Writing a Research Grant Proposal

Writing a Research Grant Proposal

Objectives

  • Gain a general understanding of the process involved in writing a research proposal.

  • Describe the components of a research proposal.

  • Understand funding criteria.

  • Understand budget and grant management.

Definition of a Research Proposal

  • A proposal is a written request for approval of or funding for a research project. It must demonstrate the following:

    • The research question is important.

    • The research plan will yield an answer to that question.

Key Components of a Research Proposal

  • Supervisor

  • Review panel

  • Thesis / Dissertation committee review

  • Grant funding

Preparation Before Writing a Proposal

  • Plan and design must be completed before writing.

  • Finalized study goals and aims.

  • The value of the study must be clear.

  • Critical decisions on the study design and methods must be done.

  • Evidence of project feasibility is necessary.

  • Project alignment with host institution or mission of funding agency.

Identifying Grant Opportunities

  • Not all research projects require financial support, but monetary support can enhance projects.

Main Sources of Funding for Research

  • Governmental Agencies

  • Universities and Colleges

  • Private Foundations

  • Nonprofit Organizations

  • Business

Types of Grants and Resources

  • Internal Grant

  • External Grant

  • Supervisors and mentors

  • Grants management offices

  • University

  • Healthcare system

  • Websites of funding agencies

  • Websites and newsletters of professional organizations

  • Subscription databases

Selection Criteria for Grant Opportunities

Consider the following aspects when choosing a grant opportunity:

  • Supported research areas and methodologies.

  • Amount of funding available.

  • Submission deadlines.

  • Dates relevant to:

    • Award decisions

    • Funding availability

  • Level of competition.

Requests for Proposals (RFP) and Applications (RFA)

  • RFP or RFA is a notice from a funding organization seeking applications.

  • Other related documents include:

    • Letter of Intent

    • Preproposal

    • Letter of Inquiry

    • Solicited proposal

    • Contract

    • Full Proposal

    • Multistage Deliverable Application Process

  • Entities involved can include funding groups/agencies.

Funding Programs Available for Students and Faculty

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  • RRF Foundation for Aging

  • Illinois Office of CMSC

  • National Science Foundation (NSF)

  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society)

Conference Travel Grant (CTG)

  • OUR offers grants to subsidize costs for students presenting their work at conferences, with grants up to $400.

  • Funds are meant for students who are presenting, not for attendance only.

RRF Foundation for Aging

  • Types of Grants vary by project categories:

    • Direct Service (limited to Illinois)

    • Advocacy, Professional Education, Research (national reach)

  • Grant calendar:

    • Letters of Inquiry Due: 11/1, 2/1, 5/1

    • Proposals Due: 2/5, 5/5, 8/5

    • Funding Decisions: May, August, November

Important Grant Criteria

  • Grants' eligibility criteria differs based on project type.

  • Learn more about grant opportunities through the foundation’s resources.

NIH Grant Types

  • R01: Investigator Initiated Research Grant

  • R03: NIH Small Research Grant Program

  • R15: Academic Research Enhancement Awards

  • R21: Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program

  • Each has different mechanisms, amounts of funding, and proposal formats.

Components of a Research Proposal

Required Content

  • Alignment with funding agency guidelines.

  • Biosketch:

    • Typical proposal content includes:

    • Background: A brief summary of existing knowledge on the topic, including:

      • A literature review citing previous work.

      • Researcher's own previous work and preliminary results.

    • Purpose of the project and its significance.

    • Definition of key terms.

    • Goals and specific measurable or testable aims, objectives, or hypotheses.

    • Methods and procedures:

      • Study design, source population for data collection, sampling methodology, recruiting procedures, definition of key variables, data collection procedures, laboratory procedures.

    • Analysis plan:

      • Data management plan and data analysis plan.

    • Dissemination plan.

    • References.

    • Timeline.

    • Budget and budget justification.

    • Researcher information: Biosketch, CV, or résumé.

Writing a Research Narrative

The 3 Main Questions to Address

  1. What is the problem that the project will examine?

  2. What are you going to study?

  3. Why is the problem important?

  4. Why do you want to do the study?

  5. How will the proposed project help solve the problem?

  6. How will you do the study?

  7. Ensure proposal alignment with the sponsor.

Funding Criteria (NIH Review Criteria)

The following criteria are essential for grant consideration:

  1. Is it answering an important research question?

  2. Does the research team have the training, experience, and skill?

  3. What is novel and exciting about the research question/methodology?

  4. Are the research methods rigorous and ethical? Are they feasible?

  5. Does the research team have access to resources required to complete the project?

Budgeting in Research Grants

Direct Costs

  • Salaries

  • Stipends

  • Expenses:

    • Data collection costs

    • Equipment costs

    • Software expenses

    • Funds for communication

    • Support for dissemination

Indirect Costs

  • General research-related expenses that cannot be attributed to specific projects; often referred to as F&A (Facilities and Administration) costs.

Allowable Costs

  • Expenses approved for a funder grant.

Overhead Costs

  • Describes institutional costs for maintaining research infrastructure, operating facilities, purchasing resources, and managing research funds.

Non-monetary Resources Important for Grant Proposals

  • Access to potential study participants.

  • Access to data sets.

  • Use of existing lab and office space, meeting rooms.

  • Availability of existing equipment.

Financial Accountability for Grant Awardees

  • Grant awardees are responsible for financial management.

  • Principal Investigators (PI) should be prepared for external audits.

  • Maintain reconciliation and practice best money management practices.

Grant Management Process

  • Essential components include:

    • Award Letter

    • Initial paperwork acceptance

    • Progress report

    • Final paperwork

    • Final accounting report

    • Final project outcome report

    • No-cost extension

    • Grant renewal or continuation

    • Project closeout.

Consideration for Unfunded Research

  • Celebrating grants as opportunities to conduct research with funding support.

  • Acknowledging that not all research projects require funding.

  • Exploring options for secondary data analysis and primary studies with minimal expenses.

Final Checklist of Objectives

  • Familiarity with the process involved in writing research proposals.

  • Ability to describe the primary components of a research proposal.

  • Familiarity with overall funding criteria.

  • Understanding of research grant budgeting and management.

You are now prepared!