What Makes a Good Grant Application?

Siân Aggett and Michelle Jimenez

with a little bit from Laura Harper and a lot from you!

“Good writing will not save bad ideas, but bad writing can kill good ones.”

Jacob Kraicer The Art of Grantsmanship

PreliminaryPreliminary application application

Peer ReviewPeer Review

Funding CommitteeFunding Committee

Full ApplicationFull Application

Interview CommitteeInterview Committee

Lifecycle of an applicationLifecycle of an application

4 – 6 months4 – 6 monthsfor external for external

review & review & processprocess

(Where necessary)(Where necessary)

DecisionDecision

(in some of the larger (in some of the larger schemes)schemes)

MSc/PhD training

Fellowship schemes for Developing Country researchers*

Research Training Fellowship

Intermediate Research Fellowship

10 yrsPost-doc

3 yrs Post-doc

5 yrsPost-docPhD

*which aim to stimulate and foster research on public health and tropical medicine

Senior Research Fellowships

Principal Research Fellowship

The P’s Process

• Person

• Project

• Place

Person

• Good basic knowledge

• Demonstrable potential

• Show how the fellowship is a career step

• Closely involved in formulating and writing the proposal

Project• Novel, interesting, relevant,

asking the right questions• High scientific merit• Clear aims, objectives, study

design• Realistic, achievable• Risks, contingencies• Must provide valid training;

not an extra pair of hands• Guidance from supervisor is

critical

Place• Which host laboratory?

• Supervision, expertise, facilities

• Additional skills, new ideas, fresh challenges

• Training acquired – generic, specific

• Other training elsewhere?

• If not moving, why?

• Mentorship – monitoring progress, assessment

• Record of supervisor/mentor

Livestock for Life

•£30,000 - £250,000

• Public engagement scheme linked to Animal Health in the Developing World (AHDW) scheme

•Three themes:Stakeholder EngagementEducation and TrainingPolicy and Advocacy

•Two Rounds, 19 projects funded

People Awards• Up to £30,000

• Exhibitions, events, debates, art projects and drama

•Fast track

• Biomedical focus

• Wide range of organisations

• Encourage partnerships, collaborations and innovation

Public Engagement-People Awards

PeopleAwards

Education

“Arts”

Events &Debates

Exhibitions

ScienceFestivals

Plays &Films

Projects should…

•Be novel or innovative

•Consider Social, Cultural, Ethical and Historical Issues

•Use different creative forms as tools of communication

Stop Talking!!!Activity•30-40 minutes in committees•Read 4 applications and the scheme guidelines•Together decide which 2 applications to fund •Assign a note taker- Note any observations/

recommendations that come out of the process•Assign a Chairperson•Discuss these within group 5-10 mins•Feedback

Have we covered?

•Interesting, important area of health research

•Value for money

•Appropriate target audience

•Good evaluation plans

•Good project summary

How do I make sure I have a good project summary ?

•Most important section in your application

•First part read

•Sets first impression

•Write it last

Did you get these ones?•Clear aims, objectives and rationale

•Realistic timetables/objectives (SMART)

•Should be "a joy to read"

•Well-focused, clear, well organized and accurate

•Important, significant, and worth supporting

– this needs to be spelled out

Thanks!