Succeeding at grant writing takes a special skill set. Successful proposals are direct, concise, and well organized, with careful adherence to the style and format requested by the funder. Knowing what funders want, how the review process works, and what reviewers consider most important are keys to success. Below are a sample of resources—from tip sheets to presentations to mock study sections—that can help new investigators and junior faculty craft the perfect grant proposal.
National Resources
- The National Library of Medicine brings together NIH grant tutorials and grant writing tip sheets in a single site, including an annotated sample R01 grant.
- NIH Grant Writing for Success is a popular presentation from NIH experts that provides insights and helpful hints on preparing an application for submission. Learn how to avoid the most common mistakes in writing grant applications and correct some typical misconceptions about the grant review process.
- The NIH offers webinar series and All About Grants Podcasts covering topics related to the process of seeking NIH funding, including honing research ideas, selecting application opportunities, and effective grant writing. Live webinars occur throughout the year and pre-recorded webinars are available for viewing. Podcasts range from 4 minutes to 20 minutes and cover all of the ins and outs of NIH funding.
- View an NIH Peer Review Live Mock Study Section with Q&A. This NIH presentation is designed for anyone who ever wondered what an NIH peer review study section meeting might look and sound like as applications are discussed. During this 45-minute video, you’ll get a better idea of how the meeting is conducted, as well as hear a sampling of common questions asked by reviewers and mistakes made by applicants. A short Q&A follows the presentation.
- View sample grant applications from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) for a range of funding mechanisms, including research grants (R series) and training and career development awards. For more examples of successful grant proposals, take a look at sample applications from the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute.
Local Resources
- CWRU’s School of Medicine offers seminars and workshops several times each year to help graduate students, postdoctoral students, and early stage investigators with grant writing and proposal development.
- The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center hosts an annual summer-long, weekly federal grant writing workshop aimed at early career investigators. Spots are limited and the call for applications is typically issued in February.