How to write a successful grant application

Dr Paul Colville-NashProgramme Manager, Infections and Immunity Board

Medical Research Council

October 2010

Its work, on behalf of the UK taxpayer, ranges from molecular level science to public health medicine and understanding of the human body in health and disease.

The Medical Research Council is dedicated to improving human health through the best scientific research.

Medical Research Council

Molecular and Cellular

Medicine Board

MRC strategy and delivery

Strategy Board

Population and Systems

Medicine Board

Infections and Immunity

Board

Neurosciences and Mental

Health Board

Population Health Sciences Group

Translational Research Group

Global Health Group

Training and Careers Group

Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme

Methodology

Panel

4

MRC Review Process

1. Applicant prepares proposal2. Institution submits proposal3. Funder’s administrative check4. Funder’s consult independent, expert referees5. Referees assess quality of the proposal6. Triage7. Funder feeds back referees’ opinions to applicant8. * Applicant comment on referees’ opinions9. * Committee assessment & decision10.* Committee feedback to applicant

Key: green = applicant; blue = funder; red = research peers * = applies only to proposals that pass at Triage

Application ProcessWhat makes a good application?

• MRC is right for me – what next?

• Complete application form (MRC: EAA or Web based form)• Scientific case for support• Cost application (in conjunction with Research

Organisation);• Obtain Head of Department approval.

• Own Research Organisation approval• Submit application to Research Organisation for final

costing/approval• They submit to MRC

Elements of successful proposals

• Emphasis on potential for early career investigators

• A clear rationale for the research• Clarity & Succinctness key• Emphasize and re-emphasize important points and

arguments

• Methodology - Preliminary Data

• People, environment, training for fellowships

• Collaborations

Making a successful application - 1

Planning & Preparation

• Plan your application – don’t rush!

• Talk to people in the know – funders, senior colleagues, successful previous applicants etc.

• Know the specific Aims, rough costs and preliminary data needed

• Consider regulatory approval

• Read & follow instructions

• Can take a year from submission to starting of award

Making a successful application - 2

What and Why? The Hypothesis

• What is your hypothesis?

• Long-term “global” objective of project

• Why do you want to do this research? Review the relevant literature objectively. Why now?

• Background to problem, significance; Present knowledge gap to be addressed and show the uniqueness of approach.

Be Focused!: Specific Aims

• Well-defined objectives and/or criteria from which the rest of the project is derived and the level of success is determined.

•Not too many unrelated questions

•Relationship with experimental plan should be clear; methodology can be introduced.

•Presented in a readable form so that readers can see the precise questions to be answered and the outcomes anticipated.

Making a successful application - 3

Methods: The “Killer experiment” •Prove hypothesis; conclusive approach, e.g. functional knockout•Statistics and power

•Present a detailed plan of attack for each specific aim

•Should support costs proposed in the budget

•Describe how you will evaluate success in achieving your aims

•Provide a flow of logic for each experiment’s results and the subsequent steps in the research plan

•Address sub-optimal methodologies and offer rationale for their use

•?Include timetable/ or timeline, often at the end of the section, to make organisation apparent

Making a successful application - 4

Preliminary Data

•Shows that the project is realistic and feasible

•Shows that you/your team can successfully do the proposed work

•Convinces the reviewers that your hypothesis should be tested

Case for support

Address all the relevant questionsTake account of what reviewers will be looking forWrite clearly and economically

Making a successful application - 5

Personnel & Collaboration

WHO proposes to do a project is just as important as WHAT is being proposed because a grant is an INVESTMENT not a contract. Evidence must be presented that the research team is capable of delivering a return on that investment

Evidence includes:

•Education and training•Scientific track record•Specific expertise•Appropriate time commitment•Use of appropriate collaboration

Making a successful application - 6

Making a successful application - 7

Resources• Is your research space adequate? Do you have the

necessary equipment? What shared/core resources are available?

• Fully justify resources requested. What is allowed? Travel? Publication costs? External contract costs? Training Fees?

• Justify sample sizes – power calculations!• Justify why needed – don’t just list!• Do not under/over fund! Remember it is hard to get

supplements for grants once awarded

The Big Question:Are there “unwritten” limits to funding? Value for Money!

Appendices

•Often contain publications, manuscripts, surveys, questionnaires, data collection instruments, GANTT charts etc.

•NOT to be used to circumvent page limits elsewhere

•BUT CHECK THEY ARE ALLOWED! They may be removed!!

Making a successful application - 8

The Abstract•Summary of the entire proposal – write it last!

•Understandable by researchers outside the field – don’t underestimate the importance of the lay abstract either!

•Will be the first thing read by primary reviewers

•May be the ONLY thing read by other committee members; but not at MRC of course!!

•Will influence the way reviewers approach the rest of the proposal

Making a successful application - 9

Making a successful application - 10

Last but not least - REVIEW internally!

•Mentors for new applicants

•Get a second opinion

•Proof read & spell check – remember the little things count!

Making a successful application - 11

Response to reviewers comments - if you get past first base!

•A measured response that addresses important concerns can make all the difference

•Stick to the key issues

•Refer to parts of the application which may address concerns

•Use references

•Opportunity to add in extra data, publications to reassure

• Unfocused, overambitious project

• Unoriginal, pedestrian approach

• No clear hypothesis, or not hypothesis-driven

• Methodology not sufficiently detailed

• Project not intellectually challenging

• Centre has no international standing in research area

• Lack of infrastructure/facilities

• Training element incomplete/unclear; poor training environment

• Right person - wrong project! And vice versa!!

An application will fail because: