NIH Proposal Tips & Best Practices

R-Series (Research Project Grants):

1. Strong Specific Aims:
   • Develop clear, achievable specific aims that align with NIH’s mission. Make sure each aim is measurable and outlines the expected scientific impact.
   • Incorporate preliminary data to demonstrate feasibility, especially for R01 grants, which often require robust data to justify the research approach.
2. Project Feasibility and Scope:
   • Propose a project scope that matches the timeframe and budget. Overly ambitious aims or insufficient preliminary data can harm the proposal.
   • Break large projects into logical steps, with each aim contributing to the overall objectives of the research.

F-Series (Fellowships):

1. 1. Strong Mentorship Plans:

      • • Craft a mentorship plan with clear goals for professional development. The mentor should be actively involved in training and career development.

      • • Emphasize the relationship between mentor and applicant, including frequency of meetings and how feedback will be integrated.

1. 1. Career Development:
      • • Outline how the fellowship will support long-term career goals. NIH values fellowships that clearly promote the transition to an independent researcher.

1. 1. Institutional Support:
      • • Demonstrate institutional resources available for career development and training, like workshops, seminars, and access to state-of-the-art facilities.

K-Series (Career Development Awards):

1. 1. Protected Time:
      • • Ensure that the institution commits to protecting at least 75% of the awardee’s time for research, especially in K08 and K23 grants. This guarantees the focus on development as an independent researcher.

1. 1. Integration of Research and Career Goals:
      • • Demonstrate how the K award will support the investigator’s transition to research independence. This includes clear milestones for skills acquisition, mentorship, and research accomplishments.

1. 1. Institutional Environment:
      • • Highlight the strength of the institution’s research environment and support. A strong institutional backing significantly strengthens a K award proposal.

T-Series (Training Grants):

1. 1. Programmatic and Administrative Support:
      • • Focus on providing comprehensive administrative support for trainees, including mentoring, professional development workshops, and opportunities for collaborative research.

1. 1. Diversity Plans:
      • • Develop a strong plan for enhancing diversity in the training program. NIH values inclusive programs that foster participation from underrepresented groups.

1. 1. Structured Curriculum:
      • • Ensure that the training program offers a structured, interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates diverse fields of study. Provide clear metrics for evaluating the success of the program.

M-Series (Research Program Projects and Centers):

1. 1. Collaborative Approach:
      • • M-series grants such as P01 should emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration across subprojects, with each contributing a unique perspective to a central theme.

1. 1. Coordination and Leadership:
      • • Strong leadership and coordination among project directors are essential. Assign clear roles for the scientific coordinator and project leads to ensure synergy between subprojects.

1. 1. Budget Allocation:
      • • Provide a detailed, transparent budget for each subproject and ensure proper justification for shared resources and facilities.

B-Series (Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] / Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR]):

1. 1. Commercialization Potential:
      • • Highlight the commercialization pathway for the product or service being developed. SBIR/STTR grants prioritize projects with clear market potential.

1. 1. Strong Collaboration:
      • • In STTR, emphasize the collaboration between the small business and the research institution, detailing each partner’s role.

1. 1. Phase I to Phase II Transition:
      • • If applying for Phase II funding, clearly document successful outcomes from Phase I, focusing on how the product progressed towards commercialization.

General Best Practices:

• • Early Submission: Allow ample time to address submission errors or system issues through eRA Commons or ASSIST. Late submissions due to technical issues can delay the grant.

• • Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with NIH program officers early in the process to ensure alignment between your project and NIH priorities.

• • Thorough Budget Justification: Whether using modular or detailed budgets, ensure costs are well-justified and linked to project goals.

NIH Guidance

Other Support Disclosure: NIH requires that all sources of financial or in-kind support be fully disclosed. This includes consulting arrangements, foreign affiliations, and even unpaid roles at foreign institutions. Consulting activities related to research should be included in the biosketch, while support from institutional resources like startup packages doesn’t need to be listed. Always err on the side of disclosure to maintain compliance with NIH policies.

College of Medicine Guidance

Budget Escalation – It is best practice to escalate salary and wages by 3% starting in year 1. 

Sub-project budgets during proposal and award stage – For any proposal involving UF personnel as a key person – they must have their own budget allocated to them. 

Commonly Used Links

NIH Application Guides

_{Last Updated: 9/28/2024}