Getting ready to submit an R series grant application

1. Getting ready to submit an R series grant application Developing focused and integrated specific aims

2. Developing focused and integrated specific aims Two common approaches to developing specific aims: • “Value added” approach • “Less is best” approach

3. “Value added” approach • In this approach, specific aims typically focus on a common topic (e.g., early-stage kidney disease) in which there are critical gaps in our knowledgebase. • Specific aims are designed to address these gaps in our knowledgebase. • Each additional specific aim is thought to increase the potential “value” of the project. • As additional aims are added, however, the project can easily become “overly ambitious” in scope. • Because these projects often lack a unifying central “problem” or research question, they may be viewed as “lacking focus.”

4. “Less is best” approach • In this approach, you address a clearly defined research problem (i.e., a critical barrier that prevents further progress in your field). • This ensures “focus.” • Eachspecific aim addresses some aspect of that problem; when taken together, they are adequate to address the problem. • This ensures “integration.” • These applications are easier to write and easier to understand. • Remember, by proposing a more focused (and modest) scope of work, you minimize your vulnerability in review while maximizing your ability to do an outstanding job on all aspects of the proposed research.

5. Writing Specific Aims • Each specific aim should consist of one sentence. • Be concise and concrete; clarity is the goal. • Keep the number of aims to a minimum (2-4). • Individual specific aims should be able to “stand alone”: they can be related but must be independent (i.e., they do not depend on a particular outcome of a previous aim). • Include additional information, such as the rationale for the aim, critical preliminary data, or the methdologic approach for the aim, as necessary. • List hypotheses to be tested, if any.

6. “Descriptive” specific aims • Descriptive specific aims tell the reader “what” will be done. • Example: • Aim 1: To perform a nested case-control study to determine levels of high-molecular weight complexes of adiponectin among Black and White adults with and without incident coronary heart disease.

7. “Goal-oriented” specific aims • Goal-oriented specific aims tell the reader “why” the work is proposed. • Example: • Aim 1: To determine whether there are racial differences in levels of high-molecular weight complexes of adiponectin among Black and White adults with and without incident coronary heart disease.

8. A “goal-oriented” specific aim with additional information • Aim 1: To determine whether there are racial differences in levels of high-molecular weight (HMW) complexes of adiponectin among Black and White adults with and without incident coronary heart disease. To accomplish this aim, we will perform a nested case-control study of 500 Black and White adults with and without incident CHD. Hypothesis 1: The ratio of the HMW form/total circulating adiponectin is lower in Blacks than in Whites. Hypothesis 2: The HMW complex is associated with CHD events and this association varies by race.

9. Common mistakes to avoid • Using verbs such as “to study,” “to examine,” “to investigate,” etc. • Remember, in a “goal-oriented” aim, saying you will study something is not very informative; what the reviewers are interested in knowing is what accomplishing the aim will produce. • Proposing too many hypotheses under each aim. • Remember, reviewers need to be convinced that testing each of your hypotheses is necessary to address the “problem” that is the focus of your research plan.

10. Examples of Specific Aims of funded R01 applications from K scholars:Epidemiologic study • Aim 1: To determine the rates of sudden cardiac death and arrhythmic sudden death in a diverse, urban community, and to determine the prevalence of cardiac conditions in these sudden death cases. • Aim 2: To estimate the prevalence of cardiac pathology in the general population and to evaluate coronary artery disease, other pathology, and cardiac mass as risk factors for arrhythmic sudden death. • Aim 3: To evaluate interstitial myocardial fibrosis as a risk factor for arrhythmic sudden death and to explore its role as a mediator of the effects of coronary artery disease and other cardiac conditions.

11. Examples of Specific Aims of funded R01 applications from K scholars: Intervention study • Aim 1: To assess the efficacy of the mobile phone-based physical activity intervention on increasing physical activity at 3 months compared to the control group. • Aim 2: To compare the efficacy of the 6-month maintenance intervention-PLUS (pedometer plus mobile phone diary) to the maintenance intervention-REGULAR (pedometer only) on physical activity. • Aim 3: To explore the role of potential mediating factors (physical activity self-efficacy, social support, outcome expectation, and decisional balance) and moderating factors (Body Mass Index and age) on changes in outcomes at 3, 5, 7 and 9 months.

12. Examples of Specific Aims of funded R01 applications from K scholars:Health Services Research • Aim 1: Determine whether emergency department access block disproportionately affects minority patients relative to others within a community and whether emergency department openings can reduce those disparities. • Aim 2: Determine whether emergency department access block disproportionately affects minority-serving hospitals and whether emergency department openings can reduce disparities. • Aim 3: Determine whether emergency department access block disproportionately affects minority-heavy communities and whether emergency department openings can reduce disparities.

13. Homework • Develop specific aims for a potential research project. • First, state the “problem” your research project will address. • Second, briefly explain the methodologic approach you will propose (e.g., a randomized, controlled intervention study, an epidemiologic cohort study, etc.). • Third, list the specific aims, including any additional information, such as the rationale or the methodologic approach for each aim, as well as any hypotheses to be tested.