secrets of success in getting federal funding july 13 th, 2012 uncf-merck fellows day july 16 th,...

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


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”


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?


The Most Important Thing You Need to Accomplish in Your Grant Application is to…

WIN OVER THE REVIEWERS!

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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


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



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



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!


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


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!)


Mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs

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“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.”


Office of Research & Development

Organizational Structure


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


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


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


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


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


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.


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


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


Current Conflicts: OEF/OIF


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


Examples of Currently Examples of Currently Funded Research ProjectsFunded Research Projects


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


ADVANCED UPPER ADVANCED UPPER

LIMB PROSTHESESLIMB PROSTHESES


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


VA / DARPA-DEKA Prosthetic Arm: It really works!


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)


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


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!


My Contact Information

Tshaka Cunningham, Ph.D.Scientific Program ManagerRehabilitation Research and Development ServiceEmail: [email protected]: (202) 443-5758

mailto:[email protected]

THANK YOU

secrets of success in getting federal funding july 13 th, 2012 uncf-merck fellows day july 16 th,...

Documents

career goals

research goals

likely peer reviewers

fs career development

outcome measures

explicit goals

research field

particular patient populations