Writing a research application

1. Writing a research application Ewa Ehrenborg

2. Research application • Write a grant application • 3-4 students/group • Send in title by Thursday November 21st • Follow-up November 23rd(5+6), 25th(1+2) and 30th(3+4) – 20 min/group • Use the application form provided • Send in your application by 5 pm, Monday January 9th • Oral presentations on January 11th and12th • Each group will act as opponent for one other group • Assessment form

3. Choose your own project within the “broad” topic allocated • Interesting • Relevant • Supply provisional title by November 21st • Research plan should be a maximum of 3 A4 pages (12-point text, single spacing) • Provide a short reference list (max 20)

4. Group 4 • - Diabetes and co-morbidities: Jing.Wang@ki.se • - Cell death in metabolism: Joelle.Magne@ki.se • Group 5 - Aneurysm: Dick.Wagsater@ki.se • - Inflammation in CVD: Anna.Lundberg@ki.se • Group 6 • - Mesenchymal stem cells and bone cell formation: Lars-Arne.Haldosen@ki.se • - Genetics of thrombosis and haemostasis: Maria.Sabater.Ileal@ki.se Group 1 • - Metabolism and CVD: Ferdinand.Vant.Hooft@ki.se • - Energy metabolism (endocrinology): • Jens.Mittag@ki.se Group 2 • - Transcription factor regulation in inflammation: Josefin.Skogsberg@ki.se • - Interactions between lipids and coagulation factors: Angela.Silveira@ki.se Group 3 • - Vascular Biology (Molecular Imaging): Bjorn.Gustafsson@ki.se • - Allergy: Hans.Gronlund@ki.se

5. The role of the mentor • Discussion partner • Facilitate the process and discuss the strategy NOT: • Decide what to study • Write the application • Responsible for making contact

6. Examples of previous titles • The role of Natural Killer T cell subtypes in different stages of asthma • An in vivo comparison of the cardiovascular effects of coffee diterpenescafestol and kahweol in relation to diabetes

7. Follow-up meeting • Groups 5 and 6 - November 23rd, 10-12 am • Groups 1 and 2 - November 25th, 10-12 am • Groups 3 and 4 - November 30th, 10-12 am • Separate schedule on the web • Present your plans • Each research team ~ 20 min • Support and discussions

10. Summary/abstract • Relevant (what is your research question?) • Clearlywritten • Easy to follow

11. Research programme • Title • Hypothesis/Aims • Background • Work plan includingmethods • Importance/ impact of results • References (max 20) 3 pages

12. Research plan - Title • Informative • Interesting - attention catching • Not too long • Should not contain abbreviations

13. Research plan - Aims/Hypothesis • State clearly the aims of the research • Explain the scientific hypothesis • Most important part of the application • State very clearly • Is it novel? • Is it realistic? • Is it possible? • Is it well planned?

14. Research plan - Background • Introduce the field (generally + specifically) • Place the proposed research in the context of what is already known (or not known) • How would the proposed research add to current knowledge?

15. Research plan - Work plan • Define clearly the proposed research • Which research questions can the work answer • Whom will carry out the work? • What facilities are needed? • What are the critical steps?

16. Research plan - Methods Describe the methods of choice • Explain the choice • Are they the best to meet the objectives? • If novel, how do they compare with already known methods? • Novel methods require detailed description • Validation • Sample size (refer to the work of others)

17. Research plan - Importance/Impact Explain how the proposed research would contribute significantly to: • scientific knowledge • society • health care • specific patients • commercial interests

18. Research plan - References • Relevant publications (key papers) • May include previous work published by the applicant • Cite full reference (according to instructions)

19. Help the reader to understand - clearlystate the hypothesis and aims • include an overviewslide (strategy & context) - relevant background - welldescribed work plan - appropriatemethods - includetitles in the references

20. What is the evaluatorlooking for? SCIENTIFIC

21. Scoring the research question Low = Unclear wording, poorly constructed or previously conducted Mid = Interesting but conventional High= Innovative and extremely important.

22. Scoring the methodology Low = Materials, methods or applications are not entirely accurate Mid= Correct, but not original methodology High= Unique materials and techniques. Innovative, well thought through

23. Oral presentations • January 11th and12th • 15 min presentation/group + 5-10 min discussion • 3-4 students/group – all students will present • Everybody in the group should be able to present all parts of the application • Each group will act as “opponent “for one other group • Assessment form

24. Replacement assignment Consists of two parts: • Your own research project • Application (filled in forms + research proposal) • Submit a relevant article that the application is related to and explain your choice • Powerpoint presentation of the application • Opponent for an application from another group • Application will be e-mailed to you on January 9 (KI mail address) • Critically assess the hypothesis, strategies, methods and importance of the study ( ̴ one A4 page) To be e-mailed to ewa.ehrenborg@ki.se by January 13

25. Take home message • Clearly state the hypothesis/aims and how it will be tested • Specify what should be measured and why • Explain how the experiments/strategy can contribute to an increased understanding - couldinclude an overviewfigurewith strategies& pathophysiologicalcontext