secrets of success in getting federal funding july 13 th, 2012 uncf-merck fellows day july 16 th,...
TRANSCRIPT
Secrets of Success inSecrets of Success inGetting Federal FundingGetting Federal Funding
July 13th, 2012
UNCF-MERCK Fellows DayJuly 16th, 2012
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
• 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, R21)• Collaborate in larger studies - clinical trials,
program projects (P01, U54, etc.)
2
Progression of FundingProgression of Funding(NIH model)(NIH model)
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 3
Career Development ApplicationCareer Development Application(an autobiography)(an autobiography)
• Show that you are you a good candidate:Focus – Productivity - Experiences
• Articulate your Career Goals: short & long-term
• Do a needs assessment: strengths, weaknesses
• Discuss appropriateness/commitment of mentor(s)
• Propose other didactic experiences: courses, workshops, sabbaticals • Research Project (develop with mentor)
-to get you skills, training, credibility, publications
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 4
Career Development Applications:Career Development Applications: what are your career goals?what are your career goals?
Focus on mechanism rather than a technique, patient population, or therapeutic approach
GOOD: “enhancing neuroplasticity to promote gait” “exercise therapies to reduce obesity or promote activity” “developing ecologically valid measures of support and longitudinal change”BAD: “reducing disability in stroke” “treadmill training” or “studying gait in SCI” “improving the SF-36® and the FIM”
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 5
Given those research goals . . .Given those research goals . . .
What skill set do you need? What are your strengths? Experiences? Where do you need further training, e.g.:
underlying pathophysiological processes?
movement mechanics?outcome measures and assessment
tools?particular patient populations?applied psychology?environmental supports?appropriate statistics?
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
The Most Important Thing You Need to Accomplish in Your Grant Application is to…
WIN OVER THE REVIEWERS!
6
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 7
Winning over ReviewersWinning over Reviewers, , part 1part 1
1. Develop a focused application with explicit goals
2. Raise an interesting question or need, then propose a direct response
3. Discuss likely outcomes and interpretations
4. Use the most direct, appropriate, and current approaches to critically address issues raised
5. Defend your approaches and choices, with alternatives
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 8
Winning over Reviewers, Winning over Reviewers, part 2part 2
6. Briefly introduce the research field and ` cite relevant literature (esp. papers of your likely peer reviewers) but not a scholarly treatise
7. Discuss why this hasn’t been attempted before; what is your unique angle
8. Include sufficient detail on techniques, outcome measures, plans for
analysis9. Describe collaborations
-Include statistical expertise10. Define your subject populations:
-Inclusion/exclusion criteria, power analysis
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 9
Winning over Reviewers, Winning over Reviewers, part 3part 3
11. Discuss your proposal in the context of previous studies, current clinical practice
12. Write to your likely peer-review audience
in a style that is logical and interesting
13. To make it more readable, include diagrams, pictures, tables
(adequate labels/ legends)14. Human Subjects Research: proper
patient recruitment, informed consent, drop-outs
15. Conform to NIH policy on inclusion of women, of minorities, and
children
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 10
Winning over Reviewers, Winning over Reviewers, part 4part 4
16. Don’t submit until it is your best effort17. Make sure your application is neat, accurate,
and complete; proof-read! Proof-read!! Proof-read!!!
18. Prepare for electronic submission and follow guidelines for page limits and appendices
(reviewers are not required to read appendices)
19. Respect reviewers’ time and effortsyou are starting a dialogue with themand you only get two or three chances
20. If at first you don’t succeed, RE-SUBMIT!
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 11
Revisions: Be Persistent! Revisions: Be Persistent!
Make sure you understand the messages in the summary statement; talk to NIH staff! Can you address the concerns of the reviewers? Are more data required? Or is the basic approach flawed or uninteresting
Use this as an opportunity to improve and update the applicationThe next reviewers will have access to this summary statementBuild in sufficient time in your career plans to deal with re-submissions
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 12
Career ConsiderationsCareer Considerations
Think realistically about productivity (i.e., publications), especially early in careerDevelop a mixed portfolio: mostly sure-fire studies with a few high-risk excursionsDevelop a stable base of grant funding
Guard your time and collaborate effectively
Finally, Never Give Up! (ALWAYS RE-SUBMIT!)
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs
13
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.”
-Abraham Lincoln, 1865
Mission of VA Research and DevelopmentMission of VA Research and Development
“To discover knowledge and create innovations that advance the health and care of veterans and the nation.”
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Office of Research & Development
Organizational Structure
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
1. Biomedical Laboratory Research & Development Service (BLR&D)o Supports preclinical research to understand life processes from
the molecular, genomic, and physiological level in regard to diseases affecting veterans.
2. Clinical Science Research & Development Service (CSR&D)o Administers investigations, including human subject research, to
determine feasibility or effectiveness of new treatments (e.g., drugs, therapy, or devices) in small clinical trials or multi-center Cooperative Studies, aimed at learning more about the causes of disease and developing more effective clinical care.
VA ORD- Four Different Research Services
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
3. Health Services Research & Development Service (HSR&D)o Supports studies to identify and promote effective and efficient
strategies to improve the organization, cost-effectiveness, and delivery of quality healthcare to veterans. HSR&D underscores all aspects of VA health care, specifically quality, access, patient outcomes, and health care costs.
4. Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (RR&D)o Develops novel approaches to restore veterans with traumatic
amputation, central nervous system injuries, loss of sight and/or hearing, or other physical and cognitive impairments to full and productive lives.
VA ORD- Four Different Research Services
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
VA ORD is an Intramural Research Program
• 117 VAMCs have capacity for research : ~100 are funded by ORD at any time
• There are more than 2000 currently funded projects in ORD• Community of over 3000 VA researchers with a long history
of significant research • The research program uses a multi-level approach that
relies on VA and external, non-VA peer reviewers to help ensure that the research program is efficient, effective, and scientifically meritorious.
• VA funds only a small percentage of the proposals evaluated (~20%).
• VA ORD budget for FY2012 is approximately $582 million
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Online Grants Application Process• NIH Electronic Research Administration (eRA)
Commons System (similar to NIH)o Electronic processing system for grant submissiono Streamlined ORD proposal review and management
processes
• One common submission process for all ORD proposalso Implemented in DHHS (CDC, AHRQ, FDA) so we are now
all using the same grant review system
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
VA Research Standards
• Is the research based on rigorous science?
• Will the research produce data that drives clinical policy and translates to improved health care?
• Will the research help Veterans?– Is it ‘Veteran-centric’?– The only federal research program focused entirely on
Veteran’s needs
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Eligibility for VA Research Funding
• The VA Office of Research and Development is an intramural research program.
• All applicants (i.e., the Principal Investigator (PI) and any Co-PI) for VA research funds are required to hold a minimum 5/8th VA salaried position.
• Individuals with less than a 5/8th VA appointment are encouraged to seek at least a 5/8th VA official appointment.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Eligibility for VA Research Funding
•A letter of intent (LOI) must be submitted and approved before a full application can be submitted
• Two cycles of review per year (winter and summer)
• VA does NOT have SBIR/STTR Programs
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
VA ORD Funding Mechanisms Career Development Program
Salary support, protected time, travel award each year CDA-2 can request up to $65K/yr in operating expenses
Merit Award 1 - 4 years, $275K/yr, travel award each year Can request up to $350K for one of the years But not exceed overall cap for number years requested
Pilot Awards 1 - 2 years, $100K/yr, travel award each year
Center of Excellence 5 years, $1M/yr
Research Award Enhancement Program 5 years, $350K/yr
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Current Conflicts: OEF/OIF
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Current Conflicts: OEF/OIF
Halcomb et al, J Trauma 2006; 60:397
0
5
10
15
20
(%)
WWII Vietnam OIF/OEF
Percent of Fatal Casualties
19.115.8
9.4
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Examples of Currently Examples of Currently Funded Research ProjectsFunded Research Projects
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
OEF/OIF related research• Deployment-related research – current and all conflicts
– Prosthetics– Hearing and vision research– PTSD – Rehabilitation
• Deployment-related research highlighting specifics for current conflicts – Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other Neurotrauma– Polytrauma– Chronic care and the new veteran
• Collaborations with DoD
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
ADVANCED UPPER ADVANCED UPPER
LIMB PROSTHESESLIMB PROSTHESES
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
DARPA/DEKA Robotic Arm:Collaboration Among VA Scientists, DARPA, and Industry may Restore Fine Upper Limb Control to Veteran Amputees
Stage 1: “Strap and go” device that can be controlled Stage 1: “Strap and go” device that can be controlled by sensors in the shoes by sensors in the shoes
Stage 2: Arm controlled by brain-computer interfaceStage 2: Arm controlled by brain-computer interface
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
VA / DARPA-DEKA Prosthetic Arm: It really works!
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Hochberg LR Hochberg LR et al.et al. Nature 442: 164-71, 2006 Nature 442: 164-71, 2006
Hochberg LR et al. Nature 442: 164-71, 2006
Next-generation technologies:Next-generation technologies:
BRAIN – COMPUTER INTERFACEBRAIN – COMPUTER INTERFACE
1. Electrode array developed by Richard Norman, U. of Utah (a, b)
2. Implanted in R precentral gyrus (c)
3. Wired to computer which controls cursor and other displays on monitor (BrainGate® system) (d)
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
TIPS for VA ORD Award Success
1. Perform research in priority areas for VA (“Veteran-centric”)
2. Appropriate study design, including statistical analyseso Seek input from expert (e.g., biostatistician)
3. Presentation matters!o Attention to all the details
4. Tell a compelling storyo Use a solid review of relevant literature
5. Provideo Realistic Timelines, considering all responsibilitieso Visuals as appropriate: limited & discreet use of appendices
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Important Websites
VA Research & Development:VA Research & Development:
http://www.research.va.gov/ http://www.research.va.gov/
Rehabilitation R&D:Rehabilitation R&D:
http://www.research.va.gov/programs/rrd.cfmhttp://www.research.va.gov/programs/rrd.cfm
Biomedical Laboratory R&D:Biomedical Laboratory R&D:
http://www.research.va.gov/programs/blrd/http://www.research.va.gov/programs/blrd/
Clinical Science R&D:Clinical Science R&D:
http://www.research.va.gov/programs/csrd/http://www.research.va.gov/programs/csrd/
Health Services R&D:Health Services R&D:
http://www.research.va.gov/programs/hsrd.cfmhttp://www.research.va.gov/programs/hsrd.cfm
Career Development Program:Career Development Program:
http://www.research.va.gov/funding/cdp.cfm
LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD RESEARCHERS!
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
My Contact Information
Tshaka Cunningham, Ph.D.Scientific Program ManagerRehabilitation Research and Development ServiceEmail: [email protected]: (202) 443-5758
THANK YOU