- Email: [email protected]
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow
THE FELLOWS’ CORNER
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow Obtaining grant support for one’s research interests may not be so easy, especially early in your academic career. Yet there are multiple sources available to help fund smaller projects initiated at the trainee and junior faculty levels. This month in the Fellows’ Corner, Dr Michel Kafrouni provides us with some helpful background information on how to get started in obtaining grant support and the various funding sources that exist. Jonathan M. Buscaglia, MD Fellows’ Corner Editor Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Maryland, USA With the recent crunch on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget and the continuous increase in the number of applications for funding, gastroenterology trainees and junior faculty find themselves in a situation worrying about obtaining grant money to support their early academic careers.1 The budget of the NIH, however, is still huge, exceeding $28 billion per year! Furthermore, the success rates for the mentored clinical scientist award (K08) and the mentored patientoriented research career development award (K23) have been increasing in recent years.2 Similar to other medical fields, the NIH is the major source of support for gastroenterology and hepatology research. The funding usually comes from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); however, the 24 NIH centers with their different missions may be the source of funding if the research is related to that specific mission. For example, the National Cancer Institute may be the source for funding GI oncology research. The Veterans Affairs (VA) system has a similar grant system, yet not as elaborate as the NIH, and can be very helpful in launching the early careers of investigators affiliated with the VA system. In addition, most of the gastroenterology and hepatology societies (as well as their more focused special interest societies) have multiple awards for research support and early carrier development. Building for academic success is, in large part, dependent on the ability to write grants and obtain funding. Having financial support makes the fellow or junior faculty gastroenterologist more attractive when applying for future academic
Copyright ª 2007 by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 0016-5107/$32.00 doi:10.1016/j.gie.2007.05.011
www.giejournal.org
jobs, and it also provides a bargaining tool for securing protected research time. Any fundingdno matter how smalld will be helpful in early academic careers to generate the preliminary data needed for bigger grant proposals. Even if funding is not granted, significant input from expert reviewers will identify the weaknesses of the grant proposal and make the building blocks for future applications. Time is ticking, and the path to the most coveted R01 grant, a benchmark for research independence, is a stepwise process (Fig. 1). It is never too early to initiate this process. If you do not submit the grant, it will never get funded. There are many opportunities and funding sources available, yet this makes it somewhat complicated when trying to find the right grant at the right time. Table 1 is meant to be a
Key Points d d
d
It is never too early to start! The National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget exceeds $28 billion per year! Many institutions and organizations provide early career development support.
guide and provide a noninclusive list of the major sources that fund fellowships, small projects, and career development awards available within the field of gastroenterology. Seeking advice from mentors and colleagues is essential in identifying additional sources and opportunities. Many institutions and organizations have grants that are waiting for enthusiastic people to grab the opportunity and help build their careers. Good luck! DISCLOSURE None of the authors of this month’s Fellows’ Corner have any disclosures to state. Michel I. Kafrouni, MD Postdoctoral Fellow Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Maryland, USA Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 561
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow
Kafrouni
Figure 1. Schematic of different grants available for each career stage. VA, Veterans Affairs; AI, Associate Investigator; CDA, Career Development Award; ACDA, Advanced Career Development Award; MRP, Merit Review Program; NIH, National Institute of Health; T32, Institutional Research Training Grants; F32, Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships; K08, Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards; K23, Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards; R01, Research Project Grant Program; R21, Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award; R03, Seed/Pilot Grant for Basic Research; AGA, American Gastroenterology Association; FFTA, Fellowship/Faculty Transition Award; RSA, AGA/FDHN Research Scholar Award; BG, Bridging Grants; PRA, Pilot Research Award; ACG, American College of Gastroenterology; CRA, Clinical Research Awards; JFDA, Junior Faculty Development Award; ASGE, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; DWA, The Don Wilson Award; ROE, Research and Outcomes and Effectiveness Awards; GCE, Given Capsule Endoscopy Research Award; ECDA, Endoscopic Research Career Development Award; AASLD, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; AHF, Advanced Hepatology Fellowship Program; CTRA, Sheila Sherlock Clinical and Translational Research Awards in Liver Diseases; CRLA, Jan Albrecht Commitment to Clinical Research in Liver Diseases Award; ALT, Achievement in Liver Transplantation Award; ALF, American Liver Foundation; PRFA, Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award; LSA, Liver Scholar Award; IHSA, Innovative Hepatology Seed Award; SRI, Special Research Initiatives.
TABLE 1. Major sources that fund fellowships, small projects, and career development awards Grant/award description
Type of support
NIH grants (grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/) Institutional Research Training Grants (T32)
Institutional support to defer training costs
Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships (F32)
Fellowship support for independent research
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (K08)
Career development support
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards (K23)
Career development support
Research Project Grant Program (Traditional) (R01)
Up to $499K per year for 5 years
Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21)
Up to $275K for 2 years
Seed/Pilot Grant for Basic Research (R03)
Up to $50K for 2 years
VA grants (www.vaphs.research.med.va.gov/pages/general_ information/forms_page/research_and_development_forms/ va_grant_information_for_investigators.htm) Associate Investigator
1-2 y; salary support
Career Development Award
3 y; salary support and 75% protected time
Advanced Career Development Award
3 y with competitive renewal; salary, $50K
Merit Review Program
2-4 y, up to $150K per year (continued on next page)
562 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007
www.giejournal.org
Kafrouni
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow
TABLE 1 (continued ) Grant/award description
Type of support
American Gastroenterology Association awards (www.fdhn.org) Fellowship/Faculty Transition Award
2 y; salary (up to $40K/year), total of 4 awards
AGA/FDHN Research Scholar Award
3 y; salary and supplies up to $65K/year, total of 6 awards
Bridging Grants
2 y; $50K for researchers who failed R01 funding or renewal, 2 per NIH cycle
Pilot Research Award
1 y; $25K
American College of Gastroenterology (www.gi.org/physicians/ research.asp) Clinical Research Awards
Up to $35K
Junior Faculty Development Award
2 y; $75K/y
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (www.asge.org) The Don Wilson Award
Travel/living for 1-3 mo for endoscopy training in outside institution
Research and Outcomes and Effectiveness Awards
1-2 y; up to $50K
Given Capsule Endoscopy Research Award
Up to $25K for capsule endoscopy–related seed research
Endoscopic Research Career Development Award
$75K/y for 2 y
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (www.aasld.org) Advanced Hepatology Fellowship Program
1 y; $60K salary and benefits support
Achievement in Liver Transplantation Award
$30K, 3 awards
Sheila Sherlock Clinical and Translational Research Awards in Liver Diseases
$150K over 2 y
Jan Albrecht Commitment to Clinical Research in Liver Diseases Award
$150K over 2 y
American Liver Foundation (www.liverfoundation.org/ healthcare/grants) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award
1 y; $12.5K salary supplement
Liver Scholar Award
3 y; $225K
Innovative Hepatology Seed Award
2 y; $100K
Special Research Initiatives
2 y; $200K
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (www.ccfaprofessionals.org/ site/c.fqKLLSOvElH/b.1302171/k.DBCB/Research_Grant_ Opportunities.htm) The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (giresearch.org/Awards2007.html) National Pancreas Foundation (www.pancreasfoundation.org/research/grants.shtml) Glaxo Institute for Digestive Diseases Health (www.gidh.com/Pages/awards.htm) (continued on next page)
www.giejournal.org
Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 563
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow
Kafrouni
TABLE 1 (continued ) Grant/award description
Type of support
American Motility Society (www.motilitysociety.org/ams%202007/grants.htm) June & Donald O. Castell MD, Esophageal Clinical Research Award (www.fdhn.org) Funderburg Research Scholar Award in Gastric Biology Related to Cancer (www.fdhn.org) The Broad Foundation (www.broadmedical.org)
Abbreviations: NIDDK, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; NIH, National Institutes of Health; VA, Veteran’s Administration.
564 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007
REFERENCES 1. Zerhouni EA. Research funding: NIH in the post-doubling era: realities and strategies. Science 2006;314:1088-90. 2. Yang VW. The future of physician-scientistsddemise or opportunity? Gastroenterology 2006;131:697-8.
www.giejournal.org
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow Obtaining grant support for one’s research interests may not be so easy, especially early in your academic career. Yet there are multiple sources available to help fund smaller projects initiated at the trainee and junior faculty levels. This month in the Fellows’ Corner, Dr Michel Kafrouni provides us with some helpful background information on how to get started in obtaining grant support and the various funding sources that exist. Jonathan M. Buscaglia, MD Fellows’ Corner Editor Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Maryland, USA With the recent crunch on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget and the continuous increase in the number of applications for funding, gastroenterology trainees and junior faculty find themselves in a situation worrying about obtaining grant money to support their early academic careers.1 The budget of the NIH, however, is still huge, exceeding $28 billion per year! Furthermore, the success rates for the mentored clinical scientist award (K08) and the mentored patientoriented research career development award (K23) have been increasing in recent years.2 Similar to other medical fields, the NIH is the major source of support for gastroenterology and hepatology research. The funding usually comes from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); however, the 24 NIH centers with their different missions may be the source of funding if the research is related to that specific mission. For example, the National Cancer Institute may be the source for funding GI oncology research. The Veterans Affairs (VA) system has a similar grant system, yet not as elaborate as the NIH, and can be very helpful in launching the early careers of investigators affiliated with the VA system. In addition, most of the gastroenterology and hepatology societies (as well as their more focused special interest societies) have multiple awards for research support and early carrier development. Building for academic success is, in large part, dependent on the ability to write grants and obtain funding. Having financial support makes the fellow or junior faculty gastroenterologist more attractive when applying for future academic
Copyright ª 2007 by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 0016-5107/$32.00 doi:10.1016/j.gie.2007.05.011
www.giejournal.org
jobs, and it also provides a bargaining tool for securing protected research time. Any fundingdno matter how smalld will be helpful in early academic careers to generate the preliminary data needed for bigger grant proposals. Even if funding is not granted, significant input from expert reviewers will identify the weaknesses of the grant proposal and make the building blocks for future applications. Time is ticking, and the path to the most coveted R01 grant, a benchmark for research independence, is a stepwise process (Fig. 1). It is never too early to initiate this process. If you do not submit the grant, it will never get funded. There are many opportunities and funding sources available, yet this makes it somewhat complicated when trying to find the right grant at the right time. Table 1 is meant to be a
Key Points d d
d
It is never too early to start! The National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget exceeds $28 billion per year! Many institutions and organizations provide early career development support.
guide and provide a noninclusive list of the major sources that fund fellowships, small projects, and career development awards available within the field of gastroenterology. Seeking advice from mentors and colleagues is essential in identifying additional sources and opportunities. Many institutions and organizations have grants that are waiting for enthusiastic people to grab the opportunity and help build their careers. Good luck! DISCLOSURE None of the authors of this month’s Fellows’ Corner have any disclosures to state. Michel I. Kafrouni, MD Postdoctoral Fellow Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Maryland, USA Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 561
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow
Kafrouni
Figure 1. Schematic of different grants available for each career stage. VA, Veterans Affairs; AI, Associate Investigator; CDA, Career Development Award; ACDA, Advanced Career Development Award; MRP, Merit Review Program; NIH, National Institute of Health; T32, Institutional Research Training Grants; F32, Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships; K08, Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards; K23, Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards; R01, Research Project Grant Program; R21, Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award; R03, Seed/Pilot Grant for Basic Research; AGA, American Gastroenterology Association; FFTA, Fellowship/Faculty Transition Award; RSA, AGA/FDHN Research Scholar Award; BG, Bridging Grants; PRA, Pilot Research Award; ACG, American College of Gastroenterology; CRA, Clinical Research Awards; JFDA, Junior Faculty Development Award; ASGE, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; DWA, The Don Wilson Award; ROE, Research and Outcomes and Effectiveness Awards; GCE, Given Capsule Endoscopy Research Award; ECDA, Endoscopic Research Career Development Award; AASLD, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; AHF, Advanced Hepatology Fellowship Program; CTRA, Sheila Sherlock Clinical and Translational Research Awards in Liver Diseases; CRLA, Jan Albrecht Commitment to Clinical Research in Liver Diseases Award; ALT, Achievement in Liver Transplantation Award; ALF, American Liver Foundation; PRFA, Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award; LSA, Liver Scholar Award; IHSA, Innovative Hepatology Seed Award; SRI, Special Research Initiatives.
TABLE 1. Major sources that fund fellowships, small projects, and career development awards Grant/award description
Type of support
NIH grants (grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/) Institutional Research Training Grants (T32)
Institutional support to defer training costs
Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships (F32)
Fellowship support for independent research
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (K08)
Career development support
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards (K23)
Career development support
Research Project Grant Program (Traditional) (R01)
Up to $499K per year for 5 years
Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21)
Up to $275K for 2 years
Seed/Pilot Grant for Basic Research (R03)
Up to $50K for 2 years
VA grants (www.vaphs.research.med.va.gov/pages/general_ information/forms_page/research_and_development_forms/ va_grant_information_for_investigators.htm) Associate Investigator
1-2 y; salary support
Career Development Award
3 y; salary support and 75% protected time
Advanced Career Development Award
3 y with competitive renewal; salary, $50K
Merit Review Program
2-4 y, up to $150K per year (continued on next page)
562 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007
www.giejournal.org
Kafrouni
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow
TABLE 1 (continued ) Grant/award description
Type of support
American Gastroenterology Association awards (www.fdhn.org) Fellowship/Faculty Transition Award
2 y; salary (up to $40K/year), total of 4 awards
AGA/FDHN Research Scholar Award
3 y; salary and supplies up to $65K/year, total of 6 awards
Bridging Grants
2 y; $50K for researchers who failed R01 funding or renewal, 2 per NIH cycle
Pilot Research Award
1 y; $25K
American College of Gastroenterology (www.gi.org/physicians/ research.asp) Clinical Research Awards
Up to $35K
Junior Faculty Development Award
2 y; $75K/y
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (www.asge.org) The Don Wilson Award
Travel/living for 1-3 mo for endoscopy training in outside institution
Research and Outcomes and Effectiveness Awards
1-2 y; up to $50K
Given Capsule Endoscopy Research Award
Up to $25K for capsule endoscopy–related seed research
Endoscopic Research Career Development Award
$75K/y for 2 y
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (www.aasld.org) Advanced Hepatology Fellowship Program
1 y; $60K salary and benefits support
Achievement in Liver Transplantation Award
$30K, 3 awards
Sheila Sherlock Clinical and Translational Research Awards in Liver Diseases
$150K over 2 y
Jan Albrecht Commitment to Clinical Research in Liver Diseases Award
$150K over 2 y
American Liver Foundation (www.liverfoundation.org/ healthcare/grants) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award
1 y; $12.5K salary supplement
Liver Scholar Award
3 y; $225K
Innovative Hepatology Seed Award
2 y; $100K
Special Research Initiatives
2 y; $200K
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (www.ccfaprofessionals.org/ site/c.fqKLLSOvElH/b.1302171/k.DBCB/Research_Grant_ Opportunities.htm) The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (giresearch.org/Awards2007.html) National Pancreas Foundation (www.pancreasfoundation.org/research/grants.shtml) Glaxo Institute for Digestive Diseases Health (www.gidh.com/Pages/awards.htm) (continued on next page)
www.giejournal.org
Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 563
The grants guide for the gastroenterology fellow
Kafrouni
TABLE 1 (continued ) Grant/award description
Type of support
American Motility Society (www.motilitysociety.org/ams%202007/grants.htm) June & Donald O. Castell MD, Esophageal Clinical Research Award (www.fdhn.org) Funderburg Research Scholar Award in Gastric Biology Related to Cancer (www.fdhn.org) The Broad Foundation (www.broadmedical.org)
Abbreviations: NIDDK, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; NIH, National Institutes of Health; VA, Veteran’s Administration.
564 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 66, No. 3 : 2007
REFERENCES 1. Zerhouni EA. Research funding: NIH in the post-doubling era: realities and strategies. Science 2006;314:1088-90. 2. Yang VW. The future of physician-scientistsddemise or opportunity? Gastroenterology 2006;131:697-8.
www.giejournal.org