Below are take-home points from the Grants 360° PGPG session hosted by research@BSPH in January 2023.
Overview
Long-standing grants that can be difficult to break into without having already obtained NIH funding
Not a lot of downside from not being successful in obtaining funding because you still have a grant ready to apply elsewhere
Critically essential to sustain innovation
Important to instill a mission-driven theme
Opportunities are often only once per year
Recognizing the mechanism is paramount
Makes sense for investigators who are in their senior career stage
Having experience in and understanding the value and culture of centers will better prepare you to lead your own PPG
Forming a Team
Having board leadership is favorably recognized
A history of collaboration with people on your team is a perceived advantage
Diversity in career stages among team members is favorably recognized
Team members are often expected to have a track record of successful funding
Application & Review Process
Reviewers often expect previous NIH funding from applicants
need to find a program officer who shows interest in your proposed research
There are often new requirements in renewal requests so being anticipatory and adaptive will serve you well
The proposal development typically takes a year with 4-6 months of intensive writing.
Hiring a grant writer can have substantial upside impact on your grant success
You can increase your chances of success by inviting the program officer to campus to give them a preview of the research that you are preparing
Career Impact
Having a PPG grant is viewed as a positively impactful quality that leads most to leadership positions or other desirable successes in their careers.
Opportunity for multigeneration mentoring
After Funding is Secured
Make sure you have the budget to hire a good program manager to establish good communication and cohesiveness between projects
Establishing working groups with representation from each core/project to foster ongoing collaboration
PIs should provide team-building opportunities to build connections and promote collegial interactions
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