Grant applications and how best to write them! Dr Paul Colville-Nash

1. Grant applications and how best to write them! Dr Paul Colville-Nash Programme Manager, Medical Research Council Scottish Infection Research Network 10th January 2010

2. Content • Application Process and Tips • The Right Funder? About the MRC • Funding opportunities

3. Application Process • Choose the right funder and the right scheme • Complete application form (MRC: EAA or Web based form) • Scientific case for support • Cost application (in conjunction with Research Organisation); • Obtain Head of Department approval. • Own Research Organisation approval • Submit application to Research Organisation for final costing/approval • They submit to MRC • Funding Decision • Peer Review application • Decision

4. Elements of successful proposals • Emphasis on potential for early career investigators • A clear rationale for the research • Clarity & Succinctness key • Emphasize and re-emphasize important points and arguments • Methodology - Preliminary Data • People, environment, training for fellowships • Collaborations

5. Making a successful application - 1 Planning & Preparation • Plan your application – don’t rush! Moratoria! • Talk to people in the know – funders, senior colleagues, successful previous applicants etc. • Know the specific Aims, rough costs and preliminary data needed • Consider regulatory approval • Read & follow instructions • Can take a year from submission to starting of award

6. Making a successful application - 2 What and Why? The Hypothesis • What is your hypothesis? • Long-term “global” objective of project • Why do you want to do this research? Review the relevant literature objectively. Why now? • Background to problem, significance; Present knowledge gap to be addressed and show the uniqueness of approach.

7. Making a successful application - 3 Be Focused!: Specific Aims • Well-defined objectives and/or criteria from which the rest of the project is derived and the level of success is determined. • Not too many unrelated questions • Relationship with experimental plan should be clear; methodology can be introduced. • Presented in a readable, often outline, form so that readers can see the precise questions to be answered and the outcomes anticipated. • Aims should be “SMART”

8. Making a successful application - 4 • Methods: The “Killer experiment” • Prove hypothesis; conclusive approach, e.g. functional knockout • Statistics and power • Present a detailed plan of attack for each specific aim • Should support costs proposed in the budget • Describe how you will evaluate success in achieving your aims • Provide a flow of logic for each experiment’s results and the subsequent steps in the research plan • Address sub-optimal methodologies and offer rationale for their use • ?Include timetable/ or timeline, often at the end of the section, to make organisation apparent

9. Making a successful application - 5 • Preliminary Data • Shows that the project is realistic and feasible • Shows that you/your team can successfully do the proposed work • Convinces the reviewers that your hypothesis should be tested • Case for support • Address all the relevant questions • Take account of what reviewers will be looking for • Write clearly and economically

10. Making a successful application - 6 Personnel & Collaboration • WHO proposes to do a project is just as important as WHAT is being proposed because a grant is an INVESTMENT not a contract. Evidence must be presented that the research team is capable of delivering a return on that investment • Evidence includes: • Education and training • Scientific track record • Specific expertise • Appropriate time commitment • Use of appropriate collaboration

11. Making a successful application - 7 Resources • Is your research space adequate? Do you have the necessary equipment? What shared/core resources are available? • Fully justify resources requested. What is allowed? Travel? Publication costs? External contract costs? Training Fees? • Justify why needed –don’t just list; you’ve already done this! • Do not under/over fund! Remember it is hard to get supplements for grants once awarded The Big Question: Are there “unwritten” limits to funding? Value for Money!

12. Making a successful application - 8 Appendices • Often contain publications, manuscripts, surveys, questionnaires, data collection instruments, original glossy photographs or colour images of gels, micrographs etc • NOT to be used to circumvent page limits elsewhere • BUT CHECK THEY ARE ALLOWED! They maybe removed!!

13. Making a successful application - 9 TheAbstract • Summary of the entire proposal – write it last! • Understandable by researchers outside the field – don’t underestimate the importance of the lay abstract either! • Will be the first thing read by primary reviewers • May be the ONLY thing read by other committee members; but not at MRC of course!! • Will influence the way reviewers approach the rest of the proposal

14. Making a successful application - 10 • Last but not least - REVIEW internally! • Mentors for new applicants • Get a second opinion • Proof read & spell check – remember the little things count!

15. Making a successful application - 11 • Response to reviewers comments - if you get past first base! • A measured response that addresses important concerns can make all the difference • Stick to the key issues • Refer to parts of the application which may address concerns • Use references • Opportunity to add in extra data, publications to reassure

16. An application will fail because: • Unfocused, overambitious project • Unoriginal, pedestrian approach • No clear hypothesis, or not hypothesis-driven • Methodology not sufficiently detailed • Project not intellectually challenging • Centre has no international standing in research area • Lack of infrastructure/facilities • Training element incomplete/unclear; poor training environment • Right person - wrong project! And vice versa!!

17. Content • Application Process and Tips • The Right Funder? About the MRC • Funding opportunities

18. The Right Funder? • Many opportunities • Get to know likely sources in your field – what do they do? • Keeping up to date is another skill for the researcher • Sign up for information feeds • Regularly visit key websites • It’s good to talk!

19. Encourage and support high-quality research with the aim of improving human health Produce skilled researchers Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness in the UK [and worldwide] Promote dialogue with the public about medical research The Right Funder: MRC mission

20. MRC funding MRC operating expenditure - £625.4m in 07/08 • 300 new grants to researchers£236 million on grants and training awards in universities and medical schools • £343 million for over 500 programmes in our research units and institutesover 2000 publications in peer-reviewed journals • Licensing income receipts of £85.4 millionthrough MRCT £384 milliontotal cash generated since 1998 People • Over 4000 people in our own units, institutes and centres • £72.2 million on training and career development 107 new fellowships, 450 new post-graduate students

21. Consultation with over 500 stakeholders A non-prescriptive agenda A new Strategic Plan for the MRC

22. Research changes lives Strategic aim 1 Picking research that delivers: Setting research priorities which are most likely to deliver improved health outcomes Strategic aim 2 Research to people: Bringing the benefits of excellent research to all sections of society Strategic aim 3 Going global: Securing progress in international medical research Strategic aim 4 Supporting our scientists: Supporting and sustaining a robust and flourishing environment for world-class medical research http://www.mrc.ac.uk/strategicplan

23. The Delivery Plan and major foci of MRC activity over CSR period Discovery Delivery MRC Translational MRC lead NIHR lead Genetics/genomics Structural biology Imaging Systems medicine Global health Ageing: lifecourse Stem cells Infections Population science Pharmacogenomics Animal/human models Regenerative medicine HTA Trials EME Trials(Late stage III) Experimental medicine Methodology Global health Public health E-health

24. Content • Application Process • The Right Funder? About the MRC • Funding opportunities

25. Our website www.mrc.ac.ukshould be your first port of call to MRC

26. Thank you! Contacts • General Enquiries MRCgrants@ssc.rcuk.ac.uk • Scientific queries via Programme Managers Details on MRC web-site under each Research Board: (http://www.mrc.ac.uk/ Ourresearch/Boardpanelsgroups/index.htm)