Avoiding the Common Pitfalls Avoiding the Common Pitfalls of Grant Preparationof Grant Preparation

Avoiding the Common Pitfalls Avoiding the Common Pitfalls of Grant Preparationof Grant Preparation

Ann R. Kennedy, D.Sc.Ann R. Kennedy, D.Sc.Richard Chamberlain Professor Richard Chamberlain Professor

of Research Oncologyof Research OncologyUniversity of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania

School of MedicineSchool of Medicine

Guidelines for Guidelines for Successful Grant ApplicationsSuccessful Grant ApplicationsGuidelines for Guidelines for Successful Grant ApplicationsSuccessful Grant Applications

State your hypothesis. Formulate the question to be answered by the studies - make sure the question is an important one to answer.

Avoid a fishing expedition.Describe your contingency plans. Separate fact from opinion.Give a balanced view of the literature - anticipate

the counter arguments and deal with them.

Guidelines forGuidelines forSuccessful Grant ApplicationsSuccessful Grant Applications

Guidelines forGuidelines forSuccessful Grant ApplicationsSuccessful Grant Applications Be sure your experiments will answer the

hypothetical question posed.Make sure all facts are correct.Make sure that you have adequate statistical

power.Ask senior investigators in your

field/department to read/review your grant.

Typical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer Comment

“While it is a reasonable hypothesis

proposed in the grant, Dr. X has failed to

indicate how he will proceed with his work

for the remainder of the grant period should

his data not support his proposed

hypothesis. Alternative directions for the

research need to be given and a research

program described.”

“While it is a reasonable hypothesis

proposed in the grant, Dr. X has failed to

indicate how he will proceed with his work

for the remainder of the grant period should

his data not support his proposed

hypothesis. Alternative directions for the

research need to be given and a research

program described.”

Typical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer Comment

“This proposal is based on a

controversial hypothesis, although stated

as a known fact in the grant, that . . .”“This proposal is based on a

controversial hypothesis, although stated

as a known fact in the grant, that . . .”

Typical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer Comment

“Dr. X. quotes papers to support his

hypothesis, but he ignores all the

contradictory evidence. . . . The reader is

forced to conclude that Dr. X’s appreciation

of the literature is selective or superficial.”

“Dr. X. quotes papers to support his

hypothesis, but he ignores all the

contradictory evidence. . . . The reader is

forced to conclude that Dr. X’s appreciation

of the literature is selective or superficial.”

Typical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer Comment

“A significant problem is related to the

characteristics of the system to be utilized.

Only a small fraction of the exposed fibroblasts

responds by obvious phenotypic changes. This

makes biochemical analysis of the

differentiation process difficult when such

analyses are done on all cells.”

“A significant problem is related to the

characteristics of the system to be utilized.

Only a small fraction of the exposed fibroblasts

responds by obvious phenotypic changes. This

makes biochemical analysis of the

differentiation process difficult when such

analyses are done on all cells.”

Typical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer CommentTypical Reviewer Comment

“The major problem with the experimental design

is the failure to acknowledge and account for the

limited proliferative ability of human diploid

fibroblast strains in culture. With the very low

plating efficiency of normal human skin

fibroblasts…, the proposed protocol will surely

run into senescence problems, making further

characterization of the variants impossible.”

“The major problem with the experimental design

is the failure to acknowledge and account for the

limited proliferative ability of human diploid

fibroblast strains in culture. With the very low

plating efficiency of normal human skin

fibroblasts…, the proposed protocol will surely

run into senescence problems, making further

characterization of the variants impossible.”

Training Areas Important in Training Areas Important in Obtaining Research FundsObtaining Research FundsTraining Areas Important in Training Areas Important in Obtaining Research FundsObtaining Research Funds

SalesmanshipWritingAccounting/BusinessPublic RelationsJuggling

Some Personal AdviceSome Personal AdviceSome Personal AdviceSome Personal Advice

““Don’t get on the turnpikeDon’t get on the turnpike

with a bicycle.”with a bicycle.”