entry Into the Neurological Sciences Program (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/postdoc.htm#k01).

12. NINDS K01 Awards Factors of PI Considered in Review • Demonstrated the potential for highly productive independent research in the period after the doctorate. • The candidate must identify mentor(s) with extensive basic and/or clinical research experience. • Candidates must be willing to spend a minimum of 75 percent of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development during the entire award period. • The candidate must clearly describe the need for intensive research supervision for a period lasting 3-5 years, leading to research independence.

13. NINDS K08 and K23 Awards • Both are MENTORED awards (Junior PI with Senior Co-I who has successful NIH track record) BUT the NINDS encourages applicant institutions to demonstrate strong commitment toward the academic independence of candidates for these Awards (read here MUST HAVE A FACULTY APPOINTMENT AND PROTECTED TIME). • The level of institutional commitment IS A MAJOR FACTOR. 3) K08 is translatable research, K23 is patient oriented research.

14. NINDS K08 and K23 Awards Scientific Factors Considered in Review • Junior PI must have publication record (4 or 5) and evidence of success in research (small grants). • Senior PIs must be outstanding in terms of productivity and grantsmanship; recognized leader in the research area and have a track record of success in training independent investigators. • Scientific project must be feasible, translatable and be deemed a valuable training experience. • Ability of scientific independence of junior PI must be addressed. • All successful mentored awards have some course work included as part of training experience.

15. NINDS K08 and K23 Awards Institutional Factors Considered in Review • Type of institutional appointment. • Sufficiency of funds available to carry out the proposed research. • Sufficiency of dedicated space for the candidate. • Sufficiency of protected time for the candidate (75% or so effort). • Other resources available to the candidate.

16. NINDS K02 Awards • Follows a K08 award to support the continued career development of independent clinician-scientists for an additional 5 years (to obtain an R01 or equivalent). • The award provides both Salary and Research costs for the first 3 years, and continued salary support for years 4 and 5, contingent on receipt of an R01 or equivalent award. • NINDS considers an R01-equivalent grant to be an independent, peer-reviewed, multi-year award with the K02 awardee as PI, and the total award must be for a minimum of $75,000 per year for 3 years or $100,000 per year for 2 years.

17. Thank you for your attention. Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D. Director, Mission Connect Vice Chair and Professor, Neuroscience and Cell Biology

18. Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) Mabel Caban, M.D. Dept. Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation-SOM Division Rehabilitation Science-SAH National Cancer Institute K08 in 2005 for “Effects of Disability on the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer”

19. Choose a Mentor • Single most important decision • Chemistry • Productivity • Active grant writers & publishing • Resources & track record of training others • Someone with whom you have published • Ask if he/she will support your application

20. Participating Organizations • Check NIH website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa-06-512.html • Take advantage of your profile • Seed funding (search InfoEd) • Institution, foundation or national academies • Read the Program Announcement • Contact the Institute: check your eligibility • Contact department head & UTMB directors

21. Decision Making • 75% research • 25% clinical

22. The Process • Request funded K awards from mentor • Writing the grant: • Mentor • Environment: institutional support & resources • Candidate • Develop idea from work as research fellow • Specific Aims and Model • Significance: innovative, timely, important • Responsible conduct of research • Sound methodology

23. Timeline Apply CIRWH Start K award Draft to Submit Summary Program NOGA Seed Grant award Application Program Director K08 Statement Contact 5/2003 8/2003 8/2003 1/2004 2/2004 8/2004 8/2004 10/2005

24. The Process • Start now • Meet with mentor and provide drafts q. week • Use editors • UTMB is the right place • You can do it

25. Two Slides Worth of Advice on K Awards James S. Goodwin, M.D. George & Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Geriatric Medicine Director, Sealy Center on Aging

26. Writing a Career Development Proposal: General Advice • Thinking straight is immensely difficult for everyone. Do not handicap yourself by using complex, florid language. • An NIH proposal is like a long letter to two or three people – the only people who will ever read it. Your job is to make it easy for those two or three individuals to understand your proposal. For example: • Avoid abbreviations • Use frequent summaries • Use headings for everything • Construct lots of diagrams, figures, tables, lists and white space • Schedule your efforts so that you produce a complete first draft at least four weeks prior to submission. Send it out for review. Sealy Center on Aging

27. Writing a Career Development Proposal: Specific Advice The major product of a K-Award is the individual, not the science. Thus, it is key to: • Provide a credible career development plan. This cannot be an afterthought. • Think long and hard about what you want to be doing in five years – really. Then communicate that in a coherent manner and make sure the rest of the proposal is consistent with that vision. Sealy Center on Aging

28. Thoughts on a K08 Award Application Slobodan, “Bobo” Paessler, D.V.M., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases K08 in 2004 for “VEE Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development”

29. Characteristics of a Strong Career Development Grant Mentor, Basic Sciences Scott Weaver, Ph.D. Vice-Chair for Research and Professor, Department of Pathology Director for Tropical and Emerging Diseases, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases

30. Characteristics of a Strong Career Development Grant Mentor, Basic Sciences History of strong, stable grant funding, preferably including NIH R01s, and preferably extending through the proposed training period. Strong publication record, preferably including collaborative, interdisciplinary publications that have involved past trainees. History of mentoring trainees who have been productive and remained in science, ideally in academic biomedical research as faculty. Ability to provide trainee with a tailored set of training activities to meet their career goals.

31. Research Services Thank you. Questions from the audience.