Successful Star R01 to R01Investigators Panel

1
Successful Star R01 to R01Investigators Panel

• Kathleen A. Cooney, M.D.Chief, Division of
  Hematology/OncologyDepartment of Internal
  MedicineUniversity of Michigan Medical School

2
My Research Career Part 1

• Chose to work in molecular coagulation research
  lab
• Selected based on scientific environment
• Reputation of PI for training physician
  scientists
• Available project
• Successful early grants
• Individual NRSA
• VA Career Development Award
• K08 from NHLBI

3
After 4 years

• Several high profile publications
• Getting good job offers in hematology but
• My clinical interests were focused in care of
  cancer patients not general hematology
• Having difficult time balancing clinical/research
  interests as well as work/life balance

4
My Research Career Part 2

• I had strong training in molecular genetics
• Selected a cancer which had evidence for
  inherited predisposition
• Established a research program focused on
  molecular basis for inherited prostate cancer
  susceptibility
• Terminated my K08 from NHLBI

5
Funding for my second research program

• SPORE Career Development Award
• Submitted same grant to
• VA Merit funded first time
• ACS funded on resubmission
• NIH R01 funded on resubmission
• Other grants
• DOD, ICPCG consortium, SPORE, etc

6
Some thoughts about transitioning to becoming an
independent investigator

• Study something you are passionate about
• Do your homework about your scientific topic
• Go to national meetings to understand the current
  state of research in your field
• Use NIH tools and resources to see what grants
  are funded in your area or related areas

7
Planning your first R01

• Draft your ideal Specific Aims well before you
  actually write your grant
• Outline the required preliminary data and work
  toward this while drafting the grant
• A conservative strategy may be a safer strategy
  for a young investigator
• Enlist some key mentors/advisors to help you
  along the way

8
The final draft

• Get this done WELL BEFORE the due date and out to
  advisors with enough time for review/comments
• Address key criticisms in your grant
• Experimentally
• In problems and pitfalls section
• Consider letters of collaboration
• Internal letters show you have local support
• External letters
• Validate significance of your research
• Demonstrates that you know your field

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The final draft (continued)

• PRESENTAION IS IMPORTANT
• Use figures and diagrams in strategic fashion
• Be sure final draft is easy to read and
  visually-appealing
• PROOF READ CAREFULLY!

10
Understand the NIH Grant Review Process

• Visit the Center for Scientific Review website
• Look at the make up of study sections that might
  receive your grant
• Contact individuals that you know on study
  sections for advice
• Learn the instructions for reviewers and address
  review criteria
• Significance
• Investigator(s)
• Innovation
• Approach
• Environment

11
Final thoughts

• Step back and look at your application
  objectively
• Is your hypothesis important?
• What will be accomplished if you get the grant?
• How will your research lead to progress in your
  field?
• Prepare for the long haul
• Most grants are not funded the first time
• Starting generating additional data to support
  your proposal if it is not funded right away
• Consider other agencies, foundations, etc.