Writing a Grant: Small Sections, Big Impacts
Grant Proposal Writing Tips for Smaller Application Components
Winter is coming, and that means a new year of grant possibilities! Perhaps you are ready for a January 5 SBIR deadline, or want to prepare in advance for the April 5 submission…In this installment of our ongoing grant preparation series, we will cover the little things that will get your application buttoned up from all angles!
THE ABSTRACT or PROJECT DESCRIPTION
At face value, writing your grant application abstract seems easy, something you’ve likely done many times before. But in 30 lines, your proposal abstract has to clearly convey the intention, long-term objectives, and specific aims of the project, as well as a reasonable and succinct description of the methods and design. Crucially, it must be understandable to a scientifically literate person, though not necessarily an expert in your subject matter. Many reviewers consciously or subconsciously form their critical initial opinion of the work from reading the abstract. While this is not an abstract for a publication, it may still be published on NIH RePORTER (if it is an NIH grant) or a foundation’s website, so carefully consider what you want revealed to the public.
THE NARRATIVE or SHORT LAY SUMMARY
Although only 3 sentences, the narrative required by NIH grants must convey the public health relevance and potential health impact of your work for a lay reader.
EQUIPMENT and FACILITIES & RESOURCES
Competition for grant awards is fierce, and reviewers must therefore be confident that the environment and the infrastructure of your lab space and materials will allow you to undertake and complete your project. Therefore, this section is much more than simply listing the equipment in your lab and the lab of your nearest neighbor. If you require a fluorescent automatic cell sorter, but your application includes no mention of this tool, you might have a problem, particularly if you are not asking to purchase one in your grant. It is your responsibility to know if your department provides administrative support, or if there are specialized core facilities available to enhance research capabilities. Also, reviewers will consider if you have outlined reasonable laboratory space; most reviewers would notice if you had 6 key personnel listed and only a 100 sq. ft. of laboratory.
THE VERTEBRATE ANIMAL STATEMENT
If research animals are included in your planned study, this section can fundamentally make or break the funding of your grant. To be successful, you must address several essential criteria, including the description of procedures, justifications for your choice of species and models, minimization of animal pain and distress, and methods of euthanasia. Furthermore, all animal experiments must be mathematically justified, with power calculations provided for the numbers of animals you plan to use based on effect sizes and experimental design. To guide the development of this sections, the Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) at the NIH has developed a helpful online tutorial.
These and other grant components ultimately all require thoughtful consideration as you prepare to convince others that your research questions are compelling, carefully considered, and deserving of financial support.
If you missed our previous grant posts, or need a refresher: