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Road to Independence: Grants and Strategies for Transitioning to an Independent Investigator

This article discusses the strategies and grants available to early career investigators in their journey towards independence from their former mentors. It highlights the importance of continued mentorship, institutional support, and grant application strategies. The article also covers the development of the Early Stage Investigator (ESI) policy and the extension of the ESI period.

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Road to Independence: Grants and Strategies for Transitioning to an Independent Investigator

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  1. Road to Independence • Grants/strategies NIH AHA • Transition from postdoc to independent investigator Scientific direction Independence from former mentor Need for continued mentorship Institutional support

  2. NIH Grants for Early Career Investigators • NIH grants for early investigators K series (K01, K08, K23, etc.) K99/R00 (Pathway to Independence Award) R21 R01 DP2 (NIH Director’s New Innovator Award) • NHLBI “discount” New investigator (NI) – no prior R01 or similar grant Early stage investigator (ESI) – NI within 10 years of degree or residency - payline 5 percentile points higher • NIH website for early career investigatorshttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm

  3. Grant application strategies • 12 page NIH application challenge for young investigators • Only one resubmission allowed • Importance of clarity and readability • Institutional support academic position of PI lab space, protected time, core facilities, etc. • Independence/separation from former mentor • Mentoring plan • Common flaws (overambitious, dependency of aims, significance) • Get application done early and reviewed internally • Talk to your NIH program officer • Plan to resubmit or try again!

  4. Development of the ESI Policy • Concern about the number of New Investigators • Related concern about increasing age at first award • Search for age-independent policy • Develop ESI policy • Modeled on NIH Director’s New Innovator Award • Ten years from most recent doctoral degree or medical residency • Enrich the applicant pool with enough ESIs to reduce the average age at first award • Designed to encourage individuals and institutions to accelerate the period of training leading to independence

  5. ESI Polices • NOT-OD-08-121 (September 2008) • Set the definition of NI and ESI • NI: PD/PI who has not yet competed successfully for a substantial, competing NIH research grant • ESI: NI within 10 years of completing his/her terminal research degree or is within 10 years of completing medical residency (or the equivalent) • NOT-OD-09-013 (October 2008) • Set expectations for FY2009: • New and established investigators to be supported at equivalent success rates • Majority of NIs to be ESIs 6

  6. ESI Polices NIH strongly encourages Early Stage Investigators seeking NIH funding for the first time to apply for traditional research project (R01) grant awards, instead of applying for small grants (R03) or Exploratory/Developmental Research Awards (R21). 7

  7. ESI Polices – Pioneer and NI Awards 8

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  9. New and Early Stage Investigator Policy for FY 2010 NOT-OD-10-039 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-10-039.html • Follows 2009 policy • Continue to equilibrate success rates for established and new Investigators submitting type 1 R01 applications • Should enable support for 1,650 new investigators • A majority of the new investigator will be ESIs 10

  10. New and Early Stage Investigator Policy for FY 2010 11

  11. ESI Extension Implementation NOT-OD-09-034 (December 2008) http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-034.html • Set process for requesting an extension of the ESI 10-year period • Established web based application form • Described factors to be considered • Frequently Asked Questions developed http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/investigator_policies_faqs.htm • First extension requests received on January 16, 2009 • First meeting of ESI Extension Committee on January 21, 2009 12

  12. Reasons for Granted Extensions 13

  13. Misperceptions • My tenure clock was extended by 1 year so my ESI status should be extended. • Clinical responsibilities associated with a faculty appointment are eligible for an extension. • In order to be with my spouse I took an inferior research position and that should count for an extension. • Time of a Career Award (K series) is eligible for extension. • FAQs are constantly evolving to address these and other issues. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/investigator_policies_faqs.htm 14

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