Components of a Successful AREA (R15) Grant

Rebecca J. Sommer

Bates College

Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program (R15), NIH

Funds small-scale, health-related research projects at institutions that are not major recipients of NIH funding

Major goal is to expose undergraduate students to meritorious biomedical and behavioral research

25 - 31% of proposals funded in 2004-2007

Fiscal Year

Institute/ Center

Number Reviewed

Number Awarded

Total Cost Awarded**

Success Rate***

2007 NIAAA 8 3 $599,579 37.50%

2007 NIA 37 7 $1,232,164 18.90%

2007 NIAID 93 22 $4,580,648 23.70%

2007 NIAMS 29 5 $966,675 17.20%

2007 NCCAM 13 3 $622,249 23.10%

2007 NCI 86 19 $3,969,643 22.10%

2007 NIDA 23 8 $1,671,362 34.80%

2007 NIDCD 16 2 $446,250 12.50%

2007 NIDCR 7 3 $667,830 42.90%

2007 NIDDK 43 9 $1,942,555 20.90%

2007 NIBIB 21 9 $1,956,207 42.90%

2007 NIEHS 31 5 $1,035,778 16.10%

2007 NEI 21 5 $1,115,454 23.80%

2007 NIGMS 200 63 $13,217,017 31.50%

2007 NICHD 46 8 $1,673,536 17.40%

2007 NHGRI 4 1 $195,814 25.00%

2007 NHLBI 56 18 $3,858,629 32.10%

2007 NLM 2 0 $0 0.00%

2007 NIMH 32 9 $1,918,513 28.10%

2007 NINR 37 6 $1,263,140 16.20%

2007 NINDS 57 11 $2,295,661 19.30%

2007 TOTAL 862 216 $45,228,704 25.10%

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm

Recovery Act-Funded AREA Request for Applications (RFA-OD-09-007)

Single submission, due September 24, 2009 Increases total funding to $300,000 direct costs Extends eligibility to Institutions receiving less

than 6 million dollars annual NIH funds NIH plans to make the increases permanent by

the next standard due date (October 25, 2009)

Factors Key to Success

Important research question Focused and organized proposal Demonstration of expertise Positive impact on research activity of

undergraduates and PI

Important Research Question

Meritorious research project Collaboration not competition Can be a new area of research

Focused and Organized Proposal

Focused and organized at the level of both the writing style and research approach

Two-four closely related Specific Aims are appropriate

Demonstration of Expertise

More flexibility in judging potential for success (more than publication record and preliminary data)

Include letters of support Provide convincing Methods and “Alternative

Approaches” Perhaps include a collaborator

Positive Impact – AREA Grant Statement

PI experience in supervising undergraduate student research

Suitability and enhancement of research environment

Availability of well-qualified students Evidence of Institutional support Supports release/leave time

A Few “Nuts and Bolts”

On-line submission– register in grants.gov and eRA Commons– Signing Official needs to submit the application– be prepared to meet other in-house requirements

Modular vs. detailed budget– modular budgets are more flexible but limited to

total of $250,000 direct costs

Get to Know AREA Program Contact Person and Institute Program Officer

Don’t hesitate to email/call your AREA Contact Person for guidance– find most appropriate Institute, Scientific Review

Group (SRG) and particular study section NIH Institute or Center (IC)

– get a measure of the IC’s commitment/enthusiasm for AREA proposals and your project in particular

– after review, the IC Program Officer becomes your main point of contact

Peer Review is a Two-Step Process

Center for Scientific Review– Integrated Review Groups, each is made up of

several different study sections– provides comments and funding priority score

NIH Institute or Center (IC)– Advisory Council or Board, makes funding decisions

based on the review and the goals of the IC– IC Program Officer can “pull a proposal up”

Writing for Step One of Peer Review Process

Find and request the best Integrated Review Group and study section for your proposal

http://cms.csr.nih.gov/peerreviewmeetings/csrirgdescriptionnew/ Write to your audience

– know the members of your probable study section– read the Guidelines for Reviewers

http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/ReviewerGuidelines/

CSR Review Criteria

Significance Investigator(s) Innovation Approach Environment Additional Review Criteria (Protections for

Human Subjects, Resubmission, Renewal...)

Outcome of Step One of Peer Review Process

Five individual core criteria scores and overall impact/priority score

Summary Statements– reviewer critiques and summary of discussion

Streamlining– less competitive applications are not discussed or

given a priority score at study section meetings, still receive the written critiques and criteria scores submitted by assigned reviewers

Don’t Get Discouraged

It usually takes more than one submission! Use comments to revise and resubmit Standard AREA submission deadlines are

February 25, June 25 and October 25.

AREA (R15) Program Website

http:/grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm– Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section– Lists eligible institutions– Provides email addresses for AREA Program

Contact Persons– Describes NIH Institutes and Center objectives– Links to Peer Review Information

Thank you!

You can contact me at rsommer@bates.edu