Career Development: Overview of the NIH

1. Career Development: Overview of the NIH Ralph Nitkin, Ph.D. -National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) -National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) -National Institutes of Health (NIH)

2. Research is very different from Clinical Treatment Seek to define causative (not merely correlative) relationships Develop mechanistic hypotheses and predictions; go beyond the obvious and expected results Seek opportunities to control/isolate variables Design experiments that critically challenge your hypotheses and seek conclusive results Consider other patient populations or conditions in which to contrast outcomes and extend your hypotheses

3. Need for Diversified Funding Bases NIH, NIDRR (Dept of Ed), CDC, VA - depending on domain(s) of interest: (e.g., pathophysiology, impairment, function, disability, or societal/health service research) • If disease specific: consider Foundations • Also, support from industry (drug companies) • Scope of the project, duration, and budget: Pilot data, small study, major research grant, or clinical trial?

4. The NIH is made up of 28 Institutes, Centers, Divisions: ODNIDANCINIEHS NEINIGMSNHLBINIMH NHGRININDSNIANINR NIAAANLMNIAIDCIT NIAMSCSRNIBIBFIC NICHDNCCAMNIDCDNCMHD NIDCRNCRRNIDDKCC

5. National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) • Established 1990 by Public Law 101-613 • To foster development of scientific knowledge needed to enhance the health, productivity, independence, and quality of life of persons with disabilities • Located within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

6. Other NIH Institutes supporting Medical Rehabilitation research NINDS, e.g., spinal cord & brain injury, cerebral palsy Daofen Chen daofen.chen@nih.hhs.gov NIAMS, e.g., arthritis, muscle physiology, bone & skin James Panagis jp149d@nih.gov NIA, e.g., geriatric populations Rosemary Yancik Yancikr@nia.nih.gov NIDCD, e.g., speech, language, balance Daniel Sklare ds104i@nih.gov NCI, e.g., cancer Ann O’Mara ao45s@nih.gov

7. Other NIH Institutes supporting Medical Rehabilitation research NHLBI, e.g., exercise, cardiovascular Denise Simons-Morton ds56h@nih.gov NIMH, e.g., behavioral, social, emotional disorders Cille Kennedy ck71x@nih.gov NINR, e.g., nursing research Kathy Mann Koepke KoepkeK@mail.nih.gov NCCAM, e.g., complementary and alternative medicine Richard Nahin rn8p@nih.gov NIBIB, e.g., biomedical imaging and bioengineering John Haller jh586j@nih.gov

8. And Beyond the NIH • National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Ruth Brannon - Ruth.Brannon@ed.gov • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) e.g., prevention, secondary complications Donald Lollar - DCL5@CEHOD1.em.cdc.gov • Veterans Affairs (VA) e.g., treatment Patricia Dorn - patricia.dorn@hq.med.va.gov Dept of Defense – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) e.g., mission-related Ravi Athale - rathale@DARPA.MIL And Foundations and Industry support. . .

9. Applying to the NIH Majority of funds go to investigator-initiated proposals - rather than responding to program initiatives NIH accepts proposals in three annual cycles, typically: February, June, and October Electronic submissions – be prepared!!! Submission to funding: 9 months, probably more Funding decisions are largely driven by peer-review, but due to limited resources, even top proposals are getting sent back for revisions NIH remains especially committed to new investigators Support provided to institutions in name of investigator: fiscal, human subject (IRB), animal (AALAC), etc

10. Progression of Funding (NIH model) • Training grants and fellowships (Ts and Fs) • Career development awards (K awards) • Smaller foundation grants and pilot studies • Co-investigator on R01, other major grants • Principal investigator on major grant (R01) • Collaborate in larger studies - clinical trials

11. Encourage investigators to contact NIH Staff • Program official / Project officer • Scientific Review Administrator • Grants Management

12. Program Official • Associated with a particular research program within an NIH Institute • Primary point of contact prior to submission and after summary statement is released • Discuss potential grant mechanisms, funding initiatives, and study section assignments [As introduction, email “specific aims” page] • Can help interpret summary statements • But funding decisions are largely driven by priority score from peer review • If funded, Program staff administers the grant: progress reports, adjustments

13. Scientific Review Administrator • Associated with a particular study section – (usually located in Center for Scientific Review) • Also SRAs within NIH Institutes; to review training, career development, and most RFAs • SRA is the primary point of contact once the application has been submitted to the NIH and up to release of the summary statement • SRA oversees the review process: recruits and assigns reviewers; checks for completeness of application and necessary certifications, conflicts • Monitors the actual review meeting and later puts out the summary statement

14. (NIH) Grants Management • Associated with particular NIH Institute • Only relevant if your application is funded • Responsible for fiscal and administrative oversight • Prepares award notice • Speaks the same language as your university grants administrators

15. Importance of Institutional Support:Investing in your research faculty • Core research facilities and staff • Departmental seminar programs • Support for visiting scholars • Sponsoring meetings and workshops • Institutional funds • Pilot research projects • Bridge funding of established programs • Internal review boards and mentoring, especially for junior researchers